[0:04] [Music]
[0:05] Happy Monday. Good evening. This 16th
[0:08] regular meeting of the 74th term of the
[0:11] Baltimore City Council is now called to
[0:13] order. Tonight's invitation will be
[0:15] provided by the Reverend Dr. Walter L.
[0:19] Parish of Northside Baptist Church.
[0:22] Reverend Parish, the floor is yours.
[0:26] » Thank you. And thank you to Councilman
[0:29] Conway for this honor. Let us pray.
[0:33] Thou in whose image
[0:36] and whose likeness we have been made, we
[0:40] acknowledge with gratitude
[0:42] the gift of this day. Even as seasons
[0:46] change, we are aed by and grateful for
[0:50] the consistency of your presence.
[0:53] We ask as we gather that you would allow
[0:56] the people who make up this council and
[0:59] those who are in attendance to feel your
[1:01] presence and your proddding as we all
[1:04] work to make our city a more just and
[1:07] humane place. We ask that you would
[1:10] order today's proceedings so that those
[1:12] who are seeking resolution to problems
[1:14] will find resolution.
[1:17] We ask that you would provide measures
[1:19] of relief for those who are struggling
[1:21] just to make it from one day to the
[1:23] next. We ask that these servants of the
[1:27] people would be endowed with wisdom and
[1:30] possess an intolerance of mediocrity
[1:33] that will allow them to do all they can
[1:35] this day for the least of these.
[1:38] We ask that we would be emancipated from
[1:41] any loyalty to agendas that would divide
[1:44] us but be set free to work for the good
[1:47] of all. We ask that you give our
[1:51] leaders, our council president, and
[1:54] every member of this council under the
[1:57] sound of my voice a renewed
[1:58] determination to not be distracted or
[2:02] discouraged. We ask that our city from
[2:05] the youngest to the oldest, from the
[2:07] richest to the poorest, from the best
[2:09] connected to the least connected, be
[2:12] greater than the individual communities
[2:14] from which we come, and that we might
[2:17] know your guidance, making us one brave
[2:20] and beloved city and community. We ask
[2:24] this in the name of all that is holy.
[2:27] Amen.
[2:28] » Amen. Thank you, Reverend Parish.
[2:32] Before turning it over to Councilman
[2:35] Blanchard for the pledge of allegiance,
[2:37] I do want to recognize the folks from
[2:39] leadership that have joined us. Thank
[2:40] you for being here as well as the AFL
[2:43] CIO as well as every other guest in the
[2:46] chamber. Thank you for joining us
[2:48] tonight.
[2:50] All right, with that, Council Member
[2:52] Blanchard will now lead us in the pledge
[2:54] of allegiance. Councilman.
[2:57] » I pledge algiance to the flag of the
[3:00] United States of America and to the
[3:02] republic for which it stands. One nation
[3:05] under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[3:09] justice for all.
[3:11] » Thank you. The clerk will now call the
[3:14] role of the members.
[3:16] » Parker
[3:17] » Here.
[3:18] » McCrae.
[3:19] » Dorsy,
[3:20] » Yes.
[3:21] » Conway
[3:22] » Here. Schlifer
[3:24] » Middleton
[3:26] » Torrance
[3:27] » Gray
[3:29] » Bullock
[3:30] » Porter
[3:31] » Blanchard
[3:32] » Jones
[3:34] » Glover
[3:36] » Ramos
[3:37] » Yeah here
[3:38] » Cohen
[3:40] » Here.
[3:40] » Mr. President, we have a quorum with VP
[3:43] Middleton absent.
[3:44] » Thank you, Madame Clerk. We will now
[3:46] proceed with the adoption of the
[3:48] journals.
[3:48] » Mr. President, the journals for the
[3:50] September 29th meeting proceedings are
[3:52] in members inboxes in the dust documents
[3:54] folder.
[3:55] » Without objection, the journals will be
[3:56] adopted.
[3:59] » Hearing none, the journals are adopted.
[4:02] Now we move on to executive nominations.
[4:05] Madame clerk,
[4:06] » EA25-0064,
[4:08] Timothy Keane, Director, Department of
[4:10] Planning.
[4:11] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[4:12] committee on legislative investigations.
[4:14] » EA25-0065
[4:17] Elijah Davis Jr., Member Trauma Informed
[4:20] Care Task Force.
[4:20] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[4:22] committee on investigate on legislative
[4:24] investigations.
[4:25] » EA25-0066
[4:27] Dr. Kevin Daniels member trauma-informed
[4:29] care task force.
[4:30] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[4:32] committee on legislative investigations.
[4:33] » EA25-0067
[4:36] Dr. Melissa Buckley, member,
[4:37] trauma-informed care task force.
[4:39] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[4:41] committee on legislative investigations.
[4:44] EA25-0068
[4:46] Terresa Bruce, member, trauma-informed
[4:48] care task force.
[4:49] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[4:50] committee on legislative investigations.
[4:52] » EA25-0069
[4:55] Molly Young, member, trauma-informed
[4:56] care task force.
[4:57] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[4:59] committee on legislative investigations.
[5:01] » EA25-0070.
[5:03] Corey Witherspoon, member,
[5:05] trauma-informed care task force.
[5:06] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[5:08] committee on legislative investigations.
[5:09] EA25-000071
[5:12] Angie Winder, member, trauma-informed
[5:14] care task force.
[5:15] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[5:16] committee on legislative investigations.
[5:18] » EA25-0072
[5:21] Farha Wahed, member trauma-informed care
[5:23] task force.
[5:24] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[5:26] committee on legislative investigations.
[5:27] » EA25-0073
[5:30] Tika Torres, member trauma-informed care
[5:32] task force.
[5:32] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[5:34] committee on legislative investigations.
[5:36] EA25-000074
[5:38] Jasmine Pope Member Trauma Informed Care
[5:40] Task Force.
[5:40] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[5:42] Committee on Legislative Investigations.
[5:44] » EA25-000075
[5:46] Dr. Tanya Nichols, Member Trauma
[5:48] Informed Care Task Force.
[5:49] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[5:51] Committee on Legislative Investigations.
[5:53] » EA25-0076
[5:55] DA Johnson, Member Trauma Informed Care
[5:57] Task Force.
[5:58] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[6:00] Committee on Legislative Investigations.
[6:02] EA25-000077
[6:04] Robert Holmes member trauma-informed
[6:06] care task force.
[6:07] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[6:09] committee on legislative investigations.
[6:10] » EA25-000078
[6:13] Dr. Panagus Scalia member
[6:16] trauma-informed care task force.
[6:17] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[6:19] committee on legislative investigations.
[6:21] » EA25-0079
[6:23] Dr. Andrew Gatus member trauma-informed
[6:26] care task force.
[6:26] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[6:28] committee on legislative investigations.
[6:29] EA25-080
[6:32] Jessica Font Laoy Member Trauma Informed
[6:34] Care Task Force.
[6:35] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[6:37] Committee on Legislative Investigations.
[6:38] » EA25-000081
[6:41] Tia Dun Johnson member trauma-informed
[6:43] care task force.
[6:44] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[6:45] committee on legislative investigations.
[6:47] » EA25-0082
[6:50] Karen Dehoff, member trauma-informed
[6:52] care task force.
[6:53] » This nomination has been assigned to the
[6:55] committee on legislative investigations.
[6:58] And I promise for those joining us for
[7:00] the first time, it will be less
[7:01] repetitive from here on out.
[7:05] » Now we move on to bills being
[7:06] introduced. Madame clerked,
[7:09] » City council bill 25-0102,
[7:13] Charles Village Community Benefits
[7:14] District and Management Authority, for
[7:16] the purpose of renewing and continuing
[7:18] the Char Charles Village Community
[7:19] Benefits District and Management
[7:21] Authority, providing for a special
[7:22] effective date and generally relating to
[7:24] the activities and authority of the
[7:26] Charles Village Community Benefits
[7:27] District and Management Authority. Lead
[7:29] sponsor Ramos Jones, co-sponsor Parker.
[7:32] » Chair recognizes council member Ramos.
[7:34] » Uh, thank you, Mr. President, and thank
[7:36] you, colleagues. This is the required uh
[7:39] reauthorization of the Charles Village
[7:40] Community Benefits District. This has to
[7:42] happen every four years uh for the
[7:44] public to be able to have a hearing
[7:46] about what's happening in the um
[7:48] benefits district, but also for us to
[7:50] celebrate the successes the benefits
[7:52] district uh Charles Village benefits
[7:54] district was the very first benefits
[7:55] district, community benefits district in
[7:57] Baltimore City. uh and I'm grateful to
[8:00] be have been involved from the very
[8:02] beginning uh of this of their work and
[8:04] they're designed to all benefits
[8:06] districts are designed to create to
[8:07] allow for more uh safety and cleanliness
[8:10] in that community and they are asset the
[8:12] property owners are assessed a special
[8:14] tax in order to pay for that. So this
[8:16] reauthorization is extremely important
[8:17] to continue uh the conversation around
[8:20] uh the the um performance of the
[8:23] organization but also the fact that we
[8:25] do still need these organizations um in
[8:28] these uh communities. So excited to work
[8:30] with my colleague uh on this bill and
[8:32] look forward to the next steps. Thank
[8:34] you, Mr. President.
[8:35] » Thank you, Council Member Ramos.
[8:38] This bill has been assigned to the
[8:43] Councilman Jones. Do you want to speak
[8:45] to this bill as well or are you good?
[8:47] » Okay. This bill has been assigned to the
[8:49] housing and economic development
[8:50] committee. City Council Bill 25-0103
[8:54] zoning conditional use conversion of a
[8:56] single family dwelling unit to three
[8:57] dwelling units in the R8 zoning district
[9:00] 1224 West Lafayette Avenue for the
[9:03] purpose of permitting subject to certain
[9:05] conditions the conversion of a single
[9:06] family dwelling unit into three dwelling
[9:08] units on the property known as 1224 West
[9:11] Lafayette Avenue block 0078 lot 005 as
[9:15] outlined in red on the accompanying plat
[9:17] and providing for a special effective
[9:18] date lead sponsor Bulock
[9:20] This bill has been assigned to the land
[9:22] use and transportation committee.
[9:23] » City Council Bill 25-0104,
[9:26] sale of property 2405 Lynen Avenue for
[9:30] the purpose of authorizing the mayor and
[9:31] city council of Baltimore to sell either
[9:33] at public or private sale all its
[9:35] interest in certain property located at
[9:37] 2405 Lynen Avenue, block 3463A,
[9:41] lot 008A, and no longer needed for
[9:43] public use and providing for a special
[9:45] effective date. Lead sponsor council
[9:47] president on behalf of the office of the
[9:49] comp patroller.
[9:50] » This bill has been assigned to the land
[9:51] use and transportation committee. City
[9:53] Council Bill 25-0105
[9:56] supplementary general fund operating
[9:57] appropriation Baltimore City Public
[9:59] Schools 12,911,344
[10:04] the purpose of providing a supplementary
[10:05] general fund operating appropriation in
[10:07] the amount of 12,911,344
[10:11] to Baltimore City Public Schools Service
[10:13] 352 Baltimore City Public Schools to
[10:16] provide funding for a deficit caused by
[10:18] the city's contribution to the
[10:19] development agreement for City Springs
[10:20] Elementary Middle School and providing
[10:22] ing for a special effective date. Lead
[10:24] sponsor, council president. On behalf of
[10:26] the administration,
[10:27] » This bill has been assigned to the
[10:29] budget and appropriations committee.
[10:31] City Council Bill 25-0106
[10:34] Supplementary General Fund Operating
[10:36] Appropriation Fire Department 38,520,93
[10:42] for the purpose of providing a
[10:43] supplementary general fund operating
[10:44] appropriation in the amount of $
[10:46] 38,520,93
[10:50] to the Fire Department Service 62, Fire
[10:53] Suppression and Emergency Rescue, to
[10:55] provide funding to balance the fire
[10:57] department's fiscal year 2025 budget to
[10:59] cover a deficit caused by overtime.
[11:01] time, staffing costs, and contractual
[11:03] EMS services, and providing for a
[11:05] special effective date. Lead sponsor,
[11:07] city council president, on behalf of the
[11:09] administration.
[11:10] » This bill has been assigned to the
[11:11] budget and appropriations committee.
[11:12] City Council Bill 25-0107,
[11:15] supplementary general fund operating
[11:17] appropriation, Department of Law,
[11:18] $81,393,
[11:21] for the purpose of providing a
[11:22] supplementary general fund operating
[11:24] appropriation in the amount of $81,393
[11:27] to the Department of Law Service862
[11:29] transactions to provide funding to
[11:31] balance the Department of Law's fiscal
[11:33] year 2025 budget to cover a deficit
[11:35] caused by contractual spending and
[11:37] providing for a special effective date.
[11:39] Council present on behalf of the
[11:41] administration.
[11:42] » This bill has been assigned to the
[11:43] budget and appropriations committee.
[11:44] City Council Bill 25-0108,
[11:47] supplementary general fund operating
[11:49] appropriation, liquor license board,
[11:51] $454,415
[11:54] for the purpose of providing a
[11:55] supplementary general fund operating
[11:57] appropriation the amount of $454,415
[12:01] to the liquor license board service 851
[12:04] liquor license compliance to provide
[12:06] funding to balance the liquor license
[12:07] board's fiscal 2025 budget for a deficit
[12:10] caused by office lease costs, use of
[12:13] privately leased vehicle, less and
[12:14] overtime and providing for a special
[12:16] effective date. Lead sponsor, council
[12:18] president, on behalf of the
[12:19] administration.
[12:20] » This bill has been assigned to the
[12:21] budget and appropriations committee.
[12:23] City Council Bill 25-0109,
[12:26] supplementary special grant fund
[12:27] operating appropriation, Mayor's Office
[12:29] of Employment Development, $300,000. for
[12:32] the purpose of providing a supplementary
[12:34] special grant fund operating
[12:35] appropriation in the amount of $300 to
[12:38] the mayor's office of employment
[12:39] development service 795 workforce
[12:42] services for Baltimore residents to
[12:44] provide funding to support the creation
[12:45] of recovery friendly workplaces and care
[12:47] navigators and providing for a special
[12:49] effective date lead sponsor city council
[12:52] president on behalf of the
[12:53] administration
[12:53] » This bill has been assigned to the
[12:54] budget and appropriations committee
[12:56] » City council bill 25-0110
[12:59] supplementary general fund operating
[13:01] appropriation Police Department
[13:03] 47,492,889
[13:08] for the purpose of providing a
[13:09] supplementary general fund operating
[13:10] appropriation the amount of 47,492,889
[13:16] to the police department service 622
[13:19] police patrol to provide funding to
[13:21] balance the police department's fiscal
[13:22] year 2025 budget for a deficit caused by
[13:25] overtime and staffing costs and
[13:27] providing for a special effective date.
[13:29] Lead sponsor, council president. On
[13:30] behalf of the administration,
[13:31] » This bill has been assigned to the
[13:33] budget and appropriations committee.
[13:34] » City Council Bill 25-0000111,
[13:37] supplementary general fund operating
[13:39] appropriation, Department of Recreation
[13:41] and Parks, 5,630,976.
[13:45] for the purpose of providing a
[13:46] supplementary general fund operating
[13:48] appropriation the amount of 5,630,976
[13:53] to the Department of Recreation and
[13:55] Parks Service 654 Urban Forestry to
[13:58] provide funding to balance the
[13:59] Department of Recreation and Parks
[14:01] fiscal year 2025 budget for a deficit
[14:03] caused by overtime and unbudgeted
[14:05] contractual costs and providing for a
[14:07] special effective date. Lead sponsor
[14:09] council president on behalf of the
[14:10] administration. This bill has been
[14:12] assigned to the budget and
[14:13] appropriations committee. City Council
[14:15] Bill 25-0112,
[14:18] Supplementary General Fund Operating
[14:19] Appropriation, Sheriff's Office,
[14:21] 3,425,454,
[14:25] for the purpose of providing a
[14:27] supplementary general fund operating
[14:28] appropriation in the amount of
[14:29] $3,425,454
[14:33] to the Sheriff's Office Service 882,
[14:36] Deputy Sheriff Enforcement, to provide
[14:38] funding to balance the sheriff's office
[14:39] budget for fiscal year 2025 for a
[14:42] deficit caused by overtime, fleet costs,
[14:44] and various contractual and supply
[14:46] spending and providing for a special
[14:48] effective date. Lead sponsor, council
[14:50] president, on behalf of the
[14:51] administration.
[14:52] » This bill has been assigned to the
[14:53] budget and appropriations committee.
[14:55] City Council Bill 25-0113
[14:58] supplementary general fund operating
[15:00] appropriation department of
[15:01] transportation 4,457,580
[15:06] for the purpose of providing a
[15:07] supplementary general fund operating
[15:08] appropriation in the amount of $4,457580
[15:12] to the Department of Transportation
[15:14] Service 688 Snow and Ice Control to
[15:17] provide funding to balance the
[15:18] Department of Transportation's fiscal
[15:20] year 2025 budget for a deficit caused by
[15:22] snow removal costs and providing for
[15:24] special effective date. Lead sponsor,
[15:26] council president. On behalf of the
[15:28] administration,
[15:29] » This bill has been assigned to the
[15:30] budget and appropriations committee. We
[15:32] will now move on to resolutions of the
[15:34] city council. Madame clerk,
[15:37] » City council resolution 25-0034R
[15:41] workers rights in Baltimore City for the
[15:43] purpose of recognizing key rights of
[15:45] workers across Baltimore City. Lead
[15:48] sponsors Cohen Jones. Co-sponsors Parker
[15:51] Dorsy, Conway, Schlifer, Gray, Bullock,
[15:53] Porter, Blanchard, Ramos.
[15:56] » Colleagues, in this moment of national
[15:59] discord and division, the city council
[16:01] and our partners in labor will make
[16:04] Baltimore the best city in America for
[16:06] working people. I thank Chairman Jones
[16:10] and President Courtney Jenkins and the
[16:12] members of the AFL CIO for their
[16:15] partnership in this effort.
[16:18] Baltimoreians deserve to know that when
[16:20] they leave for work in the morning,
[16:22] they'll come back home at night without
[16:24] risking life and limb. And that holds
[16:27] particularly true for our public
[16:29] servants like our sanitation workers who
[16:31] are out there every day cleaning up our
[16:34] trash.
[16:35] Baltimoreians deserve to know that their
[16:37] wages will not be stolen, that they will
[16:41] be paid on time, and that we will go
[16:43] after the bad actors who take advantage
[16:46] of vulnerable people. Baltimoreians
[16:49] deserve to know that we are using our
[16:51] precious tax dollars to support
[16:54] responsible, upstanding contractors who
[16:56] provide the best value for our money,
[17:00] who don't incur constant cost overruns,
[17:02] and who do not exploit their workers.
[17:06] Baltimoreians deserve the right to
[17:08] organize because we know that the only
[17:11] thing better than a good job is a good
[17:14] union job. And Baltimoreians deserve to
[17:17] know that their city council is laser
[17:20] focused on affordability.
[17:23] Together, we're proving that we can be
[17:24] pro business and proworker. In fact, you
[17:28] can't have one without the other. And
[17:31] we're proving that when we fight and
[17:33] when we unite with working people, we
[17:36] win. In the months ahead, we will unveil
[17:40] a series of bills focused on making this
[17:43] resolution a reality for workers in our
[17:46] city. Before we vote, I want to turn the
[17:49] mic over to our labor and workforce
[17:51] chair, Councilman Germaine Jones. Folks,
[17:55] do not mistake his quiet, easygoing
[17:58] energy for timidity. The man is focused
[18:01] and he is fierce. I could not ask for a
[18:03] better partner to lead this effort.
[18:05] Councilman Jones, the floor is yours.
[18:09] » Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues,
[18:13] today I rise to introduce this workers
[18:15] rights resolution because the reality
[18:17] for too many people in Baltimore is that
[18:20] hard work is no longer enough to
[18:22] survive. Every day across the city and
[18:25] across the country, people are working
[18:27] two, even three jobs just to keep up
[18:29] with rent, groceries, and utilities. And
[18:33] many still don't have access to basic
[18:35] health care.
[18:37] Too many parents are spending more time
[18:39] trying to piece together income than
[18:42] spending time raising their own
[18:43] children. And when it comes to workplace
[18:46] protection and dignity, it often feels
[18:48] like we've moved backwards and not
[18:50] forward.
[18:52] A worker should not have to choose
[18:54] between paying the bills and protecting
[18:56] their health. They should not have to
[18:59] sacrifice their bodies to the job or
[19:01] gamble with safety because productivity
[19:04] is valued over human life.
[19:07] Baltimore's laws already say no one
[19:10] should be forced to live below a minimum
[19:12] standard of decent living.
[19:14] And this resolution simply calls on us
[19:17] to finally live up to that promise and
[19:20] to say clearly that the people who carry
[19:22] this city on their backs deserve more
[19:25] than survival. They deserve stability.
[19:29] They deserve respect. And they deserve
[19:31] security.
[19:33] This workers bill of rights is not
[19:35] symbolic. It's a declaration that in
[19:38] Baltimore, dignity for working people is
[19:41] not negotiable.
[19:43] So I urge my colleagues to stand with me
[19:46] and to stand with working families who
[19:47] keep Baltimore alive every single day.
[19:50] Thank you, Mr. President.
[19:52] I move to to suspend rules 3-7
[19:57] for immediate adoption.
[19:59] » Without objection, the rules will be
[20:01] suspended.
[20:02] The rules are suspended. Councilman.
[20:09] » Thank you, Mr. President. I move that
[20:10] the resolution be adopted. The clerk
[20:13] will call the role.
[20:14] » Parker,
[20:15] » Yes.
[20:15] » McCrae,
[20:17] » Dorsey,
[20:17] » Yes.
[20:18] » Conway,
[20:19] » Hi.
[20:19] » Schlifer,
[20:20] » Yes. Torrance. Hi
[20:22] » Gray.
[20:23] » Hi
[20:23] » Bullock.
[20:24] » Hi
[20:24] » Porter.
[20:25] » Hi
[20:26] » Blanchard.
[20:26] » Hi
[20:27] » Jones.
[20:28] » Hi
[20:28] » Glover.
[20:29] » Yes
[20:29] » Ramos.
[20:30] » Yes.
[20:31] » Cohen
[20:31] » I. The motion is approved. This
[20:33] resolution has been adopted.
[20:37] » City Council resolution
[20:38] 25-0035Rformational
[20:41] hearing safekeeping and storage of
[20:43] Baltimore City Wells. for the purpose of
[20:46] inviting the register of wills, the
[20:47] clerk of the circuit court for Baltimore
[20:49] City, the chief judge of the circuit
[20:50] court for Baltimore City, the director
[20:52] of the department of general services,
[20:54] and the city administrator to appear
[20:55] before the city council to discuss the
[20:57] current space allocated to store wills
[20:59] in the Clarence J. Mitchell Jr.
[21:00] courthouse, the lack of fire and flood
[21:02] protection in said storage space, and
[21:04] the need to digitize and protect the 100
[21:06] years of wills being stored in a room in
[21:08] the aging courthouse. Lead sponsor
[21:10] Schlifer. co-sponsors Parker, Dorsy,
[21:13] Conway, Gray, Bullock, Porter,
[21:15] Blanchard, Jones, Ramos, Cohen.
[21:17] » Chair recognizes Councilman Schlifer.
[21:19] » Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, in a
[21:21] recent stroll over to the courthouse and
[21:23] looking through the different offices
[21:25] there, came across a very interesting
[21:27] one, the the register of the wills
[21:29] office. Uh, and anybody who goes over
[21:32] there, you'll find just walls covered
[21:34] with um with wills. And each one of
[21:37] these wills is an individual in
[21:40] Baltimore's last will in testament. And
[21:43] these wills both um delegate assets as
[21:47] well as um reveal everything that that
[21:51] deceased um has and who it should go to.
[21:53] And without that um there's a lot of
[21:56] issues that would come from that,
[21:58] whether it be families fighting um and
[22:00] other u related asset issues as well as
[22:04] property related issues in the city. Um,
[22:06] and we know that our courthouse is over
[22:09] 125 years old and properties uh like the
[22:12] agent courthouse are prone to floods,
[22:16] leaks, um, electrical fires and other
[22:19] other related hazards. And god forbid
[22:21] that should happen um, in our
[22:23] courthouse, uh, 100 years worth of wills
[22:27] and hundreds of thousands of people
[22:29] would be impacted um, by such a
[22:31] catastrophe. And so it's important that
[22:34] that we as city leaders take immediate
[22:36] action um both in the short term as well
[22:38] as the long term. The long term
[22:40] obviously being that uh these should not
[22:42] be only on paper. They should all be
[22:44] digit digitized and scanned. That's
[22:47] pretty basic. But um on the short term
[22:50] we need to protect the wills that are
[22:51] there making sure they're in waterproof
[22:53] as well as fireproof um storage u
[22:57] containers essentially. And so we'll be
[22:59] hosting uh this hearing um and I thank
[23:01] all the co-sponsors um and I thank the
[23:05] register of the wills and and everybody
[23:07] else who will be participating in that
[23:08] hearing. Thank you.
[23:09] » Thank you, Councilman Schlifer. Uh this
[23:12] resolution has been assigned to the
[23:13] committee on legislative investigations.
[23:15] Please note Councilman Torrance as
[23:17] co-sponsor, Councilman Glover as well.
[23:22] City Council Resolution 25-0036R,
[23:26] Informational Hearing, Human Trafficking
[23:28] Investigations and Prosecutions for the
[23:30] purpose of inviting representatives from
[23:32] the Baltimore City Office of the State's
[23:34] Attorney, the Baltimore City Police
[23:35] Department, the Baltimore City Fire
[23:37] Department, the Baltimore City Public
[23:39] School System Police, the Baltimore City
[23:41] Sheriff's Office, the Baltimore City
[23:42] Human Trafficking Collaborative
[23:44] Co-chairs, and all subcommittee chairs,
[23:46] the Federal Bureau of Investigation,
[23:49] Homeland Security Investigation, the
[23:51] Maryland State Police, the Maryland
[23:52] United States Attorney's Office, the
[23:54] Maryland Department of Social Services,
[23:56] the Maryland Department of Juvenile
[23:58] Services, the Hope Center, formerly
[24:00] known as Baltimore Child Abuse Center,
[24:02] Blue Dot, and other collaborators from
[24:04] the Baltimore Human Trafficking
[24:05] Collaborative, who provide victims of
[24:07] human trafficking with emergency
[24:08] interventions and support services to
[24:10] brief the city council on the scope of
[24:12] the human trafficking problem in
[24:13] Baltimore City, current efforts to
[24:15] investigate and prosecute perpetrators
[24:17] of human trafficking, further strategies
[24:19] that could be implemented to bring these
[24:21] individuals to justice and resources
[24:23] that are needed to assist survivors of
[24:24] human trafficking. Lead sponsor Porter.
[24:27] Co-sponsors Parker Gray, Bullock,
[24:30] Blanchard, Jones, Ramos, Cohen.
[24:32] » Chair recognizes Council Member Porter.
[24:34] » Thank you, and I thank you to my
[24:36] colleagues for your attention today.
[24:38] Today, I'm introducing a resolution
[24:39] calling for theformational hearing on
[24:41] human trafficking investigations and
[24:43] prosecutions in Baltimore City. This
[24:45] hearing will bring together the many
[24:47] members of the Baltimore City Human
[24:48] Trafficking Collaborative and our law
[24:50] enforcement, state, federal, nonprofit
[24:52] partners to brief the council on the
[24:54] scope of the problem, the progress has
[24:56] that has been made, and the resources
[24:58] needed to better protect our residents.
[25:00] Human trafficking is one of the most
[25:01] devastating crimes taking place in our
[25:03] city and across Maryland. Our state's
[25:05] central location with major highways,
[25:07] ports, and transit systems makes
[25:09] Baltimore particularly vulnerable as a
[25:11] corridor for human traffickers. Victims
[25:14] are often hidden in plain sight and they
[25:16] are exploited, isolated, and silenced. I
[25:19] also want to take a moment to recognize
[25:20] former councilman, former Councilman
[25:22] Chris Bernett, who fought for years and
[25:24] was a champion in this fight and helped
[25:26] build the foundation of the Baltimore
[25:27] City Human Trafficking Collaborative.
[25:29] Councilman Bernett's vision brought
[25:31] together government agencies, law
[25:33] enforcement, advocates, and service
[25:35] providers under one roof, working in
[25:36] partnership rather than in isolation.
[25:39] Today, as chair of the collaborative, I
[25:41] am proud to continue elevating this
[25:43] important work to protect survivors and
[25:45] hold traffickers accountable. This
[25:47] hearing will invite testimony from our
[25:48] partners, including the state's
[25:50] attorney's office, the Baltimore Police
[25:51] Department, Fire Department, school
[25:53] police, sheriff's department, the FBI,
[25:55] Homeland Security and Investigations,
[25:57] Maryland State Police, and service
[25:59] providers alike. Together we will help
[26:01] if they will help us understand the
[26:03] current landscape, how cases are being
[26:05] identified and investigated, how
[26:07] prosecutions are proceeding, what
[26:08] prevention strategies are working, and
[26:10] what supports are available and or still
[26:13] lacking for survivors. Baltimore has a
[26:15] responsibility to ensure that every
[26:17] survivor of human trafficking receives
[26:18] the protection, care, and justice they
[26:20] deserve. Though this hearing through
[26:22] this hearing, we will reaffirm our
[26:24] commitment to end human trafficking in
[26:26] all of its forms, ensuring that every
[26:28] agency and partner in this city is
[26:29] working together to make it happen. I
[26:31] look forward to the discussion and to
[26:33] continuing to strengthen Baltimore's
[26:35] leadership in combating human
[26:36] trafficking, a legacy built on
[26:38] collaboration, compassion, and action.
[26:41] » Thank you, Council Member Porter. This
[26:43] resolution has been assigned to the
[26:44] public safety committee. The consent
[26:47] calendar was sent to members inboxes in
[26:49] the desk documents folder. Is there a
[26:51] motion to approve the consent calendar?
[26:55] » All those in favor of approving the
[26:57] consent calendar say I.
[26:59] » Those oppos say nay. The motion carries
[27:02] and the consent calendar is approved. We
[27:04] now move two bills and executive
[27:06] appointments on second reader. Chair
[27:08] recognizes council member Dorsy.
[27:11] » Thank you, Mr. President. I move that we
[27:12] read short titles for the remainder of
[27:13] the meeting this evening.
[27:15] » Without objection, we will proceed with
[27:17] reading short titles.
[27:19] We will proceed with reading short
[27:22] titles. We begin with an executive
[27:24] nomination from the committee on
[27:26] legislative investigations. Madame
[27:27] clerk,
[27:28] » EA25-000039
[27:30] Catalina Rodriguez Lima, director,
[27:33] mayor's office of immigrant affairs.
[27:35] » Chair recognizes Chair Schlifer.
[27:38] » Thank you, Mr. President. Um, we held a
[27:40] hearing on Thursday, October 16th, and
[27:43] the committee recommends a favorable
[27:46] nomination.
[27:47] Thank you, Chairman Schlifer. Is there
[27:49] any debate or discussion on this
[27:51] nomination?
[27:54] Hearing seeing none, all those in favor
[27:55] of confirming this nominee say I.
[27:58] » I.
[27:58] » I.
[28:00] » Those opposed say nay. This nomination
[28:03] is confirmed. We now move to bills from
[28:06] the housing and economic development
[28:07] committee on second reader. Madame
[28:09] clerk,
[28:10] » City council bill 25-0063,
[28:13] zoning administrator transfer to the
[28:15] department of planning.
[28:17] » Chair recognizes chair Torrance.
[28:19] » Thank you, Mr. President. Bill 2563,
[28:22] zoning administrator transfer to
[28:24] department of planning, sponsored by
[28:26] Vice President Milit. This bill was
[28:27] heard on September 30th. It was
[28:29] recommended with favorable with
[28:30] amendments. Mr. President, um there were
[28:33] committee amendments on my colleague's
[28:34] desk. The amendments require that the
[28:36] civil service commission to give the
[28:38] council reasonable notice if the zoning
[28:41] administrator was to be reclassified out
[28:43] of the out of civil service. Mr.
[28:45] President, I offer this amendment
[28:47] because of two things. One is that the
[28:50] zoning administrator position is very
[28:51] important to this council, but also I I
[28:54] wholeheartedly believe in the practices
[28:56] of zoning in this in this city have been
[28:58] discriminatory to people of color. So
[29:00] for the one person who gets to offer an
[29:02] opinion about zoning in this city, I
[29:04] just want to make sure that this council
[29:05] is given adequate notice when they are
[29:07] put into an atwell position. This
[29:09] position is civil service currently and
[29:11] we know politics can happen and I just
[29:12] want to make sure that person is
[29:14] protected and that this council puts
[29:15] that protection in place. With that
[29:17] being said, I move the amendment. Mr.
[29:18] President, thank you. Council member
[29:20] Torrance, is there any debate or
[29:22] discussion on these amendments?
[29:27] hearing and seeing none. All those in
[29:31] favor of adopting the amendment say I.
[29:36] » I.
[29:36] » Those opposed say nay. The motion
[29:39] carries and the amendments are adopted.
[29:42] Chair recognizes Chair Torrance.
[29:44] » Mr. President, I move the bill as
[29:45] amended.
[29:46] » Is there any debate or discussion on
[29:48] this bill?
[29:50] Hearing and seeing none, all those in
[29:52] favor of approving this bill say I.
[29:55] » I. Those opposed say nay. This bill will
[29:58] be printed for third reading. We now
[30:01] move to bills from land use and
[30:02] transportation committee on second
[30:04] reader. Madame clerk,
[30:06] » City council bill 25-0040,
[30:09] zoning uses retail small box
[30:11] establishment.
[30:13] » Chair recognizes chair Dorsy.
[30:16] » Thank you, Mr. President. The land use
[30:19] and transportation committee heard this
[30:21] bill on October 16th. It was re
[30:24] recommended as favorable with
[30:26] amendments. Mr. President, there are
[30:27] committee amendments uh in with the desk
[30:30] documents.
[30:31] The first amendment therefore clarifies
[30:35] the purpose statement and the
[30:36] authorizing legislation.
[30:39] Uh amendment two clarifies the type of
[30:42] goods sold at small box store. Amendment
[30:47] three clarifies terms in the bill such
[30:48] as store and fuel station. And amendment
[30:52] four strikes the section on
[30:53] nonconforming uses. It is my
[30:55] understanding that all these amendments
[30:57] came at the recommendation of the city
[30:59] law department and uh better the bill.
[31:02] Um in that respect, Mr. President, I
[31:04] move the amendments.
[31:05] » Before we vote, is there any debate or
[31:08] discussion on the committee amendments?
[31:10] Hearing and seeing none, all those in
[31:13] favor of adopting the amendments say I.
[31:15] » I.
[31:16] » Those opposed say nay. The motion
[31:19] passes. The amendments the amendments
[31:21] are adopted.
[31:22] » Mr. Mr. President, I move the bill
[31:24] favorably as amended.
[31:25] » Is there any debate or discussion on
[31:27] this bill?
[31:30] Hearing and seeing none, all those in
[31:31] favor of approving this bill say I.
[31:34] » I.
[31:34] » I. Let's
[31:35] » Try that again. All those in favor of
[31:37] approving this bill say I.
[31:38] » I.
[31:39] » Those opposed say nay.
[31:41] » This bill will be printed for third
[31:43] reading. Please note council member
[31:45] Schlifer as a nay.
[31:48] City Council Bill 25-0064
[31:52] zoning bulk and yard requirements
[31:54] amendments.
[31:57] » The chair recognizes Chair Dorsy.
[32:00] » Thank you, Mr. President. This bill was
[32:02] heard on October 16th. It was
[32:05] recommended as favorable with amendment.
[32:06] Mr. President, there are amendments on
[32:09] my colleagues desks.
[32:12] The first amendment from uh Council
[32:15] Member Gray, the sponsor of the bill,
[32:17] which I can I'll also note was done in
[32:19] collaboration with Councilman Parker.
[32:21] Thank you for your contribution. Um
[32:23] requires that buildings taller than 35
[32:25] ft up to 45 ft either adjoin a street
[32:29] right ofway that is at least 40 feet
[32:31] wide in the case of an interior lot or
[32:34] before or for corner lots each of each
[32:36] of the adjoining streets must be 40t
[32:39] wide. This is an increase from the
[32:41] existing standard uh that's comparable
[32:43] that says 30 ft uh presently. Um
[32:47] amendment two from council member
[32:49] Middleton uh strikes vice president from
[32:51] the list of co-sponsors. Amendment three
[32:53] from the planning department are
[32:55] technical to correct typos in a table.
[32:58] Amendment four from Councilman Parker
[33:02] uh would increase the minimum rear yard
[33:06] in the R8 zoning district from 12 ft as
[33:09] proposed to 16 ft uh with the amendment.
[33:13] And amendment five from me would update
[33:16] the minimum lot area for age restricted
[33:18] multif family dwellings to be comparable
[33:20] with other multif family dwelling use.
[33:22] and amendment six from the zoning board
[33:26] are additional technical amendments to
[33:28] fix typos in the bill. Mr. President, I
[33:31] move all of the committee amendments.
[33:33] » Before we vote, is there any debate or
[33:35] discussion on the committee amendments?
[33:37] I see council member Schlifer.
[33:40] Uh, President, can we just get some
[33:42] clarity on this 40t wide street thing
[33:44] because everything else this this
[33:46] council has been proposing has been
[33:48] about um making streets thinner and you
[33:53] know and different uses stuff. So, the
[33:54] fact that the streets got to be 40t
[33:56] wide, can we just get some clarity and
[33:58] explanation as to why um that would be
[34:01] required?
[34:02] » Yes,
[34:02] » Council member Dorsy.
[34:03] » Yes, thank you. Um the zoning code today
[34:07] says that you can exceed the standard of
[34:12] 35 ft in building height to go up to 45
[34:16] ft
[34:18] if the the the the house is on a street
[34:23] that is 30 feet or greater in width. And
[34:28] what this does actually says is that
[34:32] some streets um are very small uh but
[34:36] may have just 30 feet but would have
[34:38] kind of an inappropriate kind of
[34:40] character to them if the houses were
[34:43] exceptionally tall. Um, and so it act so
[34:46] it changes the standard so that you
[34:48] can't go to that 45 ft height unless the
[34:50] street in front of it is at least 40 ft
[34:53] wide rather than being limited uh being
[34:56] permissive at only 30 ft. Does that help
[35:00] me? Sorry.
[35:03] » Great. Uh, other discussion debate
[35:08] hearing and seeing none. All those in
[35:12] favor of adopting the amendment say I.
[35:14] » I.
[35:15] » Those opposed say nay.
[35:18] » Uh I hear nays from council member
[35:21] Schlifer and Glover. Uh this bill uh
[35:25] this motion passes and the amendments
[35:28] are adopted.
[35:29] » Mr. President, I move the bill favorable
[35:31] as amended.
[35:33] » Is there any debate or discussion on
[35:35] this bill?
[35:37] Council member Conway.
[35:42] Thank you, uh, Mr. President. Um, I, you
[35:45] know, I I've been trying to look at this
[35:48] bill and I appreciate the intention of
[35:50] the sponsor. Um, but I have, um, some
[35:53] concerns about the impact that the bill
[35:55] would have across the city. Um, I
[35:57] understand we want to, uh, build more
[36:00] housing and expand more housing. I don't
[36:02] think that this necessarily does that.
[36:04] It expands housing in areas where we
[36:06] certainly want to see more people, but
[36:08] um I think if we want to bring more
[36:09] people into the city, we need to working
[36:11] we need to work in the areas where we
[36:12] don't currently have development. Um I
[36:15] think what we'll find is as people begin
[36:18] to make changes on their homes over
[36:19] time, uh it's going to cause
[36:21] inconveniences and challenges for folks
[36:23] in those neighborhoods from a viewhed,
[36:25] from a uh from a shadow perspective,
[36:28] from a convenience perspective in in
[36:30] many neighborhoods across the city. Um
[36:32] and I think one of the other major
[36:34] considerations here is that while this
[36:36] this effort um is written across the
[36:38] city, it won't affect all neighborhoods
[36:40] the same way. Uh we know that um
[36:43] neighborhoods that have covenants um are
[36:45] able to prevent this from moving forward
[36:47] in the in those respective
[36:48] neighborhoods. So it just doesn't it
[36:51] doesn't quite do um all the things we
[36:53] want it to do and I think it may cause
[36:55] some complications uh if we move forward
[36:57] with it. This is a sweeping effort
[36:59] across the entire city that has many
[37:01] many ramifications and for that reason
[37:03] um I have deep uh concerns about moving
[37:05] forward on the bill. Thank you.
[37:08] » Thank you, Councilman Conway.
[37:10] » Other debate discussion. Councilman
[37:12] Torrance.
[37:14] » Well, Mr. President, I wouldn't believe
[37:15] I would be agreeing with Councilman
[37:17] Conway tonight,
[37:20] but I I get the thought, the intent. I
[37:24] appreciate the the councilman's
[37:26] introduction of the bill. Um
[37:29] I I work for people in West Baltimore
[37:32] and I love Paris and I'm just be
[37:34] transparent. But tonight I have to vote
[37:36] on behalf of my residents. So I will be
[37:38] voting no. Mr. President,
[37:41] » Thank you Council Member Torrance.
[37:46] Hearing and seeing no further debate.
[37:48] All those in favor of approving this
[37:50] bill say I.
[37:52] » I. Those opposed say nay.
[37:56] » Uh, roll call.
[37:57] » Parker.
[38:00] » McCrae.
[38:04] » Please.
[38:10] » You're right. Apologies, Council Member
[38:11] McCrae. We're going to ask
[38:12] » No problem. If we could register my vote
[38:14] as a no.
[38:15] » Yep.
[38:16] » Thank you.
[38:16] » And please return to Council Member
[38:18] McCrae after we get done with the vote.
[38:21] » Dorsy. Yes.
[38:23] » Conway.
[38:24] » No
[38:25] » Schifer.
[38:26] » No
[38:27] » Torrance.
[38:28] » No
[38:40] » Gray.
[38:41] » Hi
[38:44] » Bo.
[38:44] » Hi
[38:45] » Porter.
[38:46] » Hi
[38:46] » Blanchard.
[38:47] » Hi
[38:48] » Jones.
[38:49] » Hi
[38:49] » Glover.
[38:50] » No
[38:51] » Ramos. Yes,
[38:52] » Cohen.
[38:53] » I
[38:54] » That is eight in the
[38:57] » Eight in the affirmative and one, two,
[39:00] three, four in the negative. I return to
[39:03] council member McCrae to explain her
[39:06] vote and this bill will pass.
[39:17] » Uh, sorry, five in the negative. I think
[39:19] eight.
[39:20] » Eight in the affirmative.
[39:25] » One more time.
[39:26] » Nine.
[39:27] » Yeah. Just call.
[39:28] » All right. Nine in the affirmative. The
[39:31] bill passed. Nine in the affirmative. Uh
[39:35] four in the negative.
[39:36] » Cool.
[39:36] » One, two.
[39:40] » Math was not my strong suit. Chammoya re
[39:43] recount real quick. Parker,
[39:46] » Hi.
[39:46] » McCrae,
[39:47] » Yes.
[39:48] » Dorsy,
[39:49] » Yes.
[39:49] » Conway,
[39:50] » No.
[39:50] » Schlifer,
[39:51] » No.
[39:51] » Middleton is absent. Torrance,
[39:53] » No.
[39:54] » Gray,
[39:55] » Hi.
[39:55] » Balok,
[39:56] » Hi.
[39:56] » Porter,
[39:56] » Hi.
[39:57] » Blanchard,
[39:58] » Hi.
[39:58] » Jones,
[39:59] » Hi.
[39:59] » Glover,
[40:00] » No.
[40:01] » Ramos,
[40:02] » Yes.
[40:02] » Cohen,
[40:03] » I.
[40:03] » All right, that is five in the negative.
[40:06] And one, two, three, four, five, six,
[40:09] seven, eight, nine in the affirmative.
[40:11] Nine in the affirmative, five in the
[40:13] negative. This bill passes. Council
[40:15] member McCrae.
[40:19] Thank you, Mr. President. I'm going be
[40:21] brief, everybody. I just want to make
[40:22] sure that I'm on the record. Um, for my
[40:24] district, I I voted no on this bill
[40:27] because I believe um there are
[40:30] environmental impacts from increasing
[40:32] lot sizes and there were community
[40:35] concerns within my district. Um,
[40:38] every community um has their own
[40:41] culture. Every community is unique and I
[40:42] think that we need to um make sure that
[40:45] we're also paying attention to that.
[40:46] Thank you, Mr. President.
[40:48] » Thank you, Council Member McCrae.
[40:52] » City Council Bill 25-0065,
[40:56] zoning eliminating off- streetet parking
[40:58] requirements.
[40:59] » Chair recognizes Chair Dorsy.
[41:03] » Thank you, Mr. President. This bill was
[41:05] heard on October 16th. It was
[41:07] recommended as favorable with an
[41:10] amendment.
[41:12] The amendment is included in the desk
[41:14] documents. My colleagues, the amendment
[41:16] uh brought by the sponsor of the bill,
[41:18] Councilman Blanchard, clarifies
[41:20] exceptions to the parking maximums in
[41:24] the cases of detached or semi- detached
[41:26] dwellings where no maximum allowable
[41:29] amount of parking exists or a structure
[41:33] or land that has changed to a new use uh
[41:37] which can exceed the permitted maximum
[41:40] if the prior use had a higher maximum.
[41:43] It also clarifies that the ordinance
[41:45] does not apply to off- streetet parking
[41:47] facilities as a part of the parking
[41:50] maximum. Um just as a refresher, the
[41:54] bill um recognizes that today there are
[41:59] there is a table listing out um
[42:02] numerically, mathematically
[42:04] uh by formulas the the parking minimum
[42:08] that is required and there is a
[42:10] provision in the zoning code that uh in
[42:13] the text of the code that says that
[42:15] there are parking maximums that exist
[42:17] today throughout the city. And um the
[42:21] while t but that it is twice that
[42:23] parking minimum um that is in the code
[42:26] in the table uh rather. And so the bill
[42:29] carries forth the existing parking
[42:31] maximum today. uh it just maintains that
[42:34] status quo and these amendments make
[42:36] sure that if there are properties that
[42:38] were built before say those parking
[42:40] maximums ever existed that those
[42:42] properties can continue to exceed the
[42:45] parking maximum uh even if those
[42:48] properties change hands or change uses
[42:50] that existing parking maximum can remain
[42:53] it doesn't have somebody doesn't have to
[42:55] take away parking spaces just because a
[42:57] property changed owners or occupants uh
[43:00] so with that uh Mr. President, I move
[43:02] the amendment as favorable.
[43:05] » Before we vote on this amendment, is
[43:07] there any debate or discussion?
[43:13] » Hearing and seeing none, all those in
[43:16] favor of approving this amendment say I.
[43:19] » I.
[43:20] » Those opposed say nay.
[43:25] » Roll call.
[43:27] » Parker,
[43:28] » Yes.
[43:28] » McCrae,
[43:29] » No. Dorsy,
[43:31] » Yes.
[43:31] » Conway,
[43:32] » Hi.
[43:33] » Schlifer,
[43:33] » No.
[43:34] » Middleton is absent. Torrance,
[43:36] » No.
[43:37] » Gray,
[43:37] » Hi.
[43:38] » Bullock,
[43:38] » Hi.
[43:39] » Porter,
[43:40] » No.
[43:40] » Blanchard,
[43:41] » Hi.
[43:42] » Jones,
[43:42] » Hi.
[43:43] » Glover,
[43:43] » No.
[43:44] » Ramos,
[43:45] » Yes.
[43:45] » Cohen,
[43:46] » I.
[43:49] » Nine in the affirmative, five in the
[43:51] negative.
[43:51] » With nine in the affirmative and five in
[43:53] the negative, this amendment passes. Uh,
[43:56] Council Member Dorsy.
[44:00] At this time, I move the bill favorable
[44:02] as amended.
[44:03] » President
[44:05] uh I believe there is a floor amendment.
[44:07] Councilman Torrance.
[44:10] » Thank you, Mr. President. As a person
[44:12] who firmly believes in representing my
[44:14] community, I must offer these
[44:16] amendments. While I respect the author
[44:19] of the of the actual bill's intent,
[44:22] as a person who represents a black
[44:23] butterfly, it is absolutely a no for me.
[44:26] Um the amendments that I offer tonight
[44:29] will put where everyone has been saying
[44:32] to muster. This bill has no writing
[44:34] about affordable housing. So amendment
[44:37] number one will require that if you want
[44:40] to have the parking
[44:42] minimums removed,
[44:44] you actually have to have 60% AMI.
[44:47] I'm very strong about that. but also
[44:50] allows us to exempt clinics as well as
[44:54] residential care facilities as well as
[44:56] the Black Arts and Entertainment
[44:57] District. I author this amendment
[44:59] because I have someone who's using a
[45:00] predatory business on Pennsylvania
[45:02] Avenue who has a methodone clinic who
[45:04] says if this bill passes, he can open up
[45:06] two more facilities in my district.
[45:10] Too far have black people been given
[45:12] things and given things and given things
[45:15] because of zoning does not have a
[45:18] racially
[45:20] progressive stance in terms of
[45:21] identifying that my brown skin matters,
[45:23] my property value matters.
[45:26] So, Mr. President, I offer amendment
[45:28] number one for that reason. In addition
[45:30] to that, for my residents who live in
[45:32] Bolton Hill and other neighborhoods who
[45:33] are dealing with curb congestion, it
[45:35] gives us an opportunity for parking
[45:38] authority to say that we've seen curb
[45:39] congestion. We may actually have to add
[45:41] a parking garage in a neighborhood to
[45:43] actually remove those minimums and those
[45:45] maximums to address the needs in those
[45:47] individual communities. I think that
[45:48] this is the easiest way to address the
[45:51] bill without harming uned consequences
[45:55] for black and brown neighborhoods. So
[45:57] with that, Mr. President, I move
[45:58] amendment number one.
[46:00] » Thank you, Council Member Torrance.
[46:01] Before we vote, is there any debate or
[46:04] discussion on the floor amendment? I see
[46:07] Council Member Parker.
[46:10] » Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, thank you,
[46:12] Councilman Torrance, for bringing this
[46:14] before us. I just had a question. I know
[46:16] um amendment one has a lot of different
[46:18] pieces to it. Would you be so good only
[46:21] because uh I work really closely with
[46:23] arts and entertainment districts. would
[46:24] you explain um the um uh just spell out
[46:29] the 1 per 10 person fiber couch. Just
[46:31] break that down for us. I want to make
[46:32] sure I understand what you're proposing
[46:33] there um in terms of what the
[46:36] requirement would be for um public
[46:40] assembly related uh items.
[46:42] » Chair recognize Councilman Torren.
[46:44] » Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you,
[46:45] Councilman Parker. So right now as we're
[46:47] building more entertainment space on
[46:49] Pennsylvania Avenue, we have adequate
[46:51] parking um because of we have the
[46:53] minimums of 10. Right. As we're thinking
[46:55] about it, I've had two methodone clinics
[46:57] open up in the district. One at the Bank
[46:59] of America and they have the other at a
[47:01] former actual pharmacy because of the
[47:04] zoning requirements. They're exempt
[47:06] because they have no parking minimums
[47:07] because of what they are because their
[47:09] classification. This bill will open up
[47:11] the the floodgates to increase the
[47:13] number of actual facilities on the on
[47:15] the Black Arts and Entertainment
[47:17] District. I do not want to wake up after
[47:18] we've made a concerted effort to add
[47:21] black voices and black artists and
[47:22] actual space in our district to actually
[47:24] be exasperated and destroyed by the
[47:27] intent of persons willing to make
[47:28] millions of dollars off of an epidemic
[47:30] that we're trying to solve today.
[47:34] » Thank you, Council Member Torrance. Any
[47:36] further debate or discussion on the
[47:40] floor amendments?
[47:42] Hearing and seeing none, all those in
[47:45] favor of approving the floor amendments
[47:47] say I.
[47:48] » Roll call.
[47:50] » Roll call.
[47:51] » Parker,
[47:53] » McCrae,
[47:54] » Yes.
[47:55] » Dorsy,
[47:56] » No.
[47:56] » Conway,
[47:57] » No.
[47:57] » Schlifer,
[47:58] » Yes.
[47:59] » Middleton is absent. Torrance,
[48:01] » Yes.
[48:02] » Gray,
[48:02] » No.
[48:03] » Bullock,
[48:03] » No.
[48:04] » Porter,
[48:05] » Yes. Blanchard,
[48:06] » No.
[48:06] » Jones,
[48:07] » No.
[48:08] » Glover,
[48:09] » Yes.
[48:09] » Ramos,
[48:10] » No.
[48:11] » Cohen,
[48:11] » No.
[48:12] » That would be 925
[48:15] » With five in the affirmative and nine in
[48:19] the negative. These floor amendments do
[48:22] not move. Chair recognizes Chair Dorsy.
[48:25] » Thank you, Mr. President. I move the
[48:27] bill favorable as amended.
[48:29] » Is there any further debate or
[48:31] discussion on this bill as amended?
[48:35] Council member Conway.
[48:38] » Uh thank you, Mr. President. Um this
[48:40] this too I think is a a really
[48:42] interesting bill. I I actually do like
[48:44] the idea here. Um I think um in efforts
[48:48] where we are doing sweeping change
[48:49] across the whole city. We have to be
[48:51] very very very thoughtful and careful.
[48:53] Um I I I I fear that um we're going to
[48:56] find ourselves in sticky situations in
[48:58] different neighborhoods depending on
[49:00] what's going on in those respective
[49:01] neighborhoods. Um, and I think there's a
[49:04] way to do this. I think, um, there's a
[49:06] bit of the cart before the horse or cart
[49:08] and the horse working together, and that
[49:10] is transit. Um, if we don't have
[49:12] sufficient transit and we pull away
[49:13] parking in certain neighborhoods, you're
[49:15] going to have people having to walk
[49:16] multiple blocks to get home. Um, and
[49:18] some of those neighborhoods, maybe they
[49:19] don't feel totally safe doing so or
[49:21] maybe those folks are not capable of
[49:22] doing so because of their age or other
[49:24] um, infirmities. So, I I I think um
[49:28] yeah, in in order to do this the right
[49:30] way, I think we need to be also talking
[49:32] about a way to uh improve transit, make
[49:35] it more reliable, make it more robust,
[49:37] make it come into some of these uh
[49:39] middle neighborhoods and black
[49:40] neighborhoods that don't have robust and
[49:43] reliable transit today. Um that looks
[49:45] like doing some of the, you know, the
[49:47] red line. It looks like having a north
[49:48] south line um that you know we did a big
[49:51] study um going through my district
[49:52] through um Councilwoman Ramos's district
[49:55] as well um that has now stalled um I
[49:58] think we need to find a way to fund
[49:59] these efforts and generally we find
[50:01] these these fundings through state state
[50:03] dollars and we just had the road show
[50:06] where um this council advocated heavily
[50:08] for that but we know that our state is
[50:10] is really struggling fiscally right now
[50:12] so they don't really have the means. Uh,
[50:14] and the other way we do this is we go to
[50:16] the federal government and we rely on
[50:18] big big federal dollars in order to see
[50:19] this through, but we know that that is
[50:21] not going to happen anytime soon. So, I
[50:23] I'm I'm I'm uncomfortable um uh going a
[50:27] full yes on this. Um I do have
[50:28] reservations on the bill, but I do like
[50:30] the idea and and really thank the
[50:32] sponsor for um one bringing it forward
[50:34] and and advocating very heavily for it,
[50:36] but I do have some concerns about it and
[50:37] it is something that I think we can work
[50:38] towards resolving. Um but that that's
[50:41] sort of where I stand right now.
[50:42] » Understood. Uh, Councilman Torrance.
[50:45] » Thank you, Mr. Thank you, Mr. President.
[50:47] I want to read this statement because I
[50:49] want to make clear my true thoughts in
[50:50] the entire package. Baltimore's housing
[50:53] history is inseparable from the history
[50:55] of structural racism in America. From
[50:57] red lining to racially restricted
[50:58] covenants to decades of disinvestment,
[51:00] our city's built environment was
[51:03] designed to separate opportunity for
[51:04] black and brown families, concentrate
[51:06] poverty in certain neighborhoods. So we
[51:09] walk up we talk about modernizing our
[51:11] zoning and expanding our housing
[51:13] choices. We must ask deeper questions.
[51:16] Who will this policy truly benefit and
[51:18] who will leave it behind?
[51:21] The housing options and opportunity act
[51:23] and its companion reforms promise to
[51:24] expand its supply but without
[51:26] guardrails. These changes risk doing
[51:29] unintended consequences and harm
[51:31] particularly to black and brown
[51:32] communities
[51:36] that have already endured decades of
[51:39] inequitable land use and concentrated
[51:42] burden. This is why I introduced my
[51:44] floor amendments to make this bill more
[51:45] equitable but also accountable to our
[51:48] residents.
[51:51] Together, these amendments sought to
[51:52] balance encouraging flexibility while
[51:54] protecting communities from unintended
[51:56] consequences and deregulation.
[51:59] Unfortunately, they were not adopted.
[52:02] Without these safeguards, this risk
[52:04] deepening inequities. By repealing key
[52:07] protections, it opens the door for
[52:10] unattended and predatory land uses such
[52:12] as poorly managed recovery homes,
[52:14] substandard care facilities, and other
[52:16] nuisance operations to cluster in black
[52:19] and brown neighborhoods already
[52:21] struggling to recover from decades of
[52:22] disinvestment. We've seen the story
[52:25] before. In Harlem, re redevelopment and
[52:27] upzoning without adequate protections
[52:30] led to cultural displacement, erasing
[52:33] the very community that gave
[52:35] neighborhoods its identity and
[52:36] resilience.
[52:40] In Washington DC, rapid development and
[52:42] resoning spurred the exodus of black
[52:44] families
[52:46] and even new luxury apartments rose in
[52:48] their place.
[52:50] In bed sty marketdriven housing growth
[52:54] without anti-displacement safeguards
[52:58] resulted in longtime residents being
[52:59] displaced and not supported.
[53:03] Simply supply does not mean that black
[53:05] people will be around.
[53:08] Baltimore cannot afford to repeat those
[53:10] mistakes. Equity requires intention.
[53:13] Policy ignores historic harms only
[53:15] reproduce in new forms that harm.
[53:19] Ending structural racism requires more
[53:22] than just raceneutral force. It demands
[53:24] the surgical precision of a scapold
[53:26] guided by equity.
[53:29] When these bills were introduced in this
[53:30] council, a staff person made a comment
[53:32] that these were thinking about those to
[53:34] come and not those who are here.
[53:37] Let me repeat for those to come and not
[53:39] those who are here. To my residents in
[53:41] Sant Winchester, I rise and I say this.
[53:44] We want to own land. We no longer want
[53:46] to rent it. to our residents who have,
[53:49] and I mean the black women in West
[53:51] Baltimore, who've held up this tax base
[53:53] when white people left.
[53:56] » They want to enjoy the equity that we're
[53:58] building in the city, but not be
[54:00] displaced by high taxes or displaced by
[54:03] inconsistent policies that don't see
[54:05] them. Our residents deserve, and I mean
[54:07] our residents, the 66% of the black
[54:09] people in this city need to be put at
[54:11] the forefront of every policy we put
[54:13] before this council. Red lining started
[54:15] in this community and we're just
[54:17] furthering it. And I say that
[54:19] wholeheartedly as someone who's seen
[54:20] family members displaced in DC,
[54:23] who's seen people displaced in Bedstey.
[54:27] The home ownership rate for black people
[54:29] fell from 71% to 44% in 10 years in
[54:33] Bedstey, New York.
[54:35] In the District Columbia, it is no
[54:37] longer chocolate city. We displaced
[54:40] black people. It's to the point where
[54:43] our neighbors in DC who I love, one of
[54:46] my friends serves in that council, they
[54:48] had to force people to take section 8
[54:49] vouchers for people who are making
[54:51] $80,000 a year. Supply does not mean
[54:54] that the affordability will be there. We
[54:57] have no guardrails in place.
[55:00] So when black people leave the city, I
[55:02] want to make sure in this council record
[55:04] that I told you so.
[55:09] And if you want to make sure they stay
[55:11] here, put them at the forefront. Not
[55:13] give us lip service and say
[55:14] affordability. Affordability is writing
[55:16] it in the law.
[55:23] For these reason, despite my good faith
[55:25] effort to strengthen and balance this
[55:26] legislation, I will be voting no. We
[55:29] need zoning that is not just flexible,
[55:30] but fair. investment that is not just
[55:33] new, but just in legislation that
[55:35] censors voices and rights of residents
[55:37] who built and sustained our
[55:39] neighborhoods.
[55:41] Black and brown families whose
[55:42] generations of care deserve protection,
[55:45] not more harmful disgrace and disguise
[55:47] as progress.
[55:50] Thank you, Council Member Torrance. Any
[55:52] further debate or discussion on this
[55:55] bill?
[55:57] Hearing and seeing none. All those in
[56:00] favor say I.
[56:02] » I.
[56:03] » Those opposed say nay.
[56:06] » Roll call.
[56:07] » Parker,
[56:08] » Yes.
[56:08] » McCrae,
[56:13] » Dorsy,
[56:14] » Yes.
[56:14] » Conway,
[56:15] » No.
[56:15] » Schlifer,
[56:16] » No.
[56:17] » Middleton is absent. Torrance,
[56:20] » No.
[56:21] » Gray,
[56:22] » Yes.
[56:22] » Bullock,
[56:23] » Hi.
[56:23] » Porter,
[56:24] » No.
[56:25] » Blanchard,
[56:25] » Hi. Jones,
[56:27] » Hi.
[56:28] » Glover,
[56:28] » No.
[56:29] » Ramos,
[56:30] » Yes.
[56:30] » Cohen,
[56:31] » Yes.
[56:33] » Great. That would be 826.
[56:36] » With eight in the affirmative and six in
[56:38] the negative, this bill, this uh bill is
[56:43] will move to third reader. Chair
[56:46] recognizes council member
[56:50] » Chair Dorsy.
[56:51] » Oh, I'm sorry. Whoops. Back to the
[56:53] clerk. City Council Bill 25-0.
[56:57] » Oh, I'm sorry. Apologies. Council McCrae
[56:59] to explain her vote.
[57:00] » I appreciate you. I'm going to be brief
[57:02] again. I just want to make sure that I'm
[57:04] explaining my vote for the record for my
[57:06] own constituents. I voted no because of
[57:08] the day-to-day burdens that this is
[57:10] going to place on my residents, not just
[57:13] my residents, but also other
[57:14] neighborhoods across this city um who
[57:16] are within middle neighborhoods that I
[57:19] speak about often.
[57:21] How just to Councilman um Torrance's
[57:24] point, how are we going to um continue
[57:27] to retain our legacy residents? Um many
[57:31] who are black, they are the ones that I
[57:34] am losing within my district.
[57:38] And that's what I'm thinking about every
[57:40] time we have to um vote on bills like
[57:43] these. Um thank you, Mr. President.
[57:46] » Thank you, Chair McCrae.
[57:50] City Council Bill 25-000082
[57:53] planned unit development amendment under
[57:55] Armor Headquarters.
[57:57] » Chair recognizes Chair Dorsy.
[58:01] » Thank you, Mr. President.
[58:04] This bill was heard on October 16th. It
[58:06] was recommended as favorable with an
[58:09] amendment. The amendment
[58:13] two amendments. The amendments are uh on
[58:15] my colleagues desk. They're documents.
[58:18] The first amendment clarifies and
[58:20] renumbers section one of the purpose
[58:22] statement to clarify that the mayor and
[58:24] city council approve the amendment
[58:27] uh to the PUD. Amendment two clarifies
[58:29] the area where vehicular access will be
[58:33] prohibited in the PUD. There's a element
[58:36] of it that basically says on this map in
[58:38] this area um the development can't
[58:42] create vehicle access to the property at
[58:44] this spot here. Um and these uh
[58:47] amendments come through a collaborative
[58:49] effort u between of the bill, Councilman
[58:53] Blanchard, the repres
[58:55] uh the property owner and the uh Locust
[58:58] Point neighbors who are around it. Uh
[59:00] with that, Mr. President, I move the
[59:02] amendments uh favorable.
[59:04] » All those in favor of adopting the
[59:07] amendments say I.
[59:08] » I.
[59:09] » Those opposed say nay. The amendments
[59:12] are adopted.
[59:14] » Mr. President, there are findings of
[59:16] fact on my colleagueu's desk. I move the
[59:18] findings of fact.
[59:20] » Uh any debate or discussion on finding
[59:22] of facts? Hearing and seeing none. All
[59:24] those in favor of approving the finding
[59:26] of facts say I.
[59:27] » I.
[59:28] » Those post say nay. The finding of facts
[59:32] are adopted.
[59:33] » Mr. President, I move the bill favorable
[59:35] as amended.
[59:36] » Before we vote, is there any debate or
[59:38] discussion on this bill as amended?
[59:44] Councilman Parker.
[59:47] » Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, and thank you,
[59:49] Council President Blanchard, for
[59:50] bringing this forward. Um, we had a good
[59:54] conversation twice actually over in the
[59:56] in our committee about the matter. I
[59:58] think the one thing I just want to lift
[59:59] up here, and it partly is because I it
[1:00:01] came up in conversation with the uh
[1:00:02] prospective planning director earlier
[1:00:04] today. uh just the the reality of uh
[1:00:07] we've spent a lot of time here talking
[1:00:08] about the movement of young people to
[1:00:10] schools public or otherwise uh in the
[1:00:12] city. Uh Krista Ray in particular uh
[1:00:14] serves a community of folks that are
[1:00:16] heavily dependent upon public transit,
[1:00:17] many of whom live in my district as well
[1:00:18] as council person Glover and council
[1:00:20] person uh Jones's district. Uh and the
[1:00:22] current site is relatively convenient
[1:00:25] for them to get to um both by bus and by
[1:00:27] walk and biking. Uh Locust Point being
[1:00:30] on the peninsula is is a hard place to
[1:00:32] reach. uh but we do have a particular uh
[1:00:35] uh tool to do that being a harbor
[1:00:37] circulator and so just want to lift up
[1:00:39] for this council's consideration and and
[1:00:41] for the administration's consideration
[1:00:43] that um as we uh see the relocation of
[1:00:46] this high school there and as we're
[1:00:47] attentive to the movement of of all of
[1:00:49] our students to their their schools that
[1:00:51] uh further investment and consideration
[1:00:52] of using that resource to help
[1:00:54] facilitate uh transportation there to
[1:00:56] Hull Street Pier uh would be uh would be
[1:00:58] a good thing uh to make sure our young
[1:01:00] people can get to school on time and
[1:01:02] effectively.
[1:01:03] Thank you.
[1:01:03] » Duly noted. Thank you, Councilman
[1:01:05] Parker. Any further discussion or
[1:01:07] debate? Hearing and seeing none. All
[1:01:11] those in favor of this of approving this
[1:01:14] bill say I.
[1:01:16] » I.
[1:01:17] » All those opposed say nay.
[1:01:20] This bill will be printed for third
[1:01:22] reading. We now move on to bills on
[1:01:25] third reader. Madame clerk, please read
[1:01:27] the bill and call the role. City Council
[1:01:29] Bill 25-000018
[1:01:31] emergency scene unauthorized persons
[1:01:33] prohibited Parker McCrae Dorsy Conway
[1:01:36] Schlifer Middleton Torrance Gray Bullock
[1:01:39] Porter Blanchard Jones Glover Ramos
[1:01:41] Cohen
[1:01:42] » This bill is approved
[1:01:43] » City council bill 25-0062
[1:01:46] building code single exit from
[1:01:48] residential occupancy Parker McCrae
[1:01:51] Dorsy Conway Schlifer Middleton Torrance
[1:01:53] Gray Bullock Porter Blanchard Jones
[1:01:55] Glover Ramos Cohen
[1:01:56] » This bill is approved
[1:01:57] » City council Bill 25-0072
[1:02:00] zoning conditional use conversion of
[1:02:02] single family dwelling units to two
[1:02:04] dwelling units each in the R8 zoning
[1:02:06] district 1703 and 1709 Edmonson Avenue
[1:02:10] Parker McCrae Dorsy Conway Schlifer
[1:02:12] Middleton Torrance Grey Bullock Porter
[1:02:14] Blanchard Jones Glover Ramos Cohen
[1:02:16] » This bill is approved
[1:02:18] » City council bill 25-0077
[1:02:21] zoning conditional use conversion of a
[1:02:23] single family dwelling unit in the R8
[1:02:25] zoning district variances 541 Lafayette
[1:02:29] Avenue Park and McCrae Dorsy Conway
[1:02:31] Schlifer Middleton Torrance Grey Bullock
[1:02:33] Porter Blanchard Jones Glover Ramos
[1:02:35] Cohen
[1:02:36] » This bill is approved. City Council Bill
[1:02:39] 25-000078,
[1:02:41] City Streets closing portions of certain
[1:02:43] streets and alleys bounded by Rigs
[1:02:45] Avenue, North Pac Street, and the land
[1:02:47] of National Railroad Passenger Company,
[1:02:49] Amtrak, Parker, McCrae, Dorsy, Conway,
[1:02:52] Schlifer, Middleton, Torrance, Grey,
[1:02:53] Bullock, Porter, Blanchard, Jones,
[1:02:55] Glover, Ramos, Cohen.
[1:02:57] » This bill is approved.
[1:02:58] » City Council bill 25-0079.
[1:03:01] sale of property certain streets lying
[1:03:03] within the area bounded by Rigs Avenue,
[1:03:05] North Pacon Street, West Lafayette
[1:03:07] Avenue, and the land of National
[1:03:08] Railroad Passenger Corporation, Amtrak,
[1:03:11] Parker, McCrae, Dorsy, Conway, Schlifer,
[1:03:14] Middleton, Torrance, Gay, Bullock,
[1:03:15] Porter, Blanchard, Jones, Glover, Ramos,
[1:03:17] Cohen.
[1:03:18] » This bill is approved.
[1:03:19] » City Council bill 25-0083
[1:03:22] RPA 30 exception 15 East West Street.
[1:03:26] Parker, McCrae, Dorsy, Conway, Schlifer,
[1:03:28] Middleton, Torrance, Gay, Bullock,
[1:03:30] Porter, Blanchard, Jones, Glover, Ramos,
[1:03:32] Cohen.
[1:03:33] » This bill is approved.
[1:03:34] » City Council bill 25-0084
[1:03:36] city streets closing a 6-ft portion of
[1:03:39] West Saratoga Street and an alley 10.67
[1:03:42] ft wide bounded by Pearl Street, West
[1:03:44] Saratoga Street, and North Green Street.
[1:03:47] Parker, McCrae, Dorsy, Conway, Schlifer,
[1:03:49] Middleton, Torrance, Grey, Block,
[1:03:51] Porter, Blanchard, Jones, Glover, Ramos,
[1:03:53] Cohen.
[1:03:53] » This bill is approved. City Council Bill
[1:03:55] 25-000085
[1:03:57] Sale of property section of West
[1:03:58] Saratoga Street bounded by Pearl Street,
[1:04:00] West Saratoga Street and North Green
[1:04:02] Street. Parker, McCrae, Dorsy, Conway,
[1:04:05] Schlifer, Middleton, Torrance, Gay,
[1:04:06] Bullock, Porter, Blanchard, Jones,
[1:04:08] Glover, Ramos, Cohen.
[1:04:09] » This bill is approved.
[1:04:10] » City Council bill 25-0086
[1:04:13] City Streets closing a portion of North
[1:04:16] Chapel Street. Parker, McCrae, Dorsy,
[1:04:18] Conway, Schlifer, Middleton, Torrance,
[1:04:20] Gay, Block, Porter, Blanchard, Jones,
[1:04:21] Glover, Ramos, Cohen. This bill is
[1:04:24] approved.
[1:04:25] » City Council Bill 25-000092
[1:04:27] zoning conditional use conversion to a
[1:04:30] banquet hall in the C2 zoning district
[1:04:32] variance 1123 West Baltimore Street
[1:04:35] Parker McCrae Dorsy Conway Middleton
[1:04:38] Torrance Grey Bulock Porter Blanchard
[1:04:40] Jones Glover Ramos Cohen
[1:04:42] » This bill is approved. And now committee
[1:04:44] announcements. Chairs when you hear your
[1:04:45] committee please proceed with your
[1:04:47] committee announcements. Budget and
[1:04:48] appropriations. Chair McCrae.
[1:04:55] » Thank you, Mr. President. The Budget and
[1:04:57] Appropriations Committee will hold a
[1:04:59] hearing on Tuesday, November the 4th,
[1:05:01] 2025 at 9:00 a.m. in the Clarence D.
[1:05:03] concerns council chambers on 25-0099
[1:05:08] supplement supplementary municipal
[1:05:10] telephone exchange fund operating
[1:05:12] appropriation um municipal telephone
[1:05:15] exchange service 133 telecommunications
[1:05:17] for 1 million400,000
[1:05:21] and Mr. President, I would like to move
[1:05:23] to suspend rule 103 in order to announce
[1:05:26] the hearing that we are scheduling less
[1:05:27] than 30 days after its introduction to
[1:05:30] the council.
[1:05:32] » So move so moved. Uh
[1:05:38] » Uh
[1:05:40] » Without objection
[1:05:43] hearing and seeing none, the rule will
[1:05:45] be suspended.
[1:05:46] » Thank you, Mr. President. The budget
[1:05:48] appropriations committee will hold a
[1:05:50] hearing on Tuesday, November the 4th,
[1:05:51] 2025 at 9:00 a.m. in the Clarence Dub
[1:05:54] Burns Council Chambers on 25-0105
[1:05:57] supplemental regional fund operating
[1:05:59] appropriation Baltimore City Public
[1:06:01] Schools 12,911,344.
[1:06:06] Mr. President, I would like to move to
[1:06:08] suspend rule 103 again in order to
[1:06:10] announce a hearing that we are scheduled
[1:06:11] in less than 30 days after its
[1:06:12] introduction to the council.
[1:06:14] » Without objection, the rule will be
[1:06:15] suspended. hearing and seeing no
[1:06:17] objection, the rule will be suspended.
[1:06:21] » Thank you, Mr. President. The budget
[1:06:22] appropriations committee will also hold
[1:06:24] a hearing on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025
[1:06:27] at 9:00 a.m. in the Clarence Dub Burns
[1:06:29] council chambers on 25-06
[1:06:33] supplementary general fund operating
[1:06:35] appropriation fire department $38
[1:06:38] million 38,520,93.
[1:06:43] And Mr. President, I would like to move
[1:06:44] to suspend rule 103 again in order to
[1:06:47] announce the hearing that we are
[1:06:48] scheduled in less than 30 days after its
[1:06:50] introduction to the council.
[1:06:51] » Without objection, the rule will be
[1:06:52] suspended.
[1:06:54] The rule will be suspended.
[1:06:57] » Thank you, Mr. President. The budget and
[1:06:59] appropriations committee will hold a
[1:07:01] hearing on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025
[1:07:03] at 9:00 a.m. in the Clarence Dub Burns
[1:07:05] Council Chambers on 25-0107
[1:07:08] supplementary general fund operating
[1:07:10] appropriation department of law 81,393.
[1:07:14] Mr. President, again, I would like to
[1:07:15] move to suspend rule 103 in order to
[1:07:18] announce a hearing that we are
[1:07:19] scheduled.
[1:07:22] » Without objection, the rule will be
[1:07:23] suspended.
[1:07:25] Hearing and seeing no objection, the
[1:07:27] rule will be suspended.
[1:07:29] Thank you, Mr. President. The Budget
[1:07:30] Appropriations Committee will hold a
[1:07:32] hearing on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025
[1:07:34] at 9:00 a.m. in the Clarence Burns
[1:07:36] Council's Chamber on 25-0108
[1:07:39] supplementary general fund operating
[1:07:41] appropriation liquor license board
[1:07:43] 454,415.
[1:07:46] Mr. President, again, I would like to
[1:07:47] move to suspend rule 103 in order to
[1:07:49] announce the hearing that we are
[1:07:50] scheduled in less than 30 days after its
[1:07:52] introduction to the council.
[1:07:53] » Without objection, the rule will be
[1:07:55] suspended. The rule will be suspended.
[1:08:00] » Thank you, Mr. President. The budget and
[1:08:02] appropriations committee will hold a
[1:08:04] hearing on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025
[1:08:06] at 9:00 a.m. in a clearance to Burns
[1:08:08] Council Chambers on 25-0109
[1:08:11] supplementary grant funding, excuse me,
[1:08:13] grant fund operating appropriation,
[1:08:15] Mayor's Office of Employment
[1:08:17] Development, $300,000. Mr. President,
[1:08:19] again, I would like to suspend rule 103
[1:08:21] in order to announce a hearing that we
[1:08:22] are scheduled in less than 30 days after
[1:08:24] this introduction to the council.
[1:08:25] » Without objection, the rule will be
[1:08:27] suspended.
[1:08:28] The rule will be suspended.
[1:08:31] » Thanks again, Mr. President. The budget
[1:08:32] and appropriations committee will hold a
[1:08:34] hearing on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025,
[1:08:36] 9:00 a.m. in a Clarence to Burns
[1:08:38] Council's chamber on 25-0110
[1:08:42] supplementary general fund operating
[1:08:44] appropriation police department
[1:08:46] 47,492,889.
[1:08:50] Mr. President, I would like to move to
[1:08:51] suspend rule 103 again in order to
[1:08:53] announce a hearing that we are scheduled
[1:08:55] in less than 30 days after this
[1:08:56] introduction to the council.
[1:08:57] » Without objection, the rule will be
[1:08:59] suspended. The rule will be suspended.
[1:09:03] » Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. The
[1:09:05] Budget Appropriations Committee will
[1:09:06] hold a hearing on Tuesday, November 4th,
[1:09:08] 2025 at 9:00 a.m. in a clearance to
[1:09:10] Burns Council Chamber on 25-011.
[1:09:19] [Music]
[1:09:22] » Okay. on 25-0111
[1:09:26] supplementary general fund operating and
[1:09:28] appropriation department of recreation
[1:09:30] and parks 5,630,976.
[1:09:34] Mr. President, I would like to move to
[1:09:35] suspend rule 103 again in order to
[1:09:37] announce a hearing that we are scheduled
[1:09:38] in less than 30 days after its
[1:09:40] introduction to the council.
[1:09:41] » Without objection, the rule will be
[1:09:42] suspended. The rule will be suspended.
[1:09:48] » Thank you, Mr. President. The budget
[1:09:49] appropriations committee will hold a
[1:09:51] hearing on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025
[1:09:53] at 9:00 a.m. in the Clarence Suburn's
[1:09:55] Council Chamber on 25-0012
[1:09:59] supplementary general fund operating
[1:10:01] operations sheriff's office 3,425,454.
[1:10:06] Mr. President, I would like to move to
[1:10:08] suspend rule 103 again in order to
[1:10:09] announce a hearing that we are scheduled
[1:10:11] in less than 30 days after this
[1:10:12] introduction to the council.
[1:10:13] » Without objection, the rule will be
[1:10:15] suspended.
[1:10:16] The rule will be suspended.
[1:10:19] And last, um, the budget appropriations
[1:10:21] committee will hold a hearing on
[1:10:22] Tuesday, November 4th, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
[1:10:25] in the Clarence Dub Burns Council
[1:10:26] Chamber on 25-0013
[1:10:29] supplementary general fund operating
[1:10:31] appropriations, Department of
[1:10:32] Transportation, $4,457,580.
[1:10:41] And Mr. President. Um, again, I would
[1:10:44] like to suspend rule 103 in order to
[1:10:46] just announce that hearing. It was
[1:10:47] scheduled less than 30 days after this
[1:10:48] introduction to the council.
[1:10:50] » Without objection, the rule will be
[1:10:51] suspended.
[1:10:53] The rule is suspended.
[1:10:55] » Thank you, Mr. President.
[1:10:56] » Thank you, Madam Chair. Education,
[1:10:58] Youth, and Older Adults. Chair Bullock.
[1:11:02] Uh, thank you, Mr. President. The
[1:11:03] Education, Youth, and Older Adults
[1:11:04] Committee will be having a hearing for
[1:11:07] bill number 250031R,formational
[1:11:10] hearing for middle school sports at the
[1:11:13] request of Council Member Zach
[1:11:14] Blanchard. That will be on Thursday the
[1:11:16] 13th of November at 12:30 p.m. Please
[1:11:19] note that hearing will be held at
[1:11:21] Digital Harbor High School.
[1:11:24] Also, um the education, youth, and old
[1:11:26] adults committee will be having a
[1:11:27] hearing in um December on the 11th on a
[1:11:31] Thursday at 12 PM and that is uh for a
[1:11:34] bill 2500,
[1:11:37] children youth fund updates and that
[1:11:38] will be at 12 p.m. here in council
[1:11:40] chambers. Thank you.
[1:11:42] » Thank you, Mr. Chair. Housing and
[1:11:44] economic development chair Torrance.
[1:11:49] » Thank you, Mr. President. The housing
[1:11:51] economic development committee will be
[1:11:52] meeting on November 4th for city council
[1:11:55] bill 250088
[1:11:58] tax property tax sale vacant lots and
[1:12:01] vacant structures.
[1:12:03] And then then on that same day we will
[1:12:05] be meeting for 20 council bill 250080
[1:12:09] in room foreclosure vacant structures
[1:12:11] and nuisance properties. And these will
[1:12:14] both be at 5:15 p.m. on November 4th.
[1:12:17] Um, also I will be rescheduling LO250018
[1:12:22] homeless services from um October 28th
[1:12:26] to be rescheduled to Octo to November
[1:12:28] 4th at 5:15 p.m.
[1:12:32] And then I will for the sake of everyone
[1:12:35] not having to deal with council work
[1:12:37] close to Christmas we'll be rescheduling
[1:12:39] the accuracy of VBN's and non-ontiguous
[1:12:42] tiff which is LO250027
[1:12:46] from December 23rd till a later date cuz
[1:12:49] you know I like to allow people to enjoy
[1:12:51] their holiday. Um and that will be
[1:12:54] announced at a later date. Mr.
[1:12:55] President, thank you Chair Torrance.
[1:12:58] Labor and Workforce Chair Jones.
[1:13:01] Thank you, Mr. President.
[1:13:03] » Uh, the Labor Workforce Committee has a
[1:13:05] scheduling update for bill number
[1:13:08] L2500035,
[1:13:11] Baltimore City Works. This hearing was
[1:13:13] originally scheduled for October 29th,
[1:13:15] 2025 at 5:30 p.m. and is now postponed
[1:13:19] until further notice. Thank you, Mr.
[1:13:21] President.
[1:13:21] » Thank you, Chairman Jones. Land Use and
[1:13:24] Transportation Chair Dorsy.
[1:13:28] » Thank you, Mr. President. The Land Use
[1:13:31] and Transportation Committee will
[1:13:34] continue its oversight efforts,
[1:13:37] returning to the topics of street
[1:13:39] lighting, parking enforcement, and
[1:13:41] community engagement, all on December
[1:13:46] 11th. I'm announcing this way out in
[1:13:48] advance because we fully intend to give
[1:13:50] the Department of Transportation every
[1:13:52] opportunity to put their absolute best
[1:13:55] foot forward and we will meet with them
[1:13:56] in advance of this uh to be as to
[1:13:59] continue as in as collaborative way as
[1:14:02] possible. Uh again, that will be on
[1:14:04] December 11th at 900 a.m.
[1:14:10] Uh before we get to December 11th,
[1:14:12] however,
[1:14:14] the land use and transportation
[1:14:16] committee will hear
[1:14:19] council bill 250055,
[1:14:22] zoning conditional use, parking lot
[1:14:24] principal use variances, 7:01 Mura
[1:14:28] Street at 9:00 a.m. On November 20th,
[1:14:35] the committee will hear 250056
[1:14:39] zoning conditional use parking lot
[1:14:41] principal use variances 702 Mura Street,
[1:14:46] November 20th, 9:00 a.m.
[1:14:49] We'll hear council bill 250071,
[1:14:53] zoning conditional use conversion of
[1:14:55] single family dwelling unit to two
[1:14:57] dwelling units in the R8 zoning
[1:14:59] district. variances 15 East West Street.
[1:15:03] At 9:00 a.m. on November 20th, we will
[1:15:07] hear council bill 250090
[1:15:11] zoning conditional use conversion of a
[1:15:12] single family dwelling to two dwelling
[1:15:14] units in the R seven zoning district
[1:15:16] variance 220 North Culver Street at 9:00
[1:15:20] a.m. on November 20th. We will hear
[1:15:23] 250091
[1:15:25] [Music]
[1:15:26] zoning conditional use conversion of a
[1:15:28] single family dwelling to four dwelling
[1:15:30] units in the R8 zoning district variance
[1:15:32] 1425 West Fet Street at 9:00 a.m.
[1:15:36] November 20th.
[1:15:40] We will hear
[1:15:44] council bill 250066,
[1:15:48] zoning, housing options and opportunity
[1:15:52] at 9:00 a.m. on November 13th
[1:15:56] and on November 20th following the
[1:16:00] hearing of the five zoning bills that I
[1:16:03] have just uh announced.
[1:16:07] Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you,
[1:16:09] Chair Dorsy. Legislative Investigations
[1:16:12] Chair Schlifer.
[1:16:13] » Thank you, Mr. President. The
[1:16:14] Legislative Investigations Committee
[1:16:16] will hold a hearing on LO25-0037,
[1:16:20] opioid epidemic response, on December
[1:16:22] 11th, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. This is in
[1:16:26] response to uh the health commissioner's
[1:16:28] nomination hearing where she said that
[1:16:30] she will come back and present answers
[1:16:33] to our questions uh from her uh from her
[1:16:36] initial hearing uh in three months from
[1:16:38] now. And so three months will be
[1:16:40] December 11th um and we'll have that
[1:16:42] follow-up hearing. Thank you so much.
[1:16:44] Thank you, Chair Schlafer. Public Health
[1:16:46] in the Environment Chair Porter.
[1:16:48] » Thank you so much, Mr. President. The
[1:16:49] Public Health and Environment Committee
[1:16:51] will reconvene the hearing for the
[1:16:52] following council resolutions on
[1:16:54] Wednesday, December 3rd, beginning at
[1:16:56] 10:00 a.m. 25-0015R,formational
[1:17:00] hearing, well-being of the transgender
[1:17:01] community in Baltimore.
[1:17:03] 25-0020R,formational
[1:17:06] hearing, well-being of gay men in
[1:17:07] Baltimore. and 25- Z0021Rformational
[1:17:11] hearing on the well-being of le lesbian
[1:17:13] women in Baltimore and this is in
[1:17:15] culmination for HIV awareness month for
[1:17:17] December.
[1:17:18] » Thank you, Chair Porter. Public safety
[1:17:20] chair Conway.
[1:17:22] » No announcements.
[1:17:22] » No announcements. Finally, I would like
[1:17:24] to announce the creation of a charter
[1:17:25] review special committee chaired by
[1:17:27] Councilman Dorsy. Members can find more
[1:17:30] info on the printed documents on each of
[1:17:33] your desks. Uh Mr. Chair, plea, please
[1:17:36] proceed with your announcements for this
[1:17:38] new committee.
[1:17:42] » Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, first I
[1:17:44] just want to say uh it's a real honor to
[1:17:47] get the opportunity to chair this
[1:17:48] committee uh and to work with my
[1:17:50] colleagues on uh matters pertaining to
[1:17:53] the charter, our foundational document.
[1:17:55] Um, I am uh
[1:17:58] frequently having to reference the
[1:18:00] charter in the cho in the course of
[1:18:02] doing the work that I've had the
[1:18:04] privilege to do here for now two full
[1:18:06] terms and now into my third term. And uh
[1:18:09] I think it's really important that the
[1:18:10] city council take very seriously matters
[1:18:13] pertaining to the charter and to look at
[1:18:15] it in a comprehensive manner. Uh so I
[1:18:18] want to thank you Mr. President for
[1:18:19] creating this committee and for giving
[1:18:20] me the opportunity and the honor of
[1:18:22] chairing this committee. Um, also
[1:18:24] looking forward to the work uh with my
[1:18:26] vice chair, Councilman Bullock, and the
[1:18:28] other members of the committee. Um,
[1:18:32] this committee will be for the purpose
[1:18:34] of considering proposals to revise the
[1:18:37] city charter and to recommend ultimately
[1:18:40] bills, multiple bills to uh revise the
[1:18:43] city charter to the full city council.
[1:18:46] Um, I want to announce kind of a bunch
[1:18:50] of hearings. Um, these are all at the
[1:18:53] time at this time falling under the
[1:18:55] category of legislative oversight
[1:18:58] LO250038.
[1:19:00] Um, but I think at some point in the
[1:19:02] course of going through this, we're
[1:19:04] going to end up with some bills that we
[1:19:05] want to consider and vote. So, some
[1:19:08] additional hearings will have to be
[1:19:09] called uh specifically as bill hearings
[1:19:12] when those matters uh come uh to
[1:19:15] introduction.
[1:19:17] Um,
[1:19:19] also before I do this, I'll just also
[1:19:20] note that um I had an email scheduled to
[1:19:24] go out to all the members here uh during
[1:19:26] the meeting this evening. You all have
[1:19:28] in your inbox um a document that was uh
[1:19:32] sent to me by Hillary Roelly from the
[1:19:33] law department that combi it's 200 some
[1:19:36] pages. A lot of it is actually bills
[1:19:38] that were drafted in the past. Um but uh
[1:19:42] it is a fairly comprehensive uh uh uh
[1:19:46] compilation of documents from many
[1:19:48] charter review commissions that have
[1:19:50] occurred over many decades in the city.
[1:19:53] There is one document in particular in
[1:19:55] there from Vic Turvala who's a former
[1:19:58] city law department uh employee and who
[1:20:00] is an expert not just on Baltimore
[1:20:02] City's charter but on charters in the
[1:20:04] state of Maryland in general and he
[1:20:06] brings 30 years of experience advising
[1:20:08] counties in the state of Maryland on how
[1:20:11] to write and revise charters. There's a
[1:20:13] 12-page document in that packet, pages
[1:20:15] 17 through 29, written by Vic that gives
[1:20:19] a wonderful and simple foundational
[1:20:22] understanding of what is the charter and
[1:20:25] what belongs in a charter and what
[1:20:27] doesn't belong in a charter and how it
[1:20:29] can be challenging to change a charter
[1:20:31] when it has things already in it that
[1:20:33] don't belong in it. I really strongly
[1:20:35] encourage every member of the council to
[1:20:37] to give a look over Vick's document in
[1:20:39] that package that is attached to the
[1:20:41] email in your inboxes. Um, with that,
[1:20:44] uh, the charter review special committee
[1:20:48] will hold its first hearing here in the
[1:20:51] Duburn's chamber on November 5th, 2025
[1:20:56] at 400 p.m. It will hold its second
[1:20:59] hearing here on November 9th at 400 p.m.
[1:21:04] It will hold third hearing December 3rd
[1:21:08] at 5:30 p.m. It will hold a hearing
[1:21:11] January 21st, 5:30 p.m. It will hold a
[1:21:15] hearing on February 4th, 5:30 p.m. It'll
[1:21:19] hold a hearing on February 18th.
[1:21:24] I'm sorry, the second one. I said the
[1:21:26] 9th, I meant 19th. Um, there not n
[1:21:30] November 9th. November 19th at 4 p.m.
[1:21:33] Uh, where was I? January 21st, 5:30 p.m.
[1:21:36] February 4th, 5:30 p.m. February 18th,
[1:21:40] 5:30 p.m. March 4th, 5:30 p.m. March
[1:21:44] 18th, 5:30 p.m. March 21st,
[1:21:48] 11 a.m. April 8th, 5:30 p.m.
[1:21:54] Uh,
[1:21:56] that's it. Thank you, Mr. President.
[1:21:58] » Thank you, Council Member Dorsy. We now
[1:22:00] move to regular announcements. Members,
[1:22:02] please wait to be recognized to make any
[1:22:04] regular announcements.
[1:22:08] Uh, starting Councilman Bullock.
[1:22:13] » Uh, thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll be brief.
[1:22:15] Um, as most of you know, uh, this past
[1:22:17] weekend was the Baltimore Running
[1:22:19] Festival.
[1:22:19] » I love running. I love doing the
[1:22:21] festival every year. Um, but this was a
[1:22:23] a pretty special one. I want to note,
[1:22:25] um, at the start line, I saw uh, Council
[1:22:27] Member Parker and he both we both ran
[1:22:30] the half marathon. um saw each other up
[1:22:32] until around mile 10 and he caught him
[1:22:35] again at the at the finish line. It was
[1:22:36] good to welcome him at the finish line
[1:22:37] after you finished. I was
[1:22:42] » No, I was just saying. Oh, so but no,
[1:22:46] » Brandon Scott.
[1:22:47] » No, no, no. He left. Anyway, but but
[1:22:51] what I want to also say though is
[1:22:53] running is also a metaphor for life. It
[1:22:54] tells us a lot. And what I want to talk
[1:22:56] about is also our colleagues I saw along
[1:22:58] the way. So as I was getting through
[1:23:00] after I come around mile 10 wound up
[1:23:02] seeing council member Ramos and she's
[1:23:04] cheering and that gave me a little bit
[1:23:06] of energy and so start picking up a
[1:23:08] little bit and as I pass Council Ramos
[1:23:10] then I hear Bulock and it's Dorsy. It's
[1:23:13] Council Member Dorsy and so he's on his
[1:23:15] bike. He rides up besides me takes
[1:23:16] what's now an iconic picture of running
[1:23:19] through the city. But I say that to say
[1:23:20] that it's important for us to support
[1:23:22] each other as colleagues. That's right.
[1:23:24] um to also uh celebrate each other as
[1:23:27] colleagues, push each other along the
[1:23:28] way. And I know over the past week um
[1:23:30] there's been conversation around us
[1:23:32] being colleagues, how we treat one
[1:23:33] another, but I think this is an example
[1:23:34] of what we can do um as a unit. So
[1:23:37] again, I encourage that behavior. I'm
[1:23:38] thankful for my colleagues and being out
[1:23:40] there. It was a fun time. Those who
[1:23:41] haven't done it, I encourage you to do
[1:23:42] it sometime.
[1:23:45] » Thank you, Council Member Bulock. Since
[1:23:47] Council Member Parker was not here to
[1:23:49] defend his honor, we uh we'll hear from
[1:23:53] him later. Council member Torrance.
[1:23:56] » Oh.
[1:23:58] » Oh, yeah. You know what? You're
[1:24:00] absolutely right. Uh, I believe Glover
[1:24:02] came in second in the overall. Um, thank
[1:24:07] you to Councilman Glover for his efforts
[1:24:10] in the race.
[1:24:12] Councilman Torren. Thank you, Mr.
[1:24:14] President. Um, on a somber note, I want
[1:24:17] to just lift up the name of Wes Henson,
[1:24:19] captain defense, who is one of our super
[1:24:21] fans for the Baltimore Ravens. Um, on a
[1:24:24] personal note, he is the uncle of a
[1:24:26] personal mentor of mine, Valerie Henson.
[1:24:28] Um, Wes was a super fan, um, who would
[1:24:32] cheer on the Ravens even when we were
[1:24:35] fair weather fans sometimes and want to
[1:24:36] fire people, you know, but cheerfully he
[1:24:41] participated in so many events. Um,
[1:24:43] often people saw him at the games, but
[1:24:45] he was there when young people who were
[1:24:47] experiencing hardship through cancer and
[1:24:49] other diseases needed just a cheer me
[1:24:52] up, but in addition to he went to senior
[1:24:54] homes and other places to actually give
[1:24:56] cheer. Um, he took it as his personal
[1:24:59] role and I think that we should honor
[1:25:00] him as his services will be tomorrow.
[1:25:02] » Thank you. Councilman Torrance, could
[1:25:04] you say his last name one more time?
[1:25:06] » Wes Wes Henson.
[1:25:08] » Henson.
[1:25:10] Thank you, Council Member Ramos.
[1:25:14] » Uh, thank you, Mr. President, and
[1:25:15] colleagues. I just want to uh publicly
[1:25:17] announce the uh task force on uh the
[1:25:20] Citizen Street um transfer station. Uh
[1:25:24] the task force meets this evening after
[1:25:25] this meeting. Uh for the first meeting,
[1:25:27] it will be an organizational meeting and
[1:25:29] then further meetings will be announced
[1:25:31] uh and we will have public testimony um
[1:25:34] as well at at subsequent meetings. uh
[1:25:37] and the membership. Um I'll be putting a
[1:25:39] lot of the updates and things on our
[1:25:41] website. So, and I know the mayor will
[1:25:43] also be doing that um as well. And just
[1:25:45] want to note that uh sort of
[1:25:47] everything's on the table. We're not
[1:25:48] just looking at one site. We're looking
[1:25:50] at a lot of different sites. We may even
[1:25:51] be looking at keeping it there. So, uh
[1:25:54] at the again, we start tonight um right
[1:25:57] after this this meeting on the first
[1:25:58] meeting. Thank you.
[1:25:59] » Thank you, Council Member Ramos,
[1:26:00] Councilman Conway.
[1:26:03] Thank you, Mr. President. Um, for the
[1:26:06] last 10 months or so, I've been uh a
[1:26:10] part of this amazing group of people uh
[1:26:13] in a in a program called the leadership.
[1:26:15] Um, over the last couple years, a couple
[1:26:17] of my colleagues have participated in
[1:26:18] this wonderful pro program. Um, but I
[1:26:20] think my my cohort did it best, the 2025
[1:26:23] cohort. Um, and this this program is is
[1:26:26] is awesome uh if only uh for a couple of
[1:26:29] reasons. It pulls together leaders from
[1:26:31] the private sector, the public sector,
[1:26:33] from the nonprofit sector, uh, across
[1:26:36] the city and puts them in a room and
[1:26:38] talks about the hard issues facing the
[1:26:40] city and how folks can work together to
[1:26:42] understand those issues first and then
[1:26:44] eventually tackle them. Um, I want to
[1:26:45] take a moment for the folks that are
[1:26:47] still here because it's been a long
[1:26:48] meeting. Um, and I told them they would
[1:26:49] get some fireworks. Uh, if you guys
[1:26:51] could stand up, I want to acknowledge
[1:26:52] you guys. Um, so this is the 2025 class
[1:26:56] of the leadership. Appreciate you guys
[1:26:58] coming out.
[1:27:04] the the not the best class ever, but the
[1:27:06] greatest class ever. We we we officially
[1:27:08] dawn that. Um the leadership is um
[1:27:12] accepting applications exactly two weeks
[1:27:14] from today. Uh will be the deadline for
[1:27:17] folks interested in the program. I
[1:27:19] highly, highly, highly recommend it.
[1:27:20] It's something I've considered for a
[1:27:21] while and finally actually went through
[1:27:23] the program this year. Um it's been
[1:27:25] truly phenomenal. I've made some
[1:27:26] incredible friends and I I really um
[1:27:28] hate the prospect that we are about to
[1:27:30] finish soon. Um it's incredible how much
[1:27:32] we've gone through and how much we've
[1:27:33] seen. Um I highly recommend for my
[1:27:36] colleagues that have not gone through
[1:27:37] the program to consider applying. You
[1:27:38] have two weeks till today. Uh November
[1:27:40] 3rd at midnight is the deadline. Thank
[1:27:43] you.
[1:27:44] » Thank you, Councilman Conway. Thank you
[1:27:46] to the leadership. Want to also
[1:27:47] recognize Carolyn Blake Blakey who led
[1:27:51] uh Council President Jack Young's staff.
[1:27:54] Uh, thank you for rejoining this
[1:27:56] chamber. It's good to see you. All
[1:27:59] right, other announcements hearing and
[1:28:03] seeing none, I will ask for a moment of
[1:28:05] silence for Wes Henen.
[1:28:13] Thank you. Tonight's district spotlight
[1:28:16] comes from Council Member Bullock of the
[1:28:17] 9inth District. Council member, the
[1:28:19] floor is yours.
[1:28:24] Make sure that
[1:28:30] right here.
[1:28:39] All right.
[1:28:47] » You have to elevate me again.
[1:28:49] » Yeah.
[1:28:49] » Okay. Well, elevate me.
[1:28:52] Get it, man.
[1:29:05] » Do you feel elevated?
[1:29:08] » I don't feel elevated just yet.
[1:29:22] All right.
[1:29:27] » All right. That's great.
[1:29:52] I go back to sleep.
[1:29:57] » Don't y'all leave.
[1:29:59] » We see you up there.
[1:30:03] » I got to go.
[1:30:09] Well, you'll like this one, Dorsey. But
[1:30:15] » Hey, man, come on. You like this. You
[1:30:17] like it. You like it.
[1:30:22] [Music]
[1:30:50] All right.
[1:30:53] » Can we see now?
[1:30:54] » All right. All right. All right. That's
[1:30:56] good.
[1:30:56] » Almost.
[1:31:08] So if you were to stop sharing
[1:31:11] the web
[1:31:17] share, did you want to share your
[1:31:28] second?
[1:31:28] » It was showing up before.
[1:31:30] » Yeah, it was
[1:31:34] back to the webex because it should be
[1:31:35] in that window. That's where I was.
[1:31:47] » That's not There it is.
[1:31:51] » We got
[1:31:53] all right. There we go. All right. Thank
[1:31:56] you.
[1:31:58] All right, colleagues. I'll be I'll be
[1:32:00] brief. There's a lot more here, but
[1:32:01] let's just get it get it going. So, we
[1:32:04] could talk about this district um all
[1:32:06] day and all night. I will say um there
[1:32:08] are a couple of um highlights that we
[1:32:10] can uh recognize. I don't know why this
[1:32:13] is um doing that. Let's do this.
[1:32:18] Well, maybe I'll just cut to the
[1:32:19] highlight. Do you want to do that?
[1:32:22] » All right. Let's go ahead and do this
[1:32:25] because this is not doing what I wanted
[1:32:26] to do.
[1:33:07] Is this the one here? I just want to
[1:33:09] show a video.
[1:33:11] Let me just try to get the best videos.
[1:33:15] Sorry.
[1:33:19] It should be this one here. The movie.
[1:33:22] » Yeah. Okay. But I want to do this one.
[1:33:25] » You want to do this one first?
[1:33:26] » Yeah. I mean, there's a bunch of stuff
[1:33:28] that I want to show these videos, but I
[1:33:29] can't,
[1:33:29] » Right? I don't know what's going on
[1:33:31] because it was working earlier. So, you
[1:33:36] » I mean, I have the person here that I
[1:33:37] want to actually do. That's why I needed
[1:33:38] it to to work. All right. How about
[1:33:40] this? I will do I want to do floor
[1:33:42] privileges today and then we'll come
[1:33:44] back and do the the the showcase. Okay.
[1:33:46] So, I'm going to show you I'm going to
[1:33:47] show you something really quickly and
[1:33:48] then I do want to I do need to show this
[1:33:50] though. Okay. So, all right.
[1:33:59] All right.
[1:34:02] [Music]
[1:34:05] » Sound should be working.
[1:34:07] [Music]
[1:34:36] Heat. Heat.
[1:34:38] [Music]
[1:36:03] Heat. Heat.
[1:36:15] [Music]
[1:36:26] Heat.
[1:36:32] [Music]
[1:36:41] Heat.
[1:36:43] [Music]
[1:36:48] Heat. Heat.
[1:36:51] [Music]
[1:37:13] [Music]
[1:37:28] Heat. Heat.
[1:37:32] [Music]
[1:37:47] Heat. Heat.
[1:37:52] [Music]
[1:38:44] Heat. Heat.
[1:38:51] All
[1:38:52] [Music]
[1:39:19] right.
[1:39:23] [Applause]
[1:39:26] Now that was the end of the
[1:39:28] presentation. So you'll get the rest
[1:39:30] next time. But the reason why I wanted
[1:39:32] to do that um there are a couple
[1:39:34] reasons. one that is that that beautiful
[1:39:38] sound that you heard was coming from no
[1:39:40] other than Ramilia Sabanova who is
[1:39:42] actually with us this evening
[1:39:44] » And she is a worldrenowned uh pianist
[1:39:46] classically trained also I was thinking
[1:39:48] about Dorsy in terms of the Peabody
[1:39:49] conservatory she's also spent time there
[1:39:52] and she is also part of what you will
[1:39:54] find out in the future around the Union
[1:39:55] Square sore so square is one of our
[1:39:58] fabulous neighborhoods in the 9th
[1:39:59] district and she's been responsible for
[1:40:01] helping to cultivate artists and that
[1:40:03] experience
[1:40:04] And it speaks to the diversity of our
[1:40:06] district and of our city. And as we
[1:40:08] welcome folks, whether you're from
[1:40:09] Eastern Europe or you're from Latin
[1:40:11] America or you're from Africa, there is
[1:40:13] a place for you here in Baltimore. And
[1:40:15] there's a place for you here in the
[1:40:16] ninth district. And so, Mr. President, I
[1:40:18] did want to uh extend floor privileges
[1:40:20] if possible so we can honor Ramilia for
[1:40:22] her contributions to music and art here
[1:40:24] in Baltimore and in the ninth district.
[1:40:26] » Floor privileges granted. Come on up.
[1:40:29] [Applause]
[1:40:44] So, I'll I'll read this um and make sure
[1:40:46] we familiar gets it. But again, uh be it
[1:40:49] hereby known the city council of
[1:40:51] Baltimore resolution. Be hereby known to
[1:40:53] all that the city council of Baltimore
[1:40:54] offers a sincerest congratulations to
[1:40:57] Ramilia Salavanova in recognition of
[1:40:59] your artistic contribution to the Union
[1:41:01] Square so this entire membership extends
[1:41:03] his best wishes on this memorable
[1:41:05] occasion and direct this resolution to
[1:41:06] be presented on this 20th day of October
[1:41:09] 2025 signed by council president Zo and
[1:41:11] myself council member John Bulock and
[1:41:12] all the members of the council. We
[1:41:13] really appreciate you.
[1:41:36] Thank you so much. Hello everyone. Um,
[1:41:39] I'm truly honored to receive this
[1:41:41] recognition. For more than two decades,
[1:41:44] I've dedicated my life to sharing
[1:41:46] classical music, art, and culture with
[1:41:48] communities around the world. and for
[1:41:51] the past seven years here in Baltimore
[1:41:54] and it's been a joy and privilege to
[1:41:57] contribute to this city's vibrant
[1:41:59] artistic life and on behalf of the Union
[1:42:03] Square Sar as you mentioned it's a salon
[1:42:05] concert series that we run in Union
[1:42:07] Square I would like to say that uh we're
[1:42:10] very grateful to be recognized because
[1:42:12] we work very hard to support local
[1:42:14] artists and young generation of artists
[1:42:18] and we always strive to create a
[1:42:20] beautiful and meaningful experience um
[1:42:22] for our community. We're very thankful
[1:42:25] to the city of Baltimore and John Balik
[1:42:27] for their continued support. Thank you
[1:42:29] so much.
[1:42:30] » Thank you.
[1:42:44] » All right, the next Thank you, Council
[1:42:47] Member Bullock. Looking forward to
[1:42:48] hearing part one of this two-part
[1:42:51] series. The next regular meeting of the
[1:42:53] Baltimore City Council will be held on
[1:42:55] Monday, October 27th at 5:00 p.m. There
[1:42:57] being no further business before this
[1:42:59] body, this concludes the 16th regular
[1:43:01] meeting of the 74th term of the
[1:43:02] Baltimore City Council.