Mount Rainier council holds brief meeting, reads budget amendment and unanimously approves Dec. 4 minutes

The Mount Rainier mayor and city council met virtually Tuesday evening for a short, procedural legislative session that included a first reading of a budget amendment and a unanimous vote to approve minutes from Dec. 4.

Councilmember Valerie Woodall read the ordinance aloud during the meeting: "City of Mount Rainier, Maryland, ordinance number 01-2025, budget amendment number 1, authorizing a movement of funds in fiscal year 2025 budget between line items." The text presented to the council said the amendment would move $23,000 from contingency to the arts commission and $11,000 from contingency to conferences and convention expenses for the mayor and council. The reading was informational only; the ordinance will return for a second reading and a formal vote at a later meeting when the adoption date will be filled in.

The meeting also included routine business. The chair moved to approve the minutes of the Dec. 4 legislative meeting; Councilmember Valerie Woodall seconded the motion. The council voted unanimously to approve the minutes (council members present: chair/presiding official, Woodall and Danielle Carr). No objections or abstentions were recorded.

Councilmembers used the meeting to update residents on ongoing snow operations and emergency communications. The chair thanked public works and the police department for salting and plowing, said recycling and trash schedules would largely remain unchanged and announced that schools would be closed the following day, with a list of available food sites circulated to families. The chair urged residents to sign up for the city’s official e-notification system, saying it is the fastest way to receive timely information from the city.

There were no public commenters signed up in the chat, so the public-comment period was closed. The clerk presented the Dec. 17 special meeting and work session minutes as part of the meeting packet; the council deferred any vote on those minutes until the next meeting packet schedule.

The chair moved to adjourn the short meeting after the business concluded. The motion was seconded and the meeting ended with the chair thanking staff and reminding residents to stay warm and safe.

The ordinance (01-2025, Budget Amendment No. 1) will come back for a second reading and possible adoption at a subsequent meeting; the council did not adopt the ordinance during the Jan. 7 session.