Annapolis City Council Meeting - December 8, 2025

The Annapolis City Council held its first regular meeting of the newly seated term on December 8, 2025, at 6:00 PM. The session began with the adoption of the agenda, a brief closed session, and several ceremonial items, including a citation for the Annapolis Police Foundation and a check presentation for the Annapolis Boat Show. Mayor Littman provided an update on the 2026 inaugural plans, the "Annapolis Works" 100-day strategy with new consultants, and upcoming holiday events. Public comments featured significant testimony regarding short-term rental (STR) regulations, with strong support for enforcement from both the general public and council members, while property owners and managers expressed concerns about economic impacts and the fairness of new restrictions.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the general consent calendar without objection.
• Adopted ID 175-25 regarding 2026 City Council meeting dates; the motion to strike the December 28th special meeting date passed (4-3 vote in favor of striking, resulting in amendment).
• Approved ID 176-25 establishing 2026 City Council work session dates.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Casey Johnson (Resident, 244 Prince George Street): Expressed disappointment regarding potential changes to STR rules, stating that current restrictions are sufficient. She argued that her neighbors are also STR owners who coexist well, and requested the council pause on new changes to allow for more community discussion. Position: Opposed to immediate new restrictions.
• Megan Moore (Property Manager & Owner, Cathedral Street): Stated she is a long-time resident and business owner who helped draft the 2020 STR legislation. She acknowledged the need for enforcement against illegal rentals but expressed disappointment regarding the removal of grandfathering protections in recent laws. She requested that responsible operators be included in future discussions and offered data on their tax contributions. Position: Opposed to lack of consideration for compliant operators; requested inclusion in future dialogues.
• Sean Degnan (Owner, iTrip Annapolis): Argued that a 12-month moratorium penalizes law-abiding homeowners while failing to stop illegal operators. He stated that a density cap was recently passed without grandfathering, and a moratorium is premature without data on the density cap's impact. He warned of reduced property values and tax revenue. Position: Strongly opposed to the moratorium as premature and unfair.
• Susan Wheatley (Resident): Praised the city's youth involvement and supported the 50% tree canopy goal by 2050. Position: Supportive of community youth initiatives and environmental goals; did not focus on STRs.
• Andy Penka (Property Owner, 140 Charles Street): Discussed the economic contribution of STR owners who pay taxes but lack homestead exemptions. He emphasized the importance of STRs for Navy families and warned of negative impacts on property values and jobs if restrictions are too harsh. Position: Cautioned against restrictive measures; urged holistic consideration of economic impacts.
• Rachel Robinson (Vice President, Historic Annapolis): Congratulated the new council and thanked them for removing damaging language from previous zoning issues. She reaffirmed support for historic preservation, resiliency at City Dock, and partnership in adaptive reuse. Position: Supportive of Historic Annapolis partnership and preservation.
• David Ewing (Water Source & Historic Advocate): Questioned the approval of the Maritime Visitor Center, calling it a "huge mistake" and pledging to oppose its construction. Position: Strongly opposed to the Maritime Visitor Center.
• Jessica Packler (Resident, Eastport): Expressed that a moratorium is too aggressive given the economic climate and the need for flexibility for middle-income homeowners. She argued that concerns about STRs are concentrated in specific wards and do not represent the whole city. Position: Opposed to the moratorium; argued for patience and data-driven management.

Discussion Items

• Alderwoman O'Neill (Sponsor of R 50-25): Explained the moratorium is intended to allow time for a closer look at enforcement, policy, and zoning. She clarified that current licensees and owner-occupied units can renew under the moratorium, addressing constituent concerns about neighborhood impacts.
• Alderman Savage: Expressed concern about the 90-day timeline for review, noting that committees may not be established in December. He requested that any committee work receive additional time if needed and asked for clarification on committee referrals.
• Alderman Huntling: Recommended referring the resolution to the Economic Matters Committee, arguing that Title 17 issues fall under that jurisdiction rather than Finance.
• City Attorney: Clarified that while Title 17 mentions Economic Matters, resolutions affecting fees are typically referred to Finance, but noted the Council has the discretion to decide the referral.
• Alderwoman O'Neill (Response): Accepted the referral to the Economic Matters Committee to gather input on Title 17 amendments while maintaining a referral to Finance for fee-related aspects.
• Alderman Thorpe: Supported the moratorium as a "safety stand down" to pause cultural debates and allow staff to gather data for fact-based decision-making. Position: Supported the moratorium as a necessary pause for data collection.
• Mayor Littman: Emphasized that the resolution excludes resident-occupied STRs and good-standing renewals, framing the moratorium as a step toward a permanent solution. Position: Supported the resolution on first reader.

Key Outcomes

• R 50-25 (STR Moratorium): Adopted on First Reader. The resolution establishes a 12-month moratorium on new short-term rental licenses (excluding owner-occupied and renewals for good-standing licensees).
  • Vote: Carried (Unanimous Aye).
  • Referrals: Referred to the Economic Matters Committee (per Alderman Huntling/Mayor Littman) and the Finance Committee (per City Attorney). A public hearing is also scheduled.
• R 47-25 (Standing Committee Appointments): Adopted on First Reader. A motion to suspend rules for a final vote was defeated (Alderman Thorpe opposed, citing precedent).
• R 48-25 (Audit Committee Appointments): Adopted on First Reader.
• R 49-25 (Budget Process Timeline): Adopted on First Reader.
• Meeting Dates: ID 175-25 amended to remove the December 28th special meeting date.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned after the "Good of the Order" comments regarding an Emergency Management exercise and the city warming center.