Good evening and welcome to the April 3rd City Council regular public meeting.

We will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance.

We will begin this evening with a presentation of a proclamation for Trans Day of Visibility.

So if we'd like to come on around here.

I feel like every day.

Martin, would you like to come up?

And thank you to the several members of staff who helped us get this ready.

So I'll just read this.

And we have Martin.

Martin Scarborough.

Thank you, Martin Scarborough.

From the Frederick Center here to receive this.

He's a little busy right now.

So I'll just read this because I feel like it does a great job, and the folks who wrote it did a great job preparing it.

So whereas the City of Frederick recognizes the importance of visibility, dignity, and joy for transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people, whereas all residents of the City of Frederick, regardless of gender, deserve equitable access, positive interactions, and a sense of belonging in our community.

Whereas the City of Frederick honors the achievements and contributions of transgender residents and visitors and stands in solidarity with the fight of safety, equality, dignity, and respect for transgender people.

Whereas transgender and non-conforming individuals across our country and the world continue to face discrimination, barriers to gender affirming care, and a loss of legal protections.

Whereas the City of Frederick is committed to fostering connection, understanding, and appreciation between transgendered and cisgender communities, whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility, observed since 2009, celebrates the living members of this transgender community and promotes understanding of their authentic experiences.

Now for we as the City Council proclaim March 31st, 2025 as Transgender Day of Visibility in the City of Frederick.

And we encourage all, including Councilmember McShane, to work together towards a gender-inclusive city where everyone can live openly and authentic and authentically.

So we're a couple days late, but we just wanted to make sure that we were very affirming and certain in honoring transgender day of visibility.

Do you want to say anything?

Well, first off, thank you for all the support that you have shown for us.

And ultimately, it is about the spirit of the matter, not about the timeline.

So it's a really strange time in this world to be a transgender person in the U.S.

As I was walking down, I was thinking about how about six years ago I was sitting in a therapist's office watching my life kind of fall around part around me as I was struggling with my own gender identity and whether or not to come out and the Trump administration had just banned all transgender individuals in the military for the first time, which as someone who really wanted to go into civil service, that said an unspoken thing to me that I was not welcome in the US government.

And that's why trans day of visibility matters so much.

And I got to see so many young people who were getting to see role models of what their future could look like that I didn't get growing up here in Frederick County as a kid.

And so I can't thank the city council enough for the advocacy and work you do to protect our community and protect our rights, especially when we see them once again threatened on a national level.

And I just want you to know that the Frederick Center has your back just as you have ours.

So thank you so much for your support.

I think we're gonna get a picture really quickly.

Thank you for being you, Martin.

Thanks.

March 6, 2025.

So move.

Second.

Move a first and second.

All in favor?

That's five zero.

Thank you very much.

We have an appointment this evening, reappointment of Mr.

Jim Ratcha for a three-year term of April 19th, 2025 to April 18th, 2028.

Move for approval.

Second.

All in favor.

That's 5-0.

Thank you very much.

Council business comments.

We'll start over here to my right.

No comments, thank you.

Council member.

I just want to say I'm very proud to be part of a city that appreciates all people.

And that we have such the Frederick Center is an amazing place.

Cool Guy McShane.

Thank you.

I share those sentiments and am proud as always to represent and advocate for a welcoming, inclusive, beautiful community.

And thank you all for being part of it.

Also, sunglasses are super cool.

I also suffered a very unfortunate eye injury, and that will heal, but I'm in a challenging couple days of it, and therefore really need to limit uh light uh to one of my eyes.