Council to Consider Controversial Resolutions, Approve Commercial Vehicle Monitoring

The Baltimore City Council will review several proposed resolutions, including one calling for the federal indictment of George Zimmerman.

The council will meet at 5 p.m., Monday at City Hall.

• Councilman Warren Branch and Councilman Robert W. Curran are scheduled to introduce a resolution calling for the federal indictment of Zimmerman, who was found not guilty last month of murdering 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.  The resolution argues that the killing of Martin constitutes a violation of federally guaranteed civil rights.
• As reported last week Councilman Nick Mosby is scheduled to introduce a resolution calling on the city to review doing business with the Florida businesses because of the state’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law.
• Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke is set to introduce a resolution calling on the Maryland General Assembly and the governor to craft and pass legislation to "restore [minimum wage] to its historic value."
• Councilman Carl Stokes is seeking the creation of a special investigations committee to investigate the city’s use of tax increment financing and payments in lieu of taxes. Critics of the two development tools argue they are just unnecessary tax breaks for large developers, while supporters argue they’re incentives needed to attract development to the city.  
• The City Council will also be giving final consideration to a bill creating a system to monitor commercial vehicles, so it can be determined whether or not operators are violating city ordinances.