Annapolis City Council Meeting - January 12, 2026

The regular meeting of the Annapolis City Council was called to order on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. The session featured the Mayor's opening address concerning the start of the legislative session and City Dock construction challenges, followed by extensive public commentary and formal public hearings regarding short-term rental (STR) regulations. Key agenda items included the approval of the consent calendar, legislative actions on new ordinances, and significant committee appointments.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of the journals of proceedings and minutes for the regular meeting on December 8, 2025, and the special meeting on December 8, 2025, was unanimously approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• City Dock Construction Impact: Speakers represented a strong consensus of opposition to the current city management of the City Dock project. Patty Templeton and Samantha Wilkerson (Annapolis Marine Art Gallery) expressed that the City's failure to provide promised signage, the early loss of parking, and inaccurate timeline predictions (from 2027 to 2028) have devastated foot traffic and revenue, threatening the closure of long-standing businesses. Storm (El Salvador mission owner) and Randy Sadlick (Big Cheese family) echoed these sentiments, stating that broken promises regarding parking and foot traffic have caused severe financial hardship, forcing layoffs and cancellations of orders.
• Workplace Discrimination and Hostility: Multiple speakers, including Tony Prepping (via letters), William Pratt, Stephen Wade (President of the Anne Arundel County NAACP), Renetra Anderson, Shantae Brown, and Destiny Dale, expressed severe concern and opposition to alleged racial discrimination and favoritism within city departments, specifically Public Works and HR. They presented anecdotes and anonymous accounts of qualified Black employees being denied licenses or promotions in favor of unqualified white friends of department heads, while facing retaliation, false documentation of license validity, and a lack of transparent HR processes. The speakers called for independent investigations and accountability mechanisms.
• Short-Term Rental (STR) Moratorium:
  • Proponents: Katie McDermott, George Miller, Susan Wheatley, Lori Sullivan, James Durden, Max Gross (rebutting), and others expressed full support for the 12-month moratorium. They argued the current regulatory framework is broken, citing the displacement of long-term residents, the loss of community character, the creation of "hotel districts" in residential zones, and the prevalence of illegal, unlicensed units (citing city data suggesting ~50% are unlicensed). They emphasized that the moratorium is necessary to gather data, enforce existing laws, and prevent the conversion of family homes into investment properties.
  • Opponents: Robert McKenna, Paul Elder, Adriana, Carl Larkin (rebutting), and others expressed opposition or concern regarding a blanket moratorium. They argued that owner-occupied STRs are vital for economic survival for retirees and service members, that the moratorium penalizes compliant taxpayers while the black market continues, and that it creates economic instability without addressing the root cause of illegal operations. They advocated for strict enforcement of current rules and a study that includes existing licensees.
• Short-Term Rental Enforcement: A constituent from Ward 2 expressed strong support for the enforcement of fines and license revocations for unlicensed units and proposed a "two-pillar community restoration model" to convert illegal units into rent-to-own opportunities for residents.
• Other Public Concerns: Asia Hicks and others discussed Ranked Choice Voting. Andrew Eishaney (short-term rental host) expressed opposition to the moratorium based on an economic analysis claiming STRs generate significant tax revenue and foot traffic for downtown businesses. Phil Atetto expressed support for addressing historical injustices in hiring processes.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance 4025 (STR Moratorium): A public hearing was held on the first read of the ordinance establishing a 12-month moratorium on new STR licenses. The discussion centered on the definition of "owner-occupied," the economic impact on small business owners versus the preservation of residential neighborhoods, and the challenge of enforcing rules against illegal operators. The consensus among proponents was that the current system favors absentee landlords and corporate entities, while opponents argued it harms property rights and the economic engine of the city.
• Ordinance 4125 (Service Job Classification): A public hearing was held on changes to exempt service job classifications for FY2026. No speakers were present during the limited comment period, and the hearing was closed.
• Legislative Actions:
  • Ordinance 0126: Adopted on first reader regarding property tax exemptions for child care centers; referred to the Finance and Rules/City Government committees.
  • Resolution 126: Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 annual statement of performance standards. Initially referred to Environmental Matters, then corrected by Alderman Savage to require a public hearing due to code requirements.
  • Resolution 226: Adopted on first reader establishing the order of succession for the Mayor.
  • Resolution 326: Adopted on first reader regarding a water service agreement with North Point Property LLC; referred to Finance and Environmental Matters committees.
• Committee Appointments: Reconsideration and adoption of Resolution 4725 and 4825 (Standing Committee Appointments for the 2026-2030 term) occurred on second reading. Amendments were proposed and adopted; both resolutions were ultimately passed unanimously. Alderman Savage requested a work session on prioritizing committee schedules, specifically regarding a proposed presentation by Planning and Zoning on enforcement resources.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance 4025: The public hearing concluded with the matter referred for further deliberation; the final vote is not recorded in this transcript segment as the meeting adjourned after legislative actions.
• Committee Appointments: Resolutions 4725 and 4825 (Committee Appointments) were adopted with amendments after a motion to reconsider and a roll call vote where all members present (Mayor Littman, Aldermen/Alderwomen Huntley, O'Neill, Savage, Smith Brown, Thorpe, Shadelmeyer, and Johnson) voted in the affirmative.
• Legislative Referrals:
  • Ordinance 0126: Referred to Finance and Rules/City Government.
  • Resolution 126: Scheduled for a public hearing before committee referral.
  • Resolution 326: Referred to Finance and Environmental Matters.
• Work Session Planning: Alderman Savage and Mayor Littman agreed to dedicate upcoming work sessions to budget goals and the Planning Department's enforcement proposal, with requests for priorities due by the following Thursday.