April 12

1. New City Leadership Appointed: Mayor Littmann led a collaborative process to select two important additions to the city staff. Their appointments will be voted on at Monday’s City Council meeting. I have had the opportunity to meet and, with other members of the City Council, interview the City Manager appointee and could not be more pleased at the selection. Here are the highlights of the Mayor’s press release:      

   • City Manager: Mayor Littmann has announced the appointment of Yolanda Lewis as the new City Manager. She comes to the city having served as the Chief Administrative Officer for Fulton County, Georgia, where she managed a $30 million budget and directed operations for a million residents. Lewis’ more recent work includes high-level roles at the Pew Charitable Trusts and Meadows Institute, where she advised elected officials on policy reform and system accountability. She holds a Master of Public Administration and has completed executive leadership training at Yale School of Management. 

   • City Attorney: Tony Kupersmith’s experience is a blend of public service and private practice. Previously the County Attorney for Talbot County, Maryland, he served as the chief legal advisor to the County Council and county boards and commissions. In private practice with the Annapolis firm of McAllister, DeTar, Showalter & Walker LLC, he has represented businesses, individuals, and nonprofits in land use, real estate, and environmental matters. A graduate of William and Mary Law School, he is an Annapolis resident. Kupersmith said that his connections to the Chesapeake Bay and prior local government experience inform his professional interests in land-use policy and municipal law. 

2. Last City Council Meeting - 3/23/26: The agenda and link to view the meeting is here. Highlights included:

   
   

   CONSENT CALENDAR – APPOINTMENTS

   • Approved the appointment of two Eastporters to Annapolis Boards and Commissions – David Beugelmans to the Recreation Advisory Board and Teresa Ellenberg to the Human Relations Commission.  

   FIRST READERS (Ordinances and Resolutions being introduced)                      

   • Eliminating the Requirement for Outdoor Dining Patrons to be Seated (O-7-26) – The agenda was amended to delete this item  

   SECOND READERS (This leads to the final vote on the legislation)                            

   • Fiscal Year 2027 Annual Statement of Performance Standards (R-1-26) – The performance standards were passed, enabling the Mayor to introduce a budget that aligns with these standards next week. All agree that these standards need to be improved as we move forward. As the Audit Committee Chair, I will be working with the city staff on these to improve them as we move forward.                         -

   • Extending the Public Paddleboard Rack Pilot Project (R-4-26) – The Council approved extending the paddleboard rack pilot project at Truxtun Park and lowering the cost for city residents from $300/year to $150/year. The city is working to update the website and application.

3. Next City Council Meeting - 4/13/26: Meeting will start at 7:00pm and the agenda can be downloaded here - you can view the meeting here.  Mayor Littmann will present the State of the City Address his proposed 2027 budget (Annapolis fiscal year 2027 begins July 1, 2026). This kicks off the budget process which will continue with Finance Committee budget hearings from April 21 to May 6, the schedule is at the end of this email. Highlights of the City Council agenda include:                                                    

   • Mayor’s State of the City Address – Mayor Littmann will begin the meeting by providing “a comprehensive update on the current state of Annapolis and what city government is working on.”

   
   

   COMMENTS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC

   • All City Council meetings begin with an opportunity for public testimony on any topic you wish.

   PUBLIC HEARINGS

   • Updating Requirement of Publication of the Charter and Code of the City of Annapolis (CA-1-26) - Removes outdated provisions of the City’s Charter; rewriting requirements for compiling and publishing the Charter and Code of the City of Annapolis; allowing for publishing paper or electronic versions of the Charter and Code of the City of Annapolis.

   • Oversight of the City’s Firing Range (O-6-26) - Allows the Police Chief, along with the Mayor, to approve who uses the City’s police firing range.

   CONSENT CALENDAR                                                                                               -

   • Transfer – Enterprise Funds (FT-10-26) – Transfers $36,300 to the Mayor’s Office Salaries and Benefits account so that City can move forward with hiring a Deputy Chief of Staff.

   • Fiscal Year 2026 City of Annapolis Audit (ID-70-26) – The Audit Committee has approved the audit – this is the City Council accepting the Audit.

   FIRST READERS (Ordinances and Resolutions being introduced)                              

   • The Mayor’s Proposed 2027 Budget: Annual Budget and Appropriation and Property Tax Levy (O-8-26); FY 2027 Annual Fees Schedule (R-10-26); FY 2027 Annual Fines Schedule (R-11-26); FY 2027 Position Classification and Pay Plan (R-12-26).      

   • Vote To Confirm City Manager (R-15-26) and City Attorney (R-14-26): This legislation will confirm their appointments. I expect the mayor will request to suspend the rules and move to second and third reader for final approval so we can bring these important people on to the team as soon as possible. I will support that motion.

   SECOND READERS (This leads to the final vote on the legislation)                              

   • Property Tax - Child Care Centers, Family Child Care Homes, and Large Family Child Care Homes (O-1-26) – This original legislation called for up to $10,000 tax credit for child cares centers in order to reduce the child care shortage in Annapolis. The sponsor will amend the maximum amount of the credit to $4,000 which I support. I will also introduce an amendment to require the City Manager to report annually on the results of the program. I will be seeking these types of reports on all legislation where it is applicable. I will support this legislation with amendments unless I hear compelling reasons otherwise.    

   • Annapolis Harbor Lines at Hawkins Cove (O-3-26) – The Maritime Advisory Board and Port Wardens both support this legislation that will enable the City to submit the project to the Maryland Department of the Environment for their staffing and recommendation on the way forward. This is an important step in moving forward with the clean-up and providing water access at Hawkins Cove. I will support this legislation with amendments unless I hear compelling reasons otherwise.

   
   

4. Outdoor Dining: I am pleased to report that the sponsors of this legislation agreed to delay this legislation so we can hear from the residents, and work with the Mayor, city staff and members of the City Council to draft legislation that will refine the rules on outdoor dining that were passed last year and ensure the rules, including being able to stand up, are clearly defined and understood.

5. President Street Cleanup and Red Curbs: Thank you to the more than 50 people who turned out last weekend to clean up the curbs and gutters. The City’s Public Works Department has started painting the curbs and they look great!

6. Traffic Safety in Eastport:

   • Traffic Control Plan for Major Events: Annapolis Police Department briefed the new plan at the Town Hall Meeting last week for major events (such as the Blue Angels show (and practice) and the Fourth of July fireworks) that is designed to ensure public safety vehicles can get on and off the peninsula, and reduce the time for the public to leave the peninsula after the events. In short:

   • There will be no parking on Severn Ave and inbound lane of Chesapeake Ave.

   • Traffic coming out Severn Ave and from the Spa Creek Bridge will be routed onto Severn at the Mercedes dealership, right on Washington, left on Boucher, left on President Street and then out to Forest Drive by continuing around to the left on Tyler or straight on Hilltop Lane.

   • Traffic coming out Chesapeake Ave will be routed out to Bay Ridge Ave, past the Eastport Shopping Center, not able to turn on to Tyler Ave, and then out to directly to Forest Drive or right to Forest Drive via Forest Hills Ave  

   • The Police Department will assess and update the plan and return to the Ward 8 Town Hall in September.    

   
   

   Traffic Safety at 6th Street and Chester Ave: Residents have been asking for more than 5 years for a stop sign and safety improvements at this intersection. Unfortunately, a plan was set in place last November and was not communicated adequately or coordinated with the residents. People were surprised when construction started this past week. Additionally, residents are surprised by the plastic pylons that have appeared. The good news is that our Public Works Department is taking action. The bad news is that we did not communicate or coordinate this effort with the residents and that must, and will be, improved. Please know, the plastic pylons are temporary and only put in place to ensure the design works and permanent installation can be adjusted if needed. The same goes for the plastic pylons on Chesapeake Ave – they will be replaced soon. These changes are the exact reason I requested Mayor Littmann to support a series of meetings with residents and city staff, street by street, to address these types of needs. Those meetings will begin in May.

7. Send an Eastport Kid to Camp!: A group of great Eastporters are raising funds to send low-income kids who live in Eastport to Splash Camp at Truxtun Park this summer!! They have set up a GoFundMe page to help kids go to camp who otherwise would not be able to without our help. They are hoping to send 15 kids for 4 weeks this summer at $150 per week and they need your help. This is a great example of Eastporters helping Eastporters. Please consider donating.

8. Upcoming Events (New feature we are starting – events in or affecting Eastport!):

April 13 - City Council Meeting at City Hall or watch on City of Annapolis YouTube Channel – 7:00pm

April 14 - Weekly Food Pantry at 1115 Bay Ridge Ave - 11:00am – 12:00pm

April 15 - U Be Well Maryland Mobile Wellness at 1155 Madison St. - 12:00 – 2:30pm

April 17 - Almost 7:30 Democratic Breakfast Club (Don’t have to be a member or a Democrat to attend); Speaker is Anne Arundel County Executive Candidate James Kitchen – 7:30am – 9am

April 19 - Fire Prevention Fair at Eastport Volunteer Fire Hall - Noon to 3:00pm

April 21 - Weekly Food Pantry at 1115 Bay Ridge Ave - 11:00am – 12:00pm

April 22 - U Be Well Maryland Mobile Wellness at 1155 Madison St. - 12:00 – 2:30pm

April 23 - Mayor Littmann's Community Engagement Ward 6 Town Hall – Eastport Community Center at 1014 President St. – 6:30pm – 7:30 pm

April 23 - ECA General Meeting at Eastport Volunteer Firehall - 6:30pm social; 7:00pm

meeting

April 23 – Bay Talks hosted by Chesapeake Bay Trust; Speaker is Lisa Kuder, Native Plants & Landscapes Specialist, University of Maryland Extension – 6:30pm

April 24 - Almost 7:30 Democratic Breakfast Club at Eastport Democratic Club (Don’t have to be a member or a Democrat to attend); Speakers are Carolynn Grammas,

candidate for State’s Attorney, Anne Arundel County, Loni Moyer, candidate for Judge of the Orphans’ Court, Matt O’Connell, candidate for Judge of the Orphan’s Court, Stacey Scott, Candidate for Judge of the Orphan’s Court

April 25 - GreenScape

Jeremy’s Way – 9am-noon

Davis’ Park 10am-noon

April 25 – Mayor Littmann Neighborhood Walk – 9am to 10am

April 27- City Council Meeting at City Hall or watch on City of Annapolis YouTube Channel – 7:00pm

April 28 - Weekly Food Pantry at 1115 Bay Ridge Ave - 11:00am – 12:00pm

April 29 - U Be Well Maryland Mobile Wellness at 1155 Madison St. - 12:00 – 2:30pm

April 29 – May Day Basket Workshop at Fig & Flower, 413 Fourth St.  

May 1 - Almost 7:30 Democratic Breakfast Club at Eastport Democratic Club (Don’t have to be a member or a Democrat to attend); Speakers are Gavin Buckley and Katie McDermott, candidates for Anne Arundel County Council, District 6

May 2 – Joy Grows Eastport Community Farm Ribbon Cutting at 1175 Madison St. – 10:00am – 11:00am

May 9 - MRE Bridge Run - we will staff mid-bridge water station - stroke of noon

May 18 - Ward 8 Town Hall at Eastport Volunteer Firehall – 7:00pm

All the best,

Frank Thorp

Alderman, Ward 8

Finance Committee Schedule for Budget Season

Starting on the week of April 20, the City Council Finance Committee will hold three weeks of hearings on the City of Annapolis's Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Budget. City departments will give presentations on their priorities for FY27 and what they are asking for in the budget. All budget hearings are held at City Hall and are open to the public . They are also televised on City of Annapolis TV (Comcast/Verizon) and YouTube.com/CityofAnnapolis. Here is a full schedule of the Finance Committee's hearings:

Week 1

Tuesday, April 21

8:30 - 9:30 AM: City Manager's Office

9:35 - 10:35 AM: Recreation and Parks Department

Wednesday, April 22

8:30 - 9:30 AM: Mayor's Office

9:35 - 10:35 AM: IT Department

Thursday, April 23

8:30 - 9:30 AM: Finance Department

9:35 - 10:35 AM: Office of Emergency Management

Week 2

Monday, April 27

8:30 - 9:30 AM: Central Services Department

9:40 - 10:50 AM: Police Department

10:55 - 11:55 AM: HR Department

Tuesday, April 28

8:30 AM - 10:00 AM: Stantec Consultants

10:20 - 11:50 AM: Public Works Department

Wednesday, April 29

12:30 - 1:30 PM: Fire Department

1:40 - 2:40 PM: Office of Law

2:50 - 3:50 PM: Department of Planning and Zoning

Thursday, April 30

5:00 PM: City Council Work Session with the Financial Advisory Board. Covering the Capital Improvement Program, debt affordability, and other budget-related items.

Week 3

Monday, May 4

9:30 - 11:00 AM: Community Grant recipients

11:20 - 12:20 PM: Transportation Department

Tuesday, May 5

9:30 - 11:30 AM: Any Department asked to return with additional information

12:00 - 1:30 PM: Finance Committee deliberation

Wednesday, May 6

9:30 - 11:30 AM, 12:00 - 1:30 PM: Finance Committee deliberation

All the best, Frank