Mayor’s 2012 General Assembly Agenda Released

For every session of the Maryland General Assembly, the office of the mayor releases a list of official policies the mayor would like to see Annapolis enact over the subsequent few months. This year, Mayor Rawlings-Blake’s legislative agenda focuses on seven familiar topics: stronger neighborhoods, safer streets, growing economy, innovative government and fiscal protection, equal rights, a cleaner and healthier city, and better schools.

We applaud the Mayor’s dedication to strengthening neighborhoods, particularly her support of the ability of community associations to take legal action against nuisance properties, along with a dedication to sustainable transportation funding in the Baltimore region.

Looking through the Mayor’s agenda is a great way to get a sense of what is on the table in Annapolis this year and to get involved in the General Assembly process. Also, consider joining us for an AYIC: Briefing on how you can support the public nuisance and source of income discrimination legislation on February 15th.

See the Mayor’s entire agenda here (PDF) or scroll down for the full text.

——————————————————————————————–

Baltimore City’s Legislative Agenda

2012 Maryland General Assembly Session

Stronger Neighborhoods

Bond authorization – with the approval of our delegation and Council, the City will sell $100 million in bonds for FY14 and FY 15 for important projects that include schools, recreation facilities, public buildings and economic and neighborhoods revitalization projects. (Administration bill)

Support of legislation that will make compliance with an MOU between a community association and a liquor license establishment a condition of a new or renewed license.

Restoration of the racing impact grant for the Pimlico neighborhoods.

Illegal dumping – This bill will consolidate several state provisions dealing with illegal dumping and dumping sites. The proposal will also provide for uniform penalties irrespective of weight and cubic feet and expand the State law to designate to the Motor Vehicle Administration the ability to suspend the license of a person convicted of violating these provisions. (Administration bill)

Electronic Detection System – Neighborhood Protection and Truck Route Enforcement. With the help of our delegation from the 46^th district who represent neighborhoods impacted by industrial traffic around the Port, we will advance a bill to allow the City to use camera-radar systems to track and cite illegal truck traffic on residential streets. (Administration bill)

We support a redistricting plan that allows for the preservation of the City’s influence in the General Assembly and promotes regionalism through the creation of a 6^th district shared with Baltimore County.

We support legislation that expands a community association’s ability to take legal action against nuisance properties in their neighborhoods.

Foreclosure has a significant impact on the stability of our communities. There will be a trio of bills that we will work very hard to pass including a statewide registry of foreclosed properties, an expedited foreclosure process for vacant and abandoned properties and a bill that ensures timely recordation of deeds on foreclosed buildings.

Safer Streets

We will pursue legislation that would create the actual crime of Theft from a Motor Vehicle to heighten awareness of this growing quality of life problem in our neighborhoods. (Administration bill)

Preserve the $7,192,022 million in public safety grants for foot patrol, community policing, and violent crime initiatives.

Legislation to allow for the re-creation of the position of “Captain” within the Police Department. (Administration bill)

Protect the $1,399,940 Marine Fire Suppression Grant that enables the City to continue to protect the Port of Baltimore and Inner Harbor.

In previous session, Baltimore City has led the support for legislation to reduce diminution credits. We will continue to be at the forefront of these efforts if legislation is introduced.

Support legislation that would more strongly regulate gun traffic between counties and across regions.

Support legislation that builds on our “felon-in possession” legislation from 2011 that subjects a defendant with an out of state drug conviction to the same mandatory minimum provisions as a Maryland defendant.

Growing Economy

We will introduce legislation that will reauthorize the requirement that 40% of the hotel tax is appropriated for convention center marketing and tourism promotion. The balance is used to pay debt service on the convention center. (Administration bill)

The South Baltimore Video Lottery Terminal Facility will need a liquor license for its operations. We will introduce legislation to create the liquor license class for this facility. (Administration bill)

Preservation of the State funding for the Enterprise Zone Tax Credit program. Last session recommendations were made to decrease State support for this program. Baltimore City heavily depends on this crucial program to attract business and grow local jobs.

We strongly support legislation that will allow Charitable Gaming Events in Baltimore City to be held in hotels, restaurants and other paid venues.

Support the inclusion of $3 million for planning funds for the expansion of the Baltimore Convention Center.

We strongly support long-term and sustainable funding for a world-class transportation network that includes a commitment of sufficient funding to local governments to meet municipal road needs.

Innovative Government and Fiscal Protection

Protect the invaluable $79 million disparity grant that is often a recommended reduction or cut.

Baltimore City Public School Personnel Retiree Health Care – Potential Future Reduction – Effect on Maintenance of Effort (MOE) In partnership with BCPS, we will pursue legislation that will ensure that future MOE will match the actual cost of BCPS retiree health costs paid by the City. (Administration bill)

We will support legislation that will save the City money and engage more citizens in our elections by syncing with the Presidential Election Cycle.

Repayment of the State local income tax reserve account will begin this year, which will cost the City approximately $2.137 million. We support a MACo effort to delay these repayments by the counties.

Equal Rights

Support legislation that will legalize same-sex marriage.

Cleaner and Healthier City

Recognizing the immense local and State responsibilities for the cleanup of the Bay, we support responsible changes to the Bay Restoration Fee to address the Fund’s massive underfunding and new attention to stormwater management needs of local governments.

Long-term and sustainable solutions for providing lead poisoned children with compensation while protecting the public housing stock for our vulnerable citizens.

Better Schools

Support the increase of BCPS’ bonding authority, which will allow BCPS to better address their capital needs.

Explore legislative remedies to make state and local school construction funding more predictable and more flexible to increase its impact for capital projects.

Explore legislative and administrative remedies to better enable large-scale innovative alternative financing programs and Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) for school construction and maintenance programs.

Support a dedicated funding stream of new school construction funds from the proceeds of the State Alcohol Tax.

Seek a charter amendment to allow for the possible multiyear dedication and leveraging of a local revenue source dedicated to school construction. (Administration bill)