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Record of Proceedings

Frederick Mayor and Board of Aldermen Public Meeting - December 7, 2023

City Council — Thursday, December 7, 2023
BodyFrederick, Maryland
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, December 7, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:12:24

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
1:49

Good evening and welcome to the mayor and board of Alderman public meeting for the 7th of December.

1:54

We begin with the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:59

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America.

2:20

To the great delight of everyone, I am losing my voice, so I probably won't have much to say tonight.

2:26

Approval of minutes, November 2nd, 2023 public meeting.

2:30

So moved.

2:32

Second.

2:33

Motion by Alderman Shackleford, second by Alderman McShane.

2:35

All those in favor.

2:36

That's five-zero.

2:38

Thank you.

2:38

November 13th, 2023, closed session.

2:41

So moved.

2:42

Second.

2:43

Motion by Alderman Shackleford, second by Alderwoman Kazemchak.

2:45

All those in favor.

2:46

That is five-zero.

2:47

Thank you very much.

2:53

Aldermanic business and comments.

2:54

Alderwoman Ash.

2:57

Yes, thank you, Mayor.

2:58

Just very briefly.

2:59

Um I have talked up here about concerns and ongoing work to uh make sure that the redistricting plans that FCPS had provided were least disruptive to our students.

3:11

And I just want to read the FMP headlines.

3:13

School board unanimously approves least disruptive redistricting plans.

3:16

So I just wanted to congratulate all of the parents and advocates, and especially the board members that listen so to so well to those parents that were advocating.

3:25

Thank you very much.

3:26

Thank you.

3:28

Alderman Russell.

3:30

Thank you.

3:31

Alderman Shackleford.

3:32

Okay, Miss Mayor.

3:33

Thank you.

3:33

Alderman McZemCack.

3:35

Alderman McShane.

3:37

Thank you very much.

3:38

We have two opportunities for public comments at our meeting.

3:41

It is an opportunity to address the mayor and board about any item, whether it is on this evening's agenda or not.

3:46

Speakers will be asked to give their name and a general address.

3:48

Reminded that the proceedings are being telecasted and recorded.

3:52

You are to speak clearly into the microphone at the podium.

3:56

Comments are limited to five minutes per individual.

4:07

But if you would like to make general general citizen comments, now would be the time.

4:18

Seeing none, we will move forward with our agenda.

4:22

Items on the consent agenda are considered routine by the mayor and board.

4:25

Approved in one motion without separate discussion of each item, unless any person present request an item or items be removed from the consent agenda.

4:31

An item that is removed will be considered separately at the end.

4:34

So if you would like an item below considered separately, please say so and announce the category.

4:41

Move for approval.

4:43

Second.

5:00

Item number one is an annexation, though we have a request to continue this item to the December 21st, 2023 meeting.

5:08

Is there a motion to continue?

5:10

Move to continue to the December 21st, 2023 meeting.

5:14

Second.

5:14

Motion by Alderwoman Exemption, second by Alderman McShane.

5:18

All those in favor.

5:20

That is five zero.

5:21

Item number two is also an annexation, but also with a request to continue the item to the next meeting.

5:27

As per the request, uh move to continue to the December 21st meeting.

5:35

Second.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use█████████████████17%
Public Comment██████████████14%
Ethics Complaints████████████12%
Mixed Use Development███████████11%
Parks and Recreation████████8%
Public Works██████6%
Urban Design██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Affordable Housing████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Frederick Mayor and Board of Aldermen Public Meeting - December 7, 2023

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of Frederick, Maryland held a public meeting on December 7, 2023, starting at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting covered a wide range of routine and major agenda items, including approval of minutes, multiple public hearings, zoning map amendments, a master plan approval, and several park improvement projects. The board voted unanimously on most items, with one vote being 4-0 due to an absent alderman.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the November 2, 2023 public meeting and the November 13, 2023 closed session were approved by a 5-0 vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Initial Public Comments: No members of the public spoke during the first public comment period.
  • Comments on Hill Street and Mullinix Park Design (Item 5): Isaiah Rosser (manager of MBA Skate) and Benjamin Ross (skater for 24 years) expressed strong support for the park renovations, emphasizing the need for community involvement and the dilapidated condition of the existing skate park.
  • Comments on Overlook East MPDU Agreement (Item 10): Jeanette Bartelt questioned what constitutes moderately priced dwellings; the developer explained the units are income-restricted rentals, with one-bedroom rents at $1,490, two-bedroom at $1,786, and three-bedroom at $2,090.
  • Comments on Westridge Square Rezoning and Master Plan (Items 13 & 14): Multiple residents spoke in opposition. Belinda Morton (NAC 5 president) cited lack of playground, overcrowding, parking, traffic, and inadequate notification. Derek Napoli raised concerns about congestion, parking ratios, crime, and connectivity. John Rusk highlighted crime statistics, fire/EMS service impacts, and school overcrowding. Gerald Harris emphasized traffic on Key Parkway. Charlene Eastburn argued the plan was a "shoe-in" and that no revisions were made despite community input. Jeanette Bartelt asked for a playground and crosswalk.
  • General Public Comments (End of Meeting): Jeanette Bartelt raised concerns about poor lighting on the Bel Air trail, trip hazards near City Hall, and motorized vehicles on the trail. Charlene Eastburn requested a traffic light at Bel Air and Key Parkway and opposed a road cut from a new development. Rob Dorsey inquired about high base water charges for an unoccupied property; the mayor offered to provide answers after the meeting.

Discussion Items

  • Item 3: Soundboard for Weinberg Center for the Arts – Kitty Clark and Greg Davis presented a contract with Showtime Sound LLC for $96,715.53 for a new soundboard. Alderman Shackelford questioned the small business exemption. The item was approved 5-0.
  • Item 4: Fishing Creek Dam Improvements – Tracy Coleman explained a revised scope for Task 2 under an IGA with Maryland Environmental Service due to updated probable maximum precipitation values from MDE, requiring a change order of $126,921.14. Approved 5-0.
  • Item 5: Park Design Services at Hill Street and Mullinix Parks – Bob Smith outlined a $352,650 design contract with Macris, Hendricks & Glascock. Two separate approvals needed: a special ordinance to amend the FY2024 budget (approved 5-0) and the purchase order (approved 5-0). Community engagement will include at least three meetings.
  • Item 6: Playground Replacements and New Construction – Scott Gesey presented four purchase orders totaling $514,887 for playgrounds at Cobblestone Park, South End Park, Clover Ridge Park, Millies Delight Park, and Linden Hills Park. Each of the four purchase orders was approved 5-0.
  • Item 7: Overlook Park Court Replacement – Scott Gesey requested $289,797 to replace courts with three pickleball, one tennis, and one basketball court. Approved 5-0.
  • Item 8: MOU with 330 Partners and Frederick Health – Romenta Cachero presented an engagement to improve coordination between the City Health Department and Frederick Health Hospital; city cost $64,000. Approved 5-0.
  • Item 9: Ethics Ordinance Amendments – City Attorney Rachel Nesson proposed revisions to Chapter 21, including a two-step complaint process. Alderman Nash moved to replace "reasonable amount of time" with specific deadlines: 7 days for acknowledgment and 45 days for initial determination. Motion approved 5-0.
  • Item 10: Moderately Priced Dwelling Units Agreement (Overlook East) – Curtis Adams described 85 mixed-income rental units at 423 East Patrick Street. The MPDU agreement was approved 4-0 (Alderwoman Nash not present for vote).
  • Item 11: Zoning Administrator Position – Joe Adkins explained creating a Grade 12 position to split duties from current planning division manager, overseeing zoning board of appeals and complex projects. Approved 5-0.
  • Item 12: Zoning Map Amendment for 100 E. All Saints Street (Police Headquarters) – Sherry Kelly presented a quasi-judicial rezoning from Downtown Commercial/Residential to Institutional (IST) for the 1.39-acre site, maintaining Historic Preservation Overlay. Staff recommended approval. The ordinance was approved 5-0.
  • Items 13 & 14: Westridge Square Shopping Center Rezoning and Master Plan – Gabrielle Collard and representatives from applicant MCB Westridge (Bruce Dean, Daniel Rigault, Cecily Bedwell) presented a proposal to rezone 20.59 acres from General Commercial to Mixed-Use (MU2) and approve a master plan for 203 multifamily units, 41 townhouses, new streets, and commercial upgrades. Modifications to setbacks, building orientation, street design, and sidewalk requirements were requested. The planning commission had recommended approval 5-0. After extensive public testimony and board discussion, the rezoning ordinance (Item 13) was approved 5-0, and the master plan resolution (Item 14) was approved 5-0 with a correction to a typo (25 ft to 35 ft).
  • Appointment to Weinberg Center Board – Kathleen Siedor was appointed to complete a term ending June 30, 2024, and reappointed for a term July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027. Approved 5-0.

Key Outcomes

  • All votes on agenda items were unanimous 5-0 except the MPDU agreement (4-0) as noted.
  • Two annexations (Toms property and Mercer property) were continued to the December 21, 2023 meeting by separate 5-0 votes.
  • The Zoning Map Amendment for the police headquarters and the Westridge Square rezoning and master plan passed despite community opposition.
  • The ethics ordinance was amended to include specific timeframes (7 days for acknowledgment, 45 days for initial determination).
  • Budget priorities meeting scheduled for Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 7 p.m. (mayor noted next Tuesday, but December 7 is Thursday, so likely December 12).
  • City staff will follow up with resident Rob Dorsey on water bill inquiry.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the mayor and board of Alderman public meeting for the 7th of December. We begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America. To the great delight of everyone, I am losing my voice, so I probably won't have much to say tonight. Approval of minutes, November 2nd, 2023 public meeting. So moved. Second. Motion by Alderman Shackleford, second by Alderman McShane. All those in favor. That's five-zero. Thank you. November 13th, 2023, closed session. So moved. Second. Motion by Alderman Shackleford, second by Alderwoman Kazemchak. All those in favor. That is five-zero. Thank you very much. Aldermanic business and comments. Alderwoman Ash. Yes, thank you, Mayor. Just very briefly. Um I have talked up here about concerns and ongoing work to uh make sure that the redistricting plans that FCPS had provided were least disruptive to our students. And I just want to read the FMP headlines. School board unanimously approves least disruptive redistricting plans. So I just wanted to congratulate all of the parents and advocates, and especially the board members that listen so to so well to those parents that were advocating. Thank you very much. Thank you. Alderman Russell. Thank you. Alderman Shackleford. Okay, Miss Mayor. Thank you. Alderman McZemCack. Alderman McShane. Thank you very much. We have two opportunities for public comments at our meeting. It is an opportunity to address the mayor and board about any item, whether it is on this evening's agenda or not. Speakers will be asked to give their name and a general address. Reminded that the proceedings are being telecasted and recorded. You are to speak clearly into the microphone at the podium. Comments are limited to five minutes per individual. But if you would like to make general general citizen comments, now would be the time. Seeing none, we will move forward with our agenda. Items on the consent agenda are considered routine by the mayor and board. Approved in one motion without separate discussion of each item, unless any person present request an item or items be removed from the consent agenda. An item that is removed will be considered separately at the end. So if you would like an item below considered separately, please say so and announce the category. Move for approval. Second.

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