January 22

Hello Neighbors

1. City Budget: The City Council will host a work session this evening at 5:00pm to discuss the budget process and the budget priorities for each ward. Please let me know if you have any thoughts on the budget priorities for Ward 8:

• Traffic and Parking projects

• Sidewalk construction and repair

• Improvements to water access parks in Ward 8

• Funding for Annapolis Police Department

  • Additional enforcement, technology additions

  • Bicycle patrols

• Support advancement of the maritime industry

• Truxtun Park Master Plan

  
  

2. City Council Meeting 1/26/26: The meeting begins at 5:45pm, earlier than normal. Here is the agenda for the meeting and it can be watched live or here. Highlights of the meeting are: 

• City Dock Update: This is the Council’s and your opportunity to get an update on the City Dock project.

• Closed Session: There will be a Closed Session on pending or potential litigation pertaining to the City Dock project and then resume the council agenda.

• Public Hearings: 

  • Property Tax - Child Care Centers, Family Child Care Homes, and Large Family Child Care Homes  

    • This legislation will create real property tax credits up to $10,000 for Annapolis childcare providers who own the property where they operate a state-licensed or registered childcare center.

    • I am inclined to support this legislation due to the shortage of childcare opportunities for our young families and am interested to hear the public comments.

  • Fiscal Year 2027 Annual Statement of Performance Standards – The Council will take action to approve the standards.

    • I believe the performance standards need to be significantly improved over the next year but intend to vote yes on these proposed standards because doing otherwise would create an unacceptable delay in the budget process.

• Fire Department’s Strategic Plan: Presentation by our Fire Chief.

  
  

3. Police Department, Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management: Our three public safety agencies provided a tremendous overview of their status at Wednesday’s Public Safety Committee meeting. The meeting can be viewed here.

4. Major Snowfall: The city has been planning all week for this weekend’s storm. Here are several reminders and resources to help us get through the storm:

• Stay up to date: Sign up for the Annapolis’ Office of Emergency Management mobile app, “Prepare Me,” to receive real-time information and alerts, including severe weather updates, damage reports and press releases, via a push notification on your phone’s lock screen.

• For more alerts: Residents can also opt-in to the City’s mass community

  notification system, known as Alert Annapolis, where you can receive emergency alerts via text message, email, pager, or voicemail (if needed). You can opt-in by texting ANNAPOLIS to 38276 or by signing up for notifications here: alertannapolis.civicready.com.

• Snow information on city’s website – Good compilation of information to review before the storm.

• Track the snowplows – The City has a GPS tracking system that provides real-time status updates on road salting and snowplow operations during snow emergencies.

• Snow Emergency Response Plan – Good info about city’s snow removal plan including priority on clearing roads and snow emergency routes. If the City declares a snow emergency, please move your cars if you live on a snow emergency route. The snow emergency routes in Ward 8 can be found here.

• Sidewalk Clearing: City Code, Section 14.24.010 requires property owners to clear the public sidewalk of snow and ice within 3 hours after the snow or sleet

  has stopped falling except when the snow or sleet stopped falling between 3 PM and 6 AM. Then the snow/ice must be removed from the sidewalk before 11 AM. Violation of this code requirement is subject to fines. 

5. Forward Brewing: The Board of Appeals will continue its hearing on Forward Brewing Company’s request for a special exception for outdoor dining on February 3 at 7pm in City Hall. The application, staff report and numerous public testimonies are available here. I encourage you to testify at this hearing if you have a position on the application.

6. Hawkins Cove: The Environmental Matters Committee received an update on Hawkins Cove on January 8 that can be viewed here.

7. Town Hall: We had a great town hall on Tuesday night. Thanks to everyone who participated, and special thanks to Lee Downing of the Eastport Volunteer Fire Company for making it all happen. Here are the slides I used. Watch for a synopsis in the next email.

8. ECA meeting with Mayor Littmann: ECA will host Mayor Jared Littmann at their General Meeting on February 19, 2026, at the Eastport Volunteer Fire Hall.

All the best,