Dear Neighbors:
I’d like to wish everyone an enjoyable and safe Thanksgiving. This year the holiday will for many of us perhaps be smaller than usual, but I urge residents to exercise caution and plan for a return to larger gatherings next year.
CITY COUNCIL SCHEDULE
There’s no City Council meeting this week. We’ll be meeting on December 2 and 9 before taking a break for the year-end holiday season and then resuming again in January. The tentative agenda for the December 2 meeting includes the following votes: on contracts for a facilitator for the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force and for an executive search firm for recruitment of a new City Manager, and on extending the authorization for the partial closure of Laurel Avenue and the use of sidewalk space elsewhere in the City, plus a possible vote on removing the Housing and Community Development Director position from the budget “hold” list. There will also be a presentation from the architect on the Library renovation project.
The tentative December 9 agenda includes a possible vote on the Library project. The meeting will also feature a discussion on State legislative priorities with our District 20 delegation (Sen. Smith, and Dels. Moon, Charkoudian and Wilkins). In January, as we have in previous years, we’ll have a priority-setting “retreat” which will be open to the public. I’ll also be convening opportunities for Ward One residents to offer their views on City priorities.
I’d add that activities connected to the 2021 State legislative session in Annapolis, which formally starts in January, are already gearing up now (earlier than usual), primarily because of the challenges connected to the coronavirus. As part of that initial work, Mayor Stewart recently testified on City priorities before a meeting of the Montgomery County State legislative delegation. You can see her statement here: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/legislative-advocacy/2021/MC-Delegation-Joint-Priorities-Hearing-Kate-Stewart-Testimony-2020-11-12.pdf.
COVID UPDATE
City staff have provided an updated Takoma Park COVID-19 Dashboard with data effective as of November 20. Some key data points noted by staff include:
· 35 new reported cases
· Infection rate of 4.4% Citywide
· 3 new deaths
The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services tested 383 people last Wednesday at the Sligo Adventist Church outdoor walk up/drive up testing site, more than double the number tested the previous week. Testing will be offered this Wednesday from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, weather dependent. You can see details on the County testing program and the schedule for additional testing sites here: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/testing.html
COVID Contact Tracer Jobs. NORC is hiring Contract Tracers for the State of Maryland. This is a work from home position. Interested candidates can apply here: https://careers.norc.org/en-us/job/495876/contact-tracer-maryland. NORC (National Opinion Research Center) is affiliated with the University of Chicago, and they are helping contract tracing initiatives around the country.
REPORT ON KEY ISSUES IN LAST WEEK’S COUNCIL MEETING
Major Council/Staff Workload Items. City Manager Suzanne Ludlow gave a presentation on the major issues expected to be before the City Council and City staff over the next six months or so. I anticipate there will be other issues that arise through our priority setting process and in the normal course of events. But this power point deck provides a good sense of the current, extensive list: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/Meeting-Documents/Council-Presentation-11-18-2020.pdf.
Extension of Use of Public and Private Space for Outdoor Seating, etc. https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20201118-3-rev.pdf. The authorization for this program, which includes the partial closure of Laurel Ave., expires at the end of this year. With pandemic related business restrictions likely to continue well into next year, the Council discussed extending the program for up to another six months. I’m generally supportive, but I think it’s important to make it clear that we’ll continue to offer public seating on Laurel Ave, for those who aren’t patronizing businesses in that block. I’m seeking amendments to the resolution we’ll be voting on in our December 2 meeting to clarify that point.
Housing and Community Development Department Director Position. https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2020/council-20201118-6.pdf. This job -- vacant for over a year -- is one of the positions put on hold by the Council in this year’s budget, with the funds for the position reserved for potential use in our COVID response. Since major parts of that response include assisting residents with housing problems and small businesses facing financial difficulties, it’s challenging for the staff in that department to operate without the top job being filled. So I’m sympathetic to the proposed removal from the hold list so the position can be filled. But before I decide how to vote, I’d like to have a clearer idea on how we’re going to assess whether and when to remove other “hold” items from the list, as well as likely reimbursements from other levels of government for City COVID expenses.
City Manager Comments. You can see the City Manager’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_%2011.18.2020.pdf.
UPDATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Takoma Junction Update. The Junction developer NDC has submitted updated drawings and explanatory material, which can be seen via this link to the County website: https://eplans.montgomeryplanning.org/daiclinks/pdoxlinks.aspx?apno=120190150&projname=Takoma%20Junction. The documents (more than 20) are dated November 6, 2020. The next steps are County staff review, followed by City Council review (perhaps in January or February).
The Friends of the Library’s Annual Holiday Book Sale. This year the sale will be conducted virtually. You can shop at the online collection of over 800 new and used books. Books are priced to sell at $3 each or 10 for $25. The sale will open to Friends members on November 27 and others on December 11. To shop during the two-week members-only period (November 27 through December 10) join the Friends or renew your membership. Information about how to access the book sale will be sent via email to members.
Pajamarama. https://mainstreettakoma.org/featured-events/pajamarama/. This annual Old Town holiday shopping event will take place all day on Sunday, December 6. Shoppers wearing pajamas will get discounts at participating local businesses.
Police Department Holiday Toy Drive. https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/help-tppd-bring-joy-this-holiday-season-donate-unwrapped-toys-cash-giftcards/. The Police are accepting toys and gift cards for children ages 2 - 12 through December 23.
Police Department Winter Coat Drive. https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/winter-coat-drive-begins-monday-november-4/. The Police Department, in partnership with Adventist Community Services, is also collecting clean, gently used warm coats in any size from infant to adult through December 18. The coats will be donated to people in need. They will also accept clean, gently used gloves/mittens and scarves. There’s a large box for donations in the Police Department lobby in the Community Center (lower level).
Adventist Community Services Donations. ACS has provided holiday food baskets in the Takoma Park area for many years. During the pandemic they have seen the demand for pantry assistance roughly quadruple, and the number of families enrolling for holiday baskets is up 40%. Prices for many key items have increased sharply this year. You can donate here: www.acsgw.org.
Register for City Alerts and Updates. https://takomaparkmd.gov/sign-up/. You can sign up for various City alerts, including Police bulletins, Council updates, and the Takoma Insider. Here’s a link to the most recent Insider: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#search/takoma+inside/FMfcgxwKjTXlsdVjJVRPWkHVBrJZQPsw
Feel free to be in touch with questions or comments about this blog, and please stay safe.
Peter Kovar, Takoma Park City Council, Ward One
240-319-6281; www.councilmemberkovar.com
(He, Him, His)
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