LEGISLATION & THE ISSUES
I continue to look forward to our dialogue on the many issues that face our City, as well as matters that are personal to my constituents. As I continue to become increasingly acclimated to representing you on the City Council, I continue to recognize that this position has two distinct components:
1) Making critical legislative and policy decisions on behalf of our City, including co-sponsoring, supporting, and/or voting for legislation that improves the quality of life for all of our City’s residents;
2) Responding, in a timely, efficient, and effective manner, to constituent concerns and challenges, and the growth and/or development issues that impact Ward 3.
Below are a few highlighted pieces of legislation that I initiated, supported, sponsored, co-
sponsored, and/or voted in favor of, etc. from December 2013 through July 2024:
YOUTH
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Assisted in organizing the City-wide Summer Pop-Up Camps for youth, including investigating opportunities for special needs students
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Co-sponsored O-2-20 (Youth Development Commission) for the purpose of establishing a Youth Development Commission; creating certain definitions; identifying the responsibilities and composition of the Commission, etc.
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Co-sponsored R-30-20 for the purpose of declaring youth violence a public health epidemic; and supporting the establishment of City-wide trauma-informed education and response methods​​
HEALTH, EDUCATION,
AND WELFARE
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Sponsored R-24-21 - Opioid and Illicit Substance Abuse Epidemic (for the purpose of recognizing that nationwide opioid and illicit substance abuse is an epidemic)
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Picked up from the City 500 COVID-19 masks and delivered them to all Ward 3 churches
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Continued to work with the Community Health Center at Parole, Inc., in ensuring the replacement of the building’s chair lift by the Health Department
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Supported R-25-24 for an additional Social Worker position at Annapolis High School
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Co-sponsored City grants to nonprofits (O-7-15)
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Also see R-17-23; O-31-22 (Community Grants); R-32-18; R-19-15; R-3-18; O-46-20; CA-1-21; and R-21-21
WORKFORCE
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Lead Sponsor of O-11-18 legislation for City of Annapolis’ Stanton Community Center Lease with the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation
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Regularly invited to participate in Leadership Anne Arundel, along with other elected officials--"how to enlist volunteers, public servants, and prioritizing and problem solving."
ENVIRONMENT, RESILIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS
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Working with the City to designate additional historic landmarks in Ward 3
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Voted for O-32-15 legislation supporting the construction and operation of a Renewable Energy Park—a solar generating facility
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Voted for O-22-16 legislation supporting the City of Annapolis Forest Conservation Act & O-38-16 (Forest Conservation Act; Reforestation)
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R-22-17 (United Nations Paris Climate Agreement)
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O-33-17 (Stormwater Utility Fund)
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Also see R-4-18 (Clean energy jobs); R-11-18 (Natural Hazard Mitigation
Plan); R-46-18 (Stormwater regulations); R-47-18 (No Discharge Zones); CA-1-20 (Deputy City Manager, Resilience and Sustainability position created); O-14-20 (Plug in Electric Vehicles); O-29-20 (Small cells systems); O-36-20 (Discharge prohibitions); R-8-21 (Digital Connectivity Act); O-14-21 (Resilience Authority); O-40-21 (Electric Mobility Plan); R-7-22 (Pollution discharges); R-39-23 (Hazard Mitigation)
MARITIME
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Co-sponsored O-40-15 - Waterfront Maritime Conservation District - for the purpose of amending Retail Use, the Standards for Uses Subject to Standards and Parking Requirements in the WMC Zoning District
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Co-sponsored R-46-20 - Maritime Task Force - for the purpose of establishing a Maritime Task Force charged with conducting a comprehensive review of the waterfront maritime zoning districts in the City of Annapolis
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Co-sponsored R-26-21 - Maritime Task Force "Strategy: Strengthening the Maritime Industry" for the purpose of adopting the Strategy of the Maritime Task Force, etc.
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Co-sponsored O-25-21 - Waterfront Maritime Zoning Districts - Uses for the purpose of requiring certain annual reporting on maritime and non-maritime uses, providing for certain waterfront access incentives for non-maritime uses, etc.
HOUSING AND LAND USE
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Lead Sponsor/Initiated, Resolution R-39-19: “Payment in Lieu of Property Taxes – Towne Courts, LLC – for the construction of affordable housing units to be located in Ward 3
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Voted for O-47-15 legislation supporting Moderately Priced Dwelling Units (MPDUs) to include USNA workers on the grounds
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Co-sponsored O-13-21 for the purpose of repealing the Annapolis City Code provisions relating to urban renewal projects and requiring the Affordable Housing and Community Equity Development Commission to review certain development projects
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Eastport Choice Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) Transformation Plan (R-17-21 (CNI); R-13-22 (HACA); R-20-22 (CNI); R-19-24)
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Comprehensive Plan & Workforce Housing Development Planning (R-1-23; R-4-24)
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Also see O-32-17; O-19-18; O-34-18; O-45-18; R-26-19; R-39-19;
TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC
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Lead Sponsor, Renaming a portion of three Ward 3 Streets: R-36-16, Holeclaw Street to “Norwood Brown Lane”; R-37-16, Holeclaw Street to “Hoppy Adams Way”; and R-38-16, Center Street to “Noah Taylor Way”
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Assisted with soliciting possible City Transportation Board candidates
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Co-sponsored R-27-19 for Eastport and Forest Drive Communities and Governmental Agencies Task Force
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Co-sponsored R-27-24 - U.S. Naval Academy Bridge Shared-Use Path Project for the purpose of the City Council to accept the Annapolis Transportation Board recommendations for the U.S. Naval Academy Bridge Shared-Use Path Project (SUP); and generally related to City of Annapolis efforts to ensure the City becomes more cyclist-friendly
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Also see R-20-19; R-48-19; R-23-20; O-33-20; R-54-20; R-2-21;R-9-21; and R-9-22;
BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS
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Sponsored COVID response bills, to include R-25-20 for the Small Business Recovery Task Force establishing a temporary emergency Task Force commissioned to focus on the experiences that Annapolis businesses are facing in the time of the COVID-19 declarations protecting citizen health, and O-26-21 (COVID).
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Sponsored Small Business Financing after Hurricane Ida for impacted small businesses through R-2-22 (Hurricane Ida); R-3-22, R-4-22, R-6-22, and R-11-22.
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Continue to collaborate with the SoFo Annapolis (South Forest Drive Business Association) and the Annapolis Design District
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Co-sponsor, R-41-13 legislation for Metered Parking Rate Fee Schedule Revision for the purpose of assisting downtown businesses during the slow winter months
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Also see O-45-15; O-10-17; and O-19-17;
PUBLIC SAFETY, RISK MANAGEMENT, ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES
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Co-facilitated securing the funding for the traffic signal at West Street and Gibralter Street, which has been on the request list for at least 20 years
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Participated as a panelist on AACPS’ Safe Schools Town Hall meeting
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Served as a panelist on the Safe Cities Summit hosted by the City at St. John’s College
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Police and Fire Retirement Plan Cost of Living Adjustments (O-24-14)
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National Police Week 2024 (R-22-24)
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Also see O-25-14; O-3-15; R-17-16; CA-5-19; O-42-20; R-56-20; O-1-22; R-8-22; O-9-23; R-20-23; R-27-23; R-33-23;
R-5-24; R-21-24; and R-23-24 -
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HISTORY, CULTURE, AND EQUITY
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Host of City of Annapolis TV program “Watershed Moments” interviewing very diverse and interesting guests
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Co-sposored Authorizing the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade as an Official City of Annapolis Co-Sponsored Event (R-27-14)
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Sponsored R-38-16 for the purpose of declaring a section of Center Street shall be renamed "Noah Taylor Way" to honor the contributions of Mr. Noah Taylor and his family to Annapolis
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Voted for, O-13-16, supporting the City’s Operating Budget, which included funding for the hiring of an African-American Community Services Specialist and a Hispanic Community Services Specialist, as Co-sponsored
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Also see R-7-17; R-14-17; R-18-18; R-21-18; R-24-18; R-5-19; R-29-19; R-55-20; R-17-21; R-19-23; R-33-16; R-36-16; and R-37-16;
DIFFERENTLY ABLED
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For Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) Adaptive Boating Center, co-sponsored O-31-20 (For the purpose of setting standards for the use of non-motorized wheeled vehicles on sidewalks; and establishing a definition) and R-30-21 (to recognize and applaud Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB), etc.)
CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND PUBLIC SERVICE
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Co-sponsored O-5-20 for the purpose of modifying the order of business for regular and special meetings of the City Council;
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Co-sponsored O-45-20 for the purpose of clarifying the responsibilities of the audit committee members, etc.
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Recognition of City of Annapolis Public Service Employees (R-29-23)
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Also see R-20-24
FINANCIAL LITERACY
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Initiated a partnership between Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) and the Annapolis Anne Arundel Financial Education Coalition (AAAFEC), which I co-founded
RECREATION AND
SPECIAL EVENTS
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Co-sponsored R-50-20 for the purpose of remembering Robert H. Eades and his contributions to the community; and renaming the College Creek Park at Clay Street and College Creek in his honor
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Co-sponsored R-51-20 for the purpose of designating "Emancipation Day" as a City holiday to be observed on November 1st of each year
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ELECTIONS
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​Supported R-9-14 for an Ad Hoc Committee to Study the 2013 Municipal Election and Make Recommendations, If Needed, to Improve the City Code, Structure, and Procedures for City Elections
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Supported O-21-16 for the purpose of modifying the application and approval procedures for maintaining chickens