The Rules & City Government Committee of the Annapolis City Council held a special meeting on July 11, 2025, at 1:06 PM in City Council Chambers. The committee considered two legislative items: O-20-25, authorizing the sale of city-owned property at 932 and 935 Spa Road to the Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County for environmental remediation, and O-9-25, which would expand permitted waterfront commercial uses in R4 General Residence Districts. Both items were postponed to future meetings after discussion and amendment. Consent Calendar - Approval of Minutes: The committee approved the minutes from the June 6, 2025 regular meeting by voice vote. Discussion Items - O-20-25 – Sale of City-Owned Property at 932 Spa Road and 935 Spa Road, Lot 1 - The committee heard extensive testimony from city staff, including City Attorney Mike Lyles, Assistant City Attorney Ashley Leonard, Director of Planning & Zoning Chris Jakubiak, Director of Central Services John Flinner, Director of Public Works David Vogel, and Housing Authority Executive Director Melissa Maddox-Evans. - Key issues raised included: - The need to subdivide the property before sale; the sale is contingent on completion of subdivision. - The purpose of the sale: to transfer ownership to the Resilience Authority for up to seven years to enable the Authority to apply for federal brownfields grants for remediation. The city remains liable for pre-existing contamination regardless of ownership. - The sale price is nominal ($1, with a typo in the ordinance showing $0 to be corrected). - A reverter clause was proposed and adopted by amendment: the property shall revert to the city no later than seven years from the date of transfer. - The relationship with the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) program: Maddox-Evans described conceptual plans for up to 240 housing units, city offices, parking, and public amenities on the site post-remediation, but emphasized that those plans are separate from the sale legislation. - Alderman Arnett expressed concern about the lack of detailed information provided to the council in advance, and about the city’s ongoing liability for remediation costs. - Alderman Finlayson and Alderman Schandelmeier supported moving forward, citing the urgency of the brownfields grant deadline (October 2025) and the potential loss of federal funding. - The committee heard that the Resilience Authority will be invited to the next meeting to answer questions. - O-9-25 – Expanding Waterfront Uses in R4 General Residence (Zoning) Districts - The committee discussed proposed amendments to add five water-access uses (boat rentals, charters, in-water boat storage, on-land boat storage, tugboat services, and water taxis) as permitted uses in R4 districts, with some subject to standards. - Alderman Dales (who is not a committee member but participated) described the amendments as a product of discussions with the Maritime Advisory Board, which had made a favorable motion. - Alderman Arnett reported that he had misplaced his folder and could not present the amendments in proper form, so he requested postponement. Key Outcomes - O-20-25: - The committee adopted an amendment (by voice vote) to change the reverter clause on page 2, line 24 to read “no later than seven years” (or “up to seven years” per the intent). - The committee voted to postpone further action on O-20-25 until the July 23, 2025 joint meeting with the Environmental Matters Committee. (Note: The minutes record the postponement to July 23; the transcript also reflects this.) - The committee directed staff to have the Resilience Authority present at the July 23 meeting. - O-9-25: - The committee voted to postpone consideration until a future meeting. According to the official minutes, the postponement is to September 5, 2025. However, the transcript indicates a motion to postpone to July 23, 2025, which was approved by voice vote. This discrepancy should be noted; the minutes are the official record. - General: Alderman Finlayson urged better advance coordination between the administration and council on major projects, noting that the public and council were not fully informed of the plans for Spa Road.
