Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Council Business topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Howard County council approves several measures in July wrap‑up; CB58, CB53, CB54, CB55 and multiple resolutions acted upon
Summary
At its July legislative wrap‑up the Howard County Council passed CB58 (emergency ban on for‑profit parties at homes), approved a 66.7‑acre land purchase (CB53), adopted budget and consolidated plan items (CR141, CR142), passed CB54 and CB55 with amendments, tabled CR143 and extended and tabled CB57 for further work.
The Howard County Council concluded a lengthy July wrap‑up session by approving a series of bills, resolutions and budget items and tabling several measures for further work.
Key outcomes - CB 58 (emergency bill to prohibit for‑profit parties/entertainment on residential properties rented or used for 30 days or less) — Passed as amended; fines set at up to $2,500 (first offense) and up to $5,000 for repeat offenses; police may issue civil citations.
- CB 53 — Approved a multi‑year installment purchase agreement to buy 66.7 acres on the west side of Long Corner Road in Woodbine for $2,307,900.
- CR 141 — Amendment approved and main motion passed; moved roughly $179,000 from the general fund to a restricted fund per Board of Education action.
- CR 142 — Adopted the Howard County consolidated plan for federal fiscal years 2025–2029 and the FFY 2025 action plan (CDBG and HOME allocations) after a technical amendment.
- CR 143 — The countywide solid waste management plan was tabled to allow additional stakeholder conversations and to return in September.
- CB 54 — Building excise tax change passed; one councilmember voted no citing revenue replacement concerns.
- CB 55 — Amendment and main motion passed to allow certain age‑restricted adult housing in PEC under specified parcel limits and to modify some MIHU/LIHU/DIHU requirements; extensive discussion and a recess occurred while members refined amendment language.
- CB 57 — Council authorized staff to request an Attorney General opinion on whether adding alternate members to the Board of Appeals requires a charter amendment; the council extended the life of CB57 to Oct. 20, 2025, and then tabled it for further work.
Other business The council read and then tabled a long block of appointment/resolution items and approved minutes and journals for prior meetings. Several technical amendments across bills were introduced and adopted on the floor.
Next steps For measures tabled or extended (CR143, CB57), councilmembers and staff signaled plans for follow‑up conversations and additional drafting; the council will resume substantive work after the August recess.
