Annapolis · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in City of Annapolis public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Electric-Hybrid Ferry Proposal
Five operators responded to the ferry RFI, suggesting weekend-first service with possible deficits in year one. The committee discussed funding it partly through the sustainable mobility services fund and using the boat for events and charters; RFPs for the vessel and landing sites are ready to advertise.
Resiliency Hub for New Harbor House and Eastport Terrace
A $12,000 study will test whether the redeveloped Eastport community center can run on solar with battery backup, cutting energy costs and powering the facility during emergencies. Members questioned why the city, not the developer, funds it and noted construction may be years away.
Atlantic Menhaden Conservation
The council endorsed a draft addendum to the interstate menhaden management plan, adding Annapolis's voice to regional fishery decisions.
Resilience Authority membership and director appointment changes
The bill updates membership rules and director appointments for the joint city-county Resilience Authority, which has secured over $80 million for local projects. The committee recommended it but flagged a legal question — whether the city can add council confirmation of appointments without matching county action — and asked the law office to resolve it before the council votes.
Tree removal and replacement fees in the Critical Area
The city was set to consider setting fees for tree removal permits and replacement in the Critical Area under its expanded tree protection ordinance. Fees could affect homeowners and developers who need to remove trees in protected zones.
Watershed restoration / stormwater fee reform
Four living shoreline projects are moving in the city: St. Mary's finishes this month after a seven-year effort, Providence Point's stream restoration wraps October 31, and Hawkins Cove and Carr's Beach are slated for 2027. The committee discussed how to streamline permitting so green projects don't take seven years.
Leaf blower ban enforcement
Alderman Savidge asked for a better enforcement plan during peak season. Staff said inspectors will target tips with specific days and times, rebates for landscapers converting to electric remain available, and citation numbers should be publicized.
State of Spa Creek 2025 data
The Spa Road site was a landfill and incinerator and later a public works yard, leaving metals and organic compounds in the soil and groundwater. A $4 million federal Brownfields grant will fund cleanup, and officials say the project could be the best thing to happen to Spa Creek in a century.
City Dock flood protection
The mayor reported City Dock is on budget and ahead of schedule: Naval Academy gate reopens by December, boardwalk by March, grand opening July 2027, with phase two running through spring 2028.
Forest conservation rules updated to match state law
O-16-26, sponsored by Alderman Savidge, would bring Annapolis's forest clearing and reforestation rules in line with Maryland's updated Forest Conservation Act, with several amendments filed. Developers and tree advocates on both sides had a hearing scheduled.
Street lighting and smart traffic signals
The city was set to accept $408,500 in Maryland Energy Administration grant funding to convert 628 outdoor lights to LED and conduct an energy-efficiency audit, including a BEPS Action Plan for the Pip Moyer Rec Center. Lower-energy LED lighting can trim the city's electricity bills over time, and no local match was required.
Resilience & Sustainability Program Update
The city's Resilience & Sustainability office shared its monthly reports through March 2026, covering its ongoing climate and environmental work.
Forest Conservation Program Overhaul (O-16-26)
Amendment five would require newspaper and website notice when a forest conservation plan is approved, on top of the state's new requirement to mail adjacent owners 20 days before approval. Members debated whether the burden should fall on applicants or neighbors, and whether print newspaper notice is still worthwhile.
Urban Forester update
The city's urban forester answered questions on the urban tree program, which affects street shade, stormwater, and neighborhood canopy.
Urban tree canopy program staffing
The committee discussed the city's tree canopy and asked staff to explore funding an additional urban forester position in the budget.
Cedar Park Sidewalks stormwater shortfall
Stormwater work couldn't be built on-site during Phase I of the Cedar Park sidewalk project, so $156,974 is being moved to the stormwater MS4 compliance account to satisfy the requirement elsewhere in the same watershed.
Mooring requirements in City waters
The ordinance would measure the 75-foot spacing between moorings from the mooring itself instead of the moored boat, confirm all transient mooring balls are city-owned, and give the Harbormaster authority over vessel types and lengths. It affects boaters using Spa, Back, and Weems Creek mooring areas.