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Alderman, Ward 5, Annapolis
912 Forest Drive
(office at K&B True Value)
410-268-3939 (office)
443-926-2399 (cell)
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July 22
6:00 p.m., Housing and Human Welfare Committee meeting, City Council Chambers
July 22
7:00 p.m., City Council Special Meeting, City Council Chambers
July 23
5:30 - 7:00 p.m., Fundraising Fiesta to benefit the campaign for Jared Littmann, Ward 5 Alderman, at Sin Fronteras Cafe.
July 24
5:30 p.m., Green Drinks Annapolis, Historic London Town & Gardens
July 25
7:00 p.m., City Council Special Meeting, City Council Chambers
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The next City Council session is Monday, July 22, at 7 p.m. It will be followed by a City Council session on Thursday, July 25, at 7 p.m. Although the agenda is not issued for that 2nd session, I expect it to largely or entirely consist of a public hearing on City Dock legislation. I'm writing today to provide you with information and analysis of the issues on Monday's agenda.
Thank You and Help Requested
I'm also writing to ask for help. First though, I'd like to thank you for the support I've received for preparing an analysis before each Council session, for bringing a business owner's, lawyer's and environmentalist's perspective to the City Council, and generally for serving. It is an honor and privilege to represent Annapolis and Ward 5 residents, and I strive to listen to and serve all residents regardless of party affiliation, race, income, or whether we agree on an issue.
Request #1 has to do with the upcoming election. As you know, I am running in the 2013 elections to remain Ward 5 Alderman. Please help me kick off the campaign by attending my 1st fundraiser on July 23, 2013, from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM, at Sin Fronteras Cafe, located at 2129 Forest Drive where you'll enjoy some of their seasonal hors d'oeuvres and fantastic drinks. Here are more details.
Effective communication with these emails requires a sizable audience. I've been pleased with how my email list has grown, but would very much like to reach more people, particularly those that live in Annapolis and in Ward 5 in particular. So, Request #2 is that you forward this email to 2-3 of your neighbors or friends and ask them to sign up for my emails here, or simply have them send me their email address. Request #3 has to do with defraying the expenses incurred by providing these services. Expenses include: use of Constant Contact for these emails, banners announcing meetings, business cards, and marketing support. With the hope that I'll be serving for another 4 years, and will therefore continue to provide these pre-Council session emails and incurring the associated expenses for the next 4 years, would you consider donating $25 or more to help defray those costs? Hopefully, you find these emails to be a valuable service worth supporting. To make this simple, please visit my Alderman website to make your donation, or to see instructions for sending a check. I would love for you to attend my fundraiser, but would still greatly appreciate your support if you can't make it. Please consider providing your RSVP here or by email here so that we are adequately prepared. I would love to meet more Annapolitans, so please bring your friends and neighbors.
For Monday
Below is the abbreviated version of the City Council meeting agenda, primarily the legislative actions before the Council on Monday. For issues up for a vote, I state how I intend to vote, subject to possible persuasion by you and fellow Council members. This is your opportunity to let me know how you feel about these issues, if you think I should keep or change my position, and your reasons. You can find the entire agenda and the entire legislative packet from here.
As always, I welcome your feedback and questions, and appreciate your help in reaching other Annapolis (Ward 5 residents in particular) by to them. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Jared Littmann
Alderman, Ward 5, Annapolis |
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Monday, July 22, 2013, 7 p.m.
The Annapolis City Council will meet on Monday, July 22, 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 three 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).
PETITIONS, REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Reports by Committees
Comments by the General Public
A person speaking before the City Council with a petition, report or communication shall be limited to not more than three minutes.
PUBLIC HEARING
O-30-13 Issuance of General Obligation Refunding Revenue Bonds - An Ordinance concerning the issuance of $25M of general obligation refunding revenue bonds for the purpose of refunding the City's Special Obligation Bonds, which financed costs of the public portion of the Park Place garage; providing that the Refunding Bonds shall be secured by a pledge of the security and revenues pledged to the payment of the refunded bonds and by a pledge of the full faith and credit of the City subordinate to the pledge of the Tax Increment Revenues, the Garage Net Operating Income and the Special Tax so that the Refunding Bonds shall be a general obligation of the City.
Comment: Above is the edited version of the topic, in attempt to make it a bit clearer. To provide some context, currently the City has outstanding bonds that helped fund the public portion of the public - private partnership in building the Park Place garage. Those bonds are not secured by general obligation (GO) bonds, but instead are supported by the garage revenues.
This Ordinance proposes retiring those bonds and replacing them with bonds that will have the same security, but also the GO of the City as a back-stop. The City's financial staff advises that this is a trade-off. In taking on the remote risk that City taxes would have to be raised to support the revenue needed to pay for these bonds, the City would be able to achieve 2 levels of savings, of approximately $4-6M: first for reduced interest rates that were locked in before interest rates recently started to rise and second for providing the additional GO security now that the project has demonstrated the ability to provide more than sufficient revenues to pay for the bonds.
See below (2nd Reader) for more details. I welcome your thoughts directly to me or at this public hearing regarding this Ordinance and the associated risk / reward potential.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION ORDINANCES & RESOLUTIONS - 2nd READER O-47-11 Fence Permits - For the purpose of amending the Code of the City of Annapolis with respect to the issuance of fence permits. Policy: The proposed ordinance would revise the Annapolis City Code with respect to the issuance of fence permits. Chapter 17.34 of the Annapolis City Code establishes the requirement for a fence permit application fee and permit fee. Chapter 21.60 of the Annapolis City Code establishes supplemental use and development standards for fences. Examples of the proposed, additional supplemental use and development standards for fences in O-47-11 address the ratio of solid fence material to open space, the regulation of barbed wire fences, standards for fences affecting certain view cones, and the standards for Historic Preservation Commission review for fences, walls and gates in the historic district. Comment from the Ordinance sponsor, Alderman Arnett: "Current code only covers the structural aspects of fence construction in Title 17, governed by the Department of Neighborhood and Environmental Programs. There is no code to cover the design aspects of erecting a fence. This legislation adds code to Title 21 and gives the Department of Planning and Zoning purview over the design elements of fences and walls. These design issues cover the height and opacity of fences. The legislation also adds an appeals process for fencing. The impetuous for this legislation arose when 2 tall, solid board fences were permitted across the front yards of homes on Bay Ridge Avenue. At that time there were no height restrictions of any sort in code and only structural integrity, not design, was governed by code." My Comment: If this analysis looks familiar, this was from the last Council session. It got postponed to July 22. No one from Ward 5 has addressed to me any concerns about this legislation, either during public testimony or in private. Pending your comments to the contrary, I plan to vote yes on this legislation. 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. Comment: For a new business, coming up with the money to pay for a new permit can be burdensome. This Ordinance is intended to permit a payment plan for new businesses that are owned locally (not corporate chains), to help those local entrepreneurs. I support the Council's Finance Committee's clarifications, although I think it needs minor clarification to distinguish between cooperatives and corporate chains. Pending your comments to the contrary, I plan to vote yes on this legislation. O-18-13 The Conveyance of Certain Portions of 908 and 914 Bay Ridge Avenue - For the purpose of conveying by deed the right, title, and interest of the City of Annapolis in a certain part of the land at 914 Bay Ridge Avenue to Ana Cortes; accepting the conveyance by deed of Ana Cortes' right, title, and interest in a certain part of the land at 908 Bay Ridge Avenue; and all matters relating to these conveyances. Comment: The subject of the proposed ordinance is a land swap at the Eastport Fire Station with an adjoining property owner, Ana Cortez. Cortez would convey approximately 9,583 square feet from her property at 908 Bay Ridge Avenue to the City of Annapolis in exchange for 4,792 square feet of the City of Annapolis' property located at 914 Bay Ridge Avenue. Ms. Cortez initiated this request and will pay associated transactions costs. No one from the public spoke out against this swap at the public hearing and I have not heard objections to it from residents from Ward 5. Pending your comments to the contrary, I plan to vote yes on this legislation. O-30-13 Issuance of General Obligation Refunding Revenue Bonds - See above (Public Hearings) for description Fiscal Impact: This legislation would result in the following financial
implications: Assumption scenario #1. Assuming a 50-50 split between a tax-exempt and taxable series, there are attractive debt service savings:
a. Debt Service Savings - $4.2M
b. Net Present Value Savings - $3.18M
c. Percent Savings - 15.5%
d. Average Annual Savings - $191k
Assumption scenario #2: Assuming a 100% tax-exempt issue, the savings are more significant
a. Debt Service Savings - $6.1M
b. Net Present Value Savings - $4.7M
c. Percent Savings - 23.1%
d. Average Annual Savings - $277k
Comment: I won't reach a decision on how to vote before the public hearing. In addition, I'd like to see more justification from City staff before proceeding, including a better analysis of the potential risk involved in this transaction. In other words, if this project collapsed (figuratively), how much would City residents' taxes have to go up to cover the shortfall? What is the numeric likelihood of that risk? As an engineer by training, I'd prefer to see risk measured with numbers, rather than words. However, my instinct is to vote yes on this legislation, pending your thoughts, the thoughts expressed at the public hearing, and the City staff's responses to my pending request for more information. My impression is that the risk is low and the reward potential is high.
R-26-13 Special Event Applications - III - For the purpose of authorizing City Council approval of selected special events per R-14-12, implementing a moratorium on administrative approvals for events at City Dock; designating specific dates for the sale of merchandise in the Historic District in conjunction with only the approved special events; waiving fees for the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade and the Grand Illumination; and the reimbursement of full fees to the City for the cost associated with the other approved events.
Fiscal Impact: The following events are included in this legislation.
The Annapolis Striders - This group will pay full costs for police traffic control and road closures, EMS service at start and finish, and will obtain and pay for an alcoholic beverage license, an exempt peddlers license, and temporary structures permit.
CBYRA - There will be no street closures, no reservation of parking spaces, and normal police and fire service. CBYRA will be required to get a special event exempt peddler's permit for which there is no fee. Issuing an exempt peddler' permit uses minimal City resources and has little fiscal impact.
The Maritime Republic of Eastport (MRE) - This group will pay full costs for posting of no parking signs and 36 metered parking spaces at City Dock and at Second St. in Eastport, an exempt peddlers permit, temporary structures permit, alcoholic beverage license, and two officers on site at Susan Campbell Park and Second St. in Eastport.
Semper Fi Fund - Costs associated with closing the race route and EMS services will be reimbursed to the City.
Second Wind Productions -All City costs will be paid including a peddlers permit, temporary structures permit, police for traffic control and road closures, EMS services at start and finish, an alcoholic beverage license.
Annapolis Jaycees - A waiver of costs for police traffic management and road closure, estimated at $1,650, and posting of no parking signs and lost parking revenue, estimated at $230 for the Grand Illumination has been requested. The organization will pay for the special event application and solicitors' permit. EMS service will be provided within normal services.
Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade - This legislation proposes waiver of dockage fees, electricity for boat decorating, police services and parking spaces for parade participants at Susan Campbell Park, the seawall at Dock Street, the dingy dock area and the seawall beside Fawcett's from noon December 12 through noon December 15. ADOT will provide Circulator service with some adjusted times possible. Lost revenues to the City include $430 for 635 linear feet of dock at winter storage rates, and $760 for 20 parking spaces. Electricity charges depend on the amp outlet size needed, the number of boats and the size of the boats, and is estimated at $320. Police services are estimated at $3,850. Total cost to the City will be around $5,360 if the waiver is granted. EMS will be provided within normal service.
Drum Corps Associates Kickoff at the Dock! - The mayor will propose that this event be added to this list.
Comments: Three City Council committees have been meeting jointly to discuss pending legislation that will provide some restrictions on the number of events that are held as a balance with competing interests. In the meantime, these groups are trying to plan for their events. Knowing how long it takes to plan and market these events, I'm inclined to vote in favor of this Resolution with the long view of continuing to work on the pending legislation to iron out the major issues. R-31-13 Designation of Annapolis as a Sustainable Community - For the purpose of supporting the designation of Annapolis as a Sustainable Community, pursuant to the attached Sustainable Community map and Sustainable Community Plan (the "Plan,") as further described in the Sustainable Community Application (the "Application"), for approval either directly by the Department of Housing and Community Development (the "Department") of the State of Maryland or through the Smart Growth Sub-Cabinet of the State of Maryland.
Comments: Essentially, the State of Maryland provides grant money to communities so long as they maintain certain long-term plans and adhere to certain requirements. One of those requirements is this designation. The State does not permit the entire City to have this "sustainable" designation, so the City staff choose those communities within the City that already had some action plans or special designations.
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ORDINANCE AND RESOLUTIONS - 1ST READER
My commentary: On 1st reader, the Council votes to introduce ordinances and resolutions 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.
O-27-13 Sediment and Erosion Control - For the purpose of adopting the State of Maryland's required erosion and sediment control ordinance that meets the intent of the State's sediment control laws and regulations.
O-32-13 Plumbing Permit Fees - Capital Facilities - For the purpose of authorizing applicants for a special exception or other development proposal, subject to the following group of plumbing permit fees (a connection charge, a capital facility charge, a capital facility assessment charge, and an installation charge), to be eligible for the fees levied at the time of such application rather than the fees at the time the permit may be issued; and making such provisions retroactive to July 1, 2011.
BUSINESS AND MISCELLANEOUS
Appointment - Recreation Advisory Board: Ms. Catherine Simmons-Jones
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City Council Special Meeting: Monday, July 22, 2013
7 p.m., City Council Chambers
The Agenda is not yet posted, so don't hold me to this, but my expectation is that the agenda will consist of a Public Hearing on the 2 city dock pieces of legislation continued from the last Council session:
O-7-13 Establishment of a New Zoning District: Waterfront City Dock, Phase One - For the purpose of implementing Phase One of the recommendations of the City Dock Master Plan by establishing a new zoning district - the Waterfront City Dock Zone.
R-49-12 2012 City Dock Master Plan - For the purpose of adopting the Draft City Dock Master Plan as an addendum to the 2009 Annapolis Comprehensive Plan.
After the public hearing, there will continue to be time to discuss and debate these plans before the Council votes on them, which would be in September at the earliest.
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912 Forest Dr., Annapolis, MD
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