City of Baltimore

City Council

City Hall, Room 408

100 North Holliday Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Meeting Agenda - Final

Monday, May 12, 2025

5:00 PM

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

MTID=m52c22ece6d428dd3075ea08af25d9d3c

Password: Public

Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall

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. Kevin Ewing, Catholic Community of South Baltimore

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

Approval of the Journal

April 28, 2025

Communications from the Mayor

Bills Signed by the Mayor

MAY 1, 2025

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.

Sponsors:

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

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

Ramos, Zeke Cohen

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

25-0006

Zoning Code – Modifications

FOR the purpose of amending provisions of the Baltimore City Zoning

Code relating to variances to conform to relevant State law; making

modifications to the process of granting variances; clarifying provisions of

the Zoning Code relating to nonconforming structures; and generally

relating to the zoning and land use laws of the City of Baltimore.

Sponsors:

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

Bills Introduced

25-0060

Ordinance of Estimates for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2026

FOR the purpose of providing the appropriations estimated to be needed

by each agency of the City of Baltimore for operating programs and capital

projects during the Fiscal 2026 year.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

Budget and Appropriations Committee

25-0061

Annual Property Tax – Fiscal Year 2026

FOR the purpose of providing a tax for the use of the Mayor and City

Council of Baltimore for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026;

and setting the semiannual payment service charge for that period.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

Budget and Appropriations Committee

25-0062

Building Code – Single Exit from Residential Occupancy

FOR the purpose of permitting certain residential buildings to have a single

exit or access to a single exit, so long as certain conditions are met

regarding the construction of the exit.

Sponsors:

Ryan Dorsey, Mark Conway, Paris Gray, John Bullock, Zac Blanchard, Odette Ramos,

Zeke Cohen

Land Use and Transportation Committee

25-0063

Zoning Administrator – Transfer to Department of Planning

FOR the purpose of transferring the Office of Zoning Administrator and all

attendant authorities and duties from the Department of Housing and

Community Development to the Department of Planning.

Sponsors:

Sharon Green Middleton, Ryan Dorsey, Mark Conway, James Torrence, Paris Gray, John

Bullock, Zac Blanchard, Odette Ramos, Zeke Cohen

Housing and Economic Development Committee

25-0064

Zoning – Bulk and Yard Requirements - Amendments

FOR the purpose of amending certain bulk and yard requirements in

residential zoning districts.

Sponsors:

Paris Gray, Ryan Dorsey, Sharon Green Middleton, James Torrence, Zac Blanchard,

Odette Ramos, Zeke Cohen

Land Use and Transportation Committee

25-0065

Zoning – Eliminating Off-Street Parking Requirements

FOR the purpose of repealing requirements for providing a minimum

number of off-street parking spaces per use type; setting certain parking

maximums; and correcting, clarifying, and conforming related provisions

and tables.

Sponsors:

Zac Blanchard, Ryan Dorsey, Paris Gray, Zeke Cohen

Land Use and Transportation Committee

25-0066

Zoning – Housing Options and Opportunity

FOR the purpose of amending certain provisions of the Baltimore City

Zoning Code to promote increased development of low-density multi-family

dwellings in certain residential districts; striking residential conversion

standards for single-family dwellings into multi-family dwellings; amending

certain permitted and conditional uses; amending certain bulk and yard

standards; and defining certain terms.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration), Ryan Dorsey, Paris Gray, Zac Blanchard

Land Use and Transportation Committee

25-0067

Acting City Official – Residency Requirement

FOR the purpose of requiring a City employee serving as an acting official

to be a City resident under certain circumstances; and defining a certain

term.

Sponsors:

Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer

Committee on Legislative Investigations

25-0068

Study and Report – Disparity Study – Returning Citizen-Owned

and Employing Businesses

FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Finance to conduct a

disparity study to determine whether a disparity exists between the number

of available businesses that are owned by returning citizens, or whose

employees are comprised of 50% or more returning citizens, providing

goods or services in specified business categories and the number who

are contracting with the City as a prime contractor or subcontractor.

Sponsors:

James Torrence, Mark Conway, Sharon Green Middleton, Paris Gray, John Bullock, Zac

Blanchard, Odette Ramos, Zeke Cohen

Housing and Economic Development Committee

25-0069

Sale of Property – 1820 North Charles Street

FOR the purpose of authorizing the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to

sell, at either public or private sale, all its interest in certain property that is

located at 1820 North Charles Street (Block 0388, Lot 009) and is no

longer needed for public use; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration), James Torrence

Land Use and Transportation Committee

25-0070

Sale of Property – 242 South Patterson Park Avenue

FOR the purpose of authorizing the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to

sell, at either public or private sale, all its interest in certain property that is

located at 242 South Patterson Park Avenue (Block 1758, Lot 020) and is

no longer needed for public use; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Office of the Comptroller), Mark Parker

Land Use and Transportation Committee

25-0071

Zoning – Conditional Use Conversion of Single-Family Dwelling Unit to 2

Dwelling Units in the R-8 Zoning District – Variances – 15 East West

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 15 East West Street (Block 0965,

Lot 046), as outlined in red on the accompanying plat; granting a variance

regarding certain bulk regulations (lot size area); and providing for a

special effective date.

Sponsors:

Zac Blanchard

Land Use and Transportation Committee

25-0072

Zoning – Conditional Use Conversion of Single-Family Dwelling Units to 2

Dwelling Units Each in the R-8 Zoning District – 1703 and 1709

Edmondson Avenue

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 1703 Edmondson Avenue (Block

0121, Lot 017) and a single-family dwelling unit to 2 dwelling units in the

R-8 Zoning District on the property known as 1709 Edmondson Avenue

(Block 0121, Lot 020), as outlined in red on the accompanying plat;

granting variances regarding off-street parking requirements; and

providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

John Bullock

Land Use and Transportation Committee

25-0073

Zoning – Conditional Use Conversion to a Banquet Hall in the IMU-1

Zoning District – Variances – 1100 Wicomico Street

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

establishment, maintenance, and operation of a banquet hall on the

property known as 1100 Wicomico Street (Block 0811, Lot 060), as

outlined in red on the accompanying plat; granting variances regarding

off-street parking requirements; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

Phylicia Porter

Land Use and Transportation Committee

25-0074

Repeal of Ordinance 06-222 – Planned Unit Development – 1100

Wicomico Street

FOR the purpose of repealing Ordinance 06-222, which designated certain

property located at 1100 Wicomico Street an Industrial Planned Unit

Development; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

Phylicia Porter

Land Use and Transportation Committee

Resolutions Introduced

25-0025R

Recognizing May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and

Pacific Islander Heritage Month

FOR the purpose of recognizing May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian,

and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in Baltimore City and

celebrating the significant contributions of AANHPI communities to the

City’s and the United States’ history, economy, arts, and culture.

Sponsors:

Mark Parker, Mark Conway, Sharon Green Middleton, James Torrence, Paris Gray, John

Bullock, Zac Blanchard, Jermaine Jones, Odette Ramos, Zeke Cohen

IMMEDIATE ADOPTION

25-0026R

Recognizing June as Men’s Health Month

FOR the purpose of recognizing June as Men’s Health Month in Baltimore

City, expressing the City Council’s support for reestablishing the Baltimore

City Health Department’s Men’s Health Center, and emphasizing the

importance of using City resources for targeted services to support men’s

heath and longevity, including in areas around mental health, preventative

care, fatherhood, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and suicide.

Sponsors:

Phylicia Porter, Mark Parker, Mark Conway, Sharon Green Middleton, James Torrence,

Paris Gray, John Bullock, Zac Blanchard, Jermaine Jones, Odette Ramos, Zeke Cohen

IMMEDIATE ADOPTION

25-0027R

Informational Hearing - Home Repair Assistance for Older Adults

FOR the purpose of inviting the Baltimore City Department of Housing and

Community Development, the Mayor’s Office of Children and Family

Success, the Mayor’s Office of Older Adults Affairs and Advocacy, and

relevant stakeholders to provide an update to the City Council on the status

of home repair assistance programs for older adults in the City.

Sponsors:

Odette Ramos, Mark Parker, Mark Conway, Sharon Green Middleton, James Torrence,

Paris Gray, John Bullock, Zac Blanchard, Jermaine Jones, Zeke Cohen

Education, Youth, and Older Adults Committee

Consent Calendar

2R Second Reader

BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

25-0045

Supplementary State Fund Operating Appropriation –

Department of Recreation and Parks – Service 654 (Urban Forestry) –

$90,000

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary State Fund Operating

Appropriation in the amount of $90,000 to the Department of Recreation

and Parks – Service 654 (Urban Forestry), to provide funding for

addressing the pressing concerns surrounding the detrimental impact of

deer on the forested natural areas within Baltimore City parks, particularly

those affecting forest ecology in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(“EPA”) Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) Disadvantaged Communities; and

providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE WITH AMENDMENT

25-0046

Supplementary State Fund Operating Appropriation –

Health Department (Service 723 - Advocacy for Seniors) – $90,236

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary State Fund Operating

Appropriation in the amount of $90,236 to the Health Department –

Service 723 (Advocacy for Seniors), to provide funding for assisting and

guiding care givers of persons with dementia, building community

awareness of dementia, and strengthening the ability of area agencies on

aging to provide services to the growing number of Marylanders with

ADRD and their family care givers; and providing for a special effective

date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE WITH AMENDMENT

25-0047

Supplementary Federal Fund Operating Appropriation –

M-R Office of Employment Development – Service 795

(Workforce Services for Baltimore Residents) – $206,822

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary Federal Fund Operating

Appropriation in the

amount of $206,822 to the M-R Office of Employment Development –

Service 795 (Workforce Services for Baltimore Residents), to provide

funding for a Recovery-Friendly Workplace pilot (RFW) to educate the

business community about the benefits of providing resources for

employees struggling with substance use disorder, and for job seekers in

recovery that have barriers to employment because of their previous

struggles with substance use; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE WITH AMENDMENT

25-0048

Supplementary Federal Fund Operating Appropriation –

M-R Office of Employment Development – Service 795

(Workforce Services for Baltimore Residents) – $1,375,655

FOR the purpose of providing a Supplementary Federal Fund Operating

Appropriation in the amount of $1,375,655 to the M-R Office of

Employment Development – Service 795 (Workforce Services for

Baltimore Residents), to provide funding for case management,

barrier removal, supportive services, and skills training to workers

dislocated by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, as well as offering

occupational skills training to prepare workers to assist with disaster

recovery efforts and, eventually, the reconstruction of the bridge; and

providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

City Council President (Administration)

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE WITH AMENDMENT

HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

25-0003

Historic Preservation – Conservation Districts – Establishment

FOR the purpose of establishing Conservation Districts; providing a study,

proposal, and review process; defining certain terms; and providing for a

special effective date.

Sponsors:

John Bullock, Mark Conway, Sharon Green Middleton, James Torrence, Paris Gray,

Phylicia Porter, Zac Blanchard, Jermaine Jones, Antonio "Tony" Glover, Odette Ramos,

Zeke Cohen

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE WITH AMENDMENT

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

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

25-0005

Arson Offender Registry – Registration Requirement

FOR the purpose of altering the criteria for registering as an arson offender

with the Police Commissioner; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

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

RECOMMEND FAVORABLE

3R Third Reader

25-0013

Child Health – Equitable Access to Health Services in City Schools

FOR the purpose of addressing disparities in child health care by

expanding access to comprehensive health services for children across

Baltimore City, including well-child preventive care and vaccines, family

planning services, and dental services; providing for a referral to a vision or

mental and behavioral health specialist at the written request of a specified

individual; requiring, without prior approval, mandatory follow-up care for

any positive or abnormal health screening; defining certain terms; generally

relating to expanding access to health care for City students in school

health centers and health suites; and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

Phylicia Porter, Ryan Dorsey, Mark Conway, Isaac "Yitzy" Schleifer, Sharon Green

Middleton, James Torrence, Paris Gray, John Bullock, Jermaine Jones, Odette Ramos,

Zeke Cohen

25-0021

Rezoning – 3221 Frederick Avenue

FOR the purpose of changing the zoning for the property known as 3221

Frederick Avenue (Block 2123A, Lot 002), as outlined in red on the

accompanying plat, from the I-1 Zoning District to the IMU-1 Zoning District;

and providing for a special effective date.

Sponsors:

John Bullock

25-0022

Zoning – R-8 Zoning District – Conditional Use – Maximum Building Height

– Variances – 1121 Bayard Street

FOR the purpose of granting variances from certain bulk and yard

regulations (minimum building height, rear-yard setback, and maximum lot

coverage) on the property known as 1121 Bayard Street (Block 0767, Lot

032), as outlined in red on the accompanying plat; and providing for a

special effective date.

Sponsors:

Phylicia Porter

25-0023

Rezoning – 3200 Lily Avenue

FOR the purpose of changing the zoning for the property known as 3200

Lily Avenue (Block 7566, Lot 035), as outlined in red on the accompanying

plat, from the R-4 Zoning District to the I-1 Zoning District.

Sponsors:

Phylicia Porter

25-0035

Gas-Powered Debris Removal Equipment – Prohibition – Enforcement

FOR the purpose of clarifying and conforming certain provisions related to

the enforcement of the prohibition of gas-powered debris removal

equipment.

Sponsors:

Ryan Dorsey, Mark Parker, Sharon Green Middleton, Paris Gray, Zac Blanchard

Third Reader (requires invocation of CC Rule 12-1 for same day advance from 2nd to

3rd Reader)