Board approves Johns Hopkins MOU for parking enforcement; neighborhood advocates push for broader protections

The Board of Estimates on Aug. 5 approved a memorandum of understanding between the city and Johns Hopkins University to fund parking enforcement tied to construction of a Data Science & Artificial Intelligence Institute.

Matthew Bradford, chief of staff for the law department, said the MOU would fund one city parking enforcement employee during active construction with an initial payment of up to $60,000 and the potential to fund additional services not to exceed $401,000 per year if enforcement needs increase. "Pursuant to the MOU, JHU will pay the city for parking enforcement related to construction associated with its Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Institute," Bradford said.

A community member, Theodore Eccleston, told the board the community supports parking enforcement but urged the MOU be expanded to include contractor accountability, documented public notice before removing public trees, tree replanting commitments, construction-hour enforcement, stormwater and erosion controls, and transparency around mobile surveillance cameras. "Parking enforcement was just one dimension. There is a lot more here that we believe the community should be able to provide input on and have a transparent process," Eccleston said.

Board members heard the concerns and proceeded to a vote on the parking-enforcement funding element; the item passed with one noted abstention from the mayor. The law department and city staff said they would respond to community concerns through follow-up engagement and that statements of opposition had been placed on the record for this item.