[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6690581,"mediaKeyId","2256068-13f7a6a2ae56f77dd2fb75bbed853202","parentId",2256068,"title","Council moves multiple ordinances and resolutions; fence-permit and police-property rules adopted","audioSeconds",159,"startMs",3241000,"endMs",3400000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256068-13f7a6a2ae56f77dd2fb75bbed853202&start=3241&end=3400","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256068-13f7a6a2ae56f77dd2fb75bbed853202/thumbnail_3241000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6690581/Annapolis/Anne-Arundel-County/Maryland/Council-moves-multiple-ordinances-and-resolutions-fence-permit-and-police-property-rules-adopted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6690581-6737383f6a9c8251349c90e4be2c423d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775223905&Signature=aKDlxmnVHu7GiwvdIynjuzY9wyHXSBvd4kz3ved8Vw4-d0M3MNn7a7hOgu12pm0XwY4B~R9OShLeYpdajhlRGLiFB36AXsxugJTQzhffI4vqwogr595WbXyQ0ktMzVpaC8h-zV7LEkfChtycxCrVU2zJj~Tit5MMadRDomyhJ31orSzv5vrLUoGCS7nSsnDkW0RavcyKrthuIXW~bSRn2xu4jz9egWpzeQHCdRLsRzzByZGzqMEu~SysJ1bkYTBukeuXmr73qa3Q3AGobOFfJEnOQyo7RB8FigmnKihTiTZ2z~T2ZLKWGh4RTEBo~yWW6fMkPQbRkzlMLVbEgrbyog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Annapolis, MD","date","2025-02-11T02:15:36.263Z","article","The Annapolis City Council on Feb. 10 took action on several ordinances and resolutions, adopting a revised fence-permit ordinance on third reading and approving an amended police property and contraband disposal ordinance. The council also considered first readers and referred multiple resolutions and an ordinance to committee.

Key outcomes

- O-29-24 (fence permit requirements, title 17): The council adopted O-29-24 on third reading after considering a series of amendments discussed in committee and on the floor. Multiple technical amendments (numbered 1–5 in committee) were offered; the council approved amendments that, among other changes noted by staff, limited the tree-plotting requirement to trees over 5 inches in diameter located within 3 feet of a proposed fence and allowed staff to use GIS to verify easements, rights-of-way and utilities rather than requiring applicants to supply them on paper plans.

- O-28-24 (Police Department property and contraband disposal): The council adopted O-28-24 on third reading after adopting an amendment (moved by Alderman Savage) that requires confiscated bicycles to be turned over to nonprofits that distribute them to Annapolis residents in need. The ordinance was approved on a roll-call vote recorded as unanimous in the transcript.

- O-5-25 (speed monitoring cameras): The council approved a motion to refer O-5-25 to committee; the ordinance was referred to city government committee, transportation committee and the transportation board for further work.

- R-2-25 (demonstration program to build green roofs on city bus shelters): The council adopted R-2-25 on first reading and directed referral to the finance committee; discussion included a request to also refer the measure to the environmental matters committee.

- R-6-25 (nonprofit vendors during fall 2025 boat shows) and R-7-25 (itinerant merchant sales in the historic district for calendar year 2025): Both resolutions were adopted on the floor and referred to the finance committee.

Procedural notes and amendments

Amendments to O-29-24 were debated at length. Committee sponsors explained that earlier draft language imposed an extensive plan requirement on fence applicants, and the approved amendments narrowed the scope of required tree mapping and shifted some verification tasks to staff using existing GIS resources. One committee amendment discussed at length (known as amendment 3 in committee) drew multiple views from council members about when demolition should trigger permit review; the council ultimately approved the set of edits that moved through committee and were adopted on third reading.

For O-28-24, the floor amendment to direct confiscated bikes to local nonprofits was described by the mover as adding a distribution requirement; the council adopted the amendment by voice vote and passed the ordinance on third reading by roll call.

Votes and roll calls

Where roll-call votes were read into the record, the clerk recorded ‘Aye’ for the mayor and a majority of aldermen on the final adoption of the cited ordinances. Several amendments were approved by voice vote or roll call as noted above. The meeting transcript includes the roll-call readouts for the third-reader approvals.

Next steps

Referred ordinances and resolutions will return to the committees noted above for further drafting, fiscal analysis or recommendation before any final funding or implementation decisions. Council minutes and the posted packet will provide the official roll-call tallies and the final ordinance text.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting February 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","On Feb. 10 the council approved a fence-permit ordinance with amendments and adopted a police property and contraband disposal ordinance with an amendment directing confiscated bikes to nonprofits; several resolutions were referred to committees.","taxTitle","Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland","taxId",59348,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6690586,"Resident urges council to adopt lower homestead assessment cap to curb steep tax increases",203,2001000,2204000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256068-13f7a6a2ae56f77dd2fb75bbed853202&start=2001&end=2204","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256068-13f7a6a2ae56f77dd2fb75bbed853202/thumbnail_2001000.jpg","/articles/6690586/Annapolis/Anne-Arundel-County/Maryland/Resident-urges-council-to-adopt-lower-homestead-assessment-cap-to-curb-steep-tax-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6690586-677df415a35fb3bd93c46bb43ca9beb6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775223905&Signature=GV1HkaeUvfWpFOxaT~6gB38KWrs-X2Jy1VpPMyMLRkVsa3qiMWwd51gjN1ct57i5lDEYM0pwiqHuvurVmGw6ypkJfBkgSsvdOFPW2f30-hZwmQOX~jvP1RLUsrhGUSrr0xdC79kcXpoUyqgsiXw1rF1YKMTGWj8jKqwK40~8weMi~yw4U06tB2m5B-P30ig~4VqEnz9n6-XCixdar32ka2MT2YpqcRcwwdwXfxvvxxYFm08r6rg-ER91rsXXRI95BuT4AhTXOULPX1ymsPXi0CVIF~ggI0BV-55~IDFNyMR4H55hcOwTqFZP3u0xdmXujNukfLuMii5DPtFLDGOteg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Hammond, a longtime Annapolis homeowner, told the City Council on Feb. 10 that the council should adopt a lower cap on annual assessment growth for owner-occupied homes to limit steep increases in the city portion of property tax bills.

Hammond said Maryland’s Homestead Property Tax Credit includes an option for local governments to set a cap below the statutory maximum and cited Anne Arundel County’s 2% limit as an example. He told the council last year’s triennial assessment notices produced assessment increases “in many cases in excess of 30%” and said that under the existing city approach some homeowners saw a roughly 10% increase in the city portion of their tax bill for tax year 2025 and could face further increases in the coming two years.

\"By following the county's lead of adopting a 2% limit on homeowner assessment growth, you can level the assessment playing field in Annapolis,\" Hammond said, and he urged the council to act quickly because the state requires notification of a reduced percentage by March 25.

Council members asked clarifying questions about whether Hammonds’ proposal would change the tax rate or assessed values; Hammond and council members clarified the proposal would set a limit on assessment growth not the tax rate. Several council members acknowledged affordability concerns and the challenge of balancing services with revenue. No formal motion or ordinance was introduced during the meeting.

Hammond offered to return with further details about which city services he would be willing to reduce to offset any revenue impact, and he said he could provide charts comparing county and city assessment trends. Council members noted the city faces infrastructure and service costs that factor into budget decisions.

The council did not take formal action on a homestead cap at the Feb. 10 meeting. Hammond emphasized the March 25 notification date for a reduced homestead percentage as the critical near-term deadline for any council action.","A longtime resident asked the Annapolis City Council to adopt a lower cap on annual assessment growth for owner-occupied homes, citing recent triennial assessment increases and a March 25 state notification deadline.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6690591,"Downtown business owners, preservationists press council on City Dock resiliency and pump maintenance",317,1345000,1662000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2256068-13f7a6a2ae56f77dd2fb75bbed853202&start=1345&end=1662","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2256068-13f7a6a2ae56f77dd2fb75bbed853202/thumbnail_1345000.jpg","/articles/6690591/Annapolis/Anne-Arundel-County/Maryland/Downtown-business-owners-preservationists-press-council-on-City-Dock-resiliency-and-pump-maintenance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6690591-afad4dd045676268716f2c826a0349b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775223905&Signature=T6okaV0WWMiG0v8sM~KxdNXkLbYV4gZIxqaxte1r3fNzgQ-YEfneGDPBzAA1UMHBeMXQu4-FfOKYsI3lh~m2SvFfZ0BSCnGBGA7stpRS-P1cSAWf3BQEVOnbGQgyQs8GDBekO4SRENJ3lcJl2iFP9yAQWkRUM5Nc9wOJsaJgDBBLrng-1gBiEEgme822s5zAKupnyV4a6eppllJE8AK34Y~zwbiAot3l-qNQMzro2QRaOsv8q3anCRbyiDM-KT8R6~3u3QhrB6bdaqUGGUMfRCjL9iuY3CBhZJHfZk-ubtG14ZMTlEE0bnLRXsMsJai5-V2XEkDV48AzphFvfUkpgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Business owners and preservation advocates pressed the Annapolis City Council on Feb. 10 to prioritize flood resiliency and pump maintenance at City Dock and to address concerns raised by the harbor master about a proposed waterfront building.

Speakers said recurring downtown flooding and what they described as neglected pump maintenance have left some businesses repeatedly waterlogged and argued the council should focus on resiliency measures before approving new construction. Anne Covington, speaking on behalf of Historic Annapolis, said the organization supports resilience work but criticized city plans for a large new building at City Dock and said the harbour master’s operational concerns have not been addressed.

\"For 2 and a half years now those of us who have business downtown have lehi with the city to make sure that the pump system ... is not maintained and it doesn't work,\" a downtown business owner said, describing repeated flooding in front of his store. He offered to provide photographs showing sump pits and pump conditions. Lisa Hillman, a downtown property owner, urged the council to \"fix the flooding\" first and to read a November memo from the harbor master to the Maritime Advisory Council that, she said, raised sight-line, security and safety concerns for the proposed building.

Anne Covington, speaking for Historic Annapolis, said the organization has supported resiliency efforts for years and that it does not oppose improvements but does oppose what it sees as an \"over-scaled\" building that is unrelated to resiliency and could harm a historically important waterfront structure. She also noted the city has not yet officially secured FEMA funding for the project and said, \"Resiliency should come first.\"

Tim Leahy, a longtime downtown resident, asked the council to break the City Dock flood-protection project into phases and to use council influence with the city manager and departments to move preexisting resiliency work forward. He said the Merite Welcome Center design does not meet the harbor master’s requirements and may be larger and costlier than necessary.

Council members did not make a final decision on the project during the meeting. Public comments on the dock and pump system were presented during the general public comment period; some speakers asked the council to inspect and repair the pump system that initially reduced barricade deployments downtown in earlier years.

Council staff and members referenced ongoing committee and permitting processes for City Dock work but did not announce any new funding commitments or formal actions tied to the public comments at this meeting.

The comments brought forward both immediate operational concerns — requests to inspect and repair the existing pump and sump system downtown — and broader planning concerns about the scale and function of proposed City Dock buildings. Several speakers urged the council to engage the harbor master and other professional staff in design decisions before moving forward with permanent construction.

Council committees listed on the agenda include forthcoming committee hearings that could revisit elements of the City Dock work; no formal council vote on City Dock design or funding occurred on Feb. 10.","Business owners and preservation advocates told the Annapolis City Council it should prioritize flood resiliency and heed the harbor master’s operational concerns before building at City Dock.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council moves multiple ordinances and resolutions; fence-permit and police-property rules adopted

Resident urges council to adopt lower homestead assessment cap to curb steep tax increases

Downtown business owners, preservationists press council on City Dock resiliency and pump maintenance