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Record of Proceedings

Environmental Matters Committee Meeting - October 8, 2026

City Council — Thursday, October 8, 2026
BodyAnnapolis, Maryland
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, October 8, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:27:53

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

Afternoon, everybody.

0:01

Calling to order.

0:02

Borrow Managers Committee meeting for October 8th.

0:05

And let's do roll call, Alderman Huntley.

0:09

Alder Woman Conte.

Speaker 2

0:11

Present.

Speaker 1

0:12

I can't see you, but we can hear you.

0:14

So we have to get the TVs moved.

0:18

Where's a giant?

0:20

Yeah.

Speaker 3

0:24

We

Unassigned speaker

0:25

need to be

Speaker 1

0:27

all right.

0:28

Well, we'll we'll get you on screen soon there.

0:30

Alder Woman.

0:32

Um first up.

Unassigned speaker

0:34

Or

Speaker 1

0:35

next up.

0:36

The approval of the agenda.

Unassigned speaker

0:38

Is

Speaker 1

0:38

there a motion to approve the agenda as so moved?

Speaker 2

0:43

Thank you.

Unassigned speaker

0:44

All

Speaker 1

0:44

right.

0:44

All those in favor, please say aye.

Speaker 4

0:46

Aye.

Speaker 1

0:48

Is there a motion to approve the minutes from July 9th?

Speaker 2

0:54

So moved.

0:56

Second.

Speaker 1

0:58

Please say aye.

1:00

Aye.

Speaker 2

1:00

Aye.

Speaker 1

1:01

Motion carries.

1:03

Now we have legislation.

1:05

Start with 02126.

1:08

Resilience authority of Annapolis and Anor County membership and director appointment changes.

1:14

So we have, I believe, ums Leonard from the law office and uh Mr.

1:19

Fleming from the Resilience Authority would like to speak to this.

1:22

Who wants to start?

Speaker 5

1:25

I can start.

1:25

Um so as a follow-up to, I believe, the rules committee last week that when I was asked to look into it further.

1:32

Um so I reached out to the county office of law and they did not raise any objections to amendment one proposed by Alderman Savage to this legislation.

1:45

Um I did note that there would not be any time to make a change to the county charter at this point based on their own charter and code provisions.

1:58

Um I did look into the city charter and code, and um I don't think legally it's required to set it up this way, um, because I would not view the resilience authority as a city board or commission that is required to be set up with city council input on appointments and confirmations, but there's nothing that prohibits um the language and proposed amendment one either.

2:29

Um it's not inconsistent with state law.

2:33

I would just add um just for the record that this will create a disparity or a difference between the county code and a ronda county code, the city code, and potentially the resilience authorities operating agreements, um, where they will not all be aligned and um the same.

2:53

So while legally it will function, um, it's not the prettiest solution from a legal standpoint.

Speaker 1

3:02

Before we get into that too much, uh Mr.

3:04

Fleming, could you give us uh backup a little bit?

3:06

Give us a general overview of why this is being introduced.

Speaker 6

3:11

Yeah, so certainly the um so first again, uh Alderman Savage want to thank you.

3:17

I think you reached out to me last week, it was, and just kind of discussed uh your thinking on these amendments, and again, I appreciate kind of that.

3:24

Did you pull your mic a

Speaker 1

3:25

little closer?

Speaker 6

3:26

Collaborative approach.

3:27

Uh I think you know, uh across the board, um, this council has been a good partner in establishing this resilience as has the county council.

3:36

Um just as background, you know, we were established uh in state legislation back in 2020 as this quasi joint initiative um or by state uh enabling legislation allowed locals to establish resilience authorities in 21.

3:52

We were established by the city and the county as kind of the first true cross body juris uh entity.

3:58

So it's we are unique in that fashion.

4:00

Um we were created to help uh serve as an implementing partner of both the city and the county and undertake these large uh infrastructure projects to address uh um you know uh a changing climate, etc.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████████20%
Zoning And Development████████████████████20%
Public Transit███████████████15%
Environmental Protection██████████████14%
Procedural████████8%
Community Engagement███████7%
Energy Efficiency███████7%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Historic Preservation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Environmental Matters Committee Standing Committee Meeting - October 8, 2026

The Environmental Matters Committee met on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 3:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting covered legislative changes to the Resilience Authority, development updates, and resilience and sustainability projects. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • The agenda and minutes from July 9, 2026, were approved unanimously.

Legislation: O-21-26 Resilience Authority – Membership and Director Appointment Changes

  • Amendment 2 (Alderman Savidge): Require that city-appointed members be city residents. Recommended favorably unanimously.
  • Amendment 1 (Alderman Savidge): Change the appointment process so that the mayor nominates but council confirms appointments. After discussion, recommended favorably unanimously.
  • The full ordinance as amended was recommended favorably unanimously.

General Discussion: ID-5-26 Planning & Zoning Development Updates

  • Senior Planner Mike Meekins presented an updated project spreadsheet.
  • Market at Tyler Avenue (former Apple Seafood site): Planning Commission approved on September 17; written decision pending.
  • Lost City Sport Landing: Site design approved; building permit needed by October 16, 2026, or site design approval expires.
  • Robinwood Redevelopment: Preliminary plan development for 236 units (senior building, townhomes, garden apartments, rehab row houses) to be heard by Planning Commission on October 15, 2026.
  • 245 West Street (former Crown Station): Major site design review for nine houses, also on October 15 Planning Commission agenda.
  • Admiral Drive Redevelopment: Pre-application meeting held; design phase continues.
  • Discussion on adequate public facilities (APF) analysis, forest conservation, and the need for better communication between Planning Commission and City Council regarding comprehensive plan compliance.

General Discussion: ID-3-26 Resilience & Sustainability Update

  • Deputy City Manager Jackie Guild provided updates on shoreline and energy projects.
  • St. Mary's Living Shoreline: Construction nearly complete; ribbon‑cutting planned for October 19, 2026. The project took seven years due to historic preservation and funding hurdles.
  • Providence Point Stream Restoration: On schedule for completion by October 31, 2026, with strong developer cooperation.
  • Hawkins Cove Living Shoreline: Construction anticipated for spring 2027; awaiting USACE permit.
  • Carlzektonio Beach Living Shoreline: Construction planned March–June 2027; park improvements unfunded.
  • Energy Efficiency: LED replacements yield estimated $171,000 annual savings (projected $200,000+). Community solar contract (20‑year, $66,000–$127,000 annual savings) and other grants bring total deferred energy expenses to near $500,000/year.
  • Climate Action Plan: Update to be released next week with public dashboard.
  • Streetcar Feasibility Study: Contract underway; results expected summer 2026.
  • Annapolis Ferry: RFI elicited five responses; weekend service start proposed. Possible use of Sustainable Mobility Fund to offset initial deficits. A decision on proceeding is required by end of month.
  • Pollinator Park: Delayed due to an MDE citation at the landfill site; planting now expected spring 2027.
  • Electric Leaf Blower Enforcement: Planning and Zoning will follow up on specific reports; rebate program extended for commercial conversions.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous votes: Consent agenda, Amendment 2, Amendment 1, and the full Resilience Authority ordinance as amended.
  • Next steps for development projects: Robinwood and 245 West Street go before Planning Commission on October 15; Lost City must obtain building permit by October 16 or lose site design approval.
  • Ferry system: Council will decide by end of October whether to release RFPs for design‑build and landing sites.
  • Climate Action Plan: Public release scheduled for the week of October 12–16.
  • Communication: Staff will work to improve notification to council about development proposals that deviate from the Comprehensive Plan.

Meeting Transcript

Afternoon, everybody. Calling to order. Borrow Managers Committee meeting for October 8th. And let's do roll call, Alderman Huntley. Alder Woman Conte. Present. I can't see you, but we can hear you. So we have to get the TVs moved. Where's a giant? Yeah. We need to be all right. Well, we'll we'll get you on screen soon there. Alder Woman. Um first up. Or next up. The approval of the agenda. Is there a motion to approve the agenda as so moved? Thank you. All right. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Is there a motion to approve the minutes from July 9th? So moved. Second. Please say aye. Aye. Aye. Motion carries. Now we have legislation. Start with 02126. Resilience authority of Annapolis and Anor County membership and director appointment changes. So we have, I believe, ums Leonard from the law office and uh Mr. Fleming from the Resilience Authority would like to speak to this. Who wants to start? I can start. Um so as a follow-up to, I believe, the rules committee last week that when I was asked to look into it further. Um so I reached out to the county office of law and they did not raise any objections to amendment one proposed by Alderman Savage to this legislation. Um I did note that there would not be any time to make a change to the county charter at this point based on their own charter and code provisions. Um I did look into the city charter and code, and um I don't think legally it's required to set it up this way, um, because I would not view the resilience authority as a city board or commission that is required to be set up with city council input on appointments and confirmations, but there's nothing that prohibits um the language and proposed amendment one either. Um it's not inconsistent with state law. I would just add um just for the record that this will create a disparity or a difference between the county code and a ronda county code, the city code, and potentially the resilience authorities operating agreements, um, where they will not all be aligned and um the same. So while legally it will function, um, it's not the prettiest solution from a legal standpoint. Before we get into that too much, uh Mr. Fleming, could you give us uh backup a little bit? Give us a general overview of why this is being introduced.

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