Dear Neighbors:
Here’s the agenda for the October 20, 2021 City Council meeting: https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-meeting-agenda-wednesday-october-20-2021/. We have votes on providing housing reserve funds for the renovation of the Hillwood Manor apartments, and on appointments to several committees, board and commissions. In the work session, we’ll be discussing planning for next year’s City elections; our priorities for next year’s Maryland State legislative session; Council compensation; and additional appointments to resident committees. See below for details on all of these agenda items.
In order to speak in the public comment period, sign up by 5:00 PM on Wednesday: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_J8dw0FHxS0q2u-9hnTj61A. The meeting can be viewed on City TV (RCN -- 13, HD 1060; Comcast/xfinity -- 13, HD 997; Verizon Fios -- 28), on the City Council Video Page; on YouTube, or on Facebook.
The Council won’t be meeting next week. We’ll meet on November 3, 10 and 17. Among the expected agenda items for those meetings will be further work on Council compensation and appointments to committees; the recommendations from the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force; Ward redistricting; and apartment window guard legislation. Then we’ll have a special session on December 1 with our Maryland State delegation on legislative priorities for the coming year, after which the Council will take a break from formal meetings until January.
COVID UPDATE
The Takoma Park COVID-19 Data Dashboard has been updated with data through October 14th: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=42a594afc3ad4c59ba7b1ca9965b7837. Key data points noted by City staff:
• There were 18 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the City since last week, bringing the City's total to 1,934 since the start of the pandemic. The City's rate of new cases continued to slowly decline from the heights of August. In Montgomery County, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are down 4% over the last 2 weeks.
• Since last week, the at least first-dose vaccination rate for the 20912 zip code increased 0.27% to 64.6%. The fully vaccinated rate increased 0.31% to 58.6%.There were no new deaths reported in the 20912 zip code since last week.
Other COVID resources: Vaccines: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine/ or State Vaccine Website; Testing: Montgomery County Testing Sites; Tenants having trouble paying rent: https://montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/SNHS/rent-relief.html or https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/housing-and-community-development/contact-us/; Food aid: Submit an online request for help with food resources or call 240-777-0311.
UPDATES FROM LAST WEEK
Parking Management Task Force Presentation: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20211013-1.pdf. Representatives of the task force outlined how they had completed their report and recommendations, but hadn’t been able to undertake a thorough public engagement effort owing to the challenges presented by COVID. So, while the recommendations (which can be accessed through the above link) are available for review, the Task Force is suggesting that no formal action by taken until it’s possible to hold more public engagement events. So for now, I would be interested in feedback from residents on the recommendations.
Traffic Calming (7900 block of Takoma Avenue and Auburn Avenue): https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20211013-2-3.pdf. These measures were approved unanimously by the City Council, and I’m pleased that the speed bump installation for the 7900 block of Takoma Avenue will now be going forward.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Office Hours, Wednesday, October 20, Noon - 2:00 PM: I’ll be available in the public area of the Laurel Avenue Streetery by the Post Office to meet with residents. All topics welcome and no advance appointments required.
Ward Redistricting Process, including Oct. 21 Public Engagement Event: https://takomaparkmd.gov/initiatives/project-directory/redistricting/. The City will be using updated Census data to determine possible changes to our Ward boundaries. You can review the redistricting portal and fill out a survey via the link above. The portal includes a scenario modeler for testing map options. And you can see the recent presentation by our redistricting consultants here: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/Documents/redistricting-presentation-2021-09-22.pdf. There will be community engagement events on October 21 (https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/participate-in-ward-redistricting-meetings/) and December 2. Lastly, we recently approved a resolution formalizing our re-districting criteria: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20210929-3.pdf
Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, Saturday, October 23, 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM: residents can bring expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs to safe, secure collection boxes in the first floor Police Department lobby in the Community Center, with no questions asked. Prescription, over-the-counter and pet medications will be accepted. In addition, vape pens and other e-cigarette devices are accepted, but only after batteries are removed. Items that cannot be left are liquids, inhalers, aerosol cans, regular household ointments/lotions, needles/sharps and thermometers. This event is part of a key national effort, but residents can actually deposit prescription and over the counter drugs any time at the Police lobby site.
Public Space Management Plan Workshops: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/we-want-your-feedback-on-public-space-come-play-a-game/ The City is hosting a series of community workshops on the Public Space Management Plan which will center around an interactive game about the values residents hold on parks, sidewalks, streeteries, bike lanes, and other public spaces. The next workshop is on October 23.
Plant-a-tree Orders Accepted through October 25: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/help-restore-the-urban-forest-canopy-plant-a-tree-orders-accepted-through-october-25th/. Residents can purchase reduced price trees to help support the urban forest canopy.
Thrive Montgomery 2050 Plan and Zoning in Takoma Park: https://montgomeryplanning.org/planning/master-plan-list/general-plans/thrive-montgomery-2050/. There has been a substantial amount of discussion on neighborhood email lists in Ward One about this overall County plan, and its potential impact on the City. At its October 11 work session the County Council’s PHED Committee tentatively agreed to emphasize affordable housing more in the plan and to make it more clear that Thrive is a vision document, and that any actions to implement it would have to be adopted separately. The Committee’s next meeting on this topic will be on October 25. You can see video of the October 11 meeting here (with some problematic audio near the end): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3OGzLlRW3Q. And here’s a link to my recent blog on this topic: http://www.councilmemberkovar.com/blog/2021/10/7/montgomery-countys-thrive-2050-plan-and-zoning-in-takoma-park.
Minor Master Plan for Former Adventist Hospital Site: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/housing-and-community-development/planning-and-community-development/minor-master-plan/. The County Planning Office is conducting a Minor Master Plan engagement process on possible uses for the hospital site. Among the uses which have been suggested are an elementary school, a rec center, housing, a commercial development, or some combination of those options. The next public engagement opportunity will be on Wednesday, October 27 from 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM at the Crossroads Farmers Market on Anne Street, near the intersection with University Blvd.
Monster Bash, Saturday, October 30, 1:00 - 5:00 PM: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news/monster-bash-is-back-sat-oct-30th/. The City’s Halloween festivities, including a costume contest and parade, will begin in the Middle School parking lot.
Friends of the Takoma Park Library Book Sale Donations: https://ftpml.org/upcoming-events/. The Library is accepting book donations for the fall sale on November 6 (from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM). Please bring gently used books (no textbooks) to the Library during regular hours (Monday - Thursday, 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, and Friday - Sunday, Noon - 6:00 PM).
Police Academy Coming Soon: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/police/community-policing/community-police-academy/. In November the Police Department will be accepting applications for the Community Police Academy.
VOTING SESSION
Hillwood Manor: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20211020-1.pdf. I’m glad Montgomery Housing Partnership has taken over this property and devised a renovation plan with financing from a number of outside sources. I’m supportive of the proposal for the City to make a modest contribution from our Housing Reserve to the project, though I’d like to hear more about the its impact on the small number of families who may be unable to continue living there.
CONSENT AGENDA (a single vote on committee, commission & board appointments): Following a comprehensive review and reform of the procedures and missions of the Council appointed committees, commissions and boards, we’re now turning to the appointments. A three member subgroup of the Council has been vetting the 100+ applications which have come in for the committees, and they are making recommendations for the appointments. This week we’ll be voting on recommended appointments to quasi-judicial bodies, plus temporary re-appointments to the Noise Control Board and the Nuclear Free Committee (pending further discussions on the future of those committees), and appointments to the Sustainable Banking and Investments Task Force. I’ll be reviewing the recommendations with a focus on the extent to which they promote diversity and give residents who haven’t previously been on committees a chance to serve.
WORK SESSION
Election Planning and Options: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20211020-4.pdf. The City elections are a year away, but planning is well underway. Our Board of Elections will be making a presentation on their current thinking about the elections, and asking Councilmembers for our suggestions and recommendations.
Legislative Priorities: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20211020-5.pdf. Representatives of Public Policy Partners, the lobbying firm which represents the City in Annapolis, will be briefing the Council on expectations for the 2022 legislative session. During the discussion, Councilmembers will be able to raise issues for potential inclusion in our list of State legislative priorities, which will in turn be discussed with our State Senator and Delegates at the special City Council meeting on December 1 (which is referred to in the third paragraph of this blog). Our list of issues is often similar to the list we submit to the Maryland Municipal League (which can be accessed through the above link). However, we can add or emphasize other issues, including some which are more specific to Takoma Park and less likely to be adopted as priorities by MML.
Council Compensation: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20211020-6.pdf. We’ll continue our discussion on salary and benefits for Mayor and Councilmembers. As I’ve said before, the current relatively modest pay effectively means a significant percentage of residents, including many single parents and lower-paid workers, can’t seriously contemplate running for office here in Takoma Park. More often than not, Councilmembers are retired, have jobs or spouses with high salaries, or work in flexible job situations. So I support upward adjustments in the pay and benefits for the Mayor and Councilmember positions. Any changes we make wouldn’t apply until after the next election.
City Committee Appointments: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20211020-7.pdf. As noted above, we’ll be voting in this week’s meeting on appointments to the Takoma Park’s quasi-judicial bodies. Separately, in the work session we’ll be discussing potential appointments to the City’s policy committees.
Please be in touch with questions or comments about any of the subjects included in this blog.
Peter Kovar, Takoma Park City Council, Ward One
240-319-6281; www.councilmemberkovar.com
(He, Him, His)
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