July 26, 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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The City Council will meet Monday, July 28, at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers.
News Since the Last Meeting Email
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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Regular Meeting of the City Council
Agenda
The Annapolis City Council will meet on Monday, July 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.
City Council Citation to PAL Baseball
by Mayor Pantelides and Alderman Littmann
PETITIONS, REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Quarterly Report from the Housing Authority
- Reports by Committee
- Petitions (Public Comments) - This is your opportunity to speak to any matter not listed for a public hearing below.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
This is your opportunity to state your opinion on how we should vote or amend pending legislation.
O-24-14 Police and Fire Retirement Plan Cost of Living Adjustments - For the purpose of providing that effective July 1, 2013, and each July 1st thereafter, each Retired Member or survivor of any such Retired Member, entitled to receive a retirement benefit as of June 30th of any year, shall receive a fixed annual two-percent (2%) increase above the amount the Retired Member or survivor had received on June 30th of the same year
My Comments: This legislation effectuates part of the agreement reached last October between the City and its unions regarding retirement benefits for retired police and fire officers. This legislation provides for cost of living increases of 2% annually. This legislation is also on the agenda for a vote on 2nd Reader. I welcome your comments on this legislation.
O-2-14 Water Service to the Chesapeake Harbour Subdivision - For purpose of authorizing and approving an agreement regarding the provision of water service to the Chesapeake Harbour Subdivision. My Comments: This legislation resolves a dispute between the City and the homeowners' association for Chesapeake Harbour, a subdivision outside of City limits. In 1984, the City and the association signed a contract under which the City provides water to the association residents for two times the rate that the City charges its residents. In 2006, the City passed legislation unilaterally changing the multiplier (2x in the above mentioned contract) to 3x times the water rate for nonresidents. This agreement resolves the conflict between the contract and legislation regarding that multiplier. Pending consideration of comments from you or my colleagues, I intend to vote in favor of this Ordinance.
O-18-14 Admission and Amusement Taxes - For the purpose of codifying the City of Annapolis' laws related to the admission and amusement tax authorized by the Tax-General Article, § 4-102(c), of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
My Comments: This legislation codifies the City's admission and amusement taxes. In 1982, 1983, and 1985, the City passed resolutions that levied and altered the rate of these taxes. While these resolutions were effective in setting those rates, resolutions do not change or appear in the City Code. This legislation puts these tax provisions in the City Code. It is appropriate to codify the admission and amusement tax rates in the City Code with other business licenses, taxes, and regulations. This legislation could produce significant positive fiscal impact depending on the reporting and monitoring of gross receipts derived from any admission and amusement charges. Pending consideration of comments from you or my colleagues, I intend to vote in favor of this Ordinance.
O-22-14 Special Residential Parking District 1 - State Circle - For the purpose of authorizing a resident who occupies a dwelling unit in a building located on State Circle to be eligible for a permit in special residential parking district No. 1; and all other matters related to special residential parking district No. 1.
My Comments: This legislation affects about 7 individuals with State Circle addresses and adds them to the special residential parking District No. 1 so that they would be eligible for the corresponding parking permits. Pending consideration of comments from you or my colleagues, I intend to vote in favor of this Ordinance.
O-23-14 Financial Disclosure for Employees and Appointed Officials - For the purpose of requiring certain City of Annapolis employees and appointed officials to file a financial disclosure statement with the Ethics Commission 15 days after commencing employment or service pursuant to their appointment; requiring employees or appointed officials who provide advice or counsel to the City on acquisitions or public policy matters to file a financial disclosure statement with the Ethics Commission; and making the changes necessary to the City Code in order to comply with the State of Maryland ethics requirements.
My Comments: This legislation adds to the reporting requirements for the purposes of higher ethical standards. Currently, certain employees and elected officials file each January 31 a financial disclosure statement. This legislation would require individuals that are added to those ranks during the year to file those statements within 15 days of the commencement of their employment, rather than the next Jan. 31. By adding this requirement, any potential conflicts of interest are brought to light sooner. This is an improvement in ethical standards. Pending consideration of comments from you or my colleagues, I intend to vote in favor of this Ordinance. O-24-14 Police and Fire Retirement Plan Cost of Living Adjustments - For the purpose of providing that effective July 1, 2013, and each July 1st thereafter, each Retired Member or survivor of any such Retired Member, entitled to receive a retirement benefit as of June 30th of any year, shall receive a fixed annual two-percent (2%) increase above the amount the Retired Member or survivor had received on June 30th of the same year.
My Comments: A description of this legislation is above in the public hearing section. Because this legislation is consistent with a previously negotiated agreement and legislation, pending consideration of comments from you or my colleagues, I intend to vote in favor of this Ordinance. R-24-14 Special Event Applications - 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 City fees for Eastport Yacht Club 32nd Annual Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade and the Annapolis Jaycees Grand Illumination; waiving parking fees for the Maritime Republic of Eastport Tug of War; and the reimbursement of full fees to the City for the cost associated with the other approved events
My Comments: This legislation is separate from the pending legislation that purports to reach a compromise between those who enjoy hosting or attending special events, primarily in the downtown parts of the City, and those who are inconvenienced or worse from those same special events. Pending resolution of that set of legislation, R-24-14 permits a few specific events, including the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade, the Jaycees Grand Illumination, and the Maritime Republic of Eastport Tug of War. I am in favor of allowing those events; they are beloved by many and generally accepted as important to the fabric of the City.
This legislation also provides for a waiver or reimbursement for all fees for those events. Generally speaking, I am opposed to waiving fees, on principle, until this City Council produces a sustainable budget that incorporates these waivers while also addressing the City's deteriorating infrastructure and growing long-term debt. However, these are three isolated events, they all raise money for charitable purposes, and the fees at issue are limited. Therefore, I'm inclined to go along with those specific waivers.
This legislation also allows other events, including: the Annapolis Striders' run, Revolution Annapolis' Feed Annapolis run, Annapolis High School's homecoming parade, the Semper Fi Fund race, Second Wind Productions' run, and the DC Bowl parade and run. Importantly to me, those events would each pay the appropriate fees and reimbursement of lost revenue to compensate the City for the services it provides for these events. I am a bit concerned about the number of events this legislation permits in light of the numerous and repeated complaints about the impact of these runs on downtown businesses. I welcome your input before reaching a decision on how to vote on this legislation.
R-25-14 The Approval of a Community Legacy and/or a Strategic Demolition and Smart Growth Impact Fund Application (Bowman Building) - For the purpose of approving the application and receipt of financing for Community Legacy Projects and/or Strategic Demolition and Smart Growth Impact Fund projects in the City of Annapolis for the Bowman Building Redevelopment, to be financed either directly by the Department of Housing and Community Development (the Department) of the State of Maryland, or through other departments or agencies of the State of Maryland.
and
R-26-14 The Approval of a Community Legacy and/or a Strategic Demolition and Smart Growth Impact Fund Application (Newtowne Twenty) - For the purpose of approving the application and receipt of financing for Community Legacy Projects(s) and/or Strategic Demolition and Smart Growth Impact Fund project(s) in the City of Annapolis for the Newtowne Twenty Redevelopment project, to be financed either directly by the Department of Housing and Community Development (the Department) of the State of Maryland, or through other departments or agencies of the State of Maryland.
My Comments on both R-25-14 & R-26-14:
These resolutions would provide the Council's consent to applying for grants to help fund the redevelopment of these private properties. Because these applications by themselves do not require the City to approve any project or to add any funding, pending consideration of comments from you or my colleagues, I intend to vote in favor of these resolutions. Although I'm in favor of seeking these grants, I do not yet have an opinion on the work to be done or the City's funding that would be needed.
First Readers
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-26-14 Special Residential Parking District 2: Shipwright Street - For the purpose of removing the area on Shipwright Street zoned WME and the area adjacent to the WME zone on the southwest side of Shipwright Street from Special Residential Parking District No. 2; and providing that a resident who occupies a dwelling unit in a building located in the WME zone on Shipwright Street shall be eligible for a parking permit in Special Residential Parking District No. 2. R-27-14 Authorizing the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade as an Offi cialCity of Annapolis Co-Sponsored Event - For the purpose of authorizing the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade as an official co-sponsored City of Annapolis event due to his importance and significance to our country and our community.
R-28-14 Honoring Brian Woodward's Service to the City of Annapolis - For the purpose of honoring Brian Woodward's distinguished service to the City of Annapolis.  My Comments: Mr. Woodward recently announced his resignation from the Acting City Manager position and that he will also not return to his position as Director of Parks & Recreation due to personal health reasons. Mr. Woodward is a very intelligent, kind, and professional manager, and he stepped up at a time of need for the City. I am grateful for his service to the City and wish him well both for his health issues and retirement. I will vote in favor of this legislation.
BUSINESS AND MISCELLANEOUS
GT-22-14 Fund Transfer - Public Works
My Comments: This is a transfer within the Public Works Department's budget of $50K involving vehicle replacement. Pending consideration of comments from you or my colleagues, I intend to vote in favor of this transfer.
GT-23-14 Settlement - Law Office
My Comments: This transfer for $18k concerns the settlement agreement between the City and Karen Hardwick, the former City Attorney. Ms. Hardwick signed an employment contract with the City with the former mayor, Mayor Cohen. The City, under the current administration, and Ms. Hardwick subsequently reached an agreement to terminate that contract. This payment resolves the dispute between the parties. Pending consideration of comments from you or my colleagues, I intend to vote in favor of this transfer.
GT-25-14 Approval of Contract Position - Law Office
My Comments: This transfer of almost $39k from within the law office's budget (from outside counsel to law office salaries) would pay for the legal services of Kerry Berger, who is the attorney that Mr. Murmane brought to the office earlier this year. I will be seeking more information from the law office to help justify the expansion of that office from three to four attorneys. As a heavy and appreciative user of that department's services, I can understand the need for additional services. However, I'd like to better understand the long term plans for this position.
GT-26-14 DPW - Fleet Maintenance System
My Comments: This transfer of $50k within the Public Works Department's Budget is for new fleet management computer software. I am seeking more information to better understand this request.
GT-27-14 DPW to PW - Harbormaster Seasonal
My Comments: This transfer of $25k involves the night time public restrooms change in budget accounts from the Market House to the Harbormaster Building. I am seeking more information from the department to better understand this request.
AP-6-14 Appointment of Terry Coker Peterson to the Art in Public Places Commission
AP-7-14 Appointment of Sandra Chapman to the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis Board of Commissioners
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