City Council approves naming Thompson Street Park and allocates $1,000 for amenities

The Rules and City Government Committee of Annapolis convened on February 7, 2025, to discuss several key agenda items, primarily focusing on the designation of a new park and related funding matters.

The meeting began with a discussion about the official naming of Thompson Street Park. Committee members confirmed that a resolution was in place to designate the area as an official park, with a budget of $1,000 allocated for park amenities such as signage and benches. This funding is part of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which already includes additional projects for the park, including the installation of a floating dock. The total investment for the street and park at Sixth Street on Back Creek is nearing $200,000, with $60,000 already spent on an engineering study.

Alderman Chandelmeyer raised questions regarding the scope of the $1,000 budget, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the funds are used effectively for park enhancements. The committee members expressed their support for the resolution, highlighting the significance of officially recognizing the investment made in the park.

Following the discussion on the park, the committee addressed procedural matters regarding staffing impact statements for future legislation. Miss Becklin clarified that recent changes have separated these statements from the main reports, although some earlier submissions still followed the previous combined format. The committee members agreed on the necessity of having all relevant documentation attached to legislation for clarity.

The meeting concluded with a brief mention of an upcoming testing meeting scheduled for 7:00 PM that evening, aimed at ensuring the functionality of the meeting system. Additionally, Alderman Gennemeyer proposed inviting recipients of the Adopt a Community grant to the next meeting to share updates on their projects, which was met with general approval from the committee.

The meeting adjourned after a motion was made and seconded, with all members in favor. The committee's discussions underscored the ongoing commitment to enhancing community spaces and ensuring transparent legislative processes.