Frederick City and County News of Interest VOL. 4, NO. 8 | August 8, 2025

VOL. 4, NO. 8  |  August 8, 2025 Frederick City and County News of Interest Please join our monthly email list by clicking here. Learn more about CRG at the bottom of this newsletter. For quick access, click on a title here and jump to that article, below: My Candidate and Campaign Adventure City elections are just around the corner! City Election Issues: Questions for Candidates City: Cricket Field Updates City: Frederick Health Campus County: Data Center Update Upcoming Meetings and Events Scheduled City Election Candidate Forums City Mayoral and Council Election: Key dates ______________ My Candidate and Campaign Adventure — Steve Jakubczyk To all our dedicated readers, what follows is a brief recap of what I've learned over the last 9 months during both the search for candidates and the subsequent challenges of a local election such as ours in the City of Frederick. I want to first say any opinions expressed are mine alone and do not represent CRG as its members prefer to educate and not endorse (a position I fully support). However, after being so close to what is happening in the City’s election, I felt it important to speak to the nuances and grey area in all of this. Let's start with the fact that the districting recommendation of the Charter Review Committee is off to a resounding start. We have twice as many candidates as 2021 for City Council and 3 candidates for Mayor. As most of my experience has been with the new Democratic candidates, I can say without hesitation that each is viable, serious, energetic, positive, and intelligent. The City will be well served with the election of any of them. I strongly urge everyone to learn more about the candidates through their websites or when they knock on your door! There often is pushback against first time candidates with the trope "we need institutional knowledge" or "I've always voted for so and so.” My position is that neither of these apply as these candidates are more than capable. Basically, why re-elect someone just because they have been in office for decades when there may be a better candidate ready to serve? Of course, this situation is volatile, and you are encouraged to do your homework accordingly on the critical issues of the time, but you should also search your memory to recall all the candidates’ records. For example: *Have they supported expanded development at almost any cost? Without appropriate infrastructure in place prior? Without regard to the character of the surrounding neighborhood? *Have they ever spoken up against the Downtown properties that have been vacant and blighted for years, or have they ever followed up on the enforcement of the Vacant Property Ordinance (which was a 100% resident driven effort in response to years of inaction)? *Did they stand up for the safety of residents when residents were being assaulted and murdered in the streets after hours by persons attending rule-breaking BYOB Hookah bars? *Have they supported the revitalization of the NAC system or constantly avoided addressing it by passing the buck and basically prioritizing everything else? *Have they made any remotely significant progress or even have a plan for addressing the myriad of housing issues our City faces like affordable housing, the missing middle, or the burden on senior homeowners who are unable to pay their property taxes as the City becomes more and more gentrified and property values soar? *Is the responsibility for our overcrowded schools being passed on to the County even though it is the City that greenlights the construction of development after development? *Do you have any doubt that traffic will only get worse? Most people reading this know the answers to the above questions. If so, I ask you to give some fresh voices an opportunity to take our wonderful City into the future. I'm confident it will be a step forward, and frankly it's time! Finally, this diatribe of mine in no way is meant to minimize the effort of those who have served the City for most of this century. They each have my respect; I just have a problem with the results. And no matter what you think or agree with, do your homework and VOTE! City elections are just around the corner! The mayoral and City Council elections are only weeks-to-months away. A couple of reminders about this election: There will only be a Democratic primary — for registered Democrats — as there are not multiple Republican candidates for any office. In-person voting (for both the Democratic primary and the general election) will be held at Trinity Recreation Center, 6040 New Design Rd, Frederick, MD 21703. Mail in ballots will be sent out to all registered voters and must be posted or dropped in the drop box locations (see below) by 8pm the evening before primary and general election day. _______ Be sure to check the City Election Candidate Forums listed at the end of this newsletter, which provide great opportunities to hear from the candidates and ask your questions in person. _______ Drop Box Locations — City of Frederick: The Bourne Building, 355 Montevue Lane, Frederick, MD 21702 Hillcrest Commons, 1150 Orchard Terrace, Frederick, MD 21703 Talley Recreation Center, 121 North Bentz Street, Frederick, MD 21701 Housing Authority Office, 209 Madison Street, Frederick, MD 21701 Governor Thomas Johnson High School, 1501 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701 Frederick Community College, 7932 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702   CRG STRONGLY encourages all readers to do due diligence in reviewing the platforms of all candidates, paying special attention to candidates’ websites as well as previous positions of incumbents seeking re-election (view in videos of Board of Aldermen and City Council meetings). Please remember, past positions don’t always align with stated current platforms. City Website Candidate List and E-mail Links:  www.cityoffrederickmd.gov/1786/2025-Mayoral-and-City-Council-Candidates Mayor - Michael O’Connor (oconnorforfrederick.com), Ron Beattie (www.futureforfrederick.org), and Tom Trott (TomTrottforFrederick.com) District 1 – Katie Nash (www.facebook.com/NashforFrederick) District 2 – Cesar Diaz (www.diazforfrederick.com) District 3 – Peter Brehm (friendsofpeterbrehm.com) and Dave Schmidt (www.voteschmidt.com) District 4 – Joe Adkins (www.adkins4frederick.com), Fredy Ventura Garcia (www.facebook.com/groups/2930162863712843/posts/24123538363948652), and Scott Lasher (www.time4scott.org/) District 5 – Rob Callahan (voterobcallahan.com/about-rob), Sarah Hempel Irani (www.sarahforfrederick.com), and Ryan Trout (www.votetrout.com) At Large – Jennifer Dougherty (jenniferforfrederick.com), Donna Kuzemchak (www.Vote4DonnaK.com), Kelly Russell (www.facebook.com/councilmemberkellyrussell), Derek Shackleford (www.facebook.com/Derek2017), and Libby Taylor (Taylormadeforchange.com) Some questions for candidates We also encourage voters to ask questions of candidates via email, website, and/or public forums. To illustrate, here are a few of CRG’s issues and questions we have asked/plan to ask candidates: Issue: Fees-in Lieu (FIL): CRG’s position is that FIL for moderately priced dwelling units (MPDUs) should be eliminated and that developers of projects with more than 25 dwelling units should construct the mandated 12.5% MPDUs in their housing communities. Currently, most multiple-unit developers opt to pay the FIL which is then used by the City for a variety of purposes, only one of which is for construction of MPDUs. Some questions for candidates: What is your opinion on the MPDU ordinance? Should it continue to allow a FIL payment? If so, how should the City use the funds? If only unit construction is permitted, rather than the variety of purposes now allowed, how will/should the City continue to support the other purposes? Issue: Annexation: Currently, the City often annexes County properties abutting City boundaries. CRG is concerned that these annexations stress City infrastructure (i.e., roads, water/sewer, schools, etc.) with little or no long-term requirement that developers provide/upgrade/contribute to the infrastructure. Some questions for candidates: What is your position on annexation? What role do developers have in assuring the infrastructure required to support the planned community is in place before occupancy and maintained thereafter? Issue: City Involvement in School Construction Decisions: FCPS (Frederick County Public Schools) is the purview of Frederick County government. While City residents pay County taxes that support public schools in the City/County, City officials have no official authority regarding school location/construction/rehabilitation etc. and appear to have defaulted to the County for most (if not all) critical decisions that affect our children’s education. Some questions for candidates: How comfortable are you with the City’s lack of real input into school decision-making? If you are not comfortable, what would you propose the City Council do to address this issue? Issue: Water Resources: The Army Corps of Engineers provided the City with projections of street flooding for several areas of the City, including options for reducing flooding in multiple City areas such as the YMCA, 9th to 16th Street, and Bentz Street to the Creek. The Golden Mile was also identified for future focus as many homes there were built prior to state stormwater requirements. Additionally, the City has few aesthetically attractive stormwater catchments or infrastructures. Some questions for candidates: CIP funding has been used for remediation of several City flood-prone areas. Would you seek allocations of City funds for continued infrastructure upgrades to reduce flooding in other City areas? What would be the source(s) of these funds? How would you shift City stormwater infrastructure to green infrastructure priorities? Issue: Transportation/Traffic Problems: The downtown area of the City (E. Patrick, Carroll Street, East Street, E. 2nd Street, and Commerce  Street) is scheduled for massive redevelopment with the restaurant at E. Patrick and Carroll Street, Downtown Hotel and Conference Center, Galleria, and the Visitation Hotel, as well as new apartments at 404–420 E. Patrick and the housing in the Overlook East Complex off Wisner Street. The traffic from these large complexes, coupled with the eventual build-out of the East Street Corridor, will yield a traffic Armageddon, tying up vehicular traffic in ways Frederick has never experienced. Some questions for candidates: The planned construction in the vicinity of the MARC station up through E. 2nd street will cause gridlock. What is your position for a City response to traffic in this area? How would Mobility Fee funds collected for this area be used to resolve these traffic issues? How vigorously would you push the City to implement the Form-Based Code proposed more than three years ago for the East Street Corridor? Issue: Term Limits: The new City Charter has set term limits for mayors (2 terms) and City Council members (3 terms), voted for and adopted by the current Council members. Some questions for candidates: How comfortable are you with the newly established term limits? As you anticipate reaching the end of your term, would you endeavor to change this section of the Charter? Issue: Climate Change and Sustainability: The City of Frederick and Frederick County passed resolutions 5 years ago to begin to face the challenges brought about by our changing climate. The Climate Response and Resilience Report (available HERE at the bottom of the webpage) was a response to the Climate Emergency Resolutions passed by the City and the County; it resulted from a year of research and debate by more than 50 residents, and provides 40 recommendations for government and community action in areas like energy, transportation, food systems, and education. Have you read the report? Do you have ideas about how the City can prepare for our future climate? City: Cricket Field Updates The City Planning Commission has voted to recommend to the City Council that they approve rezoning the driving range property at 8400A East Patrick Street, from General Commercial to Institutional, increasing the possibility that a proposed cricket field and special events facility could be constructed at this Gateway property. Additionally, the PC agreed that annexing the property was also appropriate, with several relatively minor conditions. FEMA or the Maryland Department of the Environment must still rule on filling the large depression in the property’s floodplain where a large portion of the cricket field will be located. Both decisions (rezoning and annexation) were strongly challenged by approximately 20 residents, District 3 City Council candidates, NAC12 coordinators, and a licensed pilot. The PC’s positions were passed on to the City Council, where, in two meetings, no decision on either annexation or rezoning to institutional was made. Interestingly, the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior objected to the development, citing the importance of the locale for the Battle of the Monocacy. We now wait for the City Council’s decision — CRG urges the Council to vote against the project as the traffic woes, threats to the river’s floodplain, and the long-term impacts of a possible hotel and 750 housing units on the property will further jeopardize the floodplain and downstream neighbors during major storm events as stormwater runoff from the field and impervious surfaces of the hotel and housing pose unacceptable negative issues for local residents and the river. Finally, given the importance of this issue in terms of quality of life for surrounding residents, lack of critical infrastructure to support the project, incredibly vague plans presented for possibly major entertainment events (attracting up to 25,000 patrons), hotel, 750 residential units, and more, CRG asserts that the newly elected council should make this decision as they will be the officials who will have to deal with the consequences. City: Frederick Health Campus A decision on a major hospital, commercial, and residential campus located north of the City has been postponed until September 8th due to traffic problems at 7 intersections surrounding the proposed property. CRG is pleased that the Planning Commission rejected the proposed master plan due to these insufficiently detailed traffic possibilities at and around the proposed development area. Considering the Planning department’s support of the project, the Planning Commission’s hesitance in accepting this inadequately prepared project was remarkable and CRG commends the astute focus of the Commission members in rejecting the poorly planned application. September 8th is the last day the current City Council can legally vote on any issue of this nature until after the election—ditto for the cricket stadium vote. County: Data Center Update In 2 County Council meetings in July, residents voiced continued strong opposition to the County Executive’s proposed data center overlay zone in and around the Eastalco site. Noise, proximity to residential properties, power demand, and water use all remain major concerns that the Council has largely ignored over the past few months. It’s difficult to determine whether Council members are receptive to public outcry as the Council members have made no comment in these 2 meetings but the strong support from 5 members noted in prior months does not instill much resident confidence that the overlay zone and additional centers will be defeated. Should the Council support the overlay amendment on August 19, that sets the stage for seizure of private property and more cross-County power lines as well as excessive water demand that might lead to insufficient water-on call for all residents and other businesses in the future. Upcoming Meetings and Events City Council Public Meeting, City Hall, 3:30 pm August 7 or 14: Cricket Field Hearing County Council Meeting, Winchester Hall, August 19, 5:30 pm: Critical Data Infrastructure Overlay Zone County Housing Open House, C. Burr Artz Library, August 21, 6:00-8:00 pm: Affordable Housing Open House, register at https://publicinput.com/k21887 Scheduled City Election Candidate Forums Monday, August 11 (6:00–7:00 pm) — LWV Forum District 3 candidates: Peter Brehm, David Schmidt. C. Burr Artz Library Community Room, 110 East Patrick Street, Frederick, MD. Tuesday, August 12 (5:30–8:00 pm) — CoC/FCBIA/FCAR Candidate Forum. The Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, the Frederick County Building Industry Association (FCBIA), and the Frederick County Association of Realtors (FCAR) are collaborating to host a free City of Frederick Candidate Forum open to the public; registration is required https://web.frederickchamber.org/atlas/events-v4/register/288504, The Arc of Frederick County, 555 S Market Street.  Thursday, August 14 (4:00–6:00 pm) — Happy Hour, Sandbox Brewhouse, 880 N East Street. Thursday, August 14 (6:00–7:00 pm) — LWV District 4 candidates: Fredy Ventura Garcia. On Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83299024741. S. Scott Lasher has not confirmed attendance. Thursday, August 14 (6:00–8:30 pm) — Eastchurch Homeowners' Association Mayoral and City Council Candidates from District 4 and At-Large Forum, 1025 Holden Rd. A meet-and-greet with five-minute statements form candidates and then questions from residents. Friday, August 15  (7:00–9:00 pm) — LWV At Large candidates: Jennifer Dougherty, Donna Kuzemchak, Kelly Russell, Libby Taylor. Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ Community Room, 15 West Church Street, Frederick, MD. Derek Shackelford has not confirmed. Tuesday, August 19 (6:00–7:00 pm) — LWV District 5 candidates: Sarah Hempel Irani, Ryan Trout. Fredy Ventura Garcia. On Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87321976608. Tuesday, August 19 (6:00–9:00 pm) — Neighborhood/NAC Debate, Hood College Rosenstock Auditorium, 401 Rosemont Avenue. Mayoral candidate debate from 6:00–7:00 pm; break from 7:00–7:30 pm and then a City Council candidate debate from 7:30–9:00 pm. This forum will focus on neighborhood-related issues with a focus on a robust working relationship with the NACs. Wednesday, August 20 (6:00–8:00 pm) — Candidate Meet & Greet, 173 W. All Saints Street. The Mountain City Lodge #382 and Madame CJ Walker Temple #509 will host a "Candidate Meet & Greet." All Mayor and City Council candidates will be invited to attend and will be given 2–3 minutes to speak followed by time to informally get to know the candidates. Friday, August 27  (7:00–8:00 pm) — LWV Mayoral candidates: Ronald A. Beattie, Michael O'Connor. Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ Community Room, 15 West Church Street, Frederick, MD. City Mayoral and Council Election: Key dates Voter Registration Deadline (Primary): August 8, 2025 Early In-Person Voting (Primary): August 22 & 23, 2025 Mail-in/Drop-box deadline: September 8, 2025 Primary Election: September 9, 2025 Voter Registration Deadline (General): October 9, 2025 Early In-Person Voting (General): October 24 & 25, 2025 Mail-in/Drop-box deadline: November 3, 2025 General Election: November 4, 2025

See the CRG blog at: responsiblegrowthfrederick.com Contributors: P. Gallagher, S. Jakubczyk, M. Rosenswieg, K. Sellner. CRG is a grassroots coalition of Frederick residents who prioritize responsible growth, expanding infrastructure, and a functional natural environment. We advocate for development that accommodates projected population increases while fostering a strong and diverse community fabric and increasing economic opportunities. Our comprehensive approach emphasizes public safety, traffic mitigation, increasing school capacity, and housing for all members of our community. Many Frederick residents want to know — but cannot find — information about how to participate in discussions of important local issues. The City and County generally hold meetings from 3–10 p.m., making it impossible for most of us to attend meetings or weigh in on issues of interest. Our mission with this monthly newsletter is to highlight City and County activities so you can learn more and, with your limited time, weigh in on areas of growth and development, City and County policies, and other local activities. Occasionally, opinions or longer stories will be offered by knowledgeable experts/readers. We welcome suggestions for articles focused on specific topics. Contact Kevin Sellner (kgsellner@gmail.com), Marge Rosensweig (marjorierosensweig@gmail.com), or Steve Jakubczyk (jakubczyksteven@gmail.com) for consideration of your issue. We're on Instagram... follow us! Check out our Facebook page!