City Council

160 Duke Of Gloucester City of Annapolis Street Annapolis, MD 21401 Regular Meeting Minutes - Final City Council Monday, March 11, 2024 7:00 PM Mayor John T. Chambers, Jr. City Council Chambers Regular Meeting Call To Order Mayor Buckley called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Invocation Given by Alderman Schandelmeier. Pledge of Allegiance Led by Mayor Buckley. Roll Call Tonight's roll call began with Alderwoman Tierney. Present: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett Approval of Agenda Alderman Arnett moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. PETITIONS, REPORTS & COMMUNICATIONS Update from Mayor "Céad Mile Fáilte" [Kade Mi-la fall-Cha] or “a thousand welcomes” in Irish. This week we will welcome thousands of revelers to Annapolis to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a parade and a three-day long party on City Dock presented by Naptown events. You can check their website for details. I’d like thank all of our city staff who work to assist the organizers and keep public safety at the top of the priority list, including police, fire, OEM, DPW, special events, law office, harbormaster, and communications. Thank you to our amazing City of Annapolis team. The St. Patrick’s parade kicks off a season of parades in Annapolis with the Dr. King Parade in April, Memorial Day in May, Pride and Juneteenth in June City of Annapolis Page 1 Printed on 4/9/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final March 11, 2024 and Independence Day in July. I’ll be out on Sunday with members of the City Council and other City staff. Our float has been designed by the Jóvenes Artistas (HO-venas Artistas) students and teachers at Maryland Hall and we are so grateful for their wonderful ideas and partnership. Please come out and say hello and enjoy this great day in Annapolis. == To our Muslim residents, we would like to first acknowledge that yesterday was the first day of Ramadan, a month-long celebration of when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhamed more than 1,400 years ago. It is one of the holiest months of the year and we wish our Muslim residents a restorative Ramadan. == This past weekend, Anne Arundel County, the Chase Your Dreams initiative, the City’s No Harm team and dozens of government, non-profit and commercial partners teamed up for a Gun Violence Prevention Weekend for two days of events including workshops, mentorship, peer-to-peer resources, a teen summit panel and a celebrity basketball game. I want to thank Corin Makell and Adetola Ajayi for bringing a busload of young people from Annapolis to this event, which took place in Severn, and also for coordinating the teen discussion panel which was largely made up of teen participants from the City’s No Harm Violence Prevention Program. Gun violence is a problem that does not have a one-size-fits all solution. Bringing a community of people together to look at the drivers, to think through the problem and come up with solutions – that is a big deal and I thank the county and everyone involved in this weekend’s event. Let’s keep up the momentum and make sure that good work counts toward a better future for all families in our community. == Another event that I’d like to highlight is the Origin screening and panel discussion presented by Annapolis Recreation and Parks on the last day of Black History Month. First, what a powerful film. It was out in limited release in February and will have a wider release, including streaming, starting tomorrow. Please watch the movie and then revisit the video of the panel discussion which is up on the Recreation and Parks Facebook page. Thank you to Director Johnson and her team for making this happen. == This coming Saturday (can you believe it?) will be time to burn some socks at the annual oyster roast and sock burning at the Annapolis Maritime Museum. City of Annapolis Page 2 Printed on 4/9/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final March 11, 2024 This rite of spring dates all the way back to the 1970s as people burned their nasty winter socks as a welcome to the boating season here in sailing’s capital city. == Last note is that the City Council’s next meeting will move to Tuesday, March 26 because Monday is Maryland Day and city offices are closed. Happy Maryland Day. Please be sure to check the Maryland Day website for fun, free, and deeply discounted events and activities for the whole family, including museum entrance, exhibits and events not only in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, but around the state. That same week is Good Friday and City offices will be closed in observance. On behalf of the council, I’d like to wish our residents a Happy Easter! Reports by Committees Standing Committee Dates: Transportation Committee Regular Meetings March 13, 2024, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Environmental Matters Committee Regular Meeting March 14, 2024, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Rules and City Government Special Meeting March 15, 2024, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Housing & Human Welfare Committee Regular Meeting March 18, 2024, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Finance Committee Regular Meeting March 20, 2024, 10:30 AM - 12:30 P Comments by the General Public Comments: Speakers: Spencer Jones. 8130 North Forest Park, Crofton, Maryland 21114. Jeffrey Buddle, 28 Lafayette Avenue, Unit B, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Grant Walker, 1579 Ritchie Lane, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Joe Pilat, 1790 Forest Drive, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Alice Johnson, 315 Bloomsbury Square, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Jenifer Sowers, 69 West Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Shelly McFadyen, 1656 Foolish Pleasure Court, Annapolis, Maryland 21409. Finance Director Dickinson was present and answered questions from the Council. Mayor Buckley declared comments from the general public closed. CONSENT CALENDAR Approval of Journal Proceedings Approval of the Consent Calendar City of Annapolis Page 3 Printed on 4/9/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final March 11, 2024 A motion was made by Alderman Arnett to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried:unanimously CCM 2.12.24 Regular Meeting Minutes Alderman Arnett moved to approve CCM 2.12.24. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett CCM 2.26.24 Special Meeting Minutes Alderman Arnett moved to approve CCM 2.26.24. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett Supplemental Appropriations Under $50,000 SA-26-24 General - Department of Planning & Zoning - Community Legacy Fund Alderman Arnett moved to approve SA-26-24. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett SA-27-24 General - Department of Planning & Zoning - Contributions from Impact Study Fee Alderman Arnett moved to approve SA-27-24 removed from the Consent Calendar. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. End of Consent Calendar BUSINESS & MISCELLANEOUS Appointments AP-3-24 Appointment - Brendan Greeley - Historic Preservation Commission Alderman Gay moved to approve AP-3-24 and AP-4-24 jointly. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. AP-4-24 Nominations - Commission to Plan Celebrations for the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America Appointments Alderman Gay moved to approve AP-4-24 and AP-3-24 jointly. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. City of Annapolis Page 4 Printed on 4/9/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final March 11, 2024 PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinances O-2-24 Hours for Tolson Street Park and Tucker Street Park - For the purpose of limiting public access to Tolson Street Park and Tucker Street Park at night; closing those parks to the public between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.; and generally related to public peace and order in City parks. Sponsors: O'Neill Mayor Buckley declared the public hearing on O-2-24 Closed. O-26-23 Forest Conservation Plan Appeals - For the purpose of closing a loophole in the Forest Conservation Plan provisions of the City Code concerning forest clearing; changing the Forest Conservation Plan appeals body from the Building Board of Appeals to the Board of Appeals; and generally related to the Maryland Forest Conservation Act and Planned Unit Development regulations. Sponsors: Savidge Alderman Savidge moved to postpone the public hearing on O-26-23 until the planning Commission findings have been received by the council. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. LEGISLATIVE ACTION FIRST READERS O-4-24 Residency Requirement for Liquor Licensees Repeal - For the purpose of eliminating the residency requirement for receiving a City of Annapolis liquor license in accordance with state law; and generally dealing with license applications. Sponsors: Buckley Alderman Gay moved to adopt O-4-24 on first reader. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Mayor Buckley referred O-4-24 to the Economic Matters Committee. SECOND READERS Ordinances O-32-23 Short-term Rental Licenses and Regulations - For the purpose of clarifying and limiting local eligibility requirements for a short-term rental operator’s license; providing definitions; making technical corrections; and generally relating to a rental operator’s license. City of Annapolis Page 5 Printed on 4/9/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final March 11, 2024 Sponsors: Savidge, Arnett, O'Neill and Tierney Alderman Savidge moved to postpone O-32-23 on second reader until April 8, 2024. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. O-1-24 City Building Code Updates - For the purpose of adapting the City building codes to Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), Maryland statutes, and Maryland state building requirements and recommendations; integrating the model codes into City Code; modifying state and national recommendations to best fit the local needs of Annapolis; and generally dealing with City Code updates for building and construction. Sponsors: Schandelmeier Alderman Arnett moved to adopt O-1-24 on second reader. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Alderman Arnett moved to adopt O-1-24 on third reader. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett Resolutions R-6-24 Fees Schedule Updated for Ordinance 30-23 - For the purpose of raising the parking fees for residents living in Special Residential Parking Districts. Alderman Arnett moved to adopt R-6-24 on second reader. Seconded. Finance Director Dickinson was present and answered questions from the council. Alderwoman Tierney moved to amend R-6-24 as follows: Amendment #1: On page 1 strike line 27 in its entirety and insert the following: At an address with no off-street parking: Special Residential Parking Districts 1 & 2 One vehicle $ 55.00/year Second vehicle $ 75.00/year Third vehicle $150.00/year Fourth vehicle & each additional vehicle $275.00/year/vehicle Special Residential Parking Districts 3,4,5 One vehicle $55.00/year Second vehicle $55.00/year Third vehicle & each additional vehicle $75.00/year At an address with off-street parking: Special Residential Parking Districts 1 & 2 One vehicle $ 75.00/year Second vehicle $100.00/year City of Annapolis Page 6 Printed on 4/9/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final March 11, 2024 Third vehicle $200.00/year Fourth vehicle & each additional vehicle $350.00/year/vehicle Special Residential Parking Districts 3,4,5 One vehicle $ 55.00/year Second vehicle $ 55.00/year Third vehicle & each additional vehicle $100.00/year/vehicle. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Alderman Schandelmeier moved to adopt R-6-24 as amended on second reader. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett Alderman Savidge - Cosponsor Added R-9-24 City-supported Special Events in Fiscal Year 2025 - For the purpose of identifying annual City events and City-supported events in Fiscal Year 2025; and waiving certain fees for City-supported events. Alderman Arnett moved to adopt R-9-24 on second reader. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett R-10-24 Temporary Moratorium on City Consideration of Applications by Businesses Related to the Cannabis Industry - For the purpose of adopting a temporary moratorium on the processing, review, and approval of applications, site plans, permits, and other authorizations for the location, construction, and selling of cannabis for nine months to allow the City sufficient time to enact reasonable, thoughtful, and lawful zoning requirements and other regulations pertaining thereto as deemed necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. Alderwoman O'Neill moved to adopt R-10-24 on second reader. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 8- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett Nay: 1- Alderman Gay ADJOURNMENT Upon motion duly made, seconded and adopted, the Regular Meeting was adjourned at 8:03 pm. Regina C. Watkins-Eldridge, MMC City Clerk City of Annapolis Page 7 Printed on 4/9/2024