2026-10-12 - City Council (Regular Meeting)

04:03Oh, she said yes. Okay.

04:07>> The regular meeting of the Annapolis

04:09City Council of on Monday, October 12,

04:122026 will be called to order at 7 p.m.

04:15At this time, we will have a moment of

04:17silence.

04:26At this time, would everybody willing

04:28and able please stand for the pledge of

04:29>> allegiance.

04:33I pledge algiance to the flag of the

04:36United States of America and to the flag

04:39for which it stands one nation under God

04:43indivisible with liberty and justice for

04:45all.

04:50Madam, city clerk, please call the role.

04:59>> Yes, sir.

05:00>> Mayor Litman,

05:01>> present.

05:01>> Alderman Huntley,

05:03>> Alderwoman O'Neal,

05:05>> present.

05:05>> Alderman Smith Brown,

05:07>> present.

05:07>> Alderwoman Alup Johnson,

05:09>> present.

05:09>> Alderman Shanny,

05:11>> present.

05:11>> Alderwoman Ki.

05:13>> Alderman Savage,

05:14>> present. on Alderman Thor.

05:17>> Thank you.

05:17>> Mr. City Attorney, please call the next

05:19item on the agenda.

05:20>> Next item on the agenda is the approval

05:22of the agenda.

05:24>> Is there a at this time a motion to

05:26approve the agenda?

05:28>> Mr.

05:28>> Thank you, Alderwoman O'Neal. Is there a

05:30second?

05:31>> Second.

05:32>> Thank you. All those in favor say I.

05:34>> I. I.

05:34>> Motion carries. Mr. City Attorney,

05:36please present the next item on the

05:38agenda. Next item on the agenda is

05:40ceremonial items beginning with ID 18126

05:45city council citation to the 2026 Martin

05:48Luther King Jr. Parade and African

05:51Diaspora Festival leaders. Thank you.

05:54I'm going to ask all of the nine

05:56certificates here all those who are here

05:58for this award to please join me at the

06:00center table including our um

06:02African-American liaison.

06:04I lost track of where you went.

06:07>> He's back. Please join me at the at the

06:09front.

06:27Pretty good.

06:31Yes.

06:45Good evening everyone. So we had the uh

06:48great privilege and opportunity to

06:50celebrate the organizers of the MLK uh

06:53parade and and festival recently and so

06:56going to call up the nine individuals

06:58and would you like to give some remarks

07:00to get some better context please? I

07:03couldn't tell if it was on.

07:06Hello. How y'all doing today? I'm uh

07:09Adatola Jai, African-American Community

07:12Programs Administration for the mayor's

07:14office, and I'm also organizing for the

07:16MLK Diaspora Festival, MLK Parade

07:19Diaspora Festival. So, um, uh, Miss Pat

07:22Montigu, the main organizer, wasn't able

07:24to come today, but I'm accept the

07:27citation on her behalf. And we'd like to

07:29honor, um, some of the sponsors, Small

07:32City, Big Dreams, Lavel, Offer, and

07:35Robert, United Rentals. Also, um,

07:39Mickey, uh, Shemica Cole can't be here

07:42from DMV and beyond. We' like to thank

07:44them as well. Thank you.

07:47[applause]

07:54I'D LIKE to announce that April 10th,

07:562027 will be the um next year's date and

07:59be please be there. Thank you. Do you

08:01want to call the individuals?

08:03[cough and clears throat]

08:05>> Tiana Hayes.

08:08>> Akil Leget

08:13Abiola Ainola

08:19Robert Hector. Thank you

08:26Shemica Cole

08:34Pat Priscilla Montigue.

08:40>> Small city big dreams.

08:43Sorry.

08:45Thank you.

08:51DMV and beyond

08:57and the Napapolis drum and bugle core.

09:01Thank you. [applause]

09:07[applause]

09:16Yep.

09:37Mr. City Attorney, please call the next

09:39item on the agenda. The next item on the

09:42agenda is ID 18426,

09:45city council citation honoring Carol

09:48Spriggs II on his appointment as

09:50Maryland State Fire Marshal.

09:53>> Fire Marshall Spriggs, are you present?

09:57All right, please join me at the front

09:59here.

10:01[applause]

10:19Fire Marshall Springs

10:26fire department here for Annapolis and

10:28he rose to the ranks up to deputy chief.

10:31uh got a wonderful job of promotion in

10:34the Prince George's uh police

10:36department, much bigger. So, we're very

10:38sorry to see you leave a number of years

10:40ago, but we are thrilled to have you

10:42back in the Annapolis area as our state

10:46fire marshal, and that's just such an

10:48amazing honor for you. We're so proud of

10:50you, so impressed by you. Um you're a

10:52wonderful human being for so many ways,

10:55except for being a fan of the Dallas

10:56Cowboys.

10:59We will get over that. But it's great to

11:01have you back here in Annapolis. And I

11:02know I'm joined by so many people who

11:04are uh so pleased to be with you today

11:06and have you serve the state of Maryland

11:08in this very prestigious, wonderful way.

11:10So, thank you. Uh fire marshals. I used

11:12to call him Carol. Thank you.

11:15[applause]

11:20[applause]

11:33Mr. City Attorney, please call the next

11:35item on the agenda.

11:37>> The next item on the agenda is ID1

11:4018826,

11:42City Council Citation to Jesse Routalus,

11:46First USA Latino Olympic Artist, 2006

11:49Olympic team.

11:51[applause]

11:53[cheering]

11:57>> [applause]

12:03[applause]

12:06>> So, for those who were able to join us

12:08just a little bit earlier, we were

12:09celebrating Jesse for primarily being

12:12honoring the 20 years since Jesse was

12:15first named a an Olympic. and he's had,

12:18you've had such an amazing story, but

12:21your story is certainly so much more

12:23than your artistry, but I just want to

12:24talk about the artistry for a moment.

12:27His art his paintings and his artwork is

12:29downstairs. And so, if you haven't yet

12:31come downstairs to enjoy it, take a

12:32moment, please.

12:34not only is his the artwork itself so

12:36amazing but they are they each tell such

12:39a story

12:41passion but his ideals his issues his

12:44concerns and uh I just really enjoy

12:46seeing the artwork you've really

12:47brightened up our city hall and so we

12:49we've been talking about the artwork

12:51which ones are our favorite um so thank

12:53you for sharing your artwork with all of

12:54us but Jesse's also does art work he

12:58also leads a

13:05populations that are at risk and for

13:08whom that would be difficult to achieve.

13:10He also leads and this is through OIC

13:13his day job if you will down the street.

13:16Um he also leads a steam effort. So um

13:19you know steam school and that is a that

13:22is geared towards elementary school

13:24kids. And so he has the

13:28[laughter]

13:29>> so the steam program that he does for

13:30elementary school kids gives a chance

13:33for these young populations, elementary

13:34school kids to be exposed to a whole new

13:37world of sciences and arts that they may

13:39otherwise not. And so for all of these

13:42things we're so proud and excited to

13:44celebrate you. Um, and it it's an honor

13:46for me as your friend as well. And so,

13:48thank you for joining us tonight. Uh,

13:50thank you, uh, for sharing your artwork

13:52and congratulations on 20 years as an

13:54Olympic artist.

13:55>> Thank you. [applause]

14:05[applause]

14:24Mr. City Attorney, please present the

14:25next item on the agenda.

14:27>> The next item on the agenda is

14:29petitions, reports, and communications,

14:31beginning with update from the mayor.

14:34>> Thank you. and

14:36I'll give a chance to for the crowd

14:38who's departing to head out. If there's

14:40been a seat vacated and you're standing,

14:42feel free to have a seat.

15:03Okay, we're going to begin. Good evening

15:05and welcome to tonight's Annapolis City

15:07Council meeting. I hope you all enjoyed

15:10the Powerboat Show last weekend and the

15:12fun continues this coming weekend with

15:14the sailboat show which runs Thursday

15:16through Sunday. These shows are an

15:19important part of Annapolis's identity

15:21and bring visitors and business to our

15:23downtown, and we appreciate everyone's

15:25patience with the traffic and parking

15:27disruptions that naturally come with

15:29these events. For anyone driving

15:31downtown, please allow extra time as you

15:33navigate the area. Some traffic and

15:35parking restrictions may remain in place

15:37during the breakdown of the show through

15:39next week. If you're driving to City

15:41Dock for the boat show, Mills Hillman is

15:43the closest parking garage, but may fail

15:45up quickly. You can reserve parking at

15:48parkplace gats or nighton by visiting

15:51annapapolis parking.com.

15:53All city garages are serviced by the

15:55free magenta shuttle. The boat show also

15:57runs a free shuttle from Navy Stadium

16:00where parking is $25 in advance or $30

16:03day of. For more information, please

16:06visit annapapolisboatshows.com.

16:09At the beginning of each quarter, I

16:11establish specific goals for my

16:13administration. And at the end of the

16:15quarter, I report publicly on our

16:16progress. I believe residents deserve to

16:19know what we're working on, what we've

16:21accomplished, and where we have work to

16:23do. Looking back at my priorities for

16:26the third quarter of 2026, I'm pleased

16:28to report that we have accomplished or

16:30made significant progress on all all of

16:32them. That includes reconstituting the

16:35arts and public places commission, the

16:37police chief search committee delivering

16:39a slate of vetted candidates to the city

16:42manager and me, and several community

16:44engagement efforts on parking, business,

16:47the city budget, and more. For a

16:50detailed list of the updates on my

16:51quarter 3 goals, see the latest edition

16:54of the mayor's newsletter. You can find

16:56it using the keywords mayor's newsletter

16:59on an annapapolis.gov.

17:02It's also that time for me to share my

17:04goals for the quarter 4 of Annapolis of

17:062026. And I've organized them into three

17:09areas that support our administration's

17:11broader priorities. The first is

17:14customer focus. That includes selecting

17:16our next police chief and prepare

17:18preparing for a successful transition,

17:22including new short-term rental

17:23legislation and preparing to convert the

17:26Mills homeing garage to a pay onexit to

17:29make the downtown parking more

17:31convenient. The second is responsive

17:34government and that includes selecting a

17:36citywide customer service customer

17:38relationship management tool CRM to make

17:41it easier for residents to request

17:43services and track responses. drafting a

17:46city dock activation plan and expanding

17:49evening hours at the Pit Moyer Rec

17:51Center.

17:53The new hours from 6:00 a.m. to 1000

17:55p.m. daily will take effect tomorrow.

17:59This will give residents the flexibility

18:01to use the facility at those later

18:04hours, especially for those whose

18:05schedules make it difficult to get there

18:08earlier in the day. Many thanks to

18:10director Rosalyn Johnson and the

18:12recreation and parks team for

18:14implementing this priority on behalf of

18:16the city council.

18:18But extending the hours is just one just

18:21one step. I also want us to be able to

18:23make better use of recreational

18:25facilities through expanded programming

18:27and partnerships with community

18:29organizations and partnerships

18:33including opportunities to work with

18:34more young people. I look forward to

18:36working with the department and how and

18:38hearing ideas from the community about

18:40how we can make that happen. Back to the

18:43fourth quarter goals. The third is

18:45forward Annapolis. This includes

18:47revising the Annapolis Main Street

18:49program, issuing an RFI for a city-wide

18:52housing plan to expand housing

18:54opportunities, and launching a new blue

18:58line route to the park and ride, swim

19:00center, and Annapolis High, where

19:03students will be able to ride free.

19:06These goals are about making city

19:07government easier to work with,

19:09improving the services residents rely

19:11on, and building a stronger Annapolis

19:14for the future. Again, for more details

19:16on these goals and how we're measuring

19:18progress, see the latest edition of the

19:20mayor's newsletter.

19:23Since I mentioned the Art and Public

19:24Places Commission, now is a good time to

19:26remind everyone that we're still

19:28accepting applications for people to

19:30serve on that commission. We we still

19:32have four vacancies out of the nine

19:34positions. If you're interested in

19:36helping expand and preserve public art

19:38in our community, you can apply by going

19:41to anapapolis.gov gov and using the

19:43keyword art and public places

19:45commission.

19:47While you're there, check out the other

19:48volunteer positions for city boards and

19:51commissions. We're always looking for

19:53residents who want to contribute their

19:55time and expertise to improving

19:57Annapolis.

19:59We recently held an event to thank

20:01volunteers for the Annapolis Food Friday

20:03program. This program provides nearly

20:05300 food insecure individuals and

20:09families with a box of fresh food every

20:12week. Thank you to the volunteers for

20:14their tireless work and especially

20:17Alderwoman Karma O'Neal and the Office

20:19of Emergency Management for helping keep

20:21our community fed and healthy.

20:26Our third budget town hall is Thursday,

20:28October 22nd for residents in WS 6 and

20:318. Join Alderwoman Kanti, Alderman

20:34Thorp, and me at 6:30 p.m. at the

20:37Eastport Fire Station. These meetings

20:40give residents across the city an

20:42opportunity to share their priorities

20:44directly with their elected leaders and

20:46help inform the next city budget. This

20:49town hall is the second to last in this

20:51series. The final one will be on

20:53November 12th for WS 3 and four. To

20:57register for either of these town halls,

20:59visit anapapolis.gov/activities.

21:00GV/activities.

21:02Thank you to everyone who continues to

21:04participate in these conversations and

21:07help us make Annapolis a better place to

21:09live, work, and visit. I know a number

21:12of individuals in the uh audience here

21:15tonight are here about the denial of a

21:16ceremonial item, and I'd like to address

21:18that now. A local activist, Phil Atito,

21:22recently passed away.

21:24>> At Thank you. Thank you. Metto recently

21:27passed away and his supporters requested

21:29a ceremonial citation which was denied.

21:32I want to express my sincere sympathy to

21:35the friends and family of those

21:36individuals who consider Mr. Atedto a

21:39loved one. I know you're uh I know it'll

21:42take time to uh process all the grief

21:44involved.

21:46>> [snorts]

21:47>> I want to also acknowledge the

21:48importance and the values of advocacy

21:50and and democracy and the value of

21:54people like all of you coming out

21:55tonight and how important it is to have

21:57your voices heard just like Phil had

21:59done. And tonight I promise to listen to

22:01all of you. The decision on the

22:04ceremonial citation was mine and it was

22:06based on my interactions and

22:08conversations with him. These ceremonial

22:11items carry our names and approving this

22:14citation would have would have felt

22:16inauthentic given my interactions with

22:19him. His language felt like an attack

22:21over religion and he crossed the line

22:24from advocacy for his position over to

22:27anti-semitism.

22:33>> Interesting.

22:34>> Very interesting. I let I let him know

22:36how I felt and he dismissed those

22:38feelings and he doubled down and

22:40continued. Other members,

22:42>> imagine that taxpayer double down.

22:45>> Imagine that.

22:47>> Other members of the Jewish community

22:49who also felt similarly attacked shared

22:51their stories with me as well. I respect

22:53advocates rights to show up and speak

22:56their minds. And a mayor should also be

22:58able to be true to one's principles. I'm

23:01not comfortable giving this recognition

23:03based on my experiences and what I just

23:06shared. My previous offer to meet with

23:09the individuals who requested the

23:10citation still stands and I'm willing to

23:13hear and be heard with all of you. And

23:16with that, I'll ask our city attorney to

23:18call the next item on the agenda.

23:23>> The next item on the agenda is reports

23:25by committees.

23:28>> Thank you. So,

23:35>> okay. During public comments, the public

23:38can speak to any issue that you wish to

23:41committee.

23:41>> I'm sorry.

23:42>> Committees.

23:42>> Sorry. I'm sorry. Um, sorry. Any council

23:46members, any chairs of committees wish

23:48to present a report on their committee?

23:50Alderwoman O'Neal.

23:52>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, two things. We

23:55had the public safety committee meeting

23:57last week or two weeks ago on September

23:5930th. We gave a favorable recommendation

24:01to 01226

24:04as as well as 0726.

24:07Um we heard reports from Annapolis

24:09Police Department, Annapolis Fire

24:10Department

24:12um and the Office of Emergency

24:13Management regarding their summer work

24:16plans, what they were doing going into

24:18fall and what OEM is doing preparing for

24:20winter the winter season. Um, so we were

24:24feeling very optimistic about all of the

24:26plans and changes. Um, and I have a

24:29brief um,

24:31exercise that is coming up for the city

24:34council um, that I would like all of my

24:36colleagues to consider. Um, in my role

24:39as the public safety chair, I've been

24:40working with the office of emergency

24:41[clears throat] management um to plan

24:43and conduct a 2026 Annapolis citywide

24:47exercise in the emergency operations

24:49center on Tuesday, December 1st, 2026.

24:53The purpose of the exercise is to brief

24:55the members of the city council on the

24:57newly updated city of Annapolis

24:59continuity continuity of government

25:03plan, a COG. I'm going to keep saying

25:05COG because the other words are too

25:07long. [laughter]

25:09Uh the aim of this plan if if you all

25:11remember um during budget season and

25:14most recently during the finance

25:15committee um meeting office of emergency

25:18management is responsible for about a

25:20hundred reports and plans um over the

25:24course of their job. And each year they

25:27plan to do revise and update a plan. Um,

25:31and this year it's the COG. [laughter]

25:34Uh, the aim of the plan is to preserve

25:35governments and city essential functions

25:38during an emergency disaster. I'm urging

25:40all of my colleagues to make time for

25:42this um, particular exercise because it

25:46will be really important for us to know

25:48exactly what the city will do in

25:51response to an emergency coming up. We

25:54don't know when an emergency will

25:55happen, but it makes sense for us to be

25:57prepared. Again, it will be on December

26:001st in the emergency operations center.

26:02Mark your calendars. I'll get back to

26:04you with time. It's going to be really

26:07exciting and you'll get to role play.

26:10[laughter]

26:11Are there any questions?

26:14>> Thank you, Alman. Any other anything

26:16else?

26:17>> Any other council members wish to

26:19present a report? Alman Huntley,

26:21>> one of the things we heard at the most

26:23recent finance committee meeting, excuse

26:26me, was that the finance department is

26:28working on putting together a timeline

26:30for the budget process. I just want to

26:32make my colleagues aware that the draft

26:34of that has been shared with me. I was

26:37going back and forth with the mayor's

26:38office about it last night. And if

26:39anybody has any strong feelings, please

26:41don't hesitate to let me know and weigh

26:43in.

26:44>> Thank you, Alderman Savage.

26:47>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. uh environmental

26:49matters met on October 8th. Um and I've

26:51sent each of you a two-page uh chair

26:54report. I wanted to flag one item to

26:56begin with in particular, the city

26:59hybrid ferry pilot. The council has

27:02already committed to the ferry in the

27:03adopted budget and CIP and our electric

27:05mobility plan. So what remains at this

27:08point is final action to appropriate the

27:10grant funds and authorize the city

27:12manager to proceed. Um and the deputy

27:15city manager G advised that the time to

27:17do that is really now or she's afraid

27:20the money is going to be lost uh if we

27:21don't come to some kind of final final

27:24decision and appropriate the money. Um

27:26I'm not going to get into the merits. Um

27:30save that for later, but I just want to

27:31be upfront. I am aiming to bring some

27:34kind of council action or probably like

27:36a fund transfer something like that that

27:39um move forward by the end of October so

27:41we can have some kind of decision on

27:44legislation. The committee recommended

27:46O26 the resilence authority ordinance

27:49favorably with uh my two amendments.

27:52I'll go into those details when it comes

27:54up on the agenda. And finally, just

27:56something I wanted to highlight for

27:57everybody as well is uh the deputy city

28:00manager mentioned how the nocost LED

28:03retrofits through the empower Maryland

28:05program um and also community solar are

28:09projected to uh save the city roughly

28:12$300,000 a year. Uh which um yeah, just

28:15keep that in mind the importance of

28:17energy efficiency. Uh that concludes my

28:19report. Thank you.

28:20>> Thank you. Uh, city manager Lewis, can

28:22you please give us some more information

28:24about the the fairy and the timing and

28:26priority that this has?

28:29>> Sure. So, thank you, Mayor. Um, so we do

28:32have the grant. It was reflected in our

28:36um CIP for the um electric

28:40mobility plan. So, it has been

28:42established in there. It has not been

28:43allocated in our our budget because at

28:45the time of the budget hearings, you all

28:48had not decided that you wanted to move

28:50forward. So what we are doing now is

28:52identifying the match. The actual grant

28:54suggests that we have to have

28:56considerable progress

28:58um on the grant in order to keep it. So

29:01there's no immediate danger. We are

29:03moving forward on a couple different

29:04projects including Hawkins Cove which

29:06will be demonstrative of action towards

29:10um the grant whether we do the ferry or

29:12not. Um but I'm happy to kind of break

29:14down in a business case what our options

29:17are. I think um part of what we have to

29:20sort out actual cost implications of

29:23moving forward um post implementation

29:26which I'm happy to break that down when

29:29necessary.

29:30>> Thank you. Any questions for city

29:32manager Lewis?

29:34Okay. Any other committee reports?

29:37Alderman Smith Brown.

29:39>> Thank you, Mayor Litman. Our last

29:41meeting for the rules and city

29:42government committee, myself as chair

29:44and my fellow members, Alderman

29:45Shanomire and Alderman Thorp met on

29:48October 1st. We recommended favorably uh

29:51Alderman Smith Brown's amendment to

29:53CA226 expanding the board of supervisors

29:56of elections membership as well as

29:57unanimously recommending favorably the

29:59legislation as amended. We also

30:02recommended favorably Alderman Thorp's

30:04amendment to CA326 expanding the

30:06preamble of the charter of the city of

30:07Annapolis. And following this meeting,

30:09uh, there was further conversation to

30:11bring forth additional updates to this

30:12amendment, which I would say, uh, would

30:14be received favorably from our committee

30:16upon it being presented today. We also

30:19unanimously recommended favorably the

30:20legislation as amended with that uh,

30:22amendment that Alderman Thorp put forth.

30:24We recommended favorably the O126

30:28legislation allowing long-term room

30:30rentals in private homes. This was

30:32unanimous. We also recommended favorably

30:34support for Alman Savage's amendments to

30:36R2826. This is both of them as well as

30:40unanimously recommending the legislation

30:42as amended. Uh our next meeting will be

30:44after the election on November 3rd. So

30:46please be sure to vote Tuesday, November

30:483rd. Uh this will be on Thursday,

30:50November 5th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.

30:53>> Thank you, Alman. Any other council

30:54members? Alderman Th

30:57Mr. Mayor, I didn't

31:01I didn't expect you to ask questions. uh

31:03if we could ask questions to the city

31:04manager, would you be open to revisiting

31:07that question and and me giving a quick

31:09quick question or would you prefer to

31:11defer that for another time?

31:12>> I'll be happy to reopen it. What

31:13questions do you have for city manager

31:14Lewis?

31:15>> Thank you. Um so my the city council has

31:20not decided to move forward. The city

31:22and the city council have not decided to

31:24move forward for the diesel electric

31:26ferry.

31:27>> [clears throat]

31:27>> So, am I correct in saying that the

31:30proposal to move forward would uh

31:35contain a business case that includes

31:38the routes that includes the the how it

31:41would connect with the Anonda County and

31:43state uh fairies and an estimate of cost

31:46over the next 10 years to the city

31:48taxpayer.

31:50>> So, the the business case includes some

31:52of that. So, we recently released an RFI

31:55um to get some information about the

31:57cost of the potential potential ferry um

32:00and also potential routes. We have

32:02received that information which will

32:04allow us to release an RFP um to get

32:07actual costs. The business case is

32:09intended to kind of tell you what your

32:11options are around long-term costs. It

32:14won't be exact, but it will give you a

32:16sense of whether we're going to be

32:18running a deficit or if we have the

32:20funds already available to actually pay

32:23for them. And I think once you have

32:24that, I think you all still have to make

32:26the decision as to whether you want to

32:28move forward or not.

32:30>> Thank you. One more question. Yes. No.

32:32Um

32:33would it be possible for all so at the

32:37transportation committee meeting there

32:39was discussion about the RFI being

32:41released and information and that five

32:44people have actually submitted

32:46responses. Would it be possible to put

32:50all that information on a website so the

32:52citizens could see that and read it

32:54rather than wait

32:57>> uh in regards to the information we

32:59received for the RFI?

33:00>> Yes, ma'am. Um I will have to check with

33:02the city attorney because I do know that

33:04was kind of um we received that in a

33:06closed process I can check with him and

33:09if it is um feasible we can do that

33:11otherwise we can share it uh

33:13appropriately.

33:14>> Thank you. I just think transparency is

33:16the key. I think people are wondering

33:18what's going on and now they're hearing

33:19a lot of action and I think what we

33:22don't want to do is be handed a decision

33:24at a meeting saying does the city

33:27council commit to spending millions of

33:30dollars on something we don't really

33:31know what we're doing.

33:32>> Absolutely. And we certainly want to

33:34give you as much information as we can

33:36before you make that decision.

33:37>> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. No

33:39problem. Uh similarly I know you're

33:42already going to work on this but just

33:43I'll share I've al also asked for that

33:46we have a timeline of we've heard

33:48different dates got to do this now not

33:50due until next October and so on. So I

33:52think we all need to have that a sense

33:54of what are the different steps from

33:56here to there.

33:59>> Alderman Savage. [clears throat]

34:00>> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Since it's up for I

34:02want to thank the city manager for

34:04getting that information together as

34:05well as the deputy city manager. Um, but

34:08I do I don't want to quibble too much on

34:10this, but the reason I said the decision

34:13in many ways has already been made is

34:14because it is listed in the CIP in our

34:17electric mobility plan. Uh, that's

34:19already been voted upon. It's in there.

34:22I'm not saying that's the reason for us

34:24to go keep going forward, but I'm saying

34:25we need to have we have to appropriate

34:28the money regardless. And so some kind

34:30of decision is going to need to be made,

34:32but it's already been voted on and it's

34:33in that plan. it's in the CIP. Um, but

34:38again, that's I think we can the point

34:41is regardless, we need to come to I

34:44think a decision point at the council

34:45when

34:47>> uh Thor, did you want to respond?

34:48>> Yeah. Can I just get a point of

34:49clarification? The city council has not

34:52approved to move forward with the the

34:56diesel electric ferry. I mean, there's a

34:58CIP that's part of our process. um the

35:01$3.1 million grant which requires more

35:04than a half a million dollar match from

35:07the city.

35:09We had we had to take actions to move

35:11forward with accepting that which if uh

35:14which as my understanding was not a

35:16commitment to move forward with a with a

35:17diesel electric ferry and the money has

35:21never been voted in a fund transfer as

35:24you state or anything like that. We

35:25haven't spent a dime other than a lot of

35:28staff work on the the ferry and that

35:32that's the decision I believe we're

35:34talking about is do we commit today's

35:37money

35:39and before we do that my point is we

35:41should also know how much we're

35:42committing in the future

35:44manager Lewis do you want to respond to

35:46that

35:46>> that is correct your your vote was to we

35:50accepted the actual grant um we have not

35:53expended any money on the grant at this

35:55the which makes it um if you decide not

35:58to go forward, we would return the grant

36:00funding. Um the other thing to note is

36:04that the grant is reimburseable and so

36:06we would spend the money upfront and we

36:08would be reimbursed by the grant itself.

36:10We have not expended any money towards

36:13that uh action as as as of today.

36:17>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

36:19>> Any other committee reports? Okay,

36:21seeing none, Mr. City Attorney, please

36:23present the next item on the agenda.

36:25[applause]

36:27>> The next item on the agenda is comments

36:29by the general public.

36:31>> Thank you. During comments from the

36:32public, the public can speak to any

36:34matter except for the other items that

36:35are on for separate individual public

36:37hearings. Those are uh CA426 designating

36:42a city attorney as the resident agent,

36:4402526 mobile food service vendors, 02626

36:48special residential parking districts,

36:5102726 water service lines, 02826

36:55Department of Transportation fines and

36:57allowing fine waivers and 02926

37:00outdoor dining uh definitions

37:02administration and operate operating

37:04operational standards update. Those

37:06public hearings will follow the general

37:08public hearing. So, next I will invite

37:12speakers who have signed up on the

37:14signup sheet and I will do so in the

37:16order that you've signed up. I will call

37:17three people's names at f at a time just

37:20to help you queue up to know when you're

37:21coming up. Of course, the first person

37:23will come up first. Please always start

37:25with your name and address. If you know

37:28that you're next, especially since we're

37:30going to have a long night, if you could

37:31come approach the podium against the

37:33wall, that would just help speed us up.

37:35Uh at the conclusion of listing the

37:37people's names uh who have signed up, I

37:39will give an opportunity to anyone who

37:41has not signed up uh to speak during

37:43this general comment period. Okay. The

37:45first individuals are Cindy Guillian,

37:47Linda Davis, and Will Ralph.

37:53[applause]

38:03>> Ready?

38:04Yes, please again start with your name

38:06and address.

38:06>> My name is Cynthia Guien and my address

38:09is 11 Silverwood Circle, Apartment 9,

38:12Annapolis, Maryland 21403.

38:16Good evening, mayor and council members.

38:19Um,

38:21so sorry guys. [sighs and gasps] My name

38:23is Cynthia Gan, a resident of Annapolis,

38:26community leader and advocate for

38:28nonviolent direct action. I stand before

38:31you tonight disappointed by the decision

38:33to deny an official citation in memoriam

38:38honoring the life and contributions of

38:40activist Philetto.

38:42And I'm not alone. Will everyone here in

38:45support of Phil please stand or raise

38:47your hand? We you will also be receiving

38:50written testimony from many who couldn't

38:53make it tonight including those who are

38:55attending the No Kings training this

38:57evening.

39:00Phil devoted his life to imagining a

39:02liberated future for everyone.

39:06Grounded in the tradition of Bayard

39:08Rustin, he understood that activism is

39:11love and love is activism.

39:16Whether supporting Black Lives Matter or

39:18standing for peace, Phil disrupted

39:21systemic oppression and radical love was

39:24at the forefront of his mind. While

39:27three other citations were approved,

39:29Phil's recognition was denied without

39:32explanation. Like Phil would say, I

39:35don't agree. But I hear you. I hear the

39:38mayor's decision, but tonight I ask for

39:41us to change the narrative and do better

39:43as a unified community. First, we must

39:47lean into tough conversations. Being

39:49critical of government violence and

39:51calling for peace in Palestine is not

39:53anti-Semitic. It is a commitment to

39:56nonviolence.

39:58Second, if our city can spend an entire

40:00year honoring historical figures with

40:04deeply flawed legacies, we must

40:06certainly have the courage to

40:07acknowledge contemporary revolutionaries

40:10who make Annapolis better every day.

40:14Finally,

40:16national politics encourage grudges

40:19every day. Local leadership should

40:22choose to go high. Disagreements on

40:25global policy should never overshadow

40:27honoring a black activist who fought

40:30tirelessly for social justice while

40:32quietly battling cancer. Phil's advocacy

40:36gave an anapolitans insight so we could

40:39vote with clarity. He never tried to

40:42stop me from supporting our leaders. He

40:44would simply ask us to imagine a better

40:47world. I urge the mayor and council to

40:50reflect on this injustice. commit to

40:52honoring all who pour into the community

40:54and treat difference of opinion with

40:56dignity. Thank you.

41:08>> Good evening. My name is Linda Davis and

41:10my address is 215 Coronet Drive,

41:13Lyntham, Maryland. I'm here tonight to

41:16express my disappointment that Filletto

41:19did not receive this citation.

41:21In community organizing and in politics,

41:25there is a saying with which I'm sure

41:26you're familiar. There are no permanent

41:29friends. There are no permanent enemies.

41:32There are only permanent interests and

41:34issues.

41:35As you can see from the turnout today

41:37and the various t-shirts, buttons, and

41:39signs, Phil cared about and fought about

41:42a lot of issues, including the ones on

41:45my shirt, racial justice, radical

41:48hospitality, housing for all, and people

41:50over profit. He testifi testified about

41:54all of these issues and more in these

41:56chambers many times. You may have

41:58disagreed with Phil with the issues Phil

42:01spoke about and fought for. That is

42:03okay. However, to take them personally

42:06and then take action based on this is

42:09not. We see how this plays out

42:12nationally when the president take

42:14things personally and then acts upon

42:16this.

42:21>> This is dangerous and not a sign of a

42:23good leader. There is still time to

42:25reverse this action and do the right

42:27thing by issuing Phil a citation for all

42:30of his human rights work. Thank you.

42:34>> [applause]

42:40>> Will Ral, uh, mayor and members of the

42:43city council, all of you, all of you,

42:49shame on you.

42:51>> No, no, no, no, no, no. Shame. Because

42:54the moment you found out that

42:55unilaterally when your names are on each

42:58of those citations, the moment that you

43:00allowed those citations to leave

43:04without Phil's name on them without

43:06asking a question, there's a problem.

43:08And if you didn't know that he

43:10unilaterally did that, when each of your

43:12names are on there, that's a problem.

43:14>> So, I could stand here and talk about

43:16the unfinished recognition of the

43:18building right across the street. It's

43:20not funny at all.

43:22There's nothing funny about this at all.

43:24That's right.

43:26>> So, I could stand here and talk about

43:28what's going on across the street. The

43:30fact that the Maynard Burgess House,

43:32which happens to be the only

43:33African-American dwelling that

43:34commemorates the footprint of black

43:36people in the city of Annapolis, is

43:38still not finished. The facade still is

43:40not painted. And yet, it was determined

43:42to put city offices in the building,

43:45essentially desecrating the building.

43:47Um, but I won't do that. I could also

43:50stand here and say that they had Old

43:52Fourth Worth Day, Old Fourth Ward Day,

43:55and you were at the Pride Festival a

43:57block or two away and didn't stop by

43:59there. In fact, none of you all stopped

44:02by Old Fourth Ward Day. None of you. But

44:05I'm sure you have your reasons, and I'm

44:07sure there's I could alo I could also

44:11stand here and talk about the lawsuit

44:13that was brought up by African-American

44:16um city workers. And I'm sure we'll all

44:18minimize that and we'll make it

44:20something. But just look at the mural

44:22behind you and look at the little black

44:23kid and look at the Native Americans

44:25that are serving those people. I could

44:26stand here and I could also talk about

44:29Hawkins Cove, which is uh entry point to

44:33the water, right? Like City Dock. The

44:36only problem is it's by Harbor House and

44:38Eastport Terrace. And so it's still not

44:41done

44:42>> and there's still no work in talk about

44:44it. Mhm.

44:45>> I could stand here and talk about the

44:46black community's disappointment over

44:48the termination of Ed Jackson, and I've

44:50been cool cuz I was a city employee. I

44:52didn't say anything. But people are

44:54still not over that. And you didn't give

44:56a very good reason for that either. And

44:59despite your pandering to the black

45:01community and starting your election at

45:03Bates Legacy Center, you still

45:07still do things like this to disrespect

45:09the black community.

45:11Now,

45:13I can talk about all the historical

45:15stuff that you are probably not

45:16responsible for. You're not even from

45:19Annapolis. You're from New Jersey.

45:22>> And you decide that a person who's a

45:24resident and who grew up in this area is

45:25not worthy of a citation in the city

45:28that he calls home and pays taxes in

45:30unilaterally.

45:32I'm sure it's no surprise to any of you

45:34all here that I view all of this,

45:37everything I mentioned and the decision

45:38that you made about Phil through the

45:40prism of racial justice. And the reason

45:43why I do that is because it has shown

45:45time and time again the things that you

45:47prioritize. Because I'm going to go off

45:49script because I listened to your

45:51announcements and your updates and they

45:53all talked about downtown and Main

45:56Street and businesses and communities in

45:59this city are floundering

46:01and young people have no opportunities.

46:05And there's nothing funny about it

46:07because the guy that I'm standing up

46:08here talking about right now, he taught

46:11Sunday school, he taught youth groups,

46:13he got up on his own time while he

46:16battled cancer, multiple myoma for 10

46:19years. And he did all of those things

46:22without ever complaining. And yes, he

46:24did it for the Jewish community. He did

46:26it for the black community. He did it

46:28for white people. He did it for the

46:30trans community.

46:32[applause]

46:35AND and hold on. And for you,

46:37>> Mr. I I you can turn my mic off. I have

46:40a very strong voice and you might have

46:41to call that dude because because the

46:44first thing I'm going to say I'm No, I'm

46:45almost done.

46:47>> Get is

46:50the most egregious thing for everyone

46:52out here and those people who may stand

46:53on various sides. The most egregious

46:56thing of all is that you're claiming

46:59through your faith and through whatever

47:00else personal thing that you have that

47:02you were offended. And yet his family,

47:06his mother, his father, he had nieces

47:10there, nephews, people that traveled

47:13from other states all over the place.

47:15had to deal with the fact that you

47:17simply didn't want to essentially

47:19whether anyone wants to break this down

47:21and define it and and become

47:23metaphorical about it. These citations

47:26they it they're on paper. They're

47:28printed out on paper. But what they do

47:30for people is they allow proof of their

47:33existence. And for family members, that

47:35means much more than your personal

47:37reasons for doing it.

47:40>> Give your comments, Mr.

47:41>> Lastly, I'll say this. The last thing

47:43I'll say is this. You may have disagreed

47:45with Phil. I disagree with people all

47:48the time.

47:48>> Amen.

47:49>> That's right.

47:50>> You actually may have passionately

47:52disagreed with Phil,

47:55but disagreement does not erase a

47:58lifetime of achievement and public

48:00service and existence.

48:03And it should not be used to deny a

48:06grieving family and a grieving community

48:09the opportunity to have the simple

48:12dignity of acknowledgement.

48:15And so I'm done. But I honestly like I'm

48:20not holier than thou. I don't expect the

48:23next person to stand in the face of the

48:24sun and stand in the shadow that I cast.

48:29But I don't know how you sleep at night.

48:32>> I don't.

48:35Thank you for your testimony.

48:36>> And I used to, you know, people would

48:38ask me about you all the time. What do

48:39you think about Jared? And I'd be like,

48:41he's a he's a he's a good guy.

48:43I like him. I think he's he's

48:45straightforward. He's astute. Blah blah

48:47blah blah blah. But man, it's it's

48:50really

48:52heartbreaking to me

48:57and I take that personal. But the thing

48:59is, I'm going to go home and treat my

49:01neighbor and treat the next person super

49:03well. And stop calling people

49:05anti-semitic.

49:06>> Thank you.

49:07>> Stop calling people anti-Semitic.

49:12You couldn't even pronounce his name,

49:15but you know he's anti-Semitic. Get out

49:17of here, man.

49:19>> The next three people, [cheering]

49:21[applause]

49:27[applause]

49:28>> the next three people ARE OUT OF ORDER.

49:31I AM OUT OF ORDER. MY NAME is Elder

49:34Charles E. James, Senior, and my place

49:37of residence is where EL GOD PLACED ME.

49:40SHAME ON YOU. SHAME ON ALL OF YOU. I

49:45You're

49:48shame on.

49:55[applause]

50:00The next three people are Mary Ella

50:02Jord, Jennifer Cell, and Steven Mon.

50:10The next three people are Mary Ella

50:11Jordak, Jennifer Cell, and Steven Wadi.

50:24>> Good evening, city council and mayor. My

50:27name is Mary Ella Jordak. I live at 10

50:29Silverwood Circle. I am one of many

50:31present this evening to support Phil

50:33Aetto's posumous citation from the city.

50:37Phil was a strong voice and a constant

50:38presence. He ensured honesty, respect,

50:41and a calm, cool head were three things

50:42he could personally bring to every

50:44situation. From asking representatives

50:47hard questions to marshalling at

50:48protests and parades to directly

50:50diffusing tense situations, Phil showed

50:53up consistently, and anywhere he showed

50:55up, he did so fully as himself and with

50:57an unwavering moral consistency. I would

51:00like to list some of the organizations

51:02and causes that Phil worked with. He was

51:04a co-leader of the local indivisible

51:06chapter, an organizer of the annual

51:07Annapolis peace parade, a panel member

51:09of the police oversight board, a

51:11founding member of Annaundle rapid

51:13response network and mutual aid. And he

51:15was certainly spotted regularly within

51:16these walls and the county council

51:18chambers and in the halls of Congress

51:20reminding elected officials on every

51:22level what we owe to each other.

51:26Phil was a member of the Caucus of

51:28African-American Leaders, the local

51:30NAACP chapter, and an organizer for the

51:32Poor People's Campaign, Medicare for

51:34All, Rank Choice Voting, Colefree Curtis

51:36Bay, Reaction Movement Catalyst, and the

51:38Backbone Campaign. He volunteered as a

51:40youth group coordinator at the local

51:42Unitarian Universalist Church, a mentor

51:44at Homework Haven, and the Special

51:46Olympics. film marched with Black Lives

51:48Matter, No Kings, Jewish Voice for

51:50Peace, and Code Pink, and was often

51:52outdoing projection, light projections,

51:53and public art focused on healthcare,

51:56Ukraine, environmental causes,

51:57Palestine, racial justice, immigrant

51:59rights, and community support. This is

52:02just a small selection of Phil's life. I

52:04mean, I'm tired just listing this out.

52:06And this man showed up regularly and

52:08consistently, and he showed up for all

52:10of us. One of my many favorite of Phil's

52:13quotes was, "No one is free until

52:15everyone is free." and he truly meant

52:17everyone.

52:19This is the second time in two weeks I

52:21am speaking a call to action on behalf

52:22of Phil. The first was at a memorial

52:24service in front of his grieving friends

52:26and family to ask that we carry

52:28ourselves through this world with love,

52:29community, and integrity in all that we

52:31do. And I am here this week with that

52:33same ask of y'all to act as Philwood. We

52:35don't have to align in all that we do to

52:37prioritize each other. We can call our

52:39better selves to meet each other and

52:40bravely build beloved community. I

52:43respectfully ask for all of our city

52:45representatives to review the citation

52:47and to ensure that the life and legacy

52:48of Filletto continues to call others to

52:50action. And in a very Filletto move, um

52:53I am here for more than one cause this

52:55evening. I am also here in my capacity

52:57as a community volunteer to ask that the

52:59city council review the policy and

53:01protections in place in regards to ICE,

53:03their use of city property, and

53:04particularly their presence at

53:07you guys wouldn't even be here.

53:09>> Yeah. So, uh they were at Pit Moyer this

53:12past week. They were at Pit Moyer. What

53:13is Pit Moyer? It is also an early

53:15election site. It is a The voting box is

53:17there. I am deeply concerned about the

53:19implication of their presence at these

53:20locations and what it might mean for the

53:22upcoming election. I am joined by other

53:24advocates and volunteers who carry these

53:26same concerns and who ask the city um

53:28show up in a capacity that prioritizes

53:30accountability and proactivity. We

53:32cannot keep letting them use our spaces.

53:34If you are here on behalf of this,

53:36please stand or raise your hand. Thank

53:38you. my advocates here. [applause]

53:41Filto forever.

53:51>> Hello, my name is Jennifer Sal. I live

53:53in Sivera Park but am in Annapolis

53:55almost daily as I work in Annapolis and

53:57am here often on the weekends either

53:59participating in local community events

54:00or in events with my union. I'm an

54:03Ashkanazi Jew who was also honored to be

54:05someone who Philip Tedto considered a

54:07friend. You might notice that I'm

54:08wearing a Jewish Star of David around my

54:10neck. I got this necklace from my

54:12grandfather who used to wear it every

54:13day before he died. When he passed, I

54:15was honored to receive this necklace

54:17from him. However, over the last few

54:19years, I have stopped wearing it as much

54:20as I used to because I am now afraid

54:22that people might see the Star of David

54:24and mistake me for a Zionist and the

54:26racist ideology that comes with that

54:28identity. I work hard in my community

54:30every day in both small and large ways

54:31with my friends and loved ones to break

54:33down the systemic racism that are the

54:35foundational threads of our American

54:36culture and that prop up our

54:38institutions at the local, state, and

54:39federal levels. [snorts] I've always

54:41been proud to stand next to Philto when

54:43doing this work and looked to him as

54:44both a leader and mentor. Phil always

54:46saw each individual as worthy of love

54:48and respect even when he didn't agree

54:50with their personal values or actions. I

54:52admire the way he spoke truth to power

54:53while also continuing to see the

54:55individual person behind the action.

54:57Something which I myself struggle with

54:58at times. Yes, Phil did indeed fight

55:01against Zionism and the actions of a

55:03Zionist nation state. And he did so in

55:05the same way he fought against racism

55:06and other isms here in America.

55:09>> And Phil

55:11and Phil was not alone in doing so.

55:13There are many anti-Zionist Jews such as

55:15myself. And indeed, Phil was married to

55:18an anti-Zionist Jewish woman who herself

55:20came from a long line of Jewish

55:21ancestry.

55:23[snorts]

55:24There are an increasing number of Jewish

55:26people today that stand with me in

55:27denouncing the genocide that is

55:29currently taking place in Palestine and

55:30who stand with our Palestinian brothers

55:32and sisters. I want to be clear that

55:34those who say it is anti-semitic to be

55:36anti-ionist and or those who stand in

55:38solidarity with Palestine are

55:39anti-Semitic is akin to saying that

55:41those who stood against the enslavement

55:42of black people in America were

55:44anti-white. that those who decry the

55:45theft of land and continued harm to

55:47Native Americans are anti-American.

55:52We all know that those claims would only

55:54be uttered by racist bigots. Why then do

55:57some of my Jewish siblings insist that

55:58calling a genocide a genocide is

56:00anti-Semitic when it is conducted by the

56:02nation state of Israel? You protest too

56:04much and many of us can see through it.

56:06Those that identify as Zionist Jews do

56:08not have permission to wrap your hatred

56:11in this in the pain historical harm of

56:14my ancestors. And you do not get to make

56:18excuses for the deliberate pain and

56:20atrocities b that are being afflicted on

56:22the Palestinian people on a daily basis.

56:25The saddest part of all of this is that

56:26while Mayor Light Main himself is

56:28purposely trying to tear Phil down by

56:30spreading baseless lies, Phil would

56:31still love all of you and would work to

56:33find a way to seek common ground and

56:34work together. Because Phil know that

56:36hate is only overcome by loving acts of

56:38solidarity. And if you were ever curious

56:40if you were on the right side of

56:41history, you only needed to look around

56:43and see if Phil was standing next to

56:44you. I thus find it infuriating and

56:46heartbreaking that Mayor Litman has

56:48refused to provide a memorial citation

56:49on Phil's honor. I'm respectfully

56:51demanding an honest explanation on how

56:53this decision aligns with the process

56:55used to determine other citation

56:56decisions made by Mayor Litman's office.

56:59Refusing to acknowledge the vast

57:00contributions that Phil made in the

57:01Annapolis community is a low day for the

57:03Annapolis government. And I hope that

57:04Mayor Litman and those in his office are

57:06able to overlook their own insecurities

57:08and do the right thing. Thank you for

57:09your time.

57:12[screaming]

57:20Uh good evening. My name is Steven

57:22White. I'm the president of the Anonda

57:23County NAACP.

57:25Um Phil was a member. Um, I tried to get

57:28him to be labor chair uh so he could

57:30fight the city of Annapolis. Um, he did

57:32come here with me uh to the city of

57:35Annapolis several times in the chamber

57:37with uh Tony and her husband to fight uh

57:41on their behalf on the workers on behalf

57:43of the workers, black workers of um the

57:46city of Annapolis. And um he also in

57:51that same meeting talked about the

57:53short-term rental legislation um after

57:56he expressed his solidarity with the

57:58workers. We urged uh the mayor to

58:01approve the citation honoring Philto.

58:04Uh Phil lived a radical life, a life

58:06that those in power may think of as a

58:09life that uh should be pushed on us.

58:12They want us distracted. They want us to

58:14think of someone like Phil as unethical,

58:17uncouthed, untethered, or even marginal.

58:20But Phil was beyond their narratives.

58:22Phil was not anti-Semitic. Phil

58:24recognized how whiteness has been used

58:26to colonize. It was your allegiance to

58:29whiteness being implicated in Phil's

58:31condemnation of the genocide in

58:33Palestine. Phil's public image was

58:36August Landmasser, a man who refused

58:39Nazi salutes. He told us to be that man.

58:42refused the Nazi salutes. He was the

58:45most ethical, the most engaged, the most

58:48in tune with the pain of the

58:49marginalized. Phil engaged in politics,

58:51as radical feminist theorist Bel Hooks

58:53described, moving the margin to the

58:56center. Phil's radical kindness opened

58:58space for conversation, dialogue, and

59:00tolerance of many disagreements. He

59:03wanted to learn. I was distinctly

59:05remember a conversation we were having

59:07outside of a caucus meeting at WY Bates

59:10and he said to me, "I am going to have

59:12to learn more about that." One thing he

59:14wouldn't he couldn't tolerate though was

59:16the intolerant, the tyrannical, the

59:20despotic.

59:22He would push them to understand who

59:24they've marginalized.

59:26I've seen him sit with people he

59:28disagreed with and talk for hours to

59:30hear their perspectives. His tolerance

59:33was not one to say that he could be

59:35convinced to not believe his lying eyes.

59:38He could he knew what he saw and he

59:41spoke about it. He could see and have

59:43vision. Phil's vision of justice,

59:46anti-imperialism, anti-war, and

59:49anti-poverty taught me about the

59:50struggles I said I was committed to. His

59:53commitment to struggle was deeply felt,

59:55highly intellectual, and strongly acted

59:57upon. The last time Phil and I were

1:00:00here, I as I stated, he was here on

1:00:02behalf of the black workers. Um, I'm

1:00:05outraged.

1:00:08It's cruel. It's cruel to not give Phil

1:00:10a memorial citation. While planning for

1:00:13this meeting, we learned that Will Ralph

1:00:14has been terminated from the city of

1:00:16Annapolis.

1:00:17>> He more pain upon this situation.

1:00:21It's cruel to deny Phil a citation and

1:00:24immediately under contract of a black

1:00:26man who just adopted two young children.

1:00:29Denying honor to a man who died too soon

1:00:31is not how we heal division. It creates

1:00:34more outrage and division. We urge you

1:00:36to reconsider and allow Phil to be

1:00:38honored. Thank you.

1:00:41[applause]

1:00:45>> [applause]

1:00:49>> The next three people are Amy Cruz, Lisa

1:00:52Rodian, and John Morris.

1:00:56[applause]

1:01:06Good evening, Mayor and Council.

1:01:09It's Indigenous People's Day.

1:01:13We are on stolen land.

1:01:17This land was forcibly taken and a

1:01:21genocide committed.

1:01:24Here

1:01:26we glorify colonists

1:01:29here in Annapolis.

1:01:32We have murals of slave owners on church

1:01:36circle.

1:01:38So, we shouldn't be surprised

1:01:41that many of our elected officials won't

1:01:44condemn the genocide being committed by

1:01:47the state of Israel.

1:01:50Israel has killed more than 75,000

1:01:54Palestinians since that awful day in

1:01:58October when 1,139

1:02:01Israelis were killed.

1:02:03To be clear, Israel has inflicted 65

1:02:10October 7ths on Palestine, leaving more

1:02:14than 75,000 dead, 21,000 children

1:02:17murdered, and almost all hospitals,

1:02:19schools, and houses in Gaza destroyed or

1:02:22damaged. to be silent about this

1:02:25genocide or to call someone anti-Semitic

1:02:28for wearing a free Palestine shirt or to

1:02:31abuse your authority and deny the

1:02:34families of a man who's done more for

1:02:36this community than most people in this

1:02:39room because they spoke out about a

1:02:41genocide is outrageous.

1:02:43>> It is deplorable that you aren't

1:02:45speaking out about this genocide.

1:02:49And it is despicable that you would deny

1:02:52someone a citation that any Joe blow in

1:02:55Annapolis would have been given if they

1:02:57just kept their mouth shut about issues

1:02:59that matter because they care deeply

1:03:01about a genocide and had the nerve to

1:03:04ask a candidate the question.

1:03:08I filed three, no I filed one Maryland

1:03:12Public Information Act request to find

1:03:15out three things. One, how many requests

1:03:18for citations have been received since

1:03:20December 1st, 2025? Two, how many were

1:03:23fulfilled and how many were denied?

1:03:25Three, why were the denied ones denied?

1:03:29Immediately, my fee waiver request was

1:03:31denied. And then the entire request was

1:03:34improperly denied because it was over

1:03:36broad. I have written dozens of MPAs in

1:03:40my career. I've been involved in several

1:03:42MPIA lawsuits, and I know this is BS.

1:03:45But it occurred to me that I shouldn't

1:03:47have to send an MPIA to get this

1:03:49information. So tonight, I'm asking the

1:03:51mayor and each city council member to

1:03:53give us that information. I am here for

1:03:56Phil. I am here for free speech for

1:03:59transparency and accountability. We

1:04:01deserve to know why exactly why Phil was

1:04:04denied a citation. Whether this was the

1:04:07first time someone was denied because of

1:04:08who they were and all of us need to ask

1:04:11what would Phil do and refuse to be

1:04:13silenced or scared to speak up about

1:04:15issues that matter. Life is precious and

1:04:17life is short. Phil was one of my best

1:04:20friends. Phil's best friend was the

1:04:23First Amendment and that is why we're

1:04:24here today. Values like free speech,

1:04:27transparency, accountability, equity,

1:04:29and humanity for all is what many in

1:04:32this room have in common. This small act

1:04:36of denying a citation calls into

1:04:38question the mayor's values on each of

1:04:40these fronts. Phil's passing Phil's

1:04:44passing has given me courage.

1:04:47I hope you find it, TOO.

1:04:50[screaming]

1:04:52[applause]

1:05:01Good evening, Mayor Litman and members

1:05:03of the city council. My name is Lisa

1:05:05Rodian and I live on Farragut Road in

1:05:07Annapolis, just a couple miles from

1:05:10here. I'm probably not going to be the

1:05:11most powerful speaker um tonight because

1:05:15um I I'm haven't taken the time that I

1:05:18know other folks have to organize their

1:05:20thoughts. [gasps]

1:05:22But um I do really want to speak out on

1:05:24behalf of Phil because he was

1:05:28everywhere. You heard a list of all the

1:05:30things that he stood for and fought for.

1:05:33And I think in the spirit of the Phil

1:05:36that I knew, and it's still hard to say

1:05:41knew and not know,

1:05:43um

1:05:46he always made room for people to change

1:05:48their minds.

1:05:50And I'm hoping that there's room for

1:05:52that tonight.

1:05:54I want to start out by saying I

1:05:57absolutely condemn anti-semitism.

1:06:00I condemn racism. The sooner and one of

1:06:05my uh I think he's in the room. Carl

1:06:08Snowden regularly says the sooner we

1:06:12learn to walk hand in hand as brothers

1:06:15and sisters. I truly believe that and I

1:06:18know I'm not I'm paraphrasing. Is he

1:06:20still here?

1:06:20>> He's not here.

1:06:21>> He's not here. [laughter]

1:06:23>> But most everybody in this room has

1:06:25heard him say it and you know

1:06:31>> but I think in that spirit

1:06:37>> um I think in the spirit of what Phil

1:06:40believed, he gave people room to change

1:06:43his mind. And and I'll be the first to

1:06:46admit that I had a hard time coming to

1:06:49the realization and accepting that what

1:06:51was going on in Palestine was a

1:06:53genocide. I grew up in a community. I

1:06:56grew up in the 80s where Holocaust

1:06:59survivors were I grew up in suburban St.

1:07:01Louis and many folks probably don't

1:07:03realize there's actually a pretty

1:07:04substantial Jewish community and

1:07:06Holocaust survivor community outside of

1:07:09St. Louis. So with that perspective, it

1:07:13was hard to really see Israel as

1:07:17a as a predator. And I don't I think we

1:07:22always have to be careful to separate

1:07:23Israel from Jewish people.

1:07:26>> Yeah.

1:07:27[applause]

1:07:28>> And not everything that is attributed to

1:07:31Israel. And actually, we can't even

1:07:33always say Israel. We need to call

1:07:36Netanyahu and his and his lieutenants.

1:07:46But des but despising what is happening

1:07:50in Israel does not mean despising Jewish

1:07:52people. And the more we can separate

1:07:57and make judgment based on people's

1:07:59actions rather than their affiliation,

1:08:02their nationality,

1:08:04um the closer we get to the vision of

1:08:07being brothers and sisters who can truly

1:08:10walk forward in love. So I hope that

1:08:12you'll take this opportunity to

1:08:15reconsider.

1:08:16Um,

1:08:18you know, we are 22 days away from the

1:08:22election and um, the outcome of that

1:08:25election, I know, mattered enormously to

1:08:28Phil. And he was I I had actually been

1:08:31in communication with him about what

1:08:33kind of actions we might need to take if

1:08:36shenanigans happen in that election that

1:08:39is upcoming. And I hope that in the

1:08:42spirit of Phil, we can unite and make

1:08:46sure that the right thing happens for

1:08:47our democracy. That we get off of this

1:08:50awful path of mistreating immigrants,

1:08:54mistreating people because of their

1:08:55race, making things incredibly difficult

1:08:58for people that just don't have money in

1:09:00their pockets. So, I heard the my timer

1:09:04beep. I just ask you to reconsider. Look

1:09:08at how much he meant. And again, I

1:09:11condemn anti-semitism.

1:09:14I also don't feel that I'll never know

1:09:17what was in Phil's heart, but I really

1:09:19don't believe that that's what it was.

1:09:21So,

1:09:23he fought for us. Let's try and look at

1:09:26him in a different light. Thank you.

1:09:38Thank you, Mayor Libman, members of the

1:09:40city council. My name is John Morris. I

1:09:42live on Pilot House Drive. I'm proud

1:09:44resident of Ward 4. Um, I stand here

1:09:48today, um, in support of my dear friend,

1:09:51Philto. Phil was somebody who taught me

1:09:55so much in the brief time that I got to

1:09:57know him over the past couple years. He

1:09:59was someone that I really learned a lot

1:10:00from and was always patient and kind

1:10:05with my perspective and teaching me so

1:10:07much. Um, I would like to use my time to

1:10:10read to you all an executive citation

1:10:13from uh, uh, Council Member Stuart

1:10:17Pitman and the county council because I

1:10:19think it really captures Phil and the

1:10:21impact that he's had on this community.

1:10:24Uh to the residents of Anaundle County,

1:10:26Maryland, salute

1:10:29Phil attoo in heartful in heartfelt

1:10:32remembrance of his contributions to our

1:10:34community. Philip Omaya Atedto lived a

1:10:38life of extraordinary courage, joyful

1:10:41activism, and steadfast leadership and

1:10:45touched the lives of many across our

1:10:47county and beyond. A proud graduate of

1:10:50Glenn Bernie High School in Virginia

1:10:52Tech, Phil made Annapolis his home and

1:10:55devoted his energy to making our world

1:10:56more just, transparent, and equitable.

1:10:59Phil channeled his life into tireless

1:11:02advocacy

1:11:04for environmental causes, accessible

1:11:06healthcare, and racial justice, leaving

1:11:09an indelible mark on local policy

1:11:11through his leadership. Phil is a

1:11:13uniquely creative force. He brought

1:11:15vital issues to light through art, light

1:11:17projections, and compelling testimony

1:11:19while deeply investing in the next

1:11:21generation.

1:11:23Above all, Phil was a devoted husband to

1:11:25Jessica, a loving son, brother, uncle,

1:11:28and loyal friend whose boundless humor

1:11:31and righteous pursuit of good inspired a

1:11:34movement of community empowerment and

1:11:36lasting civic change. Anna Rundle County

1:11:40is a better place because of the

1:11:42profound contributions that Phil made

1:11:45and we honor his enduring spirit,

1:11:47strength, and love.

1:11:49>> Um, with the council's permission, I'd

1:11:50like to pass this out to everybody. Um,

1:11:53and I would just urge the council. Thank

1:11:55you. Um, to recognize that Phil uh was

1:11:59no stranger to the county council. He

1:12:01certainly had his share of direct action

1:12:03with them. Um it was it always was from

1:12:07a very profound wonderful place on

1:12:10behalf of all of us and I would urge you

1:12:11to reconsider the citation on his

1:12:14behalf. Thank you.

1:12:24The next three speakers are Yasmin

1:12:26Jamson, Reverend Steven Tlet, and Art

1:12:29Holt.

1:12:36Jameson. There you go. Thank you.

1:12:43[clears throat]

1:12:51Um, good evening. My name is Yasmin

1:12:53Jameson and I'm here tonight

1:13:07[sighs]

1:13:12to speak for my friend Phil.

1:13:22um and to demand accountability for the

1:13:24mayor's decision to deny him a memorial

1:13:27citation.

1:13:30Mayor Litman should be ashamed.

1:13:33Phil spent his life fighting for

1:13:34people's dignity.

1:13:38He believed [gasps]

1:13:41healthc care is a human right, housing

1:13:43is a human right, and that all people

1:13:46deserve freedom.

1:13:47>> [snorts]

1:13:47>> He stood with poor and unhoused people,

1:13:50immigrants, black communities,

1:13:51Palestinians, and everyone whose

1:13:53suffering powerful people too often

1:13:56ignore. [snorts] And after he died, the

1:13:59mayor used the power of his office to

1:14:00deny Phil a basic memorial recognition

1:14:04because [snorts] we are told Phil

1:14:05personally offended him.

1:14:09>> That is not leadership. That is

1:14:11pettiness elevated to public policy.

1:14:18Phil's

1:14:19Phil's support for Palestinian freedom

1:14:21was not anti-semitism. Criticizing the

1:14:24Israeli government, opposing occupation,

1:14:27and demanding [snorts] equal human

1:14:29rights is not anti-semitism.

1:14:31In fact, Phil listened to and learned

1:14:33from Jewish friends and community

1:14:34members who also understand that the

1:14:37actions of the state of Israel do not

1:14:39speak for all Jewish people and that

1:14:41those actions can fuel real

1:14:43anti-semitism around the world. [snorts]

1:14:47No mayor gets to turn a city citation

1:14:49into a loyalty test. No [snorts] public

1:14:53official gets to make a postumous honor

1:14:55conditional on whether a courageous

1:14:58activist made him comfortable. [snorts]

1:15:03As a Muslim immigrant, I know what it

1:15:05feels like when people in power decide

1:15:07that your faith, your voice, or your

1:15:09humanity is somehow threatening.

1:15:12[snorts] Phil did the opposite. He made

1:15:14room for people. He believed in us. He

1:15:16fought beside us. [snorts] Phil cannot

1:15:19stand here and challenge you.

1:15:22So, we will. [snorts]

1:15:26>> [applause]

1:15:26>> We demand transparency, accountability,

1:15:29and the communications behind this

1:15:31decision. [snorts] And we demand that

1:15:32Philitto receive the recognition he

1:15:36earned, not because [snorts] he was

1:15:38agreeable to power, but because he had

1:15:40the courage to challenge it. Annapolis

1:15:43cannot claim to be a revolutionary while

1:15:45its mayor tries to [snorts] erase one.

1:15:50[applause]

1:16:05Good evening. My name is Stephen Clet. I

1:16:09am the pastor and senior servant, the

1:16:12hired help at Asbury Broadneck United

1:16:15Methodist Church, 657 Broadneck Road in

1:16:18Annapolis.

1:16:19I'm here today because Philto had a

1:16:23significant impact on me. I considered

1:16:25Phil to be someone that was kind of our

1:16:28true north.

1:16:30>> If you were not in alignment with Phil

1:16:32on an issue, you really needed to kind

1:16:34of check yourself and figure out where

1:16:36it was you were coming from, what you

1:16:38were doing, what you were advocating.

1:16:40Phil and I didn't agree on everything.

1:16:42We had very a number of spirited

1:16:45discussions but they were always

1:16:47respectful and I learned a lot from him.

1:16:50I think he learned a lot from me and I

1:16:51will miss him and this community will

1:16:54miss him. That's right.

1:16:56>> You are all public servants,

1:17:00our elected public servants.

1:17:03You're here because of them.

1:17:06>> You are the hired help. Just like I'm

1:17:09the hired help at ASMR Broadneck. You're

1:17:11the hired help in Annapolis. And part of

1:17:14your role is to hear from the community,

1:17:18especially when they feel agrieved or

1:17:20insulted as this situation has created,

1:17:25and try and find some common ground. Or

1:17:28sometimes you just have to move personal

1:17:30feelings aside and take one for the

1:17:32team.

1:17:34>> I ask you not to emulate the thin

1:17:37skinned sensitivity of the occupant of

1:17:39the White House.

1:17:42When you run for public office, you sign

1:17:44up to have your feelings hurt from time

1:17:46to time.

1:17:47>> It comes with the territory,

1:17:50>> but we expect you to put your big boy

1:17:52and big girl pants on, handle your

1:17:55business, and keep moving forward even

1:17:58if your feelings have been a little bit

1:18:00help hurt. So, one thing I would share

1:18:02with you is this. You might not think

1:18:04that as a pastor that's something that I

1:18:06would have to deal with. I've been a

1:18:07pastor for almost 37 years. And I can

1:18:10tell you that there have been times when

1:18:13there have been people who have been

1:18:14intemperate, been rude, and been

1:18:17disrespectful to me. None of which Phil

1:18:19has been accused of being, by the way,

1:18:21just taking a position advocating some

1:18:23things you disagree with. It is what it

1:18:25is.

1:18:27And in each of those situations, at some

1:18:29point in time or other, I had to go

1:18:31visit that individual in a hospital

1:18:34room, go visit the person who'd been

1:18:36disrespectful in their home while they

1:18:39were sick, preside over and eulogize

1:18:41them at their funerals, and I did not

1:18:43abdicate that responsibility because at

1:18:46any time somebody hurt my feelings.

1:18:49Because as their pastor, as the hired

1:18:51help, it goes with [applause]

1:18:54the job.

1:18:56And so what I would ask you to do is

1:18:59look past whatever sense of offense you

1:19:02might be feeling. we kind of grasp the

1:19:04issue based on all of the things that

1:19:07have said that I have agreed with in

1:19:08their entirety that I have heard and do

1:19:12the right thing for the right reasons

1:19:13for somebody who was truly a citizen

1:19:17advocate and a citizen activist in this

1:19:20community who made this community better

1:19:23and wanted if he were still living would

1:19:24still be every day pouring himself out

1:19:27to try and make it better. that is now

1:19:29on your conscience as our hired help and

1:19:32we're looking for you to do the right

1:19:33thing. Thank you.

1:19:36[applause]

1:19:44Arthur Holt 8 Fisk Circle.

1:19:48Uh Mr. Mayor uh city council, thank you

1:19:51for this opportunity to speak uh

1:19:54regarding uh a citation for Philetto.

1:19:59I uh I ask you to reconsider. Um and I

1:20:04appreciate

1:20:06uh again the opportunity to uh support

1:20:10such an important

1:20:13uh influencer in my life and I think I

1:20:16can speak uh for a bunch of other

1:20:18people. About 30 years ago, my father

1:20:22also got a citation here. Um he was an

1:20:25engineer and he also uh more notably I

1:20:28think invented the little popcorn popper

1:20:31that kids push around you know and um

1:20:37[clears throat]

1:20:38so he he didn't really he didn't really

1:20:41uh challenge anybody you know there was

1:20:44no there was no drama around you know

1:20:48what my dad did and he got the citation

1:20:50right there's just no drama but he was

1:20:52an engineer and an inventor Right. Um

1:20:55Phil's job was to help people think and

1:21:00to help people reconsider any uh

1:21:03long-standing beliefs. Um

1:21:06he also encouraged people to listen

1:21:10and maybe to check their understanding

1:21:12of what he was saying. Um, I I always

1:21:15considered it a uh an honor

1:21:19an honor when Phil approached me and

1:21:22brought up something, you know, and

1:21:24wanted to talk about it. I knew there

1:21:27was a teacher in my presence that uh

1:21:32cuz boy, let me tell you, I um

1:21:36the older I get, the more I know how

1:21:39little I know. And I think that uh you

1:21:43know so anyway I look at he's kind of a

1:21:45phenom Phil you know and he's still with

1:21:47me. Um my dad invented these little

1:21:50things that that push you know that help

1:21:52kids learn how to walk.

1:21:55And as soon as I met Phil and I think

1:21:58that maybe some other people in the room

1:22:00you know he taught me why

1:22:04and how and when to march.

1:22:07And now is the time more than ever when

1:22:11leaders make heavy-handed decisions.

1:22:17We're all in trouble.

1:22:19It needs to be worked out together.

1:22:22So, uh, with that, uh, again,

1:22:25um,

1:22:27I appreciate the opportunity and I'll

1:22:29I'll pass to the next speaker.

1:22:32[applause]

1:22:38The next speaker speaker is Marcus or

1:22:41Mark, sorry, handwriting is not clear.

1:22:43Hayes, Marvis Hayes, perhaps Debbie

1:22:46Jason and Janice Fischer.

1:22:49[applause]

1:22:57>> My name is Marcus Hayes of 1837 Whitmer

1:23:00Court, Annapolis, Maryland 2141.

1:23:03Um, [clears throat]

1:23:05Phil, great human being.

1:23:10Period.

1:23:12[clears throat]

1:23:14>> Human.

1:23:18>> Human. We need more human to human

1:23:21relations.

1:23:23Love. In my short term of just getting

1:23:26to know Phil, he showed me that.

1:23:31He never complained to me about what he

1:23:32was going through.

1:23:36I can relate to that to a degree.

1:23:40I grew up with

1:23:44a mother that was

1:23:48dying that never complained to me about

1:23:51strength as well. She kept going.

1:23:56I took care of my father while he was

1:23:57dying. He kept going.

1:24:00They stay with me. They taught me how to

1:24:02be human. They taught me how to do the

1:24:04right thing.

1:24:07Taught me not to let politics and money

1:24:09and personal things get in the way of

1:24:12doing the right thing.

1:24:16It was a strong reminder that to all

1:24:20who had got to know him, who do know

1:24:23him,

1:24:26who are here to represent him still.

1:24:31I'm not one is all, you know, personally

1:24:34tied into a lot of the politics in the

1:24:36city. I've had my fair share of

1:24:38discrimination as well.

1:24:41I'm an artist. I fought my battles in

1:24:44this city for years to bring people

1:24:45together.

1:24:47I was stereotyped against.

1:24:50They labeled me as some hip-hop guy that

1:24:53would bring violence to anything that he

1:24:55does. I'm not that.

1:24:58It discouraged me a lot.

1:25:01And because of in recent years my

1:25:04friendship with Phil and others, he has

1:25:07shown me to keep fighting.

1:25:11And [clears throat] I have been

1:25:12struggling with that. I admit

1:25:16I've been fighting for causes in the

1:25:17city for a long time silently.

1:25:21But we're now at a a tipping point, I

1:25:23believe, and feel.

1:25:25And unity needs to happen. Symbolism is

1:25:28very important. People look up to other

1:25:31people. Those children that look up to

1:25:33Phil.

1:25:35>> Great.

1:25:37>> Children

1:25:42need to be more human.

1:25:45Please. I urge you all

1:25:47to simply do the right thing.

1:25:50This is over.

1:25:52You all go home tonight.

1:25:55Look in the mirror. Say, "Am I doing the

1:25:57right thing?"

1:26:02>> Turn away from yourself. You're probably

1:26:03not.

1:26:06[bell]

1:26:06>> So, I urge you all,

1:26:09you too, mayor, please just do the right

1:26:12thing because

1:26:15things could get worse afterwards and we

1:26:18don't want that.

1:26:22He's still in his family.

1:26:24>> [applause]

1:26:33>> Hello, my name's Debbie Jason. I

1:26:35actually don't recall signing up to

1:26:37speak. I just wanted to show up in

1:26:39support of my friends um and in support

1:26:42of Phil. Um first, I did want to say

1:26:46y'all can see my t-shirt.

1:26:49Ice does not belong here or anywhere.

1:26:52>> That's right. Please do something about

1:26:55that situation. They shouldn't be at Pit

1:26:57Moyer. They should not be at the ballot

1:26:58box. They should not be in the city.

1:27:01Stand up for people here. Secondly,

1:27:05um I live in Pasadena.

1:27:07That's on a good day. 30 minutes from

1:27:10here. All right. Traffic's a lot worse.

1:27:14Phil. Last time I saw Phil, he drove up

1:27:17to Pasadena from DC,

1:27:20like an hour and a half long drive just

1:27:24to stand with us on the corner in favor

1:27:27of unions, workers rights. All right. He

1:27:31showed up

1:27:34and he showed up in this city. He showed

1:27:37up in the county. He showed up

1:27:38throughout the state. He showed up in

1:27:41Baltimore. He showed up in DC. I have

1:27:44been an anti-bigotry activist since I

1:27:46was a child. My father was active in the

1:27:48civil rights movement. I've been in this

1:27:51fight for a long freaking time and Phil

1:27:53was my hero.

1:27:55>> All right.

1:27:56>> I admire that man tremendously.

1:27:59His loss is a loss to all of us. And at

1:28:03the very least, he deserves respect,

1:28:07admiration, and recognition for all the

1:28:10work that he did in his life.

1:28:13>> [applause]

1:28:21>> Next again is Janice Fischer, Antonio

1:28:23Strong Pratt and Carmen Scalupa.

1:28:29>> Thank you.

1:28:45Hello,

1:28:46my name is Tony Strong Pratt. I live at

1:28:4932 Juliana Circle East. And

1:28:54I don't even know what to say.

1:28:56I'm exhausted.

1:28:58>> And if any of you know me, you know I'm

1:29:02really at a loss for words.

1:29:05Radical just like Phil. And in this

1:29:08position, we take a lot of heat.

1:29:11We get a lot of backlash.

1:29:14But let me tell you about Phil who shows

1:29:17up when a lot of other people don't. Let

1:29:20me tell you about Phil who after seven

1:29:22years of directing women and men to

1:29:26wholeness showed up at our graduation

1:29:30without being asked. Let me tell you

1:29:32about the last two weeks I saw Phil at a

1:29:35vendors event that I was hosting. sick

1:29:39as a dog just to make sure I didn't need

1:29:42anything. Let me tell you about Phil at

1:29:46the coffee shop wanting to know more

1:29:48about the communities

1:29:50that were facing mole issues, that were

1:29:54facing inhumane issues.

1:29:57[clears throat] That's who Phil was. And

1:30:00guess what? Citations don't mean

1:30:03nothing. They don't.

1:30:05Let the work we do speak for us. I can

1:30:08only imagine

1:30:11if Phil was here at this point, he

1:30:14wouldn't even want the sitation at this

1:30:16point.

1:30:17>> Because if we look throughout this room

1:30:20and we listen intently to everything

1:30:23everybody said, the work he did has

1:30:27spoken for him.

1:30:29>> It can't be erased.

1:30:32No citation,

1:30:34>> no amount of apology,

1:30:36nothing can replace what he's already

1:30:39done. But I say I'm exhausted. I'm

1:30:43exhausted because guess what? You guys

1:30:46may be offended over your religion.

1:30:50I can't take this skin off. I'm offended

1:30:54every day by somebody

1:30:58because of the skin that I was born in.

1:31:01I get offended every day for making

1:31:05posts on social media about people who

1:31:08are living in dire inhumane conditions.

1:31:11And then you know what? I work with the

1:31:13same people who offend me.

1:31:15[clears throat]

1:31:16>> I show up like Phil did to the same

1:31:19people that offended him. The same

1:31:22people who look at us and won't give us

1:31:24the funding to continue to work. I show

1:31:27up. But it's tiring. It is tiring to sit

1:31:32here with city employees who've been

1:31:35unjustly treated and fired because the

1:31:38color of their skin. And then I look at

1:31:41a city attorney who perjured herself in

1:31:44a civil service board and is still

1:31:46employed. There is something wrong here.

1:31:49There is something wrong here. So what I

1:31:52would say if we don't have a policy for

1:31:54citations,

1:31:56we would formulate a policy

1:31:58>> because we have nine people sitting in

1:32:01front of me and it shouldn't take one

1:32:03person and a stroke of a pen to say no,

1:32:06it's not going to go forward.

1:32:08>> Any law takes five votes and it should

1:32:12be five votes to determine who is worthy

1:32:15to get a citation. Phil, this one is you

1:32:19cuz your work has done spoke for you.

1:32:22[applause]

1:32:28[applause]

1:32:34>> And Carmen Scarupa.

1:32:37>> Okay. Next three people are Chrissy

1:32:39Holt, Linda Mundy, and Debbie Wood.

1:32:56>> [cough and clears throat]

1:32:58>> I'm Chrissy Holt, 8 fifth circle, war

1:33:02two.

1:33:06We're heartbroken.

1:33:08Phil used to come to my house for years

1:33:11for Thanksgiving. It was part of our

1:33:13family.

1:33:22So slander comes to mind.

1:33:26>> And maybe we should look at that.

1:33:28>> Yes.

1:33:29>> Maybe we should look at when you stand

1:33:31up here and slander someone,

1:33:34what that means.

1:33:36>> Shame.

1:33:36>> And why?

1:33:39[screaming]

1:33:43So, I'm not going to repeat all the

1:33:45things that everybody has said about

1:33:46Phil, but I can tell you I've been on

1:33:48the front lines with him a long time,

1:33:51and he fought for everyone.

1:33:56But you know who he really didn't like

1:33:59was politics.

1:34:02He didn't want to knock on doors for any

1:34:05politicians, particularly Democrats.

1:34:09>> [laughter]

1:34:10>> And I'll tell you why. Because when I

1:34:12was running for office in 2018, I had a

1:34:14woman call me up and say, "You know

1:34:16what? I will throw a bomb mitzvah for

1:34:19you in Battoic, Maryland, and I will

1:34:21raise more money for you, and you will

1:34:23not have to answer to the Maryland

1:34:25Democratic Party, but you need to

1:34:28denounce Palestine to do [clears throat]

1:34:31that."

1:34:34>> And I said, "I'm sorry. I'm not taking

1:34:36your AP pack money.

1:34:40So

1:34:42the Maryland Democratic Party, we all

1:34:45know, is funded by Apac.

1:34:48>> So [snorts] you need and there's no way

1:34:50that we could trace that to your

1:34:51donations or to your donations or to

1:34:55anybody's donations here about where

1:34:58your money comes from so that you get to

1:35:00sit in this seat. But I can assure you

1:35:03that it's Apac because Carden and Hoyer

1:35:08and Sarah and the rest of the party

1:35:11protect Apac and that's how you see

1:35:13yourselves getting elected. You also get

1:35:16yourself elected from insurance

1:35:18donations. And we know that to be the

1:35:21cause for many times when we couldn't

1:35:24get what we wanted like universal

1:35:26healthcare and understanding why a third

1:35:28of the Maryland state budget goes to

1:35:29healthare.

1:35:30>> Yeah. And we don't know why.

1:35:34And we also know why how the city has no

1:35:37say in our healthcare. And we also know

1:35:38why the county doesn't. Because it's all

1:35:41regulated by donations. Those donations

1:35:44go to the Maryland Democratic Party and

1:35:46they put you in office. So your choice

1:35:50your choice is really to stop taking

1:35:52those donations.

1:35:55And when Phil calls anybody out on that,

1:35:57like we all do,

1:36:00we get slandered.

1:36:03>> We don't make it through the election,

1:36:05do we?

1:36:06>> So that we can actually change the

1:36:08system

1:36:10>> to work for the people.

1:36:13So

1:36:15spending millions of dollars on an

1:36:17electric ferry when we still don't have

1:36:20bike lanes, what does that mean?

1:36:24And I think there was some other bill on

1:36:26the table today for $6,900. Should we

1:36:29charge for the Budweis or Claude stales?

1:36:32Yes. You should be charging everybody

1:36:35that wants to use our city because what

1:36:37you tell us all the time is you don't

1:36:39have any money. So stop giving grace to

1:36:43billion dollar organizations.

1:36:46Tax them, collect the money, and start

1:36:48working for the people. Thank you.

1:36:52And and

1:36:54one more piece, we want Phil's bill and

1:36:58we want somebody to pass that to change

1:37:01this process so that we can all move on.

1:37:05>> Thank you.

1:37:08[applause]

1:37:17>> My name is Linda Mundy and I live in

1:37:19Annapolis, Maryland. I'm not going to

1:37:20say my address because it's 2026. Do you

1:37:23all say your addresses? Can you all

1:37:25change that? It's kind of like we don't

1:37:27need to do that anymore.

1:37:30Good evening. At Philotto's celebration

1:37:34of life last week, we asked a question

1:37:36that captures how we lived. What would

1:37:38Phil do? Phil would show up. He would

1:37:42speak out. He would challenge those in

1:37:44power and encourage others to do the

1:37:46same. He fought for democracy, equity,

1:37:49police accountability, environmental

1:37:51protection, fair housing, and human

1:37:53rights. He consistently showed up at

1:37:56these city meetings, challenged our

1:37:58leaders, and help people, including

1:38:00myself, find our voices, and the courage

1:38:04to use them. This is just part of why

1:38:08Phil deserves recognition from this

1:38:10city.

1:38:12He also spoke out about the genocide in

1:38:14Palestine and asked local candidates and

1:38:17officials where they stood on this human

1:38:19rights crisis. Being told that Palestine

1:38:23was not a local issue was not acceptable

1:38:26to him.

1:38:28Human rights do not stop at Annapapolis

1:38:31city limits.

1:38:34There are parallels between Palestinian

1:38:36displacement and the historic

1:38:38displacement displacement of black

1:38:41residents from the Annapolis Oldfor W

1:38:49and the future displacement at some of

1:38:52the city's public housing sites that are

1:38:54scheduled for renovation.

1:38:57Human dignity and communities right to

1:39:00shape their futures matters globally and

1:39:04locally.

1:39:05So does democracy. Democracy means

1:39:08listening to difficult pers

1:39:10perspectives, not honoring only those

1:39:13who make us comfortable.

1:39:15I'm curious if the Jewish community

1:39:18members that you identified

1:39:20are the people who threatened and

1:39:22disrupted the film event at the library

1:39:26about the activists who stood up for

1:39:28Palestine that Phil ran and hosted that

1:39:31event. The library had to bring in

1:39:34security because of how they were

1:39:37acting.

1:39:38>> We were offended.

1:39:39Phil might have made us uncomfortable,

1:39:43but he 100%

1:39:45was not anti-Semitic.

1:39:48>> He was kind, loving, and cared about all

1:39:52people.

1:39:53My friend Phil helped organize a local

1:39:56community Passover Cedar dinner every

1:39:58year.

1:40:01Where he facilitated conversations about

1:40:03peace.

1:40:06He helped me be a better friend when I

1:40:08was trying to support a Jewish friend

1:40:09who was affected by the recent rise in

1:40:12anti-semitism.

1:40:13He challenged me to stop saying, "It's

1:40:16so overwhelming. I can never understand

1:40:19this Jewish Palestinian thing. It's so

1:40:21complicated."

1:40:23He challenged me to actually learn about

1:40:26the Israel and Palestinian war.

1:40:29He also challenged our church high

1:40:31school youth group to do the same as a

1:40:33volunteer coordinator.

1:40:36My ask as a resident give Philetto a

1:40:40citation for his service and his life.

1:40:43Develop a clear transparent policy for

1:40:45public citations. The criteria and

1:40:48nomination process must be public,

1:40:51applied consistently and free from

1:40:53personal and political bias. Residents

1:40:56deserve to know who makes the decisions

1:40:59and why. Like Phil, I expect answers on

1:41:03this issue. I expect accountability from

1:41:06our city government overall and I will

1:41:09keep showing up just like Phil did.

1:41:13[applause and cheering]

1:41:21>> Debbie, what is the next person signed

1:41:23up? Yes, I am here asked to actually

1:41:25speak on behalf and then if there's some

1:41:26time left over, I would like to say my

1:41:28own personal words. Uh this is from

1:41:30Debbie Wood. Um she here's a note from

1:41:33Dr. Debbie Wood. She's a founding

1:41:35director of the uh Chesapeake Children's

1:41:37Museum and a chair of the children's

1:41:39activities for the Kaente Festival for

1:41:41over 30 years.

1:41:43>> As a Jew, as a Jew raised with the

1:41:46conscious of Jewish history, I am

1:41:48saddened by what is happening in Israel.

1:41:50There is no easy remedy. I am not in

1:41:53favor of violence to express

1:41:55disagreement to resolve disputes nor to

1:41:57exact revenge. Philetto spoke his mind

1:42:01which is a basic tenic of de democratic

1:42:04society. People can criticize, protest

1:42:07and ask for action.

1:42:10Um

1:42:11his opinions about Palestine were his to

1:42:14express. He had many outstanding

1:42:16qualities including feeling strongly

1:42:18about local and global issues. We should

1:42:21honor him for his contributions to the

1:42:23social fabric of Annapolis.

1:42:25Now, if I can use a what's left over

1:42:27from my own personal words, my name is

1:42:30Robert Smith. I'm grew up in this city.

1:42:32I was forced out because I can't afford

1:42:34to live in this city anymore.

1:42:37>> I take a lot of I I'm going to back

1:42:40myself up. I knew Phil for 15 years.

1:42:42I've worked with him on many issues.

1:42:45He's almost like a brother to me.

1:42:49One thing I saw here tonight and I don't

1:42:50know if this is your intention but I

1:42:52want to ask this question. Is it a sign

1:42:54of leadership

1:42:56to do what happened to make all of us

1:42:59who have been spending the past few

1:43:01months trying to grieve a friend who's

1:43:05made a big change not just in the world

1:43:07but in our lives who is a very genuine

1:43:10person.

1:43:12As the mayor of the city, isn't your job

1:43:15to unite us, to bring us together, bring

1:43:17us as a community, but because of your

1:43:19own personal opinions and feelings, you

1:43:22have now divided us and brought a lot of

1:43:24pain to those of us who are trying to

1:43:26grieve our friends, who are trying to

1:43:27make sense of all the that's

1:43:29going on in this world.

1:43:31[applause]

1:43:32>> And the one person that was doing

1:43:34something about that, it was taken to

1:43:36us. We got all these old I'm

1:43:38sorry for my language. They're up there

1:43:40doing corrupt as crap. And I have a

1:43:43friend who's taken from me way too

1:43:45young.

1:43:47Who was doing all the stuff we talk

1:43:49about who put himself up who didn't put

1:43:51himself above it. He was all about

1:43:53community that everybody here has said

1:43:55and why that can't be seen. Why? One

1:43:58thing and the other thing I would ask

1:44:00and that I'm very angry about is yes, I

1:44:04don't want to admit whatever he may have

1:44:05said to you. It is very inconsistent

1:44:07what I know of Phil, but I don't want to

1:44:09diminish that. But have a conversation

1:44:12with us. Don't play this thing and push

1:44:14us out. Try to tell us, let us have a

1:44:17chance to tell you, to show you the man,

1:44:18the people that showed up here, the 200

1:44:20people who showed up for his memorial

1:44:22last weekend, to show you the person he

1:44:24was. One statement should not erase

1:44:27somebody's entire life. And that makes

1:44:29me extremely angry. And that's my point.

1:44:31Good night.

1:44:41Next three people are Lonnie Moyer,

1:44:43Susan Lavine, and Sean Dnan.

1:44:51>> Susan Lavine.

1:45:05Hello, my name is S Sue Lavine and I am

1:45:08a resident of Annapolis. I am here to

1:45:11speak about something a little bit

1:45:13different,

1:45:15but it is what Phil would do.

1:45:18I am part of a community volunteer group

1:45:21which Phil f which Phil helped found

1:45:24that monitors the county for ICE

1:45:26activity in order to provide services

1:45:30such as legal assistance and crisis

1:45:32support to families of those who were

1:45:34wrongfully detained and ensure vehicles

1:45:38are returned to their rightful owner

1:45:40rather than taken by ICE agents. On

1:45:43Wednesday morning, October 7th, at about

1:45:467:00 a.m., I was driving through

1:45:48Annapapolis and Eastport and noticed

1:45:51three vehicles parked in the parking lot

1:45:53of Pit Moyer. After I observed

1:45:57[laughter] and documented for a few

1:45:59minutes one of the vehicles without

1:46:02license tags sped away through the

1:46:05parking lot full of people walking

1:46:07around. I later saw two of the vehicles

1:46:10at Truckton Pool. When one drove away, I

1:46:13followed. As though they did not want

1:46:16their activities recorded, they began

1:46:19driving erratically to Timber Creek, a

1:46:22small family community with one entrance

1:46:25where children play in the street. As

1:46:27you know, the county executive signed an

1:46:30executive order stating that ICE was not

1:46:33to use county property for their

1:46:35activity. I recognize Pit Moyer and

1:46:38Truckton Pool are not officially county

1:46:41properties. They have however always

1:46:44been gathering places for the community

1:46:47and Pit Moyer is a polling place. I have

1:46:51personally witnessed families removing

1:46:53their children from school out of fear

1:46:56after ICE sightings. The mere presence

1:46:59of ICE is voter intimidation and their

1:47:03activities at a polling place can only

1:47:06be characterized as election

1:47:07interference.

1:47:09If the city allows these agents to

1:47:12continue to operate with impunity, it is

1:47:15only a matter of time before Annapolis

1:47:17joins the tragic and growing brotherhood

1:47:20of cities nationwide in which ICE has

1:47:24begun executions. I am imploring the

1:47:27city to follow the county's lead and

1:47:30implement and enforce an executive order

1:47:33barring ICE from city property. WE

1:47:36CANNOT

1:47:45we cannot allow Annapolis to become a

1:47:48city where children live in fear.

1:47:52[applause]

1:47:58I have, if you would like, some cards

1:48:01that we give out um when we reach

1:48:04families of people who have been

1:48:05detained um the so they can get

1:48:08services,

1:48:13[applause]

1:48:21>> John Dman.

1:48:24Tom just left.

1:48:28>> Thank you. Uh Mike Green.

1:48:35>> Uh level offer.

1:48:38>> Thank you. Carolyn Howard.

1:48:45Carolyn Howard.

1:48:47Okay. Amy Britt.

1:48:52>> [applause]

1:49:00>> Hi, my name is Amy Britt. I live at 600

1:49:02River Birch Court in Odin. Um, I didn't

1:49:05fully understand the situation when I

1:49:07came here, so this is just about Phil.

1:49:12[gasps] Whenever I've been at a protest

1:49:13or a meeting or a rally and I saw Phil

1:49:16walk through the doors, I knew two

1:49:17things. one, things might get more

1:49:20interesting, and two, I others have said

1:49:23I might know I was definitely on the

1:49:25right side of the issue. Phil's moral

1:49:28compass was strong, and he showed up

1:49:30again and again and again to try to help

1:49:33make things better. I saw him so often

1:49:35for the issues that I care about that I

1:49:37had to conclude he was doing it for a

1:49:39lot of other issues that I haven't

1:49:40prioritized.

1:49:43We were both in danger of dying back in

1:49:452023 and I would read his caring bridge

1:49:47page from my own hospital bed. He was

1:49:50getting experimental cancer treatments

1:49:52that sounded like hell.

1:49:54I was able to get a transplant and

1:49:56recover a lot of function. But Phil

1:49:58continued to fight.

1:50:00Even though he was fighting for his

1:50:02life, he kept showing up. He knew he had

1:50:05limited time left on this earth and he

1:50:07continued to give of himself to make

1:50:08life better for other people, for all of

1:50:11our children. And yes, for the children

1:50:12facing genocide in Palestine.

1:50:17The last time I saw Phil was at a No

1:50:19Kings rally. We were in Pasadena,

1:50:21probably the same rally that Debbie

1:50:22talked about, and there was a small

1:50:24counterprotest.

1:50:26Phil and I were talking and exchanging

1:50:28tips on using cannabis for pain

1:50:30management when he wandered off to talk

1:50:32to the counterprotesters because he

1:50:34wanted to convince them that they'd

1:50:36mistaken a class war for a culture war.

1:50:40Phil fight fought for them too and for

1:50:42their children.

1:50:44At Phil's celebration of life, his

1:50:46friends filled the sanctuary of the

1:50:47Unitarian Universalist Church of

1:50:48Annapolis. I learned that he was a

1:50:51coordinator of a youth group at the

1:50:52church, and that is possibly the best

1:50:54news I have ever heard.

1:50:56[gasps and laughter] Several teens spoke

1:50:57about how much Philip listened to them,

1:50:59validated them, inspired them, and made

1:51:01their lives better. And I hope you are

1:51:04all prepared because I suspect you'll be

1:51:06hearing from those teens over the next

1:51:07few years.

1:51:09>> [laughter]

1:51:10>> I understand Phil spoke truth to power.

1:51:13I also understand it doesn't feel good

1:51:15when you're in power. But as others have

1:51:17said, that's part of the gig. That's a

1:51:19job you normally signed up for, but you

1:51:21sought it.

1:51:23It is necessary for a true democracy,

1:51:25and it has been since the Boston Tea

1:51:27Party. Phil exercised his rights, and he

1:51:29exercised his voice. He gave all of us

1:51:32the gift of his time and energy. And he

1:51:35worked tirelessly

1:51:37to make Annapolis and Maryland and the

1:51:39world a better place. Who is better to

1:51:42remember?

1:51:44Please do the right thing, not for

1:51:46yourself, but for the community of

1:51:48Annapolis. Thank you.

1:51:52[applause]

1:52:00Next three people are Shabuju

1:52:04going to have trouble spelling out this

1:52:06name. Agree.

1:52:10>> Thank you. [screaming]

1:52:25hard to spell maybe like Phil. Um

1:52:28my name is Shbugnihotri. Uh I am a

1:52:30member of Anna for Palestine and I knew

1:52:32Phil as an incredibly strong person who

1:52:35fought for the rights of minorities uh

1:52:37everywhere. Phil and I and many others

1:52:40traveled to Annapolis to provide

1:52:41testimony to protect human rights. I

1:52:44could only hope uh to have a ten to have

1:52:47had a tenth of the impact that Phil has

1:52:50had on the world when my time comes. But

1:52:53today, it seems that his courage has

1:52:55left him alienated and missing from the

1:52:57honorific citation section. It is clear

1:53:00that the biases of the city council and

1:53:02the mayor's office have led to this

1:53:04disastrous decision to deny him

1:53:06aostumous citation. Perhaps I should not

1:53:09be surprised. For how long have the

1:53:11awards given out by our public

1:53:12institutions not reflected the values of

1:53:14our communities?

1:53:16I questioned the judgment and the

1:53:18fairness of this decision. It is clear

1:53:20that Phil made an enormous positive

1:53:22impact on our community, not just in

1:53:24Annapolis, but countywide, statewide,

1:53:27nationwide, and worldwide. Mayor Litman,

1:53:30you once told me immigrant rights

1:53:32advocates would never be happy with the

1:53:34answers you gave to their inquiries. Is

1:53:36there a limit to how much Democrats may

1:53:38posture popular positions while spitting

1:53:40in the face of those who do the work on

1:53:42the ground?

1:53:45[applause]

1:53:47>> You once told me that your way of

1:53:49dealing with pro Palestine protesters

1:53:51was informed by former city council

1:53:53member of Baltimore and current Atlas

1:53:55government affairs director Eric

1:53:57Castello. Eric Castello, Sarah genocide

1:54:01enabler Alfred's boyfriend.

1:54:05the same Atlas restaurant group who

1:54:07helped bankroll your campaign for mayor.

1:54:10>> Is it about the money?

1:54:12>> Does it make sense to take advice from a

1:54:14man who cries and whines when defund the

1:54:16police protesters oppose his votes? Does

1:54:19it make sense to take advice from a man

1:54:21who works for Atlas Restaurant Group who

1:54:24gentrifies and discriminates against

1:54:25minority residents in the Baltimore

1:54:27Metropolitan region? Does it make sense

1:54:30to take advice from a man whose campaign

1:54:32was bankrolled by Sinclair Broadcast

1:54:34Group, who fear-mongers about black

1:54:36people's existence to radicalize Fox 45

1:54:39viewers into supporting a militaristic

1:54:42police force? No.

1:54:44Shame.

1:54:46>> Why then does it make sense to deny Phil

1:54:49this award based on your own personal

1:54:51feelings about him? Phil didn't do what

1:54:54he did to schmoo and make friends with

1:54:56politicians.

1:54:58An effective advocate shouldn't be

1:55:00seeking approval by our city government.

1:55:03An effective advocate can't have a rosy

1:55:06relationship with his elected officials.

1:55:08An effective advocate like Phil refused

1:55:11to enter into the incestuous and

1:55:14cult-like system of the Annapolis

1:55:15political machine. We believe that Phil

1:55:19should have been given this award. You

1:55:21disrespected Phil while he was alive,

1:55:23and you again disrespect him after his

1:55:25life. Phil will be honored and it is

1:55:27your choice on whether it happens now or

1:55:29whether it happens later.

1:55:32>> Free free Palestine

1:55:35free [cheering]

1:55:42brown, Chris Brown, and Sharon Kennedy.

1:55:47>> What's that?

1:55:49>> Go to Chris.

1:55:51Sharon Kennedy.

1:56:08>> Thank you. Anna Britain.

1:56:16>> Hi, my name is Anna Britain. Um, I live

1:56:19in Serna Park. I have been a resident of

1:56:21Anna Rundle County for over 30 years.

1:56:23Several of those here in the city of

1:56:25Annapolis. Um I'm here to ask for two

1:56:27things. I'm here in my capacity as a

1:56:29community volunteer to ask the city to

1:56:32take a stand to protect our community by

1:56:34prohibiting ICE um operations on city

1:56:37property.

1:56:40[applause]

1:56:42I'm especially concerned about ICE's

1:56:44recent presence at Pit Moyer, which is a

1:56:47ballot dropbox and polling location. If

1:56:49this continues to happen, it will

1:56:51suppress voter turnout for community

1:56:54members who feel they could be targeted

1:56:55by ICE.

1:56:57We need to stop treating them like a

1:56:59legitimate law enforcement agency.

1:57:06They are a lawless paramilitary force at

1:57:10the beck and call of the Trump regime.

1:57:12And the sooner we recognize that, the

1:57:15safer we will all be.

1:57:18>> [applause]

1:57:21>> I'd also like to request for the

1:57:24citation to be issued for Filletto.

1:57:27He worked tirelessly

1:57:30for all of his neighbors and his work

1:57:33has made the city a better place.

1:57:37You can be opposed to genocide and

1:57:39advocate for Palestinian rights without

1:57:41being anti-Semitic.

1:57:44Phil was a shining light in this bleak

1:57:47world.

1:57:48[applause]

1:58:00Next three speakers are Tom Creek,

1:58:02Deonte Wood, and Kim

1:58:06Lagut.

1:58:07Well, let's take Tom Creek.

1:58:10>> All right. Deontay Wood of Admiral

1:58:14Drive.

1:58:14>> Ward.

1:58:15>> Ward. Thank you.

1:58:18>> Okay. And Kim from Black Walnut Court.

1:58:25Okay. Those are the individuals who have

1:58:28signed up to speak. If there's anybody

1:58:30else who would like to speak now during

1:58:31general comments, you can uh start to

1:58:34line up on the wall and the first person

1:58:35can approach the podium whenever you're

1:58:37ready.

1:58:38>> Yeah. My name is Kim Longos. you.

1:58:41>> Um, I live in Black Walnut Cove.

1:58:44>> Um, [clears throat] I guess I I I'm I'm

1:58:47here to express my incredible outrage at

1:58:52ICE picking up innocent people on our

1:58:55streets and why is there not more

1:58:59outrage? Um, where where are where are

1:59:02the people, you know, working to protect

1:59:05our communities from fear? Okay. Um

1:59:09there are people who are thinking of

1:59:11this action

1:59:14as a kind of an ethnic cleansing. Why?

1:59:17Because more and more we hear they don't

1:59:19care who it is as long as his his skin

1:59:22is brown.

1:59:23>> Okay. So this is something that we have

1:59:27to take a stand on and make some noise

1:59:30about. Now what can you guys do? You can

1:59:33do what has been proposed tonight and

1:59:35make sure that ICE it cannot be on city

1:59:38property. It's very simple. Do you care?

1:59:42[applause] Do you care that Do you care

1:59:46about the fairness of our elections?

1:59:47Because Maryland elections are very very

1:59:52safe and secure. My husband is an

1:59:54election judge and he's been trained and

1:59:56he is so impressed. There's never any

1:59:58decision made unless there's a

2:00:00Republican and a Democrat. They're right

2:00:02next to each other all the time checking

2:00:04each other. So if you're gonna allow

2:00:07this kind of, you know, some something

2:00:10that has taken well 250 years to create

2:00:14to be damaged and destroyed and and

2:00:17subsumed by an authoritarian state,

2:00:20which is what what is happening. If

2:00:23you're allowing Trump's Gestapo into our

2:00:26beautiful city,

2:00:27>> right,

2:00:28>> and making children fearful to go to

2:00:32school, it is a shame. It is a terrible

2:00:35shame. I I'm a a u a volunteer at

2:00:40Annapolis Middle School. They're having

2:00:42a Hispanic festival on uh Friday night.

2:00:47People will be afraid to show up. Is

2:00:51this the town you want to live in? Is

2:00:53this the town that you want to

2:00:55represent?

2:01:03>> That's the man that brought the

2:01:04aggression to the film festival. Yeah,

2:01:05that's

2:01:06>> that's the guy that

2:01:08>> anyway

2:01:11and he LITERALLY

2:01:16look you get the [laughter] hell out of

2:01:18here.

2:01:23>> You get out. You're deserving.

2:01:27Anyway, I am imploring you to please use

2:01:31everything in your power to protect our

2:01:34communities and make us so that our

2:01:36children do not have to fear going out

2:01:40of their houses. I'm I'm also doing the

2:01:43the rapid response.

2:01:45You know, we're now

2:01:49>> we have to be patrolling. Can't you do

2:01:52more? We have to go out and use our days

2:01:55patrolling for for ICE cars. Can you not

2:01:59do more to protect us from this

2:02:02>> travesty

2:02:04to our to our to our beautiful city? And

2:02:06and that's it. Thank you.

2:02:08>> Thank you,

2:02:10[applause]

2:02:14>> Mr. Pratt.

2:02:19My name is William Pratt, 32 Juliana

2:02:22Circle, East Annapolis, Maryland.

2:02:31>> It's just a dag on down disgrace.

2:02:38>> It's

2:02:41Can we pause the time until we get

2:02:42order?

2:02:46It's situations and choices and

2:02:49decisions like this that cause chaos and

2:02:52animosity.

2:02:54Um, I would like to say though that like

2:02:57I've been knowing you for a while,

2:02:59Jared. Um,

2:03:01we don't really see eye to eye. I don't

2:03:03really see eye to eye with a lot of

2:03:05politicians, but that don't make me um,

2:03:08dislike you as a person based on your

2:03:11comments or anything. But I realized,

2:03:14man, over and over after coming down

2:03:16here that like

2:03:18a leader in the circle usually uh kind

2:03:22of reflects the circle that's around

2:03:24them. And um tonight I realize that

2:03:28you're not the only one with thin skin.

2:03:32You got a whole lot of people on your

2:03:34council that has thin skin.

2:03:37>> And I say that because they don't hold

2:03:39you accountable.

2:03:41One person shouldn't make a decision for

2:03:44a whole city council and everybody sit

2:03:47there smirking, looking crazy like they

2:03:49don't know what's going on.

2:03:54The Democratic Party

2:03:57is falling to crack because of people

2:03:59like you.

2:04:01>> RIGHT. [applause]

2:04:04CHOICES AND decisions made

2:04:07that seemingly line up

2:04:11calling yourself a Democrat, but it look

2:04:14more like a MAGA agenda. Yeah.

2:04:18>> WE GOT TOO MANY PEOPLE as Democrats

2:04:21that's taking stands

2:04:24against

2:04:27politicians that are doing the right

2:04:29things in our communities.

2:04:32Jumping party lines because it don't fit

2:04:36their own personal agenda

2:04:41to vote them out.

2:04:44and we keep on getting the same type of

2:04:47mess.

2:04:48It's a disgrace to even come down to

2:04:51city hall and to realize that this

2:04:53country was built on the backs of people

2:04:55that look like me and this crap that's

2:04:57STILL ON THE WALL

2:05:00>> and all of the stuff that they have

2:05:01around the city of Annapolis. It's a

2:05:04mess. And Carl O'Neal, I'm sorry if your

2:05:06feelings hurt because I'm passionate

2:05:09about when I speak. But we need to stop

2:05:12electing officials that's going to sit

2:05:15in seats and does absolutely nothing for

2:05:18the community and sit there and side

2:05:21with mayors that don't do nothing for

2:05:24our community. Don't show up for

2:05:26community events, but everything that go

2:05:28on in downtown Annapolis, we present for

2:05:32it.

2:05:33>> When are we going to make sense?

2:05:36>> When are we going to get some of that?

2:05:39Don't nobody support our programs and we

2:05:42unexpect it. I used to say I was

2:05:44surprised but now I ain't surprised that

2:05:46nothing you do.

2:05:49[applause]

2:05:54[applause and cheering]

2:05:59My name is Becca. I am from Sivera Park

2:06:02and normally I wouldn't come to

2:06:04Annapolis City Council meetings cuz

2:06:06>> Say your name please. My name is Rebecca

2:06:08Forte. I'm from Sivera Park. Normally I

2:06:10don't come to Annapolis City Council

2:06:12meetings and the last time I was here

2:06:14was with Phil. Um, we were both here to

2:06:17support the rank choice uh voting

2:06:19amendment because Phil shows up for

2:06:22everything and he shows up for

2:06:25democratic reforms and he shows up and

2:06:27speaks truth to power and so yeah, last

2:06:31time I was here was with him and I

2:06:36would be remiss to not point out that

2:06:38he's everywhere and helping everyone and

2:06:42he he and I have sat in county council

2:06:44so many times. I met him [snorts]

2:06:46because we were fighting two 287g at the

2:06:50county council level before it was cool.

2:06:54Yeah. Before the state of Maryland

2:06:56figured out that it was problematic in

2:06:58Trump 2 during the first um presidency,

2:07:02we realized that um an Ronda County had

2:07:05a contract and we all stood up and spoke

2:07:08and one of the people leading us and

2:07:09teaching us how to speak at county

2:07:11council meetings was Filletto

2:07:13and So, it's not surprising that I'm

2:07:18speaking on those two issues tonight. I

2:07:20the idea that that's what we were

2:07:22speaking on and that's where I met him

2:07:24eight years ago, almost a decade ago.

2:07:27And then there are ICE vehicles at PIP

2:07:29Moyer. It it's not escaping my

2:07:32attention. That's a huge deal. That is

2:07:33not acceptable. Um that is a baseline

2:07:36thing that can be fought at this level.

2:07:38So, I need you guys to hear that. I need

2:07:39you to hear that for the citation for

2:07:41Phil and I need you to hear that we need

2:07:43it's about protecting community members.

2:07:45Thank you.

2:07:48[applause]

2:07:53>> My name is Joshua Peters. I live in the

2:07:55res community and

2:07:58you hear about Phil and maybe not

2:08:01everyone agrees with him but if we're

2:08:03going to look at the Jewish faith it

2:08:05preaches that we should never be chasing

2:08:08perfection

2:08:10that Moses himself was not allowed into

2:08:12the kingdom of heaven with a full body

2:08:14because he happened to say I brought

2:08:16water from a rock and there's a story in

2:08:19the Talmud that I think speaks to Phil's

2:08:22character where there a rabbi eyes

2:08:24outside the gates of Jerusalem and they

2:08:27were speaking to the prophet Elijah and

2:08:28said, "Is anyone here who has earned

2:08:30eternal life?" And Elijah said to him,

2:08:32"No." And they were standing

2:08:36standing there and time went along and

2:08:38eventually Elijah said, "These two these

2:08:40two have earned eternal life in the eyes

2:08:42of our Lord." And they they read the

2:08:45Elisha's uh apostles ran up to the what

2:08:48who are you? What do you do? And they

2:08:49said, "We are gestures.

2:08:51We make the sad to laugh and when we see

2:08:55two people quarreling, we strain

2:08:57ourselves to make peace between them.

2:09:00And I can think of nothing better in a

2:09:02in a city that I worked in at the ridge

2:09:05of an Ronda County working with very

2:09:09traumatized youth to honor a man who

2:09:11spent his life until his dying day to

2:09:14bring people together. And we don't have

2:09:16to always agree with every single thing,

2:09:17but that should not overshadow the

2:09:19greater good that Phil did for the

2:09:21community.

2:09:23[applause]

2:09:27>> Good afternoon. Uh Dwan Gay, 402 McBride

2:09:30Lane, Sona Park, Maryland 2146.

2:09:34Um first and foremost, obviously I I

2:09:36have the utmost respect for the council.

2:09:38I appreciate the work that you do. I

2:09:40know it's not easy um in particularly to

2:09:44sit through public comment like this. My

2:09:46first to the council, I'm incredibly

2:09:49disappointed and I've had an opportunity

2:09:50to serve with four of you and I've seen

2:09:52you, you know, damn near bring out

2:09:55nuclear weapons over far less. And so

2:09:58the fact that you would allow a single

2:10:01man, this mayor, to disrespect a person

2:10:04that is dead is disgusting. and it's

2:10:07beneath this this office. I can't I I've

2:10:11run out of track of the number of

2:10:13citations that we've presented and given

2:10:15while I was on this council for seven

2:10:16years. And the system was simple. Send a

2:10:19request to the city manager's office or

2:10:21send a request to Mitchell and they'll

2:10:23make sure it got out. Just show up to

2:10:25get it. Why would that change? Why

2:10:29>> for you know Exactly. It's because the

2:10:32mayor has no decency and you allow

2:10:37You paraded yourself around this town

2:10:40with Kiana, with Vincent, with several

2:10:42legitimate African-American leaders in

2:10:45the city of Annapolis. And it seems like

2:10:48since December, you've just spit in our

2:10:50face. And I've held back saying this

2:10:52publicly because I have respect for you.

2:10:55I have respect for this office. But it's

2:10:58like, what were you thinking? The guy's

2:11:00battling cancer. He's dead.

2:11:03>> That is low.

2:11:06It's a It's just I'm done. And if you

2:11:09let this guy get up here behind me and

2:11:11talk crap about Phil, you're going to

2:11:13have a bigger problem downstairs than

2:11:15you have in this council chamber.

2:11:17[applause]

2:11:23>> I was I was going to leave and then we

2:11:25were confronted and I was called the

2:11:27IDF. And I think that's probably because

2:11:30I'm Jewish.

2:11:32>> It's closed now. IT'S CLOSED. AN

2:11:35ADDRESS.

2:11:36>> SO, my name is Liz Glass. I live

2:11:39>> in Annapolis.

2:11:42>> A just and equitable community is one in

2:11:44which everyone is treated with dignity

2:11:46and respect regardless of race,

2:11:49religion, or background. There should be

2:11:51no exceptions.

2:11:54However, I and several people I know

2:11:57were on the end of Mr. Atto's explicit

2:12:01anti-semitic remarks.

2:12:03>> Where's the proof? What were they?

2:12:05>> I just said it.

2:12:07>> He called me a genocidal freak.

2:12:13>> Okay.

2:12:14>> You wouldn't say freak anyway. Come on.

2:12:16>> Anti-semitism is too often explained

2:12:19away or dismissed

2:12:22>> even by people who consider themselves

2:12:24champions of social justice. His

2:12:28rhetoric contributed to an environment

2:12:30in which Jewish residents of Annapapolis

2:12:33feel increasingly unsafe and unwelcome

2:12:37just as I do right now.

2:12:42>> A COMMIT MY FRIEND.

2:12:44>> A commitment to

2:12:47my friend.

2:12:50NO,

2:12:52>> YOU DON'T GET TO TALK ABOUT MY

2:12:54FRIEND THAT WAY. NO. I NO GODAMN

2:12:59grown

2:13:02>> A commitment to civil rights and

2:13:04equality means standing against all

2:13:08forms of bigotry,

2:13:10including anti-semitism.

2:13:16>> There can be no exceptions. Thank you.

2:13:23anti-semitism.

2:13:26>> My name is Michael Glass.

2:13:28>> I live in Annapolis.

2:13:32>> I am a proud Jew and I am a proud

2:13:36Zionist

2:13:37and here and this is exactly the

2:13:40problem.

2:13:42>> This is exactly the problem because you

2:13:47don't want to have a discussion

2:13:49He's DISRESPECTING THE DEAD.

2:13:52>> I haven't said anything about Mr.

2:13:54>> He is the person who would have stood up

2:13:56and talked to you as good.

2:13:59>> Actually, that's not true because I was

2:14:01at the library when when the screen I

2:14:05was

2:14:06>> Okay. So,

2:14:08>> please direct your comments to the

2:14:10council. Please direct your comments to

2:14:11the council.

2:14:16>> SHE

2:14:20I WOULD LOVE TO SAY THAT

2:14:24>> MR. Atto had every

2:14:28>> Mr. Atto had every right to advocate for

2:14:31Palestinian rights and other causes that

2:14:34he supported. My opposition to the

2:14:38citation concerns the manner of his

2:14:40advocacy and its effect on our

2:14:43community. A city citation carries the

2:14:46city's endorsement. In my view, Mr.

2:14:49Atetto's words and actions too often

2:14:52deepened divisions and pitted people

2:14:55against one another rather than rather

2:14:58than rather than inc rather than

2:15:03rather than encouraging respectful

2:15:06discussion among neighbors with

2:15:08different perspectives.

2:15:11The Jewish community is part of

2:15:13Annapolis as well. Our Jewish neighbors

2:15:16deserve the same respect, consideration,

2:15:20and sense of belonging as every other

2:15:22member of this city. We can acknowledge

2:15:26Mr. Atetto's commitment to his causes

2:15:29and respect those mourning while still

2:15:32questioning whether his conduct warrants

2:15:35an official city honor.

2:15:37>> It does.

2:15:38>> Annapolis should welcome

2:15:40Anapapolis should welcome vigorous

2:15:43debate

2:15:44>> and recognize people who conduct that

2:15:47debate with mutual respect.

2:15:50>> I support your decision, Mr. Mayor. AND

2:15:57>> I would also like to say free Palest

2:16:00free Palestine.

2:16:02>> Free Palestinians.

2:16:04>> Free Palestinians FROM HAMAS.

2:16:08>> THE Palestinian Authority. the

2:16:10Palestinian Authority that just denied

2:16:13elections to Palestinians, the Houthis,

2:16:17Hezbala, and all other jihadist

2:16:20terrorist organizations that not only

2:16:23threaten Jews in Israel, but threaten

2:16:26Palestinians themselves.

2:16:28>> The threat to Palestine is from Israel.

2:16:31>> Thank you, Mr. MAYOR.

2:16:34>> United States.

2:16:36>> You have no right to speak for the

2:16:37Jewish community. I'm a member of Jewish

2:16:40community and Phil

2:16:43speak.

2:16:50>> I'll wait because I believe my friends

2:16:51deserve to be heard too.

2:16:55>> Your name and your name, please.

2:16:56>> My name is Molly here. I'm a resident of

2:16:59Anna Rundle County. And as someone

2:17:01previously said to me, if your addresses

2:17:03are not available to us, then my address

2:17:06is not available to you. It's 2026.

2:17:09I am being doxed regularly by ICE

2:17:12agents. Pit Moyer is a place where

2:17:15people go to vote.

2:17:19Democracy must be kept alive.

2:17:25I really hope that you consider how

2:17:28important it is to keep those places

2:17:30safe

2:17:32>> for our community members

2:17:36>> and how this place tonight, this room

2:17:39wasn't safe for my seven-year-old.

2:17:43>> She deserves to be here. She deserves to

2:17:46be a part of this process.

2:17:51Phil deserves to be honored. I wouldn't

2:17:54be here. I wouldn't be a volunteer. I

2:17:57wouldn't be helping people in our

2:17:58community if it wasn't for him.

2:18:07>> I believe that the most important thing

2:18:09at the end of this meeting should be

2:18:10about love and peace and community and

2:18:16connection.

2:18:17You heard so many words tonight about

2:18:21what Phil brought to peace and love and

2:18:26community.

2:18:29It's okay to disagree with one another.

2:18:32That doesn't make us not community.

2:18:37Doesn't make us not people who love one

2:18:40another first.

2:18:46>> [applause]

2:18:56>> Speaking to atrocity

2:18:59overseas is still a community and a

2:19:01local issue.

2:19:03It still affects my child, your

2:19:07children, and the children of this

2:19:09community. Atrocities are being

2:19:14are happening in our community.

2:19:18People be being targeted.

2:19:23Violence is being enacted.

2:19:28>> What a wonderful opportunity for you as

2:19:31elected officials to stand up.

2:19:33>> That's right. to speak to love and truth

2:19:39and peace.

2:19:42Thank you so much for your time. May we

2:19:46remember Phil was for love and for peace

2:19:51and for community.

2:19:53Thank you.

2:20:05Okay. Is there anyone else that would

2:20:06like to speak during the g general

2:20:08comment period?

2:20:10>> Okay. Seeing no movement in chambers and

2:20:11declare the public comment period

2:20:13closed.

2:20:14>> Mr. Mayor,

2:20:17>> Mr. Savage, I don't think I think we

2:20:19should stick to the agenda.

2:20:21>> Mr. Mayor, you spoke to this issue. But

2:20:23I feel like when I say remarks,

2:20:28>> I thank I thank everyone who was here

2:20:30tonight to speak their truth. We love

2:20:32you all. Appreciate your comments.

2:20:34You've given us a lot to think about.

2:20:36We'll move on to the next item on the

2:20:38agenda. Mr. Savage, Alderman Savage,

2:20:40excuse me.

2:20:41>> Thank you. I just So,

2:20:44look, I I I think a couple things need

2:20:46to be said tonight.

2:20:49Um,

2:20:50we were the council was not informed

2:20:52officially of this decision to not give

2:20:55Phil the citation.

2:20:58I found out at Phil's memorial.

2:21:03>> Thank you for coming.

2:21:05>> Phil was a friend of mine. He died of

2:21:09the same cancer my mother died from and

2:21:11I was able to talk to him

2:21:14about that. He was there. He was there

2:21:17for me then. He was there for the

2:21:19community.

2:21:21I talked to him about policy, about

2:21:22police reform, about mobility,

2:21:27about all kinds of things. Community

2:21:29housing, he was big on. He was there.

2:21:32And like I said at his memorial, he was

2:21:34a model citizen.

2:21:38We do need to fix this process.

2:21:40>> That's right.

2:21:41>> It is not a right that one person should

2:21:44decide.

2:21:46>> That's

2:21:47>> [applause]

2:21:58>> Phil

2:21:59>> Savage River.

2:22:01>> So, I just want to So, that's that's

2:22:04basically all I want to say. I think we

2:22:05need more we need more people like Phil.

2:22:09>> Um, and I just want to say I stand with

2:22:12Phil.

2:22:16>> [applause]

2:22:27[applause]

2:22:30>> Who else?

2:22:31>> Mr. City attorney.

2:22:35[screaming]

2:22:42>> Mr. City Attorney, please present the

2:22:44next item on the agenda.

2:22:45>> Mayor Liman, I do have to say something.

2:22:48>> Alderman Smith Brown.

2:22:49>> Thank you.

2:22:56This was one of the most devastating

2:23:00meetings to have to sit back and listen

2:23:04to all of these stories of my friend

2:23:06Phil.

2:23:08I give you all my love and my best.

2:23:12I know for a fact that Phil stood on

2:23:16what he felt was right, although it may

2:23:21not have been in alignment with others.

2:23:25Please do not confuse the decision to

2:23:29not give a citation

2:23:31with the fact that all of the city

2:23:34council members did not stand or believe

2:23:37that Phil was the man he was.

2:23:42I do love Jessica.

2:23:45I appreciate all that Phil did for me

2:23:47and how he pushed me to be better. And

2:23:50I'm going to continue to emulate all of

2:23:53that.

2:23:55Do not believe

2:23:58because I do also see that just because

2:24:01someone felt the way that he felt that

2:24:05he too should not be at least considered

2:24:07in his feelings because I cannot stand

2:24:09here or sit here and say that I also

2:24:12don't respect that someone stood in what

2:24:16they felt in their principles. So I I

2:24:18cannot say that it's not right for me

2:24:20just to be on one side,

2:24:23but just be assured that I will do

2:24:26everything I can. Just be assured that I

2:24:30will do everything I can in working with

2:24:32the fellow council members and Mitchell

2:24:35and our mayor to ensure that this

2:24:37process is transparent and that you all

2:24:40too have a seat at the table in that

2:24:42conversation.

2:24:44[applause]

2:24:46Democratic vote. YOU GOT TO SEE

2:24:48EVERYTHING. You want to know who is

2:24:50voting against this citation. Establish

2:24:52that process. Make it transparent so

2:24:55that we can see you all. We don't want

2:24:56to hear all the nice words. Make it

2:24:59transparent. Make let us know what that

2:25:01criteria is and then let us see who

2:25:03votes against

2:25:08emergency.

2:25:09>> Any other council members?

2:25:12>> Okay.

2:25:12>> Roberts.

2:25:13>> Mr. Mr. City attorney, please call the

2:25:15next item on the agenda.

2:25:16>> The next item on the agenda is

2:25:18presentation to the council ID 16426

2:25:22short-term rental moratorum update.

2:25:25>> Thank you.

2:25:27>> We're going to take a fiveminut break.

2:25:28Director Jacubak, before you approach

2:25:30the table,

2:33:08Oh, excuse me. Did I get the I should

2:33:10have gotten the signal.

2:33:12>> It's pointing to you. Yeah. No, we're

2:33:14good. You're good.

2:33:15>> Yes. Okay. City Council meeting will now

2:33:17resume. Mr. Jacubak, please. Good

2:33:20evening, U mayor and members of the

2:33:22council. My name is Chris Jacubak,

2:33:24director of planning and zoning, and

2:33:26with me here tonight is senior planner

2:33:28Alexis Robinson, who will carry forth

2:33:31with the presentation on short-term

2:33:33rentals. Uh we're here tonight because

2:33:36uh we've reached the interim or the the

2:33:38middle part of our uh moratorium study

2:33:42and uh we're we're providing the

2:33:44interimm briefing that uh the council

2:33:47wanted to see uh and included in the

2:33:50moratorum bill. So um we're not going to

2:33:54get into spec specifics and deep into

2:33:58the weeds. Um we want to stay about

2:34:0010,000 square feet 10,000 uh feet uh and

2:34:04give an overview with respect to the

2:34:06recommendations as as terms of the

2:34:09existing conditions and where things are

2:34:11now. We can certainly uh talk more about

2:34:14that. But with respect to

2:34:15recommendations, we want to um lay out

2:34:19ideas that we're contemplating uh and uh

2:34:22and point out later in the presentation

2:34:25how we want to get further uh input from

2:34:27stakeholders before we would actually

2:34:30propose drafting legislative changes. So

2:34:34with that, I'll turn it over to Alexis

2:34:35and uh she can start us off.

2:34:40Good evening. My name is Alexis

2:34:42Robinson, senior comprehensive planner

2:34:44with Department of Planning and Zoning.

2:34:46Uh presenting on our short-term rental

2:34:49interim recommendations.

2:34:52Uh in this presentation, I will be going

2:34:54through the following items. First, I

2:34:56will speak on our existing process and

2:34:59procedures for short-term rental

2:35:01licensing.

2:35:02Uh as well as the current state of our

2:35:05short-term rental licenses.

2:35:07uh then I will talk about the evaluation

2:35:10of efficiencies

2:35:13in our STR

2:35:15process uh and how STRs are impacting

2:35:19communities.

2:35:20Lastly, I will uh talk about our areas

2:35:24of research, preliminary

2:35:25recommendations, and how we will move

2:35:27forward in the next few months.

2:35:31Uh short-term [clears throat] rentals

2:35:34are nothing new to the city of

2:35:36Annapapolis, especially here where it is

2:35:38common to rent a home uh for events such

2:35:42as the boat show which is currently

2:35:45going on uh and Navy commissioning. But

2:35:48as you're aware, in the past decade,

2:35:51there has been uh

2:35:54uh the past decade, the economic benefit

2:35:56of short-term rentals is outpacing and

2:36:00outweighing the social impacts of the ne

2:36:03neighborhoods of Annapolis. Even though

2:36:06legislation has uh changed recently, we

2:36:10are still catching up on mitigating

2:36:13these impacts. Changes include updating

2:36:16licensing requirements, limiting the

2:36:18number of short-term rentals on a block

2:36:21face, implementing a lottery system, and

2:36:24increasing fines are the step in the

2:36:27right direction.

2:36:31So, this is just an overview of what our

2:36:34short-term rental process uh goes

2:36:37through. Anyone who wants to rent their

2:36:41property for less than 90 days or more

2:36:45must go through a rental license

2:36:47application process. Uh they submit

2:36:50application.

2:36:52Uh it is reviewed by staff. They must

2:36:55get an inspection and then they are

2:36:57issued a license. If you are renting

2:37:00your property through a

2:37:04um marketing platform such as Airbnb,

2:37:07you are also required to play to pay

2:37:10occupancy taxes. Um

2:37:14the exception for this is for rentals

2:37:16for uh the sale and power of boat shows,

2:37:21Naval Academy graduation ceremonies, but

2:37:23they still need to be registered with

2:37:25the department. [cough] Property owners

2:37:28are also expect well for rentals found

2:37:31not in compliance of the license code or

2:37:34nuisances are found at sites of places

2:37:39that do have a license. There is a

2:37:41process for which uh they are given a

2:37:44warning and then a citation. Uh this

2:37:47citation process is open to appeals uh

2:37:50which can lengthen the process um and

2:37:53may in turn uh judgment. Um currently

2:37:59or as of September 30th, we are looking

2:38:02at 65 unlicensed short-term rentals, but

2:38:05there is active enforcement cases on at

2:38:07least 30 of these and that is increasing

2:38:10every day.

2:38:12>> And let me just share a perspective on

2:38:14this. Um, I think we can acknowledge and

2:38:18intuitively understand that the number

2:38:20is actually greater than 65

2:38:23unlicensed,

2:38:24but it's the data set that we're using,

2:38:26the host compliance that shows that we

2:38:28think there's probably quite a few more

2:38:31uh short-term rentals that are operating

2:38:32within the city that we don't know

2:38:34about. Uh, we don't know about yet

2:38:36anyway. Um, but using the technology

2:38:40that we have, uh, we've been able to see

2:38:42that there are 65 still remaining

2:38:45unlicensed. Uh, that's a big reduction

2:38:49in what we start off with. Uh,

2:38:51certainly, but we still know there are

2:38:52short-term rentals out there that are

2:38:54not being accounted for with the

2:38:56technology that we have.

2:38:59Mr.

2:38:59>> Can I ask you quick? Treasure to Quebec,

2:39:02do you want questions as we're going or

2:39:04at the end?

2:39:05Sure,

2:39:08I'll take

2:39:09>> very short just hunt. Go ahead.

2:39:11>> Thank you. That number 65 is that when

2:39:14you talk about the software, is that

2:39:15directly comparable to the number we had

2:39:18before about like it was like 200 some.

2:39:22That's the same software

2:39:23>> there were. Yeah, that's right. Same

2:39:24host compliance as the software. uh we

2:39:26whittleled that number down quite a bit

2:39:28by contact contacting all those folks

2:39:30that showed up as

2:39:32showed up uh without a license but

2:39:34showed up on the host compliance

2:39:36platform but the number evolves and

2:39:38continues to change uh it's very fluid

2:39:40but yeah but substantial reduction from

2:39:42where we started.

2:39:43>> Thank you.

2:39:44>> I I can also say that as Mr. Jacob act

2:39:48said it does eb and flow as the seasons

2:39:50change. Uh but also with the uh

2:39:54placement of the moratorum and the

2:39:55changes in the legislation people have

2:39:59become more forthcoming about becoming

2:40:01compliant and understanding that the

2:40:05enforcement and repercussions are

2:40:08mounting.

2:40:11>> Director, I think I know the answer, but

2:40:12let's just be I want to get it on the

2:40:14record. Why? So 30 active enforcement

2:40:17cases when we have 65 unlicensed, why

2:40:19don't we have 65 active enforcement

2:40:22cases?

2:40:23>> It takes an inordinate amount of effort

2:40:25to process the cases. And this is as of

2:40:289:30. I think we're more we've increased

2:40:30it. We've actually thought about what if

2:40:32we've all stopped the entire city

2:40:34planning department, each of us took a

2:40:35case to process. We could probably work

2:40:38through the 65 pretty fast, but it's

2:40:40unrealistic if because we have other

2:40:41priorities. Uh but that number will eb

2:40:44and flow over time as we dispatch with

2:40:46that series. We go on to the next ones.

2:40:49>> It's a staffing issue essentially.

2:40:50>> Thank you. Please continue with your

2:40:52presentation.

2:40:53>> On this slide, you will see a map of our

2:40:56current licensed short-term rentals. We

2:40:59have about 303 licensed uh units. Uh

2:41:03primarily these rentals are in wards 1 2

2:41:07and 8 with the majority over half of

2:41:10them being in ward one.

2:41:17And so uh this brings us to the

2:41:19evaluation of the current process. Uh

2:41:21there are multiple elements that are in

2:41:24need of improvement. Uh

2:41:28such as uh first the the number of staff

2:41:32uh the staffing resources are stretched

2:41:34thin. Uh the number of manh hours needed

2:41:38to

2:41:40process applications, do inspections,

2:41:43and follow up on enforcement

2:41:46um outweighs the the staffing that we

2:41:49currently have. Uh it's also a pro

2:41:52problem of technology. The technology

2:41:54that we are using is not up to par with

2:41:59collecting data on

2:42:02uh un unc non-compliant rentals. uh as

2:42:06well as the tools just to implement the

2:42:09legislation that we have on the books.

2:42:12Uh for us to do the 10% block face or

2:42:15even the lottery um

2:42:18systems and technology will have to be

2:42:22built from scratch to uh effectively

2:42:26enforce that. Um code enforcement is

2:42:30also a legal process that takes time.

2:42:32It's not just a matter of us handing out

2:42:35a paper and people hand and someone

2:42:37handing us money back, but uh citations

2:42:40are a legal document. They have to be

2:42:44processed by the office of law. They

2:42:45have to be coordinated with the county

2:42:47district office. Um and that is

2:42:51something that is done over a few

2:42:55months. Um, our department is also

2:42:58tasked with tracking the occupancy tax,

2:43:01which uh, if you're operating through a

2:43:04large platform like Airbnb or Verbbo,

2:43:07they send us the occupancy tax on behalf

2:43:11of the person who is has the rental

2:43:14listing, but the person who has the

2:43:16rental listing does not always tell us

2:43:19that they have a rental. So, it's hard

2:43:21for us to keep track of who has paid

2:43:23their occupancy tax. If someone is

2:43:25operating outside of one of those larger

2:43:27platforms,

2:43:29um they must be forthcoming and and pay

2:43:33that occupancy tax on their own, which

2:43:36they may not be fully aware of. Um, and

2:43:40so with again the amount of manpower

2:43:44that is needed to facilitate and

2:43:47enforce, excuse [clears throat] me,

2:43:49short-term rentals, our application and

2:43:53licensing fees may not align with the

2:43:56cost to do that enforcement. And so we

2:44:00have identified these as improvement

2:44:02areas. uh PL we because there is such a

2:44:06high amount high amount of effort that

2:44:11is needed we may need to increase the

2:44:13amount of information required from

2:44:15applicants help to cut down on the

2:44:17amount of information that staff has to

2:44:19find out for themselves. Um but that is

2:44:22also still in combination with

2:44:24increasing the amount of staffing for

2:44:26inspections and enforcement. And of

2:44:29course um our department is always

2:44:32looking into ways to increase the

2:44:34technology usage uh so that we can

2:44:38process but also uh do enforcement in a

2:44:43more efficient and timely manner.

2:44:50Uh, another few key points of impact uh,

2:44:54for evaluation is that uh, short-term

2:44:56rentals have an impact on the community

2:45:00fabric. Um, people's

2:45:03communities are changing. Um, as I said,

2:45:07we are catching up to a decade's worth

2:45:10of short-term rental changes. what we

2:45:13would have imagined in 2000 is not where

2:45:17we are currently and our zoning code

2:45:19does not reflect that. Um

2:45:23the concentration of short-term rentals

2:45:26has an impact as well on the community

2:45:29feel and how people can uh perceive the

2:45:33fabric of their neighborhood. Um

2:45:37compliance is also an issue because

2:45:40compliance uh

2:45:43operating without a license is the main

2:45:46compliance issue. Um it is something

2:45:48that we are looking to

2:45:51get on top of but again with the amount

2:45:54of effort that it takes the amount of

2:45:56time and coordination and the amount of

2:45:59departments that are involved in that

2:46:01process it is not something that is

2:46:04easily accomplished with the resources

2:46:06that we have on hand.

2:46:08>> Let me just comment a little bit on a

2:46:11couple of those points in terms of

2:46:13community fabric and land use. A

2:46:15short-term rental that's operated by a

2:46:18corporation designed to maximize income

2:46:22is not a residential property.

2:46:23Short-term rentals quickly have become

2:46:25something other than residential

2:46:27properties. They've not uh typically a

2:46:30use that is allowed within residential

2:46:32zones in many jurisdictions. Uh in

2:46:35Annapolis, we allow short-term rentals

2:46:37without regard to zoning district. uh

2:46:40and where they've been concentrated,

2:46:42they have changed the character of the

2:46:44of the communities where they're

2:46:45located. Um this finding is really

2:46:49important because it shifts our thinking

2:46:50in terms of how to respond to the

2:46:52impacts of short-term rentals. And this

2:46:55may augur for a zoning approach that is

2:46:59and if you you only have to look at bed

2:47:00and breakfast ins and hotels. Um, let's

2:47:04set aside hotels for for a second, but

2:47:06uh there's far more regulatory uh

2:47:10authority attached to regulations

2:47:13attached to those uses than there are to

2:47:16uh Airbnbs, but when they're

2:47:17concentrated, they've absolutely changed

2:47:20the character of uh city blocks. So, we

2:47:23want to look at zoning as a means for

2:47:26grappling with this with this issue. Um,

2:47:29on the compliance level,

2:47:33we've often hear the criticism about

2:47:36enforcement. The enforcement is

2:47:38necessary. We can't keep up with

2:47:40enforcement. But the issue is really

2:47:41compliance. It's people's willingness to

2:47:43comply with the law ultimately. And

2:47:46we're a small office in a very complex

2:47:49department, and we have a smaller cadre

2:47:51of people that are focused on this

2:47:53issue. The biggest issue are those folks

2:47:56who do not want to comply. the average

2:47:58person that operates short-term rentals

2:48:00does it lawfully. It's just the

2:48:03non-compliant uh folks, the scoff laws

2:48:07that we we see that uh exhaust our

2:48:11ability to to deal with other things

2:48:12within the city's uh planning and zoning

2:48:15um mission. So, uh we want to really uh

2:48:19improve how we handle those who clearly

2:48:22can consistently violate the city's laws

2:48:24on short-term rentals.

2:48:29Richard Jacubak, along those lines, how

2:48:31much effort would it be to identify the

2:48:34owners of those 65 properties or the 35

2:48:37who you don't have active enforcement

2:48:38cases, not to begin an enforcement

2:48:40action, but just to send a letter with a

2:48:42copy of the recently passed legislation

2:48:44that increased the fines to $5,000.

2:48:48>> It wouldn't be that much of an effort,

2:48:50actually. Um we we probably should get

2:48:52word out that violations have increased

2:48:55substantially, penalties have increased,

2:48:57>> right?

2:48:58>> Just ask for your consideration of

2:48:59taking an initial step that potentially

2:49:01is um the lowhanging fruit of not a lot

2:49:04of effort and you might increase

2:49:05compliance.

2:49:06>> Sure. And then deterrence is the key

2:49:08feature of that. Fine.

2:49:10>> Right. Thank you.

2:49:13>> So um that brings us to the preliminary

2:49:15recommendations. Um, with this report,

2:49:18uh, we are looking at how we will be

2:49:21able to implement current regulations,

2:49:24um, with the 10% block face and lottery

2:49:27that is on the books, um, with phasing

2:49:29to begin in November. Um, these are

2:49:32things that will need

2:49:35uh, increased staffing and technology,

2:49:38but also uh, enhancing the enforcement.

2:49:42These are steps that have already been

2:49:43taken. Um, and with the increase in

2:49:47fines and the increase in communication

2:49:49with those who are non-compliant, we

2:49:52have seen some decrease in non-compliant

2:49:55uh, short-term rentals. Uh, and then

2:49:58something else to look at is enhancing

2:50:00the regulation, the licensing and

2:50:03regulations. Um there are elements of

2:50:07the moratorum such as including more

2:50:09information for owner occupied uh

2:50:13properties that will help us to

2:50:15establish a clear data set on what

2:50:18short-term rentals are actually owner

2:50:21occupied with a clear definition of what

2:50:22owner occupancy is as well as um having

2:50:27a better track of how many owner

2:50:31occupied versus non-owner occupied

2:50:33rentals there are uh this is something

2:50:35that we think should be continued. Um

2:50:38then also limiting the rental period

2:50:42which seems the greatest impact to

2:50:47neighborhoods essentially would be the

2:50:49constant turnover of residential

2:50:52properties into rentals that are used by

2:50:55transient

2:50:57uh lodgers. And so having a limitation

2:51:02on the rental period, you know,

2:51:04establishing something where someone

2:51:06cannot rent more than x amount of days

2:51:09per year would allow those units to be

2:51:13used for long-term residency or a

2:51:16long-term rental. Um, as Mr. Jacubiaak

2:51:21noted that non-ownero occupied

2:51:24short-term rentals are essentially a

2:51:26more intense use, something that we

2:51:28would associate with a commercial use.

2:51:31Uh there's an opportunity for us to

2:51:34reassess how this fits within our zoning

2:51:37district restrictions

2:51:39um and allowing more intense uses to be

2:51:43congregated together. um and limiting

2:51:47the

2:51:49commercial aspect of non-owner occupied

2:51:52short-term rentals from residential

2:51:54areas. Um and then increasing the

2:51:57standards for short-term rentals just as

2:52:00we have regulations and standards for

2:52:03hotels ins and traditional bed and

2:52:06breakfastes. Those standards could

2:52:09potentially be applied to short-term

2:52:11rentals as well. um and limiting the

2:52:16citywide number of rentals.

2:52:18understanding that there is a capacity

2:52:21at which um we can handle

2:52:26basic from both the perspective of the

2:52:29amount of staff that we have that can

2:52:31process and manage short-term rentals as

2:52:34well as the balance of the community

2:52:40environment and uh any other use. we

2:52:44would want to see uh that be balanced

2:52:48through a limitation on the numbers. Um

2:52:51this is not an exhaustive list of

2:52:53recommendations. We are looking far and

2:52:56wise at what has been applicable in

2:52:58other places that can be tailored to the

2:53:01experience of Annapolis. Understanding

2:53:03that short-term rentals are something

2:53:05that can be a benefit but also are

2:53:09something that can should be weighed

2:53:11against what it costs the community.

2:53:14>> Hley, uh, first of all, just thanks

2:53:16again for all this research and like

2:53:18this is a good example of how much work

2:53:20you guys have put in. Uh my question is

2:53:23about this phrase phase in to begin in

2:53:26November of the 10% block phase. Could

2:53:28you explain more what you mean by phase

2:53:30in? Director Kubak's already smiling, so

2:53:32he looks like he knew he was going to

2:53:33get a question or something. What do you

2:53:35mean by phase in of that? Oh, sure. Um

2:53:39the lottery [clears throat] starts

2:53:40November 1st, 2027.

2:53:43Uh we do annual licensing. So, as we

2:53:47move throughout 2026, from November on

2:53:50into the new year, the license period

2:53:53will get smaller and smaller because we

2:53:55can't extend beyond November 1st. So,

2:53:57that's the phase in period.

2:53:59>> Got it. Thank you, Alderwoman O'Neal.

2:54:02>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, so according

2:54:05to the study, and it was something that

2:54:07I kind of already knew, but staffing and

2:54:10enforcement are two biggest roadblocks.

2:54:13Um, for instance, I had a resident that

2:54:17uh reported people moving into an

2:54:19illegal STR on Friday afternoon at 4

2:54:22o'clock. Um, but there was nobody to go

2:54:25and check it. Um, what can we do to

2:54:33that part of it? Is it something that we

2:54:35can work with APD? Can we work with

2:54:38contracted enforcements?

2:54:41Do you have an idea? Is that going to be

2:54:44the next slide? [laughter]

2:54:46>> It's not going to be the next slide. Um,

2:54:49we haven't figured it out, candidly. And

2:54:51we're not the only jurisdiction in the

2:54:52United States or the world quite

2:54:55struggling with this. And it's hard for

2:54:58city staff to play police officer and

2:55:01catch these things in real time. It's

2:55:03just very difficult. Um, but we continue

2:55:07to um seek enforcement of the the code

2:55:10against those folks who are

2:55:11non-compliant. Um, I I don't have an

2:55:14easy answer. It because it's not an easy

2:55:17problem, but we can't we can't track

2:55:19people down, but there there might be

2:55:22ways. I mean, I'm open to suggestions.

2:55:24Um, and John and I've Manessa and I have

2:55:26talked about this quite a bit. We wish

2:55:28we could dispatch someone quickly. I

2:55:30mean, we kind of do it with uh the leaf

2:55:33blower band. you know, we figured out a

2:55:35way of doing that. Um,

2:55:39but this is a little more difficult

2:55:40because it's people, you know, tourists

2:55:42coming in, they're wheeling their

2:55:43suitcase in and and then they're in. I

2:55:46mean, what are we going to do? Um, so

2:55:49it's just the level of

2:55:52um enforcement you want your city staff

2:55:55to to take against uh those situations.

2:55:59So

2:56:00>> I will say that um these are

2:56:02conversations that we are having with

2:56:04MIT on how we can bridge the interfaces

2:56:09between APD and 311. Um it if if it is

2:56:14information that they are collecting, it

2:56:16should be information that we should be

2:56:18able to receive. Um, so what that bridge

2:56:21looks like, how practical it is, the

2:56:24amount of time it would take to put it

2:56:27together as well as the cost um if if we

2:56:31have to outsource that resource um are

2:56:35things that we are considering and

2:56:37putting into the thought process with

2:56:40these recommendations.

2:56:42And I know that we have a basic

2:56:46policy that fines and fees equate to

2:56:51like fines are for determined, but fees

2:56:53are supposed to pay for. So it seems

2:56:56logical that raising the fee will help

2:57:00possibly add an additional

2:57:04person or people.

2:57:07Is that correct? If

2:57:09>> Yes. And I mean, we haven't even

2:57:11contemplated the the cost to the city of

2:57:14operating the lottery. That's something

2:57:16we still have to go through. We have to

2:57:18figure out how do we actually do that. I

2:57:19mean, operating a short-term rental

2:57:21program like the city does is very

2:57:23expensive. Um, and just look at the

2:57:26opportunity costs, things we don't do

2:57:27because we're tracking this short-term

2:57:30rental business down. Um,

2:57:33these recommendations that that Alexis

2:57:35lined up, I want to say that the they're

2:57:38focused on what the comprehensive plan

2:57:40says, uh, short-term rentals should, uh,

2:57:43we it's important to regulate short-term

2:57:45rentals to mitigate their negative

2:57:47impact on long-term housing and

2:57:50neighborhood preservation. It's not

2:57:51mitigating their impact on houses. It's

2:57:54mitigating their impact on the fact that

2:57:57many of our houses are converted to

2:57:59short-term rentals, meaning they're not

2:58:01available for people to live in anymore.

2:58:03And these are houses that would many

2:58:05respects be rental housing. And we're

2:58:07losing that um that that base. So we in

2:58:11we want to implement the language in the

2:58:14comprehensive plan that focuses on

2:58:16housing supply uh and neighborhood

2:58:18preservation. you're especially familiar

2:58:21with the the preservation issues uh in

2:58:23in in War.

2:58:27>> Other questions? I think Alderman Thorp,

2:58:28you had a

2:58:29>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

2:58:30And I'd like to continue on older woman

2:58:32O'Neal's line of thought. And I don't

2:58:36have a question for today,

2:58:38but rather a question for the next time

2:58:41you come with the next brief

2:58:43um or a statement maybe in that

2:58:47I I think you have total concurrence and

2:58:50we totally understand that this is

2:58:51really hard to enforce

2:58:54um and it takes capacity and it takes uh

2:58:58time and

2:59:01uh etc. You know, I'm guessing I'm

2:59:03looking at Chief McGaz. guessing there

2:59:05was a conversation one day about why

2:59:07people are driving cars so fast and now

2:59:09we got to put police cars on the highway

2:59:11to track down speeders [snorts] um and

2:59:14how we going to pay for that and then

2:59:16that's gas tax and and I again I don't

2:59:20want to ask the question today because I

2:59:21think you're working it but but I

2:59:23believe this council at least I I

2:59:25specifically

2:59:27really want to hear from you all that

2:59:29this is what it's going to cost to

2:59:31operate this program the way that we

2:59:34hear the resident ress want it enforced.

2:59:37Um, and the compliance level of

2:59:39compliance that residents want um, and

2:59:43residents want like 90% 95% licensed

2:59:48something like that. Um, and I don't

2:59:51want to create a situation where every

2:59:53time we see director Jacubak at the

2:59:56table, we pillar you with questions

2:59:58about why we still have 65 or whatever

3:00:01the number is at that time. So, I would

3:00:02just encourage you um that I I'd like to

3:00:06see a real

3:00:09make sure we give you the tools to do

3:00:12that job that we're asking you very

3:00:15strongly for.

3:00:17>> We think the the job could be made

3:00:19easier with better regulations.

3:00:21candidly. For instance,

3:00:24it's not heard of to think that a

3:00:27homeowner ought to have a right to allow

3:00:30someone into their home while they're

3:00:32away on vacation or to go to Florida for

3:00:36a month and rent during that period of

3:00:38time.

3:00:40That's not where the the violators or

3:00:43non-compliance issues are. the violators

3:00:45come in when people are using the

3:00:47property as investments and are using to

3:00:50um as commercial properties. And if we

3:00:53segment those two, confer or acknowledge

3:00:56the right that people have to have some

3:00:58revenue generated their houses while

3:01:00they're away and

3:01:03tighten up the requirements for those

3:01:05that operate the city's housing stock

3:01:07for commercial purposes. Then all of a

3:01:10sudden from that falls a whole new

3:01:12approach that will be so much easier to

3:01:14implement because there'll be higher

3:01:15licensing requirements. There'll be

3:01:17fewer of these around. They'll be

3:01:18located in certain places that are

3:01:20highly regulated. They're not

3:01:22distributed across the entire city. So

3:01:24that's the type of planning approach

3:01:26that we're regulatory approach we like

3:01:28to bring to your consideration

3:01:31um and and and to various stakeholders

3:01:34in the community as well. So

3:01:37>> thank you. Anyone

3:01:40else? Okay.

3:01:43Yeah, I

3:01:43>> have one more slide. Go

3:01:45>> ahead.

3:01:46>> So, um this process is not over. We

3:01:49still have final recommendations to put

3:01:51together and a lot of information that

3:01:53is needed. Um so, this is just really to

3:01:56summarize. We are looking at the current

3:01:59practices and how inefficient they are

3:02:02and how they can be made more efficient.

3:02:04We understand that there is a lacking in

3:02:07how we are tracking and assessing our

3:02:10data and collection around short-term

3:02:12rentals and that is causing long-term

3:02:15impacts to our community. Um we are also

3:02:19looking at effective practices from

3:02:21different cities and how they have

3:02:23implemented the strategies that we

3:02:26already have on the books but as well as

3:02:28how they have assessed fees, how they

3:02:31are implementing enforcement, how they

3:02:35um are practically running their

3:02:38operations and I think we can look to

3:02:40adjacent jurisdictions as well as you

3:02:44know communities across the country for

3:02:46this. Uh and then there's also the

3:02:48community input. Um balancing what the

3:02:51community desires as well as practical

3:02:54application. We will be beginning a

3:02:58community

3:02:59engagement process. Um hopefully we will

3:03:03be able to engage people virtually as

3:03:06well as in person. Um and these things

3:03:09will be added to our recommendations

3:03:12because that community impact should not

3:03:16just be anecdotal. It should be

3:03:18qualitative information that we receive

3:03:20from people. Um and our final

3:03:23recommendations will reflect the current

3:03:26environment as well as how we can

3:03:29implement steps to improve our

3:03:31short-term rental environment. um that

3:03:35are

3:03:37and what tools will be necessary to get

3:03:39there.

3:03:41And so, thank you for your time. That is

3:03:43my entire presentation.

3:03:45>> Thank you, Alman. Uh Shannon,

3:03:48>> thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um I have a few

3:03:51questions. So, one of these is I don't

3:03:55know when this presentation was put

3:03:56together, but you brought up how our

3:03:58fine level was not enough to provide

3:04:01adequate enforcement, but we recently

3:04:02raised the fine up to $5,000.

3:04:05Does that new fine level give you guys

3:04:07the tools that you need to start putting

3:04:11that bigger threat, bigger level of

3:04:13enforcement into

3:04:16the process?

3:04:18>> You think it's really going to be a

3:04:19deterrent? Without a doubt, we're not

3:04:21counting on any revenue generated from

3:04:23that. We hope to never have to find

3:04:24someone $5,000 or up to $5,000. Um but

3:04:29um um we think it's an important tool to

3:04:33have.

3:04:35So is there a usual reason that's given

3:04:39for non-compliance?

3:04:41Is it people don't understand the

3:04:44process? Ignorance? Is it they just

3:04:47don't feel like paying the fee?