OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Annapolis Finance Committee Meeting – September 17, 2025

City Council — Wednesday, September 17, 2025
BodyAnnapolis, Maryland
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, September 17, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:50:20

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

I call to order this meeting in the finance standing committee at 10 33 a.m.

0:08

Um before we jump right into the agenda.

0:12

I just want to thank so many of the people here, uh City Manager Buckland, a bunch of other folks for making sure we had a very smooth election yesterday.

0:22

And whoever reset the room, big thanks to you two.

0:26

I was in here yesterday and it was it was all set up for voting.

0:29

So thanks for the quick turnaround.

0:31

Mr.

0:31

Beavers, he was here.

0:32

Mr.

0:32

Beavers did it.

0:34

Wonderful.

0:35

Well, thank you, Mr.

0:36

Beavers.

0:37

Uh uh with that, uh roll call vote.

0:40

Uh Alder Woman Finlayson.

0:42

Present.

0:42

Alder Roman O'Neill is not present, and Alderman Huntley is present.

0:47

Uh is there a motion to approve the agenda?

0:50

Move approval of the agenda from the September third meeting.

0:55

Uh no, I mean the agenda, not oh, I'm sorry, I was approving the minutes.

0:59

Uh approval of the agenda is written.

1:02

And I'll second that.

1:03

All those in favor say aye.

1:05

Aye.

1:06

And then is there a motion to approve the minutes from the September third meeting?

1:09

I'll approve the minutes of the September third.

1:12

Second.

1:12

Or motion.

1:13

All those in favor say aye.

1:16

Aye.

1:16

Excellent.

1:17

All right.

1:18

On to our supplement first supplemental appropriation here.

1:21

Uh this is SA 726.

1:24

This is funding to rename our garage from Hillman to Mills Hillman.

1:31

Uh the does anyone come anybody want to come forward and speak on this?

1:35

I mean, it's pretty self-explanatory.

1:37

The council passes resolution.

1:38

We need money to actually do it.

1:40

Uh I I didn't support passing the resolution because I didn't want to spend the money, so I'm not going to support the supplemental appropriation.

1:46

But uh question to Mrs.

1:49

Bucklin or Ms.

1:51

Moran.

1:51

Uh is this amount sufficient to do the job?

1:58

Yeah, we have a we have a hard estimate.

2:01

Um this will cover it.

2:03

Okay.

2:04

Then I will make a motion uh to give this a favorable recommendation.

2:09

All right.

2:09

All those in favor say aye.

2:11

Aye.

2:11

All those opposed saying nay, nay.

2:14

Motion does not carry essay 726 has not received a favorable recommendation.

2:19

Um, Mr.

2:20

Chair, I would like it noted that there was um one vote of support.

2:26

Uh and as we have one member missing, I guess that's a tie vote and no one prevailed.

2:33

But I would like to note it for the record.

2:35

Thank you.

2:38

Um, moving on down the line.

2:42

Uh I am I'm excited about this.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement█████████████13%
Public Housing████████████12%
Concession Agreements██████████10%
Public Safety█████████9%
Real Estate Management█████████9%
Lease Negotiations███████7%
Market Management██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Public Transit█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Annapolis Finance Committee Meeting – September 17, 2025

The Finance Committee of the Annapolis City Council met on September 17, 2025, from 10:33 a.m. to 1:23 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Members present were Alderman Huntley and Alderwoman Finlayson; Alderwoman O'Neill was absent. The committee considered several legislative items, including supplemental appropriations, speed camera fines, snow removal fees, boat show leases, the Market House lease, the Military Bowl, and the Market Space dining area lease. The meeting featured extensive discussion on parking, lease terms, and financial reporting, with multiple items postponed for further data or negotiation.

Consent Calendar

  • The agenda was approved on a voice vote.
  • The minutes from the September 3, 2025 Finance Committee meeting were approved on a voice vote.

Discussion Items

  • SA-7-26 (Parking – Hillman Garage Renaming): Acting City Manager Buckland answered questions. Alderwoman Finlayson moved to recommend unfavorably; the motion failed 1-1 (Finlayson aye, Huntley nay). No recommendation was made.
  • R-33-25 (Speed Monitoring System Fines): Captain Miguez of the Annapolis Police Department explained that the proposed fines would bring the city in line with state maximums, making fines progressive based on speed. Alderwoman Finlayson requested breakdown data by speed range and raised concerns about the automatic move to maximum fines. The committee postponed the item to the next meeting to allow for data reconciliation and discussion of fund usage for traffic safety.
  • R-36-25 (Fees for Clearing Snow and Ice from Sidewalks): Director of Public Works Vogel and Bureau Chief McKeown presented the fee structure, developed using GIS data and AI to group properties into tiers. The committee commended the collaborative approach. A motion to recommend favorably passed on a voice vote.
  • R-39-25 (Itinerant Merchant Sales for Flea Market on Market Space): Ombudsman Raftovich and Assistant City Attorney Leonard explained that a flea market was planned for October 19, 2025, subject to lease terms, itinerant merchant approval, and special event permitting. Alderman Huntley requested two amendments: (1) all five Market Space lessees must sign off, and (2) hours changed from 1–6 p.m. to 10 a.m.–3 p.m. The committee recommended favorably with those amendments.
  • O-32-25 and O-36-25 (Lease of City Property for Fall and Spring Boat Shows 2031–2036): Director of Central Services Flinner and Assistant City Attorney Leonard reviewed the leases, which are substantially similar to prior agreements. President of the Annapolis Boat Shows Mary Ewenson spoke in favor, noting the need for long-term leases to secure financing for infrastructure. The committee recommended both favorably on voice votes.
  • O-33-25 (Lease of City Property – Market House): The committee discussed the proposed lease with New Market House, LLC, covering 2033–2038 with three five-year renewal options. Alderwoman Finlayson raised concerns about the base rent escalation (5% per five-year term) and the reduction in performance rent from 2% to 1% over $1.5 million. She also questioned the unilateral renewal rights and the need for inflation adjustments. The committee postponed the item to the next meeting (October 1) and directed staff to renegotiate with the tenant on three areas: renewal terms (mutual vs. unilateral), base rent/performance rent balance, and escalation tied to CPI.
  • R-41-25 (2025 Go Bowling Military Bowl Parade and Football Game): Director of Finance Moran noted that the city's actual costs for the parade were about $20,000, while the resolution waived up to $15,000. The parade and game are billed separately to two different entities (the parade foundation and the Naval Academy Athletic Association). The committee postponed the item to the next meeting with amendments to strike any mention of the game and to adjust the waiver amount to reflect actual parade costs.
  • R-34-25 (Market Space Interest Charge Waiver) and ID-130-25 (Market Space Lease Discussion): The committee combined discussion of the interest waiver with the general status of the Market Space dining area. Owners of McGarvey's (Chris Hannon) represented the five businesses. The current lease arrangement involves 19 parking spaces used by five restaurants, paying about $190,000 annually. Director Moran explained that two businesses had unpaid interest due to late or missed payments, totaling about $12,500. The committee discussed the need to clarify billing and support the businesses. No action was taken on R-34-25; the discussion will continue after the city receives a response from MedCo (the parking concessionaire) regarding proposed changes to the concession agreement.

Key Outcomes

  • SA-7-26: Failed to receive a favorable recommendation (1-1 tie).
  • R-33-25: Postponed to the next Finance Committee meeting.
  • R-36-25: Recommended favorably on voice vote.
  • R-39-25: Recommended favorably with amendments (all five lessees’ sign-off, hours 10 a.m.–3 p.m.).
  • O-32-25 and O-36-25: Recommended favorably on voice votes.
  • O-33-25: Postponed to October 1, 2025, with direction to renegotiate terms regarding renewals, rent structure, and inflation adjustments.
  • R-41-25: Postponed to the next meeting with amendments to remove the game and increase the waiver to actual costs.
  • R-34-25 and ID-130-25: No action taken; discussion ongoing pending MedCo’s response.
  • The meeting was adjourned at 1:23 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

I call to order this meeting in the finance standing committee at 10 33 a.m. Um before we jump right into the agenda. I just want to thank so many of the people here, uh City Manager Buckland, a bunch of other folks for making sure we had a very smooth election yesterday. And whoever reset the room, big thanks to you two. I was in here yesterday and it was it was all set up for voting. So thanks for the quick turnaround. Mr. Beavers, he was here. Mr. Beavers did it. Wonderful. Well, thank you, Mr. Beavers. Uh uh with that, uh roll call vote. Uh Alder Woman Finlayson. Present. Alder Roman O'Neill is not present, and Alderman Huntley is present. Uh is there a motion to approve the agenda? Move approval of the agenda from the September third meeting. Uh no, I mean the agenda, not oh, I'm sorry, I was approving the minutes. Uh approval of the agenda is written. And I'll second that. All those in favor say aye. Aye. And then is there a motion to approve the minutes from the September third meeting? I'll approve the minutes of the September third. Second. Or motion. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Excellent. All right. On to our supplement first supplemental appropriation here. Uh this is SA 726. This is funding to rename our garage from Hillman to Mills Hillman. Uh the does anyone come anybody want to come forward and speak on this? I mean, it's pretty self-explanatory. The council passes resolution. We need money to actually do it. Uh I I didn't support passing the resolution because I didn't want to spend the money, so I'm not going to support the supplemental appropriation. But uh question to Mrs. Bucklin or Ms. Moran. Uh is this amount sufficient to do the job? Yeah, we have a we have a hard estimate. Um this will cover it. Okay. Then I will make a motion uh to give this a favorable recommendation. All right. All those in favor say aye.

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