Council meetings

Jun 7, 2026 ∞

Info for Combo Special Work Session/ Council Meeting - 8 Jun 2026

This coming Monday, June 8 there’ll be a double-header: a Special Work Session at 5:30 p.m. followed by a Regular Council Meeting at 6 p.m.

The Special Work Session will cover additional items for consideration this month that weren’t included in the normal monthly Work Session held last Wednesday, June 3 with the possibility to advance them to the regular meeting at 6 p.m.

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12. (Note: Work Sessions don’t generally have a Public Hearing component, but you can still send me your thoughts as they are always helpful as I approach the meeting.)

AGENDA for Special Work Session at 5:30 p.m.

Call to Order - Brencis D. Smith, Council President
Bid Recommendation- Darktrace Cyber Platform Renewal- Department of Information Technology
Ordinance No. 2056- An Ordinance Amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 and to Provide an Effective Date
Adjournment

AGENDA for Council Meeting at 6 p.m.

Call to Order - Council President Brencis D. Smith
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America
Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, Clerk
Report of the Mayor and City Council
General Public Hearing
Bid Recommendation- Laurel Police Department- Enterprise Fleet Management Acquisition
Bid Recommendation- Darktrace Cyber Platform Renewal- Department of Information Technology
Introduction and First Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 2056- An Ordinance Amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 and to Provide an Effective Date
Adjournment

Jun 2, 2026 ∞

Council Voted Unanimously to Override Veto, Amend Budget

Last night, Council unanimously voted to override the two vetoed amendments, with the result that the amended budget passed last Wednesday now goes into effect.

For me, a key theme is that everyone has a seat at the table in the conversation about how our City funds are spent: residents, Mayor, and Members of Council.

You can watch my brief discussion comment here, and I’ve included a text copy below.

Thank you Mr. President, and yes, a couple thoughts to share:

First of all, I believe the intent for this program is definitely coming from a good place and also I’m very appreciative of what LARS does for our community. I’ve also been very supportive of many of the Mayor’s programs.

But in my thinking, and as my fellow Councilmembers have also said, this $1 million is something that warrants additional community input, and Councilmember input, to think through.

We did discuss this program during the budget process and realized there was more here than could be unpacked during the budget cycle, so this amendment allows us to unpack this on the other side – That we can do what needs to be done for the City in the meantime, and unpack this on the other side to talk through it further.

It’s been said that Council could have extended conversations deeper into June, but in my thinking, in reality that really isn’t a workable solution – A thoughtful design of our budget cycle keeps June in reserve for situations such as this: a veto (which can be issued within 30 days)/ possible conversations that might occur afterwards if so/ and then a potential veto override vote (which can happen within 35 days). So there’s a buffer we need at the end of the process [in order to meet the June 20 deadline imposed by the State], and practically speaking, therefore, a vote really needs to happen sometime by the end of May, which is what we did.

In closing, our call to hold a common conversation – this thing we call “community” and what we do here tonight – it’s something higher than the technical requirements of the law. The truth is, it’s messy and at times can be cumbersome – but it also has an underlying beauty I believe, that can be accomplished in no other way, and it’s a worthy exercise of our human effort: to together, build towards the common good.

Thank you Mr. President.

May 29, 2026 ∞

Your Voice is Needed! -- Support Proper Oversight for Surprise $1 million Spend

You may be aware that four weeks ago, Mayor Sydnor inserted a new, surprise $1 million rent subsidy grant into the FY27 budget without previously even giving Council a heads up, much less seeking Council or resident input for the idea.

The $1 million comes from interest earned on ARPA deposits and is available for the City to use however it would like. But instead of opening a conversation with Council and residents on priorities around our town and talking through how to best direct the monies, the Mayor developed his own plans for the funds and never even mentioned it existed until Councilmembers finally got to page 192 of the 308-page budget on their own, noticed it was there, and started asking questions.

Three days later, the draft program documents we received made it clear the program was still being defined and there were plenty of unanswered questions – Not to mention the basic starting point of how this use had somehow trumped all other priorities without even a conversation.

As a result, Councilmembers reached consensus at their May 11 Budget Work Session to advance a budget amendment to remove the grant line so that the $1 million could be properly revisited after the 24-day budget sprint. This would allow appropriate air to the process of seeking resident input, having a conversation among Council, and even just talking through to ensure ideas had been given their proper consideration (a basic premise of how government is supposed to function).

The Council’s amendment passed at this Wednesday’s budget vote, as did the full budget as amended.

But the Mayor vetoed the amendment Thursday, expressing his desire to move ahead with his plans regardless.

You can watch my cautionary comments expressed at the meeting here, in which I was even interrupted in the middle of my statement in an attempt to impede Councilmember voices from being heard (which also happened to two other Councilmembers during the proceedings).

In my opinion, this is not an acceptable way to practice governance and translates into casting a deaf ear on the residents and their representatives.

Per our Charter, Council will have an opportunity to override the Mayor’s veto – That vote has just been scheduled for this coming Monday, June 1 at 6 p.m. at Council Chambers. Four Councilmember votes will be needed to achieve override, and based on Wednesday night’s vote, one more is needed.

Please reach out to Council President Brencis Smith (At-Large) and Councilmember Jeffrey Mills (Ward 2) to ask them to support a veto override so that the people and their representatives can give proper attention to this significant expenditure (effectively the 4th biggest line in our Operating Budget). Their emails are:

President Brencis Smith - bsmith AT laurel.md.us
Councilman Jeffrey Mills - jmills AT laurel.md.us

You may also consider emailing Mayor Sydnor to ask that he cancel his veto (which he has the ability to do) - laurelmayor AT laurel.md.us

Please be sure to email me too (asimmons AT laurel.md.us) if you haven’t already so I’ll know – I’m keeping a count of resident feedback and below is a chart thus far which I’ll continue to update.

Lastly, I also want to mention Council also amended the budget to restore $15k back to our Laurel Independent contract as a fair price for the 4-page insert we use to communicate critical information to residents each month. That line was also vetoed and I believe should be restored based on community feedback received as well.

Thank you as always for being Laurel and please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions!

May 28, 2026 ∞

Info for Special Meeting - 1 Jun 2026

The Mayor vetoed two lines in the FY27 budget passed by Council on Wednesday, so per the City Charter, a Special Meeting has been scheduled for this coming Monday to vote on whether to override each veto. I’ve shared my analysis in a recent blog post, and below please find the meeting information.

Note: Special Meetings typically do not have a Public Hearing component, though the meeting is open to the public and residents are welcome to attend. Residents can also reach out to Councilmembers in advance of the meeting to let them know their position.

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12.

AGENDA

Call to Order - Council President Brencis D. Smith
Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, Clerk
Consideration of a Motion to Override the Mayoral Line-Item Veto 1. Family Resiliency Program Funding $1,000,000 Restored per the Mayor’s Veto Memorandum dated May 28, 2026 Regarding Ordinance No. 2055- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Adopting the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 and to Levy Property Taxes; and to Authorize the Collection of Such Taxes as Amended and Passed by the City Council on May 27, 2026
Consideration of a Motion to Override the Mayoral Line-Item Veto 2. Funding for the Laurel Independent Monthly Insert $30,000 Restored per the Mayor’s Veto Memorandum dated May 28, 2026 Regarding Ordinance No. 2055- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Adopting the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 and to Levy Property Taxes; and to Authorize the Collection of Such Taxes as Amended and Passed by the City Council on May 27, 2026
Adjournment

May 21, 2026 ∞

Info for City Council Meeting - 27 May 2026

Due to Memorial Day, the regular second City Council Meeting for the month is moved to Wednesday, May 27 – And it also is when the FY27 City budget is expected to be voted on.

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Join in-person, watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12.

And if you’d like to register to speak, simply sign-up when you arrive in person or reach out to the City Clerk’s office. (See my post for how to share your voice at Council Meetings.)

AGENDA

Call to Order - Council President Brencis D. Smith
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America Led by Mayor Keith R. Sydnor
Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, Clerk
Approval of Minutes: May 11, 2026- Budget Work Session; May 11, 2026- Regular Meeting; May 14, 2026- Budget Work Session
Report of the Mayor and City Council
General Public Hearing
Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Ordinance No. 2055- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Adopting the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 and to Levy Property Taxes; and to Authorize the Collection of Such Taxes
Adjournment

May 15, 2026 ∞

Council Agrees to Amend Budget to $45k for Laurel Independent

At an additional Special Budget Work Session last night, Council reached consensus to amend the FY27 budget to increase The Laurel Independent service contract from $30k to $45k (compared to its FY26 level of $50k).

This will allow the City to continue reaching every resident with its monthly four-page printed insert of key information. And combined with the paper’s other service contracts, ad revenue, donor contributions, and grant funding, will enable The Laurel Independent to continue its work sharing news and stories about and throughout the Laurel community.

I know many residents had reached out to myself and fellow Councilmembers about this issue, and I’m happy to have been able to collaborate with my colleagues to help see this item through.

Some of my comments shared during last night’s conversation:

There’s a few questions I think help unpack the decision before us:

First, is this a grant or a service contract? Based on the fact that we sign a service contract, and the fact that we receive goods and services in exchange, to me it’s clear it’s a service contract. And that distinction is important in my mind.

Since if it’s service contract, the second question becomes are we receiving our money’s worth at $50k? There’s a couple angles to answer this question from. One of which is that we as a City have lots of information we need and want to be sharing with our residents on a host of topics – Being able to reach every household once a month with a printed message seems to be a very valuable communication tool to me. Another is that if we in-sourced a comparable operation, it would easily cost us $67,500+ for the year ($37.5k in postage and $30k in printing). So from that angle we’re actually getting a discount.

On a related front, it’s true that we have our City website and social media channels to share information through as well. But as many residents have shared, it’s not an equivalent or full substitute. There’s a difference from having to constantly be online scrolling to pickup all the tidbits across multiple sources -vs.- having all the key information synthesized for you in one place you can reference each month. There’s also the added questions of accessibility, equity, and impact. In my mind, a good City communication strategy leverages multiple channels and uses the uniqueness of each.

Lastly, I think the third question is: What are the intangibles we’re getting that aren’t even purely economic? And in this arena, I see two - We get the benefit of distribution to 13,700 additional households in PG Laurel for no extra cost to us (since PG Council is covering). And second, resident-after-resident stood up to tell us how the paper helps build a sense of community, how those newly moved into town more rapidly can get integrated into their new neighborhood, how the feature articles about residents around town links us to each other, how they wouldn’t have found out any other way if they hadn’t seen it in the paper, how they see and patronize local businesses they see in the paper, etc. To me, this is almost worth the price of admission alone.

So in closing, I think that if we look through this lens, we can see this line item for what it truly is: an investment in our City and a cost-effective communication tool to reach our residents in a way no other tool can. And with that perspective, $50k of a $50 million operating budget for the degree of impact is a good deal for the City and an effective use of taxpayer dollars.

May 6, 2026 ∞

On the Surprise $1 million Line Item in the FY27 Budget

At tonight’s Council Work Session, I shared concerns about a new $1 million line item that was a complete surprise to Council when we discovered it barely six days ago – below is a text version for those interested to read, and the video version can be watched, along with the subsequent Council and Mayor discussion, at this timestamp in the meeting video. (NOTE: See end of post for subsequent update.)

I want to take a moment to speak to one of the elephants in the room …

There’s a fully new, $1 million budget line item, that was a complete surprise to Council and that we only saw for the first time the end of last week (barely 6 days ago at this point).

Nowhere has the Mayor previously made a case for this $1 million program to residents; Nowhere was Council even let know it was coming, much less their input sought; It doesn’t even appear in the three-page cover letter of the budget.

We’re talking about the 4th biggest expenditure line in this budget, and one that’s entirely new out of left field (the others being standard expected ones like Finance Dept comp/Police comp, our annual Pension funding contribution, & Red Light ticket costs).

It’s fully 2% of our $50 million budget, all by itself – It would represent the largest single grant our City has ever issued – And it also represents a significant shift in our City’s financial model.

To me, this is not how we do things in Laurel – And while I’m reasonably confident it isn’t the case, I can’t help from feeling like it’s coming in a back door, trying to fly under the radar.

And there’s a lot to discuss about this one line alone – It essentially ties back to $1 million in interest income the City smartly earned on COVID funds that we now have free and clear to direct however we see fit.

To me, one of the smart questions we should be asking is: how do we best use this $1 million? Why have we decided against investing in our infrastructure? Whether it be Main Street enhancements we say we never have the money for, or handicap adaptations for Gude Park. Whether it be a COLA increase for Police or City retirees we say we haven’t been able to afford, or fixing the our City’s historic Foundry Building that’s falling apart and provides an irreplaceable touchstone to Laurel’s beginnings in the 1800s. Whether it’s paying down our own debt and saving future interest costs, and the list goes on …

At the end of the day, these are the residents of Laurel’s funds, and the people and their representatives should have been invited to the table to talk about how to best direct it – Done right, that conversation should have been much farther along at this point, but as it is, it hasn’t even been started until now.

Info for City Council Work Session - 6 May 2026

May is “budget month” for the City so this month’s Work Session is almost exclusively the budget. Be sure to read my separate blog post with my initial highlights & a link to the FY 2027 Budget, and don’t forget that a Special Budget Work Session occurred on May 4 which contains the first briefings from Department Heads.

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12. (Note: Work Sessions don’t generally have a Public Hearing component, but you can still send me your thoughts as they are always helpful as I approach the meeting.)

AGENDA

Call to Order - Brencis D. Smith, Council President
Bid Recommendation- Microsoft Data Governance Implementation- Department of Information Technology
Ordinance No. 2055- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Adopting the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 and to Levy Property Taxes; and to Authorize the Collection of Such Taxes
Adjournment

May 1, 2026 ∞

Proposed FY 2027 Laurel City Budget is Now Available

A number of residents have been asking me about the FY 2027 Budget and I’ve had to mention I didn’t have a copy as yet – But I’m happy to report it was published yesterday and is now available! A shortened version can be found in the Agenda Packet for next Monday’s Special Work Session and the full proposed budget can be found on the City Budget webpage.

I and other Councilmembers have started to pour through the document (our copy includes around 250 pages+), but wanted to provide some quick first highlights for you, with more to come in the weeks ahead. (Note: You can also watch my recent Council Connections interview for a simple breakdown of the City budget components so you’ll have a big picture framework.)

The Operating budget is $50 million and there is no increase in property tax rates.
A big ticket item: Revenues include $1.1 million in one-time interest income the City earned on federal dollars from COVID funds, and the Mayor has proposed directing $1 million of it to a one-time rent subsidy program with the remaining $100k towards Laurel non-profit support.
There’s also around $600k in significant IT upgrades to support City functions.
The Police budget reflects the terms of newly executed union contract, signed at the April 27 Mayor & City Council Meeting
Many residents have reached out about the funding line for The Laurel Independent paper – You’ll find that on page 35 of the agenda packet referenced by line code “10-5-270-52061” at $30k.

The City Council will be discussing the budget during Work Sessions next Monday and Wednesday, and please reach out to me if you have any questions or comments as I’d like to incorporate into the City’s conversation.

Apr 23, 2026 ∞

Info for City Council Meeting - 27 Apr 2026

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Join in-person, watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12.

And if you’d like to register to speak, simply sign-up when you arrive in person or reach out to the City Clerk’s office. (See my post for how to share your voice at Council Meetings.)

AGENDA

Call to Order - Council President Brencis D. Smith
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America Led by Keith R. Sydnor, Mayor
Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, City Clerk
Approval of Minutes: March 23, 2026- Special Work Session; March 23, 2026- Regular Meeting; April 1, 2026- Work Session; April 13, 2026- Regular Meeting
Report of the Mayor and City Council
Mayoral Reappointments: Sabrina Jones, Education Advisory Committee, 04/27/2026-04/27/2028; Anthony Taylor, Environmental Affairs Committee, 04/27/2026-04/27/2028
General Public Hearing
Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Resolution No. 2-2026- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Adopt the City of Laurel Bikeway Master Plan
Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Resolution No. 4-2026- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland for the Purpose of Approving an Agreement Between the City of Laurel and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 11
Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Ordinance No. 2054- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Amending and Renumbering Former Section 18-181.1 “Trimming of Hedges, Shrubs, and Trees” to Section 18-181.3 and Renumbering Former Section 18-181.2 “Snow and Ice Removal” to Section 18-181.4, and Renumbering Former Section 18-181.3 “Prohibited Disposal of Refuse on Property of Another Without Consent” to Section 18-181.5 of the Laurel City Code to Permit Intentional Native Plantings, Pollinator Gardens, and other Managed Landscapes as an Exemption from the Weed Height Requirement, and to Update Requirements for the Trimming and Maintenance of Hedges, Shrubs, and Trees along Streets and Sidewalks to Ensure Pedestrian Access, Visibility, and Public Safety and Providing an Effective Date
Adjournment

Apr 21, 2026 ∞

On Council’s Role & Ability to Discuss Items for Vote

During last week’s Council Meeting, it was asserted that Council was barred from discussing a particular agenda item up for vote.

I stated at the time, and want to take a moment to re-emphasize here: The very reason for the existence of Council is to discuss, then vote on items.

This is based on our American system of self-governance: Legislative bodies, like City Council, are the forums in which we as a people directly, and through our elected representatives, consider, discuss, exchange ideas, share points of view, think through alternatives, and arrive at sufficient consensus to move forward as a community.

By contrast, to suggest that a community’s designated forum is not permitted to even discuss what they’re voting on, is, to me, to miss the mark of our democratic process. One could even say it violates the intent of the Maryland Open Meetings Act our proceedings are subordinate to – The act that requires discussions of our Council body to be held in public view and at a meeting available to the public.

This ability to talk with each other and thereby govern our lives in common, is a precious treasure, not guaranteed throughout so many parts of the world.

Thankfully in the end, after the raising of the parliamentary procedure question, Council did discuss the item, with members respectfully sharing their viewpoints with each other, followed by the normal next step of a motion to vote.

Apr 13, 2026 ∞

On the Appointment Process for the Redistricting Committee

During this evening’s regular Council Meeting, I raised a ‘Point of Order’ and also shared reflections on the appointment process for the Redistricting Committee. As a help to clarify the themes discussed, I wanted to share the below:

First, I want to thank the Mayor and President for their selection of all high caliber individuals with strong knowledge of the City who I know beyond a doubt would serve professionally, impartially, and do a great job in service of our City.
I want also to acknowledge the observations and concerns of my Ward 2 colleagues that, of the five member Committee formed to evaluate moving our City’s Ward boundaries, only one lives in Ward 2. It is my belief this was simply by coincidence in the process conducted in good faith for fulfilling the membership requirements of the Committee’s organizing resolution.
From the perspective of the question, “How do we best represent the City in the redistricting process?", I see my colleagues' point and agree that, even if only from the point of view of assuring residents that their voice is being heard, it makes a difference to have a Committee where Ward 2 has more than one member at the table.
Note: This is not a requirement of the Committee’s organizing resolution, but I don’t want this to be a circumstance where we’ve fulfilled the ‘letter of the law’ without having fulfilled the ‘spirit of the law’, especially when a question of Representation, so foundational to our ordered democratic society, is the question.
Part of our duty as members of Council is the confirmation process, and while I always give deference to the appointer’s prerogative in their selection of appointees, I believe it’s a reasonable exercise of our Council duty to ask consideration that a 5-member Ward Re-districting Committee have more than one member from Ward 2.

Apr 9, 2026 ∞

Info for City Council Meeting - 13 Apr 2026

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12.

And if you’d like to register to speak for the regular Council Meeting, you can sign-up by reaching out to the City Clerk’s office by 2 p.m. of the meeting day. (See my post for how to share your voice at Council Meetings.)

AGENDA

Call to Order - Council President Brencis D. Smith
Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, Clerk
Report of the Mayor and City Council
Appointments: Redistricting and Ward Boundary Advisory Committee: The Honorable Fred Smalls, Chair (Ward 2), 04/13/2026; Calvin Burns, Vice Chair (Ward 1), 04/13/2026; The Honorable G. Rick Wilson, Planning Commission Representative, 04/13/2026; Bill Wellford, Board of Election Supervisor Representative, 04/13/2026; Gabrielle Whitfield, At-Large Representative, 04/13/2026; Dr. Atokatha Ashmond Brew (Ward 1), 04/13/2026; Naima Carma (Ward 2), 04/13/2026; Committee Advisors (Ex-Officio members), Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, City Clerk
General Public Hearing
Bid Recommendation- Department of Public Works- LA 26-002- Van Dusen Road Improvement Project Phase 3 (from north side of Route 198 to Old Sandy Spring Road)
Approval Request- Department of Public Works- Cherry Lane Bikeway 65% Design Grant
Introduction and First Public Hearing on Resolution No. 2-2026- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Adopt the City of Laurel Bikeway Master Plan
Introduction and First Public Hearing on Resolution No. 4-2026- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland for the Purpose of Approving an Agreement Between the City of Laurel and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 11
Introduction and First Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 2054- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland Amending and Renumbering Former Section 18-181.1 “Trimming of Hedges, Shrubs, and Trees” to Section 18-181.3 and Renumbering Former Section 18-181.2 “Snow and Ice Removal” to Section 18-181.4, and Renumbering Former Section 18-181.3 “Prohibited Disposal of Refuse on Property of Another Without Consent” to Section 18-181.5 of the Laurel City Code to Permit Intentional Native Plantings, Pollinator Gardens, and other Managed Landscapes as an Exemption from the Weed Height Requirement, and to Update Requirements for the Trimming and Maintenance of Hedges, Shrubs, and Trees along Streets and Sidewalks to Ensure Pedestrian Access, Visibility, and Public Safety and Providing an Effective Date
Adjournment

Mar 29, 2026 ∞

Info for City Council Work Session - 1 Apr 2026

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12. (Note: Work Sessions don’t generally have a Public Hearing component, but you can still send me your thoughts as they are always helpful as I approach the meeting.)

AGENDA

Call to Order - Brencis D. Smith, Council President
Bid Recommendation- Department of Public Works- LA 26-002- Van Dusen Road Improvement Project Phase 3 (from north side of Route 198 to Old Sandy Spring Road)
Approval Request- Department of Public Works- Cherry Lane Bikeway 65% Design Grant
Resolution No. 2-2026- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Adopt the City of Laurel Bikeway Master Plan
Resolution No. 4-2026- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland for the Purpose of Approving an Agreement Between the City of Laurel and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 11
Ordinance No. 2054- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, Amending Chapter 18, Article XI Division 2 “Accumulations and Obnoxious Conditions, Etc.” Renumbering and Renaming of Sections 18-181.1 Through Section 18-181.3, and Subsequent Addition of New Sections 18-181.4 and Section 18-181.5 of the Laurel City Code to Permit Intentional Native Plantings, Pollinator Gardens, and Other Managed Landscapes as an Exemption From the Weed Height Requirement, and to Update Requirements for the Trimming and Maintenance of Hedges, Shrubs, and Trees Along Streets and Sidewalks to Ensure Pedestrian Access, Visibility, and Public Safety and Providing an Effective Date
Adjournment

Mar 17, 2026 ∞

Info for City Council Meeting & Special Work Session - 23 Mar 2026

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Join in-person, watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12.

And if you’d like to register to speak, simply sign-up when you arrive in person or reach out to the City Clerk’s office. (See my post for how to share your voice at Council Meetings.)

AGENDA for Special Work Session at 5:30 p.m.

Call to Order - Brencis D. Smith, Council President
Resolution No. 3-2026- A Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of Laurel, Maryland In Support of HB 1142 Establishing the Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Sources
Adjournment

AGENDA for regular Council Meeting at 6 p.m.

Call to Order - Council President Brencis D. Smith
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America - Keith R. Sydnor, Mayor
Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, Clerk
Approval of Minutes: February 23, 2026- Regular Meeting; March 4, 2026- Work Session; March 9, 2026- Regular Meeting
Report of the Mayor and City Council
Appointments: Melvin E. Lindsley, Public Safety and Transportation, 03/23/2026-03/23/2028; Reappointments: Dove Robinson, Public Safety and Transportation, 03/23/2026-03/23/2028; Carlos Lancaster, Community Redevelopment Authority, 03/23/2026-03/23/2029
General Public Hearing
Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Ordinance No. 2050 (Text Amendment No. 269)- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Amend the Unified Land Development Code, Chapter 20, “Land Development and Subdivision Regulations,” Section 20-22.73, “Body Art Establishments” and Providing an Effective Date
Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Resolution No. 1-2026- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Establish a City of Laurel Advisory Committee Relating to the Redistricting of City Ward Boundaries
Introduction and First Public Hearing on Resolution No. 3-2026- A Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of Laurel, Maryland In Support of HB 1142 Establishing the Task Force to Modernize County and Municipal Revenue Sources
Adjournment

Feb 17, 2026 ∞

Info for City Council Meeting - 23 Feb 2026

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Join in-person, watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12.

And if you’d like to register to speak, simply sign-up when you arrive in person or reach out to the City Clerk’s office. (See my post for how to share your voice at Council Meetings.)

AGENDA

Call to Order - Council President Brencis D. Smith
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America - Keith R. Sydnor, Mayor
Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, Clerk
Approval of Minutes: December 15, 2025 Closed Session; January 26, 2026- Regular Meeting; February 4, 2026- Work Session; February 9, 2026- Regular Meeting
Report of the Mayor and City Council
General Public Hearing
Second Public Hearing with Possible Action on Ordinance No. 2053- An Ordinance Amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 and to Provide an Effective Date
Adjournment

(NOTE: Resolution 1-2026 to form a Redistricting Committee, was at one point expected to be voted on this month, but was moved to the 4 Mar 2026 Work Session for additional conversation.)

Feb 7, 2026 ∞

Info for City Council Meeting - 9 Feb 2026

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12.

And if you’d like to register to speak for the regular Council Meeting, you can sign-up by reaching out to the City Clerk’s office by 2 p.m. of the meeting day. (See my post for how to share your voice at Council Meetings.)

AGENDA

Call to Order - Council President Brencis D. Smith
Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, City Clerk
Report of the Mayor and City Council
Appointments: Jonathan Plater, Board of Trustees, 02/09/26-02/09/28; Jennifer Bronson, Pride Committee, N/A // Reappointments: Vicki Rambow, Public Safety and Transportation Committee, 02/09/26-02/09/28; Mary-Eileen Leszcz, Historic District Commission, 02/09/26-02/09/29; Michael Maxwell, Environmental Affairs Committee, 02/09/26-02/09/28; Gavin Brown, Clergy Advisory Council, 02/09/26-02/09/28; Douglas Redd, Emergency Services Commission, 02/09/26-02/09/29
General Public Hearing
Bid Recommendation- City of Laurel Comprehensive Safety Action Plan – SS4A (Safe Streets for All) Federal Grant Program- Department of Public Works
Bid Recommendation- Staggers Road Improvement Project- Engineering and Design Services- Department of Public Works
Introduction and First Public Hearing on Resolution No. 1-2026- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Establish a City of Laurel Advisory Committee Relating to the Redistricting of City Ward Boundaries
Introduction and First Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 2053- An Ordinance Amending the General Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland, for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 and to Provide an Effective Date
Adjournment

Feb 1, 2026 ∞

Redistricting of Wards under Consideration

At this Wednesday’s Council Work Session, Council will consider a Resolution from the Administration to form an advisory committee that will make recommendations around redistricting the City Ward boundaries.

The Resolution can be read in full as part of the February 4th Work Session packet found on the City’s meeting page, but the gist is that normally Ward boundaries are revisited around every census, and while the 2022 Redistricting Advisory Committee recommended no change, the continued development in Ward 2 has subsequently added 500 additional residences further expanding the 2.8k resident delta between Ward 2 and Ward 1.

As currently proposed, the Redistricting Committee would be comprised of five persons appointed by the Mayor with confirmation by Council, one of which would be selected by the Council President. They would make their report within six months of appointment and any redistricting changes would be in place prior to the November 2027 General Election.

As always, please reach out to me with any thoughts or questions as your input helps me to shape legislation and decisions!

Jan 11, 2026 ∞

Info for City Council Work Session + Meeting - 12 Jan 2026

This Monday will be a double-header for Council, featuring a Special Work Session at 5 p.m., followed by a regular Council Meeting at 6 p.m. (both virtual).

The Special Work Session will be primarily to finalize last tweaks to the affordable housing legislation worked on extensively these last few months, and the regular Council Meeting is expected to feature its First Hearing, among other business. (See full agendas below.)

See the City of Laurel’s meeting page for the official record, and if any agenda item holds interest for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as your voice helps me shape legislation and decisions.

Watch live online via LaurelTV or the MyLaurel app, or on your TV via Comcast Channel 996 (HD)/ 71 (SD) or Verizon FiOS Channel 12.

And if you’d like to register to speak for the regular Council Meeting, you can sign-up by reaching out to the City Clerk’s office by 2 p.m. of the meeting day. (See my post for how to share your voice at Council Meetings.)

AGENDA for SPECIAL WORK SESSION at 5 p.m.

Call to Order - Brencis D. Smith, Council President
Bid Recommendation- 10 Additional Axon Fleet 3 Systems for Police Vehicles- Department of Information Technology
Ordinance No. 2052- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Amend Laurel City Code, Chapter 11, “Planning and Development, “Article III, “Affordable Housing Program,” Section 11-53, “For Sale Affordable Housing” to Update and Supplement the For Sale Housing Requirements and Providing for an Effective Date
Adjournment

AGENDA for COUNCIL MEETING at 6 p.m.

Call to Order - Council President Brencis D. Smith
Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, City Clerk
Approval of Minutes: December 15, 2025 Regular Meeting; January 7, 2026 Special Meeting; January 7, 2026 Work Session
Report of the Mayor and City Council
Appointments: Francesca Valencia, Arts Council, 01/12/26-01/12/28; Matthew Nabinger, Arts Council, 01/12/26-01/12/29; Melissa Mawyer, Arts Council, 01/12/26-01/12/29; The Honorable Christine M. Johnson, CAC for Seniors Residents and Persons with Disabilities, 01/12/26-01/12/28; Reappointments: Inka Patel, Arts Council, 01/12/26-01/12/29; Davonia Bryant, Education Advisory Committee 01/12/26-01/12/28
General Public Hearing
Bid Recommendation- 10 Additional Axon Fleet 3 Systems for Police Vehicles- Department of Information Technology
Introduction and First Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 2052- An Ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Amend Laurel City Code, Chapter 11, “Planning and Development, “Article III, “Affordable Housing Program,” Section 11-53, “For Sale Affordable Housing” to Update and Supplement the For Sale Housing Requirements and Providing for an Effective Date
Adjournment

Jan 10, 2026 ∞

Changes to City’s Affordable Housing Laws

The City first adopted affordable housing legislation in 2023, and following three months of conversations, updates to that law are expected to be presented for First Public Hearing at Monday’s Council Meeting.

The law passed in 2023 required new developments in the City with 50 or more residential units to set aside 8% of them to sell at an affordable price.

Amendments to that law were proposed by the Administration in November, many of which dealt with ensuring the affordable units remained similar in appearance, size, amenities, and other features as their market-priced counterparts.

Other amendments, which have evolved over the conversations, include:

Who is eligible to purchase affordable units? – The existing law provides that eligible applicants must have incomes at or below 60% of the area median. The Administration first proposed changing that to a range of 30% to 90%, and over a number of conversations, Council consensus evolved that to a figure of 80% or below.
What is the price of affordable units? – The existing law contains a mis-statement: It reads that affordable units are priced at 30% of the market rate. But through the conversations, it was realized the original intent was to price at a 30% reduction from the market rate. (This also more closely corresponds to price differentials in other jurisdictions). So the amended language contains the edit, and I proposed an amendment to the preamble to clarify the legislative history.
What is the re-sale price of an affordable unit? – The existing law is silent on this question, and the original amendments proposed by the Administration didn’t contain language to address either. I proposed an amendment that purchasers be able to sell their unit at their purchase price plus an inflation adjustment as a way of enabling them to participate in the appreciation of their home value over time. This is especially important since the affordable home provisions apply for a 30-year period.
How is the ability to refinance affected for affordable units? – The Administration originally proposed a refinance limit of the mortgage balance at the time of refinance, plus 25%. To my mind, this would have the unintended effect of penalizing someone who paid down their mortgage (e.g., over 20 years) and now needed to tap their home equity for a roof replacement or other significant home maintenance work. So I proposed the refinance limit be at least up to the original borrowings, and later as other provisions changed, concurred with Councilmember Kole’s proposal to link it to the re-sale value as newly defined by #3 above.
What size of housing developments trigger the affordable housing laws? – The existing law triggers the affordable housing laws for developments of 50 or more, and the Administration proposed reducing this level to 20 or more. This amendment has remained unchanged through conversations.

There’s a few other odds-and-ends in the legislation, which you can review in full as part of the meeting packet for the Council Meeting for Monday, Jan 12.

And please reach out to me with any thoughts, questions, suggestions, etc. so I can take those into consideration as we go through the remaining steps of the legislative process. As it stands, Ordinance 2052 is expected to have a First Hearing on Jan 12 and then be voted on following its Second Hearing on Jan 26.

(N.B., Also see my blog post titled “Ideas for bringing about Affordable Housing in Laurel”