Your 5/26/26 City Council Agenda
Happy Monday, Ward One
And a solemn Memorial Day. As you’ve probably noticed by now, the Memorial Day parade was unfortunately canceled due to weather conditions. I hope you’re able to take a moment today to reflect on those who’ve fallen in service to our country.
I’m also spending time today to do a last little bit of work on budget amendments. You’ll have your last formal opportunity to comment on the budget at tomorrow night’s city council meeting, before we have our all-day amendment meeting on June 1.
Here are the top 3 things you need to know in Annapolis:
Trash pickup and the city council meeting are both pushed back a day due to Memorial Day.
The council will confirm a new Director of HR tomorrow, coming to us from being the Director of HR for Washington, DC.
Two new pieces of legislation are getting introduced to legalize long-term renting of rooms in private homes and to allow tents at the stadium.
Updates from Harry
It’s been a busy couple of news weeks around Annapolis with so much to write about that that I thought I’d give you something of a grab-bag of important stories that I’ve been reading—mostly local but a little national.
Rick Hutzell, Baltimore Banner: In Annapolis, you can’t eat a hot dog standing up
Rick found the perfect framing for the absurdities that restrict our small businesses in Annapolis. He talks about how eating a hotdog while standing up is currently illegal for outdoor dining but also how we’ve prevented ketchup from being on tables in some places and have different hours or months of operations totally arbitrarily. Running a small business anywhere is tough, but silly rules like these make it even harder here. The businesses that are equipped to handle complying with every crazy regulation are invariably only the big chains that we don’t want displacing neighborhood shops we know and love. I look forward to reducing the over-regulation on outdoor dining, as well as on other small businesses around town.
NYT Editorial Board: There Has Never Been an Example of Presidential Corruption Like This
I told you earlier this year that I would not let the outrageous become unremarkable. The president’s new $1.8 billion slush fund to pay people who beat police officers rises to the level that I have to say something. Besides the corruption, besides the despicable crimes committed by the people the president wants to pay off, our appropriations process would immediately break down if the president can just get any amount of money he wants for anything he wants by suing the government and settling for the funding of a new unilaterally-created program. That’s not a functioning system of government in Washington, and I wouldn’t want anything like it to ever come near Annapolis city government.
Patch: Gavin Buckley qualifies for public financing in 6th District race
I’ll have more to say next newsletter on the election coming up. But regardless of where you stand on individual issues, I think we should all applaud the candidates using public financing so they can have campaigns that focus on the many, rather than the wealthy few. James Kitchen and Gavin Buckley are the only candidates in the county availing themselves of this option. As a matter of policy in Annapolis, I prefer just plain limiting spending on campaigns, but there are Constitutional reasons (or so SCOTUS tells us) why we might not be able to have only sticks without carrots.
Baltimore Banner: Annapolis mayor gets flak from City Council for changes to discretionary spending
To be clear, I’m not the one giving the mayor flak in this headline. Mayor Littmann chose in his budget to appropriate 100% of a pot of funding that, in previous years, mayors have chosen to allow the council to appropriate as they wish (with 5 votes). The total pot is also smaller this year (because we’ve gotten more precise in our budgeting), so the amount the mayor appropriated is not higher, just the percentage. I was upset with the process for spending this pot of money last year and prefer this mayor’s approach. From the article:
Huntley said the difference boils down to the prior practice of asking, “How do you want to spend this money” vs. Littman’s approach of, “Here’s how I want to spend the money, do you have a better idea?”
“It sets a bar you have to clear,” Huntley said.
Capital Gazette: Annapolis to settle public housing discrimination lawsuits
$15 million is a lot of sidewalks we could be repairing. But when you consider that estimates were as high as $100 million and that it will be structured in such a way that $5 million can come from the city’s insurance, it starts to look like a little more of a bargain. This is a topic where I have maintained that—within reason—we need to trust the executive’s judgment, because the decision cannot effectively be made by committee. This set of lawsuits has been a long-running saga with difficult decisions throughout (“Do you let poor kids live somewhere dangerous, or is it better to make them homeless?”, “Do you settle for a big amount or go to trial and risk paying a gigantic amount?”, “Do you put money into quick fixes now or save up to totally replace the buildings?”), and I’m happy to be putting it in the rearview mirror so that we can focus on building more housing and healthier communities. We do not expect that this settlement will impact this year’s budget process.
NYT Editorial Board: America needs to build more housing
If you’re concerned about the cost of living or affordability, please read this short article. It lays out very clearly how buying a house has become much less affordable and how we can see—due to regional variation—that it’s because most of the country has not built enough housing. It goes on to say that cities should stop making it illegal to build anything other than detached houses (ie should re-allow duplexes), should reduce mandatory minimum lot sizes, and should generally make it easier to build in places like Annapolis, where we need smart growth.
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 Littmann
Moment of Silence
Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Littmann
Roll Call
City Clerk Watkins-Eldridge
Approval of Agenda
Ceremonial Items
Update from the Mayor
Mayor Littmann
Reports by Committees
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.
Public Hearings
Note that this is your last time to testify on the budget!
O-8-26 Annual Budget and Appropriations and Property Tax Levy
This ordinance constitutes the city budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 2026 and ending June 30, 2027. It includes the Annual Operating Budget for the new fiscal year starting July 1, the Capital Budget, Capital Improvement Program 9planning for the next 5 years), appropriates money for all City spending over the next fiscal year, and levies the City's property taxes for FY 2027.
R-10-26 Annual Fees Schedule
The list of all the City's fees and the corresponding sections of the Code requiring each fee. Fees are a payment for a service (like inspecting a rental), while fines are a punishment for breaking part of the code.
R-11-26 Annual Fines Schedule
The list of the City's fines and the corresponding sections of the Code. Fines are a punishment for breaking part of the code (like walking around with an open alcohol container), while fees are a payment for a service.
R-12-26 Position Classification and Play Plan
The list of all the City's jobs, their pay rank, and the actual salary for each position.
O-9-26 Updating the Standing Committees Section of the City Code
This adjusts what legislation is automatically referred to the Environmental Matters Committee. It may also slightly adjust the role of Finance Committee. I want to ensure legislation can move through our processes expeditiously and that it doesn’t burden staff having to come speak at too many hearings.
O-10-26 Reducing the Human Relations Commission Membership
The Human Relations Commission is much larger (15 members) than many of our other boards and commissions, so this right-sizes it. It will ensure the Commission has quorum to conduct its business.
Consent Calendar
Business & Miscellaneous
Ordinance First Readers
O-11-26 Allowing Long-Term Room Rentals in Private Homes
Did you know that city code currently prohibits you from renting out a room in your house for more than 90 days at a time? Separate from our much-discussed issue of how much to regulate short-term rentals, long-term room rentals aren’t currently allowed at all. This legislation fixes that by adding definitions and authorizations for us all to be able to rent out rooms in our primary residence, with lots of safeguards. I’m happy to be a co-sponsor.
O-13-26 Permitting and Zoning - Stadium Accessory Structures
This allows tents at Navy Stadium. They’ve been having some issues where a commonsense understanding conflicts with the International Building Code, and this fixes that.
Resolution First Readers
R-17-26 Fees Related to O-11-26, Allowing Long-Term Room Rentals in Private Homes
Just setting corresponding fees for the long-term room rental legislation.
R-18-26 Human Resources Director - Charles A. Hall, Jr.
Mr. Hall is set to be our next Director of HR. He comes to us having been the head of HR for all of Washington, DC government. So, I’m pretty sure he’s qualified to do the job for little old Annapolis.
Adjournment
Other news you can use
The Fleet Reserve Club will hold a formal Memorial Day ceremony today at 11:30 a.m., a quieter, more solemn moment to honor those who gave their lives in service.
City offices are closed today, and so are Pip Moyer Rec Center and the Stanton Center. Monday trash and recycling collection will happen tomorrow, and Tuesday collection will occur Wednesday. Everything else stays on schedule the rest of the week.
Tomorrow evening, the emerging Annapolis Food Co-op will have a happy hour at Forward Brewing. Want to get involved or just learn more about the concept? Do it while sipping on a pint of Boat Day Kolsch—just make sure you’re sitting down.
Friday at 7:30, the Greater Annapolis Ballet will be putting on a show with contemporary music at Maryland Hall.
Pints 4 Paws Homebrewing and Craft Beer Festival will be next Saturday at Navy Stadium. With 50+ homebrews and craft beers from local outfits, live music, food trucks, a silent auction, and the SPCA mobile unit on site with adoptable animals, all proceeds go directly to the SPCA of Anne Arundel County.
Paint Annapolis begins next Sunday with “Dueling Brushes”. This longtime, multi-week event brings artists from all over the world to paint our beautiful streetscape in Annapolis. So, watch out for easels as you’re walking around town.
June 1 is our all-day budget amendment meeting where we vote up or down on dozens of changes to the mayor’s proposed budget.
The following Saturday, June 6, you can see American Voices United through Song at Maryland Hall.
You’ve likely received your mail-in ballot for the June 23 primary election. I’ll have lots more to say about this next newsletter, but for now, just make sure you’re registered and otherwise able to vote. The Baltimore Banner has great info on the voting process and the candidates.
Please send me any events or other information you’d like advertised to your neighbors.
Have a great week, everyone!
Harry