June 8, 2025 Newsletter
Happy Sunday, Ward One
It’s been an especially busy couple weeks around here. Not just because the city council has been finalizing the budget, but also because—in the middle of that—I moved! Don’t worry, I’m still in Ward One, just about a four-minute walk from Dean Street up into President’s Hill. We’re settling in and loving having some more space. Plus, how cute is that white picket fence?
But let’s talk about the budget. This past Monday, the city council spent nine hours debating and voting on 60 amendments to the mayor’s proposed budget. My top priority has been to rebalance us towards commonsense maintenance, and I was able to almost double our sidewalk repair budget AND dedicate $504,000 of it specifically to our brick sidewalks.
Here are the top 3 things you need to know in Annapolis:
Tomorrow, we’re voting on the budget as amended. Read more below, and let me know how you think I should vote.
Next Saturday, you can fill your day by door knocking with me in the heart of Ward One, then catching some free concerts at Porchfest in Germantown Homewood, and wrapping up the afternoon at a meet and greet with me and Jared Littmann in President’s Hill.
Beginning Monday June 16, Compromise Street is getting repaved. Watch out for changes to the traffic pattern downtown that might cause delays.
Updates from Harry
Over the past month and a half, I have put in countless hours to understand the mayor’s proposed budget inside and out, backwards and forwards. I heard from many of you that scrutiny of every expense is what you wanted to see from your representative.
Between my own readings and conversations and our Finance Committee hearings, I think I did just that. I pressed department directors to justify expenses that stood out to me and to ponder where they could make cuts.
And when it came time to make amendments, I ensured that every one I proposed was paid for by cutting somewhere. Some solely cut expenses that didn’t meet my bar for wise use of taxpayer dollars, without adding those funds elsewhere.
Here you can see all the amendments proposed, and you can watch our nine-hour meeting discussing them.
My amendment passed to trimmed down expenses in three capital projects and add that money to sidewalks. This means we’re almost doubling funding for fixing sidewalks! I proposed and passed cutting a position out of the mayor’s office and using that money for holiday decorations and flowers downtown (which hadn’t had their budgets adjusted for inflation in years), summer outreach for teens in the Clay Street community, and extended hours at the Stanton Center.
Other amendments I was happy to support re-appropriated funds for signing bonuses for new police officers, moved the Harbormaster from Rec and Parks (where it was in the mayor’s proposed budget) back to the City Manager’s office (where it is right now), and will help improve traffic safety throughout the city. We also made it clear that funds for the Stanton Center should be prioritized for the most needed facility repairs over a new, expensive LED floor; do the needs then the wants.
Not all of my proposed amendments passed. I had an amendment to use funds from positions the Police Department has not been able to fill on contracts that would increase public safety right here and now: the downtown ambassadors and the adopt-a-community program. Another would have added hundreds of thousands to our road repair budget by cutting an exorbitantly priced parking project near the Safeway. And I tried to not spend another hundred and five thousand taxpayers dollars on subsidizing private leafblowers. I still think these were good amendments, and I’m glad I brought them forward, but that’s democracy for you.
There were also a lot of proposed amendments I didn’t agree with. Alderman Savidge joked at the end of the meeting that next year I should compete in the Preakness considering how much “nay”ing I did on amendments that didn’t have pay-fors. I don’t like spending lots of money on consultants and studies when we should be taking action now to improve residents’ lives. I don’t like throwing funds at social programs without knowing what their goal is or how effective they’ll be at achieving it. And I really don’t like using text amendments to earmark money in capital improvement plans for projects that might cost more than the total pot of funding.
In total, amendments that the council passed almost entirely use up the one-time funds that are available (beyond our reserve requirements). On the one hand, that’s kind of what the money is for; it’s unexpected savings from the previous year that can be appropriated in the next. On the other, just because the money is there doesn’t mean we need to spend it. I’d have preferred to leave some cushion even beyond what our reserves are required to be. That’s why I voted against almost all of these.
So, I have not fully decided whether I’ll vote for or against the amended budget tomorrow. I hope you’ll share your opinion with me.
See below for some notes about the fees and fines that are passed at the same time.
The last thing I want to mention as we wrap up the budget season is about process. As Finance Chair, I made improvements to our budget process this year that I’m proud of: the council shared priorities with the mayor early on, the Finance Committee actually stuck to the schedule we set for ourselves, we brought city workers more into the process, and there was almost no chaos of last-minute amendments. But our city budgeting process could be so much better.
If reelected, one of my top priorities will be to move us towards a more outcomes-based budget process that begins with the council defining clear metrics of achievement and then working backward to how much money is needed to do so. This seems commonsense, but it would be a big change. I think, for the better.
This week and every week, I’m grateful for the honor of representing you and our whole community. Never hesitate to contact me at harry@harrymhuntley.com.
City council agenda
Call To Order
Mayor Buckley
Invocation
Alderman Arnett
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Buckley
Roll Call
City Clerk Watkins-Eldridge
Approval of Agenda
Ceremonial Items
Update from Mayor
Mayor Buckley
Reports by Committee
Comments by the General Public
Remember, you can come to any city council meeting to tell us about what’s important to you and your neighborhood! Register here or just show up.
Consent Calendar
Public Hearings
O-9-25 Expanding Waterfront Uses in R4 General Residence (Zoning) Districts
This ordinance would allow a property owner in the R-4 zone to file an application and appear before the Board of Appeals and petition to operate a boat rental use. The Board of Appeals would conduct a public hearing and decide the case. In approving such an application, the Board could impose certain reasonable conditions on the operation of the use. We have only a tiny piece of R-4 in (what will be) Ward One, and it’s not on the water. This will mostly affect Ward Eight and Ward Two. I like this legislation because it’ll improve water access at no cost to taxpayers and encourage investment in the city. It’s just the kind of red tape cutting that I think we need more of. But if you disagree, come and let us know!
Budget-Related Second Readers
R-20-25 FY 2026 Annual Fees Schedule
Fees the Planning and Zoning Department charges developers to apply for permits are going up to reflect the actual time cost department staff spend on reviewing those applications. This will pay for the department hiring an additional reviewer and respond more quickly, which is crucial for attracting investment to the city.
I did push back though on a change that would have increased the minimum fee paid for an application to get an administrative approval (meaning, not a full HPC hearing) in the historic district. I didn’t like the idea of charging minimum $250 even for small improvements to your home. So, I successfully got that back down to $50.
People always want to know about changes to our utility fees, and I get why, especially when gas and electric are going up like crazy. We are keeping the fees for water and sewer to a minimal 4% increase, which is needed to keep those enterprise funds stable. The county is hiking costs on the city for sewage treatment by 30%! Given that, I think a 4% increase is quite modest. But remember “30%” the next time someone tells you that outsourcing services to the county saves money.
The trash fee is increasing by 10%, and I hate that. But we have no control over it at this time. Again, trash collection has been outsourced (supposedly to save money), and the costs the city pays per our contract are going up. The contract will be up for renegotiation next year, and I hope to have a Finance Committee hearing on it before then.
The watershed restoration fee was proposed to increase by 15% to finally put that enterprise fund on a sustainable fiscal path after years of underfunding. That’s way too much. By finding an alternative funding source for some of their work, the Finance Committee and Alderman Savidge were able to get that down to 12%. It’s still too much, and I have ideas to both cut expenses by using new contracting tools and make the fee structure fairer, but those changes will happen outside of the budget process.
R-21-25 FY 2026 Annual Fines Schedule
Fines are going up on developers who conduct demolition or other work without permits. Fines are going down on drinking a beer in public. Now that’s what I call Annapolis!
Did you know the maximum fine for first-time public consumption was $500 AND 90 days in jail? I’m not sure anybody was getting thrown in jail, but I really did hear of someone getting a $250 ticket for walking from one house to another with an open hard seltzer. This is not the most important issue, but it was an easy fix to get rid of that 90-day penalty and bump to maximum fine for first time offense down to $100.
The fines really are going up on a range of violations in the historic district and beyond like commencing work without approval, building code violations, and historic preservation violations. These will deter bad actors who I’ve personally seen undertake shoddy renovations with disregard for our residents and our history.
We tried to increase the fines for speeding caught by speed cameras from $40, but the state doesn’t allow us. If you think that’s crazy like I do, please tell our state delegation. Maybe it’s something the state lobbyist can work on next year.
We’re also doing a complex thing to swap how the fines are assessed on parking in garages that I think will be beneficial for residents, but I’m going to cover it more in next week’s newsletter.
O-10-25 Annual Budget and Appropriation and Property Tax Levy
I’m not writing much about this here because it’s the focus of my updates, but I’ll just reiterate that there’s no increase to the property tax rate, that we’re doubling the money going to sidewalk repair, and that you should send me a note if you have any questions.
Ordinance Second Readers
O-33-24 Appeals Process for Property Development in Annapolis
This legislation makes it clear that an appeal of the ruling by a city quasi-judicial board or commission is paused if a judge determines it should be, not automatically when an appeal is filed. I’ve had mixed feelings about this legislation, but ultimately the question to ask is “Should a project get paused based on whether someone has the money to file an appeal, or should a project get paused because a judge believes that’s appropriate?” and I do think that a judge is the correct place for that decision to occur. And by reducing uncertainty for people who want to invest in Annapolis, I hope this legislation will help strengthen our tax base so we can decrease tax rates. It also updates some of the procedures for the Board of Appeals in a way that I think should be non-controversial to just make their work more streamlined. Based on my answer to the fundamental question above and the positive feedback from my colleagues, the Board of Appeals, and the Planning Commission, I intend to vote yes on this legislation.
O-11-25 Arts in Public Places Commission Update and Revisions
This moves the Arts in Public Places Commission in code to put its oversight under the Planning and Zoning Director instead of the Recreation and Parks Director; Planning and Zoning has much more experience with staffing boards and commissions. We’re hopeful this will help the AIPPC develop more clear processes and accomplish some of their outstanding work like choosing some art for Westgate Circle. We’ve been working through what, if any, changes might be needed to this legislation, and that’s still not 100% resolved. I think the legislation allows the Director to support the Commission in the way we all agree should happen, but I may end up bringing forward an amendment to clarify that some of the processes that are intended are actually required. Overall, this is good legislation that I intend to support.
Resolution Second Readers
R-12-25 Street-end Park on Annapolis Street
This designates the end of Annapolis Street as a street-end park with pretty minimal cost. I’m excited to expand water access in our city where that’s such a crucial piece of our identity.
R-17-25 2025 Transit Development Plan for the City of Annapolis
This is the city’s annual transit development plan that we have to submit to the state. I appreciate the Transportation Board member who pointed out to me that the survey data used in here has some issues, but I don’t see a problem with the conclusions in the plan, so unless I hear something to convince me otherwise, I’m intending to vote yes.
Adjournment
Other news you can use
Tonight 6:30-8:30 at City Dock, the Hotel Paradise Orchestra will perform as part of the city’s free summer concert series.
Tuesday is the mayoral debate hosted by the Caucus of African American Leaders. It’s at the Wiley H Bates Legacy Center starting at 5 pm. If you’re on the fence about attending, check out this opinion piece by the Honorable Carl O Snowden, which will make up your mind to go.
Dinner Under the Stars is this Wednesday again. I wanted to take Sara, but it turns out she’s going to happy hour with friends. Anybody else want to join me for some Farfalle Genovese and half-price wine at Luna Blu?
It’s a good week for concerts, apparently. The Annapolis Maritime Museum is having their Tides and Tunes Summer Concert Series on Thursday at the Museum (723 Second Street, over in the Maritime Republic) from 6pm to 9:30pm. Both this and the city’s concerts will be going on for free all summer long!
We’re hitting the doors again to talk directly with all of you. Next Saturday at 10am, meet at the top of the Calvert Street garage to pick up a packet and fan out to chat with voters in downtown Annapolis about the issues that matter to them and why I’m the person to “make it happen”. You can register here for a reminder.
Germantown Homewood is hosting Porchfest, a free concert series right in the community from 11-3 next Saturday. Check out the details here.
Like I said at the top, I’ve moved to President’s Hill, and what better way to get to know the neighbors than with a meet and greet? Mary Suib is hosting one for me and Jared Littmann on June 14 at her home on Munroe Ct. Register here, whether you live in President’s Hill or not.
Beginning Monday June 16, Compromise Street is getting repaved from Newman Street to the Spa Creek bridge. Watch out for changes to the traffic pattern downtown that might cause delays. Once construction begins, parking will be prohibited within the parking zones from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM., Monday through Friday, until the work is completed. This project will also include the removal of the brick island near Randall Street. I’m happy to see us getting a key thoroughfare into better condition.
Please send me any events or other information you’d like advertised to your neighbors.
Have a great week, everyone!
Harry