PGPOA Petitions to be Discussed at Tuesday's Council Meeting

The discussion will continue about two potential charter amendments that would impact property owners in the city at tonight’s Mayor and Council meeting.

In March, turned in two petitions, calling for two charter amendments: One referendum advocates for a property tax cap, and the other the elimination of a distinction between types of property in the city. While the PGPOA is campaigning against the city’s rent stabilization law, city officials say the referendums go beyond the rent caps and would have other negative impacts on the city.

City residents could be voting on the amendments in a special election in the next few months.

On its website, the PGPOA is encouraging its members to attend Tuesday’s meeting and provide testimony. City Attorney Suellen Ferguson will report on whether the referendums would meet the legal requirements under state law for a municipal charter amendment, according to a blog kept up by City Councilman Fazlul Kabir (Dist. 1).

Council referred the petitions earlier this month to the Board of Election Supervisors for review. The BOES report will also be discussed at the meeting.

The council meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers of . Those who wish to attend can pick up a free parking pass on the first floor of city hall.

A summary of agenda items follows. The complete agenda accompanies this post, and it's available here. Can't make it to the meeting? Watch it live here.

Other Action Items

• Code of Ethics

Council will vote on a motion to adopt an ordinance to amend the city’s Code of Ethics, to incorporate changes required by state ethics laws, and makes other clarifications in the code regarding the filing process for officials and candidates. There will be a public hearing for this ordinance at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday in the council chambers.

•  State Budget
  

The city will decide on sending a letter to Gov. Martin O’Malley regarding the state’s fiscal year 2013 budget.

• City Hall, Public Works Building

Council will introduce an ordinance that would amend the city’s fiscal year 2012 budget, to allocate $1.4 million from the unassigned reserve fund for a new public works modular building and the . The public hearing for the ordinance is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8 in the council chambers of city hall.

• Fiscal Year 2013 City Budget

Council will also introduce an ordinance to adopt the $14.7 million . Council recently . The complete list of requested amendments made by council are included on pages 62 and 63 of the agenda. The public hearing for the ordinance will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8 in the council chambers of city hall.

• Board and Committee Appointments

Council will vote on one appointment to the Noise Control Board.

Consent Agenda

• Staff is suggesting that council grant a resident permission to construct a second singlewide driveway apron in front of his home on 50th Avenue.

• Council will vote on the 2012 community service grant recipients and amounts, including $2,050 for the Pregnancy Aid Centers, Inc. and $1,800 for the Lakeland Community Heritage Project. The complete list is on page 37 of the agenda.