Dear Neighbors:
We have two more City Council meetings before Election Day on November 3. Here’s a link to the agenda for the October 14, 2020 meeting: https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-meeting-agenda-october-14-2020/.
The Council will start at 6:00 PM in a closed session with the City Attorney to receive legal advice. In the regular meeting, which begins at 7:30 PM, we’ll be voting on a budget amendment, a resolution on principles of City Council compensation, public art expenditures, and a suspension of activities by the Committee on the Environment. The work session will include discussions on a tree removal contract; personnel issues including details on Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations; an update on COVID-19 assistance; appointments to the Tree Commission; and information on planning for this fall’s local elections. There will also be proclamations recognizing the Takoma/Langley Crossroads Development Authority, and National Arts and Humanities Month. For more details on all these matters, see below.
Sign up for public comments will be open until 5:00 PM on Wednesday: Link to sign-up for Live Public Comments.
PROCLAMATIONS
Proclamation Recognizing Crossroads Development Authority: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/mayoral-proclamations/2020/pr20201014-CDA-proclamation.pdf
Proclamation on National Arts and Humanities Month: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/mayoral-proclamations/2020/pr20201014-national-art-and-humanities-month.pdf
ANNOUNCEMENTS
COVID Dashboard.
The Takoma Park COVID-19 Dashboard has been updated with new data as of October 9. Highlights include:
· No new deaths reported.
· 5 new cases reported (lowest since June), for a cumulative total of 663 cases.
· Infection rate remains at 3.7%; the County rate remains at 2.2%.
In addition, Montgomery County has agreed to set up a COVID testing site at the Carroll & Greenwood Avenue parking lot (behind Sligo Adventist Church at Carroll and Flower). Washington Adventist University and Sligo Adventist Church are partnering with the City on this initiative, which will be offered every Wednesday from 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM, starting October 14. It’s expected to continue through the end of December. The site will be drive-up or walk-up, with no appointments required. Testing is free of charge, with no government ID or insurance required. For other testing options, here’s a link to the overall County testing schedule: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/testing.html
Tree Care Workshops. https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/tree-workshops-to-be-held-in-october-and-november/. The City has partnered with Maryland Sustainable Ecologies to offer four Saturday workshops on tree care issues, starting this Saturday, October 17. The 30-minute workshops will take place remotely on Zoom, beginning at noon on each day.
Prescription Drug Take-Back Day -- Saturday, October 24. The Takoma Park Police Department will participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 24, from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. This campaign gives the public an opportunity to dispose of expired, unused, or unwanted drugs. Prescription, over-the-counter and pet medications will be accepted at the Police Department office in the Community Center. As a reminder, residents can dispose of excess and expired medications at the Department’s safe and secure permanent drop off location, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no questions asked. Items that CANNOT be left are liquids, inhalers, aerosol cans, regular household ointments/lotions, needles/sharps and/or thermometers.
Ward One Virtual Community Discussion -- Monday, October 19, 7:00 - 8:30 PM. This will be another in the series of discussions I’ve hosted in lieu of being able to schedule in-person office hours because of the pandemic. Any topics welcome. Register for this meeting here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEucu2qqTsvG9VmyBnytwNrfKFTJhAoZE-e
City Manager Comments. Read Suzanne Ludlow’s official comments from last week’s Council meeting here: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-manager/city-manager-comments/2020/City%20Manager%20Comments%20_%2010.07.2020.pdf. Her remarks included details on City Halloween events and the new Takoma Park Equity Walk program (see below for details on both).
Halloween Events. https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/recreation/halloween-events-2020/. In an effort to keep the season’s family fun alive during the pandemic, the City has scheduled a series of events from October 28 - 31.
We Belong Here: The Takoma Park Equity Walk. https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/housing-and-community-development/planning-and-community-development/we-belong-here-the-takoma-park-equity-walk/. In January, the City received a grant from America Walks -- an group dedicated to advancing safe, equitable, accessible, and enjoyable places to walk -- to construct a half-mile equity-themed fitness route. The Equity Walk offers residents a safe space for discussion and exploration of equity issues.
Homeowners and Renters Tax Credit Deadlines Extended to October 31. https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/homeowners-and-renters-tax-credit-deadlines-extended-to-october-31st/. This State program may apply to City taxes as well.
UPDATES FROM LAST WEEK’S COUNCIL MEETING
Committee Appointment Freeze. https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20201007-2.pdf. I joined all of my colleagues in voting for a freeze on appointments to our resident committees, boards and commissions until the end of next June, with the intervening time to be used to develop and implement strategies to promote more diversity in committee membership. The two possible exceptions to the freeze involve cases in which a committee is unable to act because it has too few members or if appointments may further the goal of membership diversity.
Code of Conduct. https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20201007-3.pdf. I also voted in favor of the Code of Conduct which the Council approved unanimously. The one component of the code that still needs to be determined is the process for reporting violations, the details of which will be developed by City staff with Council input. Under the resolution we approved last week, committee members wouldn’t be required to sign the code until December 1. If we don’t have the reporting process in place by then, we can move the date. For my part, at least in cases involving allegations of racially insensitive comments or actions, I’d like there to be a reporting option that’s independent of the City, and I’ll be pushing for that approach.
Climate Framework Presentation. You can read an outline of the presentation on potential next steps for the Climate Framework from our Sustainability Manager Gina Mathias through this link: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/Meeting-Documents/Climate-and-sustainability-update-presentation_20200710.pdf. In addition, if you go to the Council meeting video for October 7 (https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/meetings-and-documents/city-council-video/) you can watch her actual presentation starting at the 2:02 mark.
VOTING SESSION
Budget Amendment: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20201014-1.pdf. This amendment is composed of a number of budgetary shifts, primarily due to delays in expenditure of funds from last fiscal year to the current one, or increases or decreases in funds from other levels of government, with a net increase to the budget of just under $100,000. I intend vote in favor of the amendment.
Council Compensation: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20201014-2.pdf. I’m pleased we’ve updated the principles of Council compensation to reflect the reality that current compensation levels make it very challenging for many residents to contemplate running for a local office here in the City. I’ll be voting for the resolution.
Public Art Expenditures: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20201014-3-rev.pdf. I’m generally supportive of the public art plan, but I do have questions about the proposal for removal of the mural at B.Y. Morrison Park. Several Councilmembers raised questions in our September 23 meeting about stereotypical depictions of the Black people in the mural. While I think it’s reasonable to take a closer look at that question, I would like to hear from more residents before we make a decision on whether to restore or remove (and preserve) the mural.
Committee on the Environment Suspension: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20201014-4-rev.pdf. The Committee has submitted a request to suspend its operations, so that members can continue their work with a racial justice facilitator, with a goal of contributing to the Council efforts to develop strategies aimed at promoting a more diverse membership for all City committees, boards and commissions. While this is an unusual situation, I think it makes sense to agree to this request from the remaining members of the committee as part of our overall efforts to help ensure that committees are move reflective of the City’s population.
WORK SESSION
Tree Removal Contract: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20201014-5.pdf. We’ll be discussing this proposed contract (on which we’ll likely vote next week) for removal or other treatment of 8 trees, most of which are dead. I support moving forward on this contract, as I’ve heard from residents who have expressed safety concerns connected to several of the trees.
Personnel Matters (background material not yet available): The Council will hear from staff about personnel matters connected to the proposed staff pay increases which are frozen due to the coronavirus pandemic, the ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations, the personnel funds put on hold for possible use in the COVID response, and the potential impact of these matters on the City budget.
Update on COVID-19 Assistance: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20201014-7.pdf. Staff will be presenting an update on the City’s COVID relief efforts. I’m looking forward to learning more details about the assistance that has been provided to residents and businesses, projections for future needs, and the extent to which the funds put on hold in this year’s budget for possible COVID assistance use may be needed.
Tree Commission Appointments: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20201014-8.pdf. The Tree Commission, which at full capacity has five members, is down to two. As a result, the Commission would be unable to take any formal action regarding a tree removal permit appeal. We’ll be considering several candidates for membership on the Commission, with a possible vote in next week’s Council meeting. While I think it’s important for the body to be able to take official action, at this point there are as I understand it no pending appeals, and it’s also important for us -- as noted above -- to take steps to promote more diverse membership of entities like the Commission. So I’ll be considering both of those points in deciding how to vote on the proposed appointments.
Election Update (background material not yet available): The Takoma Park local election ballots are expected to arrive via the US Postal Service at the homes of all registered City voters this week. Based on what we heard in last week’s Council meeting, if residents don’t receive their ballots by Friday of this week, they may wish to contact the City Clerk to check on the status. As I’ve noted previously, there are City ballot drop boxes at the Community Center (lower level parking area by the Police Department entrance) and at the New Hampshire Avenue Recreation Center. You can also mail back your ballot, and there will be limited in-person drive-through voting on Election Day at the Community Center for those who don’t have ballots.
A few other notes on the City ballot:
· voters will need to sign their ballots before mailing them or dropping them off
· there’s no prohibition on dropping off someone else’s ballot (but make sure you know and trust the person dropping off your ballot for you)
· if you use the drop-box rather than mailing your ballot the City will save the postage cost
The Community Center also has a drop box for State ballots (which includes the Presidential and US House of Representatives elections, plus Montgomery County Board of Education candidates, County judges, and County and State referenda). The two boxes at the Community Center are well marked, but if ballots are accidentally placed in the wrong box, I’ve been assured by the City Clerk they’ll end up in the correct place.
The public may view this week’s meeting as always: on City TV (RCN – 13, HD 1060; Comcast/xfinity – 13, HD 997; Verizon Fios – 28), on the City Council Video Page of the City Website; on YouTube, or on Facebook.
Please feel free to be in touch with me if you have questions or comments about any of the topics covered in this blog.
Peter Kovar, Takoma Park City Council, Ward One
240-319-6281; www.councilmemberkovar.com
(He, Him, His)
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