Motion to Vote on Parking Garage MOU Fails
The Anne Arundel County Board of Education chose not to move towards a vote in establishing a memorandum of understanding with the Annapolis City Council.
A proposed downtown parking garage is facing yet another hurdle.
A motion to act on a memorandum of understanding with the Annapolis City Council regarding the project failed to pass with a 3-2 vote Wednesday by the Anne Arundel County Board of Education.
The memorandum is an agreement between the Anne Arundel County Board of Education and the City Council to work cooperatively on the proposal, if it passes the council.
The vote Wednesday wasn't to determine if the memorandum would be reached, only to see if the board would actually vote on the matter.
"We don't have any specific plans, that's right," Alderman Ross Arnett (D-8th Ward) said. "We have not been given the signal to go forth," regarding the lack of a memorandum.
If plans for the parking garage are approved, it would sit on top of the Annapolis City Playground, which is situated near the historic Annapolis Elementary School.
Patricia Nalley, president of the Board of Education, expressed her disapproval of the overall project.
"I don't see any good this does for the children," Nalley said.
Board member Eugene Petersen abstained from voting, citing a conflict of interest because he's a city government employee.
Alderwoman Sheila Finlayson (D-4th Ward) urged the Board of Education members to go forward with the project stating that the proposal includes plans for a new, larger waterfront playground and a new, smaller school playground.
"I ask you today to allow us to move forward," Finlayson said.
Bob Burden, president and CEO of the Annapolis Chamber of Commerce, asked the Board of Education to vote in favor of the memorandum in order to open a constructive dialogue.
"We’re here to ask you as a stakeholder in engaging this vision and this idea, and looking at how this idea and its possibilities exist," Burden said.
Chris Stelzig, the president of Annapolis Elementary PTA, who also started the anti-garage petition, previously told Patch that he doesn't believe the city would deliver on its promise for a new playground and that the proposed location by the waterfront is unsafe. He shared his displeasure for the project at the meeting.
“I want my spring back, I want my day job back. I'm tired of having to come here and refute arguments that the city leaders should not be making," Stelzig said.
The City Council will host a public hearing on the matter at its April 23 meeting. The Board of Education will revisit the memorandum item during its May 2 meeting, according to schools spokesman Bob Mosier.
Angie Carroll
9:33 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
To all the Annapolis ES parents and all others that make great use of this playground - I am so sorry you are going through this. Of course you are going to fight this thing... the city council (part of it anyway) and its "generous" developers only have some computer generated pictures of what it "could" look like. My kids could make their own drawings of what it "could" look like too and would be just as valid. There are no permits, no contracts, no variances granted...why would anyone agree to go with that? You would think the mistakes of Market House would not be repeated so quickly. And a true irony on the City's website for parks is a quote - America's Great Outdoors Vision Statement "All children, regardless of where they live, have access to clean, safe outdoor places within a short walk of their homes or schools, where they can play, dream, discover and recreate." They already have that in this playground. Leave it be.
Janet Norman
9:59 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
City took a humilitating rebuff from the Board of Ed. Article does not mention the BoE reprimanding the City for not providing any of the documents the BoE asked for weeks ago, such as Parking Studies, etc. BoE members exact words are, "There is no trust here," meaning not only is a poor proposal, but the conduct of our City reps has lost all credibility with the BoE. BoE asked where were the overdue permits the City was supposed to have given the Board months ago for the renovation of Annap Elem. and Phoenix schools? BoE felt the City's promises of smooth and expedited permitting were hollow, when they can not deliver on a permit with more than ample processing time. Board asked why the mayor wasn't there if this is a project the City supports? Board asked if the whole City Council approves of this plan, and Ms. Finlayson asserted that she had 6 signatures for the emergency meeting called, and would have had 8 Council signatures "if there had been enough time." Strongly implying the consent of the whole Council, rather than just the legislative courtesy being extended to her and Ald. Arnett. Even the 17 year old student member of the BoE could see through the smoke and mirrors, recite the empty parking garages all over Annapolis, and ask why the parking report she had asked for weeks ago had never been sent. Not a proud day to be an Annapolitan, though grateful for our AA County repesentation.
Kari O
12:03 pm on Saturday, April 21, 2012
Janet, many thanks for being there and serving as the eyes and ears that paid close attention to the interactions at this meeting.
I still don't understand how some on the City Council have known about this for 18 months, according to a statement at Monday's "emergency" meeting, yet basic documentation still isn't provided. How could the Board be asked to make any decision without full facts and documentation?