Legislative Actions
City Council Session
Monday, April 8, 2013
The Regular Meeting of the Annapolis City Council will be held Monday, April 8, at 7 p.m., in the Council Chambers. All Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 99 and on Verizon channel 34.
Before the matters below are considered by the Council, you have an opportunity to speak to the Council, for 3 minutes, on any topic other than those scheduled for a public hearing (and you can speak to those topics at their respective points in the meeting).
PUBLIC HEARINGS Note: The public hearing on O-8-13 (including the constant yield tax rate), O-9-13, O-11-13, O-12-13, O-13-13, O-14-13, O-15-13, R-12-13, R-13-13, R-14-13, and R-15-13 will be held jointly.
My commentary: these ordinances and resolutions are very important - they lay out how your tax dollars will be spent in the upcoming year, and how much those taxes will be. This is your opportunity to be heard on these topics. For more information, you can read the entire legislative packet here, or consider attending the Finance Committee meetings held on most Tuesdays and Thursdays this month (council
calendar is here). O-8-13 Annual Operating Budget: FY 2014 - For the purposes of adopting an operating budget for the City of Annapolis for the Fiscal Year 2014;appropriating funds for expenditures for the Fiscal Year 2014; defraying all expenses and liabilities of the City of Annapolis and levying same for the purposes specified; specifying certain duties of the Director of Finance; and, specifying a rate of interest to be charged upon overdue property taxes. O-9-13 Capital Improvement Budget: FY 2014 - For the purpose of adopting a capital improvement budget for the Fiscal Year 2014. O-11-13 Parking Permits for Contractors and Transporters of Merchandise and Materials - For the purpose of removing the distinction between contractor or merchandise/material transporter use of metered or un-metered parking spaces in determining the calculation of fees. O-12-13 Authorizing an Application Fee and Permit Fee for a Tree Removal Permit - For the purpose of authorizing the Department of Neighborhood and Environmental Programs to collect an application fee and permit fee for a tree removal permit. O-13-13 Authorizing a Fee for a Hearing Before the Board of Port Wardens - For the purpose of authorizing a fee for a hearing before the Board of Port Wardens. O-14-13 Clarification of the Utility Contractor Inspection Fee - For the purpose of clarifying the utility contractor inspection fee by deleting Section 16.04.030 of the Annapolis City Code and revising Section 16.04.060 in order to ensure objective and detailed inspection of any improvements and facilities, including water and sewer pipes and appurtenances, storm drainage systems, curbs, gutters and pavement within easements or rights-of-way; and authorizing an inspection fee that varies by the value of the construction to be performed. O-15-13 Clarifying the Fee-in-Lieu for Trees in Development Areas - For the purpose of clarifying the fee-in-lieu for trees in development areas by addressing the contraction between Section 17.09.070 (C) of the Annapolis City Code and the fee schedule. R-12-13 Capital Improvement Program: FY 2014 to FY 2019 - For the purposes of adopting a capital improvement program for the six-year period from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2019. R-13-13 FY 2014 Fees Schedule Effective July 1, 2013 - For the purpose of specifying fees that will be charged for the use of City services for FY 2014. R-14-13 FY 2014 Fines Schedule Effective July 1, 2013 - For the purpose of specifying fines that will be charged for FY 2014. R-15-13 Position Classifications and Pay Plan - For the purpose of approving the FY 2014 position classification and pay plan effective July 1, 2013. O-16-13 Authorizing Local Businesses to be Eligible for a Capital Facilities Payment Plan - For the purpose of authorizing local businesses to be eligible for a capital facilities payment plan. O-17-13 Issuance of Bonds - For the purpose of authorizing and empowering the City of Annapolis (the "City") to issue and sell, upon its full faith and credit, general obligation bonds in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed Fifteen Million Three Hundred Seventy Thousand Dollars ($15,370,000), pursuant to Sections 31 through 39, inclusive, of Article 23A of the Annotated Code of Maryland (2011 Replacement Volume and 2012 Supplement), as amended, and Article VII, Section 11 of the Charter of the City of Annapolis, as amended, to be designated as "Public Improvements Bonds, 2013 Series" and said bonds to be issued and sold for the public purpose of financing and refinancing certain capital projects of the City as provided in this Ordinance; authorizing and empowering the City to issue and sell, upon its full faith and credit, general obligation bonds in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed Five Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars (5,100,000) pursuant to Sections 31 through 39, inclusive, of Article 23A of the Annotated Code of Maryland (2011 Replacement Volume and 2012 Supplement), as amended, Section 24 of Article 31 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (2010 Replacement Volume and 2012 Supplement), and Article VII, Section 11 of the Charter of the City of Annapolis, as amended, to be designated as "Public Improvements Refunding Bonds, 2013 Series", for the public purpose of refunding all or a portion of certain outstanding general obligation bonds as provided in this Ordinance; prescribing the form and tenor of said bonds; determining the method of sale of said bonds and other matters relating to the issuance and sale thereof; providing for the disbursement of the proceeds of said bonds; covenanting to levy and collect all taxes necessary to provide for the payment of the principal of and interest on said bonds; and generally providing for and determining various matters relating to the issuance, sale and delivery of all said bonds. R-7-13 Wayfinding and Signage Master Plan - For the purpose of adopting the Draft Wayfinding and Signage Master Plan as an addendum to the 2009 Annapolis Comprehensive Plan. R-17-13 A Revision to the Capital Improvement Budget and Program (Parking Meter Upgrade): FY 2013 to FY 2018 - For the purposes of revising the capital improvement budget for the Fiscal Year 2013 and the capital improvement program (parking meter upgrade) for the six-year period from July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2018. R-21-13 Recommendations of the Council Compensation Commission - For the purpose of providing for consideration, and the City Charter's required public hearing, of the recommendations of the Council Compensation Commission. LEGISLATIVE ACTION RESOLUTION - 1st READER My commentary: on 1st reader, these ordinances and resolutions are introduced to the City Council. If introduced, they will be sent to the appropriate committee(s) for review, and will be subject to public hearings before a vote on whether to adopt or approve them at a later date, unless those rules are waived by unanimous vote. R-10-13 A Protocol for Ensuring the Implementation of the Forest Conservation Act - For the purpose of enacting a protocol to ensure the implementation of the Forest Conservation Act. My commentary: for the reasons outlined in my opening comments above, I intend to vote for this measure on 1st Reader so that it can be further considered. O-4-13 Establishing Chapter 14.18 of the City Code on Special Events - For the purpose of establishing Chapter 14.18 of the City Code regarding the process for authorizing special events within the City of Annapolis; requiring a permit and permit fee for special events; providing parameters for approving a special event permit; authorizing exemptions for a special event permit and permit fee; establishing conditions for special events at City Dock; and for all other purposes related to special events. My commentary: I intend to vote for this measure on 1st Reader so that it can be further considered. BUSINESS AND MISCELLANEOUS Community Development Block Grant - FY 2014 The estimated total amount available to fund the City's Community Development Block Grant projects for FY 2014 is $201,600. Proposals for capital and community service projects were presented to the Housing and Community Development Committee at a public hearing on February 4, 2013. At its regular meeting of the Committee on April 1, 2013, the Committee voted to on the allocation of funds. The Council will consider and vote on those allocations. My commentary: After reading all of the applications, hearing all of the presentations, and considering the opinions of fellow committee members, I am comfortable with the allocations the committee unanimously made. | 
