City Council

160 Duke Of Gloucester City of Annapolis Street Annapolis, MD 21401 Regular Minutes - Final City Council Monday, May 11, 2020 7:00 PM Mayor John T. Chambers, Jr. City Council Chambers Virtual Meeting A virtual meeting is when people, regardless of their location, use video and audio to link up online. Virtual Meetings allow people to share information and data in real-time without being physically located together. Call to Order Mayor Buckley called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Invocation Given by Alderwoman Pindell Charles. Pledge of Allegiance Led by Mayor Buckley. Roll Call Tonight's roll call began with Alderman Paone. Present: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderman Paone, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Rodriguez, Alderman Savidge, Alderman Arnett and Alderman Gay Approval of Agenda Alderwoman Finlayson moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Petitions, Reports and Communications A. Update from the Mayor Mayor Gavin Buckley City Council Remarks - Virtual Meeting Good evening everyone. We are now entering the third month of the stay-at-home order from Governor Hogan due to the covid-19 pandemic. We know this is a very difficult thing. Unemployment is at an all time high, hundreds of businesses are shuttered across the City. Our most basic needs are stressed: food, the ability to pay rent, the ability to recreate, to send our children to school. City of Annapolis Page 1 Printed on 6/11/2020 City Council Regular Minutes - Final May 11, 2020 I want residents of Annapolis to know that we understand how difficult this is and we are working on all fronts to not only deliver regular city services, but to step up our ability to partner with county, state and federal partners as well as businesses and nonprofits to find resources and to provide necessities to the people in our city. We have been having food giveaways in partnership with Pastor Sheryl Menendez and Light of the world ministries. While these have been very successful, it is heartbreaking that each of these events run out of food before the last person is able to be served. I want to offer a few additional food resources for anyone who may be watching: 1st – if you have children ages 2 to 18 you can get three meals plus a snack through Anne Arundel County Public Schools. These grab and go meal sites are at 54 locations in the county. Please check the schools website or use the covid-19 resources page on the City website to find locations and times or call the family services line, 410-222-5501. 2nd – the Anne Arundel County Food Bank and the Maryland Food Bank. Visit their websites to find locations of food giveaways, pantries and soup kitchens. 3rd – if you are collecting unemployment, or if your child was previously eligible for Free and Reduced Meals at school, you are now eligible for Food Supplement Program, also known as the supplemental nutrition assistance program or SNAP. This was previously called food stamps. Please contact Maryland Department of Human Services to apply online. 4th – Feed Anne Arundel is offering free meals at locations around the City. Please check their Facebook page. These are meals provided by restaurants. It supports not only keeping restaurant workers employed, but helping to feed hungry people. Next, we have a tremendous partner in the Anne Arundel County Department of Health. You may have read in today’s paper that the city is receiving 25 percent of the Covid-19 tests. Over the past four weeks we have brought pop-up testing to neighborhoods that may have a difficult time getting to Department of Health testing sites in Glen Burnie and on Truman Parkway in Annapolis. Those testing sites at Parole Community Health, Morris Blum, Harbour House and Eastport Terrace and earlier today at Tyler Elementary School have been great for our community. At each of these locations, the total number of tests assigned to us have been fully utilized. We will ask for this continue, but testing resources continue to be strained. We will keep pushing. We also continue to push for data. We want to know how many Annapolis cases there are and if there are any clusters or outbreaks in the City. Dr. Kalyanaraman is being as transparent as possible while maintaining health privacy protections. I want to talk about is the Small Business Recovery Task Force. This group is co-chaired by Stephen Rice, our City’s Manager of the Office of Economic Development and Dick Franyo, the owner of the Boatyard Bar and Grill. They have been doing amazing work in the few short weeks of their existence. They started off by hosting webinars with an expert consultant for area businesses to alert them to potential federal and state grant and loan programs. Co-chair Franyo generously funded this expense for the business owners in our City who were rightfully confused by all of this. The consultant helped them sort out what they qualified for, what they should apply for, City of Annapolis Page 2 Printed on 6/11/2020 City Council Regular Minutes - Final May 11, 2020 what had to be paid back and how to navigate the state, federal and banking application processes. The next phase has been to hold industry-specific working calls. These calls give business owners the state of play and provide an opportunity to share best practices for reopening. So far, restaurants and lodging have been held and these calls gave participants an idea of what to expect when reopening. For example, on the restaurant calls, owners were told what to expect in terms of capacity, conditions and timing for reopening and ideas for openings and rollouts. On the lodging call, participants learned a little bit of everything, from how to deal with specific housekeeping issues to physical distancing requirements in both hotels and inns. Other industry specific calls are being scheduled for retail, fitness, health and beauty and others. Thank you to Alderwoman Sheila Finlayson for her active engagement in and with the Task Force. If you would like to participate, there is no cost to you or your business. Please reach out to Stephen Rice at smrice@annapolis.gov to be added to the email list. We want people to know that not only will Annapolis reemerge from this crisis, but that the City is a partner in the future success of businesses. The last thing is that we encourage all residents and visitors to our City to be mindful of what the best practices are for keeping yourself, your friends and family and your community safe. Please. Practice physical distancing. Stay six feet apart from people. If you go somewhere and it is full of people – find somewhere else to go. We are getting this guidance from the data, the science and the doctors. Please follow it and don’t rely on the police to enforce behaviors that will help all of us get to the other side of this pandemic as quickly as possible. The city has nine parks with hike and/or bike trails and more than three dozen park locations with sitting benches and water views. It is important to the safety of your family and the others you encounter to follow these physical distancing rules while you are out and about. Governor Hogan’s order to wear a mask or face covering in retail establishments is a good idea for any time you are out, especially if you might not be able to maintain physical distancing at your destination. This virus is tricky. You can be non-symptomatic and be a carrier and transmitter of the virus. Wearing a face covering is smart for you and for the people in our community. The sooner we stop this virus, the sooner we can all get back to work and school and our lives. Annapolis, these are some of the toughest times in the history of our city. We are a tough but resilient people. Together, we will get through this. Please be kind. Please help your neighbor where you can and check in on elderly friends and family. Pick up the phone and call someone you think might be lonely or struggling with the social aspects of isolation. Please think about all the love that is out there in our community. Spread that love. Not the virus. B. Reports by Committee City of Annapolis Page 3 Printed on 6/11/2020 City Council Regular Minutes - Final May 11, 2020 Standing Committee Dates: 5/12/20 Rules and City Government Committee 5/18/20 Housing & Human Welfare Committee 5/20/20 Finance Committee 5/20/20 Environmental Matters Committee C. Finance Committee Report on the Mayor's FY2021 Budget The Finance Committee Report on the Mayor's FY2021 Budget will be provide to the council once received by City Council Associate Green. Alderman Arnett gave a brief overview of the Finance Committee Report on the Mayor's FY2021 Budget. D. Written Testimony from the General Public Speakers: Charles Parker, 141 West Street, Unit 202. Annapolis, Maryland 21401 Alex Pline, 305 Monterey Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Christina Crance, 17 N. Cherry Grove Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Erik Evans, 92 W. Washington Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Christine Kamenoff, 117 Edelmar Drive, Annapolis, Maryland 21403. Erin Dryden, 904 Bank Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21403. Consent Calendar Approval of the Consent Calendar A motion was made by Alderwoman Finlayson to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried:unanimously Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderman Paone, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Rodriguez, Alderman Savidge, Alderman Arnett and Alderman Gay Approval of Journal of Proceedings CCM Special Meeting Minutes 04.27.20 A motion was made by Alderwoman Finlayson to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried:unanimously Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderman Paone, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Rodriguez, Alderman Savidge, Alderman Arnett and Alderman Gay Fund Transfers FT-5-20 General Fund - Contingency Account Transfer From: Contingency Fund ($103,000.00) Transfer To: Purchasing - Supplies and Other ($17,800.00); MIT - Supplies and Other ($15,850.00); P & Z - Supplies and Other ($300.00); Fire - Supplies and Other ($37,250.00); Rec & Parks - Supplies and Other ($400.00); Police - Supplies and Other City of Annapolis Page 4 Printed on 6/11/2020 City Council Regular Minutes - Final May 11, 2020 ($11,150.00); Transportation - Supplies and Other ($2,400.00); PEG - Capital Outlay ($11,050.00); OEMD - Supplies and Other ($6,800.00) A motion was made by Alderwoman Finlayson to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried:unanimously Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderman Paone, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Rodriguez, Alderman Savidge, Alderman Arnett and Alderman Gay Legislative Actions First Readers O-18-20 Institutions for the Care of the Aged - For the purpose of adding Institutions for the Care of the Aged as a permitted use in the PM2 Professional Mixed Office Park district; and establishing bulk regulations subject to specific standards for Institutions for the Care of the Aged. Sponsors: Savidge Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderman Paone, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Rodriguez, Alderman Savidge, Alderman Arnett and Alderman Gay This Ordinance was referred to the Planning Commission. This Ordinance was referred to the Rules & City Government Committee. O-19-20 City Council Public Hearings - For the purpose of clarifying the rules of procedure concerning the scheduling of public hearings before the City Council. Sponsors: Buckley Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderman Paone, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Rodriguez, Alderman Savidge, Alderman Arnett and Alderman Gay This Ordinance was referred to the Rules & City Government Committee. R-29-20 Affordable Housing Task Force - Membership - For the purpose of revising the qualifications for certain members to be appointed to the Task Force. Sponsors: Gay and Buckley Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderman Paone, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Rodriguez, Alderman Savidge, Alderman Arnett and Alderman Gay End of Consent Calendar Public Hearings Cont. O-5-20 City Council Meetings - Order of Business - For the purpose of modifying the City of Annapolis Page 5 Printed on 6/11/2020 City Council Regular Minutes - Final May 11, 2020 order of business for regular and special meetings of the City Council. Sponsors: Savidge and Pindell Charles No one from the public submitted written testimony. Mayor Buckley declared the public hearing left open until Tuesday, May 26, 2020. O-15-20 Waterfront Mixed Maritime District - For the purpose of allowing professional offices in the WMM zoning district in accordance with certain standards; amending certain parking standards; and making stylistic changes.. Sponsors: Arnett Written testimony from the following persons: Larry Belkov, 127 Severn Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21403. C. Christopher Ledoux, 215 Severn Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21403 Alderman Arnett moved to declare the public hearing left open until Monday, June 22, 2020. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. O-16-20 Annual Budget and Appropriation and Property Tax Levy - For the purpose of adopting the City Budget, comprising the Annual Operating Budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, the Capital Budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, the Capital Improvement Program for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, June 30, 2023, June 30, 2024, June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026; appropriating funds for all expenditures for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020, and ending June 30, 2021; levying and imposing a property tax for the use of the City of Annapolis for the taxable year beginning July 1, 2020, and ending June 30,2021; and fixing the rate of the City property tax for the taxable year. Sponsors: Buckley No one from the public submitted written testimony. Mayor Buckley accepted into the record a Memorandum to the Annapolis City Council from the Planning Commission dated May 11, 2020. Mayor Buckley declared the public hearing closed. Public Hearings O-4-20 Plumbing Code - Capital Facilities Payment Plan - For the purpose of establishing a Capital Facilities Payment Plan; identifying eligibility requirements, setting a payment schedule, providing for interest and penalties; making stylistic changes; and generally related to said payment plan. Sponsors: Buckley No one from the public submitted written testimony. City of Annapolis Page 6 Printed on 6/11/2020 City Council Regular Minutes - Final May 11, 2020 Mayor Buckley declared the public hearing closed. O-11-20 City Council Meetings - Attendance - For the purpose of allowing a member of the City Council to attend a regularly scheduled Council meeting by electronic means; placing limitations on remote attendance; and generally related to attending Council meetings remotely. Sponsors: Finlayson No one from the public submitted written testimony. Mayor Buckley declared the public hearing closed. O-12-20 Municipal Infractions - Process - For the purpose of clarifying that municipal infraction enforcement actions are processed through the Office of Law; and making stylistic changes. Sponsors: Tierney No one from the public submitted written testimony. Mayor Buckley declared the public hearing closed. O-13-20 Sidewalk Signs - For the purpose of extending the sidewalk sign permit fee waiver to a date certain. Sponsors: Tierney No one from the public submitted written testimony. Mayor Buckley declared the public hearing closed. O-14-20 Parking Spaces Reserved for Plug-in Electric Drive Vehicles - For the purpose of establishing reserved parking spaces for plug-in electric drive vehicles; creating certain definitions; establishing penalties; and making stylistic changes. Sponsors: Savidge and Tierney No one from the public submitted written testimony. Mayor Buckley declared the public hearing closed. O-17-20 Unsafe Structures - Placarding - For the purpose of authorizing the Fire Department to placard certain residential and nonresidential structures that have been designated as unfit for human habitation or unsafe; and making stylistic changes. Sponsors: Buckley and Tierney No one from the public submitted written testimony. Mayor Buckley declared the public hearing closed. R-26-20 Fiscal Year 2021 Fees Schedule - For the purpose of specifying fees that will be City of Annapolis Page 7 Printed on 6/11/2020 City Council Regular Minutes - Final May 11, 2020 charged for the use of City services for Fiscal Year 2021; and providing for a delayed effective date. Sponsors: Buckley No one from the public submitted written testimony. Mayor Buckley declare the public hearing closed. R-27-20 Fiscal Year 2021 Fines Schedule - For the purpose of specifying fines that will be charged for Fiscal Year 2021; and providing for a delayed effective date. No one from the public submitted written testimony. Mayor Buckley declared the public hearing closed. Legislative Action First Readers CA-1-20 Deputy City Manager for Resilience and Sustainability - For the purpose of establishing the position of Deputy City Manager for Resilience and Sustainability; defining qualifications and responsibilities, providing for certain terms of employment and compensation, providing for a line of authority, updating the powers and duties of the City Manager, and generally related to the Deputy City Manager. Sponsors: Buckley, Savidge, Rodriguez, Pindell Charles and Arnett City Manager Jarrell was present and answered questions from the council. Alderwoman Pindell Charles moved to adopt CA-1-20 on first reader. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Mayor Buckley referred the Rules & City Government Committee. Alderman Savidge referred to the Environmental Commission. Alderman Savidge referred to the Environmental Matters Committee. O-20-20 Deputy City Manager for Resilience and Sustainability - For the purpose of establishing the position of Deputy City Manager for Resilience and Sustainability; providing for certain terms of employment and compensation; clarifying duties and responsibilities; transferring certain environmental programs and activities, and generally related to establishing the Deputy City Manager for Resilience and Sustainability position. Sponsors: Buckley, Savidge, Rodriguez, Pindell Charles and Arnett Alderman Arnett moved to adopt O-20-20 on first reader. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Mayor Buckley referred to the Finance Committee. City of Annapolis Page 8 Printed on 6/11/2020 City Council Regular Minutes - Final May 11, 2020 Alderman Savidge referred to the Environmental Commission. Mayor Buckley referred to the Economic Matters Committee. Mayor Buckley referred to the Housing and Human Welfare Committee. Mayor Buckley referred to the Rules & City Government Committee. Mayor Buckley referred to the Transportation Committee. Alderman Savidge referred to the Environmental Matters Committee. R-28-20 State of Emergency - For the purpose of extending the termination date of the Declaration of State of Emergency for the City of Annapolis issued on March 12, 2020. Sponsors: Buckley Alderwoman Finlayson moved to adopt R-28-20 on first reader. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Alderman Gay moved to suspend the rules to allow passage of resolution at the meeting of its introduction. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderman Paone, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Rodriguez, Alderman Savidge, Alderman Arnett and Alderman Gay Alderwoman Pindell Charles moved to adopt R-28-20 on second reader. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderman Paone, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Rodriguez, Alderman Savidge, Alderman Arnett and Alderman Gay Second Readers O-2-20 Youth Development Commission - For the purpose of establishing a Youth Development Commission; creating certain definitions; identifying the responsibilities and composition of the Commission; and generally relating to the Youth Development Commission. Sponsors: Gay, Rodriguez, Pindell Charles, Buckley and Tierney Alderwoman Pindell Charles moved to adopt O-2-20 on second reader. Seconded. Alderman Savidge moved to amend O-2-20 as follows: AMENDMENT 1: On page 1, strike line 45 in its entirety down through “(B)” in line 1 of page 2. On page 4, in lines 12 through 13 strike “AN INDIVIDUAL IN THE MAYOR’S OFFICE SHALL BE DESIGNATED” and substitute “THE MAYOR SHALL DESIGNATE AN INDIVIDUAL City of Annapolis Page 9 Printed on 6/11/2020 City Council Regular Minutes - Final May 11, 2020 FROM THE MAYOR’S STAFF” AMENDMENT 2: On page 2, in line 40 strike “DEPARTMENT OF” and in the same line after “RESOURCES” insert “OFFICE. AMENDMENT 3: On page 3, in line 27 strike "ONE YEAR" and substitute "TWO YEARS" Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Alderwoman Pindell Charles moved to adopt O-2-20 as amended.second reader Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Alderwoman Pindell Charles moved to adopt O-2-20 on third reader. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderman Paone, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Rodriguez, Alderman Savidge, Alderman Arnett and Alderman Gay Alderwoman Pindell Charles requested her name be added as a co-sponsor of the ordinance. Alderwoman Tierney requested her name be added as a co-sponsor of the ordinance. O-11-19 R2-NC District - Demolitions - For the purpose of requiring a structural analysis prior to demolition of a residential structure or building in the R2-NC, Single-Family Residential Neighborhood Conservation District; requiring execution of a contract between the city and a structural engineer prior to demolition; and generally relating to the demolition of a residential structure or building in the R2-NC District. Sponsors: Arnett Alderman Arnett moved to postpone O-11-19 on second reader until Monday, May 26, 2020. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. O-19-19 Adequate Public Facilities - Auto transportation facilities - For the purpose of clarifying the circumstances that would require a traffic impact analysis for a proposed project; clarifying the standards to be used to determine adequacy; and generally relating to the adequacy of auto transportation facilities. Sponsors: Arnett, Savidge and Gay City Manger Jarrell was present and answered questions from council. Alderman Arnett moved to postpone O-19-19 on second reader until Monday, June 22, 2020. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. R-22-20 Alcoholic Beverages - Consumption on City Property - For the purpose of establishing an annual cap on fees assessed in any one year for the consumption of alcoholic beverages on City property for certain applicants. City of Annapolis Page 10 Printed on 6/11/2020 City Council Regular Minutes - Final May 11, 2020 Sponsors: Tierney Alderwoman Tierney moved to adopt R-22-20 on second reader. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderman Paone, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Rodriguez, Alderman Savidge, Alderman Arnett and Alderman Gay R-23-20 Filing of FY 2021 Grant Application with the Maryland Transit Administration - For the purpose of authorizing the filing of an application with the Maryland Transit Administration of the Maryland Department of Transportation for Section 5303, 5304, 5307, 5309, 5310, 5311, 5316 and 5317 grants under the Federal Transit Act for a total amount of $2,778,950 consisting of $1,306,291 for fixed route transit operations; $189,299 for ADA complementary paratransit services; $427,500 capital grant for transit vehicle maintenance; $699,286 capital grant for the purchase of two heavy duty replacement buses, and $156,574 capital assistance for the purchase of skylift. Sponsors: Buckley, Tierney and Pindell Charles Transportation Director Gordon and City Manager Jarrell were present and answered questions from council. Alderwoman Pindell Charles moved to adopt R-23-20 on second reader. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 7- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderman Paone, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Rodriguez and Alderman Arnett Nay: 1- Alderman Gay Abstain: 1- Alderman Savidge Alderwoman Pindell Charles requested her name be added as a co-sponsor of the resolution. Adjournment Upon motion duly made, seconded and adopted, the meeting was adjourned at 9:07 p.m. Regina C.Watkins-Eldridge, MMC City Clerk City of Annapolis Page 11 Printed on 6/11/2020