Frederick City Council Public Meeting - June 5, 2025

The Frederick City Council held a regular public meeting on June 5, 2025, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included a Pride Month proclamation, public comments, approval of a consent agenda, numerous contracts and purchases, budget amendments, and final adoption of the FY2026 budget with a 2.5 cent property tax rate reduction. The meeting lasted approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes, concluding after 9:45 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: Approved minutes from the May 1, 2025 regular public meeting and the April 30, 2025 closed session (4-0).
• Appointments: Reappointed Melanie Gettier to the Public Art Commission (June 6, 2025 to June 5, 2028) and Carolyn Dockins to the Active Mobility Advisory Committee (June 6, 2025 to June 5, 2029) (4-0).
• Release of Surety: Approved release of $12,498.20 cash surety for the 328-A Madison Street project (5-0).
• Requests to Serve Alcohol on Public Property: Approved requests from Frederick Tennis, LLC for tournaments on June 8, 12, July 13, 17, August 3, and 7, 2025 at West 2nd Street tennis courts, and for the Pride/Lambda Car Club car show on June 28, 2025 at the City Lot adjacent to MARC Train Station (5-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• East 16th Street Bike Lanes: Multiple residents (Dave Erdman, Ed Remus, Lloyd Card, Sarah Carlton, and others) spoke in opposition to the proposed bike lanes on East 16th Street, citing safety concerns from reduced lane widths (12 to 10 feet), potential for vehicle side-swiping, impact on trash collection and snow plowing, and the existence of an alternative path completed three weeks ago. They urged the council to remove the street from the project.
• Gaza Ceasefire Resolution: Several speakers (Tina O'Rear, Grady O'Rear, Whitney Cummins, Claire Cummins, Zachariah, Yusuf, Solvey Mortenson, and Paige Corey) urged the council to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to U.S. support for the conflict. They cited statistics: over 50,000 Palestinians killed, including 17,400 children, and millions in Maryland taxpayer dollars used for weapons. They also noted the U.S. veto of UN Security Council resolutions.
• Airport Weather System: Dave Schmidt (resident of 6th Street) spoke in favor of replacing the airport weather observation system, emphasizing safety for aircraft flying over the area.
• Budget Cuts: Kim Loo (city legal department employee and resident) commented that the budget cuts (3.17 million reduction) would save individual property owners less than $100, questioning the cost-benefit.

Discussion Items

• Pride Month Proclamation: Council President Katie Nash read the proclamation declaring June 2025 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, honoring the Stonewall Uprising and the community's contributions. Several council members and representatives from the Frederick Center spoke in support. The mayor's office was thanked for drafting the proclamation.
• Fall Protection Hazard Analysis Survey (Item IX.A.1): Approved contract with HWA Corp ($89,540 agreement, $98,494 purchase order) for a fall protection hazard analysis survey at 13 city water and sewer facilities. (5-0).
• Weinberg Center Roof Replacement (Item IX.A.2): Approved contract with A&S Construction, LLC ($598,925.72 agreement, $643,690.28 purchase order) for a complete roof replacement with a 30-year warranty. The Department of Equity and Inclusion highlighted this as the first prime contract for a local SBE/MWBE firm. (5-0).
• Trinity Restroom Renovation (Item IX.A.3): Approved contract with Colossal Contractors, Inc. ($156,619.47) for ADA compliance renovations. Funded by CDBG ($110,000) and remaining project funds. Discussion noted only one responsive bid; the Business Outreach Coordinator cited contractor capacity issues. Councilmember O'Connor opposed, citing concerns about moving HHS to Trinity. Vote: 4-1.
• Residential Compost Program (Item IX.A.4): Approved agreement with Compost Crew, Inc. (1 year with 4 one-year extensions, not-to-exceed $600,000). Current participants: 1,773 households. Cost: $22 per household per month plus initiation. The program will expand from 1 to 5 drop-off sites. (5-0).
• Airport Weather Observation System (Item IX.A.5): Approved two items: Special Ordinance S-25-11 to amend the FY2025 budget ($160,000) and purchase order to Mesotech International ($160,000) for replacement of the ~20-year-old system. Funding: 75% state grant (pending July 1 application) and 25% city share. Councilmember O'Connor questioned the lack of county and federal funding; the airport manager acknowledged not asking the county yet and promised to do so. The city attorney noted the federal funding would have displaced planned capital projects. (5-0 on each).
• Westside Regional Park Community Center Design (Item IX.A.7): Approved agreement with Knu Design, LLC ($616,209) for design services for a ~24,000 sq ft community center. (5-0).
• Pump Track at Hill Street Park (Items IX.A.8 a-c): Approved three items: (a) MOU with State Highway Administration for grant funding ($150,000), (b) revised MOU with Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) for construction, and (c) purchase order to HMF Paving Contractors, Inc. ($285,742) for design and construction of a paved pump track. Discussion included the replacement of the existing dirt pump track, which has been difficult to maintain. Councilmember McShane requested future conversations about the dirt track's viability. (5-0 on each).
• Ballot Printing and Mailing (Item IX.A.9): Approved agreement with Fort Orange Press, Inc. ($280,700, corrected from $290,000) for printing and mailing of approximately 40,000 primary and 56,000 general election ballots for the 2025 city election. (5-0).
• Mayor Ron Young Tribute Sculpture (Item IX.B.1): Approved MOU with Community Foundation of Frederick County, Inc. for donation of a tribute sculpture. (5-0).
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Resolutions (Items IX.C.1 a-c): Approved three resolutions: (a) Resolution 25-04 authorizing submission of the FY2025-2029 Five-Year Consolidated Plan and FY2025 Annual Action Plan ($664,091 total, including $444,091 entitlement and $220,000 program income); (b) Resolution 25-05 amending the Citizen Participation Plan; (c) Resolution 25-06 approving a substantial amendment to the FY2019 Annual Action Plan to reprogram $108,241.27 in COVID funds for health clinic vaccines ($20,000), emergency rental assistance for advocates for homeless families ($30,000), and emergency rental assistance for a shelter ($58,241). (5-0 on each).
• Charter Amendment (Item IX.C.2): Approved Resolution 25-08 amending the city charter to change the mayoral veto override from five members to two-thirds of the council membership. The change was described as correcting a previous oversight. (5-0).
• High Glen Annexation (Item IX.C.3): Introduced Resolutions 25-09 (annexation plan) and 25-10 (annexation) for approximately 71.94 acres located east of Yellow Springs Road and north of Christophers Crossing. The property would be zoned R4 (low density residential). Referred to the council workshop on June 12, 2025.
• Employee Positions and Pay Scale – Ordinance G-25-13 (Item IX.D.1): Approved with amendments to remove the following new positions: community planning and urban design planner, superintendent of facilities maintenance, deputy chief of staff, economic development specialist, and HHS senior assistant director. The legislative assistant position was upgraded to legislative manager, eliminating a new position. Total savings: $910,226. The mayor noted the positions were needed for planning, facilities management, and economic development. Councilmember Kazimczek said the positions could be revisited mid-year. Vote: 3-2.
• FY2026 Budget Adoption – Special Ordinance S-25-09 (Item IX.D.2): Approved with amendments to reduce real property tax revenue by $3,172,371 (a 2.5 cent tax rate reduction), and corresponding expenditure reductions: removal of pay scale adjustment ($706,899), elimination of new positions ($600,843), elimination of new vehicle ($87,110), removal of senior assistant director of HHS ($175,072), upgrade of legislative assistant ($47,201), reduction of police professional services ($225,000), reduction of community promotions donations ($700,000) and grocery store gift card program ($50,000), and adjustments to other funds. The total cuts matched the revenue reduction. Councilmember Kazimczek argued that the city consistently has large fund balances ($35.4 million projected for FY2026) and that unspent money should be returned to taxpayers. The budget director explained that surpluses arise from unfilled positions, conservative estimates, and volatile investment income. Councilmember McShane supported the tax cut but noted the need to prioritize existing commitments. Vote passed.

Key Outcomes

• Pride Proclamation adopted for June 2025.
• Consent agenda and most routine items approved unanimously (5-0).
• Trinity Restroom Renovation approved 4-1, with Councilmember O'Connor opposed.
• Airport weather system approved with a commitment from the airport manager to seek county funding.
• Charter amendment for veto override approved (5-0).
• FY2026 budget adopted with a 2.5 cent property tax rate reduction, totaling $3.17 million in expenditure cuts. The mayor's office lost three new positions.
• High Glen annexation introduced for further discussion at the June 12 workshop.
• Several contracts awarded to local SBE/MWBE firms: The Business Outreach Coordinator noted that the total purchases awarded (excluding the airport system) amounted to $2.6 million for SBEs and $300,000 for MWBEs, with 29.8% MWBE participation across three projects with stated goals.