City of Baltimore

City Council

City Hall, Room 408

100 North Holliday Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Meeting Agenda - Final

Monday, March 10, 2025

5:00 PM

Virtual Meeting Link: https://bmore.webex.com/bmore/j.php?

MTID=m4eb6302916f96a387809fdb3c24e6bb4

Password: Public

City Hall, 4th Floor, Du Burns Chambers

Baltimore City Council

Zeke Cohen, Council President - District 1: Mark Parker - District 2: Danielle

McCray - District 3: Ryan Dorsey - District 4: Mark Conway - District 5: Isaac "Yitzy"

Schleifer - District 6: Vice President Sharon Green Middleton - District 7: James

Torrence - District 8: Paris Gray - District 9: John Bullock - District 10: Phylicia

Porter - District 11: Zac Blanchard - District 12: Jermaine Jones - District 13: Antonio

Glover - District 14: Odette Ramos

Call to Order

Invocation

Rev. Lucille Griffin, Mount Zion Baptist Church

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

Approval of the Journal

February 24, 2025

Communications from the Mayor

Bills Signed by the Mayor

March 6, 2025

25-0019

Midtown Community Benefits District and Management Authority —

Establishment

FOR the purpose of creating a community benefits district within Baltimore

City; specifying the boundaries of the District; creating an Authority and

describing its rights, duties, and powers; designating the initial interim

Board of the Authority and providing for the selection and approval of a full

Board; creating the administrator for the Authority to administer the District;

mandating the financial responsibilities of the Authority and the City in

conjunction with the operation of the District; providing for a supplemental

tax to be collected by and for the Authority; establishing limits and

minimums on the amount of the supplemental tax; incorporating the

assessment, collection, and enforcement process for the supplemental tax

within the procedures and processes already existing; specifying the role

of the City in maintaining and enhancing existing services; encouraging the

creation of partnerships between and among the Authority, the City, the

State, the federal government, and other property owners not subject to the

supplemental tax; establishing the Board of Estimates as the entity

charged with reviewing and approving various matters relating to the

District and the Authority; providing for the renewal, expiration, termination,

and approval of the District and the Authority; and otherwise providing for

the existence, operation, and control of the District and the Authority.

Sponsors:

Zac Blanchard, Mark Parker, Mark Conway, James Torrence, Phylicia Porter, Jermaine

Jones, Antonio "Tony" Glover, Odette Ramos

25-0024

Supplementary General Fund Operating Appropriation – Board of

Elections – $1,417,451

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary General Fund Operating

Appropriation in the amount of $1,417,451 to the Board of Elections –

Service 899 (Fair Conduct of Elections), to provide funding for emergency

security equipment and unbudgeted mailing costs from 2024 elections;

and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

25-0025

General Fund Operating Appropriation Transfer – M-R Debt Service

Service 123 - General Debt Service) to Department of Finance (Service

703 - Payroll) – $4,228,173

FOR the purpose of transferring a General Fund Operating Appropriation

in the amount of $4,228,173 from M-R Debt Service (Service 123 -

General Debt Service) to the Department of Finance (Service 703 -

Payroll); and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

25-0026

Supplementary General Fund Operating Appropriation – Fire Department

– $33,361,780

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary General Fund Operating

Appropriation in the amount of $33,361,780 to the Fire Department –

Service 602 (Fire Suppression and Emergency Rescue), to provide

funding for overtime due to sworn vacancies and unbudgeted EMS

contractual services; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

25-0027

Supplementary General Fund Operating Appropriation – Health

Department – $5,251,429

FOR the purpose of providing a supplementary General Fund Operating

Appropriation in the amount of $5,251,429 to the Health Department

(Service 315 - Emergency Services), to provide funding for reimbursable

COVID-related contract costs; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

25-0028

General Fund Operating Appropriation Transfer – Department of General

Services to Department of Law (Service 861 - Controversies) –

$1,514,351

FOR the purpose of transferring a General Fund Operating Appropriation

in the amount of $1,514,351 from the Department of General Services to

the Department of Law (Service 861 - Controversies); and providing for a

special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

25-0029

Supplementary General Fund Operating Appropriation – Liquor License

Board – $250,323

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary General Fund Operating

Appropriation in the amount of $250,323 to the Liquor License Board –

Service 850 (Liquor Licensing), to provide funding for overtime for

inspectors beyond budget; state salary adjustments for full time positions;

and providing for a special effective date

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

25-0030

Supplementary General Fund Operating Appropriation – Police

Department – $3,275,384

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary General Fund Operating

Appropriation in the amount of $3,275,384 to the Police Department –

Service 622 (Police Patrol), to provide funding for overtime due to sworn

vacancies; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

25-0031

Supplementary General Fund Operating Appropriation – Department of

Public Works – $5,982,755

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary General Fund Operating

Appropriation in the amount of $5,982,755 to the Department of Public

Works – Service 663 (Waste Removal and Recycling), to provide funding

for unbudgeted contractual collection services and tipping fees beyond

budgeted amount; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

25-0032

Supplementary General Fund Operating Appropriation – Recreation and

Parks – $6,973,547

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary General Fund Operating

Appropriation in the amount of $6,973,547 to the Department of

Recreation and Parks – Service 646 (Park Maintenance), to provide

funding for overspending on contractual services and overtime in Urban

Forestry, Park Maintenance; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

25-0033

General Fund Operating Appropriation Transfer – M-R Debt Service

(Service 123 - General Debt Service) to Office of the Sheriff (Service 882 -

Deputy Sheriff Enforcement) – $4,564,341

FOR the purpose of transferring a General Fund Operating Appropriation

in the amount of $4,564,341 from M-R Debt Service (Service 123 -

General Debt Service) to the Office of the Sheriff (Service 882 - Deputy

Sheriff Enforcement); and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

25-0034

General Fund Operating Appropriation Transfer – M-R Debt Service

(Service 123 - General Debt Service) to Department of Transportation

(Service 683 - Street Management) – $1,039,801

FOR the purpose of transferring a General Fund Operating Appropriation

in the amount of $1,039,801 from M-R Debt Service (Service 123 -

General Debt Service) to the Department of Transportation (Service 683 -

Street Management); and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

Bills Introduced

25-0036

Property Taxes – Baltimore City Payment in Lieu of Taxes Task Force

FOR the purpose of establishing the Baltimore City Payment in Lieu of

Taxes Task Force; providing for the membership, staffing, compensation,

and procedures of the Task Force; establishing the duties of the Task

Force; requiring a certain annual report; defining certain terms; and

generally relating to the Baltimore City Payment in Lieu of Taxes Task

Force.

Sponsors:

Phylicia Porter, Mark Conway, Sharon Green Middleton, James Torrence, Paris Gray,

Zac Blanchard, Jermaine Jones, Odette Ramos, Zeke Cohen

Budget and Appropriations Committee

25-0037

Zoning – Conditional Use Conversion of Single-Family Dwelling Unit to 3

Dwelling Units in the R-8 Zoning District – Variances – 1727 McCulloh

Street

FOR the purpose of permitting, subject to certain conditions, the

conversion of a single-family dwelling unit to 2 dwelling units in the R-8

Zoning District on the property known as 1727 McCulloh Street (Block

0341, Lot 020), as outlined in red on the accompanying plat; granting a

variance regarding off-street parking requirements; and providing for a

special effective date.

Sponsors:

James Torrence

Land Use and Transportation Committee

25-0038

City Property – Naming the Playground Located at Senator Troy Brailey

Easterwood Park to be the Margaret L. Powell Playground

FOR the purpose of naming the playground located at Senator Troy Brailey

Easterwood Park to be the Margaret L. Powell Playground.

Sponsors:

James Torrence, Mark Parker, Sharon Green Middleton, John Bullock, Phylicia Porter,

Jermaine Jones, Odette Ramos, Zeke Cohen

Housing and Economic Development Committee

25-0039

City Streets – Closing – A 16 Foot Alley and a Portion of a 10 Foot Alley

FOR the purpose of condemning and closing a 16 foot alley and a portion

of a 10 foot alley bounded by Presstman Street, Brunt Street, Robert

Street, and Pennsylvania Avenue, as shown on a plat numbered

312-A-11A, prepared by the Survey Section and filed in the Office of the

Department of Transportation; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

Land Use and Transportation Committee

Resolutions Introduced

25-0013R

Request for State Action – Fully Fund the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future

FOR the purpose of calling on the Maryland General Assembly to reject

House Bill 504/Senate Bill 429, the “Excellence in Maryland Public Schools

Act”, as introduced and to restore funding to the Blueprint for Maryland’s

Future, specifically to the Concentration of Poverty Grant Program and to

fund increased teacher collaborative planning time.

Sponsors:

John Bullock, Zeke Cohen, Mark Parker, Ryan Dorsey, Mark Conway, Sharon Green

Middleton, James Torrence, Paris Gray, Phylicia Porter, Jermaine Jones, Antonio "Tony"

Glover, Odette Ramos

IMMEDIATE ADOPTION

25-0014R

Informational Hearing – Vacant and Abandoned Garages

FOR the purpose of requiring representatives from the Department of

Housing and Community Development to appear before the City Council to

provide insight into the issue of vacant and abandoned garages in

Baltimore City and to discuss strategies, including in rem liens or

foreclosures, to manage and control the issue and its impact on safety,

aesthetics, and community economies.

Sponsors:

Sharon Green Middleton, Mark Parker, Ryan Dorsey, Mark Conway, James Torrence,

Paris Gray, John Bullock, Phylicia Porter, Zac Blanchard, Jermaine Jones, Antonio

"Tony" Glover, Odette Ramos, Zeke Cohen

Housing and Economic Development Committee

Consent Calendar

2R Second Reader

Housing and Economic Development

25-0001

Department of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing

FOR the purpose of creating the Department of Consumer Protection and

Business Licensing; providing for the leadership and staffing of the

Department; establishing the Department’s purpose, powers, and duties;

creating the Board of Consumer Protection and Business Licensing;

providing for the membership of the Board; establishing the purpose,

powers, and duties of the Board; transferring the administration of certain

business licenses to the Department; repealing certain obsolete Boards;

allowing the Department to suspend a certain license if the licensee

engages in unfair, abusive, and deceptive trade practices; providing for a

special effective date; making conforming changes; and generally relating

to consumer protection and business licensing.

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE WITH AMENDMENT

Education, Youth, and Older Adults

25-0002

Study and Report – Absences in Baltimore City Schools

FOR the purpose of requiring the Baltimore City Public School System

(“City Schools”) to prepare a report exploring the causes of student

absences to better identify solutions to address the most persistent

barriers students face to attending school; requiring City Schools to

collaborate with certain City agencies to propose recommendations to

address the root causes of unexcused absences found in the report; and

providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

Mark Conway, Mark Parker, Ryan Dorsey, Sharon Green Middleton, James Torrence,

John Bullock, Phylicia Porter, Zac Blanchard, Jermaine Jones, Antonio "Tony" Glover,

Odette Ramos, Zeke Cohen, Paris Gray

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE WITH AMENDMENT

Budget and Appropriations

25-0007

Supplementary Special Revenue Fund Operating Appropriation –

Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programming – $270,000

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary Special Revenue Fund

Operating Appropriation in the amount of $270,000 to the Mayor’s Office of

Recovery Programming – Service 916 (Opioid Restitution Administration),

to provide funding for additional positions to oversee grants awarded

through the Opioid Restitution Fund; and providing for a special effective

date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE

25-0008

Supplementary Special Revenue Fund Operating Appropriation –

Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programming – $10,000,000

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary Special Revenue Fund

Operating Appropriation in the amount of $10,000,000 to the Mayor’s

Office of Recovery Programming – Service 917 (Opioid Grants - Named

Organizations), to provide partial grant funding for non-profit organizations

named in settlement agreements; and providing for a special effective

date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE

25-0009

Supplementary Special Revenue Fund Operating Appropriation –

Mayoralty – $1,773,000

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary Special Revenue Fund

Operating Appropriation in the amount of $1,773,000 to the Mayoralty –

Service 918 (Opioid Restitution Administration), to provide funding for

additional positions to provide direction and guidance regarding the City’s

opioid response, establishment of the Restitution Advisory Board,

contractual support to establish a trust fund for litigation proceeds, and

community engagement; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE

25-0010

Supplementary Special Revenue Fund Operating Appropriation –

Department of Law – $100,000

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary Special Revenue Fund

Operating Appropriation in the amount of $100,000 to the Department of

Law – Service 862 (Transactions Contracts), to provide funding to create 2

additional positions to oversee contract agreements with grant

organizations; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration), Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE

25-0011

Supplementary Special Revenue Fund Operating Appropriation –

Baltimore City Health Department – $500,000

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary Special Revenue Fund

Operating Appropriation in the amount of $500,000 to the Baltimore City

Health Department – Service 715

(Health - Administration), to provide funding for planning costs for a

replacement facility for the Westside clinic; and providing for a special

effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE

25-0012

Supplementary Special Revenue Fund Operating Appropriation –

Baltimore City Health Department – $2,000,000

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary Special Revenue Fund

Operating Appropriation in the amount of $2,000,000 to the Baltimore City

Health Department – Service 307

(Health - Substance Use Disorder), to provide funding for staffing and

support costs for opioid response and recovery strategies; and providing

for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE

3R Third Reader (requires invocation of CC Rule 12-1 for same day advance from

2nd to 3rd Reader)

25-0007

Supplementary Special Revenue Fund Operating Appropriation –

Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programming – $270,000

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary Special Revenue Fund

Operating Appropriation in the amount of $270,000 to the Mayor’s Office of

Recovery Programming – Service 916 (Opioid Restitution Administration),

to provide funding for additional positions to oversee grants awarded

through the Opioid Restitution Fund; and providing for a special effective

date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

25-0008

Supplementary Special Revenue Fund Operating Appropriation –

Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programming – $10,000,000

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary Special Revenue Fund

Operating Appropriation in the amount of $10,000,000 to the Mayor’s

Office of Recovery Programming – Service 917 (Opioid Grants - Named

Organizations), to provide partial grant funding for non-profit organizations

named in settlement agreements; and providing for a special effective

date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

25-0009

Supplementary Special Revenue Fund Operating Appropriation –

Mayoralty – $1,773,000

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary Special Revenue Fund

Operating Appropriation in the amount of $1,773,000 to the Mayoralty –

Service 918 (Opioid Restitution Administration), to provide funding for

additional positions to provide direction and guidance regarding the City’s

opioid response, establishment of the Restitution Advisory Board,

contractual support to establish a trust fund for litigation proceeds, and

community engagement; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

25-0010

Supplementary Special Revenue Fund Operating Appropriation –

Department of Law – $100,000

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary Special Revenue Fund

Operating Appropriation in the amount of $100,000 to the Department of

Law – Service 862 (Transactions Contracts), to provide funding to create 2

additional positions to oversee contract agreements with grant

organizations; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration), Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer

25-0011

Supplementary Special Revenue Fund Operating Appropriation –

Baltimore City Health Department – $500,000

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary Special Revenue Fund

Operating Appropriation in the amount of $500,000 to the Baltimore City

Health Department – Service 715

(Health - Administration), to provide funding for planning costs for a

replacement facility for the Westside clinic; and providing for a special

effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

25-0012

Supplementary Special Revenue Fund Operating Appropriation –

Baltimore City Health Department – $2,000,000

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary Special Revenue Fund

Operating Appropriation in the amount of $2,000,000 to the Baltimore City

Health Department – Service 307

(Health - Substance Use Disorder), to provide funding for staffing and

support costs for opioid response and recovery strategies; and providing

for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

Committee Announcements

Announcements

District Spotlight - 3rd District

THE NEXT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL

WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2025, AT 5:00 P.M.

Adjournment

Thank you all for attending this meeting.

Please check the area around your seat to make

certain that you have everything that you brought with you.