Annapolis Public Safety Committee Special Meeting – September 30, 2026

The Annapolis Public Safety Committee met on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The committee approved two parking-related ordinances, received updates from the Annapolis Police Department, Annapolis Fire Department, and Office of Emergency Management, and accepted a donation from the Knights of Columbus to the Annapolis Police Foundation.

Consent Calendar

• The committee voted to amend the agenda to add ID-18-26, an Annapolis Police Foundation/Knights of Columbus presentation, as the first item; the amended agenda was approved by voice vote.
• Minutes of the June 17, 2026 Public Safety Committee regular meeting were approved by voice vote.

Donation Presentation

• Representatives of the Knights of Columbus presented a donation to the Annapolis Police Foundation, describing proceeds from weekly 50-50 bingo games that support community charities. A speaker noted the foundation's growth and the Knights' commitment to selecting a charity each quarter.

Legislation

O-12-26 – Removing Streets from Special Residential Parking District No. 5

• Sponsor Alderwoman O'Neill said Forbes Street and Monterey Avenue businesses had requested relief for more than three years because the residential parking district has no residents along the corridor except condominium residents with their own parking lot; employees must move cars every two hours, while the 103 Forbes building needs spaces for patients.
• O'Neill confirmed the ordinance is in Ward 2 and has full support from the affected businesses. The committee voted unanimously to give O-12-26 a favorable recommendation.

O-17-26 – Right to Park in Front of Residential Private Driveways

• Sponsor Alderman Smith-Brown said the legislation was inspired by a Ward 3 resident (Larry Powell) who received a $200+ ticket for parking in front of his own driveway; she cited Maryland State Code allowing such parking and said the bill was shaped by resident feedback from all eight wards.
• Amendment 1 (Smith-Brown) added a one-year carve-out for specified Ward 8/Eastport streets and an appeal process allowing the transportation director to waive fines with proper documentation. Smith-Brown further amended it to set the carve-out expiration as December 31, 2027, rather than one year after adoption; this amendment to Amendment 1 passed. The committee then gave Amendment 1 a favorable recommendation.
• Amendment 2 (Thorp) received no action because its provisions were incorporated into Amendment 1.
• Amendment 3, a technical amendment, received an unfavorable recommendation.
• Amendment 4, allowing legal occupants to request waiver of citations, received no action because it was included in Amendment 1.
• The committee voted to give O-17-26, as amended, a favorable recommendation.

Department Updates

ID-15-26 – Annapolis Police Department Update

• Although the agenda listed Acting Chief Miguez as the presenter, the transcript identifies the APD update presenter as Captain Guy Thacker. He reported on the summer crime plan: on Fridays and Saturdays, non-patrol units (detectives and administrative staff) were deployed in uniform for 7 p.m.–3 a.m. shifts, adding eight officers and supervisors per night in three phases: community engagement, targeted initiatives (traffic, warrants, business corridors), and commander-discretion patrols.
• Year-to-date results cited: total crime down 6 percent, property crime down 10 percent, traffic accidents down 15–16 percent, more than 443 days without a gun-crime homicide, two non-fatal shooting incidents (one cleared, one near clearance), robberies down, and aggravated assaults slightly up, driven by domestic incidents.
• Thacker described responses to a 48-hour stolen-auto uptick (six vehicles, Kia/Hyundai ignition issue, steering-wheel locks distributed) and shoplifting (partnership with Walgreens corporate loss prevention, Comstat process).
• Alderman Smith-Brown noted that Ward 3 is no longer the top crime ward and asked about youth operating e-motors; police said they would address it in October and described summer youth outreach efforts.

ID-16-26 – Annapolis Fire Department Update

• Fire Chief Remaley introduced Deputy Chiefs Matthew Lopez and Ortleib and Fire Protection Engineer Charles Ruth. He announced a federal fire grant of approximately $165,000 to replace three Lifepak cardiac monitors/defibrillators and 15 AEDs, and a $100,000 port security grant for an underwater rescue robot. He also noted that the new state fire marshal is retired AFD Deputy Chief Carol Spriggs.
• Deputy Chief Lopez summarized summer activities and upcoming fall initiatives, including a paramedic-only hiring pilot with county funding, physical ability testing, boat show and Navy football planning, the Pride Parade/Festival, new EMS vehicles from state grant funding, and a new fire boat.
• Alderman Smith-Brown asked about out-of-service fire hydrant notices; Chief Remaley explained hydrants are maintained by Public Works, tagged and flagged in the computer-aided dispatch system, and that some have been out of service more than a year due to larger projects. Smith-Brown said she would follow up with Public Works Director Burr.

ID-17-26 – Office of Emergency Management Update

• Director Simmons thanked Chair O'Neill for joining a Clay Street beautification day of service. Kyle Abkowski reported the cooling center program had 26 activations this summer, 11 more than last year, using Pitt Moyer Recreation Center as primary and Annapolis Walk Community Center as secondary, with activation at a heat index of 105°F, or 95°F under code orange/red air-quality alerts.
• Abkowski described the winter relief program's 17th season: November 1 to April 30, 7 p.m.–7 a.m. hours, activation threshold of 32°F or OEM discretion, moving to Robinwood Recreation Center, minimum two staff members with a 1:10 staff-to-patron ratio, cots/blankets/pillows, hot meals from an on-site kitchen, and connections to services. Last season totals included 1,868 overnight visits, 108 activations including nine daytime activations, three families, and 11 minors; January had 726 patron visits; Winter Storm Fern drove eight days of continuous 24-hour operations.
• O'Neill asked whether overnight staff are paid (yes, from the approximately $30,000–$37,000 OEM budget), whether the budget was adequate (yes), and about volunteers (under exploration with the Office of Law). O'Neill also stressed providing bus passes for clients at Robinwood, which is farther from support services.
• Smith-Brown asked why the program relocated from Pitt Moyer to Robinwood; Director Simmons cited the need for a Stanton Center-like venue, coexistence issues at Pitt Moyer, and a better fit, with roughly two years of expected use at Robinwood before redevelopment.
• Patrick Cammer reviewed winter weather coordination after Winter Storm Fern: an after-action process, corrective action tracker, and September mini-meetings on sidewalks, snow routes/phases, community volunteers, and parking garages. A winter weather tune-up for department heads is planned for October 26, followed by additional training. Smith-Brown asked for an update to the committee/council; Director Simmons confirmed.

Key Outcomes

• Favorable recommendation: O-12-26 (unanimous).
• Favorable recommendation: O-17-26 as amended; Amendment 1 favorable, Amendment 2 no action, Amendment 3 unfavorable, Amendment 4 no action.
• Accepted donation from the Knights of Columbus to the Annapolis Police Foundation.
• Received annual updates from APD, AFD, and OEM; APD agreed to address youth e-motor concerns in October; OEM will continue winter weather planning and provide updates.