Frederick City Council Public Meeting - April 3, 2025
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Frederick City Council Public Meeting - April 3, 2025
The Frederick City Council held a regular public meeting on April 3, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Hall. The meeting included a proclamation for Transgender Day of Visibility, approval of previous minutes, a reappointment, public comments on multiple topics, approval of a waterline agreement, and introduction of two ordinances.
Presentation/Proclamation
- Trans Day of Visibility Proclamation: The Council proclaimed March 31, 2025, as Transgender Day of Visibility in the City of Frederick. Martin Scarborough, representing the Frederick Center, accepted the proclamation and spoke about the importance of visibility for transgender individuals, especially amid national threats to rights. Councilmembers expressed pride in the city's inclusivity.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tina Meadows (Frederick for Justice in Palestine): Urged the Council to adopt a resolution calling for justice and peace in Palestine, noting the recent breakdown of a ceasefire and the impact on local Islamic residents.
- Grady O'Rear (Frederick resident): Supported a ceasefire resolution, citing over 1,000 Palestinians killed since March 18, 2025, and argued that U.S. tax dollars enable war crimes.
- Dorsey Gilbert (241 East 2nd Street): Complained about a $16,000 sidewalk repair bill for damage caused by tree roots, noting that 85–87% of sidewalk issues are tree-related. He asked for the city to cover more of the cost.
- Yusuf (speaker did not provide full name): Urged a ceasefire resolution, invoking Martin Luther King Jr. and arguing that the Gaza genocide is funded by the U.S. and will eventually affect local communities.
- Tess (speaker did not provide full name): Requested a ceasefire resolution, citing statistics on children killed, amputees, and a newborn beheaded in an air strike. She accused the Council of complicity through silence.
- David Wolinski (Frederick resident): Drew parallels between the Holocaust and current inaction, and read a poem (time expired).
- Sarah Hempel Irani (West 7th Street): Expressed pride in the city for its support of the deaf community and the Trans Day of Visibility proclamation.
Discussion Items
- Approval of Minutes: The Council unanimously approved the minutes from the March 6, 2025, meeting (5-0).
- Reappointment to Zoning Board of Appeals: Jim Racheff was reappointed for a three-year term (April 19, 2025 – April 18, 2028) by a 5-0 vote.
- First Amendment to MOU with Yankee Land, LLC: The Council approved the first amendment to a memorandum of understanding for the design and construction of a portion of the Fishing Creek Waterline (CIP 360031) through Kellerton Land Bay D&E. The amendment adjusts the city's cost share due to increased construction costs. Motion carried 5-0.
- Annexation Announcement: The city announced receipt of a request to amend Resolution 09-23 for the annexation of 52.002 acres located on the eastern side of the city, south of Interstate 70 and north of MD Route 144.
- Introduction of Ordinance G-25-11 (Invasive Bamboo): The ordinance would prohibit selling or planting invasive bamboo, require containment measures, and impose civil penalties for violations.
- Introduction of Ordinance G-25-12 (Taxicabs): The ordinance removes marijuana from the list of illegal drugs for taxi driver drug testing, eliminates the cap on taxicab permits, reduces permit fees, extends permit validity to two years, and expands the disqualifying crimes period from two to four years.
Key Outcomes
- Votes:
- Approval of March 6, 2025, minutes: 5-0.
- Reappointment of Jim Racheff to Zoning Board of Appeals: 5-0.
- Approval of First Amendment to MOU with Yankee Land, LLC: 5-0.
- Introductions: Ordinance G-25-11 and G-25-12 were introduced for future consideration.
- Next Steps: The annexation amendment will follow the city's public hearing and approval process. The two ordinances will be scheduled for public hearings and final votes.
Meeting Transcript
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.
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