Frederick City Council Public Meeting - November 21, 2024
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Frederick City Council Public Meeting - November 21, 2024
The Frederick City Council held a public meeting on November 21, 2024, at 7:00 PM. The agenda included approvals of minutes, appointments, a consent agenda, public hearings on purchases, agreements, and resolutions. The meeting also featured extensive public comment on a ceasefire resolution regarding Gaza, historic preservation, and local governance issues. All votes were 4-0 unless noted.
Consent Calendar
- Special Ordinance S-24-29: Approved unanimously (4-0) to amend the FY2025 budget, increasing the transfer to the Capital Improvements Program for Park and Housing and Human Services projects.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ceasefire Resolution: Eight speakers (Willie Mahone, Tina Meadows O'Rear, Grady O'Rear, Emily Malley, Nick Zube, Emily Van Norden, Eric Musa) urged the council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, citing the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, U.S. veto of a UN ceasefire resolution, and examples from other Maryland jurisdictions. Mahone also reiterated the NAACP’s objection to the downtown hotel/conference center as “corporate welfare.”
- Historic Preservation: Todd Offitty criticized the Memorandum of Agreement for the Downtown Frederick Hotel/Conference Center as inadequate for preserving the Byrley Tannery site, especially the iconic smokestack. He noted the Historic Preservation Commission’s support for a more robust exhibit.
- Non-Citizen Voting: Shelley Alloy criticized the council’s vote to allow non-citizen voting, calling it a lack of transparency and presenting a petition of 2,300 residents. She requested guardrails on the policy.
- Mayor’s Press Conference: Colt Black and Jamie Brennan, both recently elected officials, condemned Mayor O’Connor’s remarks about them being “anti-education and regressive,” calling the comments divisive and made without prior conversation.
Discussion Items
- Dark Fiber Acquisition (Segra): Approved 4-0 for $16,925 construction cost plus $1,000/month over eight years to connect the Trinity Building to the city’s network. Councilmember Nash verified the trenching process for multiple entities.
- License Plate Readers (Utility Inc.): Approved 3-0 (Councilmember Nash abstained due to employment conflict) for $52,000 for stationary LPRs. Police emphasized 30-day data retention, no demographic targeting, and human verification of alerts.
- Sidewalk Trip Hazard Repair (Precision Concrete Cutting): Approved 4-0 for $88,728.23 to repair over 1,100 trip hazards in the Golden Mile equity emphasis area. Councilmember Russell expressed caution about vendor-driven hazard identification.
- Demolition of Fishing Creek Caretaker House: Approved 4-0 for $68,310. Councilmember McShane noted the symbolic loss of the historic building.
- Airport Fence Completion (Long Fence): Approved 4-0 for $263,257 to finish 3,600 linear feet of perimeter fence, funded 75% by Maryland Aviation Administration grant.
- Motter Avenue Stormwater Improvements: Two actions approved 4-0 each: (1) Special Ordinance S-24-30 reallocating $2.2 million in ARPA funds from other stormwater projects and $356,000 from stormwater fund balance to close a funding gap; (2) Contract with Triangle Contracting for up to $7,196,019 (including contingency) for 24-month construction. YMCA CEO Chris Colville urged faster action, noting past flood damages and long delays.
- Memorandum of Agreement with Maryland Historic Trust (Hotel/Conference Center): Approved 4-0. Councilmember McShane requested honoring slave labor history in interpretation. Councilmember Shackelford deferred finance questions.
- Reimbursement Letter with Plamondon Hospitality Partners: Approved 4-0 for $1 million state grant distribution. Councilmembers emphasized prompt payment and project scale, requesting updated economic study.
- Rezoning Conditions for 585 Himes Ave (Frederick County Prospect Center): Adopted 4-0 with four conditions: (1) maximize landscaping along US 15, (2) covered bicycle parking, (3) telecommunications tower limited to exclusively emergency communications use, (4) city and county to develop an agreement for city fiber optic conduit access across the site. Revised language accepted per county input.
- Payment in Lieu of Parkland (7615 Hayward Road): Resolution 24-26 approved 4-0, setting the fee at $95,000 for 112 apartments (1.29 acres required), based on July 2024 appraisal.
Key Outcomes
- All consent and hearing items approved with 4-0 votes, except license plate readers (3-0-1 abstention).
- Council adopted four conditions for the rezoning of 585 Himes Avenue; the rezoning ordinance will return for final acceptance on December 5, 2024.
- The meeting marked the last under the old mayor-council format; starting December 1, 2024, the mayor will no longer preside at council meetings under the new city government structure.
- The council did not take action on the ceasefire resolution requested by public speakers.
- Councilmember Nash abstained from the LPR vote due to a conflict of interest.
- The city will proceed with reallocating ARPA funds to ensure no funds are returned by the December 31, 2024 deadline.
Meeting Transcript
Council public meeting for the 21st of November. We begin with a pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. One undervisible with the team of justice. There'll be further explanation of that introduction a little bit later this evening. We have minutes to approve October 3rd, 2024. So moved second. Motion by Councilmember Shackelford, second by Councilmember Nash, all those in favor. That is 4-0. Thank you very much. Councilmember Kazemchak let us know earlier this evening that she was not feeling well and would be unable to join us this evening. October 17th, 2024, public meeting. So move. Second. Motion by Councilmember Shacklet, second by Council Member Nash, all those in favor. That is 4-0. Thank you very much. Public meeting closed session. Sorry, closed session, October 17th, 2024. So move. Second. Motion by Councilmember Shackleford, second by Council Member Nash. All those in favor. That is 4-0. Thank you very much. We have a number of appointments this evening. We begin with appointments to the Active Mobility Advisory Committee. Reappointment of Jennifer Whitmore for a four-year term of November 22nd, 2024 to November 21st, 2028. So move. Second. Motion by Councilmember Shackelford, second by Councilmember Russell. All those in favor. That is 4-0. Thank you very much. Appointment of Michael Nash for a four-year term of November 22nd, 2024 to November 21st, 2028 to the Airport Commission. So move. Second. Motion by Councilmember Shackerford, second by Council Member Nash, all those in favor. That is 4-0. Thank you. To the public art commission, we have three appointments this evening. Lisa Shire to a three-year term, November 22nd, 2024 to November 21st, 2027. So move. Second. Motion by Councilmember Shacklet, second by Councilmember Nash. All those in favor. That is 4-0. Appointment of Mary Francis Hardison Mashoppolis for a three-year term of November 22nd, 2024 to November 21, 2027. So move. Second.
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