Annapolis Rules and City Government Committee Meeting - July 23, 2026

The Rules and City Government Committee of the Annapolis City Council met on July 23, 2026, from 12:13 PM to 1:58 PM under the chairmanship of Alderman Smith Brown. The committee considered five pieces of legislation and received a presentation on ranked choice voting. Key actions included postponements, favorable recommendations on several bills, and extensive discussion on election reform.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Agenda – Moved and seconded; passed unanimously.
• Approval of Minutes – Minutes of the June 4, 2026, regular meeting and the July 9, 2026, special joint meeting were approved separately without objection. (Alderman Shannemeyer recused from voting on the July 9 minutes as she was not present.)

Discussion Items

• CA226 – Expanding Board of Supervisive Elections Membership – Alderman Savage and Chair Smith Brown are working on a merged amendment. The committee voted to postpone action until the next meeting to allow completion of the draft amendment.
• O0926 – Updating Standing Committees Section of City Code – Three amendments were considered (two from Mayor Littman, one from Alderman Huntley). After discussion, the committee voted favorably on amendment three (inserting that if legislation is referred to more than two standing committees, the council shall hear it in a committee of the whole). The bill as amended received a favorable recommendation.
• O1426 – Art in Public Places (Definitions, Duties, Membership) – Laura Richards, Community Engagement Strategist, explained the need to reconstitute the AIPPC board. City Attorney Tony Cooper Smith noted the six-month deadline (set by an uncodified ordinance) runs in August and suggested an extension. The committee voted to postpone action on the bill and its seven amendments, and will recommend the City Council extend the deadline to September 30, 2026, to allow further public input.
• O1626 – Forest Conservation Program Amendments (Conforming to State Law) – Alderman Savage proposed several amendments to align city code with state law. After discussion, the committee voted favorably on amendments 4, 5A, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 (as a block), with amendment 5 withdrawn in favor of 5A. Amendment 11 clarifies that exemptions do not apply to subdivision or site plans. The bill as amended received a favorable recommendation. (Projects approved before July 1, 2026, are unaffected.)
• General Discussion – Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) Presentation – Michelle Whitaker (Executive Director) and Owen Anderson (Deputy Director) of Ranked Choice Voting Maryland presented on RCV mechanics, history, and benefits. They cited examples from Tacoma Park, Greenbelt, and Berwyn Heights (Maryland), New York City, and others. Key points: RCV ensures majority winners, reduces spoiler effects, and can increase diversity of candidates. They offered voter education support. Committee members asked about costs (estimated $225,000–$465,000 per election currently), error rates (1–2%), and data on candidate diversity. Whitaker and Anderson agreed to provide additional data. The committee expressed interest in potentially placing an RCV charter amendment on a future ballot.

Key Outcomes

• Postponed: CA226 and O1426 (with recommendation to extend deadline).
• Favorable Recommendations (with amendments): O0926, O1626.
• Received Presentation: Ranked choice voting – committee will consider possible ballot question.
• Next Steps: Amendments for CA226 to be drafted before next meeting; City Council to consider deadline extension for O1426; additional data on RCV costs and diversity to be shared with committee.