OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Frederick City Council Public Meeting - July 16, 2026

City Council — Thursday, July 16, 2026
BodyFrederick, Maryland
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, July 16, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:29:30
Transcript — Verbatim
1:53

Call this July sixteenth a meeting of the City Council to order.

1:56

We will start with the Pledge of Allegiance.

2:06

And to the Republic for which it stands.

2:08

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

2:30

We will start with the approval of minutes.

2:34

This will be the approval of the July second, twenty twenty-six regular public meeting minutes.

2:40

Move to approve.

2:41

Second.

2:42

Move by Councilmember Taylor, second by Councilmember Bram.

2:45

All in favor.

2:48

Thank you.

2:49

Next, we have the consent agenda.

2:55

Do we have stuff on the consent agenda?

2:57

No.

2:57

Yes, one item.

3:02

How come I don't have it?

3:04

It's not on my list.

3:05

Okay, sorry.

3:06

All right, so now we can go for the consent agenda.

3:08

All items included under the consent agenda are considered to be routinely by the council.

3:12

They will be approved by one motion without separate discussion.

3:15

Each item, unless unless any person present requests an item or items to be removed from the consent agenda.

3:21

Any item removed from the consent agenda will be considered separately at the end of the consent agenda.

3:26

If you would like to have any of these items below considered separately, please say so when the council president announces the category.

3:43

Second.

3:44

Move by Councilmember Abkins, second by Council Member Bram.

3:47

All in favor.

3:56

Okay.

3:58

All right.

3:58

Uh next up, we have some uh purchase.

4:00

This is the approval of a contract for services with De Vere Installation Home Performance to provide weatherization services to eligible households.

4:15

Okay, perfect.

4:16

Good evening, Michelle Lott, Assistant Director for the Department of Housing and Human Services.

4:21

I'm here tonight before you for approval of a contract for services between the City of Frederick and De Vereinst Home Performance to provide weatherization services to eligible households within Frederick County.

5:04

The weatherization program historically has contracts with companies to perform the repairs and energy efficient services and work is assigned as needed.

5:13

Any questions?

5:15

Thank you.

5:16

Any questions from councilmember?

5:18

I'm just to confirm the funding for this is a grant from HHS, right?

5:21

And not from the city.

5:22

It comes from Department of Energy and Empower.

5:26

Okay, thank you.

5:29

Any other uh comments from Councilmember.

5:34

Any public comment?

5:38

Looking for a motion.

5:39

Motion to approve.

5:42

Second.

5:43

Move by Councilmember Bram, second by Councilmember Taylor.

5:47

All in favor.

5:48

34560.

5:50

Thank you so much.

5:53

And next we have uh an approval of a memorandum of understanding with Maryland School for the Deaf for the continuation of school resource officer services.

6:01

Lieutenant Corbett.

6:04

Lieutenant Corbett with the police department, respectfully requesting approval of the continued MOU between the city and Maryland School for the Deaf Frederick Campus.

6:14

Since 2019, the police department has provided SRO services to the local campus, and in return, MSD has funded uh reimbursed the city for the cost of an entry-level police officer with OPEB and all the related uh costs associated with that position.

6:30

Uh this has been a very mutually beneficial arrangement.

6:33

We would like to continue it.

6:34

Uh officer Maggie Crawford, formerly Maggie Lee.

6:37

You may have uh seen her out and about with facility dog Fred.

6:40

Uh they have been uh the SRO assigned to Maryland School for the Deaf for that entire time.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████13%
Transportation and Traffic█████████████13%
Public Safety████████8%
Public Comment████████8%
Noise Ordinance███████7%
Zoning And Land Use████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Committee Formation████4%
Parks and Recreation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Frederick City Council Public Meeting - July 16, 2026

The Frederick City Council held a public meeting on July 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM at City Hall. The meeting included approval of minutes, a consent agenda, several public hearing items, and a lengthy quasi-judicial hearing on the proposed rezoning of 24.33 acres of the Gateway property from General Commercial to Institutional to establish a special events center for cricket. The council also introduced a rodent control ordinance. Public comments were heard on multiple topics, with significant testimony regarding the cricket facility.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved release of a $119,311.55 letter of credit posted by Habitat for Humanity for improvements to the West All Saints Street project.

Public Hearings & Approvals

  • Weatherization Contract: Approved a contract for services with DeVere Insulation Home Performance to provide weatherization services to eligible households. Funding comes from the Department of Energy and not city funds. (Motion passed 6-0)
  • School Resource Officer MOU: Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maryland School for the Deaf to continue School Resource Officer services. The city has provided an SRO since 2019, reimbursed by MSD. (Motion passed 6-0)

Quasi-Judicial Hearing: Gateway Property Rezoning (Ordinance G-26-7) and Conditions of Rezoning

This was the first introduction of the ordinance to rezone 24.33 acres from General Commercial to Institutional for a cricket special events center. The council then held a hearing to consider conditions of rezoning proposed by the applicant (Washington Freedom). The hearing included sworn testimony, public comments, and council deliberation.

Applicant Presentation:

  • Bruce Dean (attorney for applicant) presented 17 proposed conditions, including limits on events (max 20 professional cricket matches/year, max 10 non-cricket events >1,500 people), an event management plan, traffic management, noise and light compliance, environmental protections, and a stakeholder group/event management commission.
  • Rohit Anand (Washington Freedom) reported the team's playoff success and emphasized community engagement, partnerships with local organizations, and commitment to being a good neighbor.

Public Comments & Testimony:

  • Supporters: Many spoke in favor, including:
    • A young resident who plays cricket and desires a proper field.
    • Tamika Thrasher (Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County) highlighted opportunities for youth.
    • Sunil Dasara (parent) noted lack of local facilities for his son's cricket dreams.
    • Mahesh Joshi (Dean, Hood College) discussed internship and academic program partnerships.
    • Venkata Dandu and Satvi Raval (parents) emphasized the need for safe, local cricket infrastructure.
    • Carol Sap (former planning commission member) argued the cricket park is less intensive than permitted commercial uses.
    • Jasmine Sneed and Vinay Gupta praised the applicant's long-term community investment.
  • Opponents/Concerns: Raised by nearby residents and advocates:
    • Laura Gibbs (neighbor) requested additional floodplain study and traffic analysis, citing flood risks and emergency access.
    • Darlene Balderson called it the wrong location for traffic.
    • Roberta Huber (via former traffic engineer) questioned coordination with the county and parking enforcement.
    • Sonia Lux Jolly (neighbor) worried about emergency response times.
    • Robert Wisner opposed, fearing taxpayer costs.
    • Mary Mannix (Frederick County Landmarks Foundation) argued the site is part of the Monocacy Battlefield National Historic Landmark and should be preserved.
    • Rebecca Chisholm and Vic Winkler (neighbors) asked for clear conditions and enforcement mechanisms.
    • Alex Botar (attorney for citizens) requested a full traffic impact study and flood study before rezoning, and more specific noise enforcement.
    • Steve Jakupsic and Alan Schaefer raised concerns about cumulative traffic and air quality.
    • Oscar Gregory suggested building grassroots support before a stadium.

Rebuttal by Applicant:

  • Bruce Dean responded to concerns, stating the floodplain study was reviewed by city, FEMA, and MDE; traffic subjects to city APFO; and the site was selected after evaluating many others. He noted the conditions provide strong guardrails.

Council Discussion & Amendments: The council reviewed the 17 conditions and made several changes:

  • Condition 1 (Event Management Plan): Added "at least" before components; added "on-site grass areas" to prohibited parking areas; added "or as mandated by the commission" for annual updates; added Frederick Police to the stakeholder group; clarified "chief operations officer or designee" to allow future event management commission to act as designee.
  • Condition 2: Amended to allow a future events management commission (by resolution, ordinance, or executive order) to perform stakeholder group functions.
  • Condition 4 (Professional cricket matches): Changed from 20 to 15 in the first calendar year; subsequent years may exceed 15 only with approval of COO in consultation with stakeholder group.
  • Condition 5 (Non-cricket events): Any increase beyond 10 per year subject to COO approval in consultation with stakeholder group.
  • Condition 9 (Music prohibition): Deleted entirely. Noise will be regulated by existing noise ordinance.
  • Condition 12 (Noise monitoring): Added requirement for applicant to provide on-site sound monitoring equipment to assist police enforcement of noise regulations.
  • New Condition 18: Events shall not be scheduled past 11:00 PM.
  • Attendance cap: Motion to cap first season at 5,000 failed (2-4). Condition 17 remains unchanged, allowing up to 10,000 individuals; events over 10,000 require a large event permit.

Key Outcomes:

  • The council adopted the July 7, 2026, conditions as amended (motion passed 6-0).
  • Resolution 09-23 (annexation of the Gateway property) was continued to the August 6, 2026, meeting.
  • Ordinance G-26-7 (rezoning) was introduced; a second public hearing will be held on August 6, 2026, after conditions are finalized and accepted by the applicant.
  • Ordinance G-26-6 concerning rodent control was introduced for first reading; discussion and public comment will occur at a future meeting.
  • Public comments also included a plea from a resident of Carroll Park Manor for rodent control measures, including improved trash collection and abatement.

Council Business/Comments

  • Councilmember O’Connor announced this would be her last in-person meeting due to impending childbirth; she will vote virtually if needed.
  • The meeting adjourned after the final votes.

Meeting Transcript

Call this July sixteenth a meeting of the City Council to order. We will start with the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We will start with the approval of minutes. This will be the approval of the July second, twenty twenty-six regular public meeting minutes. Move to approve. Second. Move by Councilmember Taylor, second by Councilmember Bram. All in favor. Thank you. Next, we have the consent agenda. Do we have stuff on the consent agenda? No. Yes, one item. How come I don't have it? It's not on my list. Okay, sorry. All right, so now we can go for the consent agenda. All items included under the consent agenda are considered to be routinely by the council. They will be approved by one motion without separate discussion. Each item, unless unless any person present requests an item or items to be removed from the consent agenda. Any item removed from the consent agenda will be considered separately at the end of the consent agenda. If you would like to have any of these items below considered separately, please say so when the council president announces the category. Second. Move by Councilmember Abkins, second by Council Member Bram. All in favor. Okay. All right. Uh next up, we have some uh purchase. This is the approval of a contract for services with De Vere Installation Home Performance to provide weatherization services to eligible households. Okay, perfect. Good evening, Michelle Lott, Assistant Director for the Department of Housing and Human Services. I'm here tonight before you for approval of a contract for services between the City of Frederick and De Vereinst Home Performance to provide weatherization services to eligible households within Frederick County. The weatherization program historically has contracts with companies to perform the repairs and energy efficient services and work is assigned as needed. Any questions? Thank you. Any questions from councilmember? I'm just to confirm the funding for this is a grant from HHS, right? And not from the city. It comes from Department of Energy and Empower. Okay, thank you. Any other uh comments from Councilmember. Any public comment? Looking for a motion. Motion to approve. Second. Move by Councilmember Bram, second by Councilmember Taylor. All in favor. 34560.

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