January 12, 2025 Newsletter
Happy Sunday, Ward One!
It’s been over a month since I have actually had a city council agenda to send out. To all the new readers, welcome to my normally-biweekly newsletter describing issues before the city council and notable news in Ward One. Please share this with your neighbors and share your thoughts with me.
I hope everyone had time to relax over a holiday break and to enjoy our recent snow storm (more on that below). From the day before through the day after Christmas, I set an out of office message on my city council email for the first time since being sworn in, and it was rejuvenating to spend that time totally focused on family and friends.
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 or aldhuntley@annapolis.gov.
Updates from Harry
It’s been quite a week here in Annapolis. The city’s biggest snow storm in eight years and unusually low temperatures following it combined to paralyze much of the region for days—even as the General Assembly session began. Dedicated Public Works crews were operating on twelve-hours shifts throughout the week. They have 275 miles of streets to cover and have spread over 600,000 pounds of salt. In addition, Public Works staff had to quickly and efficiently address a few water main breaks that popped up due to sustained temperatures below freezing.
That said, I recognize that for many residents the snow removal was not up to their expectations. I’ve been working to address that in the short, medium, and long terms.
I was out there with all of you. Not just shoveling my walk and my neighbors’ who need help, but walking streets and sidewalks to help city staff and myself best understand the situation on the ground. Over the last week, I've talked with the acting city manager, emergency management director, public works director, police chief, transportation director, deputy police chief, mayor's chief of staff, the city ombudsman, contract plow drivers, city plow drivers, other public works staff, and of course many residents about the response. I paid to salt a couple of the worst streets out of my own pocket, and I even encouraged a plow driver to leave my street and go where I knew it was more needed (Sorry, if you’re reading this form Dean Street). I can point to streets and sidewalks that got cleared for residents because of my intervention—but addressing those in the short term is only part of the solution.
Of course there was a snow plan; there were preparations and a pre-storm meeting. There will also be an after-action meeting about this storm response. At this, I intend to get answers to questions about the city's response relative to the county's, streets that seemingly went unsalted for days, how standards were set for when roads will be passable, and more to improve the next response.
As we enter the budget season, I'm pushing to rebalance our budget towards commonsense maintenance like snow plows and sidewalk repairs. Even longer term, I'm leading the charge to transition the city budgeting to be outcomes-based, requiring departments to set SMART goals that can be publicly tracked and basing their funding on those.
Amidst all this, let’s try to remember everyone’s humanity. I get how frustrating it can feel for a street to go unplowed or question unanswered. But please remember that folks like the city’s public works director or public information officer are people too, people who have all spent a lot of time away from their families and not a lot of time sleeping this week. City staff should be held to high standards, of course, but not subjected to yelling or personal attacks while they are trying hard to best serve residents. Let’s look forward towards the channels that can truly make our services better and our city more resilient.
City council agenda
Call To Order
Mayor Buckley
Invocation
Aldermen Gay
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Buckley
Roll Call
City Clerk Watkins-Eldridge
Approval of Agenda
Ceremonial
ID-1-25 Citation: Elvia Thompson and Lynne Forsman of Annapolis Green
Update from Mayor
Mayor Buckley
Reports by Committees
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!
Approval of Journal Proceedings
CCM 12.9.24 Regular Meeting Minutes
Supplemental Appropriations Under $50,000
SA-16-25 Grant - Planning & Zoning/CDBG - Community Development Block Grant-HUD
SA-18-25 Affordable Housing Trust - Department of Planning & Zoning
SA-19-25 Grant - OEM - US Department of Homeland Security - Federal Grant Revenue
SA-21-25 Grant - Harbor Master - Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Appointments/Re-Appointments
AP-25-24 Re-Appointment - Mr. Craig Coates - Housing Authority
AP-26-24 Re-Appointment - Mr. Andre Atkins - Housing Authority
AP-27-24 Re-Appointment - Ms. Kimberlee Cornett - Housing Authority
AP-28-24 Re-Appointment - Ms. Jackie Wells - Housing Authority
AP-29-24 Appointment - Mr. Robert Johnson - Building Board of Appeals
AP-30-24 Appointment - Ms. Emily Brown - Building Board of Appeals
Supplemental Appropriations $50,000 & Above
SA-17-25 Forfeiture and Seizure Fund - Police Department
SA-20-25 Grant - APD - State of Maryland through the Office of Justice Programs
SA-22-25 Grant - Transportation - Maryland Department of Transportation
SA-23-25 General - City Manager - Reserve for One Time Uses
This allocates $105,000 of taxpayer money towards subsidizing the purchase of electric leafblowers by businesses and individuals. I don't think electric leafblowers are so essential to everyday life that they should be subsidized, so I intend to vote no on this.
Fund Transfers
FT-5-25 General - Police Department - Supplies & Other/Capital Outlay
Public Hearings
O-10-24 Outdoor Dining Requirements in Annapolis
I want to make it easier to have outdoor dining. I also think it's reasonable to ask restaurants who do outdoor dining to pay for additional use of city services, like sewer and parking. I don't think this bill currently appropriately balances those two goals. I hope you'll come and share your perspective.
Ordinance First Readers
O-1-25 Expansion of Child Care Options in Annapolis
I'm still digging into the specifics of this legislation myself and would be open to amendments. But in the National Community Survey that the city undertook last year, only 39% of residents rated the availability of affordable quality childcare/preschool as “Good” or “Excellent”. This kind of legislation promotes consistency between the city’s code and state law and potentially expands the availability of child care without adding costs to taxpayers.
O-2-25 WRNR Radio Tower Lease With the City
The proposed lease with WRNR would allow the existing radio tower to be used while making clear that the City is providing the tower in “as-is” condition. The lease therefore does not force the City’s hand with respect to downstream costs. The revenue from the lease is modest.
Resolution First Readers
R-1-25 Thompson Street Park
My first primary sponsored bill will designate the end of Thompson Street as a street-end park so it can be maintained. The property is already owned by the city but because it's not technically a park, it doesn't get maintenance resources.
R-3-25 City Dock Resiliency Project
This sense of the council allows us to reiterate our support for the resiliency aspects of the city dock project that has already been approved by all city processes (council, planning commission, and historic preservation commission). Despite what some loud voices have implied, you can read the resolution for yourself and see that nothing in it deals with a maritime welcome center, a fountain, or anything else that I have heard from residents to be controversial. Given that this resolution simply states facts no one has disputed and then expresses the council's opinion on the part of the project that everyone agrees on, I don't see any issue with voting to pass this on the first reader. If anyone sees anything incorrect in the resolution or has suggestions to make it even more clear that this is only about the resiliency aspects, then I would welcome amendments.
Ordinance Second Readers
O-11-24 Tenant Displacement Fund
The creation of this fund, which does not include appropriations to it, seems like a good idea. But staff have raised a lot of concerns with how difficult it would be to operate and not necessary to meet the legislation's intent. If I can determine that those have been addressed, then I will vote for it as part of my "all of the above" approach to housign affordability.
Resolution Second Readers
R-38-24 Condemnation and Possession of Real Property at 245 West Street
This bill would allow the city to condemn the abandoned gas station and begin the process of redeveloping it. As I understand, a resident is in the process of purchasing this property, so we will likely postpone action on this bill again.
R-46-24 Task Force to Study Residential Marine Vessels
This will establish a task force to proactively study residential marine vessels before it becomes an issue here. I do intend to vote for it because I have heard a lot of concerns with houseboats, but we need more information about their effects and about how to distinguish houseboats from people who currently live on-board regular sailboats as part of our flourishing maritime industry. It does not change regulations on houseboats, only gets us more information on how best to regulate them in accordance with Annapolis values like protecting our sailing industry and waterways. If anyone is opposed over concerns that the task force's charge would open the door to too many houseboats, I'd welcome your suggestions of amendments.
R-57-24 Annual Meeting and Tourism Industry Reception Fee Wavier
This waives $3,253 on fees for the annual meeting and tourism industry reception, which will bring professionals from around the state to downtown.
Adjournment
Other news you can use
St. John’s announced their spring lecture series. From tea ceremonies to ethics to a play, be sure to check it out.
Starting January 22nd, be sure to bring your reusable shopping bags. Annapolis’ policy, which goes into effect then, mirrors the rules already in place in the county.
Only today did I find out that there’s a cafe in the basement of the Arundel Center. Apparently, County Executive Pittman likes it for a steak and cheese sandwich
My next coffee shop tour stop will be 8 am on January 22nd at the Red Bean. Hope to see you there!
Please send me any events or other information you’d like advertised to your neighbors.
Have a great week, everyone!
Harry
Source: https://us17.campaign-archive.com/?u=92cd145597ae97327ab17fc38&id=941cd76c28
