Special meeting of the Annapolis City Council on Monday, June 22nd, 2026, will be called to order at 7 p.m.

At this time, we'll have a moment of silence as we prepare ourselves for the business ahead.

At this time, would everyone willing and able, please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance?

To the Republic.

Which it says.

One nation.

Under God, individual.

Madam City Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Yes, sir.

Mayor Litton.

Alderman Huntley.

Alderman O'Neill.

Present.

Oh, she thought.

Okay.

Thank you.

I'm a ghost tonight.

Um Alderman Smith Brown.

Present.

Alderman Alsip Johnson.

Present.

Albany Shandemeyer.

Present.

Alderman McConty.

Alderman Savage.

Present.

Alderman Thorpe.

Present.

Thank you.

Mr.

City Attorney, please call the next item on the agenda.

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

Thank you.

At this time, I would take a motion to approve the agenda.

Moved.

Thank you.

Is there a second uh thank you, Alderman Savage?

Is there a second?

Second.

Anyway, Savage.

Angel Alderman Shandemeyer, excuse me.

Then I was looking at Alderman Savage.

Alderman Chandelmeyer.

Thank you.

Any discussion?

I know there was some discussion about potential amendments.

I don't think there are any more.

Okay.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Thank you.

The motion carries.

Mr.

City Attorney, please present the next item on the agenda.

Next item on the agenda is a ceremonial item, ID 14126.

Annapolis's 250th anniversary celebrations and events.

Thank you.

It's my honor to introduce our uh Annapolis poet Laureate, a friend of mine, Jeff Holland, who is uh is going to present some a poetry reading on the history of Annapolis.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And um I'm happy to be here this evening to promote an event on Wednesday from 6 30 to 7 30 at City Dock called Poets Afloat for Annapolis 250.

And this is a lead up to our 250th celebration on the 4th of July weekend.

In this case, the Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating will be bringing their 40 foot cataporan Dream Chaser up to the City Dock, and we appreciate their support for this.

And 17 local poets will be reciting original poetry about the history of Annapolis and Maryland.

It's going to be a one-hour event.

It's going to be packed with lots of fun and interesting things.

The program is sponsored by the City of Annapolis, the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area, the Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating Program, the Annapolis 250 Commission, and the Maryland 250 Commission.

So it's going to be a lot of fun.

We'd like to read a couple of poems as an introduction to this program.

But first, I'd like to introduce my friend, poet.

I'm Laley McNair Bactiar.

And I am the poet in residence at Gallery 57 West, which is the home of the Annapolis Arts Alliance.

I'd like to share with you a poem on Lafayette.

Lafayette was in Annapolis in 1781, 1784, and 1824.

An American flag is flown on his grave since 1917 at the Cimetière de Pique Bas Paris.

Lafayette.

I was there on Chesapeake's Horn Point.

I ventured on merciless waves to anoint your shore with my blood in defense of America.

Unseen, I would cast meaning upon my father's lost life and me 19 to fight tyranny with liberty, a prize.

I was there to stand.

Annapolis otherwise a freedom lost, a humble demise.

As a ghost, I now see my men buried at St.

John's Monument.

Fragile was our life.

Mystery, this stone, a monument to strife, Frenchman, a jaunty parade, played fife.

This death among unknown persuaded me to name my children, George and Virginie, uphold a scroll, the bonds of souls insignia, lost Frenchman, it reads, a shore evermore.

Far away France fitted into eternal struggle.

Brooding universe as warrior for timeless dignity, they lay their bones there in finity.

I was there for my friends in perpetuity.

Citizens may watch ghostly men in arms fell into the abyss while my here was home.

I was there, now with you, spirit I be, together we grasped Majesty of Democracy.

Now we've welcome the poet Janice Booth.

I'm Janice Booth, and I first want to thank Annapolis and Annapolis's poet laureate for supporting the arts in the wonderful way you have for the community at large, for young people, bringing more and more art and poetry and creativity to our community, which I think just makes it stronger.

So thank you.

I don't know if you're familiar with the writer's round table, which is a new addition to Maryland Hall, which is an opportunity for anyone who's interested in writing or supporting writing to join us once a month for readings and discussions of art and writing activities.

The poem I'm going to read is about the Liberty Tree.

Annapolis is very fortunate, and the state of Maryland has been wonderful in encouraging the creation or recreation of trees from the original Liberty Tree, the last one standing, which was on St.

John's campus, you may recall.

And so this poem is about the Liberty Tree as it began.

Deep roots.

A tulip poplar grows, and its lobed leaves murmur.

Around the sapling, a village emerges.

Colonists gather on the knoll beside the young tree.

They speak of a remote king and self-governance, and the poplars' lobed leaves nod.

The colony and the poplar expand, strong, deep roots.

Leaders gather beneath the liberty tree, and its lobed leaves whisper justice.

One hundred years the poplar grows strong and proud, like the colonists beneath the great tree, talk of liberty.

The poplar's lobed leaves quake.

Colonial troops in camp beneath this noble liberty tree.

Among the gnarled roots, coded messages are secreted.

Soldiers die, and the poplar's roots absorb their blood, and dirges waft through the lobed leaves.

Thirteen colonies become one nation, and the great poplar, the liberty tree, holds the founders' secrets and their blood, and the lobed leaves sigh.

Thank you.

This uh letter was mysteriously discovered in an archive in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

It's dated from Annapolis, October 19th, 1774, and it's apparently from one young girl friend to another.

Dearest Elizabeth, oh Lizzie, all Annapolis is mad with fear and dread.

Yet just last Friday, Puppy took me up here to the widow's walk.

It was a grand October day and the geese were swarming overhead.

We watched the ship round Horn Point and land at City Dock.

But now this night, the streets re-echo with a riotous scene.

Torches waving, rabble screaming, burn the tea, burn the house down, tar and feathers, hang him.

Is it Papa that they mean?

I hear the church bells tolling from all around the town.

Mama ill in childbed.

What fate shall her befall?

No one tells me anything.

They treat me like a child, a rosy glow suddenly grows across my chamber wall.

I rush up to the widow's walk, the mobs rowing wild.

The ship is now ablaze.

There's Papa waving his hat.

The fire sweeps up to the rigging and sails, all the colors flying, and she burns down to the water line, thick smoke billowing black.

And if I said I understood this madness with Lizzie, I'd be lying.

Why did Papa burn it?

And why without my say?

After all, they named the ship for me, didn't they?

Your loving Peggy.

See you Wednesday.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Holland and our other guests uh uh poets.

Mr.

City Attorney, please call the next item on the agenda.

The next item on the agenda is ID 1426, Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating Annual Report.

Thank you.

I invite Mr.

Bollinger, president and CEO of CRAB, to either the table or and uh thank you for your presentation in advance and for your presentation this evening.

Mayor, it's about this.

Identify yourself, even though I just called you said your name.

You don't suppress anything.

Oh okay, that's that was the old days.

Yes.

I've got to say I've not seen this much culture in this chamber in a long time.

With that meeting and the and the warm applause I just got outside to come up here and speak.

I it's absolutely amazing.

That was good timing.

I uh you you don't have to take any notes.

I brought the annual report with me to give to all the members of the council.

No, don't give it to them.

They gotta watch the presentation.

They gotta earn their their dessert.

And Mr.

Mayor, I've got a burgee for you.

Thank you.

Hank fly proudly in your office.

But uh first off, I just I want to thank you for the opportunity to come and address the city council because uh in a timely fashion, as we're known to do at Crab, we have submitted our annual audit and 990 to the city back in May, but uh we like to make this report to you so you can see something besides the fiscal uh aspects of crab's operations.

Uh first off, since we have new members of the city council, which welcome, glad to have you here, and I extend a warm invitation for you to come to the Crab Annapolis Adaptive Boating Center and see it.

Uh I would love to give you a VIP tour, as I've given every single member here.

I think you're you're still missing.

I think I still need it, yeah.

Yes, yes.

Well, we run a three-pack, so we'll be happy to have you there.

But our our mission is the therapeutic benefits of sailing to people with disabilities, recovering warriors, and youth from underserved communities.

And uh, you'll see what we do here.

This is the adaptive boating center right here.

Uh just in quick order.

This process to build started in 2017, and we were able to build it in 13 months, and uh that's uh my hair was brown when we started, and uh we we got through the process.

Uh, it's only a 2600 square foot building, but it's 50% of the building is designed for education inside and for people with wheelchairs, and it's 100% accessible on the entire property, and it's 100% sustainable.

There's solar panels on the back of this roof, which face south, and our electric bills to BGE, it's hard to believe, but they're $17 and two cents a month, which I know drives them crazy.

But the marina exceeds ADA standards.

Our boats have equipment on them so that regardless of your disability, you can be accommodated, and we have boarding equipment to get you from your wheelchair, your walker, or just to help you on board.

And this is a big deal because ADA standards only dictate that the dock be five feet wide.

That's it.

Not get you on a boat, not get you out on the water.

They get you to the water, and that's it.

So we've exceeded it.

But do we do it alone in our own little basket?

No, we work with nearly 40 nonprofits across the entire region and bring them, their guests, their clients, their patients, family members to come and sail and fish and boat with crab.

This is our fleet, so we have six sailboats, 22 foot that have been modified to accommodate people with any disability.

And when I say any, I mean any.

And this is our 40-foot power catamaran with you see the state capital in the background.

That's what we take guests out on fishing, or for Special Olympics, we take the family members on this boat as a spectator boat so that they can see their family members sailing, whereas before they never got to see them.

And a new addition in the past year are the small radio controlled sailboats.

So if we have guests who don't want to leave the dock and they would like to sail a boat, they can do that.

So it's really a fabulous program to have an offer.

Some of the regattas that we have because our guests are very competitive.

Just because they're disabled does not mean they don't want to get out and race with people.

The Naval Academy, we sail with them, the sailing team, they bring their Colgate 26s out.

We put wounded warriors on their boats, more able-bodied, and then the other warriors come on our boats.

This is the second year in a row we're hosting Special Olympics, Maryland and Virginia here, and we're videoing it and producing a professional tape that we're sending to Special Olympics National to encourage them to make this regatta the national event for Special Olympics in the United States, which would be huge.

Our biggest event is at the Eastport Yacht Club, and it's called the Crab Cup, and that is going to be held on August 15th.

And I extend a warm invitation to all members of City Council to come so you can see 600 of your closest friends there.

That's how many will be there.

We have about a hundred sailboats in the race, and then we accommodate people with any disabilities in this race.

What are the real big numbers?

Last year, 1,755 guests served.

62% with a disability because the other uh participants with them are family members or caregivers.

That's who make up the 100%.

Partner organization, active volunteers, 137 who donate their over 5,000 hours of their time.

158 events scheduled on the water, and that's in a six-month period, because that's all we get, April to October, and then it's too cold for our guests to be out on the water.

And then we have wellness programs that we offer.

Our biggest hit is photography, and we have a woman who brings, it's called Therapix, and so she brings 20 cameras, and our guests with disabilities from autism to other neurological disabilities or physical disabilities, take the cameras and they go out and shoot pictures.

She has a printer on site.

She prints the picture, and then that guest has to say why they shot that picture and what it means to them.

So that's all part of the therapy.

We're looking for increased impact.

This is our 35th year that we're celebrating, so it is a big deal.

Our 20th annual Crab Cup race that will be again August 15th at the Eastport Yacht Club.

Our goal is to serve 2,000 guests this year.

And uh weather is always a challenge because it has to be fairly nice to get our guests out, and increasing our radio controlled sailing and fishing programs by 50% this year.

Um this concludes this part of my program.

But if I do exactly what the AV guy said, I will be able to show you a video.

Right here from the kids' sailing camp that we hosted last week for the city police department.

So he'll start it.

Uh maybe not.

Way to go.

I don't want to ruin his amateur SAS, but he did win money from it.

And uh they absolutely love it, and it's uh highlight of the camp.

But right now, we're not on the uh budget for next year's camp.

So I know this uh city council in its infinite wisdom will find a way to get these kids back out on the water at Crab, and we look forward to hosting them again and to having you there to see it firsthand because we are changing lives, and as we tell them at the beginning of the kids' camp, we want you to be able to walk down a dock in Annapolis and be able to say, I can sail that boat.

That's what we want.

It's one thing to get people to the water, City Doc, that doesn't get them out on the water.

And if we don't get them on boats, then we're going to raise viewers instead of doers.

And these kids absolutely love it.

So with that, I conclude my presentation.

If there's any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

Thank you.

First, just want to thank you for your presentation.

Well done.

I can't imagine a uh stronger, better better advocate for crab than you.

I and I see uh from the video, and that wasn't the first time I've known this that you're hands-on yourself, and you're helping the kids and raising money and keeping the rules followed and doing everything else.

So thank you for what you do for the community in Annapolis.

Um Alderman Chandelmeyer, and then uh Alderman Savage.

Thank you, Smare.

Uh Bo.

Fantastic presentation.

And uh to my colleagues who haven't gotten to see their facility yet.

I highly encourage you, find the time.

It is top-notch and uh really an amazing thing to see.

Uh, this isn't a question, but this is just to compliment the program that you guys offer at Crab.

I think I've told you offline that uh one of my co-workers in D.C.

actually, her son has been one of your guests at the Crab facility.

You've taken him out on the water.

And when I told her that you were going to be presenting today, she insisted that I thank you for getting her family out there and the fantastic services that you offer.

So know that it is appreciated from folks all over Maryland, including in Montgomery County, and definitely here in Annapolis.

Thank you very much, Alderman.

Thank you, Alderman Savage.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Just two questions for you.

Um, so as far as the camp, I so is it sounds like you're not able to continue that?

Because well, no, we will have to go find money somewhere else.

So that I think previously, correct me if I'm wrong, was funded out of our community grant program.

And I have to apologize I did not realize that was cut from I believe the finance committee cut that and I was not aware we lost that and we also lost another Ward 7 camp I think through the Maritime Museum.

I would have advocated if I knew but so I I was not aware of that.

But hopefully we can somehow find a solution for you.

Related to that you know so but I do want to back up a little bit and just say still very honored and privileged privileged to have Crab in Ward 7.

I think very fortunate to have that there serving some of our seniors and also wounded warriors.

And I think you your your facility itself like you said is quite sustainable.

You have electric charging I think you have some permeable pavers there.

But you didn't mention the shoreline I believe you're seeking you found grant money I think from was it the state to do living shoreline project there well we we just received approval from the Board of Port Wardens for a living shoreline restoration project.

What's happened is a jetty was removed between our property and our neighbors and the erosion has taken effect in front of the bulkhead and we have horseshoe crabs ducks geese and everything living and working on a very very uh shrinking shoreline now so we the board port wardens have approved it we're at the Maryland Department of Environment right now going through permitting process and apparently we have to go to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to apply for a grant for it.

So we will be seeking a grant we'll also go to the uh Chesapeake Conservancy and see about getting a grant from them for this project because it's a it's approximately a sixty thousand dollar project how much in fees did you have to pay the city so far we haven't paid them anything but we're gonna owe them 400 okay we will owe the city four hundred dollars okay okay for the permit okay thank you well thanks for pursuing that project as well thank you alderman alderman thank you if I could ask the IT folks to go back to slide three if if we can if not I can just talk to it thank you thank you IT person in disguise thank you um so Mr.

Bollinger I don't want to be your straight man here but I'm gonna be a little bit um and just for everybody's information this property that you're on like several other nonprofits in this city you lease from the city and provide this service back and this building that you've built and the accessible area how did you fund that we received uh program open space funding uh one point uh three million from the county five hundred thousand dollars from the city we received a million dollars from governor hogan and then we received uh 250 thousand dollars in waterway improvement grants for the marina so in total public funding was about three point one million dollars and crab raised three point five million dollars in private funding to build it and how do you maintain that building very carefully uh funding wise, we have to raise a million dollars a year.

Yeah.

So I guess every year.

What I wanted to point out is thank you.

Thank you for this incredible service, as the mayor mentioned, and as Alderman Savage and Alderman Shannelmeyer mentioned.

And sometimes when people make things look easy, it's easy to believe that it's easy.

And I just really want to thank you uh and all of the people that work at and volunteer at Crab for this unbelievably great service and great facility that you've created.

The second thing I would like to say, and this I again am being your straight man here a little bit, there's a story about a gentleman in a wheelchair who went out on, I think it was a gentleman, went out as a part of your program.

And I won't get the quote right, so I'd ask you to tell me the quote, tell us the quote about the gentleman who was a benefactor of your program.

And I think that just represents what you do.

Um I was working in the office at that time we were sailing out of Sandy Point State Park, and we had an office on Defense Highway, and one of our younger uh volunteer skippers called me in the office and said I have to tell you something that I just was told.

And he said, I had a young guy out with me, and uh he was paralyzed, and it was an absolutely spectacular, beautiful day, and they were sailing by the Bay Bridge, and he said he stopped and he just turned and looked at me in the face and said, I want to thank you for taking me the farthest I have ever been from my wheelchair in my life, and the memories that put me in it, and I mean I started crying right there.

I still tear up because it's so incredible when you think about someone bound to a wheelchair and now all of a sudden they can't swim.

They're they're out on the in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay by the Bay Bridge, sailing this boat and having a wonderful experience.

And the thing is they take that with them back home and to change their lives that they can do something they never ever thought they could do.

And it carries over into their work or their families, and uh it just we hear it from parents and others all the time.

Thank you.

Thank you to you and everybody that that helps you do what you do.

Appreciate it.

Thank you, sir.

No one else?

Okay.

Um just for those especially who though may not know.

Uh, you this is city property that Crab operates on.

That is correct.

We have uh 20-year lease with two 10-year extensions, which will carry it that was signed in 2020.

And what's the annual rent?

Uh nothing.

I thought it was a dollar.

Yeah, we got away with that.

But we'll send the dollar if the city needs it.

Not every dollar.

I know there has to be quid pro quo.

The city attorney would say that.

You got a dollar in your wallet, right?

Yes.

All right.

And uh you do are you are able to raise money on the property by renting it out for events, correct?

Yes, we do.

Not a lot, okay.

Not many.

Our real money is grant money that we get from foundations.

Okay.

Um, we try to keep it when you see the property, it's first-class property, it it makes that AYC uh Napolis Yacht Club look okay.

This property is very nice when you see it.

And uh we have board meetings there from national organizations that come in.

So we've hosted um the paralyzed Veterans of America there and uh other groups that come in and want to hold a board meeting.

They they come sailing with this or boating, and then they come in and hold their boat board meeting and a luncheon and leave.

So uh it has an 18-foot glass wall in front that's there.

So any time it's inclement weather outside, you're in there looking out, and it's very, very comfortable and and relaxing to be there.

The pavilion outside also can accommodate um guests there.

The picnic table that's still not being shown there has overhangs and concrete pads underneath, so someone in a wheelchair can roll up to the wheelchair up to the picnic table and eat with his friends or her friends and have the best view looking at back creek.

So we have every single restroom is ADA.

There is not anything regular on the site.

Everything is 100% adaptive.

So we did have a woman come there a year ago, Mr.

Mayor and I came down to her I tried to come out of my office and meet and greet our guests and she said this place it just makes me want to cry.

And I was like oh my God, what did we do?

She just got here and I said I'm sorry what happened and she goes no no no no how come every place can't be this accessible and she went out sailing and came back and had a wonderful time.

Thank you.

Alderman Smith Brown Sure thank you for everything we appreciate the work that you're doing.

Um the question I had was about the members who take part in the program particularly the children the underserved communities um how do you go about uh getting them involved or get engaging with their families I know that you mentioned the police department and their programming is is it mainly just the police department or do you have um another way of reaching out to those communities and asking them to sign their children up the families to sign their children up.

How does that look very good question?

Um we do work with the city police and the county police and they run camps and they've uh sponsored the camps but we also have family sailing which is free.

They just have to come and sign up and the biggest challenge we have and any nonprofit has is transportation.

So if we could get microtransit in Annapolis to be able to bring people from Eastport Terrace or Harbor House or wherever to Crab I mean I put together a special sale for Miss Peaches Donna Johnson as everybody knows and she brought a group of young kids out to go sailing with this but we need some microtransit and just someone to take responsibility we we don't have to have a um an escort with them or a parent with the child that's not a a challenge with us because we have a skipper and a crew member on the boat and we know the children um are happy to be on the boat and we've never ever had an issue with a child on a boat so all they have to do is contact us and say I mean they could say the HACA family sail and we would block six boats and 12 volunteers to take them out and be able to do that and there would be no charge.

Okay thank you for that now if there is uh let's say you talk about summer camps there's some of our nonprofits who offer services during the summer who we gave the grant money to who'd be interested in doing this they also can just contact you and set up time to come out on those boats.

Yes they can we give the the list of 33 you saw we will provide them two sales for free after that if they want more than they have to pay because we have so much demand that we have to spread it around how many fits can fit on the two sails how many people can fit on the two sails do you know um that well we can take three guests per boat so that's 18 per sale pretty good number people.

All right thank you again for your presentation and for what you do for Crab and Annapolis.

Thank you Mr.

Mayor City Council tonight.

Mr City Attorney please call the next item on the agenda thank you.

The next item on the agenda is petitions reports and communications beginning with update from the mayor.

Thank you.

Good evening I I first want to start off my comments with a note of gratitude.

This weekend showcased the best of Annapolis with the Juneteenth celebrations bringing thousands of people to our city of Annapolis.

I want to thank the public safety team including police, fire, and OEM for helping to coordinate the safety aspects of the Juneteenth event at Cars Beach, the parade in downtown, and the festival at Bates.

In addition, our Parks and Recs staff, Rex and Parks staff did an outstanding job hosting the reunion at Cars Beach with music on two stages, food trucks, and the Chesapeake Bay as a beautiful backdrop.

As anyone who attended knows it's a complicated series of things to get people to there, safely enjoy themselves and then back out.

So thank you very much to our city staff.

We appreciate you.

Tomorrow is primary election day, June 23rd.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m.

to 8 p.m.

Check your voter registration and find your polling place at elections.maryland.gov.

But if you're listening to me, it's probably the Pitmore Rec Center.

Remember, you won't see the city officials on the ballot.

These are county, state, and federal elections, but I want to encourage all Annapolis residents to make their voice heard.

Please get out and vote.

On Thursday, this past Thursday, the Annapolis Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Commission or HBC held a joint meeting.

A portion of that meeting was dedicated to what is known as a pre-application workshop or pre-submission review for an idea to redevelop properties on the lower City Dock Street at uh City Dock turning into a hotel.

The potential applicant would be a designee of the property owner, Harvey Blonder.

And at the Thursday meeting, his architect offered a vision for a boutique hotel occupying the entirety of the Latitude 38 space.

This was a courtesy preview, not a formal regulatory hearing where approvals are intimate, imminent.

The entire purpose at this stage is just to establish a starting point for the person exploring an idea.

Generally, these sessions provide an opportunity for developers to get early feedback from commissioners before sinking real money into a project with architectural renderings, engineering plans, and landscape schematics.

These sessions are intentionally televised to ensure that the public is aware at the earliest stages in the process.

Throughout the meeting, HPC and the Planning Commission expressed concerns regarding massing, visual impact, and encroachment onto public space at City Dock.

To be clear, there is no plan or legislation on this before the Department of Planning and Zoning or the City Council.

If that changes, the public will have ample notice and an opportunity to comment.

And I'm sure we'll all stay carefully tuned in to this conversation and the direction of the designs.

Next, between now and our next meeting, July 13th, we'll be celebrating the 4th of July in Annapolis 250.

The commission was established to plan to plan analysis at Annapolis celebrations, chaired by Alderwoman O'Neill, and has a they have a packed weekend of activities, including a showing of Hamilton, the movie Hamilton, at St.

John's College on July 3rd, a full slate of activities starting at in the morning on July 4th, and wrapping up in the day with a parade at 6 30 p.m.

and firework over Spa Creek after the sun sets.

For a full list of the events, visit Annapolis.gov and go to the calendar where you will see all the events and activities spelled out.

Most are free and open to the public without reservation.

For emergency alerts and event information, text July 4, J U L Y 4 2 38 276.

That's 38276 to receive event specific texts from the city's Office of Emergency Management.

As a reminder, city offices are closed that Friday, July 3rd in observance of Independence Day.

Next, last week, my office announced the creation of a search committee to identify candidates for our next police chief.

And they are hosting their first meeting tonight, actually, as we speak, to establish a work plan.

Please check the city website for details on the committee's establishment and agendas for upcoming community meetings.

I want to thank City Manager Lewis for her collaboration on selecting members.

I also have to I also want to thank volunteers, especially Anne Runnell County Sheriff Everett Sesker who stepped forward to chair the committee.

Next, I have two final items, both of which resolve around public safety.

The first is that we had a tragic uh traffic fatality on Forest Drive near Quiet Waters Place on Saturday.

That was a two-vehicle collision in the morning.

The previous day, there was a pedestrian and versus car incident on Forest Drive.

The pedestrian is recovering from those injuries.

I want to remind everyone about the importance of safety on the roadways.

It's a shared responsibility.

If you're driving a vehicle, please drive defensively and always be on the lookout for pedestrians and cyclists.

It's summertime and people are naturally out more often and might cross where you don't expect.

If you're a pedestrian or cyclist, please follow the rules of the road and cross only at designated intersections.

The pedestrian collision was not in a uh crosswalk.

Staying safe is a collaborative responsibility.

Please let's work together on that.

And lastly, I want to take a moment to address a social media post from the Annapolis police department last week.

Following a surge of direct inquiries from residents who noticed ice activity in Annapolis, police shared what they knew.

The message was simple.

You asked, and here's the information that we have.

Immigration is certainly a hot button issue, with some residents interpreting that post as the city actively supporting federal immigration enforcement by allowing the use of the parking lot, and others read it as an objection to ice because we acknowledged that they had come and gone.

Neither interpretation is accurate.

The post was made out of a basic commitment to transparency.

We believe the healthiest government is one that provides honest and direct answers.

We'll continue to answer your questions openly and keep our focus on exactly what residents want most, making Annapolis a safe place to call home.

And with that, let's now get on to the rest of our meeting.

Mr.

City Attorney, please call the next item on the agenda.

The next item on the agenda is reports by committees.

Okay.

Would any council member like to make a report?

Alderman Thorpe.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh, the audit committee is meeting uh this coming Wednesday day after tomorrow at 8 a.m.

Uh online, and we'll be discussing numerous items of importance.

Uh the senior members of the city staff have put a lot of effort into this meeting, and we'll be discussing the audit engagement letter for fiscal year 26 audit, as well as a performance metrics plan for the coming year.

And third, we'll begin the discussion of creating processes for reports made on the city's website of improper procedures, irregularities, fraud, waste, and abuse.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Alderman Savage.

And before you go, I just want to thank you, Alderman Savage, for sharing your report with council members ahead of time.

It's something I've been um wanting to follow up on and encourage that in the future for all council members to do.

So thank you for that.

You're very welcome.

So, yeah, and just to summarize that since I already sent it out to folks, but um we did hear from we had a presentation from the Spa Creek Conservancy, in particular from the uh scientists they have doing the testing through um the community college, and uh so they went over their findings.

They've been doing these this testing for I believe it was over 10 years, and they they're now doing on Back Creek as well.

And um as environmental scientists myself found it very fascinating.

Um, and I'll say that uh in brief summary, our water I think is a lot cleaner than people may realize.

You know, after some of us did the swim across Spa Creek a couple weeks ago, we had a lot of surprise remarks, and um, but I think the data backs up the point that as long as you if we have a big rain like tonight, just give it one or two days.

Um and uh in between that, stay out of the very shallow areas.

They sometimes have some of our creeks have um bacteria issues, um, but otherwise, especially on as well as if you have any kind of cuts or open um wounds like that, but otherwise, it's it's still very clean to go into.

Um now the Spocky Conservancy is trying to get some additional funding to work with, I believe it was CERC to try to identify the exact source of the bacteria as well as source of some of the nutrients.

Um, that takes a little more analysis.

Um, also I would say, yeah, so beyond that, we just received a briefing on the the Forest Conservation Act changes that I'll speak to later with oh 1620.

And our next meeting, I don't have the date in front of me, but um we'll probably be digging into amendments on this 016 when it does come before us.

Very good.

Alder Woman O'Neill.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, last week the um public safety committee met on Wednesday.

Uh we had presentations from all three of our public safety um departments, including from fire.

Um I the question was asked to give an update on anything that they're doing to change their summer safety plans.

Uh, fire department discussed um the need for voters and swimmers to be safe and to follow local laws and regulations.

Um talked about building um safety kits, um, personal kits for people in the event of a storm or something that would mean that you would have to leave your house.

And the police talked about all of the ways that they're in our communities, um, including attending summer camps, um, obviously sponsoring summer camps as Mr.

Bollinger discussed in his crab reports.

Um, and we also had an update uh report from our internal affairs um department as well as the re-entry program, all of which was meant to give information to um city residents.

Um it was really interesting in the re-entry update that there was a gentleman there who had participated in the re-entry and is now a mentor for reentry, which was a really inspiring story.

And so um, anybody that has is interested in any of those programs should go back and watch last Wednesday's public safety.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, all the woman.

Anyone else?

Okay, Mr.

City Attorney, please call the next item on the agenda.

The next item on the agenda is comments by the general public.

Thank you.

During comments by the public, the public may not speak on the one item that we have for specific public hearing, and that's the legislation on AIPPC.

So if you're here to speak on that, please uh wait to uh until we get to that next item.

So uh we have two members signed up to speak during the public comment period.

Susan Mark uh Morgales, excuse me, and Sven Storm.

If you want to approach the podium in that order, uh hello, I'm Susan Margues.

I live at 113 Conduit Street, and I'm here to speak on 0126, the bedrooms for the people ordinance.

So I am a huge proponent of uh renting a room in your home.

A lot of my friends are able to leverage their way into a home or indoor rental unit, but they don't quite have the income to hold on to it.

They don't uh have the means of paying that rent or paying their mortgage, uh floating all of the home maintenance, and so they rent a room in their home.

Uh I absolutely believe in this.

I'm a ferocious advocate for bringing the human race closer together by by doing this.

So when I heard about this bill, I gave my friends a call.

I called a retired person who lives on a fixed income and rents a room in their home.

I called a single woman who floats her mortgage by renting a room in her home.

I called a young man whose wife is going to graduate school and he rents a room in their home.

And I said, hey, the city wants to charge you a hundred and twenty-five dollar license fee and get you to open your home to a home inspection so that you can have a roommate.

And there was a pause, and then they all said, This is overreach.

This is gross overreach.

A primary resident homeowner is not going to apply for a license to have a housemate.

A primary resident homeowner is not going to open themselves to the trouble and bother of getting a home inspection.

How are you going to find these people?

How are you going to enforce this?

We had a very merry chat.

Imagining you going to a judge to get a warrant for the person's financials so that you could justify that money was changing hands.

That gentleman is going into that woman's house, and they're not even married.

I mean, the enforcement is neighbor narc.

Think about this.

One, are they going to be narking on our newly graduated midshipmen who are TADing and looking sharp in their uniforms?

Or are they going to be narking out people with head coverings of any sort?

Are they going to be narking out people whose color they don't like, or people that wear shirts celebrating pride?

This ordinance is going to be selectively enforced in the grossest, ugliest possible way.

It you are not going to get the community to come forward because this doesn't represent any public good.

There is no safety consideration here.

These are guest rooms.

Think about your own homes and your own couch and your own guest room.

What if you had to get a license to have a guest?

What if you had to get a home inspection in order to have your mother come and visit?

Uh this is overreach.

Um, not everything needs to be licensed, not everything needs to be inspected.

Please kill this bill.

Post haste.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Mr.

Storm.

It's one of the reasons I'm here.

I just got a text with a photograph from my um shift lead at the ice cream store.

You see, I brought this to you guys before.

Every time it rains because Whiting Turner plugs up the storm drains outside of their perimeter, my store floods.

So one of the promises that we were made early on when the dock project came on is that we would no longer incur this flooding.

I now have more flooding than I did back when the previous administration shut off the pump system downtown.

That was 120 times in the last three years.

Now I have this every time it rains.

I just don't think it's fair.

One of the things that I've done in my lifetime from the time that I was 27 to the time that I was 42 is I built homes and I had my own excavating equipment.

And we have we follow what are called BMPs, their best management practices, and you have to follow the law.

Apparently, Whiting Turner doesn't, and I have photographs to show that.

And if you visit the Storm Brothers website, you'll see it.

They have runoff coming from there.

The last one two Saturdays ago had a nice oil slick on top of it.

Interestingly enough, the next morning, there were three huge trucks, and we have photographs of all this that are petroleum recovery vehicles.

So might be judicious to look into that.

So I brought this up before, and we'd really like to know who we can talk to to make a change because it really isn't fair.

Um the other thing I'd like to address is that we were also promised, it was one of the major concerns for people that live down in in the historic district that what would happen when you take 80% of our parking downtown.

And of course, our concern was that it was going to drive it to where we live into the residential parking there.

I pay for a pass that is worthless.

The last two weekends, I have not been able to park on that first block in Prince George Street in talking to all my neighbors down there.

We would like to know who we could petition so that we could perhaps keep there 13 vehicles that we that we have.

Very seldom are we able to park on our own street.

Some of those people are older.

They carry their groceries.

We go to church at St.

Anne's, and we were hoping to take her to dinner downtown.

I couldn't park in my own street at before noon.

So those plans were canceled, much to all of our disappointment.

We'd like to see this addressed.

Premium parking does not write tickets there.

I was caught using the old method.

I got myself a white piece of chalk and started marking all the tires because premium parking says they enforce it.

For about eight of those days that I did that, those cars were all there.

Well over two hours, some of them all day long, and the chalk was still there.

How about if we enforce the law?

Is there any way that we can get the one side of the street dedicated to the residents there?

Because what we were promised would not happen, of course, has your consideration in this matter.

And Harry, if you want to come down and take a look at it, we'd love to have you down there.

We'd love to meet with you.

We'd like to correct the problem.

Um I'm not quite sure why I pay premium parking by the fee that I pay to be able to park there.

So thank you.

Okay, is there anyone else that would like to come speak during the general comment period?

Okay.

Not seeing any motion in chambers, I declare the public comment period completed.

Mr.

City Attorney, please call the next item on the agenda.

The next item on the agenda is public hearings beginning with ordinance 014 26 art in public places, amending definitions, duties, and membership.

Thank you.

I'm going to call the first the first three people who have signed up to speak and then ask if anyone else would like to.

The first three people are Leah Weiss, Alison Harbaugh, and Darren Gilliam.

Nice to see you all.

You start with your name and address.

Good evening.

My name is Leah Weiss.

I live at 212 South Cherry Grove Avenue in Annapolis.

I'm an I I'm a musician and I've been involved with the Annapolis scene here, arts scene here for many years.

I've had interactions with the AIPPC.

And sadly, this ordinance is very disappointing.

It feels like regulatory overreach that makes things easier for the city rather than better serving arts in the community.

First, the language strips the commission of all its decision making power and turns it into a body that just advises and recommends to the director of planning and zoning, who apparently would be responsible for those decisions going forward.

Yes, there were serious serious issues with the previous commission, but those issues persisted primarily due to lack of proper management and oversight.

And I think that stripping decision making authority does not solve that problem.

And I don't see any language in this ordinance that actually does.

AIPPC members should be chosen for their involvement and in and their expertise in art, and therefore they would be more qualified to make decisions about public art projects than whoever is in the position of planning and zoning director.

Second, the funding language ignores and possibly conflicts with the 2022 Maryland state law that mandates that 3% of the city's hotel tax be used only to provide funds to the AIPPC, not to the city, not to the planning and zoning director.

That law provides a massive increase in AIPPC's yearly budget allocation easily by over 300%.

And it imposes specific reporting requirements and consequences for not reporting.

But none of this is in this ordinance.

It only refers to the old art fund that the city allocates to the commission and old reporting requirements and deadlines.

Making the ordinance consistent with state law would streamline things and clarify to everybody what the funding processes and what the reporting requirements are.

Third, the ordinance lowers the number of commission members from nine to five, diminishing the opportunity for all wards across the city to be represented.

To me, this seems to go against basic principles of inclusion and diversity, which I think are really needed in public art across the city.

It could also have some serious balance of power implications as well as workload issues for the volunteer commission members.

The criteria for evaluating arts projects have been only more constrained and were not updated.

And all I'll say to that right now is really not helpful.

I have a lot of other concerns, and I put some of them in writing that I can pass out to the commission now, to the council now.

I want you to know that this is a very unique, this is a unique fund.

There's not no such thing as very unique.

This is a unique fund, and there are many reasons for this.

One is that there is no other money that an artist can apply for themselves without consulting or being sponsored by a nonprofit organization.

I request that you hold open the public comment period because I think there are a lot of people, a lot of artists in this community that don't really know what's going on.

They're not connected to the regulatory process.

And I think they could provide some really good input so that you can make this ordinance work for everybody.

Thank you.

Ms.

Horbach.

Hello, my name is Alison Harbaugh.

I am an Annapolis artist, a small business owner, and the co-director of Annapolis Arts Week.

I actually just came from City Doc where I was working with students on a public art sidewalk mural.

I can see the paint still on my hands.

Where a local artist is beautifying the area around the construction to bring more pedestrian traffic to downtown.

And this is just one reason that I'm passionate about making sure that AIPPC is rebuilt in a way that benefits our local arts scene and our city.

I want to echo what Leah said before me and add a personal perspective.

Earlier this year, when the commission was disbanded and planning and zoning took over, we submitted a funding application for Annapolis Arts Week.

We were denied no explanation that made sense to us, no appeal process, no recourse.

A planning administrator made a call about an arts event and got it wrong.

That experience is exactly why I'm concerned about making this arrangement permanent.

The commission works when it is made up of people who understand art, understand this community, and have a real vote.

This ordinance shrinks that group, allows members who don't live in Annapolis, and strips their authority entirely.

It also gives away term limits that I believe are very important.

As giving fatigue is something we have seen weaken this commission in the past.

As an artist and creative business owner who has relied on this program, I'm asking you to think carefully before you pass this.

The arts community in Annapolis needs advocates with actual decision making power, not just an advisory role that a planning director can override.

I would also like to request that you keep public comment open on this issue so others in our community have time to weigh in.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening, everyone.

Good evening.

My name is Darren Gilliam.

I am a native Annapolitan, a local artist, an arts business owner.

I'm also the co-director of Annapolis Arts Week.

I first and foremost want to thank each of you for your service to our city.

I am deeply grateful for the place that we call home sincerely.

I'm also grateful for the work that you do to create stronger and more connected communities.

I also want to express my appreciation for Arts and Public, the Arts and Public Places Commission and the positive impact it has had on our community.

As someone who has previously served on the commission and as someone who has had programming directly benefited from it, I can confidently say that the process itself has not been broken.

Like any group, there have been challenges, and at times individual dynamics have distracted from the commission's mission.

But those challenges do not outweigh the value of a collaborative multi-voice decision-making process.

In fact, they highlight the importance of maintaining a structure that reflects a diversity of perspectives, not consolidation, not consolidating final say into one single voice.

While we respect the role of the director of planning and zoning, we do not believe it should be the sole authority responsible for determining what public art and arts programming is accepted and funded in the city of Annapolis.

National best practice from organizations such as American for the Art, Americans for the Arts, the National Civic League, and the National Assembly of States Arts Agency consistently support a commission based model with democratic voting for public arts commissions.

We do our research, we are artists, but we do do our research.

These models emphasize balanced representation, typically including five to nine members who consist of artists, arts professionals, architects, community members, youth representation, and city stakeholders, such as yourself.

This structure ensures that decisions are thoughtful, equitable, and reflective of the community.

Public art is not just about aesthetics.

It is about identity.

It is about storytelling.

It is about belonging.

It reflects who we are as a city and who we choose to uplift.

That responsibility is too important to rest with a single individual.

The commission is not to be made up of consultants, but voices who represent the arts in Annapolis.

I urge you to keep public opinion open and to reconsider the change of giving the director to final say in funding and programming to preserve a process that values collaboration over consolidation and community voice over individual authority.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else present who would like to speak on this issue?

Okay.

Seeing no additional.

Yeah, is we getting ready to stand up?

Okay.

I thought so.

So movement.

Uh seeing no one else present.

I declare the public hearing on 014 26 held over to the next meeting on July 13th.

Mr.

City Attorney, please present the next item on the agenda.

The next just in case for the those who spoke, in case you didn't catch that, we are uh acknowledging your request to continue the meeting.

Uh continue the hearing to the next meeting.

So if you want to share it with your friends, same format, um, roughly two weeks from now, July 13th.

Thank you.

The next item on the agenda is business and miscellaneous item fund transfers over $50,000.

FT 1326.

Thank you.

Entertain a motion to accept FT 1326.

So moved.

Thank you, Alderman Huntley.

Is there a second?

Thank you.

Any discussion?

Alderman Huntley.

Just very briefly, I'll say this is the sort of cleanup uh end of year fund transfer.

This is something we commonly see we see every year in the fourth quarter, and so this bundles a lot of different things together.

And um, I want to really commend the members of the finance committee for doing a great job.

I think setting a framework and making sure we understood every one of the why these are necessary and how we have the money for them.

And I think we worked through each one of those and felt uh confident in it, and so we gave this a favorable recommendation.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Alderman and uh Thorpe.

And and uh I just want to add to Alderman Huntley's point about the conversation we had and what uh at the finance committee meeting between the three finance committee members and the senior staff about tightening the process to reduce this in the future and the the effort that is ongoing um led by the fur the the current chairman of the finance committee uh to use previous years uh budgeting, uh monthly close, projections, and all that, so that we can tighten up some of these variances that are at the end of the year.

There always will be variances, and we accept that.

Um, but I really appreciated the discussion at the finance committee and with the senior staff to tighten that up.

Sure, and I appreciate that.

I just want to highlight the point that you just glossed over, so I just want to emphasize there will always be variances.

Right.

A budget by definition is by definition is a planning document that is prepared at its earliest in February, March of the prior year, so uh roughly 17 months before the end of the year, so things will change, and there will always be some cleanup, but certainly we could minimize it as we get better.

And I'm um we're in we're in absolute sink, and and I think with your the leadership you're exerting and the senior staff effort that they're putting in to continue to track finances on a monthly basis will go go to great lengths to reduce it, but nobody's no, we're not gonna grade our homework on on how this is done, but it's just it's all about your effort to lead better budgeting for our city.

Thank you.

Appreciate that.

Any further discussion?

Okay, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

None opposed.

The motion carries.

Mr.

City Attorney, please present the next item on the agenda.

The next item on the agenda is supplemental appropriations, SA 2326 parking transportation.

Thank you.

I'd entertain a motion to accept SA 2326.

So moved.

Thank you, Alderman Huntley.

Is there a second?

Thank you.

I'd like to turn over to our city managers to give us an update of where we stand with this supplemental appropriation.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, this appropriation, um, much like the uh final transfers makes funds available to cover a year in obligation under our parking and transportation contracts.

Um we have the final invoices for the year in hand, but we're working to reconcile those so that we are able to have a final balance before June 30th.

Um the finance committee has um reviewed um this matter, and we've also shared with them that we're finalizing the pending payments, and um as such we will provide an update to them once uh this has taken place and the final balance is reconciled.

Thank you.

So the amount that we have before us is a the most that is appropriated because that is what they the uh contractor asked for, but you're in process of negotiations and working through where the support for that amount and so very likely will be a lower amount.

That is correct.

Okay, thank you.

Any further discussion?

Alderman Savage, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh yeah, and I I support I believe the finance committee's discussion.

I think you had on this.

Um, for myself, um for I myself, I just want to state that I fully support city manager trying to negotiate.

I personally think that we need to get that down to someplace more appropriate.

I just want to make sure that's known for the public that um we're not supporting this increase right off the bat.

I would just clarify you said negotiate it's not so much a uh negotiation as it is a getting support documentation.

They if they are entitled to it, they will get paid that amount, but it's documenting and verifying that they are actually entitled to everything they asked for, so not so much a negotiation as to um do they have evidence for support supporting their submission?

Thank you.

Okay, anyone else?

All right, all those in favor say aye.

Aye, any opposed?

Any opposed?

Thank you.

The motion carries, Mr.

City Attorney, please present the next item on the agenda.

The next item on the agenda is legislative actions on second readers beginning with resolution R 1926, finance director Karen Ajay.

Is there a motion to adopt R 1926 on second reader?

So thank you, Alderman Smith Brown.

Is there a second?

Second, any discussion?

Joel, I would expect a bigger smile on your face.

There we go.

That's what I was expecting to say.

Similar to uh Miss Buckland's uh smile uh just a few weeks ago.

Um Madam City Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Yes, sir.

God damn it, Mayor Littman.

I'm sorry.

I gotta go to what we're doing.

Alderwoman Also Johnson, Alderman Shannonier, Alderman Savage, Alderman Thorpe.

Aye, Alderman Huntley, Alderman O'Neil, aye, Alderman.

Aye.

Ms.

IJ, thank you so much for joining us as finance director.

Congratulations.

We're very excited.

And uh uh Joel Mr.

Flachgill, thank you very much for your service as acting finance director up until this time.

Okay, Mr.

City Attorney, please call the next item on the agenda.

The next item on the agenda is legislative actions on second readers beginning with charter amendment.

CA126 updating requirements for publication of the charter and code of the city of Annapolis.

Thank you.

Is there a motion to adopt CA 126 on second reading?

Okay, thank you, Alderman Chandelmeyer.

Is there a second?

Second, okay.

I think we have a couple amendments or at least one.

Is there a motion to amend CA 126 on second reader?

Alderman Savage, thank you.

Is there a second?

Second.

Alright.

Um Alderman Savage, you want to present your amendment?

Yes.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Yes, so amendment one essentially just adds uh requirement that we have to have a printed copy of the code that's on hand in the law office, just in case we do lose access to the internet or power that we have.

Do you have access?

Um but I was also informed I believe in the staff report that it's already included in the cost of our legislator to include I think three or four copies.

If that's it.

So that's a practical matter.

That's already what's happening.

Yeah.

And this came from I should say a constituent who works, I believe, for the um uh the state archives.

Um any further discussion on amendment one?

Alderman Huntley?

Can I just ask the uh I suppose it'd be the clerk's office that this point about being available for public inspection during normal business hours?

Is that something that your office is comfortable with or maybe it's office law?

Yes, absolutely.

I mean we would of course prefer that somebody reach out in advance so that we're ready to receive them, but um I I don't foresee any problems with that.

Thank you.

Okay, uh Madam City Clerk, please call the roll.

I'm sorry, uh all in favor of uh the amendment number one say aye.

Aye, any opposed?

Okay motion carries now.

You want to have all is there motion to adopt CA126 as amended?

So moved.

Thank you, Alderman Chandelmeyer.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you.

Um is there a motion to adopt CA 126 on third reader as amended?

So moved.

Thank you, Alderman Savage.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Madam City Clerk, please call the roll.

Yes.

Mayor Littman.

Aye.

Alderman Alsa Johnson.

Aye.

Alderman Chandelmeyer.

Aye.

Alderman Savage.

Aye.

Alderman Thor.

Aye.

Alderman Huntley.

Aye.

Alderman O'Neill.

Aye.

Alderman Smith Brown.

Aye.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

City Attorney, please call the next item on the agenda.

The next item on the agenda is ordinance 0626.

Oversight of the city's firing range.

Thank you.

Is there a motion to adopt a 0626 on second reading?

No.

I think I heard Alderman Huntley.

At least the loudest, if not the first.

Is there a second?

That's my specialty.

Thank you.

Is there any discussion?

Okay.

Madam City Clerk, please call the roll.

Sorry.

Is there a motion to adopt 0626 on second reader?

Already had that.

Is there a motion to adopt 0626 on third reader?

Moved?

Okay.

Sorry, I'm being um uh my mistake.

All in favor, we're back on second reader.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Motion to uh is there a motion to adopt 0626 on third reader.

Thank you, Alderman Thorpe.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you.

And now Miss uh City Clerk, we can call the call.

Yes, sir.

Mayor Littman.

Aye.

Alderwoman Alsip Johnson.

Aye.

Alderman Shandemeyer.

Aye.

Alderman Savage.

Aye.

Alderman Thor.

Aye.

Alderman Huntley.

Aye.

Alderman O'Neill.

Aye.

Aye.

Alderman Smith Brown.

Aye.

Thank you.

I need a refresher on process.

Mr.

City Attorney, please call the next item on the agenda.

The next item on the agenda is ordinance O 01026, reducing the Human Relations Commission membership.

Thank you.

Is there a motion to adopt O 10 26 on second reader?

So move.

Thank you, Alderman Thorpe.

Is there a second?

Second.

Second.

Thank you.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Is there a motion to adopt O 1026 on third reader?

So moved.

Thank you, Alderman Thorpe.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Madam City Clerk, please call the roll.

Yes, sir.

Aye.

Alderwoman Alsap Johnson.

Aye.

Alderman Sandemeyer.

Aye.

Alderman Savage.

Aye.

Alderman Thorpe.

Aye.

Alderman Hatley.

Alderwoman O'Neill.

Aye.

Alderman Smith Brown.

Aye.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Motion carries.

Mr.

City Attorney, please call the next item on the agenda.

The next item on the agenda is legislative actions on first readers beginning with ordinance 01626 forest conservation program amendments to conform with state law.

Thank you.

Is there a motion to adopt O 1626 on first reader?

So moved.

Thank you, Alderman Chandelmeyer.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed.

Thank you.

I refer O 16.

Oh, that point not you.

Please finish your thought, Miss Mayor.

Just want to add a comment after you're done.

Sure.

Thank you.

I refer 016 26 to the actually before we refer to the planning commission.

I just want to confirm that it is necessary to go to the planning commission.

It is not strictly necessary, only uh necessary if it involved a zoning amendment uh affecting an individual property.

So it is not strictly necessary.

Are there any any requests to refer this to the planning commission?

Okay.

Seeing none, I'm not going to.

Um I refer to it to uh rules and city government committee and environmental matters.

I don't want to go to a third committee.

I'm not asking for that.

Okay.

I'm going to ask for a comment.

Uh this has to be passed by the end of July, end of June or July.

So the effective date of the state legislation is July 1, and that is why we were talking about how to handle that.

And so there's this will legislation will not pass before July 1.

And so we're in a uncomfortable position, I'd say that we are in.

Um that's why we were discussing.

Do we do a moratorium in the meantime so that we don't end up with right now the rules are clear and there's certainty.

I assume once we get done with one six oh sixteen twenty-six, there'll be certainty and clarity.

The time in between is potentially um a concern where we in Annapolis have higher standards than what's required by by the state law.

The state allows that, of course.

The state has turned uh changed certain provisions, and that's why this legislation is needed right now.

Um our uh director of planning and zoning has at least given me confidence that any pending rules are already uh going to meet and they would not be approved if they would not meet Annapolis's higher standards, and therefore he's got comfort that we're not going to risk a um a possible review under lower standards in the meantime.

Okay, all right, cool.

Never mind.

Does that answer the issue that you're getting at?

Yep, okay.

So anyway, that's why there was some that we've had a lot of discussion internally and with um advising our by our experts staff of what's the best way forward is the the benefits of doing a moratorium are off set with the negatives of uh perpetuating a perception that Annapolis is a hard place to do business and that we have a number of projects that have been following the rules and and following strict standards that would be left waiting additional months, and we don't want to cause unnecessary delay if it's not going to improve the result.

Alderman Savage.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, and first of all, thank you to yourself and Office of Law for putting this together pretty quickly.

Um, I think we put a lot of good work.

I'm pretty happy with where it is.

Uh I do know we need to work on a few remaining um potentially some issues as well as some amendments in committee.

And so we look forward to working with office of law on that.

And and just to be transparent, you you're right, Mr.

Mayor, as far as the the deadline.

Um, it's actually July.

Yeah, July 1st.

Um unfortunately I was under the impression it was July 31st, but I think I just misread my emails.

Um regardless uh I am gonna propose another amendment later on which I need to draft up at the law office and that would um one way to address this would be you know because we are still a late vesting state at least until October legislation pass the general assembly to make us an early vesting that doesn't take effect until October and so the benefit of that is we can simply work in like we've done before actually with other forced conservation um ordinances in the past an effective clause that says it takes effect on it applies to any project that doesn't have final forced conservation plan approval um I'll work on the exact wording with the office of law but if we work that in that'll basically ensure that anybody they can't just rush things during July.

If they submit in July and this passes they'll still have to comply with the new law that we pass.

And again the new law will include the state I think it'll actually be the benefit of of a number of the the developers because they'll have the certainty um the state works in a couple of new exemptions um one of which is for transit oriented development but also um more applicable for us potentially would be uh multifamily units over 25 dwellings in one building um there are number of other exemptions that they built in but I also want to emphasize back up a little bit where this is coming from the state for a long time had the forest conservation led to a net loss of forest of trees and that's where you know the mayor when he was on the council got us to the first point where we actually improved it and between his efforts and and then our efforts we made uh made it into a net loss no net loss um the state did adopt that eventually and they have now kind of gone beyond to a net increase I think the plus is that our law basically already is a net increase of forest um but that's kind of where it's coming from we need to adopt some of the new principles and um other provisions they have in there it looks longer than you might think just because we have to make it work for us it's no nothing substantive is added this the the changes from the state law we included as amendments separately um and so um yeah look forward to robust discussion moving forward thank you for the uh chairs of rules and environment just ask you to consider the following uh this is going to come before us for a public hearing on july 13th and so I in an ideal world we get to vote on it by July 27th.

We normally do agenda setting immediately the Tuesday after so this would be uh July 14th 15th around there so I'd ask you to consider having an either additional or moving up your meeting to be closer to July 13th should be after the public hearing so not before the 13th but as close to the 13th as possible um for your hearing so that we have time to consider your amendments and get it on the agenda with um without any last minute rushes a couple weekends in a row now we put our city attorney through some labor over the weekend that I don't want to make a habit of out of that ultimate savage it just if this works for you I know we have it currently on the books for July 9th at 3 p.m but I'm certainly happy to try to find an earlier one if that works better for office.

I'm thinking it should be after the public hearing so after July 13th but as close to after the 13th as possible.

Oh I see okay.

Okay so you don't need to set dates right now but just consider it and um Miss Jackson.

Everybody's will be having I can't hear you.

Everybody will we have heard this legislation in their committee everyone sorry speak up please all the committees will be have heard this legislation by the 27th.

But I'm trying to get it earlier than the 27th so that we so at the committee um if they heard it say on the 14th then we can get amendments considered by the committee, revised if needed, which this is a little complicated, and then give the city attorney a few days to get their amendments corrected so that by the time we post the agenda for the 27th, a week or so in advance, you know that process, obviously.

That's what I'm trying to get to is get the amendments processed.

Okay.

Aldman Smith Brown.

Yeah, so currently our meeting is scheduled for the 23rd, but maybe we can have that could be our second meeting and we can try to squeeze in one part two to hear it, amendment, and then be prepared for the 27th.

Okay, we'll see what we can do.

And if you know that you have amendments coming, I would um encourage uh drafting them before the public hearing, but I I do value public hearing input.

So prefer you that committees don't meet until after the public hearing.

All right.

So we have those um referrals, and you also, I mean, if you're especially if you're both setting a new meeting, I would encourage you, the two committee chairs to think about having a joint meeting, and because of course city staff will need to attend both.

So, in the um interest of uh respecting our city staff's efforts, if you can have a joint meeting that would be beneficial to them.

Okay, thank you.

Mr.

City Attorney, please present the next item on the agenda.

The next item on the agenda is ordinance 01726, right to park in front of residential private driveways.

Is there a motion to adopt 017 26 on first reader?

So Alderman Smith Brown?

So moved.

Thank you.

Is there a second?

Second, thank you.

Uh, any discussion before we go to a vote?

Okay.

Uh I do want to add just my comments on it.

I support the under.

Well, first of all, it's first reader, so I'm definitely going to vote for it on first reader.

And I also want to articulate that I support the underlying intent to uh to address this concern.

I and I think uh at least I'll just speak for myself.

I'm concerned about a couple of the elements, but I know Alderman Smith Brown, you're already working on solutions that we've discussed about the concerns, and so for anyone that's following this and has concerns about either enforcement or how it would work on particularly narrow streets if some of those driveways get filled with cars.

That's um, those are uh solutions that I know Alderman Smith Brown was already working towards.

Any further discussion?

Okay, all those in favor say aye.

Sorry, Alderman Thorpe's already.

So I just want to associate myself with your remarks and also thank uh Alderman Smith Brown for taking on uh this tough topic.

Um, and I would agree we've we've chatted quite a bit.

There's uh we've got to work through a lot of it.

Um we're hearing from the residents what their feedback is because you've gotten ahead of this and and gave people the opportunity uh to socialize it, think about it.

I've probably got about 15 resident comments already.

Um, and I think there's some tweaking that we'll work together uh to do.

Um, and I think it's gonna be really important as Alderman Smith Brown has already done to bring in uh Department of Transportation, public works, and and every and all appropriate people and city staff because there's gonna be impacts with numerous departments, uh, the police department, etc.

Um, and so as we make uh as we work together and make amendments, uh, uh it's important to that we continue to to communicate with the community that uh at the end of the day, this is all about making life better for the residents.

Um, and there's a huge information uh communication education element to it, and we're committed to doing all that.

Thank you.

Alderman Huntley?

I was gonna stay quiet because this is first reader, but I just wanted to add on to something Alderman Thorpe said that maybe the most maybe even more important than city staff is our parking contractors to have them in the room because at the end of the day, the even uh my read of this is the tax is good in most cases, but we have to think about how does it actually get implemented, and no matter how good the text is, if it can't get implemented, it might we we might need to adjust the text.

Just to confirm, I've already had meetings with our parking contractor size partners, and we've agreed on many fronts, and this is moving forward with their support, and I'll continue to iron it out um as we go along.

I know you will.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Anyone else, Alderman?

Not to beat this dead horse, but it's first reader.

Parking enforcement will not have a proactive role.

So as per the current legislation, um, we we will not be asking parking enforcement contractors to do what they do with all other elements of parking enforcement, proactively look for violations.

This would be a case where it would have to be reported by the property owner.

So I think Alderman Huntley, your concern is very well taken from a residence standpoint.

I think that represents the residents' concerns.

How are we're gonna make sure we get this right, and what Alderman Smith Brown has done is written it such that the alder the the parking contractor would not have in their own hands to enforce this.

All in favor, say aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Mr.

City Attorney, please present the next item on the agenda.

Next item on the agenda is resolution R2126 designating city attorney Anthony P.

Cooper Smith as resident agent for service a process.

Is there a motion to adopt R2126 on first reader?

Thank you, Alderman Thorpe.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you.

Any discussion?

Alderman Smith Brown?

Yeah, for the people to understand what this means.

Do you mind just sharing a little bit of background of what this is, why we need it, and why our phenomenal attorney Anthony should be doing it?

Sure.

So it's a in any lawsuit, you always need to have um be uh make it clear on who gets served on that lawsuit.

So if you're suing somebody, when it's a person that you're suing, it's clear you're serving that person.

When you're serving an entity, that entity is required by state law to have a designated what's called resident agent on file, so that if anyone wants to sue a corporation or any any entity that's not a person, you could look it up online to see who am I supposed to serve with my papers.

For city of Annapolis, uh that resident agent by code is the city attorney.

Um it is by code, unfortunately, it spells out currently that we're supposed to name that person by name, and so that's why this you have this resolution.

You'll see a later resolution that's going to change the code, so we don't have to name it by name, it's just whoever is the city attorney is the resident agent.

But that's not what the way the code reads right now.

So that's why this is necessary as a short fix, but we'll clean up that um code amendment.

Right.

I intend to clean up that code in the meantime.

So that you know, like when we have an acting city attorney, it should just be that's the person to serve without having a resolution to name that.

Okay.

Anyone else?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

I suppose that question was for you, but I couldn't help myself.

You did a better job than I would have done.

Thank you.

Um Madam City Clerk, please call the role.

Yes, sir.

May Littman?

Aye.

Alderman Sandemeyer.

Aye.

Alderman Savage.

Aye.

Alderman Thorpe.

Aye.

Alderman Huntley.

Aye.

Alderman O'Neill.

I'm Alderman Smith or no.

Aye.

Okay.

Mr.

City Attorney, please call the next time on the agenda.

The agenda is completed.

Okay.

Thank you.

Is there anything else for the good of the order?

Alderman Huntley.

Do we just suspend the rules to pass our 2126?

It's on first reader.

It is on first.

Okay.

So there wasn't a okay.

Okay.

Yeah.

So we just chose to do a by voice vote.

That's fine.

Yeah, we just apparently did the role for first reader.

Or not do it by voice vote, I should say.

Okay.

I think you just thought what you did.

All right.

Well, we'll work on our cleaning up or process.

It's okay.

We passed it on first reader.

Yeah, press on first reader.

Um, no worries, we're gonna have a lot of confusion here.

We're causing confusion.

All right.

Uh there.

Sorry.

Uh anything else for the good of the order?

Okay.

Alderwoman.

No?

Okay.

Uh, is there a motion to adjourn?

So moved.

Thank you, Alderman Chandelmeyers.

There's second.

Second.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Meetings adjourned.

There, but thank you, Jerry, for kind of picking up the ball and and carrying it.

It means so much to Annapolis, it means so much uh to Ann Arnold County to the state.

This is an example of people coming together in a very, very powerful way.

This was a Rubik's Cube from the beginning.

I mean, it had so many different and continues to have so many different interlocking parts that require special attention.

So getting these resources finally over the finish line is just it's it's a huge win.

And it demonstrates, I think, and you mentioned this here a moment ago, the resilience of the people of Annapolis.

I mean, stepping up how to conceptualize this, what what would it mean to execute it, putting all the phases together that you're now gonna see kind of rolling out over time.

That that was a huge accomplishment.

And then the last thing I want to say is this kind of a project, this kind of a resilience project, um, in the context of what we know are going to continue to be uh increasing challenges coming at us in terms of climate change and weather disruption and so forth, is going to be a model for how you do these things around the country.

And Annapolis has always been a leader, it's always been a model, it's always kind of uh taken the lead nationally on innovative creative approaches.

This is another example of that.

Um it's gonna be a tough slog through the execution, uh, but I know one that's gonna be successful.

So congratulations to the people of Annapolis, to Team Maryland, to everybody who got us to this point, is gonna keep moving it forward, and obviously very much um at the reins for this process uh going forward is going to be uh Mayor Littman.

I want to thank him for all his great work and bring him up.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Thank you.

My name is Mayor Jared Littman, and on behalf of the city council members and I, it is our great honor and pleasure to thank and receive the $33 million plus the $2.5 million of FEMA.

And I just I am so relieved, frankly.

I know uh your my sleep isn't everyone's concern, but I've been sleeping a lot better the past couple nights.

Uh knowing that this money was uh is coming.

And this is the obviously the evolution of work from so many individuals, and they've been mentioned, but I just want to point out how our city staff continue to slog away at the financial, the technical, the environmental reviews, meeting every deadline, answering questions from FEMA.

It was a long process and it seemed to evolve, and they stepped up and they've met all the uh burdens and and uh requests.

And their dedication has absolutely ensured our success.

To go over the funding of this huge engineering and infrastructure project, we have 24 million dollars from the concession agreement related to the building of uh Hillman Garage, 10 million dollars from the state of Maryland, and I I see uh our delegate, uh uh delegate Jones, delegate Baylor, and our uh State Senator uh Henson being represented here.

4.8 million dollars in congressional earmarks, although not called earmarks anymore.

Two million dollars from the county, and today's $33 million plus the two and a half million from FEMA, plus the city's bond money to ensure and that we now have all the funding in place to see this project through.

This is a major investment in protecting our historic waterfront, local businesses, and ensuring that our residents can continue to enjoy this wonderful area that we all love for generations and generations to come.

This is an investment in the future of Annapolis.

I want to acknowledge we have a lot of partners, and I recognize the city is the small player here, and so we have a lot of people I want to thank.

I first want to call out the current and former city council members who stood by former Mayor Buckley and I throughout this process.

They all received lots of phone calls of if this, then this, and the council, it was unanimous in supporting our efforts to move forward.

Of course, our thank you, Council members, of course.

Uh, I want to thank our federal delegation, Senator Van Holland, uh, Senator Alsa Brooks, who couldn't be here today, Representative Elfrith, and of course, Representative uh Sarbanes, who's always been a good friend.

Thank you all so much for your support.

Our governor and his team have been hugely instrumental as well.

So I thank Governor Moore and MDEM Secretary Strickland for your support.

The number of phone calls and conferences strategizing all along.

And of course, again, I want to call out our our state delegation, Senator Henson, delegates Jones and Baylor.

I think delegate Jones gets the award for latest phone call on this matter on a Friday night in particular, too.

So thank you for being available.

Um County Executive Pittman, you've always stood behind and helped strategize, and I know that I can count on you as well.

Thank you so much.

Mayor Buckley, I know had this vision, and now the hard work of going from vision to turning into reality, but that doesn't get started without the initial vision.

So I thank you, Mayor Buckley.

A couple of individuals that don't get a lot of limelight, I want to call out.

City Manager Buckland, I want to thank you, project manager Eileen Fogarty seeing this through director-in-chief Kevin Simmons and David Mandel from Office of Emergency Management and Public Works Director Burr Vogel.

Someone who never calls out for attention, but is a friend and a leader on this whole project, Matt Fleming and the Resilience Authority.

Thank you for your appreciation.

He's one of those guys that when we strategize of who needs to do what, he's like, I got it.

I got it, I got it.

Thank you, Matt.

Appreciate you.

Looking ahead, I want to call out all the individuals who are involved.

We all got involved in public service because we wanted to do good for the community.

We're we are doing our best to serve the public.

And as uh Congresswoman Elfrith mentioned, there are some tough days where when our efforts to do good are not necessarily treated as such.

And I just want to let all of us take have all of us take a moment to appreciate the enormity of today's milestone.

This is the this is the result of your hard work, your focus on serving your constituents and seeing the big picture of what can be done when we join together.

And so I just want you all to pat yourselves on the back, pat each other on the back, take a moment to appreciate this.

I know that there have been a lot of press conferences.

I am so looking forward to having a ribbon cutting.

Where we could say, come on, and it's not last minute and hurried.

This work is absolutely just beginning.

I know that just because we now have the money in the bank, it's not all smooth sailing, but I know with the team behind me, they've all demonstrated they're willing to answer the call, be involved, be supportive, either quietly or publicly, whatever is needed to get the job done, and that's huge.

That is absolutely huge.

It is my absolute honor to lead Annapolis's efforts through this, and again, I thank all of the partners involved in this work.

I'm so excited to help deliver the City Doc project for all of us.

And with that, I want to introduce my friend and our county executive, Stuart Pittman.

Well, first, just congratulations to everybody.

I'm not gonna go through everybody and do all the same thanks all over again, but congratulations to all of us.

We should be having a huge party right now.

Uh maybe this is maybe we will later.

Um I had a I had a meeting on my schedule today that got canceled.

My scheduler told me.

The mayor's office canceled our meeting on Friday, didn't say why.

And then I got a text message.

Not the SOS one, got that too, but I got the good text message from Mayor Littman.

And I the joy, I mean, the ability to sleep.

That meeting was about, we're in the middle of our budget process.

We're in the middle of our capital budget process.

We managed to squeeze two million out last year, you know, with the help of um Councilwoman Rodby and uh for this district for particularly the Welcome Welcome Center as part of this project to get it over the finish line.

But not having the FEMA money would have meant that the project would have been scaled back.

Um the mayor had all kinds of contingency plans, and his contingency plans included more money from the county, I think.

And so it was a big relief to have that meeting canceled.

Um, I want to I want to particularly thank our our delegation, um, Congresswoman Alfred, our senators, and every the whole team.

Um, but I think I think in this time we don't we've almost lost faith that we have a partner in the federal government, and particularly in FEMA.

It has been so frustrating and sad and terrifying in some cases to have FEMA no longer a partner.

And and um, but these folks didn't give up.

These folks continued to work relationships that they had, relationships in places we don't even want to know who they talk to to get this thing across the finish line.

Um, but thank you.

Just thank you for not giving up in a time where we all just want to fight, fight, fight.

Sometimes we also have to get in there and negotiate and and manage to get some wins.

And for the for the public, for the residents of Anorondo County who are so looking forward to coming into Annapolis and and seeing this beautiful, beautiful public space.

It's gonna be like a park for the whole county, which is why I'm open, I've been open to investments in it, is with county dollars.

Um, it is it is just like a little bit of sunshine.

We haven't had sun all week.

Um, but it's a little bit of sunshine and a dark time, and that in fact government can work and things can get done.

So just thank you and and let's celebrate.

This is a wonderful, wonderful day.

Congratulations.

And I also want to acknowledge um the former mayor um Gavin Buckley for the work that he did um to get us to this point.

You know, his name would have been Mud if if FEMA money hadn't showed up, right?

I mean, you gotta blame somebody, but now his name is not Mud, it's back to Gavin Buckley, and we can all celebrate.

Next, we're gonna hear from the great Maryland secretary of emergency management, Secretary Strickland.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Uh this is a celebration.

I really I like that term.

Um I'd first like to thank Governor Moore and Maryland's congressional delegation for your unwavering support of this critical project.

Uh I'd also like to recognize the city of Annapolis for their leadership and persistent advocacy to see funding awarded, and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management Hazard Mitigation Team, who adeptly shepherding this project through many stages of approval.

Now I'm gonna go off script for a second because there were two words that were mentioned here today.

Resilience and modeling and emergency management's responsibilities, although many times at the back end of the crowd, just kind of watching and making sure everybody's safe, but it's before during and after a disaster that we're involved.

This is before, and before is mitigation, and mitigation is the center of the universe.

We're really, really good at response and immediate recovery, but mitigation is that which will improve for all the businesses in the area and will make a difference of almost a dollar invested, a six dollar return when it comes time for recovery.

So I think that is so so important, and I appreciate the words that folks have used.

So the mission of Maryland Department of Emergency Management is to proactively reduce these disaster risk and reliably manage consequences through collaborative work with Maryland's communities and partners.

In Maryland, emergency management is a system of systems.

We cannot do it alone.

We are the counties and the local jurisdictions coupled with the state, working with our state agencies and partners, and with our private sector partners.

We cannot do it alone.

No one can, and it's only through that system of systems that we do it.

The Annapolis City uh dock hazard mitigation project is an excellent example of this type of work of everyone coming together.

So the investment today comes a result of years of partnership and collaboration with the residents, business owners, and governments at every level.

And I have to say we've been talking about it started in 2019.

I started in state emergency management in 2004.

This was a discussion then.

It was a discussion of flooding back into the 1700s for Ellicott City.

And when it comes time for a model, this will not only be a model, but there's another really, really good motto in Frederick City that started with Agnes.

And it took 20 years to build, and about three or four years ago, there was a flooding event, and it worked.

It worked.

So we know that this funding will bring a significant return on investment for every dollar invested.

As I mentioned, we'll save six in disaster recovery.

And while the dollars matter, what really matters is our community and our survivors.

That's where our focus is.

So the hazard mitigation efforts on this scale mean more days that residents and visit visitors can enjoy Maryland state capital and the beautiful waterfront.

More days that local businesses have to grow and thrive, and fewer days spent mucking out livelihoods and homes, or wondering if the next storm or king tide will be worse than the last one.

So this proof is this project is proof that together we can do things which shape a more resilient Maryland where communities thrive and where no one is left behind.

So from the emergency management community to all of you, one congratulations.

Two, thank you.

And number three, we're not leaving.

We are not leaving until it's done, and we'll be here for another 20 years to make sure it works so we can write that down.

All right.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Secretary.

Uh, thank you, Team Maryland.

Um, before we take questions, I I do want to acknowledge a few other folks.

And Sarah mentioned um my former partner and colleague, Ben Carden.

He was also tenacious about this project, and we worked very closely together.

And just like Congresswoman Elfrith picked up the baton from John Sarbanes uh in the House.

Um, Angela Alsterbrooks' helped pick up that baton in the United States Senate.

So I just want to thank her.

She could not be here.

So let's give them both a round of applause.

So we're happy to answer any questions.

And if not, we do have a check, cash it fast.

Any questions?

Yeah.

Can you respond to the letter that you sent to the Trump administration regarding the allegiance?

I'm sorry, I couldn't.

Can you respond to the um the letter you sent to the Trump administration relative to the Legionella?

Oh, can we talk to you after about?

I'm happy to do one-on-one or whatever.

Yeah, yeah.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Okay.

Time for the real thing.

Check, all right.

Shall we uh, I mentioned one other person I forgot to do?

Yes, of course.

I also want to call out Lieutenant uh General, Superintendent of the Naval Academy, uh Mike Bork Schulte, uh, who was incredibly helpful and just want to acknowledge his thanks.

His efforts as well.

What do you get in the middle here?

Excuse me.

Hello, I'm Ken White with the Annapolis Fire Department.

This week's theme for fire prevention week is serve up safety in the kitchen.

So this holiday season, here's some tips from the Annapolis Fire Department that can help you serve up safety in the kitchen.

Tip one, when frying, boiling, or simmering, stay in the kitchen, never leave the home, and always use a timer.

Tip two: if a grease fire starts, never try to extinguish with water.

Use a lid to cover over the pot, turn the burner off, and wait till the pan cools down.

Tip three, always keep your cleaning and cooking surfaces free of any clutter.

And tip four, remember to always keep a three-foot distance around the cooking area, a three feet kid zone, as I like to call it.

And remember, if you're unable to control the fire, get out of your house and dial nine one immediately.

And never forget, every month to test your smoking loss, have an escape plan, and practice your escape plan.

Unattended cooking is a leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries.

For more information on tips on how you can serve up safety in the kitchen, visit WW dot fireprevention week.org.

Stay safe, Annapolis.

They would sneak in, you know, through some type of fence.

I don't know where this fence was, but you know, because it gets so crowded.

And people would sneak in some type of way just to come and see the, you know, different um entertainment.

We didn't have to go anywhere to see James Brown, Edward James.

All the big name stars came right here in our back door.

It was just a joyful time.

It was just for me for me and a lot of other blacks, it was it was just a joy for time.

When we when we got up from work sometime, we went to Carl's Beach.

You know, but Carl's Beach is uh well.

It was a center attraction for everybody, especially blacks.

It was a center attraction when the community was the segregated.

It's the only place that really Afro-America's coming to have a day of fun.

Ever since my first visit here, I can remember uh the people dancing on the on the concrete pavilion with the in the sand uh on this uh on the pavilion and those leather soles made of distinct grinding sound, but it was a rhythmic sound that uh that still woke me down.

I I am chickled today to to be sitting here and hearing music and looking out in the bay.

Uh it brings back a lot of memories.

They had rides, first wheels, uh murder round, the cotton candy.

They had a big dance hall where we see hop albums on the bands and saying, and it would be it would be broadcast live.

Tonight, tonight, tonight, the happy atoms, and people came from all over, come down calls and spiral to be.

And we came for the Cause Brown Beach Reunion, and this is a great reunion.

This is where it all started from the grounds.

And I I don't know, it's just heavenly to be here today.

It's it's awesome, and I'm just so delighted to be here to see this.

Will you snap your fingers and with your eye?

There ain't nothing that I can do.

It was such a beautiful thing.

It it was it was a place where you had a beautiful time.

Like I say, Carl's Beach will live forever and it's in our hearts and we'll live in our hearts forever.

I said sugar parking.

Hey Annapolis, it's go time.

On-demand transit that takes you where you want to go.

It's fast, it's easy, and it's an affordable way to get around Annapolis.

Going to the doctor, it's go time.

Going shopping, it's go time.

Exploring Annapolis, it's go time.

It's easy to schedule your ride.

Use the app or call transportation dispatch at 410-263-7964.

Set your pickup and your destination and we'll be right there.

Simply track the bus on the app so you'll know exactly when we'll be there to pick you up.

Pay once you are on the bus.

Just two dollars per ride and only one dollar for seniors.

Or you can use your daily, weekly, monthly, or annual bus pass.

Getting around Annapolis is easy with Annapolis Go Time.

On demand transit.

See you on board.

All those legends.

We talk about James Brown.

Stevie Wonder.

Jimmy Hendrix.

This was a place where 70,000.

We come from New York from the Carolinas to Annapolis.

You know, we talk about our history alone in Annapolis, but we only talk about one history.

And this amazing piece of history that happened for three decades is gonna be here for the next generation to learn about.

We need to pay homage to our history and our ancestors.

You know, this is bringing home back to us.

You remember the carousel, you remember the fan stand.

So this is bringing that dream to a reality.

And it's a beautiful thing that what you see in the day is they say it's a Michael Cause.

What we say at Cars Beach is a perfect example of that.

It's the state, it's the citizens that all come together.

It's very much a team effort.

Tell him he belongs to me.

Tell him that I still deep in love.

Tonight, tonight, tonight.

And that tonight goes on perpetually.

Keep celebrating tomorrow and the next day.

Keep encouraging one another.

Don't stop, just keep going.

And if you see my love, tell him that I'm sorry.

I've seen so many stars at Cards Beach.

Cars Beach?

It'll go down in history.

One of the most beautiful places there were.

You know this.

Come on.

When Chuck Burry came to town or James Brown came to town.

There was so much parking that you only had a superstar.

We saw people that got tired of waiting in traffic and they'd get out and walk and run because all the big stars came here.

So they would sneak in, you know, through some type of fence.

I don't know where this fence was, but you know, because it gets so crowded.

And people would sneak in some type of way just to come and see the you know different um entertainment.

We didn't have to go anywhere to see James Brown, Edward Gang.

All the big name stars came right here in our back door.

It was just a joyful time.

It was for me, for me and a lot of other blacks, it was it was just a joy for time.

When we when we got up from work sometime, we went to Carl's Beach.

You know, but Carl's Beach is uh well.

It was a center attraction for everybody, especially blacks.

It was a center of traction.

When the community was segregated, it's the only place that really Afro America's come to have a day of fun.

Ever since my first visit here, I can remember uh the people dancing on the on the concrete pavilion with the in the sand uh on the uh on the on the pavilion and those leather soles made of distinct grinding sound, but it was a rhythmic sound that uh that is still with me now.

I am tickled today to be sitting here and hearing music and looking out in the bay.

Uh it brings back a lot of memories.

They had Rise, Birds Wheels, uh Merg around the cotton candy, they made a big dance hall where we see Hob Adams on the bands saying, and it would be it would be broadcast live.

Tonight, tonight, tonight, the happy atoms, and people came from all over, come down, cause the spiral beef.

And we came for the cars, brown beach reunion, and this is a great reunion.

This is where it all started from the grounds.

And I I don't know, it's just heavenly to be here today.

It's it's awesome, and I'm just so delighted to be here to see this.

Will you stuck your fingers and wick your eye?

I come running to you.

Welcome to you, April Springs.

There ain't nothing that I can do.

When you call my name, it was such a beautiful thing.

It it was it was a place where you had a beautiful time.

Like I say, Cars Beach, live forever, and it's in our hearts and we'll live in our hearts forever.

There's a little place across Spa Creek.

You get there when you shuffle down Compromise Street, cross the bridge or paddle through the harbor.

It's the opposite side of Annapolis proper.

And when you get there, you leave your worries behind and get that laid back feeling that only you find an Eastport on the bay.

And if you want a millionaire's elbow to rub, he's got the shabbiest deck shoes down at Marbaduke's pub.

Or go around the corner to Leon's barber shop and have the mayor himself take a little off the top in Eastport on the bay.

So let me get across, Mr.

Bridgetender, and leave it up for good for all that I care.

The crab pot steaming, we can pick us a few, and I'll shut the oysters if you make us do.

Crabbing and sailing with characters galore.

It's a land of pleasant living surrounded by shore.

Yepies with puppies walking side by side, and things ain't changing except for the tide.

So come on over, leave your worries behind and get that laid back feeling that only you'll find an Eastport on the Bay.

Well, welcome, everybody.

Uh, we're gathered here in a great American city, the great city of Annapolis, the sailing capital of the world, an historic city where George Washington resigned his military commission symbolizing the transfer and peaceful transfer of power and making it clear that in America we have no kings, a city that's not afraid to tell all of its past, including its role in the slave trade.

In Annapolis, people learn from our past.

They don't try to whitewash and hide their past.

A city that is the home, the proud home of the Naval Academy, a city where millions of people from all over the world come every year, but also a city that because of climate change has really been hurt by the flooding hitting these small businesses, impacting tourism, impacting the boat show, and so that's why we're gathered here today to address that problem.

And we have great news for a great American city, great news for the great city of Annapolis, which is after many years, FEMA has released the $35 million in funds.

$35 million in funds.

That includes the $33 million that was part of the original City of Annapolis grants, and an additional two and a half million dollars to help with related upgrades for stormwater management.

And this has been the result of work of Team Maryland, and you're going to hear from so many people who were part of that effort, but there were also many more who are represented here today that you won't hear from, but who you see here and others who could not join us today, including somebody who cannot join us today, Mayor Buckley, the former mayor of Annapolis.

And it was his vision that really set this project in motion.

And I heard from him last night.

He said he couldn't be here.

I think he's taking one of his kids to college, but he was just thrilled, of course, that we were able to secure these funds.

And to the new mayor, Mayor Littman, and to the council, city council here in Annapolis.

Thank you.

Thank you for carrying on that vision with absolute perseverance.

Uh that I received from him on Valentine's Day.

Coincidentally.

And it was an SOS message.

And it began: I am writing because we are at a critical point in the city dock project.

And he went on to outline the huge challenges they would face if the FEMA funds didn't come through.

He also was putting together contingency plans because he understood the importance of this project, and he said in that text message if we don't get started and try to keep this on time, we're going to see some of these businesses close.

So thank you, Mayor Littman, for moving with that urgency, and that lit another fire under all of us who are members of the Maryland federal delegation.

And I can say that in the Senate, we immediately renewed our push, which has been ongoing, and directly contacted DHS and FEMA and said, we really need you to release these funds, and we need it yesterday.

And we got the appropriations committee in the Senate involved, and not surprisingly, there are other members in the House and the Senate who've also had projects held up by FEMA.

And so there was a growing backlog, but also growing frustration at what was happening with backlogs for projects all over the country.

And so all of that pressure built and the dam broke.

And the good news is Christy Nome is out, and the funding for the Annapolis dock is in.

And let me just thank other members of the federal delegation who are part of it.

Because the city, we took our lead from the city from their vision.

But we have with us today uh John Sarbanes.

Congressman John Sarbanes, who was absolutely tenacious, absolutely tenacious when it came to making sure that the city of Annapolis had what it needed and was constantly pushing and pushing.

And of course, former state senator and now Congresswoman Representative Elfrith, she's been pushing really hard.

And thank you to other members of the District 30 delegation and everybody who's been involved in this effort over years.

Uh to Stuart Pittman, your county executive.

You've been just an amazing partner, amazing partner, and all of us know the resources need to come from the city, they need to come from the county, they need to come from the state.

And yes, this critical piece needed to come from the federal government.

And so I'm also pleased that we're here, and with the continuing support from the governor and the governor's team, uh, you're going to hear from our secretary of the department of emergency management, Russ Strickland.

But thank you for what you're doing in this project, but also the other emergency projects around the state and FEMA.

So, as you can see, this is really uh a team Maryland Day, and this wouldn't have happened without everybody gathered here and many more people, and never giving up.

This is an example of perseverance and persistence at work, and that requires everybody pushing from their own angle and their own point of leverage.

So, without further ado, let me now turn it over to somebody who's been pushing really hard for this.

First in the Maryland legislature and hit the ground running in the United States Congress, Sarah Alfreth.

Well, thank you to Senator Van Holland for being Team Maryland's quarterback in the federal delegation, but also as you see behind me, the epitome of Team Maryland when we say it's not just the federal delegation, it starts with our local partners, our county partners, our state partners, and of course uh the federal team.

Y'all, this is a day that I I gotta tell you.

Um I try to be an optimist in this work.

I think you have to be.

I wasn't sure this day was gonna happen, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, first of all, this is my umpteenth City Doc press conference.

I think we've all been here many, many times to announce really great news to announce state funding, 18 and a half million in state funding to announce uh almost 10 million dollars in federal earmarks to announce the resilience authority to to mark uh Congressman Sarbanes.

We were here uh sorry, there's too many tall people behind me.

Uh we were here during one of the biggest floods.

I think the fourth biggest flood on record, standing right here surveying the urgency of now, and that's that's where I wanted to start.

Um, rising seas aren't going to wait for bureaucracy.

I think we see that every single day.

And as the senator said, this is more than just a climate adaption project, it has real implications for Annapolis's past, present, and future.

Obviously, the historical impacts of this project, what we are preserving as the former United States Capitol, uh, really important uh year that we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of this nation, but we also recognize the more challenging and difficult pieces of our history that we need to honor and respect and share and tell.

The fact that where we are standing is a is a UNESCO site of remembrance because it was a site of the transatlantic slave trade.

We also have a deep obligation to tell the stories in the city, not just of the men who signed the declaration of independence, but also the folks who worked the water, the immigrants, the families who lived right here and made Annapolis what it is today.

Obviously, this moment is important because we have to preserve this city dock for our economy as well.

All of the small businesses you see around here, every time there is a major flood, we are all on the phone checking in, making sure they have what they need, making sure we're corralling the state resources and local resources to get them what they need.

Obviously, this is important for the present because of our United States Naval Academy, and and rising seas do not respect what is city land versus what is federal land, and so what happens here very much impacts what happens there.

And of course, to the aldermen from Eastport, you know better than anybody, when the rising seas cut off compromise street, that is a real emergency management challenge for the people of Eastport.

Obviously, the moment of now as we address climate change across this country is so real and it can sometimes feel overburdened.

We feel overburdened.

It's just such a large problem.

Where can we even start?

Obviously, this started almost a decade ago with a vision from Mayor Buckley and the City Council and the staff at the city who knew that this was not a nice to have, this was a must-have, not just then, but knowing that those seas will continue to rise each and every year.

It's often said that success has a thousand fathers.

I'd like to also believe there's a few mothers tucked in there as well.

Obviously to Mayor Buckley for his vision, the city council for their dedication, the staff.

I also want to thank the hundreds of Annapolis citizens who participated in I don't know how many charreds y'all had to make sure almost 300 opportunities for the public to weigh in here.

That's so important in this moment.

To County Executive Pittman, who has just been a champion and making sure that we are all staying on task and on target.

I so appreciate you.

The state delegation, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the state funding started under former Speaker Mike Bush.

He had the vision, he knew and he wanted to respond with state dollars being the capital city.

Um, and he started the trend that I was had the privilege of picking up.

I know Delegate Jones, Delegate Baylor, Senator Henson.

Make sure we in every single budget make sure we are delivering for this project.

To the federal delegation, I'm so grateful that Congressman Sarbanes is here.

I also called Senator Van Carden um the other day to share the good news.

There's not a lot of good days of good news in this job.

Senator Van Holland, you didn't tell me that when I first ran, but he was thrilled and he wished he could be here today.

I want to give him thanks and credit as well.

Um it's been said that that Mayor Littman um has taken this project and been so thoughtful and so strategic as we met this critical moment.

And I too received that SOS text message in February.

Um being on the Armed Services Committee, the Naval Abor Naval Academy Board along with uh Senator Van Holland.

He asked, can we involve the Navy?

And so uh that was my role to play in this orchestra of support that we all lent here, is to call the Pentagon and call the Navy and remind them that the rising seas will also impact the readiness of our United States Naval Academy.

And they made a call as well.

There are so many calls that were made in the month, Mr.

Mayor, since you sent that text message.

And I just want to thank you for your vision and your commitment.

And we're gonna hear in a minute from Secretary Strickland, um, from MDEM, who has also been just a champion of this throughout multiple administrations.

I want to thank you for your support.

You're also on our call sheet any time we get a major flood, so I want to thank you and your team for that.

Um, and without further ado, I want to thank my predecessor who um has has been dedicated and focused to this work uh for his 18 years serving in the United States Congress.

I'm so grateful to be able to call him and turn to him for advice more often than I thought I would uh in this Congress.

But I'm so grateful to my friend, um, Congressman John Sarbanes.

Thanks very much, this is a great day.

I'm gonna be brief.

I promise, you know, if you let a former member of Congress up to a podium, they could go forever.

Um but uh first of all, let me salute Team Maryland, uh, Senator Ryan Holland, Congresswoman Sarah Elfith, representative of the Third District of Maryland.

I love saying that.

Um to Jared, uh to Stewart, to everybody who's been part of this.

I also want to give a shout out to to Gavin Buckley.

Um I got a lot of SOSs from Gavin over the years, um, so I've got a whole text string there, but thank you, Jerry, for kind of picking up the ball and and carrying it.

It means so much to Annapolis, it means so much uh to Annal County, to the state.

This is an example of people coming together in a very, very powerful way.

This was a Rubik's Cube from the beginning.

I mean, it had so many different and continues to have so many different interlocking parts that require special attention.

Um, so getting these resources finally over the finish line is just it's it's a huge win.

And it demonstrates, I think, and and you mentioned this here a moment ago, um, the resilience of the people of Annapolis.

I mean, stepping up, how to conceptualize this, what would it mean to execute it, putting all the phases together that you're now gonna see kind of rolling out over time.

That that was a huge accomplishment.

And then the last thing I want to say is this kind of a project, this kind of a resilience project, in the context of what we know are gonna continue to be uh increasing challenges coming at us in terms of climate change and weather disruption and so forth, is going to be a model for how you do these things around the country.

And Annapolis has always been a leader, it's always been a model, it's always kind of uh taken the lead nationally on innovative, creative approaches.

This is another example of that.

Um it's gonna be a tough slog through the execution, uh, but I know one that's gonna be successful.

So congratulations to the people of Annapolis to to Team Maryland to everybody who got us to this point, is gonna keep moving it forward.

And obviously, very much at the reins for this process uh going forward is going to be uh Mayor Littman.

I want to thank him for all his great work and bring him up.

Thanks.

Good morning.

Thank you.

My name is Mayor Jared Littman, and on behalf of the City Council members and I, it is our great honor and pleasure to thank and receive the $33 million plus the two and a half million dollars for FEMA.

And I just I am so relieved, frankly.

I know uh you're my sleep isn't everyone's concerned, but I've been sleeping a lot better the past couple nights, uh knowing that this money was uh is coming.

And this is the obviously the evolution of work from so many individuals, and they've been mentioned, but I just want to point out how our city staff continue to slog away at the financial, the technical, the environmental reviews, meeting every deadline, answering questions from FEMA.

It was a long process, and it seemed to evolve, and they stepped up and they've met all the burdens and requests.

And their dedication has absolutely ensured our success.

To go over the funding of this huge engineering and infrastructure project, we have $24 million from the concession agreement related to the building of uh Hillman Garage, 10 million dollars from the state of Maryland, and I I see uh our delegate uh uh delegate Jones, delegate Baylor, and our uh state Senator uh Henson being represented here.

4.8 million dollars in congressional earmarks, although not called earmarks anymore.

Two million dollars from the county, and today's 33 billion plus the two and a half million from FEMA, plus the city's bond money to ensure and that we now have all the funding in place to see this project through.

Right.

This is a major investment in protecting our historic waterfront, local businesses, and ensuring that our residents can continue to enjoy this wonderful area that we all love for generations and generations to come.

This is an investment in the future of Annapolis.

I want to acknowledge we have a lot of partners, and I recognize the city is the small player here, and so we have a lot of people I want to thank.

I first want to call out the current and former city council members who stood by for uh Mayor Buckley and I throughout this process, they all received lots of phone calls of if this, then this, and the council, it was unanimous in supporting our efforts to move forward.

Of course, our thank you, Council members.

Of course, I want to thank our federal delegation, Senator Van Holland, uh Senator Alsa Brooks, who couldn't be here today, representative uh Elfrith, and of course, Representative uh uh Sarbans, who's always been a good friend.

Thank you all so much for your support.

Our governor and his team have been hugely instrumental as well.

So I thank Governor Moore and MDEM Secretary Strickland for your support.

The number of phone calls and conferences strategizing all along.

And of course, again, I want to call out our our state delegation, Senator Henson, delegates Jones and Baylor.

I think Delegate Jones gets the award for latest phone call on this matter on a Friday night in particular, too.

So thank you for being available.

Um County Executive Pittman, you've always stood behind and helped strategize, and I know that I can count on you as well.

Thank you so much.

Mayor Buckley, I know, had this vision, and now the hard work of going from vision to turning into reality, but that doesn't get started without the initial vision.

So I thank you, Mayor Buckley.

A couple of individuals that don't get a lot of limelight, I want to call out.

City Manager Buckland, I want to thank you.

Project Manager Arlene Fogerty seeing this through Director in Chief Kevin Simmons and David Mandel from Office of Emergency Management.

And Public Works Director Burr Vogel.

Someone who never calls out for attention, but is a friend and a leader and this whole project, Matt Fleming and the resilience authority.

Thank you for your tip.

He's one of those guys that when we strategize of who needs to do what, he's like, I got it.

I got it.

I got it.

Thank you, Matt.

Appreciate you.

Looking ahead, I want to call out all the individuals who are involved.

We all got involved in public service because we wanted to do good for the community.

We are doing our best to serve the public.

And as uh Congresswoman Elfrith mentioned, there are some tough days where when our efforts to do good are not necessarily treated as such.

I just want to let all of us take have all of us take a moment to appreciate the enormity of today's milestone.

This is the this is the result of your hard work, your focus on serving your constituents and seeing the big picture of what can be done when we join together.

And so I just want you all to pat yourselves on the back, pat each other on the back, take a moment to appreciate this.

I know that there have been a lot of press conferences.

I am so looking forward to having a ribbon cutting.

Where we could say, come on, and it's not last minute and hurry.

This work is absolutely just beginning.

I know that just because we now have the money in the bank, it's not all smooth sailing.

But I know with the team behind me, they've all demonstrated they're willing to answer the call, be involved, be supportive, either quietly or publicly, whatever is needed to get the job done.

And that's huge.

That is absolutely huge.

It is my absolute honor to lead Annapolis's efforts through this.

And again, I thank all of the partners involved in this work.

I'm so excited to help deliver the City Doc project for all of us.

And with that, I want to introduce my friends and our county executive, Stuart Pittman.

Well, first, just congratulations to everybody.

I'm not gonna go through everybody and do all the same thanks all over again, but congratulations to all of us.

We should be having a huge party right now.

Uh maybe this is maybe we will later.

Um I had a meeting on my schedule today that got canceled.

My scheduler told me.

Um, the mayor's office canceled our meeting on Friday, didn't say why.

And then I got a text message.

Not the SOS one, got that too, but I got the good text message from Mayor Littman.

And um the joy.

I mean, the ability to sleep.

That meeting was about we're in the middle of our budget process.

We're in the middle of our capital budget process.

We managed to squeeze two million out last year, you know, with the help of um Councilwoman Rodby and uh for this district for particularly the welcome center as part of this project to get it over the finish line, but not having the FEMA money would have meant that the project would have been scaled back.

Um, the mayor had all kinds of contingency plans, and his contingency plans included more money from the county, I think.

Um so it was a big relief to have that meeting canceled.

Um, I want to I want to I want to particularly thank our our delegation, um, Congresswoman Alfred, our senators, and every the whole team.

Um, but I think I think in this time we don't we've almost lost faith that we have a partner in the federal government, and particularly in FEMA.

It has been so frustrating and sad and terrifying in some cases to have FEMA no longer a partner.

And and um, but these folks didn't give up.

These folks continued to work relationships that they had, relationships in places we don't even want to know who they talked to to get this thing across the finish line.

Um, but but thank you.

Just thank you for not giving up in a time where we all just want to fight, fight, fight.

Sometimes we also have to get in there and negotiate and and manage to get some wins.

And for the for the public, for the residents of Anorondo County who are so looking forward to coming into Annapolis and seeing this beautiful, beautiful public space.

It's gonna be like a park for the whole county, which is why I'm open, I've been open to investments in it, is with county dollars.

Um it is it is just like a little bit of sunshine.

We haven't had sun all week.

Um, but it's a little bit of sunshine and a dark time, and that in fact, government can work and things can get done.

So just thank you, and and let's celebrate.

This is a wonderful, wonderful day.

Congratulations.

And I also want to acknowledge um the former mayor, um, Gavin Buckley for the work that he did um to get us to this point.

You know, his name would have been Mud if if FEMA money hadn't showed up, right?

I mean, you gotta blame somebody, but now his name is not Mud, it's back to Gavin Buckley, and we can all celebrate.

Next, we're gonna hear from the great Maryland secretary of emergency management, Secretary Strickland.

Great.

Thank you.

Thank you very, very much.

Uh, this is a celebration.

I really I like that term.

Um, I first like to thank Governor Moore and Maryland's congressional delegation for your unwavering support of this critical project.

Uh, I'd also like to recognize the city of Annapolis for their leadership and persistent advocacy to see funding awarded, and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management Hazard Mitigation Team who adeptly shepherding this project through many stages of approval.

Now I'm gonna go off script for a second because there were two words that were mentioned here today resilience and modeling and emergency management's responsibilities, although many times at the back end of the crowd, just kind of watching and making sure everybody's safe, but it's before during and after a disaster that we're involved.

This is before, and before is mitigation, and mitigation is the center of the universe.

We're really, really good at response and immediate recovery, but mitigation is that which will improve for all the businesses in the area, and will make a difference of almost a dollar invested, a six dollar return when it comes time for recovery.

So I think that is so so important, and I appreciate the words that folks have used.

So the mission of Maryland Department of Emergency Management is to proactively reduce these disaster risk and reliably manage consequences through collaborative work with Maryland's communities and partners.

In Maryland, emergency management is a system of systems.

We cannot do it alone.

We are the counties and the local jurisdictions, coupled with the state, working with our state agencies and partners, and with our private sector partners.

We cannot do it alone.

No one can, and it's only through that system of systems that we do it.

The Annapolis City uh dock hazard mitigation project is an excellent example of this type of work of everyone coming together.

So the investment today comes a result of years of partnership and collaboration with the residents, business owners, and governments at every level.

And I have to say, we've been talking about it started in 2019.

I started in state emergency management in 2004.

This was a discussion then, it was a discussion of flooding back into the 1700s for Ellicott City, and when it comes time for a model, this will not only be a model, but there's another really, really good model in Frederick City that started with Agnes.

And it took 20 years to build, and about three or four years ago, there was a flooding event, and it worked.

It worked.

So we know that this funding will bring a significant return on investment for every dollar invested, as I mentioned, we'll save six in re disaster recovery.

And while the dollars matter, what really matters is our community and our survivors.

That's where our focus is.

So the hazard mitigation efforts on this scale mean more days that residents and visit visitors can enjoy Maryland state Capitol and the beautiful waterfront.

More days that local businesses have to grow and thrive, and fewer days spent mucking out livelihoods and homes.

We're wondering if the next storm or king tide will be worse than the last one.

So this proof is this project is proof that together we can do things which shape a more resilient Maryland where communities thrive and where no one is left behind.

So from the emergency management community to all of you, one congratulations.

Two, thank you.

And number three, we're not leaving.

We are not leaving until it's done, and we'll be here for another twenty years to make sure it works so we can write that down.

Thank you, Mr.

Secretary.

Uh, thank you, Team Maryland.

Um, before we take questions, I do want to acknowledge a few other folks, and Sarah mentioned um my former partner and colleague Ben Cardin.

He was also tenacious about this project, and we worked very closely together, and just like Congresswoman Alfred picked up the baton from John Sarbane's uh in the house.

Um, Angela Alster Brooks is helped pick up that baton in the United States Senate.

So I just want to thank her.

She could not be here.

So let's give them both a round of applause.

So we're happy to answer any questions.

And if not, we do have a check.

Any questions, can you respond to the letter that you sent to the Trump administration regarding the legion element?

Um, sorry, I couldn't.

Can you respond to the um the letter you sent to the Trump administration relative to the legionella?

Oh, can we talk to you after about?

I'm happy to do one-on-one or what yeah.

Yeah, thank you.

Any other questions?

Okay.

Time for the real thing.

All right.

Shall we uh all mention one other person I got?

Yes, of course.

I also want to call out Lieutenant uh General Superintendent of the Naval Academy, uh Mike Borg Shulte, uh, who was incredibly helpful and just want to acknowledge his thanks.

His efforts as well.

Why don't you get in the middle here?

We are here in Netflix Day celebrating the boy who hunted the way, a guy who overcame efforts, a young brown board bomb project.

And I'm celebrating for not just me from the other situation for many others that have came out of situations of adversity.

This is where it all started.

This is where I used to work.

Maybe ten years ago.

This was my station.

Teach me how to see it.

You better be the work on that all of the others as well.

Being raised in with the culture of women of hairdressers that I was had that I looked up to growing, I I was heavily equipped.

I used to sit in hair salons and watch the ladies work, and I really learned a lot about being a hairstylist with my mentors in front of me.

I mean, I have clients like Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Kelly Rowland, Yari Shidi.

I like grammars here.

I like confidence.

I like how it's been slept on and lived in and ruffled up.

I told myself that I could dream, and I told myself that I could in a situation where I was, I wasn't supposed to.

And so me standing here today is a huge honor because when I started my journey, I had no idea that this could be.

Hey, get out of there.

Looks like I have to do proper trash placement and training again.

If you put your trash down, please place it into a bag.

And tie the bag up and place it to a watertight receptacle with your address placed on it so they can be seen from the street that ended your property for proper road collection.

As a matter of fact, this recycle is done all wrong also.

If you decide to place your recycling in a bag, please bring your bag to the receptacle and take all items out of the bag and place them into the can.

And make sure the lid is closed, please.

Let's bring back in the trash monster so I can show you things that are not recyclable.

See it's 40% non-recyclable right now.

This is not recyclable.

This is not recyclable.

The metal utensils are not recycled.

Please be mindful of your trash and recycled placement to avoid fines.

I was going to limp out.

Them geese.

They're flying high.

Through this crystal shimmer of that October sky.

Just like them, I'm flying away down the muddy waters of the Chesapeake Bay.

So come on, Captain, raise that mane.

Can't wait to get back again to Annapolis on the bay.

I can see the domes and spires of my little town rise from the horizon like the jewels on the crown in Annapolis on the bay.

So meet me at the city dock and give us a hug.

We will shuffle off the Middletons and have some fun.

I'll shove the oysters if you make the stew.

So come on, Captain, don't baby way.

I can't wait to be out there with you.

The atmosphere is electric.

And just when you thought it couldn't get any better, this year we're bringing in a women's team, so go blues, kill it this season.

Hello, I'm Ken White with the Annapolis Fire Department.

This week's theme for Fire Prevention Week is surf with saf Up Safety in the Kitchen.

So this holiday season, here's some tips from the Annapolis Fire Department that can help you serve up safety in the kitchen.

Tip one, when frying, boiling, or simmering, stay in the kitchen.

Never leave the home and always use a timer.

Tip two, if a grease fire starts, never try to extinguish with water.

Use a lid to cover over the pot, turn the burner off, and wait till the pan cools down.

Tip three, always keep your cleaning and cooking surfaces free of any clutter.

And tip four, remember to always keep a three-foot distance around the cooking area, a three-feet kid zone, as I like to call it.

And remember, if you're unable to control the fire, get out of your house and dial 911 immediately.

And never forget every month to test your smoke alarms, have an escape plan and practice your escape plan.

Unattended cooking is a leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries.

For more information on tips on how you can serve up safety in the kitchen, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.

Stay safe, Annapolis.

Hey Annapolis, it's go time.

On demand transit that takes you where you want to go.

It's fast, it's easy, and it's an affordable way to get around Annapolis.

Going to the doctor, it's go time.

Going shopping, it's go time.

Exploring Annapolis, it's go time.

It's easy to schedule your ride.

Use the app or call transportation dispatch at 410-263-7964.

Set your pickup and your destination, and we'll be right there.

Simply track the bus on the app so you'll know exactly when we'll be there to pick you up.

Pay once you're on the bus.

Just $2 per ride and only one dollar for seniors.

Or you can use your daily, weekly, monthly, or annual bus pass.

Getting around Annapolis is easy with Annapolis Go Time.

On demand transit.

See you on board.

Hello, I'm Ken White with the Annapolis Fire Department.

This week's theme for fire prevention week is serve up safety in the kitchen.

So this holiday season, here's some tips from the Annapolis Fire Department that can help you serve up safety in the kitchen.

Tip one, when frying, boiling, or simmering, stay in the kitchen, never leave the home, and always use a timer.

Tip two, if a grease fire starts, never try to extinguish with water.

Use a lid to cover over the pot, turn the burner off, and wait till the pan cools down.

Tip three, always keep your cleaning and cooking surfaces free of any clutter.

And tip four, remember to always keep a three-foot distance around the cooking area, a three-feet kid zone, as I like to call it.

And remember, if you're unable to control the fire, get out of your house and dial 911 immediately.

And never forget every month to test your smoke alarms, have an escape plan and practice your escape plan.

Unattended cooking is a leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries.

For more information on tips on how you can serve up safety in the kitchen, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.

Stay safe, Annapolis.

There's a little place across Spa Creek.

You get there when you shuffle down Compromise Street, cross the bridge or paddle through the harbor, it's the opposite side of Annapolis proper.

And when you get there, you leave your worries behind and get that laid back feeling that only you find an Eastport on the bay.

You go to work all summer long in deck shoes and shorts.

And if you want a millionaire's elbow to rub, he's got the shabbiest deck shoes down at Marbaduke's pub.

Or go around the corner to Leon's barber shop and have the mayor himself take a little off the top in Eastport on the bay.

So let me get across, Mr.

Breedender, and leave it up for good for all that I care.

So come on over, leave your worries behind and get that laid back feeling that only you'll find an Eastport on the bay.

We are here on Annapolis today celebrating the boy who harnessed the wind.

A guy who overcame adversity.

And I'm celebrating for not just me for many others that have came out of situations of adversity.

This is where it all started.

This is where I used to work.

Maybe ten years ago.

Teach me how to scale.

I was heavily equipped.

I used to sit in hair salons and watch the ladies work, and I really learned a lot about being a hairstylist with my mentors in front of me.

I mean, I have clients like Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Kelly Rowland, Yari Shakidi.

I like glamorous hair.

I like how that's been slept on and lived in and ruffled up.

I told myself that I could dream, and I told myself that I could in a situation where I was I wasn't supposed to.

And so me standing here today is a huge honor because when I started my journey, I had no idea that this could be, but I kept going and I kept doing.

Hear them keys.

They're flying high through this crystal shimmer of that October sky.

Just like them, I'm flying away down the muddy waters of the Chesapeake Bay.

So come on, Captain, raise that mane.

Can't wait to get back again to Annapolis on the bay.

I can see the domes and spires of my little town rise from the horizon like the jewels on a crown in Annapolis on the bay.

So meet me at the city dock and give us a hug and we'll shuffle off to Middletons and have some fun.

Crab pot steaming, we can pick us a few.

As a matter of fact, this recycle's done all wrong also.

If you decide to place your recycling in a bag, please bring your bag to the receptacle and take all items out of the bag and place them into the can.

Well, welcome everybody.

We're gathered here in a great American city, the great city of Annapolis, the sailing capital of the world, an historic city where George Washington resigned his military commission, symbolizing the transfer and peaceful transfer of power and making it clear that in America we have no kings, a city that's not afraid to tell all of its past, including its role in the slave trade.

In Annapolis, people learn from our past.

They don't try to whitewash and hide their past.

A city that is the home, the proud home of the Naval Academy, a city where millions of people from all over the world come every year, but also a city that because of climate change has really been hurt by the flooding hitting these small businesses, impacting tourism, impacting the boat show, and so that's why we're gathered here today to address that problem.

And we have great news for a great American city, great news for the great city of Annapolis, which is after many years, FEMA has released the $35 million in funds.

$35 million in funds.

That includes the $33 million that was part of the original City of Annapolis grants and an additional $2.5 million to help with related upgrades for stormwater management.

And this has been the result of work of Team Maryland.

And you're going to hear from so many people who were part of that effort, but there were also many more who are represented here today that you won't hear from, but who you see here and others who could not join us today.

Including somebody who could not join us today, Mayor Buckley, the former mayor of Annapolis.

And it was his vision that really set this project in motion.

And I heard from him last night.

He said he couldn't be here.

I think he's taking one of his kids to college, but he was just thrilled, of course, uh, that we were able to secure these funds.

And to the new mayor, Mayor Lippmann and to the council, city council here in Annapolis.

Thank you.

Thank you for carrying on that vision with absolute perseverance.

Coincidentally.

And it was an SOS message.

And it began: I am writing because we are at a critical point in the city dock project.

And he went on to outline the huge challenges they would face if the FEMA funds didn't come through.

He also was putting together contingency plans because he understood the importance of this project, and he said in that text message if we don't get started and try to keep this on time, we're gonna see some of these businesses close.

So thank you, Mayor Littman, for moving with that urgency, and that lit another fire under all of us who are members of the Maryland federal delegation.

And I can say that in the Senate, we immediately renewed our push, which has been ongoing, and directly contacted DHS and FEMA and said, we really need you to release these funds, and we need it yesterday.

And we got the appropriations committee in the Senate involved, and not surprisingly, there are other members in the House and the Senate who've also had projects held up by FEMA.

And so there was a growing backlog, but also growing frustration at what was happening with backlogs for projects all over the country, and so all of that pressure built and the dam broke.

And the good news is Christy Nome is out, and the funding for the Annapolis dock is in.

And let me just thank other members of the federal delegation who are part of it.

Because the city, we we took our lead from the city from their vision.

But we have with us today John Sarbanes.

Congressman John Sarbanes, who was absolutely tenacious, absolutely tenacious when it came to making sure that the city of Annapolis had what it needed and was constantly pushing and pushing.

And of course, former state senator and now Congresswoman, Representative Alfred, she's been pushing really hard.

And thank you to other members of the District 30 delegation and everybody who's been involved in this effort over years.

Uh to Stuart Pittman, your county executive.

You've been just an amazing partner.

And all of us know the resources need to come from the city, they need to come from the county, they need to come from the state.

And yes, this critical piece needed to come from the federal government.

And so I'm also pleased that we're here, and with the continuing support from the governor and the governor's team, uh, you're going to hear from our secretary of the department of emergency management, Russ Strickland.

But thank you for what you're doing in this project, but also the other emergency projects around the state and FEMA.

So, as you can see, this is really uh a team Maryland Day.

And this wouldn't have happened without everybody gathered here and many more people, and never giving up.

This is an example of perseverance and persistence at work, and that requires everybody pushing from their own angle and their own point of leverage.

So without further ado, let me now turn it over to somebody who's been pushing really hard for this, first in the Maryland legislature and hit the ground running in the United States Congress, Sarah Alfred.

Well, thank you to Senator Van Holland for being Team Maryland's quarterback in the federal delegation, but also as you see behind me, the epitome of Team Maryland when we say it's not just the federal delegation, it starts with our local partners, our county partners, our state partners, and of course uh the federal team.

Y'all, this is a day that I gotta tell you, um, I try to be an optimist in this work.

I think you have to be.

I wasn't sure this day was gonna happen, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, first of all, this is my umpteenth City Doc press conference.

I think we've all been here many many times to announce really great news to announce state funding, eighteen and a half million in state funding to announce uh almost ten million dollars in federal earmarks to announce the resilience authority to to mark uh Congressman Sarbanes.

We were here uh sorry, there's too many tall people behind me.

Uh we were here during one of the biggest floods, I think the fourth biggest flood on record standing right here surveying the urgency of now, and that's that's where I wanted to start.

Um, rising seas aren't going to wait for bureaucracy.

I think we see that every single day.

And as the senator said, this is more than just a climate adaption project, it has real implications for Annapolis's past, present, and future.

Obviously, the historical impacts of this project, what we are preserving as the former United States Capitol, uh, really important uh year that we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of this nation.

But we also recognize the more challenging and difficult pieces of our history that we need to honor and respect and share and tell.

The fact that where we are standing is a UNESCO site of remembrance because it was a site of the transatlantic slave trade.

We also have a deep obligation to tell the stories in the city, not just of the men who signed the declaration of independence, but also the folks who worked the water, the immigrants, the families who lived right here and made Annapolis what it is today.

Obviously, this moment is important because we have to preserve this city dock for our economy as well.

All of the small businesses you see around here, every time there is a major flood, we are all on the phone checking in, making sure they have what they need, making sure we're corralling the state resources and local resources to get them what they need.

Obviously, this is important for the present because of our United States Naval Academy, and and rising seas do not respect what is city land versus what is federal land, and so what happens here very much impacts what happens there.

And of course, to the Alderman from Eastport, you know better than anybody, when the rising seas cut off compromise street, that is a real emergency management challenge for the people of Eastport.

Obviously, the moment of now as we address climate change across this country is so real and it can sometimes feel overburdened.

We we feel overburdened, it's just such a large problem.

Where can we even start?

Obviously, this started almost a decade ago with a vision from Mayor Buckley and the city council and the staff at the city who knew that this was not a nice to have, this was a must-have, not just then, but knowing that the seas will continue to rise each and every year.

Um it's often said that success has a thousand fathers.

I'd like to also believe there's a few mothers tucked in there as well.

Obviously to Mayor Buckley for his vision, the city council for their dedication, the staff.

I also want to thank the hundreds of Annapolis citizens who participated in I don't know how many charreds you all had to make sure almost 300 opportunities for the public to weigh in here.

That's so important in this moment to county executive Pittman who has just been a champion and making sure that we are all staying on task and on target.

I so appreciate you.

The state delegation, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the state funding started under former speaker Mike Bush.

He had the vision, he knew and he wanted to respond with state dollars being the capital city.

Um and he started the trend that I was had the privilege of picking up.

I know Delegate Jones, Delegate Baylor, Senator Henson, make sure we in every single budget make sure we are delivering for this project to the federal delegation.

I'm so grateful that Congressman Sarbanes is here.

I also called Senator Van Carden um the other day to share the good news.

There's not a lot of good days of good news in this job.

Senator Van Holland, you didn't tell me that when I first ran.

But he was thrilled and he wished he could be here today.

I want to give him thanks and credit as well.

Um it's been said that that Mayor Littman um has taken this project and been so thoughtful and so strategic as we met this critical moment.

And I too received that SOS text message in February.

Um, being on the armed services committee, the Naval Abor Naval Academy Board along with uh Senator Van Holland.

He asked, can we involve the Navy?

And so uh that was my role to play in this orchestra of support that we all lent here is to call the Pentagon to call the Navy and remind them that the rising seas will also impact the readiness of our United States Naval Academy.

And they made a call as well.

There were so many calls that were made in the month, Mr.

Mayor, since you sent that text message.

And I always want to thank you for your vision and your commitment.

We're gonna hear in a minute from uh Secretary Strickland from MDEM, who has also been just a champion of this throughout multiple administrations.

I want to thank you for your support.

You're also on our call sheet any time we get a major flood, so I want to thank you and your team for that.

Um, and without further ado, I want to thank my predecessor who um has has been dedicated and focused to this work uh for his 18 years serving in the United States Congress.

I'm so grateful to be able to call him and turn to him for advice more often than I thought I would uh in this Congress, but I'm so grateful to my friend, um Congressman John Sarvanes.

Thanks very much.

This is a great day.

I'm gonna be brief.

I promise, you know.

If you let a former member of Congress up to a podium, they could go forever.

Um but uh first of all, let me salute Team Maryland, uh Senator Van Holland, Congresswoman Sarah Elfith, representative of the third district of Maryland.

I love saying that.

Um to Jared, uh to Stewart, to everybody who's been part of this.

I also want to give a shout out to to Gavin Buckley.

Um I got a lot of SOSs from Gavin over the years.

Um, so I've got a whole tech string there.

But thank you, Jared, for kind of picking up the ball and and carrying it.

It means so much to Annapolis, it means so much uh to Ann Arnold County to the state.

This is an example of people coming together in a very, very powerful way.

This was a Rubik's Cube from the beginning.

I mean, it had so many different and continues to have so many different interlocking parts that require special attention.

Um so getting these resources finally over the finish line is just it's it's a huge win.

And it demonstrates, I think, and and you mentioned this here a moment ago, um, the resilience of the people of Annapolis.

I mean, stepping up, how to conceptualize this, what would it mean to execute it, putting all the phases together that you're now gonna see kind of rolling out over time.

That was a huge accomplishment.

And then the last thing I want to say is this kind of a project, this kind of a resilience project, in the context of what we know are going to continue to be uh increasing challenges coming at us in terms of climate change and weather disruption and so forth, is going to be a model for how you do these things around the country.

And Annapolis has always been a leader, it's always been a model.

It's always kind of uh taken the lead nationally on innovative creative approaches.

This is another example of that.

Um it's gonna be a tough slog through the execution, uh, but I know when it's going to be successful.

So congratulations to the people of Annapolis, to Team Maryland, to everybody who got us to this point, is going to keep moving it forward.

And obviously, very much at the reins for this process going forward is going to be uh Mayor Littman.

I want to thank him for all his great work and bring him up.

Thanks.

That's all right.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Thank you.

My name is Mayor Jared Littman, and on behalf of the City Council members and I, it is our great honor and pleasure to thank and receive the $33 million plus the two and a half million dollars for FEMA.

And I just I am so relieved, frankly.

I know uh your my sleep isn't everyone's concern, but I've been sleeping a lot better the past couple nights, uh, knowing that this money was uh is coming.

And this is the obviously the evolution of work from so many individuals, and they've been mentioned, but I just want to point out how our city staff continue to slog away at the financial, the technical, the environmental reviews, meeting every deadline, answering questions from FEMA.

It was a long process, and it seemed to evolve, and they stepped up and they've met all the uh burdens and and requests.

And their dedication has absolutely ensured our success.

To go over the funding of this huge engineering and infrastructure project, we have 24 million dollars from the concession agreement related to the building of uh Hillman Garage, 10 million dollars from the state of Maryland, and I I see uh our delegate uh uh delegate Jones, delegate Baylor, and our state Senator uh Henson being represented here, 4.8 million dollars in congressional earmarks, although not called earmarks anymore, two million dollars from the county, and today's 33 billion plus the two and a half million from FEMA, plus the city's bond money to ensure that we now have all the funding in place to see this project through.

Right.

That was amazing.

This is a major investment in protecting our historic waterfront, local businesses, and ensuring that our residents can continue to enjoy this wonderful area that we all love for generations and generations to come.

This is an investment in the future of Annapolis.

I want to acknowledge we have a lot of partners, and I recognize the city is the small player here, and so we have a lot of people I want to thank.

I first want to call out the current and former city council members who stood by former uh Mayor Buckley and I throughout this process.

They all received lots of phone calls of if this then this, and the council, it was unanimous in supporting our efforts to move forward.

Of course, our thank you, council members.

Of course, I want to thank our federal delegation, Senator Van Holland, uh, Senator Alsa Brooks who couldn't be here today, Representative Elfrith, and of course, Representative uh Sarbans, who's always been a good friend.

Thank you all so much for your support.

Our governor and his team have been hugely instrumental as well.

So I thank Governor Moore and MDEM Secretary Strickland for your support.

The number of phone calls and conferences strategizing all along.

And of course, again, I want to call out our our state delegation, Senator Henson, delegates Jones and Baylor.

I think Delegate Jones gets the award for latest phone call on this matter on a Friday night in particular, too.

So thank you for being available.

Um County Executive Pittman, you've always stood be uh behind and helped strategize, and I know that I can count on you as well.

Thank you so much.

Mayor Buckley, I know had this vision, and now the hard work of going from vision to turning into reality, but that doesn't get started without the initial vision.

So I thank you, Mayor Buckley.

Couple individuals that don't get a lot of limelight, I want to call out.

City Manager Buckland, I want to thank you.

Project Manager Eileen Fogerty seeing this through.

Director in Chief Kevin Simmons and David Mendel from Office of Emergency Management.

And Public Works Director Burr Vogel.

Someone who never calls out for attention, but is a friend and a leader and this whole project, Matt Fleming and the Resilience Authority.

Thank you for your participation.

He's one of those guys that when we strategize of who needs to do what, he's like, I got it.

I got it.

I got it.

Thank you, Matt.

Appreciate you.

Looking ahead, I want to call out all the individuals who are involved.

We all got involved in public service because we wanted to do good for the community.

We are doing our best to serve the public.

And as uh Congresswoman Elfrith mentioned, there are some tough days where when our efforts to do good are not necessarily treated as such.

I just want to let all of us take have all of us take a moment to appreciate the enormity of today's milestone.

This is the this is the result of your hard work, your focus on serving your constituents and seeing the big picture of what can be done when we join together.

And so I just want you all to pat yourselves on the back, pat each other on the back, take a moment to appreciate this.

I know that there have been a lot of press conferences.

I am so looking forward to having a ribbon cutting where we could say, come on, and it's not last minute and hurried.

This work is absolutely just beginning.

I know that just because we now have the money in the bank, it's not all smooth sailing.

But I know with the team behind me, they've all demonstrated they're willing to answer the call, be involved, be supportive, either quietly or publicly, whatever is needed to get the job done, and that's huge.

That is absolutely huge.

It is my absolute honor to lead Annapolis's efforts through this, and again, I thank all of the partners involved in this work.

I'm so excited to help deliver the City Doc project for all of us.

And with that, I want to introduce my friends and our county executive, Stuart Pittman.

Well, first, just congratulations to everybody.

I'm not gonna go through everybody and do all the same things all over again, but congratulations to all of us.

We should be having a huge party right now.

Uh, maybe this is uh maybe we will later.

Um I had a meeting on my schedule today that got canceled.

My scheduler told me the mayor's office canceled our meeting on Friday, didn't say why.

And then I got a text message.

Not the SOS one, got that too, but I got the good text message from Mayor Littman, and um the joy.

I mean, the ability to sleep.

Um that meeting was about we're in the middle of our budget process.

We're in the middle of our capital budget process.

We managed to squeeze two million out last year, you know, with the help of um Councilwoman Rodby and uh for this district for particularly the Welcome Welcome Center as part of this project to get it over the finish line, but not having the Fienma money would have meant that the project would have been scaled back.

Um the mayor had all kinds of contingency plans, and his contingency plans included more money from the county, I think.

Um so it was a big relief to have that meeting canceled.

Um, I want to I wanna I want to particularly thank our our delegation, um, Congresswoman Alfred, our senators, and every the the whole team.

Um but I think I think in this time we don't we've almost lost faith that we have a partner in the federal government and particularly in FEMA.

It has been so so frustrating and sad and terrifying in some cases to have FEMA no longer a partner.

And and um, but these folks didn't give up.

These folks continued to work relationships that they had, relationships in places we don't even want to know who they talked to to get this thing across the finish line.

Um but thank you.

Just thank you for not giving up in a time where we all just want to fight, fight, fight.

Sometimes we also have to get in there and negotiate and and manage to get some wins.

And for the for the public, for the residents of Anorondo County who are so looking forward to coming into Annapolis and seeing this beautiful, beautiful public space.

It's gonna be like a park for the whole county, which is why I'm open, I've been open to investments in it is with county dollars.

Um it is it is just like a little bit of sunshine.

We haven't had sun all week.

Um, but it's a little bit of sunshine and a dark time, and that in fact government can work and things can get done.

So just thank you, and and let's celebrate.

This is a wonderful, wonderful day.

Congratulations.

And I also want to acknowledge um the former mayor um Gavin Buckley for the work that he did um to get us to this point.

You know, his name would have been Mud if if if FEMA money hadn't showed up, right?

I mean, you gotta blame somebody, but now his name is not Mud, it's back to Gavin Buckley, and we can all celebrate.

Next, we're gonna hear from the great Maryland secretary of emergency management, Secretary Strickland.

Great.

Thank you.

Thank you very, very much.

Uh this is a celebration.

I really I like that term.

Um, I'd first like to thank Governor Moore and Maryland's congressional delegation for your unwavering support of this critical project.

Uh, I'd also like to recognize the city of Annapolis for their leadership and persistent advocacy to see funding awarded, and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management Hazard Mitigation Team who adeptly shepherding this project through many stages of approval.

Now, I'm gonna go off script for a second because there were two words that were mentioned here today resilience and modeling and emergency management's responsibilities, although many times at the back end of the crowd, just kind of watching and making sure everybody's safe, but it's before during and after a disaster that we're involved.

This is before, and before is mitigation, and mitigation is the center of the universe.

We're really, really good at response and immediate recovery, but mitigation is that which will improve for all the businesses in the area, and will make a difference of almost a dollar invested, a six-dollar return when it comes time for recovery.

So I think that is so so important, and I appreciate the words that folks have used.

So the mission of Maryland Department of Emergency Management is to proactively reduce these disaster risk and reliably manage consequences through collaborative work with Maryland's communities and partners.

In Maryland, emergency management is a system of systems.

We cannot do it alone.

We are the counties and the local jurisdictions coupled with the state, working with our state agencies and partners, and with our private sector partners.

We cannot do it alone.

No one can, and it's only through that system of systems that we do it.

The Annapolis City uh dock hazard mitigation project is an excellent example of this type of work of everyone coming together.

So the investment today comes a result of years of partnership and collaboration with the residents, business owners, and governments at every level.

And I have to say, we've been talking about it started in 2019.

I started in state emergency management in 2004.

This was a discussion then.

It was a discussion of flooding back into the 1700s for Ellicate City, and when it comes time for a model, this will not only be a model, but there's another really, really good model in Frederick City that started with Agnes.

And it took 20 years to build, and about three or four years ago, there was a flooding event, and it worked.

It worked.

So we know that this funding will bring a significant return on investment for every dollar invested, as I mentioned.

We'll save six in re disaster recovery.

And while the dollars matter, what really matters is our community and our survivors.

That's where our focus is.

So the hazard mitigation efforts on this scale mean more days that residents and visit visitors can enjoy Maryland's state Capital and the beautiful waterfront.

More days that local businesses have to grow and thrive, and fewer days spent mucking out livelihoods and homes, or wondering if the next storm or king tide will be worse than the last one.

So this proof is this project is proof that together we can do things which shape a more resilient Maryland where communities thrive and where no one is left behind.

So from the emergency management community to all of you, one, congratulations.

Two, thank you.

And number three, we're not leaving.

Thank you, Mr.

Secretary.

I do want to acknowledge a few other folks, and Sarah mentioned my former partner and colleague, Ben Cardin.

He was also tenacious about this project.

So we're happy to answer any questions.

Oh, can we talk to you after about?

I'm happy to do one on one or whatever.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Okay.

Time for the real thing.

Shall we uh mention one other person I forgot to?

Yes, of course.

I also want to call out Lieutenant General Superintendent of the Naval Academy, uh, Mike Bork Shulte.

Who was incredibly helpful and just want to acknowledge his things and his efforts as well.

What do you get in the middle here?

Hello, so the Captain Zapata del Court of Bomberos aqui de la City of Napoli.

I'm planning scap and practice.

It's me, Gavin Buckley here, and we are about to start the blues soccer season at the end of this month.

Before there was Woodstock It was Cars Beach.

All those legends.

We talk about James Brown.

Stevie Wonder.

Jimmy Hendrix.

This was a place where 70,000.

We come from New York from the Carolinas to Annapolis.

You know, we talk about our history a lot in Annapolis, but we only talk about one history.

And this amazing piece of history that happened for three decades, is gonna be here for the next generation to learn about.

We need to pay homage to our history and our ancestors.

You know, this is bringing home back to us.

You remember the carousel, you remember the fan stand.

So this is bringing that dream to a reality.

And it's a beautiful thing that what you're seeing today is I say is a Michael Cause.

What we see at Cars Beach is a perfect example of that.

It's the state, it's the citizens that all come together, it's very much a team effort.

Tonight, tonight, tonight.

And that tonight goes on perpetually.

Keep celebrating tomorrow and the next day.

Keep encouraging one another.

Don't stop, just keep going.

And if you see my love, tell him that I'm sorry.

I will do anything to get him back into my eye.

You know this, come on.

When Chuck Murray came to town or James Brown came to town, there was so much parking that you only had to call it.

We saw people that got tired of waiting in traffic and they'd get out and walk and run because all the big stars came here.

And people would sneak in some type of way just to come and see the, you know, different um entertainment.

We didn't have to go anywhere to see James Brown, Edward Graham.

All the big name stars came right here in our back door.

It was just a joy for time.

It was for me, for me and a lot of other blacks, it was it was just a joyful time.

When we when we got up from work sometime, we went to Carl's Beach.

You know, but Carl's Beach is uh wow.

It was a center of traction for everybody, especially blacks.

It was a central attraction.

When the community was was the segregated, it's the only place that really Afro America's coming and have a day of fun.

Ever since my first visit here, I can remember uh the people dancing on the concrete pavilion with the in the sand uh on this uh on the on the pavilion in those leather soles made of distinct grinding sound, but it was a rhythmic sound that uh that is still with me now.

I am tickled today to be sitting here and hearing music and looking out in the bay.

Uh it brings back a lot of memories.

They had Rise, Birds Wheels, uh Merkle Round, the cotton candy.

They made a big dance hall where we see Hob Alons on the bands, saying, and it would be it would be broadcast live.

Tonight, tonight, tonight, we're happy Adams, and people came from all over, come down calls and spirals beef, and we came for the Cause Brown Beach reunion, and this is a great reunion.

This is where it all started from the grounds.

And I I don't know, it's just heavenly to be here today.

It's it's awesome, and I'm just so delighted to be here to see this.

Will you stop your fingers and wick your eye?

I come running to you.

Running to you, April Springs, there ain't nothing that I can do.

Will you call my name?

It was such a beautiful thing.

It it was it was a place where you had a beautiful time.

Like I say, Cogs Beach live forever, and it's in our hearts and we'll live in our hearts forever.

I said sugar park.

Hi, I'm Megan.

I'm here at City Hall to talk to you about the Golden Pass.

If you're 55 and older, the Golden Pass is a great opportunity for you.

For just $20 a month, you can park for up to two hours a day on Maryland Avenue, Main Street, or the Mills Home and Garage without using a promo code, the pay machine, or even an app.

Just park and walk away all week this week, May 11th through the 15th, from 9 a.m.

to 12 p.m.

I'm here if you have any questions.

You want to sign up in person, or if you just need a hand, stop by park at the mills home and garage, we'll validate your parking, and we'll connect in person.

Thanks.

And we are about to start the blues soccer season at the end of this month.

I can't wait to be out there with you.

The atmosphere is electric.

And just when you thought it couldn't get any better, this year we're bringing in a women's team, so go blues, kill it this season.

Before there was witch stock, it was cars beach.

We talk about James Brown, Stevie Wonder.

Jimmy Hendrix.

This is a place where 70,000.

We come from New York from the Carolinas to Annapolis.

You know, we talk about our history a lot in Annapolis, but we only talk about one history.

And this amazing piece of history that happened for three decades is gonna be here for the next generation to learn about a we need to pay homage to our history and our ancestors.

You know, this is bringing home back to us.

You remember the carousel.

You remember the fan stand.

So this is bringing that dream to a reality.

And it's a beautiful thing that what you see in the days that say is the mic because we see at Cars Beach is a perfect example of that.

It's the state, it's a citizens that all come together.

It's very much a team effort.

Bye.

Still being low.

Tonight, tonight, tonight, and that tonight goes on perpetually.

Keep celebrating tomorrow and the next day.

Keep encouraging one another.

Don't stop.

Just keep going.

And if you see my love, tell him that I'm sorry.

I will do anything to get him back into my eyes.

Hey Annapolis.

It's go time.

On-demand transit that takes you where you want to go.

It's fast, it's easy, and it's an affordable way to get around Annapolis.

Going to the doctor, it's go time.

Going shopping, it's go time.

Exploring Annapolis, it's go time.

It's easy to schedule your ride.

Use the app or call transportation dispatch at 410-263-7964.

Set your pickup and your destination, and we'll be right there.

Simply track the bus on the app.

So you'll know exactly when we'll be there to pick you up.

Pay once you are on the bus.

Just two dollars per ride and only one dollar for seniors.

Or you can use your daily, weekly, monthly, or annual bus pass.

Getting around Annapolis is easy with Annapolis Go time.

On-demand transit.

See you on board.

Hello, I'm Ken White with the Annapolis Fire Department.

This week's theme for fire prevention week is serve up safety in the kitchen.

So this holiday season, here's some tips from the Annapolis Fire Department that can help you serve up safety in the kitchen.

Tip one: when frying, boiling, or simmering, stay in the kitchen.

Never leave the home, and always use a timer.

Tip two: if a grease fire starts, never try to extinguish with water.

Use a lid to cover over the pot, turn the burner off, and wait till the pan cools down.

Tip three, always keep your cleaning and cooking surfaces free of any clutter.

And tip four, remember to always keep a three-foot distance around the cooking area, a three-feet kid zone, as I like to call it.

And remember, if you're unable to control the fire, get out of your house and dial 911 immediately.

And never forget every month to test your smoke alarms, have an escape plan and practice your escape plan.

Unattended cooking is a leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries.

For more information on tips on how you can serve up safety in the kitchen, visit WW.fire prevention week dot org.

Stay safe, Annapolis.

Hear them geese.

They're flying high through this crystal shimmer of that October sky.

Just like them, I'm flying away down the muddy waters of the Chesapeake Bay.

So come on, Captain, raise that mane.

Can't wait to get back again to Annapolis on the bay.

I can see the domes and spires of my little town rise from the horizon like the jewels on the crown in Annapolis on the bay.

So meet me at the city dock and give us a hug.

We will shuffle off to Middletons and have some fun.

Crab pots steaming.

We can pick us a few.

I'll shuck the oysters if you make the stew.

So come on, Captain, don't maybe wait.

It's no ill wind that blows us away to Annapolis on the bay.

So many stars at Cards Beach.

Call Beach.

There were.

You know, this.

Come on.

When Chuck Curry came to town or James Brown came to town.

There was so much parking that you only had.

We saw people that got tired of waiting in traffic and they get out and walk and run because all the big stars came here.

They would sneak in, you know, through some type of fence.

I don't know where this fence was, but you know, because it gets so crowded.

And people would sneak in some type of way just to come and see the you know different um entertainment.

We didn't have to go anywhere to see James Brown at a game.

All the big name stars came right here in our back door.

It was just a joyful time.

It was just for me, for me and a lot of other blacks, it was it was just some joyful time.

When we when we got up from work sometime, we went to Carl's Beach.

You know, but Carl's Beach is uh well, it was a center attraction for everybody, especially blacks.

It was a center of traction.

When the community was the segregated, it's the only place that really Afro America's coming and have a day of fun.

Ever since my first visit here, I can remember uh the people dancing on the on the concrete pavilion with the in the sand uh on this on the pavilion and those leather soles made of distinct grinding sound.

But it was a rhythmic sound that uh that is still whoop me down.

I am tickled today to be sitting here and hearing music and looking out in the bay.

Uh it brings back a lot of memories.

They had rides, first wheels, uh murder round the cotton candy.

They even had a big dance hall where we see hop atoms on the bands and saying, and it would be it would be broadcast live.

Tonight, tonight tonight, the happy atoms, and people came from all over, come down, cause the spiral to be.

And we came for the Cosbow's Beach Reunion, and this is a great reunion.

This is where it all started from.

The grounds.

And I I don't know, it's just heavenly to be here today.

It's it's awesome, and I'm just so delighted to be here to see this.

Will you snap your fingers and with your paper spring?

There ain't nothing that I can do.

Will you call my name?

It was such a beautiful thing.

It was it was a place where you had a beautiful time.

Like I say, Cogs Beach live forever, and it's in our hearts and then live in our hearts forever.

I said sugar park.

Hey, get out of here.

Looks like I have to do proper trash placement and training again.

If you put your trash out, please place it into a bag.

And tie the bag up and place it to a watertight receptacle with your address placed on it so they can be seen from the streets at the end of your property for proper road collection.

As a matter of fact, this recycle is done all wrong, also.

If you decide to place your recycling in a bag, please bring your bag to the receptacle and take all items out of the bag and place them into the can.

And make sure the lid is closed, please.

Let's bring back in the trash monster so I can show you things that are not recyclable.

See, it's 40% non-recyclable right now.

This is non-recyclable, this is non-recyclable.

The metal utensils are not recyclable.

Please be mindful of your trash and recycled placement to avoid fines.

There's a little place across Spa Creek.

You get there when you shuffle down Compromise Street, cross the bridge or paddle through the harbor.

It's the opposite side of Annapolis proper.

And when you get there, you leave your worries behind and get that laid back feeling that only you'll find in Eastport on the bay.

They're a laid back crew.

They're in old Eastport.

You go to work all summer long in deck shoes and shorts.

And if you want a millionaire's elbow to rub, he's got the shabbiest deck shoes down at Marbaduke's pub.

Or go around the corner to Leon's barber shop and have the mayor himself take a little off the top in Eastport on the bay.

So let me get across, Mr.

Bridgetender, and leave it up for good for all that I care.

The crab pot steaming, we can pick us a few.

I'll shut the oysters if you make us do.

Crab and Salem with characters galore.

It's a land of pleasant living surrounded by shore.

Yepies with puppies walking side by side, and things ain't a changing except for the tide.

So come on over, leave your worries behind and get that laid back feeling that only you'll find an Eastport on the bay.

Well, welcome everybody.

Uh, we're gathered here in a great American city, the great city of Annapolis, the sailing capital of the world, an historic city where George Washington resigned his military commission, symbolizing the transfer and peaceful transfer of power and making it clear that in America we have no kings, a city that's not afraid to tell all of its past, including its role in the slave trade.

In Annapolis, people learn from our past.

They don't try to whitewash and hide their past.

A city that is the home, the proud home of the Naval Academy, a city where millions of people from all over the world come every year, but also a city that, because of climate change, has really been hurt by the flooding, hitting these small businesses, impacting tourism, impacting the boat show, and so that's why we're gathered here today to address that problem.

And we have great news for a great American city, great news for the great city of Annapolis, which is after many years, FEMA has released the $35 million in funds.

Uh, to help with related upgrades for stormwater management.

And this has been the result of work of Team Maryland, and you're gonna hear from so many people who were part of that effort, but there were also many more who are represented here today that you won't hear from, but who you see here and others who could not join us today, including somebody who could not join us today, Mayor Buckley, the former mayor of Annapolis.

And it was his vision that really set this project in motion.

And I heard from him last night, he said he couldn't be here.

I think he's taking one of his kids to college, but he was just thrilled, of course, uh, that we were able to secure these funds.

And to the new mayor, Mayor Littman, and to the council, city council here at Annapolis.

Thank you.

Thank you for carrying on that vision with absolute perseverance.

Um, I was just telling the mayor that I have right here a text message uh that I received from him on Valentine's Day, coincidentally, and it was an SOS message.

And it began, I am writing because we are at a critical point in the city dock project.

And he went on to outline the huge challenges they would face if the FEMA funds didn't come through.

He also was putting together contingency plans because he understood the importance of this project, and he said in that text message: if we don't get started and try to keep this on time, we're gonna see some of these businesses close.

So thank you, Mayor Littman for moving with that urgency, and that lit another fire under all of us who are members of the Maryland federal delegation.

And I can say that in the Senate, we immediately renewed our push, which has been ongoing, and directly contacted DHS and FEMA, and said, we really need you to release these funds and we need it yesterday.

And we got the appropriations committee in the Senate involved, and not surprisingly, there are other members in the House and the Senate who've also had projects held up by FEMA.

And so there was a growing backlog, but also growing frustration at what was happening with backlogs for projects all over the country.

And so all of that pressure built and the dam broke.

And the good news is Christy Nome is out, and the funding for the Annapolis dock is in.

And let me just thank other members of the federal delegation who are part of it.

Because the city, we we took our lead from the city from their vision.

But we have with us today uh John Sarbanes, Congressman John Sarbanes, who was absolutely tenacious, absolutely tenacious when it came to making sure that the city of Annapolis had what it needed and was constantly pushing and pushing.

And of course, former state senator and now Congresswoman, Representative Elfrith, she's been pushing really hard.

And and thank you to other members of the District 30 delegation and everybody who's been involved in this effort over years.

Uh to Stuart Pittman, your county executive.

You've been just an amazing partner, amazing partner, and all of us know the resources need to come from the city, they need to come from the county, they need to come from the state, and yes, this critical piece needed to come from the federal government.

And so I'm also pleased that we're here.

Uh and with the continuing support from the governor and the governor's team, uh, you're going to hear from our secretary of the department of emergency management, Russ Strickland.

But thank you for what you're doing in this project, but also the other emergency projects around the state and FEMA.

So, as you can see, this is really uh a team Maryland day, and this wouldn't have happened without everybody gathered here and many more people, and never giving up.

This is an example of perseverance and persistence at work, and that requires everybody pushing from their own angle and their own point of leverage.

So, without further ado, let me now turn it over to somebody who's been pushing really hard for this, first in the Maryland legislature and hit the ground running in the United States Congress, Sarah Alfreth.

Thank you.

Well, thank you to Senator Van Holland for being Team Maryland's quarterback in the federal delegation, but also as you see behind me, the epitome of Team Maryland when we say it's not just the federal delegation, it starts with our local partners, our county partners, our state partners, and of course uh the federal team.

Y'all, this is a day that I I gotta tell you, I try to be an optimist in this work.

I think you have to be.

I wasn't sure this day was gonna happen, Mr.

Mayor.

Um, first of all, this is my umpteenth City Doc press conference.

I think we've all been here many, many times to announce really great news to announce state funding, 18 and a half million in state funding to announce uh almost 10 million dollars in federal earmarks to announce the resilience authority to to mark uh Congressman Sarbeans.

We were here uh sorry, there's too many tall people behind me.

Uh we were here during one of the biggest floods, I think the fourth biggest flood on record, standing right here surveying the urgency of of now.

And that's that's where I wanted to just start.

Um rising seas aren't going to wait for bureaucracy.

I think we see that every single day.

And as the senator said, this is more than just a climate adaption project, it has real implications for Annapolis's past present and future obviously the historical impacts of this project what we are preserving as the former United States capital uh really important uh year that we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of this nation but we also recognize the more challenging and difficult pieces of our history that we need to honor and respect and share and tell the fact that where we are standing is a is a UNESCO site of remembrance because it was a site of the transatlantic slave trade we also have an a deep obligation to tell the stories in the city not just of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence but also the folks who worked the water the immigrants the families who lived right here and made annapolis what it is today.

Obviously this moment is important because we have to preserve this city doc for our economy as well all of the small businesses you see around here every time there is a major flood we are all on the phone checking in making sure they have what they need making sure we're corralling the state resources and local resources to get them what they need obviously this is important for the present because of our United States Naval Academy and and rising seas do not respect what is city land versus what is federal land and so what happens here very much impacts what happens there.

And of course to the Alderman from Eastport you know better than anybody when the rising seas cut off compromise street that is a real emergency management challenge for the people of Eastport obviously the moment of now as we address climate change across this country is so real and it can sometimes feel overburdened we've we feel overburdened it's just such a large problem where can we even start obviously this started almost a decade ago with a vision from mayor buckley and the city council and the the staff at the city who knew that this was not a nice to have this was a must have not just then but knowing that the seas will continue to rise each and every year.

It's often said that success has a thousand fathers I'd like to also believe there's a few mothers tucked in there as well obviously to Mayor Buckley for his vision the city council for their dedication the staff I also want to thank the hundreds of Annapolis citizens who participated in I don't know how many charred y'all had to make sure 300 opportunities for the public to weigh in here that's so important in this moment to county executive pitman who has just been a champion and in making sure that we are all staying on task and on target I so appreciate you the state delegation I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the state funding started under former speaker Mike Bush he had the vision he knew and he wanted to respond with state dollars being the capital city and he started the trend that I was had the privilege of picking up I know Delegate Jones delegate Baylor Senator Henson make sure we in every single budget make sure we are delivering for this project to the federal delegation I'm so grateful that Congressman Sarbanes is here.

I also called Senator Ben Carden um the other day to share the good news there's not a lot of good days of good news in this job.

Senator Van Holland you didn't tell me that when I first ran but he was thrilled and he wished he could be here today I want to give him thanks and credit as well um it's been said that that mayor littman um has taken this project and been so thoughtful and so strategic as we met this critical moment and I too received that SOS text message in February um being on the Armed Services committee the naval aboracy board along with Senator Van Holland he asked can we involve the Navy and so uh that was my role to play in this orchestra of support that we all lent here is to call the Pentagon and call the Navy and remind them that the rising seas will also impact the readiness of our United States Naval Academy and they made a call as well there were so many calls that were made in the month Mr.

Mayor since you sent that text message and I just want to thank you for your vision and your commitment we're gonna hear in a minute from Secretary Strickland from MDEM who has also been just a champion of this throughout multiple administrations I want to thank you for your support you're also on our call sheet anytime we get a major flood so I want to thank you and your team for that.

And without further ado, I want to thank my predecessor who um has has been dedicated and focused to this work for his 18 years serving in the United States Congress.

I'm so grateful to be able to call him and turn to him for advice more often than I thought I would uh in this Congress, but I'm so grateful to my friend um Congressman John Sarveans.

Thanks very much, Sarah.

This is a great day.

I'm gonna be brief.

I promise, you know, if you let a former member of Congress up to a podium, they could go forever.

But uh, first of all, let me salute Team Maryland, uh, Senator Van Holland, Congresswoman Sarah Elfith, representative of the third district of Maryland.

I love saying that.

Um to Jared, uh, to Stuart, to everybody who's been part of this.

I also want to give a shout out to to Gavin Buckley.

Um I got a lot of SOSs from Gavin over the years.

Um, so I've got a whole text string there, but thank you, Jared, for kind of picking up the ball and and carrying it.

It means so much to Annapolis, it means so much uh to Ann Arnold County, to the state.

This is an example of people coming together in a very, very powerful way.

This was a Rubik's Cube from the beginning.

I mean, it had so many different and continues to have so many different interlocking parts that require special attention.

Um so getting these resources finally over the finish line is just it's it's a huge win.

And it demonstrates, I think, and and you mentioned this here a moment ago the resilience of the people of Annapolis.

I mean, stepping up how to conceptualize this, what would it mean to execute it, putting all the phases together that you're now gonna see kind of rolling out over time.

That that was a huge accomplishment.

And then the last thing I wanna say is this kind of a project, this kind of a resilience project, um, in the context of what we know are gonna continue to be uh increasing challenges coming at us in terms of climate change and weather disruption and so forth, is going to be a model for how you do these things around the country.

And Annapolis has always been a leader, it's always been a model, it's always kind of uh taken the lead nationally on innovative creative approaches.

This is another example of that.

Um it's gonna be a tough slog through the execution, uh, but I know one that's gonna be successful.

So congratulations to the people of Annapolis, to to Team Maryland, to everybody who got us to this point, is gonna keep moving it forward, and obviously, very much um at the reins for this process uh going forward is going to be uh Mayor Littman.

I want to thank him for all his great work and bring him up.

Thanks for the morning, and thank you.

My name is Mayor Jared Littman, and on behalf of the city council members and I, it is our great honor and pleasure to thank and receive the $33 million plus the two and a half million dollars for FEMA.

And I just I am so relieved, frankly.

I know uh your my sleep isn't everyone's concern, but I've been sleeping a lot better the past couple nights, uh knowing that this money was uh is coming.

And this is the obviously the evolution of work from so many individuals, and they've been mentioned, but I just want to point out how our city staff continue to slog away at the financial, the technical, the environmental reviews, meeting every deadline, answering questions from FEMA.

It was a long process, and it seemed to evolve, and they stepped up and they've met all the uh burdens and uh requests, and their dedication has absolutely ensured our success.

To go over the funding of this huge engineering and infrastructure project, we have 24 million dollars from the concession agreement related to the building of uh Hillman Garage, 10 million dollars from the state of Maryland, and I I see uh our delegate uh uh delegate Jones, delegate Baylor, and our uh State Senator uh Henson being represented here.

4.8 million dollars in congressional earmarks, although not called earmarks anymore, two million dollars from the county, and today's 33 billion plus the two and a half million from FEMA, plus the city's bond money to ensure that we now have all the funding in place to see this project through.

Right.

That was amazing.

Woo!

This is a major investment in protecting our historic waterfront, local businesses, and ensuring that our residents can continue to enjoy this wonderful area that we all love for generations and generations to come.

This is an investment in the future of Annapolis.

I want to acknowledge we have a lot of partners, and I recognize the city is the small player here, and so we have a lot of people I want to thank.

I first want to call out the current and former city council members who stood by for Mayor Buckley and I throughout this process.

They all received lots of phone calls, if this, then this, and the council, it was unanimous in supporting our efforts to move forward.

Of course, our thank you, Council members.

Of course, I want to thank our federal delegation, Senator Van Holland, Senator Alserbrooks who couldn't be here today, Representative Elfrith, and of course, Representative uh Sarbans, who's always been a good friend.

Thank you all so much for your support.

Our governor and his team have been hugely instrumental as well.

So I thank Governor Moore and MDEM Secretary Strickland for your support.

The number of phone calls and conferences strategizing all along.

And of course, again, I want to call out our our state delegation, Senator Henson, delegates Jones and Baylor.

I think delegate Jones gets the award for latest phone call on this matter on a Friday night in particular, too.

So thank you for being available.

County executive Pittman, you've always stood behind and helped strategize, and I know that I can count on you as well.

Thank you so much.

Mayor Buckley, I know, had this vision, and now the hard work of going from vision to turning into reality, but that doesn't get started without the initial vision.

So I thank you, Mayor Buckley.

A couple of individuals that don't get a lot of limelight, I want to call out.

City Manager Buckland, I want to thank you.

Project Manager Arlene Fogarty seeing this through.

Someone who never calls out for attention, but is a friend and a leader in this whole project, Matt Fleming and the Resilience Authority.

Thank you for your speech.

He's one of those guys that when you strategize of who needs to do what, he's like, I got it.

I got it.

I got it.

Thank you, Matt.

Appreciate you.

Looking ahead, I want to call out all the individuals who are involved.

We all got involved in public service because we wanted to do good for the community.

We are doing our best to serve the public.

And as uh Congresswoman Elfrith mentioned, there are some tough days where when our efforts to do good are not necessarily treated as such.

And I just want to let all of us take have all of us take a moment to appreciate the enormity of today's milestone.

This is the this is the result of your hard work, your focus on serving your constituents and seeing the big picture of what can be done when we join together.

And so I just want you all to pat yourselves on the back, pat each other on the back, take a moment to appreciate this.

I know that there have been a lot of press conferences.

I am so looking forward to having a ribbon cutting.

Where we could say, come on, and it's not last minute and hurry.

This work is absolutely just beginning.

I know that just because we now have the money in the bank, it's not all smooth sailing, but I know with the team behind me, they've all demonstrated they're willing to answer the call, be involved, be supportive, either quietly or publicly, whatever is needed to get the job done.

And that's huge.

That is absolutely huge.

It is my absolute honor to lead Annapolis's efforts through this, and again, I thank all of the partners involved in this work.

I'm so excited to help deliver the City Doc project for all of us.

And with that, I want to introduce my friends and our county executive, Stuart Pittman.

Well, first, just congratulations to everybody.

I'm not gonna go through everybody and do all the same thanks all over again, but congratulations to all of us.

We should be having a huge party right now.

Uh maybe this is maybe we will later.

Um I had a meeting on my schedule today that got canceled.

My scheduler told me the mayor's office canceled our meeting on Friday, didn't say why.

And then I got a text message.

Not the SOS one, got that too, but I got the good text message from Mayor Littman, and um I the joy.

I mean, the ability to sleep.

That meeting was about we're in the middle of our budget process.

We're in the middle of our capital budget process.

We managed to squeeze two million out last year, you know, with the help of um Councilwoman Rodby and uh for this district for particularly the Welcome Welcome Center as part of this project to get it over the finish line.

But not having the FNMA money would have meant that the project would have been scaled back.

Um the mayor had all kinds of contingency plans, and his contingency plans included more money from the county, I think.

Um and so it was a big relief to have that meeting canceled.

Um I want to particularly thank our our delegation, um, Congresswoman Alfred, our senators, and every the whole team.

Um but I think I think in this time we don't we've almost lost faith that we have a partner in the federal government, and particularly in FEMA.

It has been so frustrating and sad and terrifying in some cases to have FEMA no longer a partner.

And and um, but these folks didn't give up.

These folks continued to work relationships that they had, relationships in places we don't even want to know who they talk to to get this thing across the finish line.

Um but thank you.

Just thank you for not giving up in a time where we all just want to fight, fight, fight.

Sometimes we also have to get in there and negotiate and and manage to get some wins.

And for the for the public, for the residents of Anorento County who are so looking forward to coming into Annapolis and and seeing this beautiful, beautiful public space.

It's gonna be like a park for the whole county, which is why I'm open, I've been open to investments in it is with county dollars.

Um, it is it is just like a little bit of sunshine.

We haven't had sun all week.

Um but it's a little bit of sunshine and a dark time, and that in fact government can work and things can get done.

So just thank you, and and let's celebrate.

This is a wonderful, wonderful day.

Congratulations.

And I also want to acknowledge um the former mayor um Gavin Buckley for the work that he did um to get us to this point.

You know, his name would have been Mud if if if FEMA money hadn't showed up, right?

I mean, you gotta blame somebody, but now his name is not Mud, it's back to Gavin Buckley, and we can all celebrate.

Next, we're gonna hear from the great Maryland Secretary of Emergency Management, Secretary Strickland.

Great.

Thank you.

Thank you very, very much.

Uh this is a celebration.

I really I like that term.

Um I'd first like to thank Governor Moore and Maryland's congressional delegation for your unwavering support of this critical project.

Uh I'd also like to recognize the city of Annapolis for their leadership and persistent advocacy to see funding awarded, and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management Hazard Mitigation Team who adeptly shepherding this project through many stages of approval.

Now I'm gonna go off script for a second because there were two words that were mentioned here today.

Resilience and modeling and emergency management's responsibilities, although many times at the back end of the crowd, just kind of watching and making sure everybody's safe, but it's before during and after a disaster that we're involved.

This is before, and before is mitigation, and mitigation is the center of the universe.

We're really, really good at response and immediate recovery, but mitigation is that which will improve for all the businesses in the area and will make a difference of almost a dollar invested, a six dollar return when it comes time for recovery.

So I think that is so so important, and I appreciate the words that folks have used.

So the mission of Maryland Department of Emergency Management is to proactively reduce these disaster risk and reliably manage consequences through collaborative work with Maryland's communities and partners.

In Maryland, emergency management is a system of systems.

We cannot do it alone.

We are the counties and the local jurisdictions coupled with the state, working with our state agencies and partners, and with our private sector partners.

We cannot do it alone.

No one can, and it's only through that system of systems that we do it.

The Annapolis City uh dock hazard mitigation project is an excellent example of this type of work of everyone coming together.

So the investment today comes as a result of years of partnership and collaboration with the residents, business owners, and governments at every level.

And I have to say, we've been talking about it started in 2019.

I started in state emergency management in 2004.

This was a discussion then.

It was a discussion of flooding back into the 1700s for Ellicott City.

And when it comes time for a model, this will not only be a model, but there's another really, really good motto in Frederick City that started with Agnes.

And it took 20 years to build, and about three or four years ago, there was a flooding event, and it worked.

It worked.

So we know that this funding will bring a significant return on investment for every dollar invested, as I mentioned.

We'll save six in re disaster recovery.

And while the dollars matter, what really matters is our community and our survivors.

That's where our focus is.

So the hazard mitigation efforts on this scale mean more days that residents and visit visitors can enjoy Maryland State Capital and the beautiful waterfront.

More days that local businesses have to grow and thrive, and fewer days spent mucking out livelihoods and homes, or wondering if the next storm or king tide will be worse than the last one.

So this proof is this project is proof that together we can do things which shape a more resilient Maryland where communities thrive and where no one is left behind.

So from the emergency management community to all of you, one congratulations.

Two, thank you.

And number three, we're not leaving.

We are not leaving until it's done, and we'll be here for another 20 years to make sure it works so we can write that down.

All right, thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Secretary.

Uh thank you, Team Maryland.

Um, before we take questions, I I do want to acknowledge a few other folks.

And Sarah mentioned um my former partner and colleague, Ben Cardin.

He was also tenacious about this project, and we worked very closely together, and just like Congresswoman Elfrith picked up the baton from John Sarbanes uh in the House, um Angela Alsterbrooks' help pick up that baton in the United States Senate.

So I just want to thank her.

She could not be here.

So let's give them both a round of applause.

So we're happy to answer any questions, and if not, we do have a check, cash it fast.

Any questions?

Can you respond to the letter that you sent to the Trump administration regarding the allegiance?

I'm sorry, I couldn't.

Oh, can we talk to you after about?

I'm happy to do one-on-one or whatever.

Yeah, yeah.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Okay.

Time for the real thing.

Check.

All right.

Senator, one other person I forgot to do.

Yes, of course.

I also want to call out Lieutenant General, Superintendent of the Naval Academy, uh Mike Bork Shulte, uh, who was incredibly helpful and just want to acknowledge his thing.

His efforts as well.

What do you get in the middle here?

We are here in Annapolis today celebrating the boy who harnessed the wind.

A guy who overcame adversity.

A young brown boy from Project.

And I'm celebrating for not just me from many others that have came out of situations of adversity.

This is where it all started.

This is where I used to work.

I used to sit in hair salons and watch the ladies work, and I really learned a lot about being a hairstylist with my mentors in front of me.

I mean, I have clients like Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Kelly Rowland, Yari Shahidi.

I like glamorous hair.

I had this slept on and lived in and ruffled up.

I told myself that I could dream, and I told myself that I could in a situation where I was I wasn't supposed to.

And so me standing here today is a huge honor because when I started my journey, I had no idea that this could be.

But I kept going and I kept doing here we are today.

I'm getting the keys to the city.

On behalf of the city of Annapolis, we present you with the keys to the city.

Hello, so the Captain Zapata del Court of Bombers at the city of Napoleon.

In this semester, I'm going to do preventation of incendies in the cousin.