April 25, 2014
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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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April 26 9 a.m. - noon (mostly), GreenScape - community clean up of public spaces information | locations
April 26 10 a.m., Refresh of the Pocket Park on Main Street - volunteers needed to paint and plant information
April 26 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., National Prescription Drug Take Back Day , properly dispose of unwanted & expired medicines (Rx & OTC) at Annapolis Police Department, 199 Taylor Avenue information
April 27 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Spring Fling on Maryland Avenue & State Circle
information
April 287 p.m., City Council Meeting City Council Chambers April 29
5:30 p.m., City Council Finance Committee
City Council ChambersMay 78 - 10 a.m., Working Session: Creating Visual Magic with Low Budget, High Impact Techniques informationMay 10-1111 a.m.-noon, Annapolis City Fair at City Dock information
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The City Council will meet next Monday, April 28, at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers.
At the start of this Council session new firefighters will be sworn in, the Housing Authority will present its quarterly update, and a public hearing will be held on an amendment to the Capital Improvement Program to include the Police Department's indoor firing range. Your comments and thoughts are very important, and I encourage you to attend and provide your testimony.
News Since the Last Meeting Email
The City has been operating without a permanent City Manager since January. On April 7, the Council passed a resolution 8-1 in favor of using a national search firm to find the next City Manager. To my knowledge, a national search has not yet begun, though the job opportunity is posted. The use of national search firm gives the City the highest likelihood of finding the best candidate and I encourage its use as the above Resolution provides.
The supervision of the City Manager, and the hiring and firing of one, is among the 2 most important responsibilities of the Council (passing a budget is the other one).
Along those lines, the Council continues its work on the budget. My goals include:
1. Avoid the proposed furloughs;
2. Make up for that $1.8M shortfall without raising property taxes, but rather through a mix of increased revenue and reduced expenses;
3. Restore funding for 2 positions that make up 40% of the environmental compliance section and 1 position in Zoning responsible for ensuring that development complies with the City Code through an increase in fees for services provided and a reduction of expenses from those departments;
4. Paying for operating activities though the operating budget, rather than the capital (bonds) budget; and
5. Increasing the amount of savings, which improves the City's financial footing, similar to a family saving for an emergency and ensuring good credit in the eyes of banks.
I don't expect a perfect budget, I know some compromises will be needed to get a budget passed, and I welcome your thoughts on those priorities.
Your Views
I welcome Annapolis City residents, particularly from Ward 5, and other concerned individuals to give me their views on issues or to discuss other concerns in person. Please contact me via email with your views or to set up a time to chat in my office at K&B True Value ( 912 Forest Drive).
Stay in Touch
I welcome your feedback and questions, and appreciate your help in reaching other Annapolis residents by to them. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Jared Littmann
Alderman, Ward 5, Annapolis
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Special Meeting of the City Council
Agenda
The Annapolis City Council will meet on Monday, April 28, at 7 p.m., in the Council Chambers. All Council meetings are available online through live streaming and broadcast on Comcast channel 99 and on Verizon channel 34. Below is a synopsis of the agenda. You can access the unabridged version here.
Swearing-In of Fire Fighters
Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA)
Quarterly Update
PETITIONS, REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Reports by Committees
- Petitions (Public Comments) - This is your opportunity to speak to any matter not listed for a public hearing below.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
R-4-14 Amendment to the Capital Improvement Program: FY 2014 to FY 2019 Concerning the Annapolis Police Department Indoor Firing Range - For the purposes of adopting an amendment to the capital improvement program for the six-year period from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2019 concerning the Annapolis Police Department indoor firing range.
My Comment:The state government included a grant to the City for $250k for matching funds towards a new police firing range. The current range is shut down due to safety reasons. I welcome the public's thoughts on the potential expense of $250k by the City.
LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
2ND READERS O-4-14 Lease of City Dock Space to Chesapeake Marine Tours - For the purpose of authorizing for fiscal year 2020 the lease of certain municipal property located at the City Dock to Chesapeake Marine Tours, Inc. for the docking and mooring of certain boats.
My Comment: The owner of CMT appeared before the Environmental Matters Committee and discussed the numerous benefits to the City under this lease, including the substantial rent payment to the City. I am convinced that this lease benefits the City of Annapolis and provides a fair rent payment to the City. Unless otherwise convinced by you or my colleagues, I intend to vote in favor of this legislation.
O-11-14 Lease of Public Parking Lots to FRESHFARM Markets, Inc. - For the purpose of authorizing a lease of municipal property located at 110 Compromise Street from May 4, 2014 through November 23, 2014 (with the exception of October 12, 2014 and October 19, 2014 for the Fall Boat Shows) to FRESHFARM Markets, Inc.
My Comment: At the public hearing, I asked the proprietors of Freshfarm Markets for an explanation of the $50 monthly rent that is paid to the City, which seemed low to me. Ms. Yonkers explained that usually the host jurisdiction does not charge any, or just a nominal, rent because these markets do not produce enough revenue to pay a rent. Instead, some jurisdictions pay to have these markets. Further, the host jurisdictions welcome these markets because of the benefits they provide to its citizens. As to whether the markets, which are located on parking lots downtown, cause a loss of revenue, note that the markets end by 1 PM, and that the parking meters don't go into effect until noon. Further, unless all surrounding parking spots are taken, there is not necessarily any loss of parking revenue; the meter fees are merely collected at other locations. I am convinced that this lease benefits the City of Annapolis and provides a fair rent payment to the City. However, to address concerns that the market could be paying a higher rent or could represent a higher proportion of local farmers and producers, I suggest that the City issue an RFP for a farmers market for next year's use. In the meantime, unless otherwise convinced by you or my colleagues, I intend to vote in favor of this legislation.
R-1-14 Honoring Bert Jabin -For the purpose of celebrating Bert Jabin's maritime legacy in the Chesapeake Bay region.
My Comment: The resolution honors a legend of Annapolis and does not have any financial cost. Unless otherwise convinced by you or my colleagues, I intend to vote in favor of this legislation.
1ST READERS - ORDINANCE
First Reader is a bill's formal introduction to the Council for consideration. Generally, I will vote in favor of a bill on First Reader, even if I disagree with it, so that the bill may be heard and discussed by the Council and the public. The following bills are being introduced on First Reader:
O-15-14 Bulk Regulations for Educational Institutions- For the purpose of amending the bulk regulations for educational institutions to allow for a flexible design-oriented approach to the development or redevelopment of schools.
BUSINESS AND MISCELLANEOUS
AP-02-14 Appointments to the Board of Supervisors of Elections
Nominations made by the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee:
Samuel Callahan, Lyn Farrow Collins, Barbara Haight, Eileen Leahy, Alva Offer, and Arnold Smith.
Nominations made by the Annapolis Republican Central Committee:
Deborah Yatsuk, Frank Bradley, Clifford Myers, and M. Scott Bowling.
My Comment: The City Council must appoint 3 members to this Board from the above 2 lists. At least 1 of the appointments must be from each of those 2 lists, and the remaining appointment can come from either of the lists.
GT-19-14 Salaries to Contractual Services - Transportation Department
My Comment: This is a request for a transfer of $42.5k from within the Transportation Department to pay for contractual services. The funds are available from an unfilled vacancy in the Department's staff.
GT-05-14 Off Street Parking Fund
My Comment: This is a request for a transfer of $80k from the City's Contingency account to cover the cost of additional City Parking Garage Expenditures. I look forward to hearing more about this from the relevant Council Committee and staff.
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