Dec. 9, 2015
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Alderman, Ward 5, Annapolis
912 Forest Drive
(office at K&B True Value)
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Upcoming Events
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The City Council will meet Monday night at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers. More information is below.
My analysis of the agenda is below.
Updates Since the Last Meeting 1. If you've ever considered serving on a board or commission to improve Annapolis, there are many vacancies; perhaps one of these fits your interests. 2. Speaking of volunteer positions, I am seeking an intern to help me represent Ward 5.
Your Views
I welcome Annapolis City residents, particularly those from Ward 5, and other concerned individuals to offer 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, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m., in the Council Chambers. All Council meetings are available online through live streaming and broadcast on Comcast channels 99 or 100 and on Verizon channel 34. Below is a synopsis of the agenda. You can access the unabridged version here.
CEREMONIAL ITEMS
MARTHA WOOD LEADERSHIP AWARD
Presented to Mr. Andre Atkins
PETITIONS, REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
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.
APPOINTMENTS
The appointment of Jason P. Houser to the Annapolis Conservancy Board
PUBLIC HEARINGS
R-31-15 Rental Unit Licenses - For the purpose of waiving fees associated with the licensure and inspection of HACA residential rental units.
Sponsor: Finlayson
Comment: For a fee, the City of Annapolis inspects and issues licenses for residential apartments which ensures that apartments are safe and habitable. In the context of private apartments, private landlords have no alternative but to pay for these services. However, for apartments owned by the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis (HACA), it gets a bit more complicated. HACA has for years indicated that it cannot afford to pay for these inspections, and the City has not conducted them. This legislation would waive those fees, at a potential total cost of $79,000 (the inspections and costs could be spread out over 2 years). The legislation does not otherwise provide a source for those funds however, so presumably the City would need to pay overtime at an additional and unfunded cost, or forgo providing other unidentified services, in order to provide these inspections. This year's budget is likely to operate at a deficit, reducing the savings built during recent years, and I am generally resistant to permit further deficit spending.
In addition, it is not clear to me what would come of these inspections. Will HACA be able to afford the costs of repair and replacement? If residents are required to move out of their apartments during repair work, will HACA or the US HUD pay for alternative housing? There are other questions as well.
Please consider speaking during this public hearing to let your preferences be known to the entire Council. It is in everyone's best interests for the City to ensure that all of its residents live in safe and habitable housing and this legislation speaks to that laudable goal. I'm interested to hear from you on whether this legislation is a correct step towards that goal.
O-41-15 A Comprehensive Zoning District Map Amendment and Technical Update - For the purpose of updating the City's Zoning Map; and matters generally relating to technical corrections of the Zoning Map.
Sponsor: Pantelides
Comment: The City of Annapolis' most recent official zoning maps are from July 2005. This Ordinance provide technical adjustments based on 4 factors: (1) adjustments to match a 2009 State Dept. of Assessment and Taxation Tax Map Grid; (2) changes to the mapped parcel boundaries and overall improvements in mapping accuracy; (3) correcting mistakes and oversights made during the 2005 mapping process; and (4) general updates to reflect rezoning updates previously approved by City Council and parts of the City annexed since 2005.
The updates improve our City Code and are supported by the materials provided by the Planning & Zoning Department. Therefore, pending consideration of issues raised by you or my colleagues, I intend to support this legislation.
R-25-15 Waiving Certain Residential Parking Fees - For the purpose of waiving parking fees in Special Residential Parking Districts for residents of housing owned by the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis and residents of Section 8 Housing.
Sponsors: Budge, Paone, Pindell Charles, Kirby and Finlayson
Comment: Special Residential Parking Districts were established to reduce the burdens placed on residents by adjacent governmental, commercial, industrial, educational, and transit areas. A Residential Parking Permit is required for parking for more than 2 hours in these districts at a fee of $55. Because residents of HACA housing have difficulty paying these fees, this legislation proposes that those parking fees be waived.
I agree that this legislation serves a valid and important purpose, and the fees waived will not have a negative fiscal impact because they will not incur additional costs or reduce expected revenues. Therefore, pending consideration of issues raised by you or colleagues, I intend to vote in favor of this legislation.
O-52-15 Police and Fire Retirement Plan Commission - For the
purpose of authorizing the City Manager to serve as the Mayor's designated representative on the Police and Fire Retirement Plan Commission.
Sponsor: Pantelides
Comment: This Ordinance makes the City Manager, rather than the Mayor, one of the representatives on this commission. This change reflects actual and logical practice. Therefore, pending consideration of issues raised by you or my colleagues, I intend to vote for this legislation.
O-01-16 Amendment No. 1 to Annapolis Maritime Museum, Inc. Lease Agreement - For the purpose of approving an Amendment No. 1 to the Lease for certain City-owned property to the Annapolis Maritime Museum, Inc.; and matters generally relating to said lease.
Sponsor: Pantelides
O-02-16 Amending the Composition of the Maritime Advisory Board - For the purpose of replacing the Chair of the Annapolis Conservancy Board with a representative of the maritime industry to serve on the Maritime Advisory Board.
Sponsors: Budge, Arnett, Pfeiffer
O-03-16 Stevens, Incorporated Lease of 142 Dock Street - For the purpose of approving the lease for certain City-owned property located at 142 Dock Street; and matters generally relating to said lease.
Sponsor: Pantelides
Comment: I am concerned about voting on this legislation, even on 1st Reader, before getting additional information.
This legislation pertains to an existing lease between the City and the Stevens family that calls for concurrent 99 year lease terms and $10 in annual payments. The land in question does not consist of all of the land below the Stevens building, but rather a part of the property. The City does not own the building.
However, the City doesn't have a parcel map showing the exact size or location of the piece of land that the City owns. Furthermore, the City does not know the fair market value of the property. The terms of the lease initially signed by the parties in 1821 requires that the City continue to renew the lease every 99 years.
I have a number of questions about this lease, such as understanding exactly what land the City is leasing, the fair market value of that land, the City's interests and ability to terminate the lease, whether the $10 annual payments can be escalated, and others.
To seek to terminate that lease, the City may need to seek relief from the courts. Personally, I think it is important to understand the parameters of the City owned land, its fair market value, and the City's rights under or to get out of the lease, before pursuing the renewal of the lease for another 99 years. O-04-16 Lease of City Property: Spring 2017 Boat Shows - For the purpose of authorizing a lease of certain municipal property located at the City Dock, surrounding areas and boat moorings in Annapolis, Maryland as more fully described in the Lease Agreement with Cruisers University, Inc., t/a Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show, in April 2017, to conduct boat shows.
Sponsors: Pantelides, Budge
O-05-16 Lease of City Property: Spring 2018 Boat Shows - For the purpose of authorizing a lease of certain municipal property located at the City Dock, surrounding areas and boat moorings in Annapolis, Maryland as more fully described in the Lease Agreement with Cruisers University, Inc., t/a Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show, in April 2018, to conduct boat shows.
Sponsors: Pantelides, Budge
O-06-16 Lease of City Property: Spring 2019 Boat Shows - For the purpose of authorizing a lease of certain municipal property located at the City Dock, surrounding areas and boat moorings in Annapolis, Maryland as more fully described in the Lease Agreement with Cruisers University, Inc., t/a Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show, in April 2019, to conduct boat shows.
Sponsors: Pantelides, Budge
O-07-16 Chapter 21.56 Historic District - For the purpose of updating and amending Chapter 21.56 of the Annapolis City Code to simplify and reorganize that Chapter for ease of use, to clarify processes, to remove obsolete language, to include substantive changes; and matters generally relating to Chapter 21.56.
Sponsors: Pantelides, Budge
O-08-16 Title 7 - Business Licenses, Taxes and Regulations - For the purpose of amending Chapter 7.40 to provide for the regulation of peddlers, hawkers, and itinerant merchants within the City.
Sponsor: Budge
O-09-16 Removing Members of Boards and Commissions - For the purpose of providing a formal process for the removal of appointed members of City boards and commissions for cause.
Sponsors: Budge, Arnett
O-10-16 Water Service Billing Adjustments - For the purpose of clarifying the procedures for requesting an adjustment to water or sewer service billing, and matters generally relating to water or sewer service billing adjustments.
Sponsor: Pantelides
R-01-16 Comprehensive Maritime Review - For the purpose of conducting a comprehensive economic and zoning review of all maritime zones.
Sponsors: Budge, Arnett
R-02-16 Peddlers, Hawkers, and Itinerant Merchants Fees and Fines - For the purpose of setting fees and fines associated with engaging in the business of a peddler, hawker, and itinerant merchant as set forth in Chapter 7.40 of the City Code.
Sponsor: Budge
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