Frederick City Council Meeting: March 5, 2026

The Frederick City Council met on March 5, 2026, to consider a consent agenda, several purchase contracts, and three tax credit ordinances. The meeting also included public comments on government reform and a skate park project, as well as councilmember remarks on community safety.

Consent Calendar

• Request to serve alcohol on city property: Approved 7-0.
• Special ordinance S26-2: Approved 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kathy Anderson (Fairview Avenue resident) urged the council to reform the appointment process for boards and commissions, arguing the current system concentrates power in the mayor's office. She proposed moving to an open council interview model and requiring independent legal counsel for ethics and planning boards to avoid conflicts of interest. She requested a legislative work session on these reforms.
• Kelly Russell spoke in support of the Hill Street Skate Park project, detailing the decade-long advocacy and planning process from 2004 to the present. She emphasized the project's deliberate, step-by-step progression.
• Winston (11-year-old) expressed excitement for the new skate park, saying it would help his training and welcome new skaters.
• Isaiah Rosser (Embark Skate Shop) thanked the council on behalf of the skating community, highlighting the need for a safe, modern, and unique skate park.
• Donica Zemchak asked questions during the tax credit discussions regarding eligibility for the surviving spouse credit and the selection of emergency workers over other professions.

Discussion Items

Skate Park at Hill Street Park

• Presentation: Jonathan Whitting (DPW) requested approval of a $1,688,766 contract with Grindline Skate Parks for design, demolition, and construction of a new skate park, plus $160,208 contingency, totaling $1,848,974. The project is partially funded by a $1 million Outdoor Recreation Legacy Program grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, with city matching funds. The timeline is 247 days after approval, with completion expected early next year. Three community meetings will be held during the design phase.
• Council Questions: Councilmembers inquired about the lifespan (20 years for concrete), the current park's age (built 2004), and community engagement opportunities.
• Outcome: Motion to approve passed 7-0.

McCurdy Field Athletic Lighting Replacement

• Presentation: Scott Gesey (Park Superintendent) requested a purchase order of $113,346 to Musco Sports Lighting for LED replacement of the 1973 lighting system at McCurdy Field, a 102-year-old facility. The project is part of ongoing renovations, including recent sod replacement and irrigation. Future improvements include bleacher replacement and ADA upgrades.
• Council Questions: Discussion on timeline (lights not available for spring season; expected late June/early July), single-source procurement through a cooperative agreement, and next steps.
• Outcome: Motion to approve passed 7-0.

Lotes Field Athletic Lighting Retrofit

• Presentation: Scott Gesey requested a purchase order of $131,065 to Musco Sports Lighting to retrofit Lotes Field with repurposed metal halide fixtures from Harry Grove Stadium, saving the city money. The original lights date to 1990. The repurposed lights have less than 5,000 hours of use and are expected to last 15 more years.
• Council Questions: Clarification that the reused lights are not LED; the new stadium lights are LED and color-changing, required for Major League affiliation with the Keys.
• Outcome: Motion to approve passed 7-0.

Verizon Tower Lease Amendment at McCurdy Field

• Presentation: Mark Lawrence (Facility Manager) presented a second amendment to the lease agreement with Cell Co Partnership (Verizon) for a tower at McCurdy Field. The original 2009 lease was at risk of termination due to high costs, but a sublease with AT&T stabilized the arrangement. The amendment extends the Verizon lease to run concurrent with the AT&T sublease, providing the city approximately $60,000 per year in income.
• Council Discussion: Several councilmembers expressed frustration with poor cell service in their districts (e.g., Warman's Mill, Whittier, Tasker's Chance) and the lack of company representatives at the meeting. They questioned whether the city is getting the best deal and suggested hiring a tower management company like Milestone to negotiate future leases. Councilmember Atkins requested follow-up to address service deficiencies.
• Outcome: The motion to approve passed with a vote of 4-2-1 (4 in favor, 2 opposed, 1 abstain), though the council president noted confusion in the vote tally. The transcript indicates the vote was unclear.

Tax Ordinances

Disabled Veterans Property Tax Credit Update

• Presentation: Rachel Gray (City Attorney) presented ordinance G-5-D-257 to update the definition of "disabled veteran" to include those with a non-permanent service-connected disability of 100%, aligning with state law. Currently, nine veterans use the program. The change is permitted but not required; Frederick County has already adopted it.
• Outcome: Approved 7-0.

Property Tax Credit for Surviving Spouse of a Fallen Emergency Worker

• Presentation: Katie Bartle (CFO) presented ordinance G-25-24 to establish a 100% city property tax credit for the surviving spouse of a fallen emergency worker (law enforcement, fire, EMS) who died in the line of duty. The credit lasts five years and applies to the primary residence. Frederick County offers a similar credit and will administer it jointly. The fiscal impact is expected to be minimal.
• Public Questions: Donica Zemchak asked about eligibility (coverage of all emergency workers, not just city employees; line-of-duty requirement) and why other professions were not included. Council clarified the state-law authorization.
• Outcome: Approved 6-1, with one abstention.

Property Tax Credit for Daycare Center Improvements

• Presentation: Katie Bartle presented ordinance G-25-25 to establish a tax credit for real property improvements used exclusively for licensed daycare, effective July 1, 2025. The credit is the lesser of $10,000 or the city property tax attributable to the improvement, claimed for five consecutive years. The credit was expanded to include child care centers on business property. The county has adopted similar changes. Estimated fiscal impact: $40,000–$60,000 annually if 4–6 providers participate.
• Council Discussion: Councilmember Taylor emphasized the need for outreach to ensure providers are aware of the credit, suggesting coordination with the Childcare Consortium and Asian American Center.
• Outcome: Approved 7-0.

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items approved unanimously.
• Skate park, McCurdy lighting, and Lotes lighting contracts approved unanimously.
• Verizon lease amendment approved with a vote of 4-2-1 (unclear tally).
• Disabled veterans tax credit update approved 7-0.
• Surviving spouse tax credit approved 6-1.
• Daycare tax credit approved 7-0.
• Council directed staff to follow up on cell service issues with providers and explore tower management options.

Councilmember Remarks

• Councilmember Shackelford recognized Women's History Month, wished Noah Grove well in the Paralympics, and emphasized the importance of ensuring no one in the community lives in fear.
• Councilmember Atkins reported an immigration enforcement action at Hill Street Park that impacted children walking to school. He thanked colleagues for support and stressed the need to address community concerns.