Annapolis Capital Punishment

(CP provides this as a public service to all city residents, but mainly for Ward 8 folks of course. Ross's input and comments are most welcome here, however CP suggests that those who wish to read these on a regular basis should email Ross and request to be placed his mailing list. CP does not intend to publish the full details in future postings....thanks!)

Ward 8 Residents

Before getting into this Monday’s Council meetings I want to alert you to two up coming important meetings. The Public Safety Committee will be meeting in Council Chambers at 7 p.m. 18 February. This meeting will also be telecast on Comcast channel 99 and Verizon channel 37. The second important date is a joint workshop with the City Council and the HACA Board, which will be held at 6 p.m. on 25 February in Council Chambers. The public is invited to both meetings.

This Monday evening at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, prior to the Regular meeting of the City Council, there will be a public hearing of O-27-07, The Promotion of Reusable, Recyclable and Compostable Materials. This is the amended ban of plastic bags ordinance.

The Regular Meeting (i.e., Legislative Action) of the Annapolis City Council will be held on February 11, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The Council meetings are broadcast on Comcast channel 99 Verizon channel 37.

Below is the agenda for the meeting with a brief description. I have added comments in italics and underline after some of the legislation. It is my practice to comment only on legislation that has had a public hearing and has gone through the Council Committee process.

CHARTER AMENDMENT

CA-02-08 1st R. Director of Public Works [Moyer] – For the purpose of deleting the requirement that the Director of Public Works have an engineering degree and be a registered engineer in the State of Maryland in recognition that the position evolved into one with a greater emphasis on managerial and community outreach knowledge and skills. (Referred to Rules and City Government Committee)

ORDINANCES

O-06-07 Revised 2nd R. Review Time for Legislation [Moyer] - For the purpose of limiting to 180 days the time allowed to the planning process for review of legislation: making the review of all non-planning legislation, including resolutions, by all committees, boards and commissions subject to the current 120 day referral limitation; clarifying that City Council members may submit legislation to the City Council before zoning map amendments and City Code amendments are submitted to the Planning Commission; requiring the review by the Regular Meeting of the City Council generally relating to said zoning amendments. I favor this legislation, but will either offer amendments that will clarify the process for notifying property owners or introduce separate legislation to do that.

O-27-07Revised D 2nd R. [Moyer, Israel, Finlayson, Arnett, Cordle, Shropshire] The Promotion of Reusable, Recyclable and Compostable Materials – For the purpose of establishing that the goal of the City is to encourage residents and business owners to use reusable and recyclable materials and to purchase goods from companies that practice energy use reduction and sequestration of carbon dioxide wherever possible; to establish an Environmental Review Committee to review existing practices of the City to assure that the its policies and procedures foster the use of materials that are compostable, recyclable, and reusable, to assist the various City offices to ensure that contracting procedures do not discriminate against reusable, recycled, or environmentally preferable products without sufficient justification, to evaluate environmentally preferable products to determine the extent to which they may be used by the City and its contractors, to review and revise contracting procedures to maximize the specification of designated environmentally preferable products where practicable, to facilitate data collection on purchases of designated environmentally preferable products, and to monitor compliance with a number of environmentally friendly standards and practices. I favor this legislation as a first step in a process to make the City more environmentally friendly.

O-47-07 2nd R. [Israel] Making Permanent Two-hour Limitation for Parking by Nonresidents in Special Residential Parking Districts 1 and 2 – For the purpose, in Special Parking Districts 1 and 2, of making permanent that parking by non-residents is limited to two hours between the hours of eight a.m. and midnight, seven days a week; making the same two hour limitation applicable to Special Parking Districts 3, 4, and 5. Ward 8 doesn’t have a horse in this race and I plan to support Alderman Israel on this legislation.

O-06-08 1st R. Temporary Parking Restriction on Cornhill Street [Moyer] – For the purpose of temporarily limiting parking on Cornhill Street to residents of Cornhill and Fleet Streets during scheduled reconstruction of the street and sidewalks; and all other matters concerning Special Residential Parking District 1.

O-07-08 1st R. Membership of Retirement Plan Commission [Moyer] – For the purpose of broadening the experience that the banking industry member of the Retirement Plan Commission may have and from which the City may seek investment advice.

O-08-08 1st R. Safely Undergrounding Utilities [Shropshire, Cordle, Stankivic, Hoyle, Paone, Finlayson] – For the purpose of requiring that work crews installing or working on underground utilities have at lease one member on-site that is fluent in English so that that worker may communicate safety information to company supervisors, other utility companies, firefighters, police, EMS personnel and residents adjoining the work site such as when gas, electrical, and telephone cables are unintentionally severed.

R-06-08 1st R. Amending Fines Schedule for Undergrounding Utilities [Shropshire, Cordle, Stankivic, Hoyle, Paone, Finlayson] – For the purpose of establishing a fine for violating the new requirement that any entity installing or working on any type of underground utility shall be responsible for assuring that at least one on-site member of a work crew is fluent in English.

RESOLUTIONS

R-24-07 Revised 2nd R. Extending Water Service to Annapolis Neck Fire Station [Moyer] – For the purpose of approving the extension of City water service to the Annapolis Neck Fire Station which is located in Anne Arundel County, outside the boundaries of the City of Annapolis. I support this legislation this public safety legislation.

R-04-08 2nd R. Assistance to the Homeless [Moyer] – For the purpose of dedicating the revenue derived from designated parking meters to the City’s homeless. I’m going to ask that this be sent to committee for more discussion. It’s not clear to me how this assistance integrates with other shelter programs.

R-07-08 1st R. Commodore John Barry Park [Moyer] – For the purpose of designating the park at the southeast end of Prince George Street as the Commodore John Barry Park.

R-08-08 1st R. Capital City Arts and Entertainment District [Moyer] – For the purpose of designating an arts and entertainment district to encourage the economic development of the City by enabling certain residents to receive various tax incentives; expressing the support of the City for the creation of such a district; recognizing that it is possible for the City to lose tax revenue if the district designation is adopted; and specifying the expected tax incentives that would be implemented upon approval of the designation by the Maryland Secretary of Business and Economic Development.

BUSINESS AND MISCELLANEOUS

1. Appointments

2. Ratification of Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Annapolis and United Food & Commercial Workers, Local 400

Next City Council Meetings:

Monday, February 25, 2008, City Council Chamber - 7:00 p.m.

Monday, March 10, 2008, City Council Chamber - 7:30 p.m.

As always, you can call me [410 295-9743] or send an email [EastportRoss@aol.com] if you have questions or concerns.

Ross Arnett, Alderman, Ward 8