Comments by the General Public - Early in each Council Meeting there is an opportunity for comments by the General Public. The public may comment on any subject that is not on the agenda for a Public Hearing. Comments during this time are limited to five minutes per person.
CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC HEARING
This is your opportunity to state your opinion on how we should vote or amend pending legislation. I generally do not comment on matters up for public hearing; I'd rather learn your thoughts.
O-30-14 Modification To Parking Requirements And Adding As A Permitted Use In The B1 District The Use: Commercial, Trade, Vocational, Music, Dance, or Art Schools - For the purpose of implementing the West Annapolis Sector Study.
Sponsor: Paone
Comment: During the West Annapolis Sector Study, the community expressed a desire for less restrictive parking regulations in the B1 District and a desire to allow Pilates and Yoga instruction. O-30-14 cuts the parking requirement for restaurants in the B1 District in half compared to the rest of the business and commercial zones in the City and adds Commercial, Trade, Vocational, Music, Dance, Or Art Schools as a permitted use. There are B1 Districts in West Annapolis and Eastport.
O-4-15 Building Permits - For the purpose of removing the Five Hundred Dollar construction project value requirement for the issuance of certain permits.
construction project value requirement for the issuance of certain permits.
Sponsor: Pantelides
Comment: This is a continuation of the Public Hearing on O-4-15 from Feb. 9. The original version of this bill didn't indicate what new code was being introduced and skipped mentioning two paragraphs in the existing code. Turns out there was a technical foul-up in publishing the bill. Alderman Budge requested a new version that included the missing elements. The updated version is online as the "Budge Amendment" and presents what the drafters of O-4-15 had meant to publish in the first place.
PUBLIC HEARING
R-3-15 The Parking Authorities Act - For the purpose of respectfully requesting that the Maryland General Assembly amend Section 18-103 of the Local Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland so that the Parking Authorities Act shall be applicable to the City of Annapolis.
Sponsors: Pantelides
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
SECOND READERS
Comment: Typically, I offer an inclination of how I intend to vote on a matter and invite you to state whether you agree or disagree before the vote so that I may consider your point of view.
R-36-14 Taxi Fees and Charges - For the purpose of increasing the authorized mileage rate charged by taxicabs licensed by the City of Annapolis from $2.00 per mile to $2.50 per mile.
Sponsors: Budge
Comment: In 2014, the City raised the fees charged to taxicabs in order to cover the costs of taxi inspector. This resolution would provide the taxi operators with a corresponding fare increase to cover their higher costs, including these fees. Taxi fares have not changed since 2000. During the interval, the Consumer Price Index has increased 43%. Gasoline prices now are 45% higher than in 2000, even with the reduction in prices since last year. The higher fare is consistent with fares charged by neighboring jurisdictions.
The requested fare increase strikes me as reasonable considering their increased costs, gas price increase, the length of time since fares were last set, and the fares charged by taxicabs in Anne Arundel County. I am concerned that higher prices will be a burden to those dependant on their services, which includes those least likely to be able to afford the increase, but I'm convinced this is the fair outcome for the taxicab drivers for the reasons stated above. Pending consideration of comments by your or my colleagues, I intend to support the amended bill.
FIRST READERS
Comment: 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.
O-7-15 City Grants to Non-Profit Organizations - For the purpose of revising City priorities for making operating and/or capital grants to non-profit
organizations under the Community Grant Program; and revising the qualifying criteria and reporting process for recipients of operating and/or capital Community Grant Program grants.
Sponsors: Littmann, Arnett, Finlayson and Pindell Charles
O-8-15 Keeping or Maintaining Chickens Within the City of Annapolis - For the purpose of eliminating the sunset provision set forth in Ordinance 53-11
Amended pertaining to keeping or maintaining chickens within the City of Annapolis.
Sponsors: Littmann and Pfeiffer
Comment: Before my tenure, the City Council permitted homeowners in certain situations to keep chickens. A number of City residents have taken advantage of that option. Without action, permission for these chickens will sunset in April, 2015. Whether or not this Ordinance passes, it strikes me as fair that the Council take an affirmative action to either continue this experiment or cancel it, rather than passively allow the sunset provision to take effect.
O-9-15 Transportation Board Quorum - For the purpose of establishing a quorum of the Transportation Board as a simple majority of the sworn members.
Sponsors: Budge
R-5-15 Itinerant Merchant Sales in the Historic District - 2015 - For the purpose of authorizing hawker, peddler, and itinerant merchant sales in the
Historic District in conjunction with certain special events during calendar year 2015.
Sponsors: Budge
R-6-15 Filing of Grant Application with the Maryland Transit Administration - For the purpose of authorizing the filing of an application with the Maryland Transit Administration of the Maryland Department of Transportation for a Sections 5303, 5304, 5307, 5309, 5310, 5311, 5316, and/or 5317 grants under the Federal Transit Act for a total amount of $1,617,093 ($1,103,711 for transit operations; $315,000 capital grant for transit vehicle maintenance; and $198,382 for paratransit operating assistance).
Sponsors: Pantelides and Budge
BUSINESS AND MISCELLANEOUS
Withdrawal of referral to the Planning Commission of O-36-14.
