Good evening. >> This 33rd regular meeting of the 74th
term of the Baltimore City Council is now called to order. Tonight's
invocation will be provided by the Reverend Dr. Alvin Wyn from Sharp Leen
Hall Baptist Church, Pastor Gwyn. The floor is yours.
To this distinguished body, let us all pray.
Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the privilege of gathering here
tonight to serve the people of the city of Baltimore.
We ask for your guidance upon our mayor and this city council. Grant them
clarity of mind, integrity in their deliberations, and the wisdom to act in
ways that bring prosperity, peace, and unity to our city. Bless our first
responders, our city staff, and all who work tirelessly to make this a wonderful
place to call home. This is our prayer. Amen.
» Amen. >> Amen.
» Thank you, Pastor Wyn. Council member Blard will now lead us in the pledge of
allegiance
to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it
stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all. >> Thank you all. You You may now be
seated.
Before we proceed, I'm pleased to recognize the Baltimore Maryland alumni
chapter of Kappa Alphasai Fraternity Incorporated
and welcome brothers visiting Baltimore as part of Kappa week. For more than a
century, Kappa Aside has exemplified achievement, leadership, scholarship,
mentorship, and service. The Baltimore Alumni Chapter continues this legacy
through its commitment to our communities and the development of
future leaders through the nationally recognized guild Brightite program. We
are also proud to celebrate the road to the 88th grand chapter meeting which
Baltimore Baltimore will host in 2017. Colleagues, our city last hosted this
convening in 1968. This international gathering will bring
thousands of visitors to our city and showcase Baltimore's rich history,
culture, and hospitality. On behalf of the Baltimore City Council, thank you
for your continued service and leadership. We look forward to welcoming
you back for the 88th Grand Chapter meeting.
At this time,
Thank you. At this time, the chair recognizes Councilman Torrance in his um
crimson jacket and white pants looking rather dapper.
» Thank you, Madame President. Um I'm honored to stand up.
» Okay. Request floor privileges. >> Yes, ma'am. I was going to say a few
words before I request floor privileges. I'm honored to stand as a member of this
council and the latest elected official to serve as a member of Capasai, but
also a member of the Baltimore City Council. Um the predecessor before me on
this council was Nathaniel McFaten. Um a gentleman who has led with career
carriage for East Baltimore, but also Baltimore. Senator McFaten left the
Senate at one of the most highest posters, the Senate prom. He also
chaired the high and most powerful budget and tax committee but also he was
a mentor of mine but also someone who signed the letter that allowed me to be
a part of this noble body and clan called CAPI fraternity incorporated. Um
I stand today as a member but one who stands on the shoulders of 116 years of
brotherhood not only in Baltimore City but internationally. Um, as I shocked my
wife a few weeks ago when I showed her videos of our Abu Dhabi alumni chapter.
Um, but I know the rich history. Um, even going back to when our first black
elect officials, which was Carl Stokes, the first African-American mayor elected
in the in this in any city across this country right after the Civil Rights
Act. Um, we are coming back to Baltimore after 1968. We know what happened in
1968 in Baltimore City with the riots after the assassination of Martin Luther
King. But we come back with a legacy of leading with courage but also leading
with achievement but also leaving something behind. Um this weekend we had
a busy week with capital week. We built a playground in six hours um with
brothers and volunteers. Then afterwards decided to do a little fundraising. Um,
in addition to that, we have our guide right program, Gayla, this weekend that
has been nationally recognized by our grand chapter as a leading example of
how to mentor black men in urban urban environments. Um, I I I there's more I
can say. Um, but one of our dearest brothers, George Russell, was the first
African-American city solicitor. Um, so when I say we stand on shoulders of
giants, we do. Um, one of our good brothers, Howard Tudman's father was one
of our grand pole marks. So, we we have a rich history in Baltimore. Madame Vice
President, I'd like to extend floor privileges so that we can honor this
capital week, but also recognize that next year over 20,000 brothers and our
families will be here to celebrate our organization, but move it forward. And
we're looking at a collective impact of nearly $20 million in the Baltimore
economy by us becoming here next year. Let me repeat that. nearly $20 million
economic impact to the city of Baltimore coming back to our city.
With that, Madam Chair, despite the alphas in the room, I would like to
extend floor privileges for my brothers to be recognized.
» Without objection, floor privileges will be extended and
floor privileges are extended. >> Thank you, madam vice president. I also
have a resolution. Um, the city council of Baltimore resolution here it be known
to all that the Baltimore city council the the city council of Baltimore offers
a sincerest congratulations to the Baltimore Maryland alumni chapter Kappa
Fasai Fraternity Incorporation incorporated um in recognition of your
116 years of achievement leadership scholarship service and enduring
commitment to uplift communities during the road to the 88th grand chapter
meeting in Baltimore. The entire membership extends his best wishes on
this memorable occasion and directs this resolution to be presented on this day
the 13th of July 2026 signed by President Cohen and Council Member
Torrance myself. >> Thank you. Uh you have floor privileges
come to come on up.
I'm not going to miss this opportunity.
» Odette, get in the picture.
You got the jacket. >> Well, I didn't mean to get
The clerk will now call the role of the members.
» Parker, >> here.
» McCrae, >> Dorsy,
» yes. >> Conway,
» Schlifer, >> Middleton,
» yes. Torrance >> here.
» Gray >> present.
» Bullock. >> Porter.
» Blanchard. >> Jones.
» Glover. Ramos >> here.
» And uh President Cohen and uh Councilman Glover are excused absences. Madam
Chair, >> thank you. We will now proceed with the
adoption of the journals. >> Madam Vice President, the journals for
the June 22nd regular meeting and June 24th special meeting are in members
inboxes in the in the desk documents folder. Without objection, the journals
will be adopted. Hearing none, the journals are adopted.
Bill signed by the mayor can be found on the meeting agenda. We now move to the
bills being introduced. City Council Bill 26-0212,
Fair Election Fund Update. for the purpose of updating certain provisions
regarding the fair election fund, amending the list of elections eligible
for the fund, clarifying procedures for candidate withdrawal from an election,
amending post-election procedures, and generally relating to the fair election
fund. Lead sponsor Blanchard, co-sponsors Dorsy, Middleton, Gray,
Bullock, Ramos. >> The chair recognizes council member
Blanchard. >> Thank you, Madam Vice President. Public
financing is an incredible opportunity to empower grassroots citizens across
the city to make their dollars carry further in the campaign process where
$10 can become $100 from a city resident, $25 become $250. It's it's a
really wonderful way to to engage uh grassroots everyday Baltimoreans in a
process that we aren't always able uh effectively to do so with the
traditional process. the uh there are several things that need to be adjusted
with the system. One, it is a generally a clunky system. 2024 was the first time
we used it. So, we're looking at addressing multiple aspects of that. Uh
two, I have a lot of concerns that there are aspects of the system as it's been
written past that make it uh less than useful for incumbents to use. And I
think that any system should be as friendly for an incumbent to use uh as
as for someone challenging or competing for an open seat. Um and then lastly,
there was a loophole exploited uh by a mayoral candidate in the 2024 elections
uh in how money was uh spent and then the candidate ended up endorsing another
candidate for mayor and we need to close that loophole so that cannot happen in
the future. And so these are important things. There's also other details in
the bill that I'm happy to speak with any members about going forward and I
ask for my colleagues approval. Thank you.
» Thank you. This bill has been assigned to the committee on legislative
investigations and we have two three co-sponsors
um Council Member Jones, Council Member Porter, and Councilman Conway.
City Council Bill 26-0213 Parking Tax Special Fund for Fair
Elections Search Charge for the purpose of imposing a search charge on the
city's parking tax directing the proceeds of a search charge to the
special fund for fair elections and repealing an obsolete moratorum. Lead
sponsor Blanchard, co-sponsors Dorsy, Gay Ramos.
» The chair recognizes council member Blanchard.
» Thank you, Madam Vice President. Uh the other portion this second bill also tied
the fair election fund is to ensure that the fund is adequately funded in 2024
that had to come from the general fund. Uh there's challenges with
predictability and also means we have to pull from the general fund for something
that we know we're going to have to pay into every four years. So, the solution
that I'm proposing with this bill, we currently on all of the parking lots and
parking garages in the city have a 20% uh parking tax. That is in line with
most cities on the east coast. DC, Philly, and New York City are right
around that. Pittsburgh actually has a 37.5%
uh parking tax. This would add a sir charge of 0.5% raising it to 20.5%, a
less than 1% increase. uh that would raise over $3 million over four years
span uh and ensure that the fund is adequately funded. And so that's for any
candidate uh deciding whether or not uh they want to use the fund that is not
something they'll have to worry about. Thank you.
» Thank you. This bill has been assigned to the budget and appropriations
committee. City Council Bill 26-0214 study and report licensing and
registration status of nonocc non-owner occupied rental dwelling units for the
purpose of requiring the department of housing and community development, the
department of planning and the department of finance to submit a report
to the mayor and city council that details the licensing and registration
status of all known of all nonowner occupied dwelling units in the city. The
number of non-owner occupied dwelling units in the city and east council
district. The number of nonowner occupied dwelling units that meet
certain requirements of the code. The number of nonowner occupied dwelling
units that have been cited for failure to comply with certain requirements of
the code. And the number of non-owner occupied dwelling units that are owned
by city residents. Lead sponsor Glover. Co-sponsors Bullock Blanchard Ramos.
This bill has been assigned to the Housing and Community Economic
Development Committee, >> City Council Bill 26-0215,
rental dwellings pricing algorithm use disclosure for the purpose of requiring
a landlord to disclose certain information regarding rental fees to
current and prospective tenants, defining certain terms, establishing
certain penalties, and granting the Department of Housing and Community
Development authority to promulgate certain rules and regulations. Lead
sponsor Gray, co-sponsors Dorsy, Middleton, Bullock, Blanchard, Ramos.
» The chair recognizes council member Gray.
» Thank you, Madam President. Um, colleagues, I rise today to introduce
legislation entitled Rental Dwellings pricing algorithmic use disclosure,
which would add a new subtitle 8D to article 13 of the Baltimore City Code.
Across the country and here in Baltimore, a growing number of landlords
no longer set rent prices based on their own judgment on their own property.
Instead, they subscribe to pricing algorithmic uh tools and revenue ma
management software that pulls confidential non-public data from
competing landlords like actual rents being charged, occupancy rates, lease
dates, and they use this aggregated data to recommend what a tenant should pay
and whether a unit should be left vacant altogether to keep prices high across
the market. This is not a hypothetical concern. Federal and state enforcement
actions have raised serious questions about whether this practice functions as
a sophisticated form of coordinated price setting, allowing landlords to
achieve outcomes that would be illegal if they simply picked up the phone and
talked amongst themselves. The result for far too many Baltimore
families is rent increases that don't reflect the true condition of the
market, the property, or the landlord's cost, but instead reflect a blackbox
recommendation shared with every other landlord using the same software. This
legislation is deliberately narrow and targeted. It is not it is a disclosure
bill. It does not ban pricing algorithms and it does not set it does not set rent
caps or dictate what a landlord may charge. What it does is guarantee that
tenants know that when a machine, not a human being, who knows their building
and their history has determined the cost of their rent. Specifically, this
bill will require prospective tenants to be told in an every rental listing if a
pricing algorithm was used to set the advertised rent, including the name of
the software and the company behind it. For current tenants, they would receive
written in-person notice at least 90 days before a algorith algorithmic uh
driven rent increase takes effect, giving them real time to plan,
negotiate, or seek other housing. And for existing tenants, as of the
effective date, receive a one-time written disclosure within 30 days, so no
one is left in the dark during this transaction. Um civil pen penalties will
be up to $1,000 per uh violation per unit per day to give the disclosure
requirements and real teeth and enforce in enforcement. Transparency is the
foundation of a fair rental market. Tenants cannot make informed decisions,
negotiate in good faith, or hold their landlords accountable if they don't even
know that a third-party algorithm built on private data from their landlord's
competitors is driving up what they pay today. This bill puts that information
back in attendance hands. Baltimore renters are facing an affordability
crisis that deserves to know when technology, not a fair assessment of
their home, is setting the price of or of staying in that home that they love.
I respectfully ask my colleagues to support this legislation and I welcome a
hearing where we can hear from tenants, housing advocates, and the industry
alike. Thank you. >> Thank you. And uh we have Councilwoman
Porter to sign on and Councilman Conway. And this bill has been and um Councilman
Torrance. This bill has been assigned to housing and and uh economic development
committee. >> City Council Bill 26-0216
vehicle towing from private lots and parking facilities revisions for the
purpose of establishing certain maximum charges for towing services. Specifying
certain required information to be included on towing service receipts and
daily logs maintained by each towing service. Specifying certain limitations
on incomplete toes. Requiring that a towing service accept credit cards.
Prohibiting certain instances of patrol towing. Baking certain stylistic
changes. Conforming, clarifying, and correcting related provisions. And
generally related to the regulation of vehicle towing from private lots and
facilities in Baltimore City. Lead sponsor Dorsy, co-sponsors Parker, Gray,
Bullock, Blanchard, Ramos. >> The chair recognizes Council Member
Dorsy. >> Thank you, uh, Madam President. Um,
it should raise a red flag if you hear a business practice described with the
terms involuntary or nonconsentual,
not just business practices, but other things as well.
But that's what we're talking about is towing that is non-consensual. Towing
that is involuntary. Towing where very often the tow truck driver is sitting
waiting to pounce, waiting, watching for you to misstep
and then jump at the first opportunity. Rather than setting saying to you, if
you park your car where you just parked it and you walk off this lot like I see
you about to do, I'm going to tow your vehicle. Do what you will. No warning.
No, they wait for you to step out of line and then take that opportunity as
quickly as they can. That is happening in Baltimore City somewhere today, right
now. I'm sure of it. That is happening somewhere in Baltimore City tonight. I'm
sure of it. It happens all the time. And very frequently, these towers then
charge you money to get your car back in excess of what the state law sets as the
legal maximum. And we have very little uh enforcement
uh capability uh to do anything about that in a timely or uh meaningful manner
that these towers feel on a day-to-day basis. And a lot of people don't know
that they are having their rights violated. Um, and even when they do, you
know, charging $320 when the legal maximum is $280, that's not enough for
one person to say, "I'm so insensed. I'm going to pursue a class action lawsuit
against these towers." It's too small an amount of injustice that's being done to
so many people that it doesn't really rise to the the top for anybody to take
serious independent uh private action over it. That's why it's important for
us to regulate this and to regulate it stringently and in accordance with best
practices. And that's what the bill that we have here today does. Another thing
that happens very frequently, you may not know that if your car is being towed
from a private lot and you come up to that car and they have not yet left the
lot, even if they've fully put the car up onto the tow truck until they have
left that property, you have the right to say stop. I want my car back and pay
them half of what they would charge if you waited until they got it to their
part, their facility, and you can get it right back then and there. Problem is,
you might not have $140 cash on hand right then and there. And they don't
have to wait for you to get go to an ATM and come back. And they do not take
credit cards. This bill will also require that they take credit cards. Um,
this bill will give the Department of Consumer Protections and Business
Licensing better tools to take enforcement action. Just two weeks ago,
one of our colleagues here brought to me an instance of a constituent who had
been charged more than what they knew to be the legal maximum. And it was the
same company that that same colleague here had brought me a same exact
situation about 3 weeks earlier. The city had told that company, you cannot
charge this much money and then 3 weeks later we were getting the same exact
complaint about the same company. And we can't do anything to suspend that
license right then and there. We have to wait until we hold a hearing with a
board that has still not been stood up as a city. This bill will enable that
department director to say, "Look, we clearly documented
that you violated this provision just three
weeks ago and we communicated with you about it and here you are doing it
again. We are suspending your license. We don't have that kind of quick action
power to react today. This bill gives that kind of power. This bill puts us in
line with best practices in how to protect consumers and visitors here in
Baltimore City. I thank everybody who has co-sponsored this bill already. I
welcome other co-sponsors if you will. Thank you, Madam President.
» Thank you. And we do have some more co-sponsors. Torrance, Porter,
Conway, Middleton.
» Thank you. >> This bill has been assigned to land use
and transportation committee. City Council bill 26-0217
data centers over 5 megawatts megator moratorum
for the purpose of establishing a data center capable of using 5 megawatts or
more of electricity as a prohibited use citywide and defining certain terms lead
sponsor Parker co-sponsors Dorsy Ramos >> uh the chairperson recognizes council
member Parker >> thank you madam vice president thank you
colleagues I This is a really simple bill. It's taking the bill that we um
just passed and just adjusting the size and the definition of what's qualifies
for this moratorum which began here July 1st and runs through next July 1st um
from 10 megawws to down to five just to make sure we're capturing in this case a
particular um a particular uh proposal in my district that I wanted to make
sure was included in the moratorum and so that it would be then part of and
subject to the new legislation that we're going to be working on throughout
the year and the study that we're going to do. I thought it was important that
um that we just put a slight pause there so that it could be part of um the good
work that we're doing. So um would have done this as an amendment to the bill
while it was before us, but that was going to have to go back to planning
commission and significantly delay um the passage of that bill. And it was
really important to the council president, I think, to all of us to make
sure we got that in and through and so came back after the fact. And uh
depending on how long this takes, uh it'll be applicable to 9 months, 8
months, 6 months of the moratorum period until next summer. and then uh by that
point in time we'll have uh permanent legislation to to replace it and we'll
be off and ready to go. So I appreciate the consideration of my colleagues
» uh Conway as a added sponsor and this bill was
also assigned to land use and transportation
» city council bill 26-0218 transit oriented development downtown
Baltimore for the purpose of supporting a state transit oriented development
designation for the area surrounding and including the Lexington Market, Charles
Center and Shot Tower metro stations. the Mount Vernon Lexington Market,
Baltimore Arena, Convention Center, and Camden Station light rail stations, and
the Camden Yards mark station, and providing for a special effective date.
Lead sponsor, council president on behalf of the administration,
co-sponsors, Gray Blanchard. >> This bill has been assigned to land use
and transportation. And um could you add Councilman Parker?
» Absolutely. Thank you, Madam VP. City Council Bill 26-0219,
transit oriented development, Rogers Avenue, for the purpose of supporting a
state transit oriented development designation for the area surrounding and
including the Rogers Avenue Metro Station and providing for a special
effective date. Lead sponsor, council president, on behalf of the
administration, co-sponsor Gray and Parker.
» Co-sponsor. Oh, >> and please add Parker as co-sponsor.
» Okay. Uh, absolutely, Madam VP. Thank you.
» Where are we at now? This bill has been assigned and also assigned to land use
and transportation. >> Uh, we will now move to Oh, sorry.
» We will now move We will now move the resolutions of the city council being
introduced. City Council Resolution 26-000059Rformational
Hearing Affordable Housing Trust Fund for the purpose of requiring the
Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development, the Affordable
Housing Trust Fund Commission, and inviting relevant stakeholders to appear
before the city council and to provide annual reports on the accomplishments of
the affordable housing trust fund, including units produced and residents
helped, income level of residents served, the required items to be
reported upon that are specified in both the charter amendment that establish
lish the fund in the ordinance that created the funding source and any
additional information that the council may request. Lead sponsor Ramos,
co-sponsors Parker, Grey, Bulock, Blanchard.
» The chair recognizes council member Ramos.
» Uh thank you, Madame President, and thank you colleagues. Uh tonight I'm
introducing a resolution for a hearing to get updates about the affordable
housing trust fund. And uh this, as you all know, is one of the many things that
I worked on prior to becoming a council person. We are celebrating 10 years
since residents and advocates initiated a charter amendment to create the
affordable housing trust fund non-lapsing fund and enabled the city
council to create funding sources to put it into the fund. I'm so proud to have
been one of the lead advocates uh while I was executive director of the
community development network of Maryland uh working on this issue. Uh
while it took two additional years to get the funding source, thank you to
Councilman Bulock for that. Um the trust fund has a lot to show already and has
accomplished a lot. Uh as a reminder, the affordable housing trust fund is
flexible funding for affordable housing initiatives and the only restriction is
that it has to be used to house or housing services for residents at 50% of
AMI and half of the fund has to be used to serve residents at 30% of AMI. These
are the residents in Baltimore City who the who are the most cost burden and
unstable in their housing. The affordable housing trust fund is
flexible enough where programs can be created to meet the varying needs of
these group of the income levels that I just talked about. For instance, the
trust fund has been used for capital for affordable housing projects, rental
subsidies, home repair grants, and so much more. The annual spending plan is
approved each year by the affordable housing trust fund commission and all of
the commission meetings are public. Now, the legislation and the charter
amendment mandates uh for annual hearings and annual reports. Uh DHCD is
the staff for the affordable housing trust fund. The most recent report
that's on the website is from 2022 and the last time we had a hearing was in
2021. So this resolution before us calls for that hearing to get the updates and
uh and the accomplishments so far. The intent is to celebrate the successes uh
from the last 10 years and to work together on the future of the fund for
the next 10 years and beyond including adding more funding especially in light
of the changes from the federal funding. I'm looking forward to the hearing and
thank you madam president. Thank you colleagues.
» Thank you added sponsors Porter
and Torrance and Jones and Conway and Middleton.
This bill has been assigned to Housing and Community Development Committee.
City Council Resolution 26-000060Rformational
Hearing Cannabis Licenses for the purpose of requiring representatives
from the Baltimore City Health Department, the Department of Planning,
and the Office of the Zing Administrator, and inviting
representatives from the Maryland Cannabis Administration, Maryland Office
of Social Equity, and any interested stakeholders to appear before the city
council to discuss one, the approval process for cannabis businesses located
in the city, two, the city's role in compliance
with the requirements for cannabis businesses under state law. And three,
the experience of cannabis businesses operating or seeking to operate in the
city, including those that have been granted a social equity license by the
Maryland Cannabis Administration. Lead sponsor Parker, co-sponsors, Gray,
Bulock, Blanchard, Ramos. >> Chair recognizes council member Parker.
» Thank you, Madam Vice President. Thank you, colleagues. Um
this I thisformational hearing um comes about um because of
work we were doing legislatively uh a really simple bill to incorporate um uh
cannabis dispensaries as a category in our zoning code and to um and to
essentially echo state law in our zoning code um so that it was in both places.
The state of Maryland, as it has interpreted um state law around
cannabis, has um has asked local jurisdictions um to do that and to play
a certain role in the issuing of licenses specifically around
um reviewing and approving uh locations for dispensaries
uh on the basis of distance from sensitive locations uh churches,
schools, playgrounds, parks, all the um this was something that we thought
was being done at the state level, but it turns out um was was not happening
there and the state attorney general offered an opinion that it was the
responsibility of local jurisdictions to apply that part of state law through
their peritting processes and through their zoning. Um whereas before it had
been an invitation, now it's essentially a requirement. As we set about to do
that, um, a number of lences came to us and, um, asking questions or raising
concerns about the, uh, existing process, um, that they are in the middle
of. And so, uh, rather than jumping straight into the legislation that we've
prepared, we wanted to make sure we had this hearing first and to invite the
interested parties from the city side and also our partners from the state to
come and speak about the issue here before our committee. uh as well as to
invite current and prospective lences or other interested community members to
come to speak about to ask their questions to speak about their
experience to identify the gaps that currently exist and and how the city is
approaching this our role within the broader state system and allow that to
inform the legislation that we've prepared. So um this is um a moment to
speak about the issue to hear questions to hear experiences um and then let that
to uh inform the the legislation prior to our submitting it to you all for your
consideration. Thank you. This bill has been assigned
to land use and transportation committee. City Council resolution
26-0061Rformational
hearing impact of brownouts for the purpose of requiring the health
department, the Department of Public Works, and the Office of Emergency
Management, and inviting representatives from the Maryland Public Service
Commission, the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, and any interested
energy experts and stakeholders to appear before the city council to
discuss the public health, safety, and economic impact of electrical brownouts
in the city, including an assessment of the city's brownout. out response
preparedness to protect communities burdened by environmental and
infrastructural inequities lead sponsor Porter co-sponsors Gray Bullock
Blanchard Ramos >> chair recognizes council member Porter
thank you madam president colleagues I'm introducing a request for anformational
hearing on the impacts of brownouts here in the city this is a factf finding
hearing and its purpose is to bring the right agencies and stakeholders to the
table so that we fully understand the scope of the problem before us brownouts
are more than just an inconvenience. If you noticed in this most previous storm,
there were thousands of individuals that were without power for a significant
amount of time. They carry real consequences for public health, for
public safety, and for the economic well-being of our residents and
businesses. When power dips, it affects medical equipment, food storage, small
businesses, traffic systems, and the daily lives of people across the city.
As stated, this hearing calls on the health department, the department of
public works, the office of emergency management to appear before us to share
a plan of action on how we are to one understand our our energy grid and where
we are as it relates to brownouts, but also provide us with an opportunity so
that we can hold the proper agencies accountable for our energy grid here in
the city. We want a cleareyed assessment of the city's brown art response and
preparedness. if you had anything to do with again with the last storm, you
understood uh people were people were scrging around for water, for food, for
medication and thankful to colleagues like Councilman Jones who quickly
assembled uh more than enough uh preparedness for individuals of his
district. This is an opportunity for the city to have a response to examine
something that we know is going to happen in the very near future. looking
at our environmental infrastructure and our inequities that leave some
communities burdened more than others. I'm asking my colleagues for support
moving this bill to the committee on legislative investigations so that we
can begin this important conversation. Thank you.
» Thank you. Uh preparedness is so important. Please add Middleton
» and Parker >> and Parker
» and Jones >> and Torrance and Conway.
» And this bill has been assigned to um legislative investigations.
City Council resolution 26-0062Rformational
hearing land value tax for the purpose of requiring the department of housing
and community development, the department of finance, the mayor's
office of small and minority business advocacy and development and the
department of planning and inviting lift Baltimore, the Baltimore Development
Corporation, the Maryland's Department of Assessments and Assessments and
Taxation and other relevant stakeholders to a hearing to evaluate the benefits of
implementing a split rate property tax system in Baltimore City, including its
effect on absentee property ownership and speculation, vacant residential and
commercial properties, and owner occupant homeowner property taxes and
housing production. Lead sponsors Blanchard, co-sponsors, Gray Bullock.
» The chair recognizes council member Blanchard.
» Thank you, Madam Vice President. Colleagues, we have a very real
challenge with absentee owners in too many of our neighborhoods. We have a
very real challenge with speculators who own property that they hope that their
neighbors in their neighborhood will make their neighborhoods better and then
they can sell it without having done any work on their own at some point in the
future. We have real challenges in all of our commercial corridors with retail
vacancy. Our homeowners pay too much in property taxes. We can't get the
investment needed to save downtown from its current spiral. And of course, we
have the very, very well-known challenge with vacant building notices and vacant
lots. What if we could meaningfully address all of these challenges
without reducing the revenue that the city collects from this each year? Great
news. Got a solution on that. Your property tax bill has two
assessments on it. One is on the land, one is on the improvements. This is for
every property tax bill in the state of Maryland.
If we were allowed by the state of Maryland to decrease the property tax
rates on improvements and increase the property tax rate on RA land, we would
get all the types of benefits that I had mentioned earlier. This is something
that is a growing amount of interest uh on the state level. Delegate Kalin Young
has been a great champion of this. several other uh strong supporters
throughout the uh general assembly. There is a state a funded state study
being done to look at the feasibility of this in the state of Maryland.
Uh and this hearing would delve into what exactly this would look like, what
the impacts would be in Baltimore City. Um how it would actually play out, what
we think would happen, how it would be funded, etc. So, been having some great
conversations in the full time I've been in office uh with the mayor's
administration. I think we've got some some interested parties over there. Um
continuing to was good timing with Mako coming today. It definitely had me
thinking about maybe I need to reach out and better connect myself with
uh colleagues across the state on on this topic. Um because it is a the state
needs to enable it. But I do think this is something that a couple years down
the road could be a really uh big win for the city. So I encourage all my
colleagues uh to support this informationational hearing and and to
learn more about uh this concept. Thank you very much. On that note, add
Middleton. Any other takers
and Porter and this bill has been assigned to
budget and appropriations committee. City Council Resolution
26-000063Rformational
hearing law enforcement memoranda of understanding for the purpose of
requiring the Baltimore Police Department to appear before the city
council to provide one a summary and documentation of all currently active
memoranda of understanding governing mutual aid concurrent jurisdiction
related law enforcement coordination as well as any amendments, renewals or
superseding agreements. Two, a summary and documentation of any supporting
materials the department relies on in managing those agreements, including
implementation schedules and related process updates. And three, a status
update on the department's process for reviewing, revising, publishing, and
implementing those agreements. Lead sponsor Torrance, co-sponsors Gray,
Bullock, Blanchard, Ramos. >> The chair recognizes council member
Torrance. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise because
I'm a person who believes in efficiencies and accountability. Um, we
have about 12 police organ 12 police law enforcement agencies outside of BPD in
the city of Baltimore. They each have anou about mutual aid and coordination.
Um, I have been hyperfocused on one agency, but I now have two on my mind
right now. Um, one is the um, city schools police department. Um, we after
the consent decree had to put things in place to do assessments for that agency.
I think it became a best practice that every time that they update the MOU,
they are doing an independent assessment where BPD and them look at how they
currently do enforcement and revise it based off of that to make sure that it's
the best practice. In addition to that, they ensure that they have body warn
cameras, that they are in complian with our consent decree and the best
practices that we have at BPD and they offer them the training as well to
provide those best practices. I'm taken a back because um the Maryland General
Assembly gave the Balma City School Board opportunity where they banned
officers from wearing weapons in schools. Um, the irony is is that at
City College, at University of Baltimore, they're housed in the
building with our Baltimore City Police Department's Academy. Those officers who
are instructors there actually have guns on them at all times. But the school
police officers who are assigned to those buildings cannot wear those same
weapons. Um, when I brought this to the boards here of city schools, he did not
see the irony in that conversation, whether it was violated the spirit of
the law or the spirit of the policy that city schools itself implemented. Um, in
addition to that, there was coordination issues over a year ago with Copen State
University's police force. And then on top of that, we c last year when I
reviewed and had conversations with city schools about the cost of city college
moving to University of Baltimore's campus in their lease agreement, they
identified what the police responsibilities were for the council's
adification. Um, UB no longer has its own police
force. It was the police force from the University of Maryland Baltimore Police
Department. They actually patrol University of Baltimore's campus. At
that time, they had no formal agreement about how that coordination would be.
They merely had three sentences where if a serious law enforcement issue happened
on the campus and the University of Baltimore security or the University of
Maryland, Baltimore's police department responded first that they would inform
the principal. Um, Miss Harkham is retiring. She is not a law enforcement
person. um that is not adequate enough. So now
city schools is entering into a five agencyou
regarding just city college being at um at the University of Baltimore. That is
something that's important because our young people are not adults. Um we have
the clear requirements in terms of sexual assault on campuses. We also have
furer that protects the identity of things that happen to our young people.
If anything happens on that campus, how do you coordinate across two
communications offices? How do you communicate to not only the young people
who visit that campus every day for high school, but the young people who are
there and adults are being there, they're being educated, whether they're
receiving a bachelor's, masters, or law degree at that university. Um, I also
rise because there are friends who have questions about the process for all law
enforcement. When this council had opportunity to comment on the JHSU, we
were given 30 days. So, part of the things that I've put forth in a um
coupled gen coupled legislation that's coming next is establishing anou
process. Um just today in a casual conversation with my colleague from the
third district, I found out that um anou between one of our law enforcement
agencies that patrols our actual streets hasn't been updated in 15 years and it's
a state agency. I think we need consistency. Uh law
enforcement practices change every three years. So the legislation that will be
coming after this will require that we have a process in place and requirements
for it and discussing what mutual aid looks like, what does concurrent
jurisdiction looks like, who leads in evidence collection, just those minor
things so that we know that we have consistency across our agencies. So with
that at you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you. Ed Middleton, this is another
preparedness um initiative and uh Porter is another
taker. Anyone else to add on?
This bill has been assigned to public to the public safety committee.
The consent calendar was sent to members in boxes in the desk documents folder.
And I will now move it for approval. All those in favor of approving the consent
calendar say I. I. >> Those opposed say nay. The motion
carries and the consent calendar is approved. We will move
to bills on second reader. The chair recognizes council member Dorsy.
» Thank you, Madam President. I move that we read short titles for the remainder
of this evening's meeting. >> Without objection, we will proceed with
reading short titles. We will proceed with reading short
titles.
Tonight we exclusively we exclusively have bills from the land use and
transportation committee. >> City Council bill 26-0150
zoning conditional use retail goods establishment with alcohol with
alcoholic beverage sales variances 600 West North Avenue.
» The chair recognizes Chair Dorsy. >> Thank you.
Um the committee heard this bill
on April 20th. It was voted on July 9th. It was recommended favor as favorable
with amendments. There are committee amendments on my colleagues desk. These
amendments um and I'll note that I believe there's a floor amendment from
the sponsor. Um, these amendments include updates in the
language in the bill to refer to an updated site plan and the removal of an
old plat in favor of an updated site plan. I move the amendments favorably.
» So, um, I think we need to move the finding of facts first. Um, I have that
later in my um in my script here, but I'm happy to move
finding of facts. >> Okay.
» Um, there
are findings of facts that were included in the desk documents. Um, I'll move the
finding of facts, but I have um comments I'd like to make about them.
» Okay. All those in favor of adopting the finding of facts,
» I'd like to make my comments first. Go ahead. Yeah.
» Um, thank you. Um, >> to put it simply, I don't believe that
the finding of facts um from the planning department, planning commission
are an accurate reflection of what was actually presented by the applicant.
um which is pretty much a textbook example of what cannot be used as the
criteria for granting a variance. This bill has two different things in it.
It's a conditional use which is presumed allowable unless there's something um
unique about that property that would make that particular use particularly
detrimental at that property. There's no reason to think that the conditional use
for alcohol sales would be worse here than anywhere else. Fine. But then
there's a variance and the standard is that there's got to be something unique
about that property that makes it so that that property would otherwise be
unusable if the variance weren't granted. And uh
it's specifically the case that the standard cannot be that I just want to
use it for this thing in this way and if I don't get this variance I can't use it
for this thing in this way. um and particularly with respect to creating
some like profitability from the property. Um that there has to be
something more unique than that that makes the property essentially unusable
if not for the variance because something about the standard uh just
really impacts this particular property in a way that doesn't impact other
properties in general. And I think that what we heard was the grocery store
won't come here unless we get the variance. And that's as picture perfect
an example of what cannot be used as the standard for granting a variance. And so
to grant this variance, I think that we just really have to be turning a blind
eye to what the law actually says and either say we don't care what variances
are. We don't care that there are standards for whether or not we grant
them or we just don't care and we're going to do whatever we want to do. And
I think that that's what we have to do in order to be able to grant those
variance and I'm not going to do that. So, uh, I move the findings of fact
nonetheless. >> All those in favor of adopting the
finding of fact say I. I. >> Those opposed say nay. Nay.
Um, we'll take a roll call.
» Just Dorsey and Conway. >> Um, Parker absent from chambers. McCrae,
» yes. >> Dorsy,
» no. >> Conway,
» no. >> Schlifer,
» yes. >> Middleton,
» yes. >> Torrance,
» Gray, >> yes. Bulock.
» Hi, >> Porter.
» Hi, >> Blanchard.
» Hi, >> Jones.
» Hi, >> Ramos.
» Yes. >> Um,
» Madame Vice President, we have 10 in the affirmative and two in the negative with
three absences.
» He's good. >> Yeah, we have 10 in the affirmative and
two in the negative. uh with two absences.
» So the um finding of facts um is approved.
» I'm president. I move the amendments as discussed before.
» Okay. There is a motion on the floor to move uh the committee amendments. My
understanding is that council member Torrance has a floor amendment
that um amends the committee amendments. and
I will recognize him at this time. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I am just
bringing a clarification as um I'll put it this way. Um the floor amendment on
the is on my colleague's desk. This amendment is clarifying the retail and
alcohol beverage sales can take place in the yellow portion of the plat. Um at
this time, manager, I move that amendment as favorable.
» Okay. Before we vote, there is a debate or um is there a debate or discussion on
the floor amendment? >> Oh, even
» all those in favor of adopting this floor amendment say I.
» I. >> All those opposed say nay. The motion
passes and the floor amendment is adopted. Now there is I mean uh now is
there any debate or discussion on the amended committee
amendments? Uh, I have a point of order. Um,
» the chair recognizes um I think Torrance was first. Did you
have something else? >> Yes, madam chair. Um, if we're moving
into debate, I have some clarifying conversations to be said um about legal
standards.
» Okay, Dorsy, you have a point of order. >> Thank you. Um on the
there are two committee amendments and we have three amendments to amend the
committee amendments and then on the back side of this page is an amendment
three that is not an amendment to the amendments but is yet another amendment
to the bill. Do I understand this correctly?
» Yep. They also been clarifying because they removed the plaque and replace the
plaque and it's required by the legal standard to include the plaque to move
it forward. Okay. And so is that >> a substitute to one of the committee
amendments or is that >> it was just clarifying the language
struck by the committee.
» I'm sorry. Can you say that again? Clarifying the language that what?
» Clarifying the amendment that the committee made and plus identifying the
specifics of the plat where the yellow area was because we're required to do
it.
» I go back to approve the amendments. I can move amendment number three if you
would like to. I can move amendment number three individually.
» Okay. I just wanted to make sure it's not in um it's not actually meant to be
a substitute for one of the committee amendments.
» It doesn't read as an amendment to amendment.
» That's fine. I'll move amendment number three. Madam chair.
» Okay. >> Um this amendment clarifies on the
plaque in the actual bill text the actual area
» in yellow. So before we do that, we have to wait until until Chair Dorsy
does a piece, right? >> We voted on the We've voted on three
amendments to the committee amendments and now I move those committee
amendments as amended. >> Yes.
» Yes. >> So all those in favor of adopting the
amendments say I. >> I. All those opposed say nay. The motion
passes and the committee amendments and as amended by the floor amendment
are adop are adopted. >> Great.
» And then I recognize Councilman Torrren.
» Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm going to move another amendment which clarifies
the conditional use but also identifies the specific area which were required to
because the updated plat was added into the actual into the actual bill after it
was strucken by the committee by mistake. So we now have an updated plat
added back into it with the yellow portion saying that that where the
alcohol beverage sales would be placed. >> So is there any additional discussion on
that? All those in favor of approving this
bill. the amendment to >> I'm approving the amendment to the bill
say I. >> I.
» All those opposed say nay. >> This bill
um >> now the amendment is approved and we'll
recognize Chair Dorsy again. >> Okay. So we have amendments. Um
» and then I come >> I move the bill favorable
as amended. Any additional discussion? Okay. All
those in favor of approving. Oh, Councilman Torren.
» Yes, ma'am. I just want to collect correct the statements of my pred my
colleague. Um, there are only two bodies in this in this city that require for
variances that have be individual factf finders. That is the B the board of
municipal zoning appeals and that's the Baltimore city council. So, by voting
yes, you did identify and agree to the facts of the actual place in there. So
therefore, the standard is there and then the standard is no longer just
financial implications. Um I and I invite my colleagues to take a walk down
West North Avenue with me and see that there are very few locations where you
can actually place a grocery store in West Avenue because of the racial
discrimination and the way that we zone this city. So to say that in and I and I
wholeheartedly say this realistically, we are blind to our in our un how can I
say this unconscious bias related to how we feel in our own individual districts.
I want to be transparent.
Black people deserve grocery stores. We deserve to eat in our
neighborhoods. We deserve amenities. And it was by the zoning code and those who
led this council prior to us that got us in this situation.
And I say that wholeheartedly. Um, and I'm shaking because I am disgusted
because this conversation has led to saying something's illegal when one's
own bill was returned by the circuit court of Baltimore City.
when we are the individual factf finders and I want to say that to this council.
We have land use authority and we are the individual factfinders in our own
votes. So to vote yes on it and then change your vote today is not only
hypocritical but lies within my own consciousness to say morally I won't
call it out as it is. Your bias is leading you and it's not leading with
the heart of the city or the black people who get access to food in a food
desert. And I say this to my neighbors, save a lot is not the only thing that we
should have. We should not have to enter into grocery
stores because we only have one in the neighborhood that's charging $12 just
for coffee creamer that I can go to a white neighborhood and get for $9.
So if you want to have that conversation, let's have it. In addition
to that, one of my colleagues is getting a Trader Joe's, right? The average
income around that Trader Joe's was easy for them to move in.
When we talk about the fact that we had to change and get more people employed
in Pin North to increase the home values in those neighborhoods and black
communities just to attract one grocery store to talk about the lengths we have
to go to get something in a black neighborhood then to vote no because
you're an individual backfiring being cowardice about actual cars and parking.
Let's be transparent. This city is two different ones. There's
a black butterfly. is a white L and the only way that we're changing it in West
Baltimore is by black people leading and black people providing opportunities in
black neighborhoods. And Madam Chair, I sit on that.
Any other discussion, very valid points for to think about.
And now I'll go back. Um all those in favor of approving this bill as amended
say I. >> I.
» Those opposed say nay. Abstain. >> This bill will be printed for third and
one abstension. Uh Conway, make note of that. And this bill will be printed for
third reader. >> Does he like to speak?
» The chair recognizes um Chair Dorsy. >> No, Madam Vice President.
» No. Oh, I'm sorry. Um >> Conway.
» Thank you, Madam Vice President. I appreciate it. But just wanted to take a
moment to explain my vote. Um I uh I share the uh the councilman, the sponsor
of the bill's concern about making sure that we address food deserts. He alluded
to um a labor of love, dare I call it, to get a grocery store, a second grocery
store into my district, but unfortunately um it is not where we need
it. Uh it's actually right is being placed,
you know, a rocks throw from a giant, which is not all that helpful for us. Um
the interesting piece is um I I I think unfortunately I I decided to abstain
from this vote. One because of the the questions about uh whether or not we've
met the findings or facts. Uh but then two the matter of process and a lot of
the things that came up in the midst of the hearing. Um I think um we definitely
need to address food deserts within our city. Uh it is a huge huge huge huge
problem. Uh and one that far too many of our communities um strugg struggle with
and huge swats of my district struggle with it as well. And I think we always
find ourselves bending over over backwards to do so. Um the the the finer
point I want to make here though is we have to make sure that we are continuing
to listen to our communities as we do so and that we try to find nuance in how we
meet their needs. Um, I had some some concerns that, you know, frankly, I am
no expert on this project, so I didn't feel comfortable voting against it. Um,
I I didn't also feel comfortable v voting for it. Um, you know, removing um
a a bus lane, I think, is is a challenge that I wish we would have sorted out in
advance. Um, so, you know, things like that I think, um, that came up in the
hearing I think bring bring me pause and just make me want to pump my brakes a
little bit before I throw my full weight of support behind the bill. Um, that
said, I I appreciate uh the effort of of the councilman. I appreciate the effort
of the chair to make sure that uh we do address the food deserts issue, but I I
think we also want to make sure that we are continuing to listen our communities
and make sure that we meet all of their needs and we don't find ourselves
sacrificing um the um the process that hopefully um can lead us to to more
consensus and and better solutions and not just the one that's uh presented to
us. So, uh, with that, I I abstain and, you know, I appreciate, um, the
continued efforts, I'm sure, by the councilman to address, um, anything that
goes forward in in the district. And uh I just want to add re reaching
staying um up to date and with what's going on in our individual communities,
not just the communities that each one of us serve and represent in our
boundaries of our district, but you know, pay attention of what's going on
around the entire city and the revitalization and the changes that we
continue h to have to make And also um as far as grocery stores, you know, the
city needs to having a grocery store is um a very hard business and we need to
find incentives to help um someone that's interested in owning a
grocery store. trying to find incentives to help them start that store up and
just figuring out ways to do, you know, to build those partnerships because
again, at the end of the day, it's all about partnerships.
And on that note, um I'll turn it >> I'll
um I'll one more thing, Councilman Torrance, and then we'll move on move
forward. >> Thank you, Madam Chair, because we're in
a public sector. I just want to correct the record. We did not remove a bus
lane. There were two lanes. One was a right turn lane and the other was the
bus lane. MCA had to signal over and causing conflicts. There are two right
turn lanes that people were turning at both times from both right turn lanes.
We just got rid of one right turn lane so that we can end the conflict and
we're doing bumpouts at all four corners to make it safe for young people to go
to and from Mount Royal Terrace >> to Mount Royal Elementary Middle School.
We actually met with the community after the hearing at the actual site so they
can actually witness three buses have to signal back over to get into the rest of
West North Avenue. And I just want to say for colleagues, there's a such thing
as Google Maps. It has a layer that you can look at overlaying the city that you
can see both lanes were there and that we are not removing a bus lane. It does
not threaten North Avenue Rising. And I'm just going to say this again because
I just want to be clear. It is the facts were there. the conversations were had.
That's why there was no community opposition at the last hearing. We were
very clear when we met community on site. We in addition to that we also
there were a lot of things that we met with community. I just want to put out
there on the record what where we came with community. We are planting new
trees, preserving oak trees. We're providing 65 parking spots. In addition
to that, we're providing a liquor license for future business to actually
have a restaurant in the neighborhood. Right? It's just not just the wine and
sales. is also retail that's going to be present there as well. In addition to
that, that is coupling with the fact that we are building a new $16 million
building AC down the street, which is going to be the mayor's office of
employment development that I welcome you all to come visit in the fall when
we open it and we actually start using that that actual facility for that
project labor agreement with the Frederick Douglas tunnel. This has been
strategic investment that has been led and had community conversations. to be
to be transparent with you, these community conversations happen with West
North Avenue Development Authority. And I just want to say that like these
aren't things just happening in isolation. This isn't for a developer.
This is what makes sense for the community and the neighborhoods. And
» thank you, Councilman Torrance. I I we all feel your passion and thank you for
having a very um professional discussion and debate. And now we'll end this
discussion and move back to recognizing Chair Dorsy so we can move to the next
piece.
» Um I recognize Councilman uh Torrance to move to third reader.
» Thank you Madam Chair. I would like to at this time, Madame President, vice
vice president, I would like to move the suspend rules for same day advancement
for the bill to move it to third reader. >> Is there any debate or discussion on the
motion for same day advancement >> with the clerk?
» Uh,
okay. Yeah, we have to do that over. Um, basically you want to invoke the city
council rule 121 the same day for advancement
as you just said >> the third reader for city council bill
260150. Thank you parliamentarian for um
catching that. And is there any discussion or to move
um on the motion the same day advancement?
Will the clerk please call the role?
» Parker.
» I >> Okay. Uh McCrae.
» Oh, chambers. Dorsy. >> No. Conway.
» Schlifer. >> Hi.
» Middleton. >> Yes.
» Torrance. >> Hi.
» Gray. >> Hi.
» Bullock. >> Hi.
» Porter. >> Hi.
» Blanchard. >> Hi.
» Jones. >> Hi.
» Ramos. >> Yes.
» Madam vice president. >> 2 three four five six seven eight.
» There are 10 votes in the affirmative. The motion does not have submission
votes. >> Okay. We cannot move this to third
reader.
» City council bill 26-0153 measurement of building height gambo
roofs.
Sorry. Chair recognizes Chair Dorsy. >> I didn't read the next bill number.
» Oh. >> Oh, let me read it again. City Council
Bill 26-0153, measurement of building height gamble
roofs. >> Thank you. This bill was heard on July
2nd. It was recommended as favorable with amendments. There are committee
amendments on my colleagues desk from urgently proposed from Councilman Parker
uh which u reflect recommendations from the planning commission to change the
standards of measurements for roof from the eaves to the peak to the top of the
highest wall plate to the highest point in the roof. Um I move the amendment as
favorable.
Before we vote, is there any debate or discussion on the committee amendment?
All those in favor of adopting the amendment say I.
» I. >> All those opposed say nay. The motion
passes and the amendments are adopted.
» Uh I move the bill favorable as amended. >> Is there any additional debate or
discussion on this bill? All those in favor of approving this
bill say I. >> I.
» All those opposed say nay. This bill will be will be printed for
third reader. >> City council bill 26-0165
sale of property at 220 Guilford Avenue. >> The chair recognizes Chair Dorsy.
» Thank you. This bill was heard on July 9th. It was recommended as favorable. I
move as favorable. >> Is there any additional debate or
discussion on this bill? All those in favor of approving this
bill say I. >> I.
» All those opposed say nay. This bill will be printed for third
reader. The chair recognizes Chair Dorsy.
» Thank you. I move to suspend the rules as necessary to allow for same day
advancement of this bill to third reader.
Um, you invoked the rule 121 >> for same day advancement.
» Yes. >> Okay. Is there any debate or discussion
on the motion of the same day advancement?
Will the clerk please call the role? >> Parker,
» yes. >> McCrae,
» uh, Dorsy, >> yes.
» Conway, >> hi. Schlifer.
» Hi >> Middleton.
» Hi >> Torrance.
» Hi >> Gray.
» Hi >> Bulock.
» Hi >> Porter.
» Hi >> Blanchard.
» Hi >> Jones.
» Hi >> Ramos.
» Yes. >> We have three. That's 12.
» This bill will move to third reader today.
» City council bill 26-0175. Street names authority to change suffix.
Thank you. This bill was heard on July. The
» chair recognizes Chair Dorsy. >> Thank you. This bill was heard on July
2nd. It was recommended as favorable. I move the bill favorable.
» Before we vote, is there any debate or discussion on this bill?
All those in favor of approving this bill say I.
» I. >> All those opposed say nay. This bill
will be printed for third reading. City Council Bill 26-0176,
zoning conditional use conversion of a single family dwelling unit to two
dwelling units in an R8 zoning district variance 812 North Kerry Street.
» The chair recognizes Chair Dorsy. >> Thank you. This bill was heard on July
9th. It was recommended as favorable. There are findings of fact adopted by
the committee included with the materials in my colleagues desk
documents. I move the findings and note that uh it was put on the record that
the variance that was uh noted in the bill uh is obsolete and was not actually
required. So there's no variance necessary with this bill. Uh I move the
finding of facts. >> All those in favor of adopting the
findings of facts say I. >> I.
» Those opposed say nay. The finding of facts are adopted. The chair recognizes
Chair Dorsy. >> Thank you. I move the bill um I move the
bill favorable. Is there any additional debate or discussion on this bill?
All those in favor of approving this bill say I.
» I. >> All those opposed say nay.
This bill will be printed for third reader. The chair recognizes chair
Dorsy. >> Thank you. I move to suspend the rules
for same day advancement of this bill to third reader.
» Uh invoke city council rule 121 same day advancement. Is there any debate or
discussion on the motion of um for the same day advancement?
» Will the clerk please call the role? >> Parker,
» yes. >> Dorsy,
» yes. >> Conway,
» hi. >> Schlifer,
» Middleton, >> yes.
» Torrance, >> hi.
» Gray, >> hi.
» Bulock, >> hi.
» Porter, >> hi.
» Blanchard, >> hi.
» Jones, >> hi.
» Ramos, >> yes.
This bill moves to third reader today. >> City Council Bill 26-0178,
Baltimore Harbor, Transfer of Authority to Department of Transportation.
» Chair recognizes Chair Dorsy. >> Thank you. This bill was heard on July
2nd and voted on July 9th. It is recommended as favorable with
amendments. There are committee amendments on my colleagues desk. These
seven amendments are technical and include they they clarify that an
environmental citation is issued by the environmental control board. Uh insert
the word harbor on page 10. Insert the word piling on page 28. Correct the word
authorizations to authorization.
Change the phrase from warps for private enjoyment to warps. On page 14, change a
drift to a drift allowed to deteriorate. On page 17 and number seven, strike
company or on page 18. I move these amendments as favorable.
» All those in favor of adopting the finding of facts say I.
» Uh the amendments. >> The adopting the amendments say I. I.
» All those opposed say nay. The amendments are adopted. The chair
recognizes Chair Dorsy. >> Uh I move the bill favorable as amended.
» Are there any uh additional debates or discussions in this bill?
All those in favor of approving the bill as adopted say I.
» I. >> All those opposed say nay.
This bill will be printed for third reading. The chair recognizes Chair
Dorsy.
» Next bill. >> Oh,
where are you? >> Here.
» No. So, hey, I missed. No, I'm going to go back to it.
» Okay. Chair recognizes Chair Dorsy. >> Oh. Oh, he's got to read the bill.
Sorry.
City Council Bill 26-0197 RPP Area 48 Riverside revisions.
» Uh recognize Chair Dorsy. >> Thank you. This bill was heard on July
2nd as recommended favorable. I move the bill favorable.
» Before we vote, are there any debates or discussions on this bill?
All those in favor of approving this bill say I.
» I. >> Those opposed say nay. This bill will
will be printed for third reader. The the chair recognizes Chair Dorsy.
» I move to suspend the rules to allow for same day advancement of this bill of
third reader. >> Are there is there any debate or
discussion on the motion for same day advancement?
Will the clerk please call the role?
Parker, >> yes.
» McCrae, Dorsy,
» yes. >> Conway, hi.
» Schlifer, >> Middleton,
» yes. >> Torrance,
» hi >> Gray,
» hi >> Bullock,
» hi >> Porter,
» hi >> Blanchard,
» hi >> Jones,
» hi >> Ramos,
» yes. >> This bill moves to third reader
» today. Circle back to the one that I missed.
Sorry. I'm gonna do this one. I missed it. I'm
sorry. Okay. >> City Council Bill 26-0177,
which I previously missed. Reszoning 901 South Kaitton Avenue.
» So, Chair Dorsy, recognizing you, one more we missed.
» Sorry, this is not in my script here. >> 26. Yeah. 0177.
The reszoning of 901 South. Did >> we miss it? Sorry.
» South Kaitton Avenue. >> Oh, sorry.
I see. Okay. Um, this bill was heard July 9th is
recommended favorable. I move the bill. Oh, there. Oh, there
finding a fact adopted by the committee included with the materials and desk
documents. I move the finding. >> All those in favor of adopting the
finding of facts say I. >> I. Those opposed say nay. The finding of
facts are adopted. Chair recognizes Chair Dorsy.
» Thank you. I move the bill favorable. >> Uh are there is there any additional
debate or discussion on this bill? All those in favor of approving this bill
say I. >> I.
» Those opposed say nay. This bill will be printed for third reader.
» Mhm. >> Do we?
» Yeah. We recognize
» to do this. >> Oh, we want to do it the same day. Chair
recognizes chair Dorsy. >> Thank you. Move to suspend the rules to
allow for same day advancement to third reader.
» And uh any debate or discussion on the motion for same day advancement?
Hearing none, will the clerk please call the role?
» Parker, >> yes.
» Dorsy, >> yes.
» Conway, >> I. Schlifer.
» Hi, >> Middleton.
» Hi, >> Torrance.
» Hi, >> Gray.
» Hi, >> Bulock.
» Hi, >> Porter.
» Hi, >> Blanchard.
» Hi, >> Jones.
» Hi, >> Ramos.
» Yes. >> This bill moves to third reader today.
We now move to bills on third reader. Will the clerk please read the bills and
call the role? >> City council bill 26-0165,
sale of property 220 Guilford Avenue. Parker, Dorsey, Conway, Schlaer,
Middleton, Torrance, Gay, Bulock, Blanchard, Jones, Glover, Ramos, Cohen.
And um council members McCrae, Glover, and President Cohen are absent.
» This bill is approved. >> City Council Bill 26-0176
zoning conditional use conversion of a single family dwelling to two dwelling
units in the R8 zoning district variance 812 North Kerry Street. Parker, Dorsy,
Conway, Schlaer, Middleton, Torrance, Gay, Bulock, Blanchard, Jones, Glover,
Ramos, Cohen. I'll note, um, McCrae, Ramos, sorry, McCrae, Glover, and Cohen
as absences. >> This bill was approved.
» City Council Bill 26-0177, resoning 901 South Kaitton Avenue.
Parker, McCrae, Dorsy, Conway, Schlifer, Middleton, Torrance, Gray, Bullock,
Blanchard, Jones, Glover, Ramos, Cohen, and I'll note McCrae, Glover, and Cohen
as absence. >> This bill is approved.
City Council Bill 26-0197 RP Area 48 Riverside revisions Parker
McCrae Dorsy Conway Schlifer Middleton Torrren Gray Bullock Blanchard Jones
Glover Ramos Cohen will note McCrae Glover and Cohen as absences. This bill
is approved. We now move to um committee
announcements. Chairs, when you hear your committee,
please proceed with your committee announcements and
uh budget and appropriations. We do not have any announcements. Um
education, youth, and older adults. Chair Bullock, no announcements. Housing
and community, housing and economic development. Chair Torrance.
» Thank you, Madam Vice President. The Housing Economic Development Committee
will hear Council Bill 260163, Community Health Food Access um act on
August 18th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. in the council chambers. And then we will have
I will announce via the council president's office three other bills
that will will have hearings of four in August as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.
» Thank you. Labor and Workforce Chair Jones.
» No announcements. to land use and transportation. Chair Dorsy.
» Thank you, Madam President. On September 10th at 9:00 am in the council chambers,
the committee will continue with its next DOT oversight hearing uh on
operations um transportation department LO25004.
On September 17th at 9:00 a.m.,
the committee will hear Council Bill 260195,
zoning accessory dwelling units. 9:00 a.m. in the council chambers.
On September 17th, 9:00 a.m. committee will hear council bill 260218,
transit oriented development, downtown Baltimore.
On September 17th, the committee will hear Council Bill 260219,
Transit Oriented Development, Rogers Avenue.
On September 24th at 9:00 a.m. Committee will hear in the council chambers 250093
zoning Harford Road Overlay District. On September 24th, 9:00 am in the
council chambers, the committee will hear council bill 25128,
zoning conditional use conversion of a single family dwelling unit to three
dwelling units in the R8 zoning district, 1118 North Kerry Street.
On September 24th at 9:00 am, committee will hear council bill 260148
reszoning 205 to 209 East Cold Spring Lane.
And on September 24th, the committee will hear council at 9:00 a.m. the
committee will hear 260149 reasonzoning 2441 to 2449 West Baltimore
Street. Thank you. Thank you. Uh, legislative
investigations. Chair Schlifer. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. The, uh,
committee on legislative investigations will hold a hearing on bill number
26-0193, public nuisance, illegal distribution of
manufacturer of cannabis or control dangerous substances on September 10th,
2026 at 3 p.m. Thank you. >> Thank you. Public Health and Environment
Chair Porter. >> Thank you. Thank you so much, Madam
Chair. U the public health and environment committee will hold the
following hearings Wednesday August 19th 2026 beginning at 10:01 resolution
26-0055Rformational
hearing sewage backups expedited reimbursement and direct assistance
program at the request of council member Gray on the second one will be on
Wednesday September 16th beginning at 10 a.m. Bill number 26-0194,
municipal identification cards, applications and personal information
requested by council member Ramos on behalf of the Baltimore City Information
and Technology Division and LO260049 briefing the Cis Street Task Force at
the request of council member Ramos in the 14th district. All hearings will be
held in C council chambers and open to the public. Thank you.
» Thank you. Public safety chair Conway. No announcements. Uh, charter review
special committee. No announcements. That was chair Dorsy also. We ma now
move to regular announcements. Does anyone have any announcements to share?
Um, >> Porter.
» Thank you so much, Madam Chair. I just want to colleagues, I just want to
recognize um Morgan State University Center for R research and excellence in
wastewaterbased epidemiology. um they developed a really really
innovative tool that predicts sewer spills um in the city and so they had an
opportunity um to share with me before um about their uh innovative tool. But
this is a great opportunity because Councilman Gray this is something that
you were working on in relation to sewage backups throughout the city. And
this is a innovative tool right here in the city of Baltimore that can help with
that predictive um technology for future sewage backups. I just wanted to um
share this citation with them and so they're here tonight. Just want to
recognize them, Dr. Zang um and her colleague. And so just wanted to
recognize them tonight. So
So I'll read the resolution. The city council of Baltimore be it hereby known
that all of the city council offices sincerest congratulations to Morgan
State University center for research excellence in wastewater based tech
epidemiology in recognition of your development of an innovative tool that
predicts sewer spills advancing public health protection environmental
stewardship and infrastructure resilience. The entire membership
extends best wishes on this memorable occasion and the rest this resolution to
be presented on the 13th day of July 2026. Signed, President Z Cohen and
Councilwoman Felicia Ray Louise Porter. Thank you.
» Thank you.
Thank you. Any other announcements? Uh, Councilman Bullock.
» Yes. Uh, thank you, Madam President. Um, also going to follow up from um, Council
Member Porter because I want to give her some flowers today. Um, one of the
things I'm I'm very proud of, we had a lot of conversations today around
grocery stores. And so um, and Mount Clair Junction and the uh, the grand
reopening of Super Fresh was very proud to stand along with my colleague. One of
the things we talk about in this council is that um, our district boundaries are
important, but it's more important about the neighborhoods and the communities
that we serve. And so we look at a neighborhood like Mount Clair that has
been challenged as it relates to food access and being able to work with uh uh
neighborhoods and work with uh private entities to make sure that our our
people are served is a beautiful thing. And so I think it's a good example of
how we can be collaborative across district boundaries but also work
together on these critical issues. So again, thank you council member Porter
for being a good colleague. >> Another Councilman Councilwoman Porter
» and I and thank you so much Councilman Bull. Again, I just want to clarify,
this is the third grocery store that has been in this location. And so, when we
talk about the incentives that grocery stores need to come in, this is the
first national retailer that's coming into District 10. And so, grocery stores
are extremely hard to come by. And so when you have communities that are
begging for grocery stores, needing grocery stores, we have as a council, we
have a duty to make sure that we are pulling all of the opportunities for
grocery stores to come into communities so that we have fresh fruits and
vegetables. And so this is not only a testament of the work that the community
is doing, but this is the testament of the rigor and the hard work it actually
takes to bring a grocery store in. Again, this is the third grocery store
in the 5 years that I've been serving. This is the first national grocery store
that we have in this circuit. So, thank you so much, Councilman.
» Thank Thank you and congratulations
and um Councilman Gray comment. >> Yep. I just want to acknowledge uh that
Local Progress uh was in Baltimore this past uh weekend um for their annual
convening. Uh this is their first time in Baltimore.
maybe in history. As far as the actual convening, um they've been here for
other events. Uh it was an amazing time. Uh Local Progress is a grassroot
organization that really helps um electeds from all across the country. Um
with uh with legislation, uh with support, with family, um it is uh we had
a lot of representation. We had the mayor give the opening address. Uh we
had um we had uh school board member uh Ashley Espazito on a panel along with uh
council president Z Cohen along with um our comproller Bill Henry. Uh we also
had a welcoming opening from James and I. Um, but overall I just wanted to let
everyone know that um, we've been saying that Baltimore is on a renaissance, but
after this I know that most of people will go around and tell everyone around
the country that Baltimore is back in a big way. Uh, from the food, from the
entertainment, from the hospitality, everything that they experienced was uh,
top tier. And so, um, I just want to give a big shout out to Baltimore, uh,
for us, for being us, not knowing who they were, but still giving giving them
the love, the food, the support, uh, the laughs, uh, and the memories, but also
to let people know, um, that, uh, we see what's going on the federal level. Uh,
hopefully, God willing, we have two more years of this, but there is a underbelly
of leadership that is ready, ready to explode. Last year we were in Chicago.
Uh Councilwoman Border and Councilman uh Torrance Ethan was there as well. Uh and
in that room I spoke to um a council woman at the time, Janice George, who is
now the mayor of DC. And so to hear her say at that moment that she was looking
to run for mayor, and to see where she is now, um progressive politics aren't
dead, they are here to stay. Um, and I'm just thankful for for programs like
this, uh, and for grassroot organizations like this that continue to
feed the next generation of leaders that will actually show up and do what
they're supposed to do for communities, whether it's Mandomney, whether it's
George, whether it's Scott. Um, a lot of these folks have come through these
organizations to make the changes that we need in cities, uh, in counties,
whether it's rural or urban. Um, a change is coming and I just know they
had a great time. So, I just want to thank Baltimore and everyone else who
participated. >> Thank you. Anyone else before I speak
and Councilman Conway?
» Thank you, Madam Vice President. I'll be very brief. Um, my colleague pulled the
hood before I could announce this. U, but, uh, the fourth district will be
getting a new grocery store as we alluded to earlier. Trader Joe's will be
coming to the Anelise shopping center off of York Road. Um, since I came in
office uh in 2020, December, this was one of the highest
priorities for myself to get an additional grocery store for the fourth
district. Um, now I I'm I'm incredibly happy about the Trader Joe's coming in.
Uh, we still have a food desert on the east side of um of York Road that we
need to address. And so, this is uh this will continue to be an issue that we
need to resolve. And I agree with my colleagues, we should be doing
everything at our liberty to make sure that we meet the food needs for the
folks in our districts. Um, but we should also celebrate those ones when we
get them. And I hope that every one of my council members here who has a food
desert in their district um is has the liberty and and um the the joy that I
have in being able to bring a um grocery store to the district. So um just want
to, you know, uh lift up that win and uh hopefully we can continue to do great
work. Thank you. >> Thank you. And then Councilman Torrance,
» be very brief. I just want to do a shout out to Visit Baltimore who's helped us
with getting these um conventions. Um just to give you the lens of it, this
summer we're getting Jack and Jill, the Capitals have come, Delta Sigma Theta is
coming, and there are other um large entities that are coming here that are
bringing thousands of people to Baltimore. And that team has I've seen
what their new pitch stack looks like. It is drastically improved how we're
attracting people. But I also want to shout out to um the community this
weekend who came out with us. We built a um playground within six hours.
Six hours with 90 volunteers from both the Ashburg community and the greater
Montgomery community as well as the brothers of cap alphasai. So six hours
be playground alphas. Six hours. >> Thank you so much. So, um I don't know
if you So, my I have two things. Um a shout out to um Baltimore KOJIC for
helping to bring the Kod KIC uh faith-based congregation for their
convention here. It was here at the con uh civic center, I mean convention
center. over 10,000 people came and filled the hotels, restaurants, just
poured revenue into our city and really had a wonderful time. The second piece
is that you notice these wonderful dangling earrings that I I have been
wearing that um I'm just so proud. I've been getting compliments. I made these.
So on
So, um, I'm a member of the Baltimore City Links. A shout out to the Lynx. We
had a friendship day at the Walters Art Gallery on Thursday and did a tour of um
uh the Dorian uh Fletcher's um she's a artist that makes jewelry and
she made jewelry for uh the movie um Wakanda. So, they have right now an
exhibit that's been going on for a while, but um you know, we have so much
art and culture and history here. And so, we did the tour and then they do
have sessions. And this is something I'm saying because families and children can
can go to this museum. A reminder, the Walters Art Museum is free admission.
It's um the funding is given from uh the council, Baltimore City, um Howard
County and also B our neighbors Baltimore County contribute to keep the
admission free and they have activities.
You can book a group to do tours. They have a um brooch making session coming
up. But we after I did we did that um jewelry tour. Of course you have that
inspiration. So they we were sitting down as a group and they provide all the
things and you design you know your own jewelry. And of course all of it is
free. So, if families are looking for something to do, this is um a nice
museum to uh take your family with or just go in there one day yourself and do
the tour. They they have um just some great exhibits going on there. And
lastly, for a moment of silence, I have four names. We lost a DPW worker,
Courtney Brown. um also a former employee
from uh the Schaefer administration. Her name was Jacqueline Hardy.
And we also um lost uh Willie May Lowry, which was the grandmother of um
Ty and Greg Miller, my chief of staff, Ty, and um a prominent doctor in the
community. Her name was Marsher Brown Matthews. So, a moment of silence for
them. And
the next regular meeting of the Baltimore City Council will be held on
Monday, September 14th at 5:00 p.m. There being no further business, this
concludes the 33rd regular meeting of the 74th term of the Baltimore City
Council.