Frederick City Council Public Meeting - January 16, 2025
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Frederick City Council Public Meeting - January 16, 2025
The Frederick City Council held its regular public meeting on January 16, 2025, at 7:00 PM. Council President Nash presided, with Councilmembers Russell and the Vice President present. Councilmembers McShane and Kazimczek were absent, limiting the council to three voting members. This prevented the approval of budget-related special ordinances that require a four-vote majority. The council approved appointments, a consent agenda item, several public hearing items, and heard public testimony.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The council unanimously approved the minutes from the December 19, 2024 meeting (3-0).
- Zoning Board of Appeals Reappointment: Dixon Hicks was reappointed to a three-year term (February 4, 2025 to February 3, 2028) by a 3-0 vote.
- Planning Commission Appointment: Elaine Llewellyn was appointed to a five-year term (January 17, 2025 to January 16, 2030) by a 3-0 vote.
- Grant Acceptance: A U.S. Department of Justice 2024 BJA Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $40,929 was accepted (3-0).
Note: Several Special Ordinances (S-25-01, S-25-02, S-25-03) to amend the FY25 budget for various grants were deferred due to the lack of a quorum for budget votes.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tina Meadows (Shookstown Road): Speaking on behalf of Frederick Ceasefire Now, Ms. Meadows urged the council to adopt a ceasefire resolution. She noted a planned 42-day ceasefire between Israel and Palestine but argued it is not a permanent agreement, calling for sustained humanitarian aid and an end to the occupation of the West Bank. She announced a march and rally on February 2nd.
- Miran (Shookstown Road): Miran expressed cautious encouragement regarding the planned 42-day ceasefire but emphasized differences with the Frederick Ceasefire Resolution, including the need for a permanent ceasefire and the safe return of all hostages from both sides. He referenced a study estimating $8 trillion in U.S. war costs in the Middle East from 2001-2021, which he calculated equates to $80,000 per household in Frederick County. He urged the council to endorse the resolution.
Discussion Items
- Pool Management Services Agreement: Sean Cullen, Superintendent of Recreation, presented a three-year agreement with Continental Pools, LLC for lifeguard and maintenance services at the Edward P. Thomas, Jr. and William R. Diggs Memorial Swimming Pools. The council approved the agreement (3-0).
- Safe Streets for All Action Plan: Dave Edmondson, Transportation Planner, presented a contract with Mead & Hunt for $218,645 to develop a Safe Streets for All Action Plan, funded by a U.S. Department of Transportation grant. The 18-month project will integrate the Let's Move Frederick bike/ped plan and the Green Streets Master Plan. The council approved the contract (3-0).
- Downtown Frederick Streetscape Project: Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development, presented a proposal to piggyback on a Montgomery County contract with RKK Engineers for utility, parking, and design analysis work totaling $500,000. This item is tied to Special Ordinance S-25-04. City Attorney Rachel Nesson advised against approving the contract without the budget amendment, which could not be passed without a full council. The council voted to continue both the Special Ordinance and the contract to the next public hearing on February 6, 2025 (3-0).
- Collective Bargaining Agreements (FOP): City Attorney Rachel Nesson and HR Director Karen Paulson presented two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #91. The MOUs provide a 75% health insurance subsidy for commissioned and non-commissioned officers who retire due to a line-of-duty catastrophic disability, regardless of years of service. The change is retroactive to August 1, 2024. Councilmembers expressed strong support for the policy. The council approved both MOUs (3-0 each).
- Water and Sewer Rates (FY 2026-2030): The council introduced a resolution to establish water and sewer rates for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The resolution was referred to committee.
Key Outcomes
- Appointments Confirmed: Dixon Hicks (Zoning Board of Appeals) and Elaine Llewellyn (Planning Commission) were appointed unanimously.
- Contracts Approved: The pool management contract (Continental Pools) and Safe Streets Action Plan contract (Mead & Hunt) were approved.
- FOP MOUs Approved: Two MOUs providing catastrophic disability health insurance subsidies for police officers were approved.
- Item Deferred: The Downtown Streetscape Project contract and associated budget ordinance were continued to the February 6, 2025 meeting due to an insufficient quorum for budget amendments.
- Resolution Introduced: The water and sewer rate resolution was introduced and referred to committee.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the January 16th City Council regular public meeting. We will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. Good evening. You are welcome to tonight's regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council. If you wish to offer public comment, please be aware of the following guidelines. Each speaker will be allotted three minutes to share their comments. When it is your turn to speak, please begin by stating your name and if applicable, your general address. To ensure that you have an uninterrupted opportunity to speak, this will be your time. So that means that members of the council will not be answering any questions nor engage in discussion. We are often willing to answer questions after the meeting, and so you can always email us at city council at City of FrederickMD.gov. And also if you have written materials to accompany your remarks, we welcome those as well. Those who signed up first will speak first. Um and that sign-up sheet is over there on the table as it always is. The city council uses rules of procedure, which were most recently passed by resolution 24-27. And we have also posted our code of stability in this boardroom. Please take note of exits for your safety and silence all electronic devices. Thank you for being here this evening. Move for approval. Second. Thank you. We have a first and second. All in favor? That's three zero. Thank you very much. Uh, we were notified by Councilmember McShane and Councilmember Kazimczek that they would not be joining us this evening. And so that means that we will not be taking up any of our special ordinance uh budget items. So if you're here for those items on the off chance, we didn't grab you ahead of time, just like making sure that you know that's coming. Uh we also have appointments this evening for the zoning board of appeals, reappointment of Dixon Hicks for a three-year term of February 4th, 2025 to February 3rd, 2028. So move. Second. First and second, all in favor. That's three zero. And to the planning commission, appointment of Elaine Ullen for a five-year term of January 17th, 2025 to January 16th, 2030. So move. Second. First and second. All in favor. That's three zero. Um, back up here for council business or comments. Um, my vice president, would you like to begin? No comments, thank you. Councilmember Russell. Okay, I'll just uh say a couple quick things. Um we have a lot of changes going on. Always want to highlight the fact that we are having ongoing discussions about districting. If you are interested in that, we had a very good special meeting. I was happy that um I know the council vice president was able to make it. Thankful to city staff for hosting that. As the word is getting out, uh, please continue to plug in about that. Um, we also have changes coming.
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