Environmental Matters Committee Meeting October 8, 2026

The City of Annapolis Environmental Matters Committee met October 8, 2026. The committee voted to recommend favorably legislation concerning the Resilience Authority, as amended: Amendment 2 restores a residency requirement for city-appointed members, and Amendment 1 changes the appointment process to include City Council confirmation. The Resilience Authority representative said it has secured more than $80 million for city and county infrastructure projects. The committee also received planning and development updates, including pending reviews of several projects; no related contract awards or spending approvals were reported.

Procurement-related updates focused on transportation and environmental infrastructure. City staff said they were ready to advertise RFPs for the design-build of a diesel-electric ferry and for ferry landing sites, following an RFI that drew five responses from prospective operators. Staff noted that operating costs, revenues, and the potential city subsidy remain uncertain pending RFP responses, with a decision expected by the end of October. A feasibility study for a potential city streetcar system connecting with the county transit hub is expected by summer 2027. The committee also discussed shoreline and stream restoration projects, an exploratory review of whether a bulkhead replacement could incorporate a living shoreline, and continued use of remaining funds in the electric leaf-blower rebate program. No procurement awards or specific contract amounts were approved at this meeting.