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Havre de Grace council approves multiple resolutions and ordinances, authorizes Amtrak negotiations
Summary
The Havre de Grace City Council unanimously adopted three calendar resolutions and three ordinances, approved a budget amendment to fund downtown promotions and authorized the mayor to pursue a Federal Railroad Administration net-benefit determination for Amtrak use of city property.
The Havre de Grace City Council unanimously adopted a slate of legislative measures and budget changes at its November meeting, approving three calendar resolutions, three ordinances on second reading, and a budget amendment to support downtown marketing.
Council introduced and adopted calendar resolutions 2024-30 (a license for a temporary sign on Bulle Rock Parkway), 2024-31 (assignment of a license/lease previously approved by resolution 2023-17 for 932 Warren Street) and 2024-32, which authorizes the mayor and administration to pursue a Federal Railroad Administration net-benefit determination related to Amtrak’s planned use of city property, including Gene Roberts Memorial Park and David R. Craig Park. "So what this is is everybody knows Amtrak's coming to town, and they need to use city property to store some of their equipment," the council president said during discussion of the net-benefit resolution.
On the ordinance calendar the council adopted ordinance 11-66 (renewal of a lease with Go Havre De Grace LLC for right-of-way frontage related to a restaurant on Union Avenue), ordinance 11-67 (an amendment to chapter 205 zoning that sets accessory dwelling unit size at 50% of the primary dwelling's square footage) and ordinance 11-69, a budget amendment for fiscal year 2025 to reallocate funds from RAD proceeds for downtown business promotion.
Director Johnson described how the downtown promotion funds will be administered: "The funding doesn't go directly to the businesses. The funding goes to the Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber of Commerce has a marketing and promotions campaign that they will start," she said, adding some funds will be managed through the city department as part of the initiative.
Votes and formal actions at a glance
- Calendar Resolution 2024-30: Approve license agreement for temporary sign on Bulle Rock Parkway — Adopted by roll call, 5-0. - Calendar Resolution 2024-31: Approve assignment of license/lease for 932 Warren Street — Adopted by roll call, 5-0. - Calendar Resolution 2024-32: Authorize administration to pursue Amtrak/FR A net-benefit determination for city property use — Adopted by roll call, 5-0. - Ordinance 11-66 (second reading): Renewal of lease with Go Havre De Grace LLC for city right-of-way frontage — Adopted by roll call, 5-0. - Ordinance 11-67 (second reading): Zoning amendment for accessory dwelling units (set at 50% of primary dwelling) — Adopted by roll call, 5-0. - Ordinance 11-69 (second reading): Budget amendment FY2025 for downtown business promotion using RAD proceeds — Adopted by roll call, 5-0.
The council also approved by unanimous vote a separate letter accepting the recommended Option 2 for State Highway Administration work on Route 40, asking the administration to ensure previously raised council and citizen concerns are addressed before implementation.
What happens next
With the net-benefit resolution approved, the city administration is authorized to enter negotiations with Amtrak and pursue the federal net-benefit determination; council members said they expect negotiations and any specific proposals to return to the council for future review. The downtown promotion funds will be administered through the Chamber of Commerce as described by Director Johnson. All formal votes recorded at the meeting were 5-0, and the council adjourned at 9:17 p.m. with plans to return in two weeks.
