Environmental Matters Committee Meeting - July 10, 2025
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Environmental Matters Committee Meeting - July 10, 2025
The Environmental Matters Committee of the Annapolis City Council met on Thursday, July 10, 2025, from 3:04 PM to 5:16 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Alderman Savidge, with Alderman Arnett and Alderwoman Finlayson present. The committee discussed the proposed sale of city-owned property at 932 and 935 Spa Road, received updates on resilience and sustainability initiatives, and reviewed development projects.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Agenda: Moved by Alderman Arnett, seconded, and carried by voice vote.
- Approval of Minutes (ENV 6.12.25): Moved by Alderwoman Finlayson, seconded, and carried by voice vote.
Legislation
- O-20-25 Sale of City-Owned Property at 932 Spa Road and 935 Spa Road, Lot 1 – This ordinance would authorize the private sale of two parcels to the Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Inc., enabling the city to become eligible for a $4 million EPA Brownfields grant for environmental remediation. The property would revert to the city after seven years. Committee members expressed concerns about the lack of a current parcel map, incomplete Phase II environmental study details, unclear remediation costs, the absence of a property appraisal, and the omission of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) context. Alderman Arnett and Alderwoman Finlayson requested additional information, including an updated map, Phase II report, MDE determination, and a CNI update. Alderman Savidge asked the Office of Law to draft an amendment incorporating Heritage Commission findings. The committee voted to postpone O-20-25 to the next meeting on July 23, 2025 (motion by Alderman Arnett, seconded, carried on voice vote).
General Discussion
- Resilience & Sustainability Update (ID-21-25) – Deputy City Manager Jackie Guild reported on the hiring of a new Environmental Programs Manager (Ashley Diaz, starting August 21), progress on the gas-powered leaf blower rebate program (105,000 in funding via Chesapeake Bay Trust), LED streetlight feasibility study, green roof bus shelter demonstration project, the Severn River Watershed Resilience Project (10 million in first-year funding, with projects to be announced), Hawkins Cove permitting, and a smart lighting pilot program. The committee also discussed enforcement of the leaf blower ban, with Planning and Zoning issuing warnings and citations, but noted challenges with consistent enforcement and staffing. Alderwoman Finlayson questioned the feasibility of enforcing the food truck electric hookup requirement at special events.
- Planning & Zoning Development Updates (ID-51-25) – Senior Planner Mike Meekins provided updates on several projects: the Chris Griscombe Square subdivision (12 units, construction to start next week with storm drain installation on Tyler Avenue), Parole Place (final plat submitted), Rocky Gorge (grading permit canceled, building permit voided), and the Village of Providence Point (record plat near approval, appeal likely resolved). The committee agreed to receive these updates every two months.
Key Outcomes
- O-20-25 postponed to July 23, 2025, pending additional information.
- Requests for information: Updated parcel map, Phase II environmental site assessment summary, MDE cleanup standards, CNI timeline, property appraisal, and input from the Office of Law.
- Amendment requested: Alderman Savidge asked the Office of Law to draft an amendment recognizing Heritage Commission findings regarding the property's Civil War-era history.
- Heritage Commission presentation: Vice Chair Robert Worden requested surface archaeological investigation and monitoring during remediation/construction, citing the site's historical significance as part of a Civil War parole camp and Colonel John Walton's farm. The committee expressed support and will consider a resolution.
- Enforcement of leaf blower ban: The committee urged consistent enforcement and proactive patrols; staff will discuss with Planning and Zoning.
- Food truck electric hookup: Further exploration needed on electrical feasibility and a public education campaign.
- Next meeting: July 23, 2025, to continue discussion on O-20-25.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everybody. I'd like to call to order July 10th meeting for environment of the environmental matters committee. Let's see, let's take uh roll call. Alderman Arnett here. Present. All right, thank you. Um business miscellaneous. Did I get a motion to approve the missed? Yeah, approval of the agenda. Second. All the favor, please say aye. Aye. Is there motion to approve the minutes from June 12th? Move approval of the minutes from the June 12th meeting. Second. All those in favor, please say aye. All right. Aye. Carries. Thank you. First up legislative item 02024. Um I think we're like to we also have a presentation from we have staff here present, but we also have the heritage commission. So I guess if staff, either city managers or public works whoever wants to give us a breakdown on the legislation. Yes. We'll do introductions real quick. I'm Burvogel, Director of Public Works. Matt Flinner, Director of Central Services. Thank you. So can you just break down of O 2025? What the purpose is? I can kick it off and just yeah, it so uh very briefly we are conveying uh the spa road property to the county uh to move forward with the environmental remediation. So this is just a step we have to do to comply with the grant uh and complete the remediation work. Um, and then we intend to get the property back from the county and then do other development. So sorry, one one correction uh the transfer will be to the resilience authority. Oh, thanks, Burf. Sorry, in Anorono County. The resilience authority, and then um we'll be getting it back and then we'll use it for future development after sites remediated. All right, anything else to add? That's it. And this is for uh both sides or one side. It's for both sides. It'll be for 932 and 935. 935 is we'll go through a subdivision to Weems Well and Field and the back will be done separately, and then the front piece will all be for the remediation for a brown fields grant. Okay, so to clarify then it's the north, northwest and southeast side by or west and whatever. We generally refer to um the side with the salt dome as the west side, the side with Weems Wayland Field is the east side, and so uh 935 is the east side. 935 is the east side, 935 is the east side, it will be split into two parcels, and it will be the westernmost parcel that uh we're transferring here. Okay, so it's only the westernmost parcel of the east side, 935. And the west side, oh and the west correct. So one parcel from the east and then one part. Correct.
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