Annapolis Environmental Matters Committee Meeting - March 12, 2026
Annapolis Environmental Matters Committee Meeting - March 12, 2026
The Environmental Matters Committee of the Annapolis City Council met on March 12, 2026, at 3:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting covered mooring regulations, flood protection, performance standards, and stormwater fee restructuring. Key decisions included postponing the mooring legislation, taking no action on performance standards, and advancing the non-residential stormwater fee restructuring. A discrepancy exists between the minutes (which indicate postponement of the Stormwater Fee Incentive/Rebate Program) and the transcript (which shows the presentation occurred).
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Agenda: Alderwoman Contee moved to adopt the agenda as amended to add R-1-26 (Fiscal Year 2027 Performance Standards) and postpone ID-6-26 (Stormwater Fee Incentive/Rebate Program) to the next meeting on April 14, 2026. The motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote. (Note: The transcript shows the stormwater presentation was given later in the meeting, contradicting the postponement recorded in the minutes.)
- Approval of Minutes: Alderwoman Contee moved to approve the regular meeting minutes from February 12, 2026. The motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.
Discussion Items
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O-2-26 Mooring Requirements in City Waters: Deputy City Manager for Resilience and Sustainability Guild, Assistant City Attorney Leonard, and Maritime Advisory Board Member Freda Wylie answered questions. The legislation aims to clarify mooring distances, ownership of transient moorings, and update definitions. Staff is working on language to clarify that annual moorings are leased GPS points, not private property. The city has no enforcement authority over moorings on the county side of Weems Creek, but is pursuing a new MOU with the county. Alderman Huntley expressed support for the city's position against illegal moorings. The committee voted to postpone the item to the next meeting on April 9, 2026, pending further input from the Maritime Advisory Board and staff amendments.
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R-1-26 Fiscal Year 2027 Annual Statement of Performance Standards: Acting City Manager Buckland was present. Alderman Savidge introduced proposed amendments to add environmental performance measures for Planning and Zoning, Public Works, and Transportation. Concerns were raised about the timing (budget introduction in April) and the need for department director input. The committee voted to take no action on the resolution. Alderman Savidge requested to revisit performance standards in September 2026.
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ID-41-26 City Dock Flood Protection Discussion: Director of Public Works Vogel presented an update on flood barrier types. Key points: deployable barriers will be manually installed (not passive) due to high cost and anticipated soil settlement in the active park area. A crew of eight could deploy the full system in two days; full deployment is expected once a decade initially, but annually by 2060 due to sea level rise. The cost to revert to the original passive design would be approximately $10 million. The committee received the presentation with appreciation.
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ID-6-26 Stormwater Fee Incentive/Rebate Program: Stormwater Program Manager Rossberg and Stormwater Engineer Roderer presented a continuation of previous discussions. The proposal is to change the non-residential fee structure from a tiered basis to an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) basis using measured impervious area, which would increase revenue by about 26% and incentivize stormwater management. A concurrent expanded fee reduction program for non-residential properties (including an alternative compliance path for tax-exempt nonprofits) was proposed. For residential properties, staff recommended maintaining the current flat fee structure due to administrative complexity and potential for appeals. The committee agreed to focus on non-residential changes and requested further analysis on residential options. The committee recommended moving forward with the non-residential rate amendment to the finance committee.
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ID-3-26 Resilience & Sustainability Update: Deputy City Manager Guild provided a brief update due to time constraints. Highlights included: transitioning city-owned street lights to LED, installing electric vehicle charging stations (including volt post streetlight chargers and a DC fast charger at the police station), applying for grants for solar and microgrid at police headquarters, and the status of the hybrid ferry project (paused pending Maritime Advisory Board input). The greenhouse gas inventory is complete and the climate action plan is in draft form, with a public meeting and council work session planned for April or May 2026.
Key Outcomes
- O-2-26: Postponed to April 9, 2026, on a voice vote (Alderman Huntley moved, seconded, carried).
- R-1-26: No action taken on a voice vote (Alderman Huntley moved, seconded, carried).
- ID-41-26: No formal action; information received.
- ID-6-26: The committee recommended proceeding with the non-residential fee restructuring and concurrent fee reduction program. Staff will prepare a rate amendment for the finance committee. No vote was taken; consensus was expressed.
- ID-3-26: No formal action; information received.
- The meeting adjourned at 5:06 PM on a motion duly made, seconded, and carried.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everybody. Call into order the March 12th meeting for environmental matters committee. Um for roll call, have Alderwoman Conte. Here Alderman Huntley will be here shortly. Um see. So as far as approval of the agenda, do you need to add see R126? Because that's performance standards for fiscal year 27. Just because we uh forgot we actually postponed action on at the last committee meeting. So we just need to put that back on here. And so could I get a motion to add that and postpone ID 626 to next meeting, which is the stormwater presentation. Motion's a postponed. Am I seconded? So moved. So move. Uh I'll second it since Alderman Huntley's not here. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Thank you. All right. And I have minutes from February 12th. Is there a motion to approve the minutes? So move. Uh second. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Motion carries, thank you. And then for legislation, we have 026 mooring requirements in city waters. Um I so I believe um I'm looking at the city deputy city manager. If you correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm under the impression that we're still waiting on a report from Port Wardens, and then I heard staff might be working on some changes to this legislation. Jackie Gyle, Deputy City Manager for Resilience and Sustainability. Um this um will we don't have a report from Port Wardens, but it can go before Port Wardens again. I mean, go before Port Wardens, and we can get their opinion on it. I thought it went to them already, but we were just waiting on their findings. I could be mistaken. I thought that's what I heard. We're waiting on findings. All right, we'll see. So it's already we will speak to the chair about the findings then. I don't know if they had any findings, but waiting for their findings, and then the four boards. Yes, has it? Yes. Okay. That's it's it's a maritime advisory board, right, Caitlin? Because I didn't believe the port wardens hadn't considered this at all. Sorry, it's maritime advisor. Okay, okay, maritime advisory board. Okay. Uh actually, sorry. Friday, are you still on the maritime advisory board?
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