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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Frederick Housing, Health, and Education Committee Meeting - March 20, 2025

City Council Committee Meetings — Thursday, March 20, 2025

BodyFrederick, Maryland

SessionCity Council Committee Meetings

DateThursday, March 20, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:37:27

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:35

Thank you everybody for being here.

0:37

If we it seems like we can hear pretty well on this this morning.

0:42

Is there any problem out there?

0:44

If at any point in time you all have issues hearing, please just let us know because sometimes we do, and the purpose is really to make sure that everybody can hear.

0:56

So we'll stop and fix whatever we need to fix.

0:59

Um the first is the approval of the March 6th minutes.

1:05

So moved.

1:06

And I'll second that in favor.

1:08

Thank you.

1:10

Um we're gonna take a review of the ordinance 2509 concerning rental licensing and affordable housing conservation.

1:20

We did have a conversation about this and about how to make some changes um on this to make it better serve the city.

1:29

So I'm just gonna send it over legal.

1:35

Thank you.

1:36

Um essentially the purpose of this ordinance is to eliminate the tenant protection fund and make the uses of the rental assistance fund more um flexible.

1:51

Uh we put in some very broad language there about the permissible uses of that fund.

1:58

Um so basically uh it allows to for that fund to provide financial and other assistance to eligible low-income renters, including but not limited to those affected by the implementation or enforcement of the rental licensing program, and then it gives some examples of things that can be used for.

2:17

Um so hopefully it's relatively straightforward.

2:19

That is in subsection C of section 12.5-87.

2:26

Also in that section, subsection uh becomes the new E.

2:31

This is not something we talked about, but just a suggestion of mine.

2:34

Uh the current language says honor before July 1st, 2023.

2:38

The Director of Housing and Human Services will establish regulations to implement you know the requirements of this section.

2:46

I would suggest striking the honor before July 1, 2023 and putting subject to the approval of the city council.

2:54

Um it seems like there's been an expectation that the council is going to approve those regulations, so I thought that should just be stated in there.

3:03

And then just some minor changes about the annual report in section 12.5-88, uh, eliminating the reference to the board of aldermen and requiring the director of public works to present his report to to this committee or another committee if if determined by the city council president.

3:23

That's about it.

3:24

Thank you.

3:25

Yeah, um, quick and easy.

3:26

In essence, what has happened is we are we're taking 50% of the funding toward, and we we have it listed here as um, we still have it listed as a rental assistance fund, and I'm not really sure that that's because it's it's a rental assistance fund, it's a tenant, a tenant assistance fund.

3:48

Um it's not just rent that the money might be used for.

3:54

So I'm not really sure how appropriate it is to continue to call it a rental assistance fund when it covers more than just rent.

4:03

You know, now that those have been put together, so maybe we could do a little um thinking about it and just find a name that more appropriately fits what's happening, but the funding then will be um tenants, rentals, etc.

4:22

And um affordable housing, separating those half and half.

4:27

So um that's pretty much it.

4:30

Um council member Shackelford, any no, I don't have any comment.

4:35

Um yeah, I do have comments.

4:37

Um, I appreciate particularly I know we do have some conversation discussion around um allocation in terms of the director.

4:45

Um coming before this this body, um, and and us approving whether how those funds would be dispersed and used instead of um the director making that decision in isolation.

5:00

So I appreciate that being included in the ordinance and you write um Councilmember Kazimczek, it may be appropriate, and we can maybe before um this comes to public hearing, we can have some conversation around just uh a different name.

5:13

Or name that may be more appropriate, it encompasses all that we're saying.

5:16

So that way there's no um ambiguity in regards to it just means simply a release design.

5:23

Maybe we just say a housing fund.

5:25

Yeah, and we and we can work on that together.

5:27

I mean, before it comes for an actual vote, just the naming of it, I don't know that that's a big deal.

5:36

Well, that I appreciate the work on this, and I know we had some discussion around this um in our last uh committee hearing meeting.

5:44

So I'm trying to move this forward.

5:47

Thank you, council member.

5:48

Is there any public comment on this issue?

5:53

Okay.

5:54

So with no public comment and and um agreement of the council members, if we could get this moved forward to um an actual vote, that would be great, and maybe I'll be around off and on today.

6:06

I'm sure it won't take a whole lot to um figure out a name.

6:13

Just this is a mere protocol, we should vote to move this forward, correct?

6:18

I'm just in terms of just for the record.

6:20

I think we're trying to do that just for the record even.

6:23

You seem to both be in agreement, but if you could do a quick vote on your recommendation, then agree.

6:27

And the recommendation was done with the third one here.

6:31

I mean, it was a three two.

6:34

We didn't I move that this uh move that the orders uh as proposed be move forward.

6:42

Subject to the to the name change.

6:46

Second.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Homelessness████████████████████████24%

Public Art Commission████████████████████20%

Budget Equity Analysis████████████████16%

Arts And Culture██████████10%

Affordable Housing██████6%

Fiscal Sustainability█████5%

Healthcare Services████4%

Public Engagement███3%

Public Art███3%

Summary of Proceedings

Frederick Housing, Health, and Education Committee Meeting - March 20, 2025

The Housing, Health, and Education Committee of the City of Frederick met on March 20, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. to discuss rental licensing ordinance revisions, the Community Bridge Mural restoration contract, and the housing workplan including the Continuum of Care. The meeting lasted approximately two and a half hours.

Consent Calendar

Approval of Minutes (March 6, 2025): Moved and seconded; approved unanimously.

Review of Ordinance G-25-09 (Rental Licensing and Affordable Housing Conservation)

The committee reviewed an ordinance to eliminate the Tenant Protection Fund and make the Rental Assistance Fund more flexible. The ordinance broadens permissible uses to include financial and other assistance to eligible low-income renters, including those affected by the rental licensing program.
Councilmember suggested striking the requirement that the Director of Housing and Human Services establish regulations before July 1, 2023, and replacing it with "subject to the approval of the city council."
Councilmember Kazimczek proposed renaming the fund to something more encompassing than "Rental Assistance Fund," as it may cover more than just rent. The committee agreed to work on a new name before the public hearing.
Motion to move the ordinance forward (subject to name change) was made, seconded, and passed unanimously.

Workshop: Discussion of Proposed Revisions to the Contract for Restoration of the Community Bridge Mural

Staff (Katie Barkdoll, Layla Jadala) presented an update: $142,000 already disbursed to artist William Cochran, $30,000 spent on contractors and supplies. The project has 24 panels completed or in progress out of 2,675 sq ft.
The artist requested a $500,000 increase to the contract (to $1.3 million total) due to inflation. The original budget was based on 2020 costs, and the 2022 contract did not include inflation protection.
Councilmembers Shackelford, McShane, and Kazimczek expressed strong opposition to the increase, citing economic uncertainty, federal and state budget concerns, and competing community needs. Councilmember McShane noted that the $500,000 increase is not in the FY26 proposed budget.
Councilmember questioned the detailed budget breakdown, noting that the principal artist's salary increases from $60.50/hr to $85/hr (a $150,000 difference) and other line items doubled.
William Cochran argued that the city failed to maintain the bridge as promised in the 1993 contract, leading to deterioration. He stated the bridge is a corpse and needs full recreation. He emphasized the bridge's economic and cultural impact, and that the community funded the original based on the city's promise to maintain it.
Councilmember suggested exploring the sale of old panels (which belong to the city) to offset costs. Staff was asked to look into that possibility.
The committee did not make a motion to move the contract revision forward. The chair stated it will not be scheduled for another meeting without large changes.

Workshop: Continued Discussion of Housing Workplan Including Continuum of Care Presentation

Nick Brown (Executive Director, Beyond Shelter; Chair of the Continuum of Care) and Michelle Ott (Acting Director, HHS) presented an overview of the Continuum of Care (CoC) structure, services, and funding.
The CoC includes 24 organizations meeting monthly. Key programs: Emergency Shelter, Rapid Rehousing, and Permanent Supportive Housing. Funding is approximately 65-70% federal, 25% state, with city contributions over $1 million annually.
Highlighted successes: zero inclement weather deaths this winter (vs. four last year) due to improved coordination, warming stations, and case-by-case policies.
Concerns raised: federal funding uncertainty (e.g., SHIP's HUD grant was rescinded after award), and the need for more data on spending across federal, state, county, city, and private sources.
Nick Brown emphasized the growing need for respite care for elderly and vulnerable adults, noting that the shelter is not appropriate for those needing subacute or long-term care. He requested the committee explore creating a respite care facility.
The committee asked for a detailed funding matrix and further presentations. The chair stated this will be a key focus for the committee, especially during budget discussions.

Key Outcomes

Ordinance G-25-09 was moved forward to a full council vote, with a name change to be determined.
The Community Bridge Mural contract revision was not advanced; the committee is open to alternative proposals from the artist and staff.
The housing workplan discussion will continue at future meetings, with requests for more detailed funding data and exploration of respite care options.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you everybody for being here. If we it seems like we can hear pretty well on this this morning. Is there any problem out there? If at any point in time you all have issues hearing, please just let us know because sometimes we do, and the purpose is really to make sure that everybody can hear. So we'll stop and fix whatever we need to fix. Um the first is the approval of the March 6th minutes. So moved. And I'll second that in favor. Thank you. Um we're gonna take a review of the ordinance 2509 concerning rental licensing and affordable housing conservation. We did have a conversation about this and about how to make some changes um on this to make it better serve the city. So I'm just gonna send it over legal. Thank you. Um essentially the purpose of this ordinance is to eliminate the tenant protection fund and make the uses of the rental assistance fund more um flexible. Uh we put in some very broad language there about the permissible uses of that fund. Um so basically uh it allows to for that fund to provide financial and other assistance to eligible low-income renters, including but not limited to those affected by the implementation or enforcement of the rental licensing program, and then it gives some examples of things that can be used for. Um so hopefully it's relatively straightforward. That is in subsection C of section 12.5-87. Also in that section, subsection uh becomes the new E. This is not something we talked about, but just a suggestion of mine. Uh the current language says honor before July 1st, 2023. The Director of Housing and Human Services will establish regulations to implement you know the requirements of this section. I would suggest striking the honor before July 1, 2023 and putting subject to the approval of the city council. Um it seems like there's been an expectation that the council is going to approve those regulations, so I thought that should just be stated in there. And then just some minor changes about the annual report in section 12.5-88, uh, eliminating the reference to the board of aldermen and requiring the director of public works to present his report to to this committee or another committee if if determined by the city council president. That's about it. Thank you. Yeah, um, quick and easy. In essence, what has happened is we are we're taking 50% of the funding toward, and we we have it listed here as um, we still have it listed as a rental assistance fund, and I'm not really sure that that's because it's it's a rental assistance fund, it's a tenant, a tenant assistance fund. Um it's not just rent that the money might be used for. So I'm not really sure how appropriate it is to continue to call it a rental assistance fund when it covers more than just rent. You know, now that those have been put together, so maybe we could do a little um thinking about it and just find a name that more appropriately fits what's happening, but the funding then will be um tenants, rentals, etc. And um affordable housing, separating those half and half. So um that's pretty much it. Um council member Shackelford, any no, I don't have any comment. Um yeah, I do have comments. Um, I appreciate particularly I know we do have some conversation discussion around um allocation in terms of the director. Um coming before this this body, um, and and us approving whether how those funds would be dispersed and used instead of um the director making that decision in isolation. So I appreciate that being included in the ordinance and you write um Councilmember Kazimczek, it may be appropriate, and we can maybe before um this comes to public hearing, we can have some conversation around just uh a different name. Or name that may be more appropriate, it encompasses all that we're saying. So that way there's no um ambiguity in regards to it just means simply a release design. Maybe we just say a housing fund. Yeah, and we and we can work on that together. I mean, before it comes for an actual vote, just the naming of it, I don't know that that's a big deal. Well, that I appreciate the work on this, and I know we had some discussion around this um in our last uh committee hearing meeting. So I'm trying to move this forward. Thank you, council member. Is there any public comment on this issue? Okay. So with no public comment and and um agreement of the council members, if we could get this moved forward to um an actual vote, that would be great, and maybe I'll be around off and on today.

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