Dec 05, 2023 County Council

543. GOOD EVENING CHAIR CALLS ORDER PUBLIC HEARING FOR BILL 23-0 34. DISTRIBUTION HOTEL

[a. Bill 23-034 (Distribution - Hotel Occupancy Tax Revenue)]

[00:00:12]

I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I GET IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THESE CONTROVERSIAL BILLS, BUT IT'S ANOTHER ONE, AND IT'S A GOOD ONE. BUT IT'S A IT'S A BILL THAT I THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE. I THINK IF PEOPLE TOOK A LOOK AT THIS EIGHT YEARS AGO, WHEN THE BILL WAS ORIGINALLY PASSED AH, IN JANUARY FEBRUARY OF 2015, I DON'T THINK WE'D BE HERE TALKING ABOUT THIS TODAY. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FAIR. THEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED FAIRLY THEN NOT LIKE IT'S HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. IT'S UM I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS ABOUT THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY THAT IT SEEMS LIKE , UH, EVERYBODY OR NOT EVERYBODY , BUT ENOUGH PEOPLE WANT TO, UH UM. STEP ON THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY AND NOT UM, RELINQUISH THE KIND OF FUNDS THAT THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY OUGHT TO BE GETTING THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING OVER THE YEARS AND THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. HERE IS CAN YOU PUT UP OVERHEAD? UM AH. WE HAVE WE HAVE NINE HOTELS THAT ARE IN DISTRICT GAY. AND I HAVE BEEN TO EVERY ONE OF THEM. I SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY GOING DOOR TO DOOR TO EVERY ONE OF THE HOTELS, BRINGING MY BILL AND TALKING TO WHOEVER'S IN CHARGE THAT DAY. SOMEBODY OWNERS SOME OF THE MANAGERS, SO THEY WERE ALL VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE BILL. AND WE'RE PLEASED THAT FINALLY SOMEBODY WAS TAKING SOME CONSIDERATION. FOR THE NINE HOTELS THAT ARE SITTING THERE IN EDGEWOOD RIGHT AT LITERALLY AT 24 9 2495. THERE'S NINE HOTELS RAISE ABOUT $685,000 A YEAR IN HOTEL TAX. AND SOME PEOPLE SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT COSTING THEM ANYTHING. YOU KNOW THEY'RE THEY'RE TAXING THE PEOPLE. WELL, IT'S NOT TRUE. UM THE HOTELS HAVE TO COLLECT ALL THAT MONEY. THEY HAVE TO RECORD EVERY SINGLE NIGHT THAT THAT SOMEBODY STAYS THERE AND TAKE 6% OF THE HOTEL TAX. UM THEY, UH. THEN THEY HAVE TO FIGURE ABOUT ALL THE GOVERNMENT PEOPLE BECAUSE A LOT OF GOVERNMENT PEOPLE BECAUSE OF ABERDEEN PROVING GROUNDS THAT STAY IN HOTELS THERE AND THEY'RE EXEMPT FROM THE TAX. SO ALL THAT HAS TO BE, UM, TAKEN CARE OF, AND CONTRACT AND FIGURE OUT THE END OF THE WEEK WHEN THEY GOT TO CUT A CHECK AND SEND IT TO OFFERED COUNTY. THEY'VE COMPLAINED TO US MEAN PETS IT WITH HIM A NUMBER OF THEM. AND THEY COMPLAINED ABOUT. UM UH, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO, UH, DO THAT ON A TIMELY BASIS AND CONSEQUENTLY THEY CAN GET FINED UP TO 10% FOR NOT GETTING THE PAYMENTS IN ON TIME.

SO SOMEBODY HAS TO DO THAT. SOMEBODY IN THE HOTEL HAS TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT PAPERWORK AND THE COMPUTERS AND GET IT FOR THEIR ACCOUNTANTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE SO IT IS COSTING THEM MONEY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING OUT OF THAT 6% FOR THEIR OPERATING, SCHEDULED THEIR MAINTENANCE AND, UM I'M NOT. I'M NOT EXACTLY IGNORANT OF THE FACTS ABOUT HOW TELL HOTELS WORK BECAUSE MY WIFE WAS GENERAL MANAGER OF A NUMBER OF HOTELS FOR ABOUT 35 YEARS, AND I REMEMBER HOW MANY TIMES I HAD TO GO AND HELP HER OUT AND DIDN'T GET PAID. I MIGHT HAVE TO HELP HER OUT A DIFFERENT SITUATIONS THAT WERE GOING ON IN THE HOTEL AT THE LAST AT THE LAST MINUTE.

AH AH! WE SPOKE OVER THE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. MANY OF US HAVE SOUND. SPOKE WITH A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE OVER THIS. UH AND A LOT OF THE, UM PEOPLE WHO ARE RECEIVING PART OF THIS TAX AND THEN BEEN RECEIVING IT FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. WORRIED ABOUT THAT THEIR LITTLE PIECE OF THE WORLD'S GOING TO GET CUT. WELL IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THEY FEEL THAT WAY. EVEN THOUGH I TRIED TO SIT HERE AND EXPLAIN TO HIM HOW IT'S NOT

[00:05:02]

IT'S GOING TO GO UP. IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO UP. AND THEN PEOPLE SAY WELL, YOU KNOW YOU YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE, UM ECONOMIC INDICATORS AND AS WELL, NOBODY UNDERSTANDS HIM BETTER THAN I DO. I SPENT 50 YEARS AS A BUSINESS MANAGER AND A PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL UNION OF I B. W AND MY REQUIREMENT EVERY YEAR TO UNDERSTAND AND IN THE ECONOMIC INDICATORS BECAUSE WHEN WE NEGOTIATED, COLLECT THE BARGAIN AGREEMENTS, AND I PROBABLY NEGOTIATE A COUPLE OF 100 EMMA IN MY LIFETIME. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE ECONOMIC INDICATORS ARE. BECAUSE WE'RE NOTING NEGOTIATING A CONTRACT FOR THE FUTURE FOR THAT FOR PROBABLY 2345 YEARS OUT, DEPENDING ON THE YEARS WE NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT. WE GOT TO FIND OUT WHAT INDICATORS ARE WHAT THE COST OF LIVING HIS. HOW MUCH MONEY IS THE EMPLOYER BRINGING IN SECTOR ETCETERA? WE GOT MEDICARE. WE GOT MEDICAL BILLS. WE GOT PENSIONS AND EVERYTHING TO FUN. AND I HAD THEM MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THAT THAT I HANDLED ON THOSE PROGRAMS, SO I KNOW WHAT INDICATORS ARE. THE INDICATORS HERE ARE EXTREMELY WELL FOR HARFORD COUNTY. AH RECENTLY AND I'M SURE SOME OF YOU PROBABLY HAVE IT I BOUGHT GUESS YESTERDAY AND I PAID $2.95 A GALLON. UNDER TWO UNDER THREE BUCKS A GALLON. UM EVEN TURKEY, I NOTICED THAT IT WAS A DOLLAR 25 CENTS A GALLON. AND THE BIGGEST THING THAT REALLY SHOCKS ME, YOU KNOW, UH, IS THE UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND? I CAN'T EVEN GET MY HANDS AROUND THIS BUT BUT REPORTED ON THE NATIONAL NEWS YESTERDAY, UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND IS 1.7. THAT IS UNHEARD OF. 1.7% THE AVERAGE USUALLY IF HE GETS DOWN TO SOMEWHERE ABOUT 3.724% THAT'S ACTUALLY CONSIDERED FOR EMPLOYMENT, SO WE GOT BETTER THAN FULL EMPLOYMENT IN THE REGION THAT'S CONCERNED FORM FOR EMPLOYMENT, BECAUSE THAT'S AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NORMALLY TRANSFERRING OR MOVING FROM JOB TO JOB AND THEY'RE THEY'RE COUNTING INTO THAT 3.7 OR 4% UNEMPLOYMENT. AH ALSO. AH WHAT'S GOING TO BE? AH DR. THE HOTEL TAX UP IS COMPROMISED. I'M SURE EVERYBODY IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH COMPROMISE. THAT'S A IN EDGEWOOD BEEN SPENT BEEN COMING IN FOR YEARS. IN FACT, WHEN I WAS ON THE COUNCIL BEFORE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COMPROMISE. FINALLY WE GOT KICKED IN. WE'VE GOT KICKED IN THE REAR IS PAST JANUARY FEBRUARY WE MET WITH WITH ALEX DID THE CEO AND NUMEROUS TIMES THIS YEAR ABOUT COMPROMISE, AND HE ESTIMATES HIS ESTIMATE, NOT MINE. HE'S THE PROFESSION ON THAT AND THAT AREA. HMM WHAT COPPER? MINE IS IT'S BEEN IT'S IN EDGEWOOD. IT'S OVER THERE BY THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB. IF YOU KNOW WHERE THAT IS, THEY'RE BUILDING EIGHT SPORTS FIELDS, EIGHT SPORTS FIELDS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ALL ALL OF, UH, NOT GOING TO BE GREAT. IT'S

[00:10:02]

AND UM ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. UM ALSO, IF YOU NOTICE UP, UH, THE BOTTOM LINE THERE ON THE BOTTOM LINE. THE FIRST PARAGRAPH IS FISCAL 2022 FISCAL 2022. IS 3,263,009. IS WHAT WAS RAISED ON IT. HOTEL TAX IN HARFORD COUNTY. IN 2023 AND ESTIMATE IS COMING IN THIS YEAR IS 3,553,000. AND THE OILERS REPORT. IT'S NOT OUR REPORT. NOBODY WANTS COUNCIL.

THIS IS COMING FROM THE COUNTY AUDITOR. THE DIFFERENCE IS ALMOST IT'S ALMOST $300,000.

WELL MY BILL IF WE'RE GOING TO GET THE 50% WHICH I THINK IS IT COULDN'T BE ANY FAIR. UH BECAUSE WE GIVE 50% TO ABERDEEN AND 50% TO HAVING A GRACE AND I SUPPORT THAT. 100% I DON'T WANT THAT TO CHANGE. I THINK THEY ABSOLUTELY DESERVE TO HAVE THAT 50% BECAUSE THE HOTELS ARE IN THEIR DISTRICT AND THEY SHOULD GET IT. WELL WE SHOULD GET THE SAME WHERE THE ONLY PLACE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

THERE'S ONLY THREE PLACES THAT HAVE HOTELS AND THAT'S A NF. UM, BC INDEED. I DON'T HAVE ANY HOTELS. BUT WITH THIS BILL, UH, I THINK IT'S IT MAKES IT MORE FAIR FOR EVERYBODY ON THE COUNCIL BECAUSE IT ALLOWS, UM NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT B AND C AND D TO GO AND, UH TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND ASKED THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, THEY'VE GOT A PRODUCT PROJECT OR SOMETHING IN THEIR DISTRICT. GO RIGHT TO COUNTY EXECUTIVE. AND SO I GOT THIS PROJECT. I NEED X NUMBER OF DOLLARS TO BRING THIS PROJECT FORWARD. SO I THINK IT'S FAIR. UM I HAVE HEARD SOME RUMORS ABOUT WINNING, REDUCE IT TO 25. THERE WE GO AGAIN, YOU KNOW WHY DO WE HAVE TO TAKE EDGEWOOD AND JOPPATOWNE AND CHOP THEM DOWN? DON'T GIVE THEM WHAT WE GIVE EVERYBODY ELSE. WHEN ARE WE GOING TO STOP THAT WHEN WE CAN'T BE EVEN WHY CAN WE TREAT THE SOUTHERN PART OF COUNTY LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTY OR DON'T WE LIVE THERE? DON'T TO 43,000 PEOPLE. THE 43,000 PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA. DON'T THEY DESERVE THE SAME? UM UH, EXPENDITURES AND MONIES THAT EVERYBODY ELSE GETS. AH WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT. TALK ABOUT THIS. THINK ABOUT THIS. YOU'VE GOT THE THREE MR PALETTE EASE, RIGHT? BLAIR. ABERDEEN HAVE ANY GRACE. YOU KNOW, THE JOB OF TALENT EDGE WOULD PAY MORE TAXES. THEY PAID MORE TAXES TO THE COUNTY. THEN THE THREE MR PALETTE EASE, MRS PALLEY PAID MORE MONEY. BUT THEY'RE THE MONEY THEY HAVE TO PAY IN THEIR TAXES TO BOMBER TO HARFORD COUNTY IS NOT AS MUCH BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING TO MISS THE PALETTE E SO WE DON'T GET ME WRONG. OVERALL, THEY'RE PAYING MORE. HOWEVER THEY DON'T PAY AS MUCH INTO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. AS AS JOPPATOWNE AND H WOOD AND PFOSTEN AND, UH, NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY. UM THEY PAY DIRECTORS. THEY DON'T HAVE A MISSILE PALETTE. E, UH. SO TO TALK ABOUT REDUCING IT, IT REALLY HAS A REALLY HITS ME BAD BECAUSE I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO PASS THIS THING, IT WOULD BE FAIR. IT WILL BE EVEN. I WANTED TO SHARE SOMETHING ELSE WITH YOU

[00:15:03]

IT WAS SENATOR GENERAL FUND TO THE COUNTY TO BE USED TO FUND HAGERSTOWN AND WASHINGTON COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU. IRANIAN BALANCE TO A SPECIAL FUND TO BE USED ONLY TO COVER THE COST OF WAGES, POSTAGE SUPPLIES AND LEGAL FEES INCURRED IN ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOTEL RENTAL TAX. DEVELOPED TOURISM ATTRACTIONS AND ENHANCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT CULTURE AND RECOGNITION PROJECTS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY. MR PALETTE E AND IN WASHINGTON COUNTY MAY APPLY TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY. FOR FUNDING OF THE SPECIAL FUND TO ESTABLISH UNDER SUBSECTIONS SUCH AS SUCH, AND THIS SECTION TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PROJECT WITHIN THOSE OF PALLET E COME AND GO COUNTY REGIONAL, SOME OF TAX RENTAL TAX ADMINISTRATION COSTS NOT TO EXCEED 5% IN GENERAL FLYNN GENERAL, THE COUNTY AUTHORIZES HOTEL TAX OF 6. SIX THIS IS COMING NUMBERS 16.7% OF THE REVENUE GOES TO THE SALISBURY'S ZOOLOGICAL PARK. 16.7% OF REVENUE TO WHITE, COMICAL COUNTY YOUTH. AND CIVIC CENTER TO BE USED FOR ITS IMPROVEMENTS AND RENOVATIONS. INNOVATIONS YOU THINK THAT'S A CAPITAL PROJECT?

[00:20:01]

AND THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT ABOUT JUST THE FACTS. THEY HAVE ONE POLICE FORCE. WE ALREADY HAVE FIVE COUNTING THE STATE POLICE HAVE FIVE BUT YOU KNOW THAT'S AN ARGUMENT FOR ANOTHER DAY, BUT I JUST THE FACTS. THE OCCUPATION. THE TAX IN IN BARMER COUNTY STARTED AT 8. THEN THEY WENT TO 10. AND NOW THEY'RE AT, UH THEY FINALLY FINALIZED AT 9.5% AND THEY RAISED $11 MILLION. IN HOTEL TAX 11 MILLION NOW LISTEN, HOW THEY DISTRIBUTED. ONE COLLECTED THE TAX SHALL BE MADE PART OF THE GENERAL FUND OF THE COUNTY. EXCEPT 8% OF THE AMOUNT COLLECTED CHUBBY LIED IN EACH FISCAL YEAR OF THE OPERATING BUDGET OF OFFICE AND TOURISM AND PROMOTION TO FUND TOURISM AND TOURISM, REALLY ACTIVITIES 8. MEANS 92% OF $11 MILLION. IT'S GOING INTO THEIR GENERAL FUNDS. LAURIE SPENDING PLACE AT WHAT SO I JUST THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THOSE COMPARISONS. TO WHAT WHAT? WHAT'S DONE IN HARFORD COUNTY. BUT AGAIN AS A.

AS AS A SUMMARY. UM UH, I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU IT'S ALREADY UP THERE. THANK YOU. THAT'S THE NINE HOTELS THAT ARE IN, UH DISTRICT, A. JUST TO PUT THEM UP THERE BECAUSE OF THE SHOW YOU THAT YOU AREN'T SMALL HOTELS TO HAMPTON INN AND SUITES. HOW DO YOU EXPRESS SITUATED CUENTA IN? UM THE SMALLEST ONE IS MOTO EDGEWOOD. BUT THERE'S SIX IS A BIG ONE QUALITY AND SUITS AND SWEETS. RAMADA CONFERENCE CENTER. RED ROOF INN AND SLEEP INN AND SUITES AND EDGEWOOD. SO UM, I THINK THAT WE'RE DOING THEM A DISSERVICE BY NOT DOING SOMETHING IN THE AREA TO ATTRACT TOURISM SO WE CAN PUT HEADS IN BED. UM UH, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. WE JUST CAN'T SIT HERE AND ALLOW THAT, UH UM THESE HOTELS AND DO ALL THAT WORK RAISE 685,000. AND THEN NOTHING HAPPENS IN THE AREA TO ATTRACT TOURISM, TOO. OUR DISTRICT. SO HALF OF ALL THE AH, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON PUT THE LIST UP. UM ONE MORE. HERE'S THE LIST. NOW I KNOW YOU AREN'T GOING TO BE A READ IT BUT I JUST PUT IT UP THERE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES. THERE IS THE TOTAL LIST OF, UM ALL THE DIFFERENT EVENTS IN PLACES THAT WOULD THAT MONEY WAS PAID OUT FOR IN, UH IN THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR. AND THE DIFFERENCE IS EXCLUDING THE MONEY. OF COURSE THAT GOES TO THE TO THE MR PAREDES. IN 2022. 1,977,003. WAS PAID OUT TO ALL THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE UP ON THAT LIST. 2023 THE SECOND COLUMN. FROM 1.9 MILLION TO 2,377,400 PAID OUT. IN 2023. AND THE MONEY THAT WENT TO THE MR PALETTE EASE AND THE DIFFERENCE BEING BETWEEN 20. 22 AND 2023.

IT'S ALMOST $300,000. YOU TAKE THE 50% OF THE $685,000 AT THE HOTELS RAISE IN, UH, DISTRICT A.

[00:25:08]

THE LARGER THEIR REVENUE IS THAT'S WHERE THEY MAKE THEIR MONEY. UM SO, UM. THE STATE ENABLING LEGISLATION ALLOWED US TO BRING THIS IN AND ALLOWED US TO INCREASE SPENDING IN THE COUNTY, WHICH JUST KEEPS HAVING A SNOWBALL EFFECT. NOW WITH THAT SAID, THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND, I THINK CONSIDERATION NEEDS TO BE MADE WITHIN THE DISTRICT WHERE THE HOTELS ARE BEING RAISED. IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF WHERE AND HOW MUCH. UM I DO BELIEVE THAT. YOUR COMMENT ABOUT COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVING CONTROL AND ABLE TO GO AROUND THE TAR COMMITTEE THAT WAS CREATED BY THIS LEGISLATION TO HELP IDENTIFY THOSE NONPROFITS OR THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE TOURISM RELATED. THOSE FOLKS KNOW MORE ABOUT TOURISM THAN THIS COUNCIL DOES HANDS DOWN, INCLUDING ME, AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY FOR DECADES. BUT, UM, I

[00:30:01]

APPRECIATE YOUR 30 MINUTE DIALOGUE ON THIS. UH HOWEVER, JUST TO UNDERSTAND HOTELS HE'S TALKING ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED, NOT ABOUT WHERE EVENTS ARE HAPPENING. EVENTS WERE HAPPENING IN BELLAIRE. THEY'RE HAPPENING IN HAPPY DEGREES THERE ALSO HAPPENING IN LIEU DU GARDENS, AND I JUST HAPPENED TO BE THERE FOR TWO HOURS TODAY WITH MY WIFE, AND THEY HAVE 3000 PEOPLE A DAY TO COME THROUGH THEIR FURTHER CHRISTMAS EVENT, AND I STOPPED A FEW OF THEM AND SAID, WHERE ARE YOU FROM WHERE YOU'RE GOING, AND MOST OF THEM ARE OUT OF TOWN, AND THEY'RE STAYING OVER THE ROUTE 40 CORRIDOR. UM, AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THERE'S NOT MUCH IN THE WAY OF EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN DISTRICT A HE'S TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S FUTURE, BUT WHAT'S PRESENTLY, THERE'S NOT MUCH HAPPENING. IN FACT, IF YOU LOOKED AT THE HISTORY, THERE'S ONLY ONE APPLICATION AND WENT IN FOR THE HOTEL TAX. AND THAT WAS THE BEL AIR PARADE FOR $5000 AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FONDLED FUNDED IT. SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, I DON'T AGREE WITH THE 50% I'M STILL ON THE ON THE FENCE FOR 25% BUT AGAIN IF YOU KEEP BEATING HIS DEAD HORSE, I MIGHT BE A NO VOTE ON BOTH. SO THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR REID AND MR BENNETT. UM YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT FINANCIALLY DISTRICT DEATH WOULD HAVE THE MOST TO GAIN WITH THIS BILL WITH THE AMOUNT OF HOTELS IN BELCAMP AND ADDINGTON UM, BUT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, PART OF MY CONCERN AND PART OF MY CONSIDERATION WITH THIS IS THE TOURISM REALLY, YOU KNOW, LOCATED DISTRICT D IN DISTRICT C, MAKING SURE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTED AND FUNDED. HOSANNA SCHOOL, I THINK IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT LITTLE KID. AND, UM, JUST ON THAT DISTRICT D DISTRICT F LINE, BUT IN DISTRICT THE TO MAKE SURE THEY CONTINUE TO GET SUPPORT.

AND THEN I ALSO JUST THINK ABOUT VISIT HARFORD BECAUSE YOU KNOW IF WE AH AREN'T ABLE TO FULLY SUPPORT AND FULLY FUND VISIT HARFORD DOWN THE LINE. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT PUSH ALL THIS GREAT TOURISM ACTIVITY AND ADVERTISE IT AND PROMOTE IT. AND YOU KNOW, YOU COULD BE, UH CUTTING YOURSELF OFF INADVERTENTLY, BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GIVING MONEY TO ALL THESE ORGANIZATIONS OR PROJECTS, BUT THERE'S NO ONE THERE TO AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE. YOU KNOW THERE'S HARM CAUSED THERE. SO YOU KNOW THAT THOSE ARE MY CONCERN. AND YOU KNOW, SO I'M STILL THINKING ABOUT THIS, UM STILL TRYING TO CONSIDER WHERE TO GO WITH IT, BUT YOU KNOW, AND I ECHO COUNCIL

[00:35:05]

MR GENDER DONE. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. UM DION. WELCOME BACK. I SEE THE STAY IN THE HOSPITAL DIDN'T CURB YOUR TONGUE. SO UM, CAN REST SITTING DOWN SO ANYWAY, WELCOME BACK.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT, UH, THE BILL TO OUR ATTENTION. I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT UH , EDGEWOOD AREA JOB TOWN AREA FOR TOURISM FUNDING, BUT I ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE COUNTY. THE ENTIRE PICTURE. UM FOR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, BEL AIR'S GOT CEDAR LANE THAT'S ACTUALLY PART OF BEL AIR. IT'S NOT IN THE MUNICIPALITY, BUT THAT IS A LARGE TOURISM PARTS.

SO IS THE PERIOD IN ROME. ACTUALLY THE FRONT OF THE LYRIC SYNDROME IS IN BEL AIR. THE BACKSIDE IS IN YOUR DISTRICT. OKAY SO YOU KNOW YOU COULD BE JEOPARDIZING THE WEDDINGS THAT YOU KNOW THE DRIVE THAT COME INTO ROCKVILLE MANNER THAT COME INTO LIRIODENDRON THE FESTIVALS THAT THEY BEL AIR ARTS FESTIVAL THE THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAD THE MARYLAND ITALIAN FESTIVAL, AND WE PROMOTED THAT HEAVILY, ACTUALLY NOT WE, BUT VISIT HARFORD PROMOTED THAT TREMENDOUSLY. UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST AND THE NUMBER ONE PLACE THAT PEOPLE COME FROM THAT SPEND THE MOST AMOUNT OF MONEY IS NEW YORK. UM SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE HOTELS AND WHERE THOSE PEOPLE CAME, THERE IS NO HOTELS IN BEL AIR. BUT WHERE DID THEY COME? THEY COME STAY IN EDGEWATER BELCAMP, AND THEY ALL COME INTO BEL AIR, SO WE KNOW WE HAD OVER 100 ROOMS. THAT WERE FILLED NOT ONLY FROM VENDORS BUT FROM PEOPLE THAT TRAVEL DOWN HERE FOR THAT THREE DAY EVENT, AND WE KNOW WE TRACK WHERE THESE PEOPLE WERE BUYING THEIR TICKETS FROM WHERE THEY WERE COMING FROM PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY WE HAD 25,000 PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP FOR THAT THREE DAY EVENT THAT WAS BEYOND EXPECTATIONS. SO, UM. WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE FUNDING HOW WE'RE GOING TO KEEP FUNDING DIFFERENT AVENUES VISIT HARTFORD DID A GREAT JOB DROVE DOWN TO D C AND WAS ON TV DOWN TO D. C TO PROMOTE THE ITALIAN FESTIVAL. SO IT'S COUNTYWIDE. I SEE COPPER MINE. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT THING. I THINK THAT ALONG WITH SATURDAY WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SPORTS TOURISM. THAT'S THE NUMBER. TWO AREA THAT WE GET TOURISM FUNDING FROM OTHER THAN PEOPLE DRIVING UP AND DOWN 95 AND STAY IN THERE IN THE HEART OR HOTELS. SO I, UM I ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE COMMISSIONERS AND HAVE MAYOR EDDINGTON AND COMMISSIONER UM RELIGION, RELIGION IN IN HERE, AND WE DID GET A LETTER FROM THEM. I DID GET A RESOLUTION THAT THEY ARE IN FAVOR OF CHANGING THE TAX BILL, BUT NOT AT THE 50% SO THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING ELSE. I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.

I'M SURE THEY'RE GONNA THEY'RE GONNA TALK TO THAT. AND WHY SO? SO I LOOK FORWARD TO DOLLY A LOG AND I APPRECIATE THIS CONVERSATION BEING BROUGHT UP AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR CHAN GIORDANO. MR PENMAN. JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP. I THINK, UH, COUNCILMAN GEORGIAN. OH, AND BENEFIT MENTIONED AND VISITED HARFORD. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE, UM WE CONSIDER THEM AND THIS BILL, PERHAPS EVEN THROUGH AMENDMENTS. THEY ARE, UH, THE D M O. THE PRIMARY DAMO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT DOES BRING FORTH ALL THE OTHER. TOURISM ATTRACTIONS IN THE COUNTY. SO I THINK THAT'S A DISCUSSION THAT I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING. YES UM, MR GUTHRIE. JUST AS A FOLLOW UP. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT IT IS BILL IS THAT NOTHING'S GOING TO CHANGE FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S BEING SENT FROM THE MINE HOTELS. UP TO THE COUNTY HERE. IT'S ALMOST IDENTICAL, SO THERE'S NOBODY IS GOING TO GET CHEATED ANYWHERE IT'S GOING TO. IT'S GOING TO COME OUT THE SAME WAY BECAUSE I JUST GAVE YOU THE NUMBERS. THEY PUT THEM UP THERE FROM 20 TO 22 TO 2023 THE NUMBER ONE UP ALMOST $300,000. OKAY WELL, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IF YOU DID 5050 IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT 330,000. SO IT'S ALMOST IN THE IN THE IN THE

[00:40:07]

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND UH UH, COUNCILMAN BENEFIT JUST WANTED TO COMMENT, UM UM NONE OF US IS GOING THROUGH US. UM YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME TO US, AND WE MAKE A DECISION ON SENDING JOHN SMITH $100,000. IT'S NOT GOING THROUGH US. THE ONLY THING DIFFERENT IS THAT WE HAVE TO, BECAUSE AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE A MISSISSIPPI HALITI. WE HAVE TO WRITE TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND GIVE HIM WHAT ARE WHAT ARE PROSPECT IS FOR WARNING THE SPEND SOME MONEY AND REMEMBER, 50% IS JUST A NUMBER BECAUSE HE DOES NOT HAVE TO OR THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE TO. DO EXACTLY 50% THERE HAS TO BE PROJECTS THAT WOULD TAKE THAT 50% AND IF IT AIN'T THERE, OR IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TOTALLY TO DO IT, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. AND I GUARANTEE YOU ANY GOOD HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS TO THINK IT'S GONE. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SPEND 350 3330 SOME 1,040,000. IN THE AREA. THE FIRST IS COMING YEAR IF THIS THING WERE TO PASS THIS WAY, JUST IT WON'T HAPPEN. THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR GUTHRIE. SEEING NO ONE ELSE.

MISS ADDICTION. WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP WE DO. MR PRESIDENT. WE HAVE 10 THIS EVENING BEFORE YOU CALL YOUR FIRST SPEAKER. I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. ERIC ROBERT, FOLLOWED BY MATT LIVE, LIEBER. GETTING SURNAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE. CERTAINLY ERIC RUBBER 2520 COUNTY COURT, HAVING DIDN'T MARYLAND I CURRENTLY SERVE AS INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR VISIT HARFORD J. L AND B R BOARD PRESIDENT IS THEY'RE OUT OF TOWN ON BUSINESS, BUT I BELIEVE HE SUBMITTED A STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD. GOOD EVENING. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR THE RECENT OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR PRESENTATION ON NOVEMBER 14TH TO REITERATE 2022 VISIT HARTFORD. HARPER'S EFFORTS HAD TREMENDOUS IMPACT FOR THE COUNTY. WELCOME ME JUST UNDER 2 MILLION VISITORS WHO PROVIDED 479 MILLION TOURISM SPENDING. AND SUPPORTED OVER 6500 JOBS AND GENERATED $61 MILLION IN TOURISM TAX DOLLARS FOR ALMOST A DECADE VISIT.

HARFORD HAS BEEN THE COUNTY'S OFFICIAL DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION, OR D, M O AND SERVES AS A PIVOTAL FORCE IN PROMOTING TOURISM, FORESTRY, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ENHANCING THE OVERALL IMAGE OF HARFORD COUNTY. ALLOCATING DEDICATED FUNDS THAT VISIT HARPER IS AN

[00:45:03]

IN CONCLUSION VISIT HARTFORD DOES NOT SUPPORT BILL 23-03 34 DISTRIBUTION HOTEL TAX AS PROPOSED. HOWEVER VISIT HARFORD WOULD SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WILL CONTINUE FUNDING FOR TOURISM AND TOURISM RELATED ACTIVITIES WITH EXPLICIT LANGUAGE IN THE BILL AND A FORMULA FOR CALCULATING DEDICATED FUNDING SPECIFICALLY FOR VISITOR HARVARD. THE VALUE IN DOING SO IS SO FAR REACHING AN INTEGRAL TO PROSPER PROSPERITY OF THE REGION BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE ECONOMIC BENEFITS CONTRIBUTES TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, JOB CREATION AND CULTIVATION OF A POSITIVE DESTINATION IMAGE AS COUNTIES NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX LANDSCAPE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. INVESTING IN VISIT, HARVARD EMERGES AS A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT THAT PAYS DIVIDENDS FOR THE COUNTY IN THE FORM OF A VIBRANT RESILIENT AND THRIVING COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. WELL DONE. GOOD EVENING, SIR. NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.

UH 54 OR FIVE ON APPEAL. COURT CITY, MARYLAND. FOR THE RECORD. I'M A BOARD MEMBER FOR VISIT HARFORD. I'M ALSO THE LEGISLATIVE CHAIR FOR THE MAINLAND TOURISM COALITION. UM I COULD READ MY STATEMENT. BUT IT'S GOING TO BE MIRROR WHAT ERIC SAYS. BUT I WANT TO BRING UP TO VERY BIG POINTS. I THINK THERE'S A MISCONCEPTION ABOUT WHERE THIS TAX MONEY IS ACTUALLY COMING FROM. UM WELL, THE HOTELS IN EDGEWOOD MAYBE COLLECTING ATTACKS THE RESIDENTS OF EDGEWOOD OR NOT PAYING THAT TAX. THIS IS ALL BEING PAID BY SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T LIVE IN THIS COUNTY. MOST LIKELY THERE'S VERY FEW CASES THAT COUNTY RESIDENT IS ACTUALLY STAYING IN HARTFORD HOTEL. IT ALSO WHEN YOU POINTED OUT AS WELL, UM GOVERNMENT O'REILLY THE REASON THEY'RE STAYING IN THE HOTEL. THEY'RE NOT THERE TO BE IN THE HOTEL THAT THERE'D BE AN EVENT OR SOME ACTIVITY WITHIN THE COUNTY. JUST BECAUSE THEY STAYED IN. THAT PARTICULAR HOTEL ISN'T THE REASON THEY CAME TO THE COUNTY ITSELF. SHE DELANEY IS A PRIME EXAMPLE. SO I COME FROM THE SPORTS SIDE OF THE WORLD. I RUN AROUND SOCCERPLEX PRIOR TO THAT I USED TO RUN EVENTS, INCLUDING EVENTS IN THIS COUNTY. WE WOULD RENT CEDAR LANE AND CARSON'S RUN FOR AN ENTIRE WEEKEND. WE HAVE 304 100 SOCCER TEAMS HERE. THEY STAYED IN EVERY HOTEL IN THE COUNTY AND SO MUCH SO THAT WE HAD TO PUT HIM IN BALTIMORE COUNTY. THOSE TEAMS DID NOT COME HERE TO COME TO EDGEWOOD. STAY IN THE HOUSE IN THE HAMPTON AND THEY CAME HERE TO GO TO CEDAR LANE TO PLAY SOCCER. SO WHEN THEY'RE COLLECTING THIS TAX THAT TAX NEEDS TO BE STATEMENT ACROSS THE COUNTY WIDE. THE BEST VEHICLE FOR THAT IS VISIT HARVARD OR NONPROFIT, NONPARTISAN. WE DON'T HAVE TO PLAY ABOUT THE POLITICS OF WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING. WE CAN BE THAT NEUTRAL ENTITY FOR YOU. SO WHEN THERE IS A GRANT COMING IN HARPER CAN BE THAT ENTITY THAT LOOKS AT THAT AND SAYS THIS IS WHAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE COUNTY. SO I AGREE WITH ERIC AND SAY THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE AN EARMARK FOR HARFORD IN THIS BILL. THE TOURISM PROFESSIONALS. THEY DO THIS FOR A LIVING DAY IN AND DAY OUT. THEY NEED TO BE THE ONES THAT THAT LOOK AT THIS. UM I DO ALSO WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE THERE'S AN APPREHENSION ABOUT CAPITAL PROJECTS. TAX MONEY IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT CAPITAL PROJECTS AND WORK. THIS COUNTY NEEDS SOME TYPE OF CONFERENCE CENTER. BRING MEETINGS IN THIS MONEY CAN BE EARMARKED FOR THAT IT CAN BE SET ASIDE TO PUT A CAPITAL PROJECT IN IT COULD BE YOUR MARK FOUR ANOTHER SEAT OF LANE OR ANOTHER RIPKEN OR SOMETHING ON THOSE LINES, CAPITAL PROJECTS OR NOT. BAD. THEY JUST NEED TO BE DONE CORRECTLY. UM AND THE COPPER MINE THING THAT KIND OF MY POINT ABOUT WHERE IT MATTERS. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE PEOPLE ARE SAYING WHY THEY'RE HERE. COMPROMISE IS FULLY BUSY, BUT ALL OF THOSE TEAMS THAT CAME IN

[00:50:03]

THAT'S WHY YOU'RE MARKING IT. FRUIT SPECIFIC DISTRICTS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THE COUNTY IS TOO SMALL AND THE HOTELS ARE TWO ISOLATED IN CERTAIN PLACES THAT IT DOESN'T REALLY IT'S NOT VISIT HARTFORD ANYMORE. VISIT THESE THREE PLACES, AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SIR. TIMOTHY ANGLE, FOLLOWED BY GLORIA MOON. HI. GOOD EVENING. I WAS NAMING ADDRESS, PLEASE. TIMOTHY ANGLE 89 05 PARLOR ROAD AND BALTIMORE COUNTY. I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE SPRINGHILL SUITES BY MARRIOTT IN AN F. UM I WAS PART OF THE ENABLING LEGISLATION WITH MARY DELANY. JAMES BACK IN 12. I THINK I THINK IT WAS AND THERE WAS ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THAT DIDN'T GET PUT IN THE EVENTUAL BILL, AND THAT WAS A PERCENTAGE OF THIS HOTEL TAX DEDICATED TO A D. M O TO WHETHER IT'S IN THE COUNTY OR WHETHER IT'S VISIT HARTFORD OR WHATEVER WE WANTED AT A PERCENTAGE OF THAT TAX BECAUSE IT'S MR GUTHRIE POINTED OUT. THERE IS 100% OF SOME COUNTIES THAT TOURISM ISN'T BENEFITING FROM SO THAT HAS BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR 21 YEARS FOR 1212 YEARS. ALMOST ANYWAY, WHATEVER. SO UM, WE NEED THAT TO BE PART OF A BILL AS FAR AS UM WHAT IF I WAS IN CHARGE OF DISTRIBUTING HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR AN F BECAUSE WE COLLECT $100,000 MILLION? I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH $500,000. IT WOULD BE FOR THE WASTE. IT WOULD BE FOR THE CORRUPTION AND IT WOULD BE FULL OF OLD BOY NETWORK. HEY, RIGHT NOW. COMING TO YOU. AND THEY'RE SAYING HEY, I GOT THIS FOURTH OF JULY PICNIC THAT'S GOING TO BRING PART AND YOU GO TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THEY'RE GOING TO SAY OKAY, WELL, YEAH, WE HAVEN'T SPENT ONLY SPENT $20,000 OF YOUR 500,000. IT'S JUST NOT THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD BE SET UP AND AS EVIDENCE OF THAT AS WELL, HOW MUCH MONEY FOR THE THROUGH THE GRAND PROCESS LAST YEAR WAS REQUESTED.

FROM DISTRICT A OR DISTRICT AND TURNED DOWN. IS THE MONEY GOING TO BE SPENT? WHERE DID IT COME FROM? WHERE DID IT GO? RIGHT THERE'S JUST NOT THAT NEED TO DEDICATE 50% OF THE TOTAL TAX FOR THE FOR THE DISTRICTS. THANK YOU, SIR. PRICE. GOOD EVENING, MA'AM NAME AND ADDRESS. I DON'T NEED TO STORE I I'M GLORIA MOON 2519 JERUSALEM ROAD. ALL THESE FACTS AND FIGURES. STARTING AT THE BEGINNING. PERCENT OF 50% IS WHAT 25% WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AH! SO I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE THE 25% KNOCKED DOWN TO 12.5 THE DISTRICT THAT WILL QUALIFY. FOR THE TAXES. AH IT'S PROBABLY A E AND F THAT I SEE YOU BUILD A HOTEL OUTSIDE OF A MUNICIPALITY. YOU AUTOMATICALLY GET THIS AH, AS FOR A DISTRICT A THE ALL I'VE EVER SEEN US RECEIVE IS A MIRROR STATUE MADE OF CHEAP WHITE PINE THAT IS ALREADY ROTTED AFTER EIGHT YEARS. THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S TRUE. THERE'S SO MUCH WE COULD DO IN DISTRICT A. THERE'S SO MUCH REVOLUTIONARY WAR HISTORY. WE HAVE COPLEY PARISH. AH THEY JUST HAD A FESTIVAL THERE. MR CASTELLI. WAS THERE JOINING US? THERE'S A LOT WE COULD DO. IF WE HAD THE MONEY, AND IF WE WERE HELPED TO CHOOSE THINGS TOURISM PEOPLE. I'VE NEVER SEEN THEM COME TO ANY OF OUR MEETINGS AND SAY LOOK, FOLKS, LET US HELP YOU. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE? THEY DON'T THEY DON'T HELP US. THEY DON'T COME TO US. SO IF YOU BRING IT OUT TO THE DISTRICT, SO MR BENNETT CAN DO IT. MRS SADDLES CAN DO IT. MR. GUTHRIE CAN DO IT AND IF YOU OTHER DISTRICTS GET A HOTEL. YOU ALL CAN GO OUT TO YOUR PEOPLE AND SAY WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU AND BEFORE. I GET OFF ON ANOTHER. WELL, I'M GOING TO GET OFF. ON ANOTHER SUBJECT, AND THAT'S AMENDMENTS. I KNOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING AMENDMENTS TONIGHT. WELL. IF YOU HAVE AN AMENDMENT THAT CAN MAJORLY CHANGE A BILL I'VE SEEN WHERE YOU HAVE THE AMENDMENT. YOU HAVE

[00:55:07]

PUT THEM OUT THERE. THAT'S OFF SUBJECT. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS MOON. AND AS YOU KNOW, ONCE THE AMENDMENTS ARE INTRODUCED, THEY ARE PUT ON THE WEBSITE FOR YOU TO SEE AND MOST OF THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN ON THIS COUNCIL. WE HAVE WORKED TO TRY TO GET OUR AMENDMENT IN A PROPER TYPE, MA'AM, I'M SPEAKING. I'M SPEAKING RIGHT NOW, MA'AM. WE WORK HARD TO GET THESE AMENDMENTS OUT IN TIME SO THAT THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS CAN SEE THEM. THERE ARE INSTANCES HERE OF LATE WHERE WE'VE HAD THREE OR FOUR INSTANCES WHERE WE'VE HAD TO BRING THE BILLS OUT TO MEET THE DEADLINES. THE AMENDMENTS INTRODUCED VOTED ON THAT NIGHT. AND THE STAFF WILL TELL YOU THE COUNCIL ATTORNEY WILL TELL YOU I DON'T LIKE DOING THAT. BUT THERE HAS BEEN TIMES WHERE WERE FORCED INTO A CORNER TO DO IT. SO JUST JUST FOR THE RECORD, I WANTED TO SAY THAT WILL YOU TELL ME EXACTLY WHERE? ON THE WEBSITE? YOU PUT YOUR AMENDMENTS PRIOR TO THE VOTE ON THAT AMENDMENT. PLEASE SOMEONE WILL REACH OUT TO YOU TOMORROW, MAN. THANK YOU. BILL TIM NICK, FOLLOWED BY BANK TAM MILLER. GOOD EVENING, SIR. NAME AND ADDRESS. PLEASE BUILT HAMMOCK. 4 TO 5, VLADIMIRO JOPPA. I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU I THINK THIS IS I DON'T COME UP HERE THAT OFTEN, BUT I THINK THIS FOR SOME EVER COME UP AND SPOKEN IN FAVOR OF ANYTHING. UH, I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL. UM POSSIBLY JUST BECAUSE. THE IDEA WAS OUT THERE. WE STARTED TALKING TO I MEAN, YESTERDAY I TALKED TO OASIS AND RADIO. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING FISHING TOURNAMENTS AGAIN. I KNOW THAT ONCE HAD ONE BIG FISHING TOURNAMENT CANCELED DUE TO HURRICANE BUT. THEY'RE TRYING TO DO STUFF THAT WILL BRING PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS MORNING WE TALKED TO CORDISH. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT. SOME IMPROVEMENTS TO THE JOPPATOWNE MALL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE PUTTING IN A WALKING AND BIKING PATH ALONG THE GUNPOWDER ON OUR SIDE. UM AND LINKING THAT UP WITH THEIR DEVELOPMENT SO THEY CAN HAVE SOME MORE CAFES AND STUFF THAT WILL WILL ATTRACT TOURISTS. UM I GUESS THE OTHER POINT I MAKE IS MOTELS AND HOTELS. DO SOME GOOD THINGS THEY BRING IN SOME JOBS. THEY ALLOW MY RELATIVES TO STAKE CLOSE BY. BUT THERE'S A COST ALL THAT THERE'S TRAFFIC. THERE'S CRIME. THERE'S YEAH. SO IF YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT TO PAY FOR IT AS YOU GO. AND I THINK WE'RE PAYING FOR IT AND NOT THAT'S ALL YOU GET. I'M FOR THE BILL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. GOOD EVENING, MA'AM. NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS BANK TO MILLER AT 816. EDGEWOOD ROAD. EDGEWOOD, MARYLAND. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL PRESIDENT CONSENTING COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS BOUND TO MILLER, PRESIDENT OF THE 755 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN EDGEWOOD. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY THIS EVENING IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED DISTRIBUTION, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. BILL NUMBER 23-034. OUR ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED IN 2019 TO SERVE AS A VOICE FOR THE COMMUNITY. OUR NAME IS ANCHORED IN ROUTE 755 EDGEWOOD ROAD AND THE ALLIANCE OF CONCERNED CITIZENS WHOSE VISION AND EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON THE REVITALIZATION OF OUR COMMUNITY BY PROMOTING AND DEVELOPING A

[01:00:01]

WHAT WE PLAN NOW WILL BE KEY TO PROVING TO CURRENT AND FUTURE INVESTORS AS WELL AS OUR RESIDENTS THAT THERE IS COUNTY COMMITMENT TO EDGEWOOD SUCCESS. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BEAUTIFY OUR STREETSCAPE TO CREATE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND SAFE ACCESS. PROPOSALS INCLUDE NEW STREET LIGHTING, MORE SIDEWALKS AND PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS AND TRAFFIC SIGNALS THAT MAJOR INTERSECTIONS. TO PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES. WE HAVE PROPOSED WORKING WITH PARKS AND REC ON PROJECTS TO CONSTRUCT A THEME TO PLAYGROUND, UPGRADE SPORTS FIELDS AND COMPLEXES AND DEVELOP A BICYCLE OR WALKING TRAIL TO CONNECT FLYING POINT PARK WITH MARINER POINT PARK. TO START WORKING ON THOSE DREAMS. OUR ORGANIZATION WORKS SIDE BY SIDE WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION SOUTHERN COUNTY TASK FORCE THROUGH AN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS THAT ALIGN WITH THE COUNTY'S CONSOLIDATED PLAN. WE SHARE A COMMON GOAL TO ACHIEVE THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY MAIN STREET AFFILIATE DESIGNATION FOR EDGEWOOD. BUT TO MAKE OUR DREAMS A REALITY. ANY PROPOSED SOLUTION REQUIRES FISCAL SUPPORT. FOR A TOWN LOCATED OUTSIDE OF A MUNICIPALITY ADOPTING BILL 23-034 WOULD CREATE A MUCH NEEDED POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION PROJECTS. THE POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTION OF 50% OF THE HOTEL TAX REVENUE GENERATED BY THE NINE HOTELS IN OUR AREA, APPROXIMATELY $600 MILLION ANNUALLY. THIS BILL WOULD POTENTIALLY INVITE OUR COMMUNITY TO ENJOY A SLICE OF THE HOTEL TAX PIE THAT'S BAKED IN OUR OVENS. ENCLOSED THIS NEW FUNDING SOURCE WOULD SERVE AS A CATALYST TO BUILD A MORE ATTRACTIVE EDGEWOOD. COMMUNITY OF RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL SHIPS. TO ATTRACT NEW RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN HARFORD COUNTY, THEREBY GROWING THE COUNTY'S TAX BASE. THIS BILL IS A WIN WIN FOR THE RESIDENTS. AND FOR HARFORD COUNTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. ANGELA ROSE, FOLLOWED BY MAYA NICK FLICK GINS. JUST GOOD. GOOD EVENING, MA'AM. NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. EVENING ANGELA ROSE 1107 JANICE COURT. YAPA LIKE TO GO ON RECORD AS SAYING. I MISSED THE PODIUM, BUT GOOD EVENING COUNCIL PRESIDENT, ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M ANGELA ROSE AND I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HARFORD COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ADVOCACY BASED MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION, AND I ALSO SERVED ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE A VISIT HARFORD. THE COUNTY'S DESTINATION. MARKETING ORGANIZATION. I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO OPPOSE BILL 23-034 AS WRITTEN SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX HAS IMMENSELY SUPPORTED THE EFFORTS OF NUMEROUS NONPROFIT TOURISM RELATED BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES. THE FUNDING FROM THE HOTEL TOURS THEM TAX HAS A LETTER HAS ENABLED. HARFORD COUNTY TO BE A COVETED TOURIST DESTINATION, GENERATING FUNDING FOR MARKETING TO ATTRACT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT PUT HEADS IN BEDS IN HARFORD COUNTY. THE HARFORD COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING THE HARFORD COUNTY BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND PROMOTING A VIBRANT ECONOMY. TOURISM SPENDING IN 2022 IN HARTFORD COUNTY WAS 479 MILLION, WHICH GENERATED $61 MILLION IN TOURISM TAX REVENUE SUPPORTING OVER 6500 JOBS, IT IS CLEAR THE IMPORTANCE AND SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOURISM IN OUR COUNTY. WELL, BILL 23-03 FOURS WELL INTENDED TO ENSURE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION AMONG DISTRICTS THE CONCERN WITH BILL 23 YEAR, 34 IS THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE TO VARIOUS ENTITIES RECEIVING TOURISM RELATED FUNDING AS REFERENCED IN THE FISCAL NOTE LIKE TO SAY THE FISCAL NOTE THAT I'M REFERRING TO IS DATED 11 7. THE ONE SHOWN EARLIER WAS DATED 919. BILL 23-034 DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE MYRIAD OF EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS THAT SECURE HEADS AND BEDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, A SPORTS TOURNAMENT AT CEDAR LANE TYPICALLY RESULTS IN OVERNIGHT SEES AND EDGEWOOD, BELCAMP AND THE MUNICIPALITIES TO ACCOMMODATE THE SHEER NUMBER OF PLAYERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED SUCCESS AND ATTRACTION OF PARKER COUNTIES, NON PROFITS, A PROPHET TOURISM ENTITIES, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS BUILT. 23-034 NEEDS TO BE AMENDED TO DECREASE THE 50% YEAR MARK TWO DISTRICTS TO A MORE

[01:05:02]

NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, MR PRESIDENT. MY NAME IS MAYA MCF LIGGINS. I AM AT 1831 EDGEWATER DRIVE. I LIVE IN THE DISTRICT THAT, UH THIS CHANGE IS GONNA GREATLY AND. AND I AM HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL. I HEAR WHAT SOME OF Y'ALL SAYING. BUT MY THING IS THIS. Y'ALL WANT TO SIT HERE ABOUT ALL THIS TOURISM STUFF AND TALK ABOUT THIS THAN THE OTHER.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER HOTEL MOTEL SIX AND SOME OF THOSE HOTELS UP AND DOWN 40 COMING INTO JOPPA.

PEOPLE LIVE THERE. WE TALKED ABOUT A WEEK TO WEEK. OKAY IT'S NOT YOUR TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE BRINGING THESE HEADS AND OLDER PEOPLE IN AND EDGEWOOD AND PUTTING INTO THE MONEY AND STUFF THERE, SOME OF THEM THAT ARE LIVING IN THESE HOTELS. SO NUMBER ONE. PLEASE TOSS THAT OUT. WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THE EDGEWOOD PEOPLE ARE CONTRIBUTING TOWARDS THIS BECAUSE, UNFORTUNATELY, A LOT OF THEM ARE LIVING IN THOSE HOTELS OF THERE. YOU GO UP THERE TO 95 DEBT. MOTEL SIX AND OTHER HOTEL AND STUFF, SO THAT'S PROBLEM NUMBER ONE. IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. BUT THE THING IS, YOU MUST EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD.

THERE'S NOTHING IN EDGEWOOD AND JOPPA. RIGHT NOW. TO BRING IN TOURISM. THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

BECAUSE YOU'VE TAKEN THE MONEY FOR SO LONG AND PUSHED IT EVERYWHERE ELSE. YOU'VE CREATED AND IN SO MANY WAYS TURN HARFORD COUNTY. BALTIMORE CITY WHERE YOU HAD ONE AREA YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS GOING TO POT. YOU CAN'T CONTINUE TO DO THAT TO EDGEWOOD AND JOPPA.

BECAUSE IT'S CREATING PROBLEMS WHETHER YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT OR NOT. IN YOUR OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTY. NOBODY IS TRYING TO, AND I'M VERY OFFENDED BY THE PEOPLE HERE TALKING ABOUT. OH VISIT HARTFORD, JUST THAT AND OTHER AND EVERYTHING. COUNCILMAN GUTHRIE ISN'T TRYING TO HURT Y'ALL OR WHATEVER WHAT HE'S TRYING TO DO. AND THE REASON THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE THIS 50% AND SOME MONEY NEEDS TO BE PUMPED INTO EDGEWOOD AND JOPPA FROM THESE HOTEL TAXES IS TOO, GENERAL TERRETT. AND BRING IN BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO WANT TO BRING THINGS FROM A TOURISM SPEC PERSPECTIVE TO THAT AREA COUNCILMAN GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW, OTHER THAN THE PARKS, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING TO PRE ANYTHING? HE'S NOT GONNA ANSWER YOU, MAN. I'M SORRY, BUT I'M JUST I'M JUST LIKE I SAID. THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN MEETING IN AFRICA COUNTY, BUT WHAT IS THERE TO BRING THEM TO? WITH EMPTY BUILDINGS ALL UP AND DOWN THE 40 CORRIDOR FROM THE TIME YOU BASICALLY COME ACROSS THE BALTIMORE COUNTY HARFORD COUNTY LINE. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE DON'T NEED THE MONEY BECAUSE THERE'S NO TOURISM. HOW ARE WE EVER GOING TO GET BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA TO STAY? PEOPLE TO WANT TO INVEST? YOUR TIME IS UP.

PLEASE BRING YOUR COMMENTS TO A CLOSE AND IN CLOSING, I WOULD JUST SAY THAT THIS BILL NEEDS TO STAY AS IT IS. THANK YOU, MA'AM. AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL CONSIDER THANK YOU, MA'AM FOR THE RESIDENTS. THANK YOU. MR SALES JUST FOR THE RECORD. IF A RESIDENT IS FULL TIME IN A HOTEL TODAY PAY HOTEL TAX 3030 DAYS, 30 DAYS. UM THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. THANK YOU. UM WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER PAULA, ADDING FOLLOWED BY JAMES RUTLEDGE. GOOD EVENING, MA'AM.

NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING, PAULA. READING CHAIR BEL AIR BOARD OF TOWN COMMISSIONERS 39 NORTH HICKORY AVENUE, BEL AIR MARYLAND, 21014. I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE 10 IN

[01:10:05]

FROM THE HOTEL TAX DIRECTLY. WE DO NOT HAVE A TOWN. ANY HOTEL WITHIN TOWN LIMITS ALL THAT WE'D LOVE TO HAVE ONE WERE NOT FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO DO THAT. SO WHY ARE WE CONCERNED? THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF BEL AIR WOULD COME BECAUSE THE AMOUNT COLLECTED FROM THE HOTELS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE MUNICIPALITY IS THAT POOL OF MONEY IS PROPOSED TO DECREASE BY 50. IF THAT POOL OF MONEY DECREASES, WE CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT THE NONPROFITS WHO USED THE FUNDING FOR EVENTS IN BEL AIR WOULD BE AFFECTED EXAMPLES WOULD BE THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE ROCKFIELD MANOR, THE HARFORD ARTISTS ASSOCIATION, THE BELLA FESTIVAL FOR THE ARTS AND THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS, WHICH IS NOT LOCATED IN TOWN, BUT USES FUNDING FROM GRANTS TO HOLD EVENTS HERE. IN ADDITION, IF THE PROPOSED CHANGE PASSES AND THE OVERALL BUDGET FOR VISIT HARFORD IS AFFECTED, WE WILL SEE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM FEWER VISITORS VISIT HARFORD HAS DIRECTLY FUNDED THE BARBECUE BASH THE HARFORD COUNTY WINE FESTIVAL, WINTER WONDERLAND AND, MOST RECENTLY, ARTS ACROSS HARFORD. VISIT HARFORD ALSO PUTS MARKETING DOLLARS TOWARDS MARKETING THE HARFORD COUNTY AS A WHOLE TO AREAS LIKE THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK AND THE TOWN AS WELL AS THE COUNTY RECEIVES ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO BRING TO BEL AIR AND THE COUNTY IN GENERAL, LESS MONEY IN THEIR BUDGET IS LESS OPPORTUNITIES TO MARKET TO POTENTIAL VISITORS. WELL I AGREE THAT COUNCILMAN GUTHRIE IS ADVOCATING FOR HIS DISTRICT AND I ADMIRE HIS PASSION AND CERTAINLY HIS DISTRICT SHOULD GET SOME TOURISM DOLLARS TO DO SOME INTERESTING EVENTS IN THEIR AREA. THEY HAVE SOME TERRIFIC MARINER POINT. PARK IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. UM, THAT COMES TO MIND. I WOULD HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD CONCENTRATE MORE ON THE COUNTY AS A WHOLE AND NOT RESTRICT THE SPENDING OF DOLLARS SO STRICTLY TO COUNCILMANIC DISTRICTS IN SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT, BUT ALLOW FLEXIBILITY AND WHERE THERE'S DOLLARS ARE SPENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MA'AM. GOOD EVENING, SIR. NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. JAMES. JAMES RUTLEDGE ADDRESSES TO 14. WELLINGTON COURT, BEL AIR MARYLAND. I COME BEFORE YOU IN MY CAPACITY, ALSO AS A MEMBER OF THE TOWN COMMISSION OF THE TOWN OF BEL AIR, BUT ALSO AS A HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENT AND A VOTER AND RESIDENT AND DISTRICT C. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY I COMPLETELY SECOND WHAT MAYOR, ADDING JUST RELATED TO THIS COUNCIL. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT ARAB BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TOOK VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY AND GRAVELY THE STEPS TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION THAT WAS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY. IT IS A RARE EVENT THAT ONE LEGISLATIVE BODY WOULD BE BOLD ENOUGH TO MAKE A POLICY RECOMMENDATION IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM TO ANOTHER ELECTED LEGISLATIVE BODY , AND WE TOOK THAT VERY SERIOUSLY AND CERTAINLY DO NOT INTEND TO MAKE A HABIT OF THIS, BUT BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED VITALLY AFFECT THE PEOPLE. AND THE RESIDENTS OF BEL AIR, BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT HARFORD COUNTY. I MYSELF GREW UP IN THE NORTHERN DISTRICT DISTRICT D I LOVE HARFORD COUNTY, AND I KNOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL DO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING ALL OF THIS SO SERIOUSLY AND UNDER CONSIDERATION. APPRECIATE THE TIME TO BE HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS, MR PRESIDENT. UM. WITH NUMEROUS SPEAKERS. I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK ALL OF YOU, AS COMMISSIONER, RUTLEDGE SAID. AND YOUR FOR YOUR PASSION. MS ADDING AS WELL TO COME OUT TONIGHT TO EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS YOUR THOUGHTS YOUR FEELINGS. I ALSO WANT TO ESPECIALLY SAY HELLO TO THE DANG SISTERS. I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN QUITE SOME TIME. BUT I KNOW THAT THEY'RE EXTREMELY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE 755 ALLIANCE. I'VE WORKED WITH

[01:15:06]

[b. Bill 23-035 (County Employees Mid-Year Pay Increase)]

TO FIND 1.5% OF COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT GIVEN BACK IN JULY. THE SUBSEQUENT 1.5% TO THE SECOND HALF OF THE FISCAL YEAR. FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF 3.3% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT. OR FY 24 ON THAT NOTE. I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO MR SANTELISES IF WITH THE COUNCIL'S PERMISSION PROVIDING A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT WAS A PRIORITY OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. HOWEVER HE ALSO HAD CONCERNS ABOUT, UM THE REVENUE SITUATION AND THE ECONOMY. AND SO TO THAT END, WE PUT FORTH A COLA ADJUSTMENT IN JULY WITH, UM, PLAN TO COME BACK LATER ON TO KIND OF REPORT OUT ON HOW THE ECONOMY WAS DOING. HOW ARE REVENUES WERE DOING AND IF FAVORABLE SITUATION TO PROVIDE THE SECOND HALF OF THAT OF THAT COLA? AND I THINK WE CAN NOW PROVIDE THAT SECOND HALF OF THAT POLO. WE WERE ABLE TO CLOSE OUT FISCAL YEAR 23 IN LINE WITH OUR PROJECTIONS, WHICH WERE RELATIVELY CONSERVATIVE. ALTHOUGH REALISTIC, WE WERE WE WERE PRETTY MUCH RIGHT ON TARGET THERE. AND THEN AS WE LOOK AT HOW WE'RE DOING IN FISCAL YEAR, 24 WE ARE SO ALSO TRACKING ACCORDING TO HOW WE HAVE BUDGETED THERE, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF INCOME TAX. THANK YOU, UM MR GINGER DANA. GOOD EVENING, MR SAND LISTS AND LARRY AND SHALL BE. HOW ARE YOU? SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING. I KNOW EVERYBODY'S BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 1.5% INCREASE ON THE KOLA AND I DID MAKE A STATEMENT A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE COSTS THAT WAS ABSORBED BY THE COUNTY FOR THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES. I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH SOME OTHER INFORMATION ON THAT. UM AND WHAT IT ACTUALLY RELATES TO IS THAT ANYBODY WHO WAS EMPLOYED FROM 2010 AFTERWARDS THE COUNTY HAD AN INCREASE IN THEIR HEALTH CARE BENEFITS. THOSE COSTS WERE ABSORBED BY THE COUNTY. THEY WERE NOT PASSED ON TO THE EMPLOYEE. SO UM, WHAT I DO IS I HAVE A BREAKDOWN HERE OF, UM THE EMPLOYEE AND SPOUSE RATE COMES OUT TO BE ANOTHER ADDITIONAL $1237 A YEAR THAT THE COUNTY IS PAYING FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE FOR PARENT AND CHILD. IT'S 1000 76 A YEAR AND FOR A FAMILY, IT'S $1852 A YEAR SO IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE MUCH. WHY WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON A BUDGET, AND YOU'RE ONLY GETTING A SMALL INCREASE OF 1.5% OR 3% NOW TOTAL COLA, THOSE AMOUNTS ARE SUBSTANTIAL AND SPECIALLY TO A FAMILY. UM OR, YOU KNOW A PARENT AND A CHILD THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY THAT EXTRA 1000, SO I WANTED TO CLARIFY WHAT I SAID BEFORE BACK IT UP WITH SOME ACTUAL NUMBERS, TOO. LET EVERYBODY KNOW OUT THERE THAT THOSE COSTS WERE PICKED UP BY THE COUNTY. SO IF YOU CALCULATED THOSE IN I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGES WOULD BE, BUT IT WOULD BE MORE THAN THE 3% TOTAL COAL ALLOWED. SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND MR UM, KIND OF THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. UM AND I WOULD JUST WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THE FOLLOW THROUGH OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE CALL OF THE 1.5% I DID JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. UM WHEN WE DID THE BUDGET ORIGINALLY, I THINK THE MONEY WAS PUT INTO THE H R BUDGET.

[01:20:01]

AND THAT WAS THE PLAN OF ACTION WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH THE LIBRARY WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE THAT IF THEY WANTED TO DO A SIMILAR ACTION, JUST AS THE COUNTY WAS DOING WAS TO USE FUND BALANCE, BUT THIS PARTICULAR TRANSFER WILL ONLY TRANSFER FUNDS TO THOSE AREAS THAT ARE UNDER I WOULD SAY, KIND OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, UM NO FINANCIAL SYSTEM, IF YOU WILL, SO THE LIBRARY IS NOT INCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR BENNETT . MR RILEY? YES, MR SANDLER. AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE AND I KNOW YOU AND THE ADMINISTRATION GOT BEAT UP PRETTY GOOD BY THIS DAY IS OVER THE BUDGET AND YOUR PROJECTIONS AND I APPRECIATE THAT. THEY CAME AS YOU SAID THEY WOULD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR RYDER, MR GUTHRIE. UH JUST QUICKLY, UH, FOR CHANGE. WE'LL TAKE IT HERE FOR. OH IT DID. DIDN'T BOTHER MY VOICE WHILE MY ABDOMINAL SECTION BUT FOUND MY VOICE I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AND APPRECIATE. UH I CERTAINLY SUPPORTED THIS 100% ISN'T WHAT WE WOULD LIKE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE. BUT WE UNDERSTAND SITUATION. UNDERSTAND NICOLE. NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THE CALL A BAIRN. I DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR GUTHRIE. UH UM.

ANYONE SIGNED UP, MISS DIXON. THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP, MR PRESIDENT, SO THIS WILL CONCLUDE THIS PUBLIC HEARING. BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE PLAN ON MOVING THIS BILL TONIGHT. UH, SO IT WILL BE. IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND I SHOULD SAY THAT IF IT IS MOVED TONIGHT, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UM, PROCESSES IN IN THE 12 DECEMBER 29TH, A VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CHRISTMAS PRESENT. SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE RIGHT ON INTO

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[01:25:05]

AT WEBSTER CONGRESSIONAL CONGRESSIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH, CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND MEMORIAL SERVICE TO FOLLOW AT 11 A.M. AND I'M SURE THAT MANY OF MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE COMMENTS LATER ON, BUT WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP AND HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. AND WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS. WE HAVE NON FIVE CONSIDERATION PETITIONS, APPLICATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS. WE HAVE NON SIX SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE NONE. SEVEN APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

[7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

[11. CALL FOR FINAL READING OF BILLS]

[12. ENROLLMENT OF BILLS]

[14. NEW BUSINESS]

[01:30:03]

WE WILL WITHHOLD THAT LAST PAYMENT UNTIL WE DO A RECONCILIATION. TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T OVERPAY THEM FOR SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED AND THEN THE STATE COULD COME BACK AND SAY, HARFORD COUNTY SEND US BACK. WHATEVER THE AMOUNT THAT WASN'T SPENT. AFTER THAT RECONCILIATION OR BEST CASE SCENARIO IS IT WOULD FALL TO OUR FUND BALANCE SO WE WOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP THE FUNDS. TO WHICH WOULD FALL TO FUND BALANCE. OR THEY COULD SAY YOU NEED TO ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS FOR FY 25 TO PROVIDE CAREER COUNSELING. AS WITH MUCH OF THE BLUEPRINT, THERE'S A LOT UNKNOWN, SO WE WAIT FADED BREATH REGULARLY TO HEAR MORE INSTRUCTION FROM THEM FOR THIS AS WELL AS MANY OTHER THINGS. SO WHY ON A AT THE END NOT NOT A BALANCE IT MAYBE SIX MONTHS OR SOMETHING. WHY DO YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE END TO RECONCILE WHAT IS PRESCRIBED PRESCRIBED? I THINK THIS IS WHAT THE GUIDANCE THAT THEY'VE GIVEN US. SO WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GONNA IF THE STATE'S GONNA KEEP THAT MONEY OR IF THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE IT BACK TO US YET, CORRECT, OKAY? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR GINGER DOWN ANYONE ELSE? MR RILEY. SO WHY ARE WE DOING IT NOW? WHY? WHY WHY DON'T WE WAIT UNTIL WE GET AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS PRESCRIBED THERE.

THEY TOLD US TO CUT THE CHECKS. THERE IS NO OPTION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR RILEY. ANYONE ELSE? UM COUNCIL WITH NO OBJECTIONS. THIS IS A AN ACTION ITEM THIS EVENING. SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION PLEASE. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 24 INTER CATEGORY OPERATION BUDGET TRANSFER REQUEST. THANK YOU MAY HAVE A 2ND 2ND THANK YOU, MR CHAIRMAN.

MOVED IN SECOND TO APPROVE THE BUDGET TRANSFER IS READY DISCUSSION. MS DICKSON. MR PRESIDENT, MR. GUTHRIE MR. PENMAN MR. JAN GIORDANO, MR RILEY SADDLES, MR BENNETT. SO THERE ARE SIX VOTES IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. ONE NEGATIVE. REQUEST FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. 24 CATEGORY. OPERATION BUDGET TRANSFER IS HEREBY APPROVED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[17. COMMENTS AND INPUT FROM ATTENDING CITIZENS]

[01:35:08]

[01:40:01]

GOOD EVENING, SIR. NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE. GOOD EVENING. KEN SHANNON 2044 PART BEACH DRIVE, PERRIMAN. I'M ASSUMING THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO SPEAK TO RESOLUTION. 41-23 THEN THE AH.

ENTERPRISE ZONE TAX CREDITS CORRECT. UM WELL, THAT RESOLUTION GOT ME WONDERING ABOUT WHAT KIND OF TAX BURDEN THAT PROPERTY IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING. I CHECKED THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION. THAT'S THAT SYSTEM AND FOUND THAT THE PROPERTY IS ASSESSED AT 28. LESS THAN ITS SALE PRICE OF TWO YEARS AGO. FOR COMPARISON. I ALSO CHECKED OTHER MEGA WAREHOUSES NEARBY IN PERRIMAN. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A PIECE OF PAPER THAT SHOWS THESE PROPERTIES. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SHEET THE ASSESSMENTS FOR PROPERTIES SOLD IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE ONES ON THE 1ST 10 ROWS. RANGED FROM 22% BELOW THE LAST SALE PRICE TO 63% BELOW THE LAST SALE PRICE. WITH AN AVERAGE OF ASSESSMENTS BEING 39% BELOW THE SALES PRICE THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW IN THE LAST COLUMN. ONE THING I SHOULD KNOW IS THAT, UM, AFTER I SENT THIS DOCUMENT, I SEE THAT I ACCIDENTALLY INCLUDED THE BUSH RIVER MOBILE HOME PARK THAT'S WROTE TO WITH THE REST OF THE TAX SLACKERS. AFTER MOVING THAT PROPERTY AND REMOVING ONE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT SOLD MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AGO, THE AVERAGE OF THE ASSESSMENTS CAME OUT AT 41% BELOW THE SALES PRICE. AND I WILL SEND CORRECTED FILES AFTER THIS MEETING. CONTACTED VARIOUS HARFORD COUNTY AND STATE OFFICES TO TRY TO FIND OUT HOW ASSESSMENTS ARE CALCULATED AND WHY THESE DISCREPANCIES EXIST. ULTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH SOMEONE AT ESTADO WHO TOLD ME THAT ASSESSMENTS ARE CALCULATED IN THREE DIFFERENT WAYS. INCOME AND EXPENSE, RECENT SALES OR CONSTRUCTION COST. HE SAID THAT THE ASSESSMENTS SHOULD BE WITHIN 95% OF A RECENT SALES PRICE. THE REASONS WHY IT MIGHT NOT ARE VARIED AND COMPLICATED, SUCH AS THE IMPACT OF INCOME AND WHETHER IT'S A MULTIPLE SALE. HE SAID. THE PERRIMAN IS CURRENTLY BEING ASSESSED. IT HAPPENS EVERY THREE YEARS. AND WAS SCHEDULED TO COMPLETE AROUND MID NOVEMBER. BUT THOSE ARE SENT OUT BY JANUARY. AND THAT'S WHEN THE DATA IN THE S STATS SYSTEM WILL BE UPDATED. ANOTHER POINT OF INTEREST IN THE SHEET IS THE SECOND COLUMN THAT SHOWS OWNER SEVEN OF THE NINE MEGA WAREHOUSES ARE OWNED BY COMPANIES LOCATED IN TEXAS, OHIO AND NEW JERSEY. THE OTHER TWO ARE OWNED BY MERLIN COMPANIES, BUT THEY'RE NOT FROM HARVARD COUNTY. MOST OF THESE PROPERTIES HAVE RECEIVED ENTERPRISE ZONE TAX CREDIT, WHICH SEEMS MIND BOGGLING, GIVEN THAT NONE OF THEM ARE TAXED AND PROPER PROPORTION TO THEIR VALUE. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL TAKE TIME TO LOOK OVER THE SHEET AND THE ACCOMPANYING ITSELF FILE WHICH HAS MORE DETAILS, AND LIKE I SAID, I WILL SEND YOU UPDATED COPIES. PLEASE THINK ABOUT HOW THESE MEGA WAREHOUSES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAFFIC CONGESTION, AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION. WITH VISION AND VISUAL BLIGHT AND PERRIMAN AND THE SURROUNDING AREA. BUT THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND HARFORD COUNTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. THERE ARE NO MORE SPEAKERS, MR PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. MR EXON'S. LET'S MOVE TO AGENDA NUMBER 16

[16. BUSINESS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS ]

THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT. FIRST OFFICER APPOINTED SPECIAL PRIVILEGE. I LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ALL THE NICE COMMENTS AND THE PHONE CALLS IN THE TEXAS AND GIVE ME SOMETHING

[01:45:04]

YOU'RE FREE AND CLEAR. SO THAT'S 20 DAYS THIS PERIOD AND, UH, I'M NOT TAKING ANY MEDICINE AND I HAVE TO TAKE ANY MEDICINE FOR IT. I DON'T HAVE TO GO TO GET ANY THERAPY OR NOTHING. I DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK FOR ANOTHER YEAR. SO IT'S A IN ANY PART OF HEALTH. YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO GO MAKE SURE YOU GET YOURSELF CHECKED OUT, AND, UH FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG. JUST IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW AND ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT THIS LITTLE STORY BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY KATIE KURT. REMEMBER KATY KIRK ON TV USED TO BE ON THE NEWS? UH, UM EVERY DAY AND HER HUSBAND

[01:50:03]

BUSH OR RIVER REPLACEMENT IS, UH , CALCULATED THE COST $18 MILLION. AND THE GUN PATTERN. I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S SO MUCH MORE GUNPOWDER RIVER BRIDGE IS GOING TO COST UP TO $30 MILLION. WE'RE HOPING AT THE SAME TIME THAT THIS HAPPENS, WE'RE GOING TO GO. WE'RE JUMPING ON THIS ALREADY. A LOT OF US RIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY. TRYING TO MAKE SURE AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE RAISED THESE BRIDGES WE CAN JUST GET THEM UP. YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE FROM 3 TO 5 FT. WILL BE, UM WILL BE EXCELLENT. IT WILL HELP A LOT. EVEN HELP ME EVERY TIME I GO UP MY BOAT, I GOT TO WATCH THE BRIDGE SO THE WATER IS TOO HIGH. I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET IN UNDERNEATH THE BRIDGE WITHOUT HITTING IT. SO THAT'S A LONG TIME COMING AND I HOPE WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

WOODBRIDGE CLINK. I WAS ASKED TO MAKE EVERYBODY KNOW ABOUT THAT. WOULD YOU BEEN STATIONS ON WOODBRIDGE STATION, WAYNE EDGEWOOD OTHER THEIR CLINIC HOURS ARE 10 TO 2 AND THE SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT. YOU CAN CALL 443643. AND, UH, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. RIGHT MIKE. THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT. AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BRINGING ME THAT PLEASANT LITTLE PART THAT CAME TO THE HOUSE. SO THOSE THANK YOU'S ARE NOT TO ME THERE

[01:55:04]

HARPER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRESENTED MENTAL HEALTH. UH PRESENTATION. I THINK THAT MENTAL HEALTH PRESENTATION IS LISTED ON THEIR WEBSITE. THEY HAVE A YOUTH SURVEY MENTAL HEALTH USE SURVEY THAT THEY DID, WHICH IS PRETTY INTERESTING. I THINK IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THAT, AND KIND OF SEEING WHAT THE KIDS ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTALLY WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. IT'S KIND OF EYE OPENING. SO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. AND ALSO WE HAVE MAKO COMING UP. WE'RE LEAVING. SOME OF US ARE LEAVING RIGHT AFTER THIS. I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING WHAT UPDATES THE STATES HAS IN BRINGING IT BACK HERE TO THE COUNTY. THAT'S ALL MR PRESIDENT.

THANK YOU. MR PEARLMAN. MR. JAN JORDANA. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND DION. I AM SO GLAD YOU'RE BACK. UM I MISSED THOSE LONG STATEMENTS THAT YOU HAD, SO IT WAS QUITE PEACEFUL HERE FOR A WHILE AND GLAD YOU ENJOYED THE DONUTS MEETING. I HAD TO MAKE A SPECIAL, UH, JELLY DONUTS WITH CINNAMON SUGAR ON IT, AND YOU ALSO GOT SOME. DANISH SO I'M GLAD YOU ENJOYED IT. MY SORRY I MISSED YOU THAT DAY. BUT I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE DOING BETTER HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. UM FOR ME. I REMEMBER WORKING AT THANKSGIVING IN A RESTAURANT IN MY FAMILY WOULD ALWAYS WAIT FOR ME TO GET HOME AND EAT. SO IT'S ONE OF THE BEST HOLIDAYS. I LOVE IT, BUT WE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE SOME KIND OF ITALIAN DISH WHETHER IT WAS GONNA GO TO OR STUFFED SHELLS OR LASAGNA BEFORE EATING THE TURKEY AND I ALWAYS HAD TO TELL SOMEBODY IF THEY CAME OVER TO MAKE SURE THEY DIDN'T EAT TOO MUCH. AND THIS YEAR WE HAD A LITTLE LATINO INFLUENCE. MY GIRLFRIEND'S FROM PERU, SO WE HAD SOME PERUVIAN DISHES AS WELL, ALONG WITH THE ITALIAN DISHES IN THE PASTA AND THE TURKEY, SO, UH, QUITE QUITE FILLING, SO THIS YEAR STARTS TO PARADE SEASON MYSELF, COUNCIL PRESIDENT AH, WE DID THE HAMMER DEGREES PARAYNO IN THE RAIN, AND WE HAD FUN. AND THEN THE NEXT DAY WE DID THE HIBERNIAN PARADE AND IT WAS JUST COLD AND I GOT TO HANG OUT WITH SOME GREAT YOUNG FANS. COMPLIMENTS OF JESSICA DOWN THERE FOR HER SONS.

I HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THEM. THEY MADE THE PARADE FOR ME FOR ABERDEEN, STANDING AROUND AND WAITING, ENJOYED THEIR COMPANY. AND THEN FINALLY, I GOT TO DO THE BEL AIR PARADE WITH WHAT'S IOB AND GOT TO WALK OUT IN FRONT OF MY RED COAT AND GREET THE KIDS AND HAVE A BLAST AND HAVE THE SNOW MACHINE GOING, AND IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARADES OF THE YEAR BECAUSE I GET TO JUST BE ME AND NOT A POLITICIAN, AND THE CROWD WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING IS PROBABLY THE LARGEST CROWD I'VE SEEN IN THE IN THE NINE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN WALKING THE PARADE. I REALLY, REALLY ENJOYED THAT. AND THEN TO ALL MY JEWISH FRIENDS OUT THERE. I WISH HAPPY HANUKKAH IN TWO DAYS. UM HAPPY, KONICA. SPREAD GOODNESS AND LENGTH. DO SOMETHING KIND AND MAKE YOUR CANDLES BURN BRIGHT. SO THANK YOU. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILMAN BENNETT WAS IN HIS PRESENCE. COUNCILMAN BENNETT. THAT'S RIGHT. YOU WERE BOTH. I ALMOST RAN YOU OVER AT THE HAVE DEGREES PARADE. WELL I BOUNCED BACK LIKE A BUMBLE. THANK YOU. MR JANITOR. DANNO MR RILEY? YES I APPRECIATED THE TOUR THAT ME AND MY WIFE GOT AT LOU DO GARDENS THIS AFTERNOON AGAIN. I WOULD ADVOCATE MAYBE THE 50% OR 25% SHOULD GO TOWARDS VISIT HARFORD. I ALSO WANT TO KNOW.

NOTE THAT THERE'S A SADNESS OF THE PASSING OF EDNA REAVES, WHO'S THE MOTHER OF ALREADY REEVES FROM SAFFRON COUNTY EMPLOYEE. SHE WAS, UH, A BIG PART OF DARLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO UH, PRAYERS WITH HER FAMILY AND ALSO CONGRATS TO THREE P APPRECIATE THOSE TABLES.

AND IF YOU GIVE ME THOSE UPDATES WHERE WE'D APPRECIATE IT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR RILEY.

MASSARO'S THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT, UM AS TONY G MENTIONED I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE CHRISTMAS PARADE IN ABERDEEN. MY BOYS AND MY HUSBAND AND I HAD A GREAT TIME. UM THEY DEFINITELY HAVE A NEW FAVORITE COUNCIL MEMBER. SO SORRY. SORRY UM. AND ON THE TOPIC OF

[02:00:04]

G. F C U ARENA AT HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE. LASTLY I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR A WONDERFUL YEAR. TODAY. IT WAS. IT'S BEEN A YEAR THAT I WAS SWORN IN TO REPRESENT DISTRICT E AND THIS EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN LIKE UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED. UM IT'S A TREMENDOUS HONOR, AND IT'S A BLESSING AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THREE MORE YEARS OF SERVICE.

THANK YOU ALL. THAT'S ALL I HAVE . THANK YOU, MR ADAMS. MR BENNETT. HELLO. UM IT'S A BEEN A BUSY FEW WEEKS WITH THANKSGIVING VOLUNTEERED WITH THE HAVING DEGREES THANKSGIVING PROJECT LED , LED BY DON MR OSMAN, WHO DOES IT EVERY YEAR AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY? UH WE SERVED 1500 MEALS. MR. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COOKED A LOT OF THOSE TURKEYS AND WAS THERE IN THE KITCHEN THAT MORNING. MY WIFE AND I, WE ACTUALLY GOT TO DELIVER TO PERRIMAN STATION, SO IT WAS REALLY FUN TO GO INSIDE PERRIMAN STATION OF ONLY OVERWRITTEN TO THEM, BUT TO BE IN THE BUILDING.

IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY NICE FACILITY ON THE INSIDE. UM BUT SURROUNDED BY NOT A LOT OF VERY NICE THINGS. UM SO HENCE WHY IT HAS TO BE SO NICE ON THE INSIDE. AH, UM IT WAS REALLY NICE TO INTERACT WITH THAT COMMUNITY FACE TO FACE AND COME INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES AND BRING THEM THEIR MEALS AND SIT AND TALK. UM IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW, I DID THE HABIT OF GRACE AND ABERDEEN PARADES, BOTH OF WHICH WERE A LOT OF FUN. UM BOTH OF WHICH MY WIFE AND I KNEW A LOT OF THE CHILDREN ON THE SIDE, WHICH WAS, UM A LOT OF FUN AND SEE THE TREE LIGHTING AND HAVE DEGREES. UM IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING BECAUSE NOW AT NIGHT TIME WE GET TO WALK AND SEE THE TREE AND SEE THE LIGHTS. AND WE ALWAYS ENJOY THAT, UM, ON WORK SIDE, YOU KNOW , I'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ENTERPRISE OWNS. UM AS YOU ALL PROBABLY KNOW FROM PREVIOUS COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MY OFFICE RECOGNIZED WAS THAT THE COUNTY CODE WAS NOT BEING FOLLOWED BY THE LETTER OF THE LAW IN REGARDS TO HOW WE ENTERTAIN THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING PROPERTIES TO THE ENTERPRISE ZONE. UM WE REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY AUDITOR ABOUT THAT AND FOUND THAT THERE WASN'T RECORD OF THAT POLICY BEING FOLLOWED IN THE PAST. SO I MET WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND JUST, YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO REMEDY THAT? UM ALSO IN ME AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE I SHARED WITH THEM LEGISLATION THAT CAME OUT BALTIMORE COUNTY TO ADDRESS VACANT BUILDINGS THAT JUST SIT IDLE FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND BALTIMORE COUNTY HAS PASSED LEGISLATION JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO TO HELP ADDRESS THAT TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY VOICE AND INPUT, UM TO ACCELERATE. THE TEARING DOWN OF VACANT BUILDINGS THAT ARE I RISK TO THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR WELL BEING, OBVIOUSLY WITH A PROCESS FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER TO CONTEST IT IF THEY DON'T WANT THE BUILDING TO BE TORN DOWN, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZED ACROSS ROUTE 40 THAT THERE'S A LOT OF BUILDINGS THAT HAVE SAT THERE FOR FOREVER SO LONG THAT THE TREES GROWING NOW AT THE CENTER OF THEM, AND THEY JUST SIT, UM AND I THINK FROM A SYMBOLIC JUST A PURELY SYMBOLIC PERSPECTIVE. IT HURTS US TO SEE IT THERE BECAUSE IT'S A REPRESENTATION OF LACK OF CARE.

SO LOOKING AT THAT LEGISLATION JUST WAS EMAILING BACK AND FORTH WITH SHANE GRIM TODAY ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD THAT POTENTIALLY LOOK LIKE IN HARFORD COUNTY TO ADDRESS THESE, UH, THESE BUILDINGS THAT ARE HARM TO OUR HEALTH AND WELL BEING AND SAFETY. UM SO AWHILE.

CONVERSATION OFF THE MEIKO TONIGHT. FOR ME. THE BIGGEST THING IS ATTENDING ALL THE CLASSES, BUT THEN ALSO, UM, IN BETWEEN THOSE CLASSES, FINDING THOSE MINUTES TO TALK TO THOSE PUBLIC OFFICIALS FROM THE OTHER COUNTIES. YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN OUR SILO AND TO HAVE THAT TIME TO ASK, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES YOUR BOARD OF APPEALS WORK? UM HOW IS YOUR HOTEL TAX MONEY SET UP? HOW HOW DO YOU HANDLE DOWN ZONING OR UP ZONING PROPERTIES? UM AND TO HEAR ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING WITHIN THEIR COUNTIES IS REALLY INFORMATIVE TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO HERE, SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE CONVERSATIONS, I THINK EVEN MORE THAN THE CLASSES THEMSELVES. UM LAST. I'LL JUST SHARE YOU KNOW, A YEAR AGO WAS WHAT IT WAS FOR SOME OF US MORE EXCITING THAN OTHERS. BUT TWO YEARS AGO WAS THE FIRST TIME ART HILTON EMAILED ME. I JUST LOOKED THAT UP AND HE EMAILED ME SHORTLY AFTER, UM IT BECAME PUBLIC THAT I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO REACH OUT TO ME AS A CANDIDATE. AND HE SAID JACOB, I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO COME TO MY CLUB AND SHARE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. AND THEN HE SENT A FOLLOW UP EMAIL

[02:05:03]

[15. BUSINESS FROM THE PRESIDENT]