City Council

160 Duke Of Gloucester City of Annapolis Street Annapolis, MD 21401 Regular Meeting Minutes - Final City Council Monday, March 10, 2025 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 Huntley. Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Tonight's Roll Call began with Alderman Savidge. Present: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderman Huntley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett Approval of Agenda Mayor Buckley moved to APPROVE the AGENDA as AMENDED to CHANGE THE AGENDA ORDER TO ALLOW: Legislative Action on Second reader for resolution R-11-25 Director of Finance--Brittany Moran on second reader to be heard RIGHT AFTER - COMMENTS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Ceremonial Items ID-53-25 Citation: Eastport Volunteer Fire Company & IAFF Local 1926 Union This Ceremonial Item was presented. PETITIONS, REPORTS & COMMUNICATIONS City of Annapolis Page 1 Printed on 4/28/2025 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final March 10, 2025 Update from Mayor Good evening - firstly tonight, thank you to everyone who came out over the weekend to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Annapolis. Thank you to our public safety teams and special events coordinator for their efforts to keep everything running safely and smoothly for the Hooley, Shamrock the Dock, and yesterday’s parade. It was another great weekend of celebration and a great kickoff to our annual parade season. We had amazing weather and streets packed with families and people of all ages. Thank you all for coming out! I’d also like to thank Ald. Harry Huntley and Ald. Sheila Finlayson for marching with me. Believe it or not, it was a first for both of them! Finally, thank you also to all the staff who contributed to the City’s float – it was a real team effort between the Department of Transportation, Recreation & Parks, and the Mayor’s Office! I was particularly proud to showcase images of the new City Dock park where we very much look forward to celebrating St Patrick’s Day in years to come. My favorite comment of the day was a young girl who called to her mom as we passed: “Mom, will you take me there when it’s built?” Next up in our spring ‘parade season’ is the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade on April 12. We hope to see you there! ================= Last week I was also pleased to celebrate the groundbreaking of the long-awaited transformation of the Skate Park at Truxtun. We got yet another beautiful sunny day and more importantly, we got to give a family some closure. Back in 2021, the Barish family lost their son Tameron just shy of his 21st birthday. Tameron loved to skate and was a regular at the Truxtun Skate Park. It was his space to express himself, push limits and be free. The Rec and Parks staff knew him by name and Tameron regularly did his part to keep the skate park tidy and skateable. After his passing, his sister Teegan, organized a Go Fund Me in Tameron’s name to raise money for the refurbishment of the Skate Park. She raised more than $50,000 which became the seed money to get this project started. She sought another $50,000 from the State of Maryland, which Del. Dana Jones was able to secure in bond funding. The City then kicked in the remaining funds and I want to thank Director Roslyn Johnson, her team at Rec and Parks, and Civil Engineer Donavan Harold in Public Works, and everyone involved in bringing this project to fruition. I’d also like to acknowledge the designer Dave Bernier, and Pure Board Shop for gathering community input; and Pillar Design Studios for using that input to create the design. City of Annapolis Page 2 Printed on 4/28/2025 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final March 10, 2025 The skate park should be ready to use by late spring and we thank the Barish family for turning their unimaginable pain into something that gives young people in our community hope for the future. ==== The Skate Park is the latest in a series of Truxtun upgrades that include our new municipal pool, new pickleball and tennis courts and, very soon, new lights, improved trails and parking, and a new boardwalk to Eastport! We are pleased to make all these enhancements to improve quality of life for all! == On Wednesday March 12, the City’s Naptown Anti-Dope Movement team will host another Expungement Clinic. This time we will be at the Robinwood community recreation center at 1469 Tyler Ave from 1-4pm. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with legal counsel to file and complete expungement paperwork onsite, which can open the pathway to jobs, education opportunities, and much more. They will also be able to connect with health, education, and career service providers, and much more. This event is in partnership with the Maryland Department of Labor, Community Legal Services and the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis. It will also be advertised on the City’s social pages. == Since our last meeting, the City also passed a critical milestone. At the end of February, the Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved Phase Two of the City Dock plan, including the Maritime Welcome Center and the new “Vince Leggett Park” at the end of Prince George Street. Importantly, Phase Two is a necessary part of downtown flood prevention – it will ensure there is continuous protection from City Dock through to the United States Naval Academy. When built, the Welcome Center will serve as the headquarters for the Annapolis Harbormaster and the satellite offices for Visit Annapolis. It will also provide flexible space for water education and other water-related activities as well as an inviting, ADA compliant entrance to the Burtis House. Together all these different elements - Burtis, Vince Legget Park, and the Welcome Center will honor our waterfront history in a way that has never been done before, and they will provide direct and easy access to the water- for everyone! I want to thank everyone who gave testimony in writing or in-person at the hearing, and I want to thank everyone who has shared feedback over this six-year process. Your feedback has resulted in continuous improvements to the design and made the project better at each step. Thank you all. I also want to thank the amazing team who led this work, beginning with Project Coordinator Eileen Fogarty, who has overseen this effort for almost six years. Eileen has brought incredible credentials, incredible foresight, and incredible strategic thinking to this effort. Thank you Eileen. There are of course many other people leading and contributing to this effort. They include the City’s Director of Public Works Burr Vogel and Project City of Annapolis Page 3 Printed on 4/28/2025 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final March 10, 2025 Manager Matt Kelly; all the team members at BCT Architects, Mahan Rykiel Associates and Whiting-Turner; and many, many more. Your dedicated work and professionalism was on full display at the hearing, as it has been throughout this project – thank you all! Finally I want to thank my colleagues here beside me - the Annapolis City Council for your vision, your partnership and your leadership in this work. You have been unanimous in supporting this amazing new amenity for our City and you took action at last on the long-delayed and increasingly urgent need for flood protection. Thank you! == And now to some upcoming events and dates to be aware of this month: On Tuesday, March 25th, City offices will be closed in observance of Maryland Day. The Pip Moyer Center will open and close at normal operating hours but the Stanton Center will be closed. Transit will operate on a regular schedule, including the State Shuttle, Go Time and the downtown Magenta Shuttle, but administrative offices are closed. Trash and recycling pickups are unaffected. Be sure to check out MarylandDay.org for a variety of free or $1 entry events and activities taking place around Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. At City Dock, the Pride of Baltimore will be offering tours. == On March 22, we’ve got a couple of events taking place – first is the Annapolis Running Festival, which begins at Navy Stadium and continues through Downtown. The event begins around 7 a.m. and the last runners should cross the finish line by 10:30 a.m. On the same day, Eastport’s annual Oyster Roast and Sock burning will take place – a rite of spring for Annapolitans and a great way to celebrate spring equinox and the beginning of the boating season. Tickets are available on the Annapolis Maritime Museum website. == Later in the month, the City plays host to the Annapolis Film Festival at venues around the City. This year’s opening night film is the 2025 British comedy, “The Ballad of Wallis Island.” Learn more online at annapolisfilmfestival.com == And finally, the real sporting event for the mid-Atlantic region, which will be sold out again this year, is the April 5, “Annapolis Cup” croquet match between the Johnnies and the Mids. Tickets are now on sale on the St. John’s College website. We have a lot to look forward to this spring but now, let’s get on with our meeting! Reports by Committees Standing Committee dates thru 3.24.25: City of Annapolis Page 4 Printed on 4/28/2025 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final March 10, 2025 Comments by the General Public Comments by the General Public Speakers:: Chris Miller, 801 Chase Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Demetrios Fotos, 29 Madison Place, Annapolis, Maryland 21401 Mayor Buckley declared comments from the general public closed. The order of the agenda was amended to allow for........ Legislative Action Second Readers R-11-25 Director of Finance--Brittany Moran For the purpose of expressly confirming the appointment of Brittany Moran as Director of Finance; and consenting to compensate the Finance Director. Alderman Schandelmeier moved to adopt R-11-25 on second reader. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 9- Mayor Buckley, Alderman Huntley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge and Alderman Arnett The order of the agenda was resumed. CONSENT CALENDAR Approval of the Consent Calendar Alderman Harry Huntley moved to approve the Consent Calendar. Seconded.The motion carried by the following vote: Approval of Journal Proceedings CCM 2.10.25 Regular Meeting Minutes Alderman Huntley moved to approve CCM 2.10.25. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED CCM 2.24.25 Special Meeting Minutes Alderman Huntley moved to approve CCM 2.24.25. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED Fund Transfers City of Annapolis Page 5 Printed on 4/28/2025 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final March 10, 2025 FT-10-25 Capital Fund - Department of Public Works Alderman Huntley moved to approve FT-10-25. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED End of Consent Calendar PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinances O-33-24 Appeals Process for Property Development in Annapolis - For the purpose of eliminating the temporary stop on development, construction or other project work, called a "stay," while a Department of Planning and Zoning or Department of Public Works decision regarding building and construction developments is being challenged in Circuit Court; and generally dealing with the appeals process in Titles 17 and 21 of the City Code. Sponsors: Finlayson, Buckley, Schandelmeier and Gay Mayor Buckley declared the public hearing on O-33-24 closed. Resolutions R-8-25 Mayor, Alderperson, and City Manager Compensation. For the purpose of reviewing and accepting the 2025 Salary Review Commission report dated February 4, 2025, which provides recommendations for adjusting the City Council and City Manager salaries for the 2025-2029 term. Sponsors: Buckley Committee Members Brandon Wright, Barbara Chenault, Faye Currie and Stuart Cohen were present and answered questions from the council. Mayor Buckley declared the public hearing on R-8-25 closed. LEGISLATIVE ACTION FIRST READERS Resolutions City of Annapolis Page 6 Printed on 4/28/2025 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes - Final March 10, 2025 R-5-25 Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts Fee Waiver For the purpose of waiving certain fees for the Maryland Hall for the Creative Art's third phase of its multi-year project to renovate its 93-year-old building and facilities in and around the building. Sponsors: Buckley Alderman Schandelmeier moved to adopt R-5-25 on first reader. Seconded. CARRIED on voice vote. Assistant City Manager Buckland was present and answered questions from the council. Mayor Buckley referred R-5-25 to the Finance Committee. SECOND READERS Resolutions R-10-25 2025 Annapolis Film Festival Fee Waiver - For the purpose of identifying the Annapolis Film Festival that will be held on March 27-30, 2025, as a Major Special Event; and waiving charges for certain City of Annapolis costs related to city services for that event. Alderman Huntley moved to adopt R-10-25 on second reader. Seconded. A roll call vote was taken. The motion CARRIED by the following vote: Aye: 9- 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 8:00 pm. Regina C. Watkins-Eldridge, MMC City Clerk City of Annapolis Page 7 Printed on 4/28/2025