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Updating the Standing Committees Section of the City Code
For the purpose of expanding the oversight authority of the Environmental Matters Committee to include certain environmentally-related provisions of Title 17 (Buildings and Construction) and Title 21 (Planning and Zoning); requiring that proposed amendments to those provisions be referred to the Environmental Matters Committee; clarifying the matters to be considered by the Rules and City Government Committee; updating the scope of the Economic Matters Committee to reflect current technology and workforce matters; establishing a procedure for automatic and discretionary committee referrals; and generally reformatting and updating the Standing Committees section of the City Code.
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City Council of the
City of Annapolis
Ordinance 9-26
Introduced by: Alderman Savidge
Co-sponsored by: Alderman Smith-Brown, Alderman Schandelmeier
Referred to: Rules and City Government Committee
AN ORDINANCE concerning
Updating the Standing Committees Section of the City Code
FOR the purpose of expanding the oversight authority of the Environmental Matters Committee to include certain environmentally-related provisions of Title 17 (Buildings and Construction) and Title 21 (Planning and Zoning); requiring that proposed amendments to those provisions be referred to the Environmental Matters Committee; clarifying the matters to be considered by the Rules and City Government Committee; updating the scope of the Economic Matters Committee to reflect current technology and workforce matters; establishing a procedure for automatic and discretionary committee referrals; and generally reformatting and updating the Standing Committees section of the City Code.
BY repealing and reenacting with amendments the following portions of the Code of the City of Annapolis, 2026 Edition: Section 2.16.190
WHEREAS, The City of Annapolis has established a system of standing committees of the City Council to provide focused oversight and substantive review of legislation affecting distinct areas of City government, and it is in the best interest of the residents of the City of Annapolis to align committee referral jurisdiction with subject-matter expertise, and to update and reformat § 2.16.190 to reflect current City operations and priorities; and
WHEREAS, The Environmental Matters Committee was established to provide focused oversight of legislation affecting the natural environment of the City, yet certain chapters of Title 17 (Buildings and Construction) and Title 21 (Planning and Zoning) with significant environmental implications-including provisions governing stormwater management, floodplain management, Critical Area overlay, forest conservation, green buildings, illicit discharge, and grading and erosion control-have not been within that Committee’s referral jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, The Economic Matters Committee’s charge to study and make recommendations regarding communications service to the City and its citizens should be updated to reflect modern technologies, including internet and wireless service, and that Committee’s mandate should also encompass apprenticeships and workforce development, which are integral to the economic vitality of the City; and
WHEREAS, The Rules and City Government Committee was the only standing committee without a subparagraph describing the committee’s duties, and it is appropriate to make § 2.16.190 consistent for all standing committees; and
WHEREAS, The City Code does not currently set forth a clear procedure governing the referral of legislation to standing committees, and it is in the public interest to codify both the process of automatic referral, by which proposed amendments to titles assigned to a committee are referred to that committee as a matter of course, and the authority of each committee chair to request referral of additional legislation; and
WHEREAS, Section 2.16.190 of the City Code would benefit from general reformatting and updating to improve clarity, internal consistency, and alignment with current City operations and terminology; now, therefore,
SECTION I: BE IT ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the Code of the City of Annapolis shall be amended to read as follows:
City Code Title 2 - ADMINISTRATION
Chapter 2.16 - City Council
Article II - Generally
Section 2.16.190 - Standing Committees
1. Finance Committee. The Finance Committee shall handle all matters relating to the review of the budget and continuous surveillance of the budget. The Finance Committee shall have power to review and make recommendations with regard to the Mayor's annual operating budget and shall submit recommendations with regard to the budget to the City Council not later than the second Monday in May of each year. The Finance Committee shall review all proposed amendments to Title 6 (Revenue and Finance) of this Code.
2. Public Safety Committee. The Public Safety Committee shall consider matters affecting public safety in the City. The Public Safety Committee shall review all proposed amendments to Title 11 (Public Peace, Morals and Welfare) and Title 12, (Vehicles and Traffic) of this Code.
3. Rules and City Government Committee. The Rules and City Government Committee shall review and consider all proposed amendments to the Charter and all proposed amendments to Title 1 (General Provisions), Title 2 (Administration), Title 3 (Personnel), Title 4 (Elections), Title 20 (Subdivisions), Title 21 (Planning and Zoning) and Title 22 (Adequate Public Facilities) of this Code.
4. Economic Matters Committee. The Economic Matters Committee shall consider matters affecting the economy of the City; make recommendations to the City Council on issues relating to the operation of the Markethouse and the regulation of the City Dock; study, independently and with private historic preservation organizations, issues concerning historic structures in the City; and study, consider and make recommendations regarding issues of cable television service to the City of Annapolis and its citizens. The Economic Matters Committee shall review all proposed amendments to Title 7 (Business Licenses, Taxes and Regulations) and Title 17 (Buildings and Construction) of this Code.
5. Housing and Human Welfare Committee. The Housing and Human Welfare Committee shall consider issues of housing and matters affecting the general health, welfare and quality of life of the residents of the City. The Housing and Human Welfare Committee shall review all proposed amendments to Title 8 (Animals), Title 10 (Health and Safety), and Title 18 (Landlord and Tenant Relations) of this Code.
6. Environmental Matters Committee. The Environmental Matters Committee shall consider matters affecting the natural environment of the City. The Environmental Matters Committee shall review all proposed amendments to Title 14 (Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places), Title 15 (Harbors and Waterfront Areas), and Title 16 (Public Services) of this Code.
7. Transportation Committee. The Transportation Committee shall consider matters affecting parking, public transportation, and vehicular traffic. The Transportation Committee shall review all proposed amendments to Title 12 (Vehicles and Traffic), Title 14 (Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places), and Title 22 (Adequate Public Facilities) of this Code.
Section 2.16.190 - Standing Committees
A. The following standing committees of the City Council are designated, which shall review and make recommendations with regard to matters referred to them and shall perform other general duties and responsibilities:
1. Finance Committee.
a. The Finance Committee shall handle all matters relating to the review of the budget and continuous surveillance of the budget.
b. The Finance Committee shall have power to review and make recommendations with regard to the Mayor's annual operating budget and shall submit recommendations with regard to the budget to the City Council not later than the second Monday in May of each year. The Finance Committee shall review all proposed amendments to Title 6 (Revenue and Finance) of this Code.
2. Public Safety Committee.
a. The Public Safety Committee shall consider matters affecting public safety in the City.
b. The Public Safety Committee shall review all proposed amendments to Title 11 (Public Peace, Morals and Welfare) and Title 12 (Vehicles and Traffic) of this Code.
3. Rules and City Government Committee.
a. The Rules and City Government Committee shall consider matters and make recommendations concerning the Charter and Code of the City of Annapolis, elections, and certain operations and processes of the City government, personnel, and planning and zoning.
b. The Rules and City Government Committee shall review and consider all proposed amendments to the Charter and all proposed amendments to Title 1 (General Provisions), Title 2 (Administration), Title 3 (Human Resources), Title 4 (Elections), Title 20 (Subdivisions), Title 21 (Planning and Zoning) and Title 22 (Adequate Public Facilities) of this Code.
4. Economic Matters Committee.
a. The Economic Matters Committee shall consider matters affecting the economy and the state of businesses of the City; make recommendations to the City Council on issues relating to the operation of the Markethouse and the regulation of the City Dock; study, independently and with private historic preservation organizations, issues concerning historic structures in the City; evaluate and provide recommendations on issues related to cable television, internet, wireless, streaming, and digital media services for the City of Annapolis and its residents. The committee shall also focus on apprenticeships and workforce development.
b. The Economic Matters Committee shall review all proposed amendments to Title 7 (Business Licenses, Taxes and Regulations) and Title 17 (Buildings and Construction) of this Code.
5. Housing and Human Welfare Committee.
a. The Housing and Human Welfare Committee shall consider issues of housing and matters affecting the general health, welfare, and quality of life of the residents of the City.
b. The Housing and Human Welfare Committee shall review all proposed amendments to Title 8 (Animals), Title 10 (Health and Safety), and Title 18 (Landlord and Tenant Relations) of this Code.
6. Environmental Matters Committee.
a. The Environmental Matters Committee shall consider matters affecting the natural environment of the City.
b. The Environmental Matters Committee shall review all proposed amendments to the following sections of this Code: Title 14 (Streets, Sidewalks, and Public Places, and Small Cell Systems), Title 15 (Harbors and Waterfront Areas), Title 16 (Public Services), Chapter 17.07 (Illicit Discharge and Connection Stormwater), Chapter 17.08 (Grading, Erosion and Sediment Control), Chapter 17.09 (Trees in Development areas), Chapter 17.10 (Stormwater Management), Chapter 17.11 (Floodplain Management), Chapter 17.14 (Green Buildings: Energy Efficiency and Environmental Design), Chapter 21.47 (Open Space District), Chapter 21.54 (Critical Area Overlay), and Chapter 21.71 (Forest Conservation).
7. Transportation Committee.
a. The Transportation Committee shall consider matters affecting parking, public transportation, and vehicular traffic.
b. The Transportation Committee shall review all proposed amendments to Title 12 (Vehicles and Traffic), Title 14 (Streets, Sidewalks, and Public Places, and Small Cell Systems), and Title 22 (Adequate Public Facilities) of this Code.
B. Each of the committees as enumerated in this section shall have other and further duties and responsibilities as are designated to them by the City Council. The Mayor may designate any other standing or special committees as the Mayor deems appropriate from time to time.
C. In addition to automatic referrals, each committee chair may have legislation referred to their respective committee. For purposes of this section, “automatic referrals” shall be defined as the process by which amendments to titles listed under each standing committee are automatically referred to that committee, as outlined in Section A above.
SECTION II: AND BE IT FINALLY ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that:
1. This ordinance shall take effect upon passage; and
2. Any legislation already referred to a committee prior to the effective date shall continue under its existing referral.