Annapolis Mayor Michael Pantelides recently met with the Anne Arundel County Delegation to present his legislative requests for the 2015 General Assembly Session.
“This year is about looking ahead and securing critical funds for long-term projects that impact our businesses, residents and visitors,” Pantelides said. “Funding for a multi-phase flood mitigation plan tops my list of projects that must move forward, along with some smaller infrastructure projects that impact our city’s day-to-day operations.”
City Manager Tom Andrews and Public Works Director David Jarrell outlined the $10 million City Dock flood mitigation plan, which includes a $1 million request for planning and preliminary design. The project may include flood mitigation strategies, such as seawater barriers, storm drain realignment and backflow preventers, storm water pumps and raising adjacent street elevations. Improvements to public space, public access and circulation immediately adjacent to the bulkhead may be addressed with this project.
Annapolis is also seeking more than $2 million for improvements to Taylor Avenue. Planning for the project began several years ago, as part of the Comprehensive Plan recommendations; included in the project are realignment of the severe reverse curve near Annapolis Police Headquarters, sidewalks, curb and gutter installation, and a traffic signal to be placed on Taylor Avenue at Poplar Trail.
This year, along with funding requests, the city is also requesting state clarification and authorization on several issues.
Recent discussions surrounding Uber have the city seeking clarification from the legislature concerning whether some of Uber’s operations are subject to municipal regulation under the city’s existing taxi cab laws — or if the city should seek authority to regulate some of its services and drivers under authority delegated from the Public Service Commission.
Meanwhile, the city is also seeking state authorization to create a parking authority. The city’s request also will seek the authority to create or join with other jurisdictions in the development, management and operation of a parking authority.
Finally, as part of the city’s legislative requests, it proposes to seek legislation to require that the Maryland comptroller provide a written explanation of any waiver where overhead and expenses are not collected for nonprofit purposes.
The city outlined that, currently, the comptroller collects the Amusement Tax for the county and municipal governments, and has the authority to issue waivers for the tax collection of nonprofit entities. The city has no veto over such waivers.