20021120 Westminster Downtown Parking Report

20021120 Westminster Downtown Parking Report

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND

Report and Recommendations

November 20, 2002

Advisory Task Force Committee

On

Downtown Westminster Parking

City of Westminster

P.O. Box 710 – City Hall

Westminster, Maryland 21158

I. Introduction:

At its meeting of March 11, 2002, The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster unanimously established the Downtown Parking Advisory Committee. Thereafter, on June 4, 2002, Councilman Gregory Pecoraro convened the Downtown Parking Advisory Committee. The committee consisted of downtown business and property owners which were charged with reviewing the City’s parking structure and making preliminary recommendations to The Mayor and Common Council. The area under review by the Downtown Parking Advisory Committee is highlighted in Attachment 1. The following persons were appointed to the Committee.

Downtown Parking Advisory Task Force Committee:

Greg Pecoraro	David Max
Audrey Cimino	Craig Scott
Tom Ferguson	Lynn Aaron
Tom Beyard	Edward Gottleib
Stan Ruchlewicz	Kevin Bell
Maj. Dean Brewer	Mark Pohlhaus

II. Background Information:

The Committee was charged with finding creative ways to increase the parking revenue stream with the development of a five to ten year plan covering parking management, parking rates, access and related issues. At its first meeting, Councilman Pecoraro outlined the work to be undertaken by the parking committee. The first task the Parking Committee requested of staff was to establish a current parking inventory as well as to conduct a survey of the businesses within the study area inquiring about the number of employees and usage of public and private parking areas. A sample questionnaire is enclosed as Attachment 2. Table 1 provides a summary of the current parking inventory in Downtown Westminster. It shows a total of 3,727 public and private parking spaces within the study area. Of those, 1,906 are public parking spaces comprised permits, meter and free parking. The remaining parking spaces are privately controlled parking spaces. Table 2 provides a summary of the survey that was conducted, which utilized face-to-face interviews of the businesses that chose to participate in the survey. The response rate for the survey was 85% of all businesses within the study area.

Table 1 Downtown Parking Inventory
Total Parking Capacity	Number
Free Spaces	2551
Meters	524
Handicapped Spaces	88
Permit Spaces	529
Service Parking	35
Total*	3727
* Calculated by adding Total Public Spaces – 1,906 and Total Private Spaces – 1,821. Does not include the addition of the Longwell Parking Garage or Westminster Square Garage

Table 2
Downtown Parking Survey Summary Tables
Type of Business	Number of Employees		# Off Street Spaces
	FT	PT
Non Professional Service	134	64	139
Professional Service	339	125	336
Restaurant	71	39	60
Retail	33	32	32
Other	284	110	149
Total	861	370	716*
Total Employees	1,231
* Number of spaces provided for employee and patron use.
Table 2 (cont.)
Type of Business	# Permits Employer Purchase	# Permits Employees Purchase	Meter Subsidies
Non Professional Service	27	3	4
Professional Service	31	30	5
Restaurant	0	1	0
Retail	15	0	0
Other	31	79	1
Total	104	113	10

III. Committee Recommendations:

Based upon these results, the Committee directed staff to develop a parking strategy for the overall study area. This included defining “Guiding Principles” which would establish benchmarks for the Committee to consider while making its pricing recommendations. Those principles are as follows:

A. Parking Committee 2002

Guiding Principles

1. Preserve the City’s parking memo fund as a self-sustaining fund within the City’s general fund.

2. Establish charges for permit, payment on foot and metered parking that, over time, will provide sufficient revenue to cover the cost of: a) construction, operation and maintenance of parking spaces; and b) construction of additional parking spaces in the future.

3. Establish consistent fines for parking violations that, over time, will provide sufficient revenue to cover the personnel, operating and capital cost of parking enforcement.

4. Implement a progressive enforcement system that may include a warning for a first time offense and an increasing fine structure for repeat and habitual offenders.

5. Establish charges for permit, payment on foot and metered parking that direct and encourage customers and short-term parkers to use the most desirable and convenient spaces closest to the commercial core and encourage employees and long-term parkers to use permit spaces.

6. Establish charges for permit, payment on foot and metered parking that recognize that some City parking facilities are more desirable and convenient than others and should be priced differently to encourage their use and discourage their misuse.

7. Provide a variety of parking choices for customers, employees and others that take into consideration location, pricing and the differing needs of short-term and long-term users.

8. Provide a variety of parking payment choices for customers, employees and others that may include cash, credit and debit cards, pre-paid parking cards and related methods.

9. Provide clear and concise signing to direct users to City parking facilities.

10. Implement improved parking enforcement by utilizing better equipment and tactics, with the consideration of adding more enforcement personnel as needed.

11. Assure the maximum safety for the users of City parking facilities.

12. Recognize with the construction and increased capacity created by the construction of the Longwell and Westminster Square Parking Garages that some City surface parking facilities that are less convenient or in key geographic locations may have higher and better uses as development sites and could be redeveloped in the future to generate additional commercial space and tax base.

Additionally, the Committee determined a new pricing structure for meters, permits, pay on foot and violations. The Committee also recognized the need to upgrade the parking meters in Westminster. After much discussion, the Committee recommended the replacement of all meters with digital meters in FY 03-04. In addition to replacement meters, the Committee recommended that the City purchase new enforcement software and ticket dispensing machines which would make enforcement more efficient. After discussing the rate structure with the parking committee, the Committee recommends the following rate structure.

B. Rate Structure – Permits

Permitted Parking Lots FY 03-04 to FY 07-08*

Longwell Annex (formerly Key St. Lot) @$0.00/month

Lower Conaway Lot @$25/month

Upper Conaway Lot @$20/month

Chapel Lot @ $20/month

North Longwell Lot @$25/month

Bauerlein @$20/month

*Assumes the Conaway Lot will be redeveloped in FY 06-07

Permitted Parking Lots FY 08-09 to FY 12-13

Longwell Annex (formerly Key St. Lot) @$10/month

Chapel Lot $30/month

North Longwell Lot @$35/month

Bauerlein @$30/month

Permitted Parking Lots FY 13-14 to FY 17-18

Longwell Annex (formerly Key St. Lot) @$20/month

Chapel Lot $40/month

North Longwell Lot @$45/month

Bauerlein @$40/month

Permitted Parking Lots FY 18-19 to FY 22-23

Longwell Annex (formerly Key St. Lot) @$30/month

Chapel Lot $50/month

North Longwell Lot @$55/month

Bauerlein @$50/month

C. Rate Structure – Pay on Foot

Pay on Foot Rates FY 03-04 to FY 07-08

Longwell Parking Garage @$30/month

Westminster Square Parking Garage @$30/month

Pay on Foot Rates FY 08-09 to FY 12-13

Longwell Parking Garage @$40/month

Westminster Square Parking Garage @$40/month

Pay on Foot Rates 13-14 to FY 17-18

Longwell Parking Garage @$50/month

Westminster Square Parking Garage @$50/month

Pay on Foot Rates FY 18-19 to FY 22-23

Longwell Parking Garage @$60/month

Westminster Square Parking Garage @$60/month

D. Rate Structure – Violations

Violations FY 03-04 to FY 07-08*

Meters @$15/violation

Permit Violations @$15/violation

Other Summons @$30/violation

Violations FY 08-09 to FY 12-13*

Meters @$20/violation

Permit Violations @$20/violation

Other Summons @$35violation

Violations FY 13-14 to FY 17-18*

Meters @$25/violation

Permit Violations @$25/violation

Other Summons @$40violation

Violations FY 18-19 to FY 22-23*

Meters @$30/violation

Permit Violations @$30/violation

Other Summons @$45violation

* Assumes a uniform violation structure for meter violations. Committee recommended that the City employ a progressive violation fine structure dependent upon the number of violations received within a given time frame. (i.e. first violation – warning, second violation - $15 fine, etc…)

E. Rate Structure – Meters

Meter Rates FY 03-04 to FY 07-08

Location

Sherwood Lot - 95 meters @ $.50/hour

Albion Lot - 18 meters @ $.50/hour

Chapel Lot - 9 meters @$.50/hour

Sentinel Lot - 12 meters @$.50/hour

Gehr Lot - 21 meters @$.50/hour

Davis Lot - 14 meters @$.50/hour

Babylon Lot - 34 meters @$.50/hour

Diffendal Lot - 21 meters @$.50/hour

East Main Street - 128 meters @ $.50/hour

West Main Street - 54 meters @ $.50/hour

North Court Street - 30 meters @$.50/hour

Court Place - 4 meters @ $.50/hour

Bond Street - 6 meters @ $.50/hour

Anchor Street - 10 meters @$.50/hour

PA Avenue - 7 meters @$.50/hour

Meter Rates FY 08-09 to FY 12-13 Location

Sherwood Lot - 95 meters @ $.75/hour

Albion Lot - 18 meters @ $.75/hour

Chapel Lot - 9 meters @$.75/hour

Sentinel Lot - 12 meters @$.75/hour

Gehr Lot - 21 meters @$.75/hour

Davis Lot - 14 meters @$.75/hour

Babylon Lot - 34 meters @$.75/hour

Diffendal Lot - 21 meters @$.75/hour

East Main Street - 128 meters @ $.75/hour

West Main Street - 54 meters @ $.75/hour

North Court Street - 30 meters @$.75/hour

Court Place - 4 meters @ $.75/hour

Bond Street - 6 meters @ $.75/hour

Anchor Street - 10 meters @$.75/hour

PA Avenue - 7 meters @$.75/hour

Meter Rates FY 13-14 to FY 17-18 Location

Sherwood Lot - 95 meters @ $1.00/hour

Albion Lot - 18 meters @ $1.00/hour

Chapel Lot - 9 meters @$1.00/hour

Sentinel Lot - 12 meters @$1.00/hour

Gehr Lot - 21 meters @$1.00/hour

Davis Lot - 14 meters @$1.00/hour

Babylon Lot - 34 meters @$1.00/hour

Diffendal Lot - 21 meters @$1.00/hour

East Main Street - 128 meters @ $1.00/hour

West Main Street - 54 meters @ $1.00/hour

North Court Street - 30 meters @$1.00/hour

Court Place - 4 meters @ $1.00/hour

Bond Street - 6 meters @ $1.00/hour

Anchor Street - 10 meters @$1.00/hour

PA Avenue - 7 meters @$1.00/hour

Meter Rates FY 18-19 to FY 22-23 Location

Sherwood Lot - 95 meters @ $1.00/hour

Albion Lot - 18 meters @ $1.00/hour

Chapel Lot - 9 meters @$1.00/hour

Sentinel Lot - 12 meters @$1.00/hour

Gehr Lot - 21 meters @$1.00/hour

Davis Lot - 14 meters @$1.00/hour

Babylon Lot - 34 meters @$1.00/hour

Diffendal Lot - 21 meters @$1.00/hour

East Main Street - 128 meters @ $1.00/hour

West Main Street - 54 meters @ $1.00/hour

North Court Street - 30 meters @$1.00/hour

Court Place - 4 meters @ $1.00/hour

Bond Street - 6 meters @ $1.00/hour

Anchor Street - 10 meters @$1.00/hour

PA Avenue - 7 meters @$1.00/hour

The Committee recommends that the City replace all meters in FY 03-04. At that time, the Committee recommends that the hours of meter enforcement be extended by three hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The current hours of enforcement are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The recommended meters to install are digital and will be able to accept multiple forms of payment. The Committee also recommended that the City utilize a seven (7) year lease/purchase option which would minimize the initial capital cost. City staff is currently seeking lease/purchase proposals from local lending institutions. As information becomes available with respect to meter usage, the Committee recommends that the City annually review its meter rate structure.

The development of the above pricing structure achieves the goals of principles five, six and seven in the Guiding Principles. This pricing structure recognizes that some spaces are more desirable than others and they are priced to encourage employees and long-term parkers to park in the less convenient locations for a reduced cost. This pricing structure is also sensitive to the various types of customers that use parking in the downtown area and financial incentives have been built in to recognize the variety of choices that are necessary to accommodate all of Westminster’s parking customers. This parking structure also recognizes that some parking facilities are less convenient or in key geographic locations and may have a higher and better use as commercial sites and could be redeveloped in the future to generate additional commercial space and tax base.

Attachment 3 is a detailed cost/revenue analysis of the parking memo fund if the City were to implement these recommendations beginning in FY03-04. This analysis assumes that the Parking Memo Fund will start with a zero balance in FY 03-04 and some assumptions had to be made with respect to costs. Specifically, the cost of the meter replacement program is not based on a bid package; rather, it is based on estimates provided by vendors of this equipment.

These estimates have an assumed usage rate. For instance, it is assumed within this detailed cost/revenue analysis that 50% of the parking spaces within the Longwell Parking Garage will generate $30/month during the first five fiscal years. Similar adjustments have been made to all surface parking lots and meters as well. Revenue projections for City meters are based on nine hours of customers paying for metered parking.

As indicated in Attachment 3, the parking pricing structure has been established to cover all costs associated with parking as well as provide for additional revenues in the future so that additional parking structures can be constructed. If adopted as recommended by the Committee, the Parking Memo Fund will become self sufficient in FY 08-09. However, this fund will carry a negative balance forward until FY 10-11 as forwarded to The Mayor and Common Council for its consideration. Incidentally, at the end of the twenty (20) year cycle which is covered by this analysis, enough revenue would be generated to substantially cover the cost of constructing a new parking structure.

F. Increased Signage

The Committee also recommends that the City initiate an aggressive signage campaign to direct parking users to the designated parking facilities. In response to that, the Committee has recommended that the City budget $10,000 to cover the cost of placing signs in strategic locations to direct traffic to the City’s parking facilities.G. EnforcementThe Committee recognizes that enforcement is critical to ensure that the City’s parking facilities achieve maximum efficiency in usage. Therefore, in conjunction with the meter replacement program, the Committee recommends that the City purchase new enforcement software which would allow the City to design a progressive violation enforcement system which more severely penalizes repeat and habitual offenders of the parking facilities. This system would also be a more efficient system, as issuing violations would be less labor intensive than it is currently.

F. Enforcement

The Committee recognizes that enforcement is critical to ensure that the City’s parking facilities achieve maximum efficiency in usage. Therefore, in conjunction with the meter replacement program, the Committee recommends that the City purchase new enforcement software which would allow the City to design a progressive violation enforcement system which more severely penalizes repeat and habitual offenders of the parking facilities. This system would also be a more efficient system, as issuing violations would be less labor intensive than it is currently.

H. Future Capacity

The Committee recommends that the City consider providing additional parking structures in the downtown area as the Downtown area continues to grow in the future. Based upon the proposed pricing structure, it is anticipated that the City would generate enough revenue to construct another parking garage in the future similar to the Longwell Parking Garage.

IV. Summary

The Committee proudly submits these recommendations to The Mayor and Common Council for its consideration. The Committee feels that these recommendations will achieve the goals adopted by the Committee as their Guiding Principles.

20021100 Occupation writer: Will code HTML for food

20021100 Occupation writer: Will code HTML for food.

November 2002

Occupation writer. Ultimately I am a slave to the masters of the page, the soldiers in my life - words.

“Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed… just do it in private and wash your hands afterwards,” attributed to Robert Heinlein.

“When I stop working the rest of the day is posthumous. I'm only really alive when I'm writing.” Tennessee Williams

I am a mild mannered vacuous unemployable college drop out - a political novice, hilltop hillbilly farmer artist with no leadership skills and decades of unaccounted for time; fighting off the forces of poverty, the intellectually stunted, and the artistically disinclined.

I will code HTML for food. http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/2012/09/occupation-writer-will-code-html-for.html

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20021100 Occupation writer: Will code HTML for food.

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2002/11/20021100-occupation-writer-will-code.html

20021100 Occupation writer: Will code HTML for food.

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Labels: "Five Easy Pieces", Dayhoff "Five Easy Pieces", Dayhoff erratum reductio ad absurdum,Dayhoff literature of the absurd, Dayhoff personal, Dayhoff writing essays

Jam Master Jay, Run-DMC DJ, Killed In Shooting Jason Mizell died in shooting at Queens studio

Jam Master Jay, Run-DMC DJ, Killed In Shooting Jason Mizell died in shooting at Queens studio, according to group's camp.

By Shaheem Reid October 30, 2002

Jam Master Jay Photo: Glen E. Friedman (Burning Flags Press)

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458435/20021030/run_dmc.jhtml

NEW YORK — Legendary hip-hop DJ Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC was shot and killed in Queens on Wednesday (October 30), according to police.

Authorities confirmed that Jay, born Jason Mizell, was fatally shot inside a studio on Merrick Boulevard at 7:30 p.m. local time. Another victim, Uriel Rincon, was shot in the leg. Rincon, 25, is listed in stable condition at an area hospital.

Mizell, 37, is survived by his wife, three sons, mother, brother and sister.

Around 9 p.m., during a concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan, fellow hip-hop icon Big Daddy Kane informed spectators that he just had gotten word that "something happened" to Jay, though he did not know at the time if it was true. He then went on to pay homage to deceased rap greats Tupac Shakur, Freaky Tah, Notorious B.I.G., Big Punisher and Big L.

A few blocks away, at the opening of Russell Simmons' "Def Poetry Jam," the media mogul was visibly distraught.

"We'll never have a band," Simmons' brother, Run, said in a 1988 interview before pointing to Jay, his one-man sound machine. "That's our band." (Click for photos from Jam Master Jay's career.)

Read more here: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458435/20021030/run_dmc.jhtml

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/

20021017 Halloween Trick or Treating memo for October 31, 2002

Westminster Maryland Halloween Trick or Treating

MEMORANDUM - October 17, 2002

TO: Council Members

Thomas Beyard

Laurell Taylor

Chief Roger Joneckis

Carroll County Times

The Baltimore Sun - Carroll County

WTTR Radio

SUBJECT: HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREATING

Each year, The Mayor and Council designates a night for Halloween Trick or Treating. Pursuant to your approval at the Council Meeting of October 28, 2002, I would like to recommend that Halloween Trick or Treating take place on the evening of Thursday, October 31, 2002.

Trick or Treating should be conducted between the hours of dusk and 8:00 p.m. and be restricted to children age 12 and under plus accompanying parents or adult guardians. Residents who wish to participate by providing treats to the children should turn on their outside light. Children are advised to wear some light colored clothing so as to be more visible to motorists and to go to homes in their immediate neighborhoods with lights. Motorists should pay particular care on the evening of October 31^st with so many children walking around City streets.

KEVIN E. DAYHOFF

Mayor

20021025 Stull connects with farmers by Andrew Symonds Frederick News-Post Staff

Stull connects with farmers

By Andrew Symonds Frederick News-Post Staff

October 25, 2002

Paul Stull

In a county with a large farming population, Republican Paul Stull feels his background as a "farm boy" allows him to appreciate the concerns and problems of District 4A's farming community.

"I've been big on agricultural issues," the eight-year delegate said. "I like to work for the dairy farmers and I like to work for agriculture throughout the state.

"We have some issues that really need to be worked on as far as the nutrient management program goes. I think it's too stringent, I think they have a lot of foolish regulations there that are being dictated to farmers. I tried to modify that last year, but it got held up in the Senate at the 11th hour and never made it out," he said.

Mr. Stull said he takes a personal interest in agricultural issues and works hard to research them.

"A couple of years ago, I worked day and night on the Northeast Dairy Compact to get farmers a better price for their milk. And we made it through. It passed both houses and it was signed into law, but because of other issues on a federal level, we couldn't implement it."

Getting legislation passed in Annapolis is a priority to Mr. Stull, who said he has taken a proactive approach in the past to get backing for his projects.

"I had the big idea that in order to get more in the rural areas, we would form a caucus in western Maryland, southern Maryland, the Eastern Shore. It worked a number of times when they could collectively bring together those regions. We commanded quite a number of votes.

"On big issues we still had trouble because we were outvoted by metropolitan areas, but in some issues we could convince people that -- hey, they do deserve some recognition in the legislation that they are proposing," he said.

"I think it was a big plus for us during my tenure in Annapolis and I pushed for that quite a bit. If I make it back I'll be a big advocate to help pull together different caucuses for legislation. I think it's one of the ways we can make a difference in the legislation that comes out," he said.

"I don't look at it as being a Republican issue, a Democratic issue. I look at it as being issues that are going to help voters and constituents in Frederick County, western Maryland and in the rural areas."

Because of the high growth rate in Frederick County, Mr. Stull said the area is in a difficult position when education funding is calculated.

"Those formulas were fine, but they didn't take into account Frederick County when we're growing so fast," he said. "The formula lagged back one or two years and we needed the buildings now, and without upfront funds we've fallen behind.

"The new Thornton Commission is taking into account the richer counties as opposed to the poorer counties and trying to work this up."

But Mr. Stull questions the new revenue sources used to fund that plan.

"Your biggest factor is the 34 cents that was set aside for the tobacco tax, but now we're hearing that the sale of cigarettes, because they're so high, is tapering off. Because we, as a small state, live so close to border states, you can go buy your cigarettes cheaper in Virginia or Pennsylvania. Our businesses are losing money."

Mr. Stull said that Maryland is losing other revenues to neighboring states as well and may need to allow slot machines.

"With that in mind I have changed my mind somewhat in the area of slots and gambling."

20021019 Freestate Spectacular XVI Marching Band Competition

Freestate Spectacular XVI Marching Band Competition

October 19, 2002

Picture caption: Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff in the mid 1960s in a William F. Myers and Sons Band uniform with my trumpet case.

Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff, c. 1968 Marching with the Westminster High School Band

Dear Competitors, Judges, Parents, and Spectators:

On behalf of the City of Westminster, welcome to today’s Freestate Spectacular XVI Marching Band Competition.

Veteran band parents and marching band enthusiasts know full well, while newcomers or “rookies” should be made aware of the fact - that today’s performances are the result of long hours of disciplined preparation during the late summer months.

Band directors, instructors, students, and parents have put in countless hours of practice and preparation to make today’s competition possible. The fine performances you will view on the contest field are just the tip of the iceberg called high school marching band. Thousands of dedicated hours of rehearsal and an inestimable amount of love for the activity have been willingly logged in - well before today’s event.

Competition is a wonderful thing! - It causes each of us to excel beyond our previous achievements. It can become an invidious and negative thing when it causes us to resent the achievements of others; however, you will not find any of that sort of thing here today.

While the competition is intense and only one band receives the 1st Place Trophy per band group classification, everyone participating in today’s Maryland State High School Band Championships is truly a winner. Each band and guard member is a winner because they genuinely strive for excellence while cheerfully recognizing the excellence on the part of other performers. This requires good character, and band and guard members are usually distinguished by great character.

How do I know? I, and members of the Westminster City Staff have participated in the activity as far back as high school, of which one still is active in the Tournament of Bands judging community.

Please enjoy the contest and your time in Westminster!

Best wishes,

Kevin E. Dayhoff

Mayor

KED/str

20021019 Freestate Spectacular XVI Marching Band Competition

20021000 About McDaniel College

1871 Graduating class of McDaniel College

About McDaniel College

October 2002

This material is from the web site of McDaniel College.

McDaniel College 2 College Hill Westminster, Maryland 21157 USA

410-848-7000
Site Map

For more information, please go to: http://www.mcdaniel.edu/

About McDaniel Updated November 1^st, 2006:

McDaniel College is a private, selective college of the liberal arts and sciences offering a life-changing education to undergraduate and graduate students. One of the first things you'll notice is the sense of community that defines McDaniel. Professors are first and foremost teachers and mentors: you'll see them cheering from the sidelines of a soccer match or chatting with students over lunch in the Pub...

Other life-changing opportunities: classes that average 17 students; more than 100 clubs, organizations, and athletics teams; and the opportunity to study at the only U.S. college campus in Budapest, Hungary.

Just wait until you see our campus in Maryland: a spectacular hilltop setting with a view of the Catoctin Mountains, yet close to the vast resources of the nation's capital in D.C. and the city of Baltimore.

Questions? Please contact us.

About McDaniel College

October 2002

McDaniel College is a private, selective college of the liberal arts and sciences offering a life-changing education to undergraduate and graduate students. One of the first things you'll notice is the sense of community that defines McDaniel. Professors are first and foremost teachers and mentors: you'll see them cheering from the sidelines of a soccer match or chatting with students over lunch in the Pub...

Other life-changing opportunities: classes that average 17 students; more than 100 clubs, organizations, and athletics teams; and the opportunity to study at the only U.S. college campus in Budapest, Hungary.

Just wait until you see our campus in Maryland: a spectacular hilltop setting with a view of the Catoctin Mountains, yet close to the vast resources of the nation's capital in D.C. and the city of Baltimore.

Questions? Please contact us.

McDaniel College is a private, selective college of the liberal arts and sciences where students from 23 states and 19 countries prepare for lives of leadership and service. Flexible programs of study at both undergraduate and master’s degree levels, strong teaching, and ideal location—near Baltimore and Washington, D.C.—provides students with an outstanding learning experience. A two-year branch campus in Budapest, Hungary, gives McDaniel College a unique, global perspective.

The First Principles

McDaniel College believes that liberally educated men and women think and act critically, creatively, and humanely. They take charge of their lives and develop their unique potentials with reason, imagination, and human concern.

McDaniel College accepts the challenge to provide an academic and social environment that promotes liberal learning. We strive to place students at the center of a humane environment so that they may see and work toward their personal goals while respecting others and sharing responsibility for the common good. We provide a foundation of knowledge about the past and present so that students may be informed about the world. We provide various approaches to knowledge and personal achievement so that students can think critically about, respond creatively to, and form sensitive, intelligent decisions concerning the world and its future. We provide instruction in fundamental skills so that students can express themselves for their own satisfaction and to the larger community.

We provide solid and respected professional programs for the committed student, and, more important, we provide a liberal arts education as an integral part of professional training so that students will be more flexible, more successful, and happier in the world of work. In the classrooms, in the residence halls, in the laboratories, on the playing fields, and in the lounges, McDaniel College works to disseminate these First Principles.

Our History

Shortly after the Civil War, Fayette R. Buell, a Westminster teacher, embarked on his dream of founding a small private college. He purchased a tract of land — a hill overlooking the town — and issued a prospectus in search of support for his dream. Although financing was slow to materialize, he did receive generous support from two of the community leaders: the Reverend J. T. Ward, of the Methodist Protestant Church, who would become the College’s first president, and John Smith, president of the thriving Western Maryland Railroad and a resident of nearby Wakefield Valley.

Mr. Smith, who became the first president of the College’s board of trustees, suggested that the College be named after the railroad, which maintained an important terminal in Westminster. On the day in 1866 that the cornerstone was laid for the Western Maryland College’s first building, free rail passage was granted to everyone who attended the ceremonies. Eventually, the Western Maryland Railroad became extinct after merging with another company.

The first building on the Hill was completed in September, 1867; 37 men and women were enrolled in eight areas of study. Already, the new college was in many ways ahead of its time. In the original Charter, the founders and the first board of trustees clearly reflected their intentions that the College be an innovative and independent institution.

The College was founded "upon a most liberal plan for the benefit of students without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, which students shall be eligible for admission to equal privileges and advantages of education and to all social activities and organizations of the college, without requiring or enforcing any sectarian, racial or civil test, and without discrimination on the basis of sex, national or ethnic origin, nor shall any prejudice be made in the choice of any officer, teacher, or other employee in the said college on account of these factors."

The College was the first coeducational college south of the Mason Dixon line, and one of the first coeducational colleges in the nation. Since its inception, it has been an independent liberal arts college with an autonomous Board of Trustees. A voluntary fraternal affiliation with the United Methodist Church existed from 1868 until 1974; today there are no ties to any denominational body. Control and ownership are fully vested by the Charter in the trustees, under Maryland state law.

On January 11, 2002, the trustees announced their unanimous decision to change the name of the College. The decision came after decades of discussion and surveys that confirmed the confusion surrounding the name. The College often was not perceived as what and where it is: a private institution within an hour's drive of Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

On July 1, 2002, WMC officially became McDaniel College. The new name honors William Roberts McDaniel, whose 65-year association with the College helped shape its destiny and today personifies its mission.

In its 135-year history, the College has had only eight presidents: Dr. Ward, Dr. Thomas Hamilton Lewis (1886-1920), Dr. Albert Norman Ward (1920-1935), Bishop Fred G. Holloway (1935-1947), Dr. Lowell S. Ensor (1947-1972), Dr. Ralph C. John (1972-1984), Dr. Robert H. Chambers (1984-2000), and Dr. Joan Develin Coley (2000-present). Under their guidance, the College has assumed a place among the quality liberal arts colleges in the nation, developing programs and material and physical assets that fulfill the vision of its founders.

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