Frederick City Council Public Meeting - November 2, 2023
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Frederick City Council Public Meeting - November 2, 2023
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen held a regular public meeting on November 2, 2023, at 7:00 PM. The meeting covered a range of routine approvals, public hearings, and a significant amendment to the city's Moderately Priced Dwelling Units (MPDU) ordinance. All votes were unanimous (4-0) except for the MPDU ordinance, which passed 3-1.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: October 5, 2023 Regular Public Meeting, September 21, 2023 Closed Session, and October 5, 2023 Closed Session were approved unanimously.
- Release of Sureties: Hartford Fire Insurance Company bond of $342,679.46 for Bluegrass Self Storage at 811 E. South Street was released.
- Amendment to Grant Agreement: Amendment No. 2 to the Maryland Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program grant with MDOT was approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Karen Cannon (Wingate Drive, representing Mobilize Frederick) expressed support for the proposed Community Climate Action Plan collaboration between the city and county, noting the availability of resources and offering to assist.
Discussion Items
- Automated Waste Collection Vehicle: Superintendent Flagle presented a budget adjustment for a new truck, with the purchase price reduced from $469,000 to $409,682.60 after a second bid. Approved unanimously.
- Street Resurfacing Contract: Superintendent Wimpugler requested approval of a contract with M.T. Laney Inc. for FY2024 resurfacing (not-to-exceed $1,216,011). Approved unanimously.
- General Obligation Bonds ($55M): Director Barkdoll presented an ordinance authorizing the sale of $55 million in tax-exempt bonds for capital improvement projects. The bonds are expected to be sold on December 6, 2023, after rating agency meetings. Approved unanimously.
- Reallocation of 2016 Bond Proceeds: Unspent $341,000 from the Monocacy Boulevard project to be reallocated to the water distribution project. Approved unanimously.
- Reallocation of 2018 Bond Proceeds: $2.5 million from Christopher Crossing to the new police headquarters, $1.4 million from Lake Linganore to water distribution, and small funds from Monocacy Boulevard. Approved unanimously.
- Community Climate Action Plan: Sustainability Manager Willoughby presented an agreement with MWCOG and Frederick County to develop a joint climate action plan, emphasizing community partners and data collection for grant readiness. Approved unanimously.
- Compost Pilot Program Amendment: Willoughby requested an extension of the compost pilot agreement to June 20, 2024, to continue USDA grant work. The program has expanded citywide. Approved unanimously.
- Flood Mitigation Design Contracts (3 items): Director Kirschner presented three contracts with RK&K for design services in the downtown drainage area ($777,777), Maryvale Ditch ($435,040), and Detrick Branch ($321,680). All included MWBE participation goals. Approved unanimously.
- Deferred Public Improvements for Frederick Toyota: Planner Sherry Kelly presented a deferral agreement for sidewalk and right-of-way improvements along Hoke Place, with conditions for future completion. Approved unanimously.
- PILOT Agreement for Overlook East Affordable Housing: Ruth Waxter presented a Payment in Lieu of Tax agreement for 85 affordable housing units (income-restricted to 60% AMI). The city's portion is $34,035 per year. Developer Curtis Adams (Conifer Development) noted the project faced inflation and interest rate challenges, and the PILOT allows leveraging additional loan proceeds. Approved unanimously.
- MPDU Ordinance Amendment: Alderman Shackleford and City Attorney Nesson presented an ordinance amending Chapter 19 (Affordable Housing / MPDUs). Key changes include: a per-square-foot fee in lieu of building units ($2.00/sq ft initially, with a three-year data collection period to set a formula); maximum sales price tiers (70%, 80%, 90% of area median income); extended control period from 30 to 40 years; and clarification that the ordinance applies to new applications submitted after the meeting date. Discussion included concerns about fee pass-through to buyers and whether the ordinance would incentivize on-site construction. Alderman Ross Russell requested delay for more discussion, but the motion passed 3-1, with Alderman Shackleford, Alderwoman Nash, and Alderman McShane in favor; Alderman Russell opposed.
Key Outcomes
- All consent agenda items and public hearing items 1–12 were approved unanimously (4-0).
- MPDU Ordinance Amendment passed 3-1 (Alderman Russell opposed). The ordinance takes effect immediately and applies to projects submitted after November 2, 2023; projects with approved plans before this date remain under prior rules.
- Next Steps: The city will proceed with bond sale preparation, including meetings with rating agencies in New York City. The compost pilot will continue through June 2024. Flood mitigation design contracts will begin. The MPDU fee structure will be reevaluated after three years of data collection.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, and welcome to the November 2nd, 2023 uh Mayor and Board of Autumn Regular Public Meeting. We begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. Um we do have approval of the minutes. We have October 5th regular public meeting. So moved. Second. All right, there's a move in a second. All in favor. That's four zero. September twenty-first, twenty twenty-three closed session. So moved. Second. Move in a second. All in favor, it's four zero. And October fifth, twenty twenty-three closed session. So moved. Second. Move in a second. All in favor? Four-zero. Thank you. Um, let's see. Um, mayor's comments, I'm sure he'll have some later. Automatic business comments. I'll start all the way to my left. On rushing. Thank you. Um, as uh Alderwoman Nash mentioned, the mayor will be coming in late. He is representing the city of Frederick at the Maryland, Maryland um M. Maryland Department of Transportation Road Show, uh, or tour as they call it, um, where all of the business entities of MDOT are uh they go around to every county in the state and they talk about what they do in their agencies and they hear from our jurisdictions, uh, and talk about the consolidated transportation program, which is their uh CIP uh budget document. So he is there now, and uh, I usually like to be there, but um here now, so I'm sure he'll represent us fine. And uh it's a great opportunity for uh the city of Frederick to uh talk directly to MDOT officials about our needs. We get an hour of sleep. Um I'll just add um along with getting an hour's sleep, which is exciting. Um tonight we will likely be approving um an amendment to a grant uh that's named uh from a friend of mine who passed uh way too soon. And um, I just wanted to read a little snippet. Kim Lamfear was a tireless advocate um for cyclists, and um I think her work also translated into advocacy for pedestrians as well. Um and the um Kristen Harbison, who was the League of Cons who is the League of Conservation Voters uh advocate Annapolis wrote just a little snippet, and I just wanted to honor um Kim. Kim took pride in her work as an effective advocate, but also found joy in the work. She celebrated the victories of her friends and colleagues, as much of her as her own and her friends and colleagues were legion. Kim knew everyone, everyone she met became her friend. The ecology of Annapolis can seem like a jungle, but Kim always made us remember that even as we fight for survival, the jungle can be fun. And so we're gonna be talking about sustainability initiatives, and I just wanted to make sure that we mentioned uh the great work of Kim Lamphier. Thank you very much. All right, uh public comments. This is our first opportunity for public comment. Um that you can address the item, you can address any items that may or may not appear on the agenda. Um speaker should give your first name and address. Do we have anybody coming forward for public comment this evening? Great.
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