1st Quarter - 2007
The Community Moves Transporation Forward
Finding solutions to transportation issues is not always easy. Especially when the
community and city must interact to bring better services to citizens, businesses and
visitors.
There is no doubt about the need. Downtown Annapolis cannot get enough employees downtown to fully inhabit second and third floor space in many buildings.
This is a damper on maintaining a vital downtown and can even create situations
where fire safety is compromised.
As a downtown resident myself and as the former chair of the citizen run
parking committee, we instituted a number of changes to make downtown parking
easier, especially for citizens of the city of Annapolis. These changes include
extending a 2-hour free parking program for all city residents at all city garages
-- this encourages those who are the best customers of our businesses -- those who
live closest, the citizens of Annapolis. Of course, this is of no value at times when
the garage is full. Since 2005 the city has been decreasing the number of monthly
permits in the garage, albeit slowly. It has also instituted a valet program that takes
over 400 vehicles off our streets on city weekends.
Starting in November 2006, the city became only one of 7 municipalities to
offer a free fare zone to encourage transit ridership in the downtown corridor. This
extends from the Spa Creek bridge to the Westgate Circle. Any bus you get on is
free to any destination in the Annapolis Transit route system. The effect is to lower
the roundtrip cost into and out of the downtown core by 1/2 and makes every bus
into a free shuttle within this zone. Ridership is up and the program is working.
Of course, improvements can be offset -- more people are bringing more cars
downtown. The trend in car ownership continues upward, from less than one car per household in the 1960s to over 2.5 cars
today. This has created a situation where
there are over 3 permits for every downtown
on street space. And, yes, downtown
residents do feel strongly that they want to
maintain access to their preferred method of
mobility -- the automobile.
Extending downtown resident parking
hours were pushed for by downtown
residents for a number of years. The parking
committee first considered this idea in 2004
but would not endorse this proposal until the
Mayor’s 8-point parking plan was achieved
in 2006. The legislation was introduced by
Alderman Israel in January 2006. At this time,
both resident and businesses on the parking
committee agreed to support this trial
plan. The legislation was then held by him
in March 2006, re-introduced in July 2006
and passed council in November 2006.
During this time there were full hearings on
the legislation, including parking committee
meetings and two A-1 stories about it in
The Capital. It is a trial plan that must be
renewed by November of 2007 to remain
in effect.
Downtown businesses are our neighbors
and friends. Much rests on sustaining a vital
economic base downtown, from keeping
crime in check to historic preservation itself.
Yet, undoubtedly, they will face a period of
change in the next few years as city dock
work begins, Parole opens and new proposals
are being floated about mandatory
sprinkler systems. Foot traffic was down in
2006 and we must assist business where we
can. Parking is a big part of that.
Finally, I will add that the taxi valet program
offers ‘door-to-door’ ride service from
the door of the restaurant to the door of
their cars for employees after shuttle hours.
Employees are allowed to get into their cars
and are watched by the taxi driver until
they drive away -- they are not abandoned
at their vehicles. Although to date lightly
used, this program needs to be revised and
improved.
A partnership has developed that has
worked very hard over the past few years to
improve the downtown transportation situation.
It made progress. Nevertheless, there is
more to do and we must continue to push for
improvements that are fair to all.
Are Oysters Democrats?
It is certainly possible. A number of initiatives are being sponsored by Democrats that will positively impact the Bay and our environment. These include:
Mayor Ellen Moyer continues into the sixth year of being the most pro-environment Mayor the city has had. This includes major efforts at restoration of Annapolis’ creeks and waters, controlling damaging run-off and preserving and restoring wet lands. A strong believer in the power of education, Ellen was trained by Al Gore to facilitate his acclaimed environmental seminar that the movie “An Inconvenient Truth” was based upon. This is being presented to legislators, city staff and citizens alike (to sign up for a seminar call the Mayor’s office at 410.263.7997)
County Councilman Josh Cohen is working with county planning staff to implement the zoning called for by the 2003 Annapolis Neck Small Area Plan. This will limit the development potential along environmentally sensitive peninsulas south of Forest Drive and help to protect the residential character of the Neck. Josh is also preparing a package of bills to reduce rainwater runoff, protect creeks from sediment and erosion, and generally require more environmentally friendly development.
Speaker Mike Busch is pushing forward legislation that will help restore oyster beds. Oysters were once an integral part of the Bay’s symbotic environment. Oysters filter the Bay and are a way to help clean the Bay. Mike also successfully supported the Maryland Healthy Air Act last year which would require coal-burning power plants to significantly reduce toxic emissions, and in 2007 he is supporting the Clean Car Act which will improve emissions standards for all cars registered in Maryland. So it is likely that if an oyster could, it would — vote Democratic.
The Rumor Mill
Is Mayor Moyer about to resign?
That’s the word on the street with many Democrats and Republicans alike. They expect Mayor Moyer to get a big appointment with
the O’Malley administration and move onto to supposedly greener pastures.
Posturing has already begun. Republicans are said to even be raising money for an imagined special election. Some also seem
to think that if she were to resign then her successor would get appointed by her or the city Democratic Central Committee.
Our Take: Very Unlikely!
Ellen Moyer has spent 40 years devoted to Annapolis and its issues as a civic activist and
elected official. She has great affinity for her role as mayor, a job that fits her well. It strains credibility to believe she would up and
leave not even half way through her second term. The best rumor buster is Ellen herself – “It’s simply not going to happen” she told
the Weikel Tipster.
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