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Record of Proceedings

Annapolis City Council Special Meeting - July 28, 2025

City Council — Monday, July 28, 2025
BodyAnnapolis, Maryland
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, July 28, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

It's the Banneker Douglas Tubbin Museum.

0:03

And I will never forget a former county executive who said that that particular building, the old Mount Morat AME Church, should be demolished in order for a parking lot for employees.

0:21

And he was so determined.

1:41

At this time, please join us for the invocation given by Alderman O'Neill.

1:46

Old Woman O'Neill, sorry, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:51

Thank you very much.

1:54

Each of us is a minority with respect to something.

1:57

It might be race, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, or any other way we may be regarded as different.

2:04

Each of us is also part of some majority.

2:07

It is when we wear our majority hats that we need to be most mindful of how we treat others.

2:12

We must pledge our best efforts to help one another and to defend the rights of all of our citizens and residents.

2:19

Thank you.

2:49

Alderman Huntley.

2:50

Present.

2:50

Alderwoman O'Neill.

2:52

Present.

2:52

Albert Pindel Charles.

2:54

Present.

2:54

Albert Villayson.

2:56

Present.

2:56

Alderman Shandemaier.

2:58

Alderman Gay.

2:59

Alderman Savage.

3:01

Present.

3:01

Alderman Arnest.

3:03

Present.

3:03

Thank you.

3:07

Thank you.

3:07

Mr.

3:08

City Attorney, please present the first on the agenda.

3:10

Yes, sir, Mr.

3:11

Mayor.

3:12

The next item on the agenda is approval of the agenda.

3:14

This time I did say a motion to approve the agenda as amended to add O twenty twenty-five sale of city owned property at nine three two Spa Road and ninety-three Spa Road on second reader.

3:26

Mr.

3:27

Mayor, I'd also like to remove O nineteen twenty-five from the agenda and postpone that to our next meeting.

3:36

To postpone it to the next meeting.

3:37

Yeah.

3:39

What's the point of clarification?

3:40

Which is title of O nineteen, please.

3:43

O nineteen twenty-five is the um tour operator, but we just haven't finished the amendments on it.

3:55

Did you say you're removing that?

3:59

Are you postponing it?

4:00

Postponing it.

4:01

Do we need a motion to do that?

4:02

Is that going to be doing included in the okay?

4:05

Yep.

4:06

Can I get a motion on those two feet, please?

4:09

So moved.

4:10

Can I get a second?

4:13

Thank you.

4:13

All those in favor, please say aye.

4:15

Aye.

4:16

Opposed.

4:17

Thank you.

4:18

Mr.

4:18

City Attorney, please present the next on the agenda.

4:21

The next item of agenda is ceremony item, City Council citation ID one two four twenty-five.

4:26

Annapolis High School Surf Rider Student Club.

4:34

So if Rod is ready to come forward.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement████████████████████20%
Historic Preservation███████████████15%
Zoning And Development██████████████14%
Procedural████████████12%
Maritime Management████████8%
Environmental Protection██████6%
Zoning██████6%
Elections████4%
Public Safety███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Annapolis City Council Special Meeting - July 28, 2025

The Annapolis City Council held a Special Meeting on Monday, July 28, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Mayor John T. Chambers, Jr. City Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Buckley, with an invocation by Alderwoman O'Neill and the Pledge of Allegiance led by the Mayor. Roll call showed 8 present (Mayor Buckley, Alderman Huntley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderwoman Pindell Charles, Alderwoman Finlayson, Alderman Gay, Alderman Savidge, Alderman Arnett) and 1 absent (Alderman Schandelmeier). The meeting adjourned at 10:04 PM.

Ceremonial Items

  • ID-124-25: Citation presented to the Annapolis High School Surfrider Student Club for their environmental stewardship, including cleanup of Annapolis Maritime Museum Park and Elktonia–Carrs Beach, and certifying an ocean-friendly garden.
  • ID-128-25: Citation presented to Cecil Memorial United Methodist Church in recognition of its 100th anniversary (founded July 16, 1925).

Consent Calendar

  • The consent calendar was approved unanimously (9-0). It included:
    • ID-123-25: Task Force to Study Marine Vessels Interim Reports (initial and second reports).
    • SA-1-26: Supplemental Appropriation Under $50,000 – Grant from The American Trauma Society for stop-the-bleed kits for the Fire Department.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Julie Gerber (710 Warren Drive) expressed support for ranked-choice voting (RCV), noting its use in many jurisdictions and its benefits (majority winners, elimination of spoiler effect).
  • Bill Kardash (13 South Street) opposed the Market House lease extension (O-33-25), citing past defaults on performance rent, lack of transparency, and concerns about cronyism. He also noted the lease reduces performance rent from 2% to 1%.
  • Michelle Whitaker (8484 Georgia Avenue) supported ranked-choice voting (O-35-25), explaining its mechanics and noting that Maryland's voting equipment is RCV-capable.
  • John Korin (BikeAAA) thanked the council for enabling police to donate unclaimed bikes to nonprofits, and urged faster progress on safe biking and walking infrastructure.
  • Gwyneth Kinsella (27 City Gate Lane) expressed concern over cumulative utility and refuse rate increases (12% watershed fee, 10% refuse, 4.7% water, 3% sewer) and lack of transparency.
  • Sveinn Strom (123 Prince George Street) criticized the City Dock project for failing to deliver promised amenities (air-conditioned restrooms, parking enforcement, pump system), leading to flooding and business decline (his sales down 17.6%).
  • Dan Clements (17 Southgate Avenue) supported the Spa Road property transfer (O-20-25) for remediation but objected to late amendments that could create a blank check for cleanup costs.
  • Deborah Ondeck (318 State Street) raised concerns about Market House, flooding, and increased crime, and called for greater transparency.
  • Mary Ewingson (United States Yacht Shows) thanked the council for considering the boat show leases (O-32-25, O-36-25), emphasizing the need for long-term planning.
  • Robert O'Shea (Granville Avenue) opposed the Market House lease extension, citing past administration's refusal to extend a lease and potential sublease issues.
  • Peter Garber (710 Warren Drive) supported ranked-choice voting.
  • Ed Philiatto (Poplar Avenue) supported ranked-choice voting, arguing it would restore trust in democracy.
  • Bob Harrison (811 Silverwood Circle) defended the Market House operations, stating that performance rent arrears have been paid ( ~$25,000–$30,000 for FY2023, $34,000–$35,000 for FY2024, $42,000 for FY2025) and the mayor's involvement is not improper.
  • Keith Brashard (8 Brice Road) affirmed the Market House partners' commitment to transparency and noted they pay ~$14,000/month in total costs to the city.

Public Hearing – O-14-25 (Implementation of Annapolis Ahead Comprehensive Plan, 2040)

  • Zoie Johnson (Naval Support Activity Annapolis) stated the proposed amendments are compatible with the installation's mission and requested language to include NSA Annapolis in design consultations for Dock Street development.
  • James Urban (915 Creek Drive) argued the spot zoning for the hotel does not meet requirements (no significant land use change), raised concerns about undefined green roof standards, and reiterated that height limits are not increased but appurtenances are updated.
  • John Arason (707 Glendon Avenue) countered that the ordinance is a text amendment, not spot zoning, and urged council to vote based on substance, not pretext.
  • Lisa Hillman (4 Randall Court) thanked outgoing aldermen but urged them not to jeopardize the historic district as their legacy.
  • Lori Sullivan (25 Wagner Street) criticized the agenda as

Meeting Transcript

It's the Banneker Douglas Tubbin Museum. And I will never forget a former county executive who said that that particular building, the old Mount Morat AME Church, should be demolished in order for a parking lot for employees. And he was so determined. At this time, please join us for the invocation given by Alderman O'Neill. Old Woman O'Neill, sorry, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you very much. Each of us is a minority with respect to something. It might be race, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, or any other way we may be regarded as different. Each of us is also part of some majority. It is when we wear our majority hats that we need to be most mindful of how we treat others. We must pledge our best efforts to help one another and to defend the rights of all of our citizens and residents. Thank you. Alderman Huntley. Present. Alderwoman O'Neill. Present. Albert Pindel Charles. Present. Albert Villayson. Present. Alderman Shandemaier. Alderman Gay. Alderman Savage. Present. Alderman Arnest. Present. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. City Attorney, please present the first on the agenda. Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor. The next item on the agenda is approval of the agenda. This time I did say a motion to approve the agenda as amended to add O twenty twenty-five sale of city owned property at nine three two Spa Road and ninety-three Spa Road on second reader. Mr. Mayor, I'd also like to remove O nineteen twenty-five from the agenda and postpone that to our next meeting. To postpone it to the next meeting. Yeah. What's the point of clarification? Which is title of O nineteen, please. O nineteen twenty-five is the um tour operator, but we just haven't finished the amendments on it. Did you say you're removing that? Are you postponing it? Postponing it. Do we need a motion to do that? Is that going to be doing included in the okay? Yep. Can I get a motion on those two feet, please? So moved. Can I get a second?

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