Citywide Collective Agenda Community Planning Process
At a glance
Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard.
- What: agenda item 189-26. A consultant-led "collective agenda" (community plan) for Annapolis, built with residents, nonprofits, business and schools. It is described as a shared community plan, not a city strategic plan.
- Where it stands: presented at the 2026-10-15 work session. Several aldermen, led by Alderman Savidge, objected that the council was brought in late and that the advisory committee was formed without council input. The item was left "to be continued"; no vote was taken.
- Next: survey starts the following week, the advisory committee kicks off at the end of October, a draft is due by year end and a final version by March. The mayor is to reply on whether council can change committee membership.
The proposal
- Presenters: Beth Langbein, Kayla Hodge and Laura Richards.
- Steps: community survey (goal about 1,000 responses, with signs and in-person outreach), interviews with aldermen and key influencers, ward-based sessions, a 25-member advisory committee (about four meetings, an estimated 18 hours each), a draft before year end and a final version by March.
- Results, indicators and strategies would be owned by many partners, with the city taking the pieces assigned to it, tied to the budget.
Main concerns
- Late notice to the council and use of taxpayer money without a council vote (Alderman Savidge); a request to send it to the council by ordinance or resolution.
- Existing plans (comprehensive, bike, climate, water access) should be implemented first.
- Survey reach and representativeness (Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderman Huntley); the consultants agreed to produce a demographically weighted version.
- Committee composition, including non-residents, and whether members can be removed (Alderman Smith-Brown).
- Workload on city staff and coordination with the deputy city manager's performance-metrics effort (Alderman Thorp).
Sources
- Agenda item 189-26, Citywide Collective Agenda Strategic Planning Process, City Council work session of 2026-10-15 (see 2026-10-15 - City Council (Work Session)).
- Video: 2026-10-15 - City Council (Work Session)
Discussion time
About 65 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-15 - City Council (Work Session) | 65 |
Log
- 2026-10-15 - City Council (Work Session) - Presentation and council questions; strong objections to process and timing from Alderman Savidge, questions on survey and membership; mayor to reply on membership; continued.