City Council

160 Duke Of Gloucester City of Annapolis Street Annapolis, MD 21401 Regular Meeting Minutes - Final City Council Monday, June 10, 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 Alderwoman Pindell Charles. Present: 8- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett Absent: 1- Alderwoman Tierney Pledge of Allegiance Led by Mayor Buckley. Roll Call Tonight's roll call began with Alderman Arnett. Present: 8- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett Absent: 1- Alderwoman Tierney Approval of Agenda Alderman Schandelmeier moved to approve as amended to remove ID-104-24 Annapolis Peace March. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 8- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett Absent: 1- Alderwoman Tierney ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL CLOSED SESSION: Authority under Annotated Code of Maryland, GENERAL PROVISIONS, Section § 3-305(b) (9) Closed Session Statement: City of Annapolis Page 1 Printed on 7/11/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final June 10, 2024 Pursuant to the requirement of the Annotated Code of Maryland, General Provisions Article, § 3-305(b) (9) This statement is included in these minutes: A closed session of the City Council was held at 12:05 pm., Monday, June 3, 2024 in the Mayor John T. Chambers, Jr., City Council Chamber. Present: Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, Alderwoman O’Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge, and Alderman Arnett. \Staff Present: City Manager Mallinoff, Assistant City Manager Buckland, Assistant City Attorney Berger, Finance Director Dickinson, Budget Manager Connolly, Human Resources Manager Hopkins, Fire Chief Remaley, Transportation Director Moore, City Council Associate Jackson, Recreation and Parks Director Johnson, City Attorney Lyles, Deputy City Manager Guild, Budget Analysis Turner, and City Clerk Watkins-Eldridge. Outside Counsel Present: Garrett Woznak, 1945 Old Gallows Road, Suite #650, Vienna, VA 22182. A voice vote was taken by the members present, and the session was closed. The authority under which the session was closed was the Annotated Code of Maryland, General Provisions Article, § 3-305(b) (9). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss matters related to collective bargaining negotiations. No Actions/Votes were taken in closed session. Upon motion duly made, seconded and adopted, the closed session was adjourned at 2:32 p.m. Citations ID-103-24 B2G Learning Center & Bay Ridge Graduates -- Tiona Robinson, Fran Hinson, Nicole Kelley Mayor Buckley presented the citation. ID-105-24 African Diaspora Festival 2024 Mayor Buckley presented the citation. PETITIONS, REPORTS & COMMUNICATIONS Update from Mayor Good evening. Annapolis Fire Chief Doug Remaley has asked me to share some unfortunate news. Patricia Heiberger, who worked in the office at Fire Headquarters, passed away unexpectedly on Friday. City of Annapolis Page 2 Printed on 7/11/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final June 10, 2024 She started with the City of Annapolis in the Fire Marshal's Office in 2023 and was recently promoted to Office Associate. Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts during this difficult period. [moment of silence] == I want to acknowledge the work of the City Dock Team for our very successful community event on May 30 where we showcased updated designs for features of the new City Dock Park, a new street-end park on Prince George Street, restoration of the Burtis House, and new Harbormaster and visitor facilities known as the Maritime Welcome Center. We are a historic port city with a 300-year-old working harbor. In the past few decades, flooding has become both more frequent, and more intense. The urgency of flooding is not debatable. Projections show it will only get worse. Planning for resilience and flood protection was the challenge posed in 2019 when the City Council appointed the City Dock Action Committee. We knew this challenge was difficult, but we also knew that it presented an opportunity - to both protect our historic district and create a world-class public space. The City Dock Action Committee first came up with a plan for resilience through an elevated park - some six to eight feet above the current level. This earthen 2 berm – in other words, the park itself – is the heart of our resiliency plan, with flood gates and barriers installed for additional protection. This part of the project has been reviewed by the Council and approved by the Planning and Historic Preservation Commissions, and we are ready to start the work in November. The funding, nearly 90 percent of it, is already secured. It comes from multiple sources: the concession payment from the garage rebuild, FEMA and other federal grants, as well as federal and state earmarks. It took a lot of work over the past five years to get there: developing partnerships, thinking creatively, advocating for ideas; and persisting in applying for grants. I am very proud that our teams have secured more than $80 million for both City Dock and Compromise Street resiliency. I repeat: this work is 90 percent funded. These funds can only be used for flood protection and resiliency, so if we don’t use it, we lose it. City of Annapolis Page 3 Printed on 7/11/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final June 10, 2024 Another opportunity this project gives us is to upgrade our harbormaster’s office - which must be demolished to make way for flood protection. The current bathrooms and boater amenities are also in desperate need of improvement. A new harbormaster office on the water is more than practical - it is essential. They are responsible for maritime safety in Annapolis waterways. They require views to the water, and they deserve up to date facilities and technology – which they cannot get from a storefront on Dock Street. Building a new Harbormaster Office presents us with yet another opportunity – to create enhanced visitor facilities including public restrooms, showers and boater amenities. This will be a public space that provides visitor information, educational experiences, and water access. The new building is just 2300 square feet, about the size of a standard Annapolis home. It will sit adjacent to, but separate from the Burtis House. The new building will provide ADA features to the Burtis House, which can’t be accommodated at Burtis, including handicap accessible bathrooms and an elevator to get visitors to and from the second floor of both buildings. The Welcome Center has been 3 specifically designed to enhance the Burtis House experience while preserving the historic nature of that structure. Since before European colonists landed here, this area survived on the bounty of the Bay. Tying that history into these structures was an idea that our architects brought forward. They suggested an outdoor waterman’s co-op to connect the Annapolis story. It gives us another opportunity: to tell that history inside the Burtis House and then bring that history to life in the Welcome Center. It will provide a uniquely Annapolis visitor experience and showcase another side of our history that has been neglected. The conference rooms in the new building will provide additional City office space – which has also been built into other municipal structures like the new Department of Public Works on Hudson Street. The City desperately needs additional meeting space. But, it could be flexible enough for safe boating classes, Coast Guard trainings, or even to rent for outside meetings, classes or City of Annapolis Page 4 Printed on 7/11/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final June 10, 2024 trainings. The Welcome Center cost is projected at $10 million, including those required ADA connections to the Burtis House. For reference, our new DPW building cost a lot more than $10 million and is not a waterfront structure with public amenities. I’ll finish by saying again that flooding downtown is destructive and growing worse. It halts commercial activity and threatens the future viability of Annapolis as both a proud American capital city and as a destination for locals and tourists alike. The time to act is now and let’s have the imagination to do it in ways that enhance public space and water access for every resident and visitor. When people learn the facts about the City Dock project, they overwhelmingly support it. I hope that tonight, I’ve helped clarify some of what was explained at the workshop on May 30. == 4 I want to thank and acknowledge everyone who made Annapolis Pride a success on June 1. There was a new route for the parade and a new location for the festival this year, but organizers estimated that the total number of participants doubled over last year’s participation, showcasing Annapolis as a tolerant, kind, and loving place to be. I thank Alderwoman O’Neill, as acting Mayor, for leading the City in the parade and making opening remarks for the festival. == A reminder for next week: on Wednesday, June 19, City offices will be closed in observance of Juneteenth, also known as America’s second Independence Day. Pip Moyer Center and Stanton Center will also be closed. The Department of Recreation and Parks will host a Juneteenth Celebration and Concert at Annapolis Maritime Museum and Carr’s/Elktonia Heritage Park and locations on Edgewood and Bembe Beach Roads. Accessible parking is available at Ellen O Moyer Park, otherwise, those who wished to attend are asked to park at City of Annapolis Page 5 Printed on 7/11/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final June 10, 2024 Bay Forest Shopping Center, Hillsmere Elementary School and Pal Park, then take the free shuttle to the event. There will be food trucks and bands reviving the Sounds of Carrs Beach with oldies and a Motown Review. Please bring along a chair to sit in or a beach blanket. The following Saturday, June 22, there will be a Juneteenth parade and festival in Annapolis. The festival location is the same as last year, at Bates Athletic - behind Maryland Hall – but the parade has a new route. It will step off at noon at St. John’s Street and Calvert Street. The route will take parade marchers up Calvert Street to West Street, then to Amos Garret Blvd and on to Maryland Hall. Annapolis Police will close roads along the route on a rolling basis. Please be alert to Annapolis police direction. 5 The festival is free and open to the public with live music, children’s activities, and food for sale. Happy Juneteenth! == I want to acknowledge that Alderwoman Elly Tierney remains both a City of Annapolis resident and a sitting, elected member of the Council. We could no sooner call a special election to fill her seat than we could call an election to fill the seat of any member who hasn’t yet resigned. The Alderwoman informed this council that the house sale that fueled a recent demand for a special election fell through, meaning the offer on the other end fell through too. She’s not going anywhere just yet and we’re lucky to have her and will take her for as long as we can get. == And lastly, Father’s Day is next weekend and I hope that all the dads and granddads out there have a great celebration with their loved ones! Happy Father’s Day! Reports by Committees Standing Committee Meeting Dates: Transportation Committee Regular Meetings City of Annapolis Page 6 Printed on 7/11/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final June 10, 2024 June 12, 2024, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Environmental Matters Committee Regular Meeting June 13, 2024, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Comments by the General Public Speakers Comments from the General Public: Rachel S. Griffin, 1202 Bay Highland Drive, Annapolis, Maryland 21403. Karen Brown, 2 Ridge Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Amanda Hurt Fegley, 238 Prince George Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Lisa Hillman and Former Mayor Hillman, 4 Randall Court, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Kate McDermott, 50 Franklin Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Bill Kardash, 17 South Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. John Hammond, 141 Monticello Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Mayor declared comments from the general public closed. CONSENT CALENDAR Approval of the Consent Calendar A motion was made by Alderman Arnett to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried:unanimously Approval of Journal Proceedings CCM 5.13.24 Regular Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Alderman Arnett to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried:unanimously CCM 5.28.24 Special Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Alderman Arnett to approve the Consent Calendar. The motion carried:unanimously End of Consent Calendar BUSINESS & MISCELLANEOUS Fund Transfers - $50,000 and Higher FT-8-24 General Fund - Forfeiture and Asset Seizure Fund and Reforestation Fund Alderwoman O'Neill moved to approve FT-8-24. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Annual Towing License Renewal ID-100-24 Towing License Application for JP Towing Service, LLC City of Annapolis Page 7 Printed on 7/11/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final June 10, 2024 Alderman Schandelmeier moved to approve ID-100-24 Towing License Application for JP Towing Service, LLC. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. ID-101-24 Towing License Application for Top Notch Towing and Transport, LLC Alderman Schandelmeier moved to approve ID-101-24 Towing License Application for Top Notch Towing and Transport, LLC. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. LEGISLATIVE ACTION SECOND READERS Resolutions R-15-24 FY 2025 Annual Fees Schedule - For the purpose of specifying fees that will be charged for the use of City services for Fiscal Year 2025; and providing an effective date. Sponsors: Buckley Alderman Arnett moved to amend R-15-24 as follows: Amendment - Buckley: 4.44.100 Late fee charged for all campaign reports, including amended reports, that are required to be submitted during the election year $ 20.00/day/report Maximum late fee for reports required during the election year. $500.00/report. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Alderman Schandelmeier moved to adopt R-15-24 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 R-17-24 FY 2025 Position Classifications and Pay Plan - For the purpose of approving the Fiscal Year 2025 annual position classifications and pay plan; and specifying an effective date. Sponsors: Buckley Alderman Schandelmeier moved to amend R-17-24 as follows: Finance Director Dickinson was present and answered questions from the council. City of Annapolis Page 8 Printed on 7/11/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final June 10, 2024 AMENDMENT NO. 6 In the position classification, on page 3, strike “Traffic Engineer” and substitute “Sustainable Mobility Engineer”. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Alderman Schandelmeier moved to adopt R-17-24 as amended on second reader. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 7- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett Nay: 2- Alderwoman Tierney and Alderwoman O'Neill Ordinances O-7-24 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, 2025, the Capital Budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, the Capital Improvement Program for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, June 30, 2027, June 30, 2028, June 30, 2029, and June 30, 2030; appropriating funds for all expenditures for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025; levying and imposing a property tax for the use of the City of Annapolis for the taxable year beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025; and fixing the rate of the City property tax for the taxable year. Sponsors: Buckley Alderman Schandelmeier moved to amend O-7-24 as follows: AMENDMENT NO. 50 On page 1, in line 38, strike “114,890,850” and substitute “116,681,245”, and on page 2, line 11, strike “4,233,471” and substitute “4,276,619”; and on page 4, in line 10, strike “1,679,000” and substitute “2,080,000”, in line 14, strike “1,097,900” and substitute “1,103,900”, in line 15, strike “299,200” and substitute “694,200” and on pages 5 and 6, renumber items listed in Section 22 from numbers “6 through 55” to numbers “6 through 64” and on page 7, in line 11, strike “423,750” and substitute “$428,750”; and In Appendix A, in line 12, strike “1,142,000 and substitute “1,076,800”, in line 14, strike “358,250” and substitute “464,450”, in line 15, strike “1,576,650” and substitute “1,887,650”, in line 16, strike “1,576,650” and substitute “1,887,650”, in line 22, strike “1,895,850 and substitute “1,945,850”, in line 23, strike”1,895,850” and substitute “1,945,850 in line 35, strike “123,200” and substitute “244,700”, in line 37, strike “1,195,100” and substitute “1,444,600”, in line 40, strike “352,000”, and substitute “492,000”, and in line 42, strike “26,000”, and substitute City of Annapolis Page 9 Printed on 7/11/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final June 10, 2024 “278,000”, and in line 43, strike “416,000” and substitute “808,000”, and in line 51, strike “2,527,800” and substitute “3,169,300”, and in line 57, strike “616,100” and substitute “306,100”, and in line 71, strike “3,492,400” and substitute “3,182,400”, and in line 77, strike “1,514,900”, and substitute “1,563,900”, and in line 99, strike “423,750” and substitute “428,750”, and in line 78, strike “1,514,900”, and substitute “1,563,900”, and in line 103, strike “6,568,650” and substitute “6,617,445”, and in line 104, strike “181,250”, and substitute “347,250”, and in line 106, strike “22,034,650” and substitute “22,254,445”; and in line 107, strike “22,034,650”, and substitute “22,254,445”, and in line 111, strike “247,300” and substitute “322,300”, and in line 112, strike “318,750”, and substitute “321,750”, and in line 114, strike “5,457,050” and substitute “5,535,050”, and in line 115, strike “5,457,050” and substitute “5,535,050”, and in line 118, strike “26,126,300”, and substitute “25,991,700”, and in line 120, strike “1,034,900” and substitute “1,214,900”, and in line 122, strike “29,768,300” and substitute “29,813,700”, and in line 123, strike “29,768,300” and substitute “29,813,700” and in line 137, strike “640,100” and substitute “762,300” and in line 138, strike “640,100” and substitute “762,300” and in line 150, strike “19,200” and substitute “359,200” and in line 151, strike “1,441,800” and substitute “1,980,300” and in line 171, strike “7,160,450” and substitute “7,698,950” and in line 229, strike “6,665,400” and substitute “6,710,400”, and in line 231, strike “114,890,850” and substitute “116,681,245; and In Appendix B, after line 31, in the Total column insert “18,548”; in County Grants, in line 38, strike “450,000” and substitute “493,148”, and in Total, in line 38, strike “4,233,471”, and substitute “4,276,619”; and In Appendix C, in line 10, strike “20,371,100”, and substitute “20,579,700”; in line 14, strike “3,710,850” and substitute “3,719,545”, and in line 15, strike “3,114,400” and substitute “4,488,900”, in line 16, strike “114,890,950”, and substitute “116,681,245” in line 28, strike “4,233,471” and substitute “4,276,619” and in line 85, strike “2,254,000” and substitute “2,655,000” and in line 86 strike “2,254,000” and substitute “2,655,000.” Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Alderman Schandelmeier moved to adopt O-7-24 as amended on second reader. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Alderman Schandelmeier moved to adopt O-7-24 on third reader. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: City of Annapolis Page 10 Printed on 7/11/2024 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final June 10, 2024 Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderwoman Tierney, 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 8:25 pm. Regina C. Watkins-Eldridge, MMC City Clerk City of Annapolis Page 11 Printed on 7/11/2024