April 13, 2025 Newsletter
Happy Sunday, Ward One
Last Saturday was a lot of fun. The 41st annual Annapolis Cup was won by the midshipmen in a stunning upset. Just before heading over to kick that off (or tip or tap or whatever you call the beginning of a croquet match), I went to the grand opening of a new restaurant downtown: Blowfish Poké Hawaiian Grill.
Blowfish is a perfect example of the tenacity our small businesses SHOULDN'T need. It took them almost 8 months to get open in Annapolis. During the same time, they opened a space in Rockville in less than 3 months. That time means lost revenue, wasted rent, and fewer options for residents. Huge barriers to entry shift our business make-up towards big corporations and away from small business owners like Ben and Philip. We've got to make it easier for people who love Annapolis to invest in Annapolis!
Here are the top 3 things you need to know in Annapolis:
On Monday, the mayor will release his proposed budget, You can read my priorities for it here. I hope you’ll attend my budget town hall April 23 6-8 pm at St. Anne’s Parish Hall, 199 Duke of Gloucester. Monday is also the mayor’s state of the city address.
The city is finally moving ahead with a longtime push to improve enforcement of short term rental regulations by hiring a dedicated coordinator.
The state legislative session adjourned last week. Take a look at Maryland Matters’ wrap-up and judgment.
Updates from Harry
I went on vacation recently, and it was glorious. Don’t get me wrong, I love Annapolis, but an 80 degree and sunny beach in the US Virgin Islands does beat some of the weather we’ve been having recently here.
Even better than the weather was the opportunity to take a step back, read, and reflect. I fired up my Kindle for two books while I was away: Abundance by Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson and Recoding America by Jenn Pahlka. Both describe a lot of frustrations with how government works but are infused with optimism about how it could be better.
Abundance has been making a big splash as a vision for Democrats’ future nationally, although many of the policies discussed are really determined at the local level. The fundamental goal of the book is to improve people’s lives by reorienting politics around a fresh set of questions “What is scarce that should be abundant? What is difficult to build that should be easy? What inventions do we need that we do not yet have?” I think the authors’ focus on “a liberalism that builds” is aligned well with my campaign slogan “Let’s make it happen!” in that both set high expectations for government and recognize that means we need to make government operate more efficiently.
Recoding America is more narrow and technical but in a way more helpful. The author’s claims to fame are rescuing healthcare.gov and founding the US Digital Service. The book provides very concrete examples of how to better structure technology procurement contracts so that products have the flexibility to improve in response to user feedback and to stay durable over time. It makes the case for how bringing technologists into government (instead of just as contractors) can lead to improved products and cost savings for taxpayers. I’m going to have to see if Annapolis’ Director of Information Technology and our new Director of Central Services have read it.
I’m guessing you don’t normally look to my newsletter for book reviews, but we’re all waiting to see the mayor’s proposed budget tomorrow. I really would recommend checking each of these out. If you do, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Or, if you don’t feel like reading a whole book, let me know and I’ll send you my full list of highlights.
This week and every week, I’m grateful for the honor of representing you and our whole community. Never hesitate to contact me at harry@harrymhuntley.com.
This week and every week, I’m grateful for the honor of representing you and our whole community. Never hesitate to contact me at harry@harrymhuntley.com.
City Council Agenda
Call To Order
Mayor Buckley
Invocation
Alderwoman Pindell Charles
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Buckley
Roll Call
City Clerk Watkins-Eldridge
Approval of Agenda
State of the City Address
Mayor Buckley
Comments by the General Public
Remember, you can come to any city council meeting to tell us about what’s important to you and your neighborhood!
Consent Calendar
Appointments
AP-7-25 Appointment - Mr. Todd Trapnell - Heritage Commission
AP-8-25 Appointment - Ms. Heather Ersts - Heritage Commission
AP-9-25 Appointment - Mr. Tom Weaver - Maritime Advisory Board
Public Hearings
O-30-24 Fence Permit Requirements Related to Use and Development Standards in the City Zoning Code Title 21-
The purpose of O-30-24 is to prohibit property owners from installing privacy fences on their wooded lots if their houses are positioned 50 feet or more from the fence, and to set forth those things that could constitutes an undue obstruction of light and air created by a proposed fence.
O-1-25 Expansion of Child Care Options in Annapolis -
This legislation removes some of our current restrictions on building child care facilities. The cost of getting your kids taken care of so you can go to work has gotten to be astronomical, and a lack of supply is one of the big reasons. Considering that, I support this effort to decrease our restrictions on supply of child care.
Ordinances First Readers
O-9-25 Expanding Waterfront Uses in R4 General Residence (Zoning) Districts-
This ordinance would allow a property owner in the R-4 zone to file an application and appear before the Board of Appeals and petition to operate a boat rental use. The Board of Appeals would conduct a public hearing and decide the case. In approving such an application, the Board could impose certain reasonable conditions on the operation of the use. We have only a tiny piece of R-4 in (what will be) Ward One, and it’s not on the water. This will mostly affect Ward Eight and Ward Two.
O-10-25 FY 2026 City of Annapolis Budget
This will be released Monday evening, and we can all start digging through it. You can read here about my priorities for the budget.
Resolutions First Readers
R-12-25 Street-end Park on Annapolis Street
This would designate property the city already owns at the end of Annapolis Street (in Ward 2) as a street-end park. I think it’s a good idea to do this, because it moves the responsibility for the property from Public Works to Rec and Parks, who are better equipped to handle it.
R-13-25 City Dock Holiday Market and Itinerant Merchant Sales in the Historic District -
We pulled the Holiday Market out of the general authorization for merchants in the historic district because there were some questions about their application last year and how it does or does not complement our brick and mortar businesses. We’re making some progress on getting those answered, but I may request to delay introduction of this by a couple weeks.
R-17-25 2025 Transit Development Plan for the City of Annapolis-
This approves the City of Annapolis Transit Development Plan that is updated every five years. I have not reviewed the plan in detail yet but will be sure to do so before this resolution comes before us on second reader.
R-19-25 Memorial Honoring the Life and Legacy of the Late U.S. Representative Parren J. Mitchell
This would create a memorial at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center to honor the late U.S. Representative Parren J. Mitchell (D-MD), the first African-American elected to Congress from Maryland. This is a great way to honor an important figure, but it doesn’t currently have a fiscal note, so I won’t be voting for it without knowing how much it costs.
R-20-25 FY 2026 City of Annapolis Fees Schedule
This will get released at the same time as the budget.
R-21-25 FY 2026 City of Annapolis Fines Schedule
This will get released at the same time as the budget.
R-23-25 Emergency Management & Public Safety During Flood Awareness Month
For the purpose of recognizing April as Maryland Flood Awareness Month and the City of Annapolis public safety experts' efforts each year, both personally and professionally, to protect our residents from flooding and other natural emergencies.
Ordinances Second Readers
O-5-25 Speed Monitoring Cameras -
This enabling legislation brings Annapolis in line with state law to give us more authority over where we put speed cameras. By better enforcing laws already on the books, we can all be safer. I'm hopeful this legislation will make it possible for a speed camera to be installed on Duke of Gloucester Street, as many of you have requested.
O-10-24 Outdoor Dining Requirements in Annapolis -
This one has been a doozy. We’ve been working on this the whole time I’ve been on the council, but I think we finally have something that everyone can live with. My goal is to encourage outdoor dining, including by giving restaurants the certainty to invest in it for the long-term.
O-23-24 Parking and Towing Regulations -
The purpose of this bill is to make it easier to tow derelict trucks and motorhomes. Currently the city can only use towing contractors with an office within one mile of the city, and if no company who satisfies that requirement is willing to tow a truck, then it cannot be towed. This will clean that up. It got pulled from the agenda a few weeks ago because we realized it actually wasn’t limited to just these large vehicles, which was the intention, but that’s now been fixed.
Adjournment
Other news you can use
Later today at 3 PM, Maryland Hall will host the Annapolis Opera’s Vocal Competition.
Tomorrow is National Beer Day, so you know they’re celebrating over at Forward Brewing. From 4 to 9pm they’ll be re-releasing their first and flagship beer, Annapolis Boat Beer, and giving you a deal on crab rolls.
The city is finally hiring for the short term rental coordinator position that was added in the last budget. The position is paid for out of short term rental licensing fees, not tax dollars. This will help crack down on unlicensed short term rentals and make compliance easier for residents who choose to rent their homes. See the position here.
Susan Moynihan is launching the second edition of her book 100 Things to do in Annapolis at Old Fox Books on Wednesday at 5:30.
On May 3 at the Busch Library, Veterans for All Voters and Ranked Choice Voting Maryland are screening Majority Rules, a documentary that examines Alaska's groundbreaking experiment with ranked-choice voting and its implications for American democracy. RSVP here and see the trailer here.
You can report all sorts of Public Works needs at the Report an Issue portal. I especially encourage you to do this when you see places in the ward that need sidewalk repairs.
Please send me any events or other information you’d like advertised to your neighbors.
Have a great week, everyone!
Harry
Source: https://mailchi.mp/0c8c3b8497f3/mondays-city-council-agenda?e=52c2048d58
