Adrian for Laurel Profile Photo

Adrian for Laurel

Official site of Adrian G. Simmons, Councilman for the City Council of Laurel, Maryland. (City snow cleaning updates logged to my Bluesky)

Laurel news

    ∞

    Snow Update from tonight's Council Meeting

    Quick notes on updates shared by the Director Public Works and Director of FMPS about City’s snow status:

    • All streets are passable at this point, but there are still areas needing attention. Spots DPW will be tackling next include Greenhill, parts of 8th, and Harrison.

    • Parked cars on the street in areas DPW is working make it difficult and slow down progress for lifting and trucking out the snow. So if you take note of work crews in your area, they ask you do your best to give them as much open space to work with. Please also drive slow to be safe for yourself and workers.

    • Following normal trash runs, DPW crews are also going around to handicap ramps on street corners to clear them for full uninhibited use.

    • While Code Enforcement is out to ensure folks know of the City’s snow ordinances, no citations are being issued at this time and they recognize the complications of this storm. Certainly residents and businesses: please continue to safely do your best to free up your sidewalks and other walkways so our City can open up as much and as expeditiously as possible.

    • There’s also hope this week that as temperatures make their way above 40 degrees for the first time in weeks, it will be easier to shovel and some of the volume of snow will also melt away. Of course, be careful of re-freezing and ice that’s possible depending on where temperatures go.

    (UPDATE: Here’s a video spot from LaurelTV profiling the snow cleanup efforts with messages from the Mayor and Director of Public Works.)

    ∞

    Checkout the City's Bike Map + Cherry Lane bike lane to come!

    One item discussed at this week’s Work Session was upgrades to Staggers Road, including changes to integrate into the City’s Bikeway Master Plan.

    If you’re curious, the image below is of the City’s Bike Map (v2018-02) which shows shared use roadways, on-street bike lanes, hiker biker trails, and bike racks. (PDF version) It can be a great way to discover sites you may have not known exist around town.

    And there are improvements coming to the City’s cycling and pedestrian trails – Some helpful references include:

    This last one is our City’s most recent advancement of bike and pedestrian trails – This past year the Bicycle & Pedestrian Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) voted for “Alternative 2” presented in the study (page 14) for a on-road bicycle lane on Cherry Lane with physical separators for cyclist safety.

    Speaking of which, if cycling and walking around town gets your blood pumping, 😉 please consider joining the Bicycle & Pedestrian CAC 🚴‍♀️🚶‍♂️ – your voice will strengthen the development of this critical part of our City’s features and help make Laurel a walkable, cyclable, enjoyable community!

    ∞

    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!

    ∞

    Seeking Members for Senior Residents & Persons with Disabilities Committee

    The end of last year, I was re-appointed by the Mayor as Chair of the City’s Citizens Advisory Committee for Senior Residents & Persons with Disabilities. It was one I chaired when I first joined Council in 2024, and it’s an honor to help serve residents in this way.

    The Committee’s mission is to give voice to persons with disabilities and seniors who live in our community – Whether it’s policies and legislation adopted, amenities and programs around town, or resources available.

    We are need of one more member to reach the required ‘quorum’ – If you or someone you know may be interested, please reach out to me and happy to share more about what we do and invite you to join us for a meeting.

    My thanks to the existing Committee members for your service and I look forward to helping serve the related resident groups in the work of our City!

    ∞

    Mayor Declares Emergency State starting 6 p.m. Friday, Jan 23

    UPDATE 27 Jan 2026: City Emergency State lifted today (Tue) at 11 a.m. – Trash/ recycle/ compost continues on schedule.

    UPDATE 26 Jan 2026: City offices closed today (Mon) but trash/ recycle/ compost pickups on schedule.

    From the City’s Press Release:

    Mayor Keith R. Sydnor has declared a State of Emergency for the City of Laurel effective 6 p.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026, ahead of a winter storm expected to arrive as early as Saturday evening, bringing up to 9 to 15 inches of snow. Residents are urged to prepare now and follow all safety and parking regulations to ensure efficient snow removal and public safety.

    Snow Emergency Parking Restrictions – Under Section 17-78 of the City Code, parking is prohibited on the even-numbered side of all designated snow emergency streets.

    Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal – Under Sections 14-7 and 18-181.2 of the City Code, property owners and occupants must clear snow and ice from sidewalks within 12 hours after snowfall has ended.

    Some winter safety tips shared:

    • Pace yourself when shoveling snow; dress in layers; bring pets indoors.
    • Check on family, friends, and neighbors who may need help.
    • Avoid unnecessary travel; drive slowly and clear snow from your vehicle.
    • Use generators safely—never indoors or in garages.
    • Keep food safe during extended power outages and call 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies.

    See the press release for additional information, including the ability to register for the City’s emergency alerts.

    Be safe out there folks – And enjoy the snow! 😀❄️☃️🛷

    Auto-generated description: A document from the City of Laurel's Office of the Mayor declares a snow emergency effective January 23, 2026, due to a major storm.
    ∞

    Laurel Park now Expected to be Racehorse Training Facility

    In the latest zig-zag of an almost decade of changes to the fate of Laurel Park, it’s now expected to be converted into a racehorse training facility after the Preakness returns to the renovated Pimlico, anticipated in 2027.

    From the Maryland Stadium Authority’s press release on Wednesday this week:

    The Maryland Stadium Authority announced that it has reached a tentative agreement with The Stronach Group to acquire Laurel Park for the purposes of redevelopment into a premier hub for thoroughbred training in Maryland.

    With approximately 1,100 horse stalls available for use at Laurel Park, day-to-day racing and training operations will be consolidated at the new statewide training center, while the Pimlico Race Course will transition to a “ship-in” racing model where horses and trainers will travel from other facilities to the venue on racing days. The strategic pivot will save the State an estimated $26.3 million in construction costs toward hundreds of new stalls at Pimlico, support about 500 jobs in Laurel, and preserve roughly 1,000 parking spaces around the race course. Moreover, by concentrating all overnight racing staff at Laurel Park, the Maryland Jockey Club expects to save $2.5 million annually in operating expenses.

    And an interesting factoid on the history of horses in Maryland:

    Maryland’s equine ecosystem represents approximately $3 billion in economic activity and over 25 percent of all agricultural land statewide. With more horses per square mile than any other state, Maryland’s horse industry supports over 28,000 jobs and $1.2 billion in wages.

    And don’t forget that this year: The 151st Preakness Stakes will run at Laurel Park on May 16, 2026!

    ∞

    Celebrating the Semiquincentennial -- 250 years of the US of A!

    This year, on July 4, 2026, our country will celebrate its 250th year!

    And to quote Governor Moore, “Maryland was there from the beginning …” - Check out this 2-minute video from Maryland’s 250 Commission for a quick take:

    I remember as a kid coming across bicentennial quarters from 1976 and thinking they were super cool and carried special value – And here we are at another momentous milestone, poised to mark a quarter millennia as a country. To my mind, it is something to say that this experiment we call America, something that had never quite been done in the history of the world up to that point, is still perduring. Back in 2007, I heard a reflection on Declaration of Independence that really struck me: ‘The American Revolution differed from many other revolutions in that it was premised on the objective laws of human nature and their Author.’ Imperfect is true, and America still strives to live up to her ideals, but we all today take up the mantle handed on to us in order to carry and advance in our time the promise of America and her people. To quote one of the Founders, Benjamin Franklin, ‘We have a republic, if we can keep it.’

    I’m excited for our 250th and hope you are too! The City is also laying the groundwork and preparing for the celebration. To be a part, please reach out to me and it’d be my pleasure to connect you with the group of collaborators – what better way to express American ideals? 😀

    Happy 250 years America and here’s to keeping those candles burning brightly for many years to come! 🕯️🕯️🕯️

    ∞

    UPDATE: Trash pickup Wed this week for normal Thu & *Fri* pickups

    Released today: Mayor Sydnor declared the City Offices closed also on this Friday, December 26 – As a result, not only is the normal Thursday trash pickup moved to Wednesday, but now also the normal Friday trash pickup is moved to Wednesday.

    So be sure not to miss emptying those cans before all your holiday festivities! 🧑‍🎄

    ∞

    Official Election Results Certified Tonight at 6p

    The Laurel Board of Elections has finalized the tabulation of this year’s General Election results, illustrated in the graphic below.

    Tonight at 6 p.m., the results will be presented and certified in a public meeting at the Municipal Center — You can attend in-person at 8103 Sandy Spring Road and also watch from home via LaurelTV website, LaurelTV YouTube channel, Comcast (71/SD, 996/HD), or Verizon (Channel 12).

    The official meeting record can be found on the City’s meeting page and below is the planned agenda.

    Thank you to everyone for your participation in our local elections!

    AGENDA

    1. Call to Order - Council President Kyla M. Clark

    2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America- Keith R. Sydnor, Mayor

    3. Roll Call - Sara A. Green, CPM, MMC, Clerk

    4. Introduction, public hearing and possible action on Resolution No. 10-2025- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Receive the Returns of the 2025 General Election from the City of Laurel Board of Election Supervisors

    5. Introduction, public hearing and possible action on Resolution No. 11-2025- A Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to Authorize the Director of the Department of Budget and Personnel Services to Pay the Election Officials for the 2025 General Election

    6. Adjournment

    (UPDATE 7 Nov 2025: The final count was updated from the graphic below in this City Press Release — Those elected did not change, but the final totals reflected additional updates.)

    ∞

    Laurel resources for those impacted by SNAP Benefits shutdown

    One of the many federal funding sources affected by the current federal government shutdown is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – The reserve funding will expire by tomorrow, Saturday, November 1.

    The City has put together a list of Laurel food resources that residents can avail of to help them bridge through this time, including:

    • Laurel Multiservice Center
    • Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services (LARS)
    • Elizabeth House / Laurel’s “FISH” House
    • St. Mary of the Mills Catholic Church
    • Prayer Tower Church Community Food Pantry
    • Smiling Souls Food Bank
    • Laurel Church of Christ Food Pantry, and
    • Royalhouse Church, Grace2Grace Center

    For times and locations, be sure to check out the Press Release and updates may also become available on the related City News Flash page.

    Thank you to all Laurelites for the care you are showing to help our neighbors in need!

    UPDATE: Additional food distribution list from PG County Councilmember Jolene Ivey.

    ∞

    Seeking Your Input into AirBnB Rental Law for Laurel

    During Council’s Work Session held October 1, there was an update proposed to Laurel’s Code for “tourist homes” – these are essentially short-term rentals often facilitated via platforms like AirBnB, VRBO, and the like.

    Right now, Laurel’s Code reads that:

    1. There can only be one tourist home per street, and
    2. The rental period must be for three days or more

    The change proposed is that:

    1. There is no limit on the number of tourist homes
    2. There is no minimum number of days for the rental period

    Following the Work Session, the Ordinance was temporarily removed from the legislative calendar to allow more time for review and conversation – And I’d like to ask you, the residents of Laurel, to reach out to me with any feedback or thoughts you have on the topic so it can be incorporated into the conversation.

    Thank you as your input is critical toward helping shape legislation for our City!

    (Note: A proposed change was also to disallow tourist homes in multi-family units, like apartments.)

    ∞

    How has the City's Election Law changed since last Election?

    Earlier this year, approximately twelve months' worth of work came to fruition when Council voted to pass roughly 42 pages of edits and updates to the City’s election laws – Some parts were for clarifying edits, and others for significant updates to how the law works.

    As shared at the time, to me, the goal was threefold: (a) to see our resident’s voting rights respected, (b) to provide an even playing field for candidates, and (c) to have an easy-to-understand set of rules that supports the best possible outcome for our City each election cycle.

    I’ve summarized here the key changes, which you’ll see in play this election cycle:

    • “Absentee Ballots” are now rolled up into the category of “Vote by Mail” Ballots – The gist here is that ‘vote by mail’ procedures have evolved in recent years and covers what used to be called absentee ballots. (TIP: To vote by mail for this year’s election, you’ll need to submit a completed application no later than noon on Tuesday, October 28.)

    • “Provisional Ballots” and “Same Day Registration” procedures were further clarified to allow an individual who doesn’t appear on the voter register to supply qualifying information and have their vote count.

    • Election Judges were provided explicit authority to request and direct the assistance of the Laurel Police Department and other law enforcement in maintaining the peaceful conduct of election days.

    • The Board of Elections also now has explicit authority to identify parking areas for voters to provide unimpeded access to and from the polls.

    • The steps around the recall of Elected Officials were further refined. Essentially, various types of gross misconduct in office can lead to a petition to recall, which if satisfactorily submitted, will trigger a yes/no vote by residents.

    Read More →

    ∞

    My latest Council Connections Interview

    Here’s a video of my latest interview for Council Connections, LaurelTV’s show series with members of Council to help share updates and goings-on direct from Councilmembers.

    In this show I share about:

    • Updates to the City’s election laws

    • Various pieces of legislation I’ve introduced and helped shape this year

    • Tips on activities around town for families

    • Current initiatives I’m working on

    (Note: Although I recorded the interview on June 30, there was an accidental delay in its release, so you may notice some of the “current initiatives” are actually items that have already worked their way through Council.)

    Hope you enjoy and as always, reach out to me anytime with questions or comments!

    ∞

    Vote on Monday on Social Media Policy for Council

    At the Council Meeting Monday, we’ll be voting on the adoption of a Social Media Policy for City Council — It’s the first such policy specifically for Council and has the potential to provide important guidance to Councilmembers now and into the future.

    Worked on collaboratively over the last seven months, most of the content is a consolidation of existing laws, just addressed to their particular applications in the social media space. For example:

    1. Already existing Ethics rules prevent Councilmembers from endorsing political candidates, since our roles are non-partisan. So this policy reiterates that social media posts should not contain any endorsements either.

    2. Also, existing Ethics rules prevent a Councilmember from promoting their own campaign when they’re acting in their official capacity. So this policy reiterates that a Councilmember can’t promote or link to their own campaign from their Councilmember social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, etc.

    3. Another relates to a U.S. Supreme Court case last year which formally established that official elected official social media pages are considered a ‘public forum’, and therefore comments cannot be unreasonably blocked or moderated. (Reasonable restrictions are permitted around things like profanity, threats, spamming, overrun, etc.)

    4. A fourth, is that existing Open Meetings laws prevent a quorum of Councilmembers (3 or more) from debating policy decisions under consideration outside of an appropriately published public meeting. So in social media world, this means that there can’t be a comment thread where more than two Councilmembers are sharing an exchange discussing what decision to make.

    5. One last highlight is that Councilmembers, as the City’s Legislative Branch, are appropriately considered distinct from the City’s Executive Branch. As a result, the Executive Branch can support Councilmembers in the fulfillment of their official duties online, but does not hold responsibility to govern as they do for City Departments and other City social media pages. It is empowered to act to the degree needed to enforce applicable laws or protect City’s legal interests, intellectual property, or public reputation.

    You can read the full policy as part of the meeting packet for the September 22 Council meeting and please feel free to reach out to me with any comments, suggestions, or questions as well!

    At the end of the day, the theme of the document is to aid Councilmembers in understanding how the standing laws bear on their conduct in the social media space so we can uphold the standards that we’re all pledged to and reflect due professionalism in the business of the Council.

    (UDPATE: The Council did pass this policy at its Sep 22 meeting, and you can watch a video of my brief comments made during the session.)

    ∞

    Changes to How Cities Get their Money

    Last week, I attended a webinar hosted by the Maryland Municipal League (MML) on changing how municipalities (like Laurel) receive their funding.

    As you may be aware, 67% of our City’s revenue comes from property taxes – This can be a help when property values are strong/ rising, but it can also be a risk to have so much coming from only one source.

    So MML is exploring with the state legislators possible ways to diversify revenue sources, resulting in greater economic stability for cities and towns across the state.

    It remains to be seen how/when this may materialize, but I’ll be keeping tabs on and share as I learn more.

    ∞

    City Election Scheduled for Nov 4 -> Candidates & Resources

    Reminder that this fall, our City will be holding a General Election – Some key bits of info as a help:

    • Early Voting Day will be Saturday, Nov 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    • Election Day will be Tuesday, Nov 4 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

    • Voting locations will be the same as last election: Ward 1 residents at the Municipal Center on Sandy Spring Road and Ward 2 residents at the DiPietro Center on Cypress Street.

    • Mail-In Voting is also available - Applications to request a mail-in ballot must be submitted by noon, October 28. And the mail-in ballot, once received, must be placed in the designated drop box at the above voting locations or postmarked no later than Election Day, November 4. (Applications for a mail-in ballot are available from the City’s designated page.)

    • To vote, individuals must be residents within the City limits and registered voters within Prince George’s County. Check out this map to confirm you’re within the City limits and check out this Maryland Voter Lookup tool to confirm you’re appropriately registered. (If you need to register and/or update your registration, you can use the Maryland Voter Registration webpage.)

    About candidates on the ballot, per the City’s latest News Release:

    As of August 12, 2025, the City of Laurel Board of Election Supervisors has certified the following candidates for the 2025 City of Laurel General Election: At-Large Council Seat — Christine M. Johnson and Brencis D. Smith; City Council, Ward 1 — James Kole and Adrian G. Simmons; City Council, Ward 2 — Kyla M. Clark and Jeffrey W. Mills. One additional filing is pending certification by the Board.

    I hope you find the above information helpful, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions!

    (UPDATE: On 28 Aug 2025, Board of Election Supervisors also certified Sheila Carroll as a Ward 1 candidate. UPDATE 2: On 11 Sep 2025, Ms. Carroll announced that she was officially withdrawing from the race.)

    Auto-generated description: A person is casting a vote by placing a ballot in a box, with an American flag in the background.
    ∞

    What are those Bump-outs on Main Street about?

    If you’ve made your way down Main Street lately, you’ve likely seen the series of newly installed “bump-outs” along both sides of the street and may be wondering ‘what that’s all about’?

    They’re actually part of a multi-stage Main Street safety enhancement the City has been working on, including:

    • Flashing light pedestrian cross-walks;

    • Enhanced pedestrian and traffic signage;

    • Updated pavement markings;

    • Tree trimmings, and more

    The bump-outs themselves are designed to increase ‘line of sight’ for vehicles entering Main Street from the side roads — If you’ve attempted to turn onto Main Street over the years from these side roads, you’ve likely experienced difficulty looking up-and-down the street for cross-traffic. This makes that much easier.

    I know for myself, working on Main Street and walking up and down to the restaurants, Post Office, and other businesses each week, I do feel like vehicle traffic has improved over the last 3 years as these changes have been rolled out. Of course, there’s unfortunately still your occasional discourteous driver that isn’t paying heed, but by-and-large as I enter a crosswalk, I find drivers slowing and stopping for a safe crossing.

    If you’re interested to see more on the changes, check out this presentation with pictures and descriptions, and of course, just let myself or the folks at DPW know if you have any questions.

    Auto-generated description: A quiet street scene features a pedestrian crossing sign, a storefront, and a parked car under a partly cloudy sky.
    ∞

    Important Changes to Konterra Master Plan + Your Voice

    Konterra has been ‘under development’ for almost half a century, but ground finally started to break last fall and actual construction is currently underway on Phase 1 townhome units.

    However, significant changes to the development plan are being proposed, due in no small part to the changing economic landscape both since plans were first adopted and more recent shifts.

    As reported by Voices of Laurel in their Facebook post recap’ing Monday’s Town Hall meeting hosted by PG County Councilman Tom Dernoga:

    Konterra was to include 3 downtowns with anchor stores and 24 local centers. Changes in the real estate market, the demise of department stores, and other factors have necessitated changes to the 2035 Master Plan. Developers now propose more housing, smaller but more plentiful shops, walking and biking paths, and activity centers

    Although Konterra is just outside Laurel City limits, it promises to have a big impact on our town and region. And as residents of District 1 of Prince Georges County, all City residents have a voice and part to play in the direction Konterra goes. Councilmember Dernoga has stressed that input from the public is a critical part of the development plan changes, and you can reach out directly to his offices with any questions, thoughts, or ideas.

    A couple resource for you as well:

    Auto-generated description: Aerial map highlighting a planned development with marked phases and adjacent suburban and urban areas.

    ∞

    General Election Candidate Info Session on Tue, Jul 15

    Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 15 at 6 p.m., the City will conduct a Candidate Information Session for anyone interested to run in the General Election this November 4.

    The session will be in Council Chambers at the Municipal Center and will cover topics like: (a) our City form of government, (b) the official election calendar, (c) candidacy filing requirements & guidelines, and more. Note that Candidate Packets cannot be picked up (or dropped off) during the session – the Clerk asks that applicants reach out to her directly to schedule an appointment to do so at “elections AT laurel.md.us”. If you’re curious to see some of the main components of Candidate Packet, here’s what many of the main pages look like. The Clerk’s Office will accept completed packets through noon on Friday, July 25.

    Additional information can be found on the event’s official announcement page.

    ∞

    Mayor has issued Executive Order for Temporary Juvenile Curfew

    Just released: Effective beginning today, July 11, the Mayor has released an Executive Order for a curfew for those under 17 years old between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

    The Order lasts through August 31, and does contain exceptions for things like: (a) accompanied by your parent/ guardian, (b) returning directly home within hour of an event closing (such as movie), and (c) those engaged in verifiable employment during those hours.

    Additional details can be found in the Executive Order pictured below and in the City’s official press release.

Older Posts →