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Record of Proceedings

City Council Workshop Meeting - May 8, 2024

City Council Committee Meetings — Wednesday, May 8, 2024
BodyFrederick, Maryland
SessionCity Council Committee Meetings
DateWednesday, May 8, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:07:42

Original source
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0:08

For the 8th of May.

0:09

We begin with the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:14

I pledge allegiance to the Claire of the United States of America.

0:21

Undergone individual.

0:28

We have minutes to approve April 17th, 2024.

0:32

So moved.

0:32

Second.

0:33

Motion by Alderman Shackleberg, second by Alderman Zemcheck.

0:35

All those in favor.

0:36

That is five zero.

0:38

Thank you very much.

0:38

April 24th.

0:40

So moved.

0:45

Motion by Alderman Shackleford, second by Alderwood Kazemchek.

0:48

All those no, no.

0:50

Alderman.

0:51

Albert McShane.

0:52

Second by Alderman McShane.

0:53

All those in favor.

0:56

I I was not here and I was not able to watch it.

1:00

Four zero, one abstention, Alderoman Kazem check.

1:05

We do have a business meeting today.

1:06

Items on the business meeting agenda are considered routine by the mayor and board her pursuant to the rules of procedure of the board of aldermen approved in one motion without separate discussion of each item, unless any person present requests an item or items be removed from the agenda.

1:19

An item that is removed will be considered separately either at the end of the business meeting or a regular public meeting.

1:24

So if you would like any of the items below considered separately, please say so when I announce the category.

1:28

Category A is special ordinances.

1:32

I'm sorry.

1:34

Move for approval.

1:36

Okay.

1:41

I apologize.

1:42

I'm missing something here.

1:48

I'm sorry.

1:48

Again, my ears not completely right.

1:50

I do want to talk about that, please.

1:54

Do you want to poll that item?

1:56

Yes.

1:57

Okay.

1:58

Uh grants.

2:03

Move for approval.

2:05

Second.

2:06

Motion by Alderman Russell, seconded by Alderman Xemchick.

2:09

All those in favor.

2:11

Five zero.

2:12

Thank you very much.

2:12

Item C is fee waiver.

2:14

Oh request for to move the mayor.

2:17

All right.

2:18

So we'll go back to item number one, which is special ordinance to amend the fiscal year 2024 budget with an increase of 431,135 dollars to expend all final grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, OASH lifting every voice grant.

2:44

Hi, Ashley Wars, Senior Assistant Director in Housing and Human Services.

2:48

So over the last several years, we have had this lifting all voices grant.

2:52

We've been doing uh work in partnership with the Asian American Center of Frederick County as well as the University of Maryland.

3:00

We did a budget amendment after an extension earlier this year.

3:03

However, we did not pull over all the money.

3:06

So in working to remedy some things with finance, we realized we had remaining grant funds available.

3:11

Um however, even though we have grant funding from the funder available, unless it's in our budget, we can't spend it.

3:17

So we just kind of need to move the money into the budget officially so that way we can finalize, allocate all the expenses, and close out the grant before the end of the fiscal year.

3:26

So uh the issue that I have with this is the issue that I have with a lot of um different things that come forward.

3:33

What you just said to us, that's our entire backup.

3:36

So you want we have some extra money and you want to spend it.

3:40

And we have some partnerships, but it doesn't.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Youth Programs█████████████████████████████████████████████49%
Community Engagement█████████████████18%
Public Comment███████████████16%
Procedural███████8%
Fiscal Sustainability███3%
Funding Programs███3%
Budget Equity Analysis██2%
Disability Rights█1%
Summary of Proceedings

City Council Workshop Meeting - May 8, 2024

The Frederick City Council held a workshop meeting on May 8, 2024, at 3:00 PM. The meeting included the approval of minutes, routine business items, a discussion on a budget amendment, a fee waiver request, and a detailed presentation on a proposed youth center. The council voted on several items and heard public comments.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: April 17, 2024, minutes were approved unanimously (5-0). April 24, 2024, minutes were approved 4-0 with one abstention (Alderwoman Kazemchek).
  • Grant Agreement: Approval of a FY25 Grant Agreement with the Maryland Department of Health for School Based Health Center Operations was approved unanimously (5-0).

Discussion Items

  • Special Ordinance 24-19: A budget amendment to increase the FY2024 budget by $431,135 to expend final grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services Lifting All Voices Grant. Ashley Wars, Senior Assistant Director in Housing and Human Services, explained the need to move funds into the budget to close out the grant. Alderman Shackelford expressed opposition, citing insufficient information in the backup about the grant's use. The motion passed 4-1, with Alderwoman McZemcek opposed.
  • Fee Waiver Request: A request by Deaf Pickleball of the United States of America, Inc. to waive a $250 fee for gymnasium rental at William Talley Recreation Center for a preliminary tournament on May 11, 2024, to raise funds for a national tournament. Bob Smith from Parks and Recreation noted the Parks Commission recommended against the waiver due to precedent and facility costs, though they supported the event. Audrey Frank, an organizer, stated the tournament would raise funds for the Maryland Deaf Community Center. One alderman recused themselves due to contractual work with the center. The motion to waive the fee passed 3-2.
  • Proposed Youth Center at 300 Scotty’s Bus Lane: Romenta Catrell, Director of Housing and Human Services, and Lee Adams, Executive Director of the Oshman Family Foundation, presented a plan to transfer a county-owned building to the city for a youth center serving ages 14-24. The project is a collaborative effort with over 120 youth providers, aiming to create a hub for services including employment, behavioral health, and education. The estimated city operational costs are $400,000-$600,000 annually, plus $70,000 for building maintenance. Several aldermen expressed support but raised concerns about placing the center under Housing and Human Services and the need for detailed operational plans. Alderman Shackelford stated he would not support it under that department. The next steps include presenting two MOUs in a few weeks: one for the county donation and one for the Oshman Family Foundation to occupy the building until construction. The target ribbon-cutting is 2027.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Josh Peterson: Resident and volunteer, expressed strong support for the youth center, emphasizing the youth council involvement and the center as a poverty prevention tool.
  • Brandon Chapman: Father, entrepreneur, and mentor, supported the center as a safe space for youth to find themselves and develop skills.
  • McKenna: Youth speaker, described the center as a game changer for self-expression and community connection.
  • Tiana Massicoy: Representing the education commission, highlighted the need for youth supports amid a mental health crisis.
  • Jason Francis: Youth worker and former resident, shared personal experience and advocated for the center as a safe space with caring adults.
  • Veronica Lowe: Grandmother and school board candidate, expressed excitement and the need for such a space.
  • Cindy Morgan: Founder of Steadfast, highlighted the center's role in preventing youth homelessness and building community.
  • Diana Fulshawan: Vice President of community impact at the Community Foundation, noted funding trends for collective impact projects and state support for youth mental health.
  • Natasha Valencia: Mother of four, praised the collaboration and expressed hope for the center's impact on socialization post-COVID.

Key Outcomes

  • Special Ordinance 24-19: Approved 4-1.
  • Fee Waiver: Approved 3-2 with one recusal.
  • Youth Center: Council directed staff to return with detailed MOUs in a few weeks. Further discussions on departmental placement and operational funding are expected.

Meeting Transcript

For the 8th of May. We begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the Claire of the United States of America. Undergone individual. We have minutes to approve April 17th, 2024. So moved. Second. Motion by Alderman Shackleberg, second by Alderman Zemcheck. All those in favor. That is five zero. Thank you very much. April 24th. So moved. Motion by Alderman Shackleford, second by Alderwood Kazemchek. All those no, no. Alderman. Albert McShane. Second by Alderman McShane. All those in favor. I I was not here and I was not able to watch it. Four zero, one abstention, Alderoman Kazem check. We do have a business meeting today. Items on the business meeting agenda are considered routine by the mayor and board her pursuant to the rules of procedure of the board of aldermen approved in one motion without separate discussion of each item, unless any person present requests an item or items be removed from the agenda. An item that is removed will be considered separately either at the end of the business meeting or a regular public meeting. So if you would like any of the items below considered separately, please say so when I announce the category. Category A is special ordinances. I'm sorry. Move for approval. Okay. I apologize. I'm missing something here. I'm sorry. Again, my ears not completely right. I do want to talk about that, please. Do you want to poll that item? Yes. Okay. Uh grants. Move for approval. Second. Motion by Alderman Russell, seconded by Alderman Xemchick. All those in favor. Five zero. Thank you very much. Item C is fee waiver. Oh request for to move the mayor. All right. So we'll go back to item number one, which is special ordinance to amend the fiscal year 2024 budget with an increase of 431,135 dollars to expend all final grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, OASH lifting every voice grant. Hi, Ashley Wars, Senior Assistant Director in Housing and Human Services. So over the last several years, we have had this lifting all voices grant.

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