Frederick City Council Meeting: Ceasefire Debate, Annexation, and Hotel Approvals - August 21, 2025
Frederick City Council Meeting: Ceasefire Debate, Annexation, and Hotel Approvals - August 21, 2025
The Frederick City Council held a public meeting on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The agenda included routine consent items, major development agreements for the Downtown Hotel and Conference Center, annexation of the High Glen property, a rezoning, and an update to the parking code. A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to public testimony—both during the designated public comment period and following agenda items—concerning a proposed ceasefire resolution that had failed to advance at the previous meeting. Council members approved all agenda items, with one recusal and one abstention.
Consent Calendar
- Grants: Approved acceptance of FY2026 Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) grant, FY2026 Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN) grant with interlocal agreements with Frederick County Sheriff, Brunswick, and Thurmont, and FY2026 Police Recruitment and Retention (PRAR) grant from the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. (Vote 5-0)
- Special Ordinances: Approved a budget amendment for revenue and expenditures from the Town of New Market speed camera program. Council President Nash recused himself; vote 4-0 (one abstention).
Public Comments & Testimony
Over 15 residents addressed the council, the majority urging adoption of a ceasefire resolution calling for an end to U.S. complicity in violence in Gaza and elsewhere.
- Tina Meadows O'Rear expressed sadness that Councilmember Ksimchak’s motions did not receive a second.
- Grady O'Rear praised Councilmember Ksimchak’s courage and recalled past city resolutions on national/international issues; urged the council to endorse the resolution.
- Emily Van Norden criticized the council for not allowing discussion, declared the issue local, noted that over 150 municipalities have acted, and pleaded for adoption.
- Summer Crenshaw urged the council to add the resolution to the agenda for dialogue.
- Natasha Ahmed read poems and asked the council to speak for children in Gaza.
- Khalil Shazley played an audio clip of a former Green Beret criticizing the IDF and urged the council not to allow Frederick to be "Israeli occupied."
- Patty Clements asked council members directly whether they are for or against genocide and ceasefire.
- Zakaria, a Palestinian child, recited a poem calling for action.
- Yusuf, a Palestinian, expressed anger at silence and urged support.
- Tas Fatima drew parallels to Nazi Germany and other genocides, urging the council to take a stand.
- Rafika Turnier stated society is witnessing a "Holocaust" and urged the council to stand on the right side of history.
- Robert Sharp, a lifelong resident, shifted focus to public safety: criticized red-light running, traffic congestion on Market Street, and water quality.
- Paige Corey apologized for not intervening when a man exposed himself at a prior meeting, and urged the council to condemn genocide.
- David of the Golden Mile expressed disappointment at Councilmembers Shackelford and Russell for not seconding the motion, accusing them of supporting colonialism.
- Jim Wagner called the failure to second "disgusting" and noted precedents for international resolutions.
- Musa described personal grief and detailed bombing dynamics, urging the council to comprehend the horrors.
- Anthony Mills stated it is a shame that children must beg for life and criticized council silence.
- An additional unnamed speaker said silence is "extremely telling" and criticized the council for not defending their decision.
After the parking ordinance, brief additional public comment occurred:
- A speaker quoted Nelson Mandela on Palestine.
- Another speaker urged a more holistic governance approach.
- Paige Corey again spoke, noting children lose limbs without anesthesia.
Downtown Hotel and Conference Center
Director of Economic Development Richard Griffin presented three related agreements:
- Second Amendment to MOU with Frederick County: Clarifies that the city’s loan will be made to Carroll Creek Lodging LLC (not Plumont Hospitality Partners).
- Master Development Agreement: Memorializes final terms for the $103.5 million Marriott Downtown at Carroll Creek Hotel and Conference Center. Project includes 204 guest rooms, 74,500 room nights annually, 26,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, four food and beverage outlets, 2,600 sq. ft. of retail, and 200 on-site parking spaces. Also includes renovation of the historic Frederick Trolley Building and the adjacent Eagles Building.
- Agreed Material Terms of City Loan: Outlines up to $4.37 million in financing (city portion $2 million less $150,000 previously provided) for refinancing of property acquisition debt, secured by deed of trust, with 10-year repayment term.
Councilmember Ksimchak asked for the total city investment in the project (including sunk costs) but was not provided a number; she expressed frustration at not having received an answer before. A public commenter questioned parking adequacy and construction impacts. The council voted 5-0 to approve each of the three items.
High Glen Annexation
Director of Planning Gabrielle Collard presented the annexation of 71.94 acres on Yellow Springs Road. The property will be zoned R4 (Low Density Residential) with development capped at 256 residential units, to be developed as a Planned Neighborhood Development. Key terms in the annexation agreement include:
- Regional infrastructure contribution of $8,000 per unit, with annual escalation not to exceed 15%.
- Contribution of $2,000 per EDU toward a new water tank.
- Easement for the North Branch Trail; if the trail is not built by the developer, the contribution increases to $8,750 per unit.
- Off-site APFO improvements may be deducted from contributions.
Bruce Dean, attorney for the applicant, noted the property owner (Marvin Osherman) does not intend to develop soon but wants to negotiate with the current council. Public comment: Aaron McNabb supported the annexation for housing supply and trail funding. The council approved all three components: Annexation Agreement (5-0), Resolution to Adopt Annexation Plan (5-0), and Resolution to Annex (5-0).
Faith Reformed Presbyterian Church Rezoning
Quasi-judicial hearing to rezone 4.08 acres from R4 to Institutional floating zone to conform with the existing church use. Staff found no population or traffic changes, compatibility with surrounding uses, and consistency with the comprehensive plan. Applicant concurred. Councilmember Ksimchak offered findings. Approved 5-0.
Parking Code Amendment
Director Griffin presented an ordinance to update Chapter 13, Article II (Stopping, Standing, and Parking). Changes delegate authority to the Parking Manager, enable digital enforcement, and add prohibition on parking in bike lanes. A redline version was not readily available; Council President Nash recused himself as he had not been able to review the final changes. Vote: 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 1 abstention (Nash abstained).
Other Actions
- Approval of August 7, 2025 Minutes: Approved 5-0.
- Microsoft Office 365 Software Purchase: Approved a three-year purchase order to SHI for $154,072.46 per year. (Vote 5-0)
- Grove Hill Parkland Fee in Lieu: Approved resolution establishing a $65,340 fee in lieu of dedicating 0.78 acres of parkland for the Grove Hill Planned Neighborhood Development. (Vote 5-0)
Key Outcomes
- Ceasefire resolution not brought forward; Councilmember Ksimchak stated she will not move it again unless there is sufficient support.
- All consent and hearing items approved as described.
- Votes:
- Minutes, Grants, Special Ordinances (Nash recused): passed.
- Microsoft 365 purchase, Grove Hill fee, three Hotel agreements, three High Glen annexation items, Church rezoning: 5-0.
- Parking ordinance: 4-0 (Nash abstaining).
- Council will schedule a presentation on construction impacts of the hotel project.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the August twenty first City Council public meeting. We will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. Move for approval. Move a first and second all in favor. That's four. We will say it's four to zero with an under there, he is five zero. Thank you, Councilmember McShane joining us virtually. Uh, Council Member McShane, I'm gonna take you last, so you have time to unmute, but we can start uh to my right. No comments tonight, Council Vice President. Not right now. Council the council vice president had a little bit of dental surgery, so he's maybe quiet tonight. Uh councilmember McShane, anything up here. Just uh belated happy birthday to my colleagues. Um, since you've celebrated birthdays since we've been here. But we'll get right into it. So many birthdays. Okay, we'll get right into public comments. Um, do we have our sign in sheet, Miss Claire? I did Yeah. Thank you, my dear. If you wish to offer public comment, please be aware of the following guidelines. Each speaker will be allotted three minutes to share your comments. When it's your turn to speak, please begin by stating your name and if applicable, a 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 questions or interrupt you. You are we are all we are willing to answer questions, so if you'd like to email us, uh certainly you can email us at city council at city of FrederickMD.gov, city council at cityoffredric MD.gov. And if you have written materials that accompany your remarks, we encourage you to email those as well. Those who signed up will speak first, and I'll read names down, I'll read about three at a time so you have time to prepare. And depending on our agenda, we may pause. We do have a heavy agenda tonight uh with some pretty heavy items, so time-consuming items, so but we should be able to get through, looks like we'll be all right. Um we use the rules of procedure, which was most recently passed by resolution 24-27. And per our rules of procedure, conduct that disrupts the meeting or interferes with the rights of others to speak or attend and observe the meeting is not acceptable. We also have posted our code of civility in this boardroom. Please please take notes of exits for your safety and silence all electronic devices. Thank you for being here to engage. We have our first three speakers, Tina Meadows Ariar, Grady O'Rear, and Emily Van Norten. Good evening. My name is Tina Meadows O'Rear. Um I um a lot of people ask me tonight how I'm doing, and um I'm sad. Uh I'm sad that um councilwoman Kazemchek's uh um motion last meeting, her two motions, um, could not even gain a second from this group. Uh even a second that would launch discussion. I uh was born in Frederick and grew up here, spent most of my life here. Uh still have a home here. And when I was growing up, I had an amazing uh I didn't know it was amazing then, but I had an amazing sense of having enough. I had a big family around me, three generations, and I always felt like it was easy to be generous. It it wasn't a big deal. It was what I was taught we were supposed to be. And because I felt secure and full, uh it was not a big gymnastic move to be generous. It was it was like having so much that giving to others did not diminish me. It actually filled me even more. And um I had parents who had that same sense of fullness.
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