Ward 8 Town Hall Sep 12 Covered Top-of-Mind Issues

At the September 12 Town Hall meeting for Ward 8, Alderman Ross Arnett gave short updates on key topics and then opened the floor to questions—which brought forth much lively discussion. Here’s a quick synopsis.

City Ward redistricting that took place this year redrew some boundaries, but does not affect Ward 8 (Eastport). Primarily, the new boundaries help balance the populations of Wards 2 and 7. Each ward is supposed to be within 5% above or below the population average, or roughly 5,000 people.

The Comprehensive Plan 2040 has been passed by the City Council; an important focus is housing density and affordable housing.

The City Dock Plan has generated a lot of controversy. Most people support the part of the project that focuses on resiliency and flooding mitigation. Questions remain about the proposed Maritime Welcome Center, which is intended to incorporate the historic Burtis House, marina facilities, the harbor master, and several amenities.

Annapolis Outdoor Dining requirements have been codified and made permanent in Ordinance 10-24, which was introduced by Arnett. It took four years to reach this point, during which several different pieces of legislation were proposed and temporary resolutions passed. The final result defines types of outdoor dining, sets common standards, and clarifies important details.

Potential legislation on house barges in city marinas is a new issue, Arnett said. “It’s very complex, and there are a lot of concerns.” The audience voiced worries that house barges as short-term rentals will strain infrastructure and cause sanitation, waste, and noise issues. They could also impact the availability of slips for recreational boaters. The City Council anticipates establishing a study group to examine the issues.

Potential plans for a battery-powered ferry boat to travel between Eastport and the City Dock generated a long discussion. The city has solicited bids for building and designing a small passenger ferryboat—the City Council has not been involved in these plans, Arnett said. Among concerns the audience raised were the lack of need and the negative effect on privately owned water taxi businesses.

Annapolis police department is dealing with internal administrative issues that have been reported in the press, but these matters do not affect public safety or the quality of police work, Arnett noted.

The Equitable Public Water Access draft plan identifies useful actions for establishing public access to the city’s waterfront. Public meetings to share updates to the draft plan are expected this fall.