Annapolis · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in City of Annapolis public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
City Attorney Designated as City Resident Agent
A mostly administrative fix: state law requires the city to have an official resident agent to receive legal documents, and this ordinance would put that role on the City Attorney. Unlikely to affect residents day-to-day.
Snow and ice sidewalk clearing fees and fines
A package of legislation would shorten deadlines for clearing sidewalks after storms, let the city clear them and bill property owners, and set new fees and fines. Homeowners and businesses would need to shovel faster or pay up.
Overlapping property inspections at HACA sites
The council met privately for over 40 minutes to discuss pending or potential litigation involving the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis. Details are confidential, but HACA oversight is now formally on the council's legal docket.
Fire and Harbor Security Grants
Federal grants will add three cardiac monitor defibrillators, up to 15 AEDs, and a remote-operated underwater search-and-rescue vehicle deployed off the city's new fire boat — a capability not otherwise available in the immediate area.
Civic decorum and antisemitism concerns
After a heated incident two weeks prior, Jody Goldsmith of the Jewish Federation asked the council to ensure people can disagree without being treated with hostility, citing a poll showing rising acceptance of antisemitism.
Expanding the Board of Supervisors of Elections
The bill grows the elections board from three to five members to fix quorum problems and add unaffiliated-voter representation. The committee's amendment shifts appointment power from the council to the mayor with council confirmation and sets a 10% threshold for third-party seats — a change that split the committee 2-1.
Fines for tenant eviction process violations
New first-reader legislation would set eviction notice requirements, regulate how tenants' belongings are handled, and attach a fines schedule. Both landlords and tenants have stakes in how this is written.
FY25 Urban Area Security Initiative grant projects
A late-arriving $900,000 federal grant funds bomb squad gear, a new robot, vehicle barriers, and emergency planning. Because federal litigation delayed it a year, the city had to fund three emergency management salaries from the general fund, and grant rules bar using the award to reimburse them.
Homeland Security grant-funded public safety projects
The city's emergency management, fire, and police teams are using federal Homeland Security grant money to build capabilities for preventing and responding to terrorism and catastrophic events. The presentation would show how those dollars improve day-to-day public safety in Annapolis.
Annapolis Police Department summer safety and crime plan
APD doubled its weekend-night presence over the summer by putting detectives and administrative staff in uniform. The result: crime down 6% overall, property crime down 10%, traffic accidents down 15–16%, and over 443 days without a gun homicide.
November agenda: AI police robots, e-bikes, and ICE policy
Chairwoman O'Neill previewed November committee topics: the city's stance on AI robots after one appeared downtown, how the city can protect youth riding motorized bikes, and local policy regarding federal immigration enforcement and coordination with the county.
Annapolis Fire Department Update
The city's new fire boat arrives October 28, funded through prior council budgets. The fire department is also seeking Monday council approval to buy three more cardiac monitors and up to 15 AEDs, plus an underwater ROV from a port security grant.
Parking Enforcement Without Clear Markings
Alderman Savidge reported angry constituents getting tickets near unmarked fire hydrants and crosswalks under newly aggressive enforcement. The committee agreed areas need clear marking — or warnings first — before tickets are written.
APD has no ongoing relationship with ICE
Multiple speakers reported ICE vehicles at Pitt Moyer Rec Center and Truxton Pool — Pitt Moyer is a polling place and ballot drop box location. Speakers urged the council to bar ICE from city property, as Anne Arundel County's executive has done by executive order.
Denied posthumous citation for activist Phil Ateto
Mayor Littmann denied a ceremonial citation for the late activist Phil Ateto, saying Ateto's language toward him crossed into antisemitism. Dozens of residents demanded the decision be reversed, while a few Jewish residents defended it. Two aldermen called for a transparent, council-wide citation policy so the decision doesn't rest with one person.
Federal grant for police youth mentoring program
The city is accepting $20,000 in federal grant money to keep the PAL youth mentoring program running, which serves hundreds of kids through boxing, swimming, and volleyball. Committee members want better budget planning so programs don't depend on grant luck.
Snow equipment replacement funding
The city needs about $102,250 for snow plow blades but is pulling it from Public Works salary vacancy savings instead of the fleet budget, which was centralized and no longer covers it. Members questioned the budgeting logic and whether streets and traffic repairs lose out, but forwarded the transfer so blades can be bought before winter.
Warming center relocation to Robinwood
The winter warming center moves from the Pitt Moyer Center to the Robinwood Recreation Center this season — farther from support services, so the chair is pushing for bus passes for patrons. The site has about two years of life before planned redevelopment, and officials are already scouting the next location.
Out-of-service fire hydrants
Alderman Smith-Brown flagged hydrants in his ward that have been out of service, some for over a year. Public Works maintains them; AFD offered to follow up on specific locations.
Youth e-bike and e-motor safety
Alderman Smith-Brown raised a near-miss between a resident and a teen on an e-motor, asking what the city is doing about youth on these vehicles. APD promised a fuller answer in October and noted summer youth outreach programs.
Peak-time medic unit funding
AFD landed two federal grants — about $165,000 for cardiac monitors and AEDs and $100,000 for an underwater rescue robot — and is launching a paramedic-only hiring pilot with county funding help.
Emergency Management Grant Boost
The city landed nearly $900,000 in federal anti-terrorism funding — $220,000 more than budgeted — for emergency training, exercises, and planning.
Vehicle Barriers for Special Events
The grant includes $100,000 for deployable vehicle barriers that are easier to set up than current heavy barricades. Some members questioned whether they will raise costs for special events, and staff declined to guarantee savings, but the purchase moved forward.
Ranked choice voting for Annapolis elections
A presentation on whether Annapolis should adopt ranked choice voting, covering how it works, what it costs, and how other Maryland cities have implemented it. No vote yet — the chair wants any major change to go to voters as a ballot question.
Maryland PDAB for Annapolis
The Maryland Citizens Health Initiative was scheduled to brief the council on the Maryland PDAB for Annapolis. Because this was a work session with no public comment, residents could watch the presentation broadcast live or in the city's archived video.
Alcohol compliance grant funding for Annapolis Police
A small $500 supplement would bring the Anne Arundel County Alcohol Compliance Grant up to its budgeted $5,500 level, supporting police enforcement of alcohol laws.
Oversight of the City's Police Firing Range
A public hearing was scheduled on an ordinance that would let the Police Chief and the Mayor decide who may use the city's police firing range.
City Hall security guards and risk management specialist
Huntley proposed cutting $180,000 in City Hall security to fund traffic safety, arguing more lives are lost to crashes. Staff, the city manager, and most aldermen pushed back hard, citing past scares in the building, and the amendment was withdrawn.
Personnel matter discussed in closed session
A newly added discussion item on employee relations, with the city's employee relations administrator and staff answering committee questions.
Closed session on cybersecurity and public security budget items
Police funding looks flat but that's due to a larger vacancy adjustment ($2 million vs. $1.2 million last year); $200,000 in one-time funds goes to police sign-on bonuses. Fire gets a boost for the peak-time medic unit, and OEM funding is moved into the general fund to hedge against federal grant uncertainty.
Street sweeping operations and resident notification
Alderwoman O'Neill asked for a predictable street sweeping schedule so residents can move their cars; staff say new routing software being considered for snow removal could eventually enable published schedules. Alderman Thorp wants a targeted plan for Eastport.
Police data sharing with Planning and Zoning on rental complaints
State law lets P&Z revoke rental licenses after repeated police calls, but police responses to short-term rentals don't reliably reach P&Z. Members want a formal information-sharing system, possibly tied to filling a civilian records specialist position.
APD staffing reaches full patrol strength
APD's FY27 budget builds in $2 million of vacancy savings; if all positions filled by July 1, the department would be $2 million short. Members want year-over-year overtime tracking and asked about the $2.5 million overtime figure.
Overdose reduction progress
Overdoses dropped 72% since 2020 and fatal overdoses fell 82%, thanks to aggressive Narcan distribution and community outreach in Wards 4 and 6. But the director warned a bad drug batch from Baltimore could spike numbers overnight.
Citywide radio maintenance
The city owns 130 radios at $4,500 each used by public works, recreation, transportation and more — with no maintenance plan. The committee asked for a readout on total radio spending across departments and whether to centralize the program.
Internal affairs complaints rose sharply in 2025
Complaints against officers jumped from 25 in 2024 to 41 in 2025, with external complaints nearly doubling. The committee wants a full breakdown — complaint types and outcomes — plus a police accountability board presentation at its June meeting.
Homelessness encampments in Ward 3
Alderwoman Contee wants more city money for wraparound homelessness services beyond the Light House shelter. Staff explained the county runs the system under HUD rules, but the city can fund specific programs, advocate on housing barriers, and support nonprofits.
Re-entry program for returning citizens
Officer Rob Horn runs a one-man re-entry program that has graduated 12 cohorts of people returning from prison, teaching job skills from CDL to medical. Alderman Smith-Brown asked for details, and the full program may be presented at the June meeting.
Housing Authority Litigation (Closed Session)
The council met privately for over 40 minutes to discuss pending or potential litigation involving the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis. Details are confidential, but HACA oversight is now formally on the council's legal docket.
Snow Storm Emergency Response Review
The Office of Emergency Management presented an after-action report on the city's response to this winter's snow storm. It's a chance to see what worked, what didn't, and how future storm responses might improve.
Senator Amoss Fire Grant from Anne Arundel County
The county is providing grant money for the fire department, and the committee sent it forward with a good recommendation. Outside grant dollars help fund fire services without raising city taxes.
Office of Emergency Management briefing
Emergency Management Director Simmons, joined by Alderman Thorp, gave the committee a look at the city's disaster preparedness posture. It covers how Annapolis plans for storms, hazards, and other emergencies.
Speed Camera Program
The city's speed camera program and its contract status were questioned by the committee. Residents could see changes to how or where cameras operate depending on where this goes.