Dear Neighbors:
Here’s a link to the agenda for the October 7, 2020 City Council meeting:https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-meeting-agenda-october-7-2020/.
There are three votes scheduled: on a resolution postponing most appointments to resident committees until June 2021, a resolution establishing a code of conduct for resident committee members, and a budget amendment. In the Work Session we’ll be discussing updated information on the Climate Change resolution we approved earlier this year; preparation for the 2021 State legislative session in Annapolis; and planning for the City election this fall. There will also be several proclamations and recognitions, including one on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and we’ll hear from a senior official with Comcast about their program to provide free or reduced cost Internet service in communities like Takoma Park.
Sign up for public comments will be open until 5:00 PM on the day of the meeting. Link to sign-up for Live Public Comments.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
COVID Dashboard. The Takoma Park COVID-19 Dashboard was updated on Friday with information as of October 2. Some key data points:
· 1 new death reported.
· 7 new cases reported, for a cumulative total of 658 cases.
· Infection rate remains at 3.7%; the County rate increased to 2.2%.
The staff has added a new chart which shows that the number of new cases reported each week has been decreasing over time. You can see County testing information and schedules here:
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/testing.html.
Takoma Foundation Grants. The Foundation Board is announcing funding for Operational Support Grants of up to $5,000 geared toward grantees currently active in responding to the multiple crises facing the community. The Foundation intends to fund organizations providing assistance to those affected by the disparities intensified by Covid-19, the need to address systematic racial and social justice, and climate change. The goal is to increase sustainability for Greater Takoma nonprofits working to address these challenges, including the needs of low and moderate-income residents and youth. See www.takomafoundation.org for more details.
Message from Police Chief DeVaul. I'm passing along a link to a recent statement from our Police Chief outlining his views on changing the culture within the Police Department and other issues related to reimaging public safety and policing: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/message-to-the-community-from-chief-devaul/
UPDATES FROM LAST WEEK’S COUNCIL MEETING
Legal Review of Dorothy’s Woods Covenant. https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20200930-4.pdf. With a group of residents having proposed to use a non-wooded portion of the Dorothy’s Woods property for a sustainable urban habitat project, the Council agreed to ask the City Attorney to conduct a legal review of the conservation covenant currently attached to the property. The purpose of the review would be to determine whether the residents’ proposal or other uses could be undertaken, if the covenant can be modified, etc.
City Manager Comments. You can see City Manager Suzanne Ludlow’s official comments from last week’s Council meeting via this link: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-manager/city-manager-comments/2020/City%20Manager%20Comments%20_%2009.30.2020.pdf. She includes information on plans for Halloween events in the City.
VOTING SESSION
Budget Amendment: The background on this agenda item was not yet available. Here’s a link to the information on the amendment that was included in last week’s agenda information: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20200930-3.pdf
Resident Committee Appointments: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20201007-2.pdf. The Council has been considering actions that would promote more diverse membership on resident committees, boards and commissions. With that work not yet complete, Councilmembers have been reluctant to continue appointing members to these bodies. We’ll be voting on a proposal to suspend most appointments through June 2021, except in cases where a committee needs additional members in order to properly function or if an appointment would increase a committee’s diversity. The expectation is that we’ll be able to use the intervening time to adopt an appropriate set of strategies to help ensure the committees are more reflective of our community. I plan to vote in favor of the proposal.
Committee Code of Conduct: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20201007-3.pdf. Another aspect of the resident committee structure the Council has been working on is the development of a code of conduct for members. One of the key questions for this proposal is what type of system should be included for reporting violations of the code of conduct. I think it’s important for the reporting process to include an opportunity for independent review, depending on the type of violation involved. I’ll be looking closely at that point in deciding how to vote.
WORK SESSION (The background information on the Work Session agenda items was not yet available when I prepared this blog.)
Update on Climate Change Resolution:
Preparation for 2021 State Legislative Session:
Election Update: As noted previously, because of the challenges around organizing a local election conducted primarily by mail-in or drop-off ballots due to the pandemic, all of our remaining Council meetings are expected to include updates on the election.
Last week’s blog explained that residents should remember there are two separate ballots this year, one just for our local Mayor and City Council election and another for President, U.S. House of Representatives, Montgomery County Board of Education, County Judges, and State and County referendums.
Takoma Park registered voters will receive local ballots in the mail, potentially as early as the end of this week and into next week. You can either mail them back or drop them off in the drop boxes at the Community Center and at the New Hampshire Avenue Recreation Center. On Election Day (November 3) there will be limited in-person drive-through voting at the Community Center for Takoma Park local elections only. This option is for people who don’t receive a ballot in the mail. Dropped off local ballots must be received by Election Day. Mailed in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, but can be physically received up to 5 days later.
For the State ballot, you can vote in person on Election Day at voting centers, and early voting begins on October 26. The nearest voting center will be at the Silver Spring Civic Center (our local election precincts will NOT be open). There is also a State ballot drop box at the Community Center. This link has information on requesting a State ballot: https://voterservices.elections.maryland.gov/OnlineMailinRequest/InstructionsStep1
The public may view the City Council meeting in all the usual ways: on City TV (RD -- 13, HD -- 106; 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)
Important Privacy Notice: All correspondence, including emails, to or from City of Takoma Park agencies, officials, and employees is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act and may be disclosed to the public.