160 Duke Of Gloucester

Street

City of Annapolis

Annapolis, MD 21401

Regular Meeting Minutes - Final

City Council

Monday, January 13, 2025

7:00 PM

Mayor John T. Chambers, Jr.

City Council Chambers

Call To Order

Mayor Buckley called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:04 pm.

Given by Alderman Gay.

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance

Led by Mayor Buckley.

Roll Call

Tonight's roll call began with Alderwoman Pindell Charles.

9 -

Present:

Mayor Buckley, Alderman Huntley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell

Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay,

Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett

Approval of Agenda

Alderman Gay moved to approve the AGENDA as AMENDED to ADD: SA-25-25

Fire, Maryland Department of Health State, Revenue: State Grant Revenue in

the amount of $39,975 - Expenditure: State Grant Expense $39,975, R-4-25 City

of Annapolis Plastic Bag Reduction Act Fines Correction. And to REMOVE: AP-

44-24

Re-Appointment - Mr. Robert Hruby - Building Board of Appeals AND

AP-45-24 Re-Appointment - Mr. John Jay Schwarz - Building Board of

Appeals. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote.

City Council Citations

ID-1-25

Citation: Elvia Thompson and Lynne Forsman of Annapolis Green

This Ceremonial Item was presented.

PETITIONS, REPORTS & COMMUNICATIONS

Update from Mayor

Good evening and thank you for being here and tuning in. I hope everyone

had a good holiday

and New Year celebration.

Over the break, three former City staffers passed and I’d like to take a

moment to remember

them.

Patricia Delores Tigs served as administrative support in the Annapolis

Department of

Transportation for 34 years. She passed on December 24 at 81 years of age.

Scott Svoboda was a captain here at the Annapolis Fire Department where

he served for 23

years. He passed away on December 27 at the age of 49.

Wayne Parker was an equipment operator with DPW and he served the City

for 14 years. He

was 62 years old at the time of his passing on December 27. One of his sons,

Jamar, is the

superintendent of Annapolis Transit and our hearts go out to him.

Let us now take a moment of silence to honor these former colleagues and

their service to our

community and to hold their families in our hearts.

Last week, Annapolis experienced its worst snow storm in eight years and

the longest run of

freezing temperatures in decades.

I would like to thank our DPW snow crew who put in long hours preparing

and responding to

this event. For four days, they worked 24 hours a day in 12-hour shifts. We

recognize that

residents aren’t used to having snow and ice hang around this long - usually

we return to higher

temperatures in a few days. We thank everyone for their patience - not only

have we had to

deal 9.5 inches of snow, but the extreme cold also limits the effectiveness of

salting operations.

I hope your families enjoyed the snow. I saw children taking advantage of

the days off school to

sled and have fun in the snow.

So again, thank you for your patience, for removing your vehicles from

emergency snow routes

and utilizing free garage parking. We thank you for giving our plow drivers

the space they need

to effectively do their work.

I also want to remind everyone that clearing sidewalks is the responsibility of

property owners

so thank you to everyone who ensured that was done in a timely way.

Lastly, I encourage residents to use the “report a problem” portal on the City

website. These

reports go straight to DPW dispatch where the next available crews are

assigned.

Tonight I must also talk about City Dock because misinformation and

misunderstanding in the

past week or so have seen some very incorrect information being shared and

promoted.

Here are the facts:

The City Dock Resilience Plan has been repeatedly brought before the

community and this

Council. We have made multiple changes over the past few years to reflect

and accommodate

feedback.

However, from the beginning, our harbormaster was set to be relocated

because the creation of

a 6 to 8 foot earthen berm – the major component of flood protection –

cannot be built with

the existing harbormaster structure in place. This has been true from the first

sketches of the

City Dock Park design. I encourage you to go back to the original drawings

for review.

It seems from some comments I’ve seen that some people are conflating

removal of the

harbormaster building with the Maritime Welcome Center - which is a

completely separate

project, going through its own series of planning approvals.

The City Dock Resilience Plan for a park, with community amenities,

accommodations for the

boat show and other events, and complete flood protection through a raised

berm and a range

of other flood barriers, has been approved by both the Planning Commission

and the Historic

Preservation Commission.

But there are some who are clearly seeking to prevent this project - designed

with the

community and for the community - from being completed.

Stopping or delaying the City Dock project will not only be devastating for

businesses and the

future of downtown, but it will cost us millions.

Reasonable people can come to different political conclusions - even when

presented with the

same set of facts. That’s fine and part of the political process. What is not OK

is misrepresenting

the facts to win a political argument.

City officials have to be transparent and truthful not only in scores of public

meetings but in

filings to FEMA, Maryland Historic Trust, Critical Area Commission, to City

Council and our

independent City of Annapolis commissions. Our reliance plan is clear; our

funding plan is clear;

and the approvals have been clear.

I would also like to remind everyone that when I ran for re-election in 2021,

we ran on a very

clear platform to complete this project. When we were re-elected, including

most of this

council, it was with overwhelming support. That is the democratic process

and we cannot let a

small or anonymous set of narrow interests, outweigh this mandate.

That is why we will continue moving this project forward - with the broad

support of City

residents. A resolution will come before the Council tonight on the urgency of

flood protection

for downtown and the need to implement our Resilience Plan to protect our

businesses,

residents and the historic fabric of our downtown buildings. It is literally what

historic

preservation means.

While the Council can and often does suspend the rules on urgent matters,

we are not doing so

tonight because we want to show we are not afraid of scrutiny or comment -

even from special

interests that don’t represent the good of our community.

The good news for this Council and the public who want to see flood

protection at City Dock is

that this project and our process is getting positive attention.

This Friday, I’ll be presenting on our garage P3 at the US Conference of

Mayors in Washington,

DC as part of their annual winter meeting. The great thing about the US

conference of Mayors

meetings are that we are the elected officials most likely to meet and know

our constituents.

When we are together, we aren’t blue mayors and red mayors. We are

people working to better

our communities.

The P3 program and the resilience work at City Dock is interesting and

valuable to them

because what we are dealing with here are things that municipalities across

America are dealing

with.

The City Dock consensus plan is amazing. We aimed to create a strategy to

protect downtown

from flooding. This plan will do that for generations. We sought to create a

public space and

improve public water access. This plan does that. The City Dock consensus

plan will improve

environmental outcomes and enhance quality of life for our residents, visitors

and businesses.

Finally tonight, I’d like to remind the public that City offices are closed on

Monday in observance

of the Dr. King holiday. At our next meeting, I’ll tell you more about our State

of Black Annapolis

series during Black History month that will be presented on consecutive

Tuesdays in February.

For now, let’s get on with our meeting!

Reports by Committees

Standing Committee Meeting Dates:

Economic Matters Committee

Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 6:30 pm.

Finance Committee

Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 10:30 am.

Comments by the General Public

Comments from the General Public - SPEAKERS:

Susan Wheatley, 159 Monticello Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.

Mark Kleinschmidt, 1910Towne Center BLVD, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.

Eric Evans, 38 City Gate Lane, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.

Matt Schatzle, 312 Severn Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21403.

Mary O'Brian, 301 Fourth Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.

Janet Neves, 105 Eastern Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21403.

Karen Brown, 2 Ridge Road, Annapolis,Maryland 21401.

Richard Healy, 7361 Edgewood Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21403.

Eddy Esworthy, 301 Fourth Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21403.

Mayor Buckley declared comments from the general public closed.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Approval of Journal Proceedings

Approval of the Consent Calendar

A motion was made to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion

carried:unanimously

Regular Meeting Minutes

CCM 12.9.24

Alderman Gay moved to approve CCM 12.9.24. Seconded. A roll call vote was

taken. The motion CARRIED

Supplemental Appropriations Under $50,000

Grant - Planning & Zoning/CDBG - Community Development Block Grant-HUD

SA-16-25

SA-19-25

SA-21-25

Alderman Gay moved to approve SA-4-25. Seconded. A roll call vote was

taken. The motion CARRIED

Grant - OEM - US Department of Homeland Security - Federal Grant Revenue

Alderman Gay moved to approve SA-19-25. Seconded. A roll call vote was

taken. The motion CARRIED

Grant - Harbor Master - Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Alderman Gay moved to approve SA-21-25. Seconded. A roll call vote was

taken. The motion CARRIED

Appointments

AP-25-24

Re-Appointment - Mr. Craig Coates - Housing Authority

Alderman Gay moved to approve AP-25-24. Seconded. A roll call vote was

taken. The motion CARRIED

Re-Appointment - Mr. Andre Atkins - Housing Authority

AP-26-24

AP-27-24

Alderman Gay moved to approve AP-26-24. Seconded. A roll call vote was

taken. The motion CARRIED

Re-Appointment - Ms. Kimberlee Cornett - Housing Authority

Alderman Gay moved to approve AP-27-24. Seconded. A roll call vote was

taken. The motion CARRIED

Re-Appointment - Ms. Jackie Wells - Housing Authority

AP-28-24

Alderman Gay moved to approve AP-28-24. Seconded. A roll call vote was

taken. The motion CARRIED

End of Consent Calendar

BUSINESS & MISCELLANEOUS

Informational Items

Memorandum Re: Memorandum Legislative Term Ending Deadlines for 2025

ID-27-25

Alderman Arnett moved to receive ID-27-25. Seconded. CARRIED on voice

vote.

Supplemental Appropriations $50,000 & Above

Forfeiture and Seizure Fund - Police Department - FY2024 Fund Balance

SA-17-25

SA-20-25

Finance Director Dickinson was present and answered questions from the

council.

Alderman Gay moved to approve SA-17-25. Seconded. CARRIED on voice

vote.

Grant - APD - State of Maryland through the Office of Justice Programs - Federal

Grant Revenue

Finance Director Dickinson was present and answered questions from the

council.

Alderman Gay moved to approve SA-20-25. Seconded. CARRIED on voice

vote.

Grant - Transportation - Maryland Department of Transportation - State Grant

Revenue

SA-22-25

Alderman Gay moved to approve SA-22-25. Seconded. CARRIED on voice

vote.

General - City Manager - Reserve for One Time Uses

SA-23-25

Finance Director Dickinson and Deputy City Manager: Resilience &

Sustainability Guild were present and answered questions from the council.

Alderman Schandelmeier moved to approve SA-23-25. Seconded. A roll call

vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote:

8 -

Aye:

Nay:

Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman

Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and

Alderman Arnett

1 - Alderman Huntley

Supplemental Appropriations Under $50,000

Grant - Fire - Maryland Department of Health - State Grant Revenue

SA-25-25

Alderwoman Pindell Charles moved to approve SA-25-25. Seconded.

CARRIED on voice vote.

Affordable Housing Trust - Department of Planning & Zoning - FY2024 Affordable

Housing Trust Fund Balance

SA-18-25

Alderman Gay moved to approve SA-18-25. Seconded. A roll call vote was

taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote:

9 -

Aye:

Mayor Buckley, Alderman Huntley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell

Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay,

Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett

Fund Transfers

General - Police Department - Supplies&Other/Capital Outlay

FT-5-25

Finance Director Dickinson was present and answered questions from the

council.

Alderman Gay moved to approve.FT-5-25 Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Ordinances

O-10-24

Outdoor Dining Requirements in Annapolis - For the purpose of

codifying and consolidating the City's outdoor dining programs; defining outdoor

dining and its different types; requiring permits for outdoor dining; setting common

standards for outdoor dining; creating a fund for outdoor dining permit fees to be

used for alternative transportation options when restaurants use their parking lot

for outdoor dining; making technical corrections to the various code sections to

conform with the outdoor dining section; and generally dealing with restaurant

standards for outdoor dining.

Arnett, Savidge and O'Neill

Sponsors:

No Speakers.

Mayor Buckley declare the public hearing on O-10-24 closed.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION

FIRST READERS

Ordinances

O-1-25

Expansion of Child Care Options in Annapolis - For the purpose of

allowing large family child care homes pending zoning approval; removing City

restrictions on hiring home-operated child care service employees who live

outside the home; combining sections dealing with child care centers; updating the

related City Code sections to align with state child care standards; and address

the requirements of Title 21 concerning child care in Annapolis.

Schandelmeier

Sponsors:

Alderman Schandelmeier moved to adopt O-1-25 on first reader. Seconded.

CARRIED on voice vote.

Mayor Buckley referred O-1-25 to the Rules & City Government Committee.

Mayor Buckley referred O-1-24 to the Environmental Matters Committee.

Mayor Buckley referred O-1-24 the Annapolis Education Commission.

Mayor Buckley referred O-1-24 to the Planning Commission.

Alderman Gay - Cosponsor Added.

O-2-25

WRNR Radio Tower Lease With the City - For the purpose of entering a

ground lease of the City-owned radio tower located at 25 Silopanna Road with

Cortona Media LLC dba WRNR Radio, a Maryland limited liability company;

and all matters relating to said lease.

Buckley

Sponsors:

Alderman Gay moved to adopt O-2-25 on first reader. Seconded. CARRIED on

voice vote.

Mayor Buckley referred O-2-25 the Finance Committee.

Resolutions

R-1-25

Thompson Street Park - For the purpose of designating specific City of

Annapolis-owned property as a street-end park; naming the street-end park at

the southeast end of Thompson Street the “Thompson Street Park”; and generally

relating to park amenities.

Huntley, Finlayson and Arnett

Sponsors:

Alderman Huntley moved to adopt R-1-15 on first reader. Seconded. CARRIED

on voice vote.

Mayor Buckley referred R-1-25 to the Finance Committee.

R-3-25

City Dock Resiliency Project - For the purpose of demonstrating

Annapolis City Council support for the City Dock Resiliency Project and the

urgency of protecting Historic Downtown Annapolis along with the public safety

of its residents and businesses from the constant and the growing threat of higher

rising tides, as well as increasing frequent and more intense storms that cause

extreme flooding and severe impacts to residents, businesses, public safety and

the historic fabric of the City itself.

Buckley, Schandelmeier, Pindell Charles, Gay, Savidge, Arnett and Finlayson

Sponsors:

Consultant Eileen Fogarty, Deputy Director of the Office of Emergency

Management Department Mandel, Public Works Director Vogel were present

and answered questions from the council.

Alderman Arnett moved to adopt R-3-25 on first reader. Seconded. A roll call

vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote:

9 -

Aye:

Mayor Buckley, Alderman Huntley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell

Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay,

Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett

Alderman Savidge requested a City Council Work Session on the status of

City Dock Resiliency Project.

Alderman Schandelmeier - Cosponsor Added.

Alderwoman Pindell Charles - Cosponsor Added.

Alderman Gay - Cosponsor Added.

Alderman Savidge - Cosponsor Added.

Alderman Arnett - Cosponsor Added.

R-4-25

City of Annapolis Plastic Bag Reduction Act Fines Correction -

For the purpose of correcting a typographical error in the FY 2024 Fines

Schedule for the City of Annapolis Plastic Bag Reduction Act fines.

Buckley

Sponsors:

Alderman Schandelmeier moved to adopt R-4-25 on first reader. Seconded.

CARRIED on voice vote.

SECOND READERS

Ordinances

O-11-24

Tenant Displacement Fund - For the purpose of establishing a fund for

providing assistance to tenants who are displaced when rental units are deemed

unfit for human habitation by the City; basing funding for tenants on specific

criteria; and generally related to emergency housing needs in the City of

Annapolis.

Gay

Sponsors:

Alderman Gay moved to withdraw O-11-24 without objection. Seconded.

CARRIED on voice vote.

FIRST READERS

Resolutions

R-4-25

City of Annapolis Plastic Bag Reduction Act Fines Correction -

For the purpose of correcting a typographical error in the FY 2024 Fines

Schedule for the City of Annapolis Plastic Bag Reduction Act fines.

Buckley

Sponsors:

Alderwoman O'Neill moved to suspend the rules to allow passage of the

resolution at the meeting of its introduction. Seconded. DEFEATED on voice

vote.

Deputy City Manager: Resilience & Sustainability Guild was present and

answered questions from the council.

SECOND READERS

Resolutions

R-46-24

Task Force to Study Residential Marine Vessels - For the purpose of

gathering information necessary for the Annapolis City Council to make informed

decisions about residential and commercial marine vessels in city waters, creating

a task force to investigate three critical areas regarding houseboats, floating

homes, and other residential marine vessels: 1) the impact on the city's maritime

industry, 2) the advantages and disadvantages to the community, and 3) the

impacts on city operations; and requiring the task force to submit a report to the

Council for possible action.

Arnett and Savidge

Sponsors:

Alderman Arnett moved to adopt on second reader. Seconded.

Agenda Order Revised:

R-4-25

City of Annapolis Plastic Bag Reduction Act Fines Correction - For the

purpose of correcting a typographical error in the FY 2024 Fines Schedule for the

City of Annapolis Plastic Bag Reduction Act fines.

Buckley

Sponsors:

Alderman Savidge moved to reconsider suspending the rules to allow passage of

the resolution R-4-25 at the meeting of its introduction. Seconded. CARRIED on

voice vote.

Alderman Schandelmeier moved to suspend the rules to allow passage of the

resolution at the meeting of its introduction. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote.

Alderman Savidge moved to adopt R-4-25 on second reader. Seconded. A roll

call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote:

9 -

Aye:

Mayor Buckley, Alderman Huntley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell

Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay,

Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett

Agenda Order Resumed:

R-38-24

Condemnation and Possession of Real Property at 245 West Street -

For the purpose of authorizing the condemnation and possession of real property at

245 West Street in the City of Annapolis; removing a severe public health and safety

hazard related to a blighted and vacant lot; and working toward construction of

affordable housing on the same blighted and vacant lot.

Buckley, Savidge, Gay and Huntley

Sponsors:

Alderman Huntley moved to postpone R-38-24 for (60) days. Seconded. CARRIED

on voice vote.

Mayor Buckley referred R-38-24 to the Housing and Human Welfare Committee.

Alderwoman Finlayson requested that the Planning and Zoning Depart take a

look at R-38-24, when it comes to the arts .

R-46-24

Task Force to Study Residential Marine Vessels - For the purpose of

gathering information necessary for the Annapolis City Council to make informed

decisions about residential and commercial marine vessels in city waters, creating a

task force to investigate three critical areas regarding houseboats, floating homes, and

other residential marine vessels: 1) the impact on the city's maritime industry, 2) the

advantages and disadvantages to the community, and 3) the impacts on city

operations; and requiring the task force to submit a report to the Council for possible

action.

Arnett and Savidge

Sponsors:

Alderman Gay moved to amend R-46-24 as follows:

Amendment #1:

On page 4 in line 17, strike "one year" and insert "six months".Seconded.

CARRIED on voice vote.

Deputy City Manager of Resilience & Sustainability Guild, Deputy Harbor Master

Northfield and Shoreside Operations Supervisor Nold were present and

answered questions from the council.

Alderman Savidge moved to amend R-46-24 as follows:

Amendment #2:

On Page 4, line 8, new item "h. Watershed or Creek Association";

Page 5, line 27, add two new bullets, "Determine if housebarges should be

hard-wired into sewer

system or served by pump-out services, and potential risks or benefits of either

approach;"

followed by "Assess capacity of pump-out boats and how this would impact that

service"; and

Page 6, line 2, after "noise impacts" insert "and potential mitigation measures".

Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote.

Alderman Schandelmeier moved to amend R-46-24 as follows:

Amendment #3:

On page 4, in line 8, after subparagraph "g" insert the following:

"h. Marina property owners;

i. Members of the liveaboard community;". Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote.

Alderman Gay moved to Call the Question to end the debate. Seconded. A roll

call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote:

8 -

Aye:

Nay:

Mayor Buckley, Alderman Huntley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell

Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay and

Alderman Savidge

1 - Alderman Arnett

Alderman Schandelmeier moved to amend R-46-24 as follows:

Amendment #4:

On Page 6, strike lines 21-24. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote.

Alderman Schandelmeier moved to amend R-46-24 as follows:

Amendment #5:

On page 5, strike lines 15 through 16: and on page 6, in lines 1 and 2, strike

"marine residential" and in its place insert "short term rental".

On page 1, in line 30, strike "residential" and Insert "Commercial Marine

Vessels". Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote.

Alderwoman Pindell Charles moved to amend R-46-24 as follows:

Amendment #6:

On page 4, in line 8, add "Stakeholder groups that do not represent the Marine

Industry" . Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote.

Alderman Schandelmeier moved to adopt R-46-24 as amended on second reader.

Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote:

7 -

Aye:

Nay:

Alderman Huntley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderman

Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett

2 - Mayor Buckley and Alderwoman Finlayson

R-57-24

Annual Meeting and Tourism Industry Reception Fee Wavier - For the

purpose of identifying the Annual Meeting and Tourism Industry Reception that will be

held on January 28, 2025, as a Special Event and waiving certain City of Annapolis

fees for services related to that event.

Buckley, Gay, Pindell Charles, Huntley and Finlayson

Sponsors:

Alderman Huntley moved to adopt R-57-24 on second reader. Seconded. A roll

call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote:

9 -

Aye:

Mayor Buckley, Alderman Huntley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell

Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay,

Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett

ADJOURNMENT

Upon motion duly made, seconded and adopted, the Regular Meeting was

adjourned at 9:55 pm.

Regina C. Watkins-Eldridge, MMC

City Clerk