Dear Neighbors:
Here’s a link to the agenda for the June 2 City Council meeting; https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-meeting-agenda-wednesday-june-2-2021/. There’s one vote: on the proposed Police field radio purchase which was covered initially in our May 19 Council meeting. In the Work Session, we’ll be discussing reauthorization of the Takoma/Langley Crossroads Development Authority; the extension of our existing contract for financial auditing services; the resumption of quasi-judicial proceedings (involving City entities like the Tree Commission and the Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs); and rescission of the emergency authority the Council had granted to the City Manager in the early stages of the COVID pandemic. There will also be a presentation of the Grants Review Committee’s recommendations for this year’s Community Quality of Life Grants, along with proclamations on National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Immigrant Heritage Month, plus announcement of the Safe Grow Photo Contest winners. See below for details on these agenda items.
Sign-up for public comments is open until 5:00 PM on Wednesday: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6Rna-YE_QrWIMbigqCTi6w. The public may view the meeting 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.
There will also be a special Council meeting on Monday, June 7 regarding the proposed Montgomery County Building Energy Performance Standards: https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-special-meeting-agenda-monday-june-7-2021/. This will be an important discussion in that the proposal would potentially apply to 26 larger buildings in Takoma Park. In addition, Takoma Park may wish to consider adopting similar standards for smaller structures within the City.
National Gun Violence Awareness Day Proclamation: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/proclamation-2021-gun-violence-awareness-day.pdf
Immigrant Heritage Month Proclamation: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/pr20210602-Immigrant-Heritge-Month-2021.pdf
Grants Review Committee Recommendations: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/pr20210602-Immigrant-Heritge-Month-2021.pdf. The Community Quality of Life grants were established in 2014, and the Committee will be making its recommendations to the Council for this year’s round of funding. I’m pleased that the Committee, in response to Council directives, has more deeply emphasized racial equity and workforce development in the 2020 grant cycle.
COVID UPDATE
The Takoma Park COVID-19 Data Dashboard has been updated with data through Thursday, May 27. Key data points highlighted by City staff:
· Since last Thursday, 381 new residents received a first dose vaccination and 481 became fully vaccinated, bringing the city's population receiving at least a first dose to 12,419 (70.3%) and the fully-vaccinated population to 9,955 (56.3%).
· There were 8 newly reported cases of COVID-19 in the city as the 7-day rolling average of new cases continued to decline, and one newly reported death due to COVID-19 in the 20912 zip code. This brings the total deaths due to COVID in the zip code to 39 since the start of the pandemic.
· Most residents have received the Pfizer vaccine (7,993), followed by Moderna (3,778) and Johnson & Johnson (648).
Most County restrictions, including mask wearing in a wide range of settings have been lifted. For full details consult the County website: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/reopening/. I anticipate Takoma Park will in the near future be announcing details on its plans for re-opening City facilities and programs.
All State residents age 12 and up can now be vaccinated. You can register for appointments at the State Vaccine Website. It includes information on pharmacies and other locations giving vaccinations without appointments. You can also try the Montgomery County webpage or call their number: 240-777-2982). In addition, there’s free COVID testing Saturdays in Takoma Park at the New Hampshire Avenue Recreation Center from 10:00 AM -- 5:00 PM. For other testing options, please see the Montgomery County Testing Sites.
CITY MANAGER SELECTION. I’m pleased the Council has selected a new City Manager: Mr. Jamal Fox, who has been serving in a similar capacity in Camas, Washington. He’ll begin his employment with the City in August, and I look forward to working with him, and to residents having the opportunity to meet and collaborate with him. Here’s a statement from the City on his appointment: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/mayor-and-city-council-designate-jamal-t-fox-as-takoma-parks-next-city-manager/, and here’s Mr. Fox’s own message to the community: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/message-from-jamal-t-fox-to-the-takoma-park-community/
ANNNOUNCEMENTS
New State Housing Grant Funds: We learned last week that the Governor’s office has made several important grants aimed at promoting revitalization and creating more housing opportunities in Takoma Park. Two grants went directly to the City: $500,000 to help create a mixed use commercial/housing project on New Hampshire Avenue, and $500,000 for affordable housing more generally. You can see details here: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/city-of-takoma-park-receives-significant-grant-funds/. The list of grants also includes $400,000 to Montgomery Housing Partnership for renovation of Hillwood Manor Apartments, and $100,000 to Habitat for Humanity to help defray the costs of the affordable housing project on Garland Avenue, on which the City is a partner. You can see all the awardees under the State grant program here: https://news.maryland.gov/dhcd/2021/05/25/governor-hogan-announces-nearly-17-million-in-neighborhood-revitalization-awards/
Recent Takoma Junction Correspondence: You can read the recent correspondence between the State Highway Administration and NDC -- primarily concerning the lay-by proposal -- through the following link, by scrolling down on the right side of the webpage: https://takomaparkmd.gov/initiatives/takoma-junction-redevelopment/takoma-junction-documents-faqs/. The information in the correspondence will be an important part of our decision-making process on how to proceed with the Junction project.
Hazardous Waste Drop-Off -- Saturday, June 5: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/household-hazardous-waste-drop-off-day-june-5-2021/. Drop-off will be open from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM at the Public Works Department on Oswego Avenue. Click on the above link for details including what kinds of waste can be accepted.
ARTery Outdoor Fair -- Saturday, June 5, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, at the Community Center. The event will feature 20 artists selling a wide range of fine art and crafts. There will also be prizes and live music.
KEY UPDATES FROM MAY 19 MEETING (the Council didn’t meet on May 26)
Fiscal Year 2022 Budget, Property Tax Rate and Stormwater Fee. We gave final approval in the May 19 Council meeting to the property tax, City budget, and stormwater management budget. I voted yes on all three. The property tax will remain the same for the third straight year, and the budget includes increased investments in such areas as stormwater impacts on private property, climate change, racial equity, community engagement, police reform, tree planting, and remote library technology. I conditioned my support for the new stormwater fee (under which many residents will pay higher fees, based on calculations of the impervious surface on their property) on the City beginning to make progress to address stormwater issues on private property. With the inclusion of funds for this purpose in the budget, I did end up voting for the new fee structure. See my comments on the budget from my May 12 blog for more details on all of these topics: http://www.councilmemberkovar.com/blog/2021/5/10/may-12-2021-city-council-agenda.
Urban Forest Manager Plans: We received a detailed presentation from our (relatively) new Urban Forest Manager, Marty Frye: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/Documents/Update-from-the-Urban-Forest-Manager.pdf. The presentation was focused on his plans for implementing the resolution on urban forest policies and tree canopy goals, which the Council approved last year in tandem with our re-write of the tree ordinance: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/resolutions/2020/resolution-2020-15.pdf. The resolution was focused on moving away from managing the City’s forest in effect by means of the tree removal permitting process, and instead establishing principles and goals for long-term forest management. Among the key components of the resolution were equity in tree planting, and emphases on native trees and biodiversity. I viewed Mr. Frye’s presentation as an important initial step to move us forward on these and other aspects of the resolution. I look forward to coordinating with him as implementation work continues. For those who may want more information, you can see video of his presentation and the Council discussion through the following link, starting at the 126:40 time stamp: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/meetings-and-documents/city-council-video/.
VOTING SESSION
Police Field Radios Purchase: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20210602-2.pdf. I’ll be voting in favor of this purchase.
WORK SESSION
Reauthorization of Takoma/Langley Crossroads Development Authority. Background information on this agenda item was not available as of blog-post time.
Extension of Contract for Auditing Services: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20210602-4.pdf. We’re near the end of our 5-year auditing contract with the CohnReznick accounting firm. Because of the complications involved in working on financial matters during the pandemic and the imminent switchover to a new City Manager, staff is recommending extending the contract for two years, after which we would issue a Request for Proposals for a new 5-year contract.
Resumptions of Quasi-Judicial Proceedings: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20210602-5.pdf. The proceedings of our quasi-judicial commissions and boards were suspended in the pandemic and then resumed using remote technology. We’ll be discussing a full resumption of in-person proceedings, with an understanding that there will still likely be value in utilizing remote technology to enable more flexibility in people’s ability to participate in the proceedings.
Rescission of City Manager’s Emergency Authority: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20210602-6.pdf. Early last year the Council granted emergency authority to the City Manager to take actions — without getting Council approval — in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as long as they fall within her authority as current defined in the City Charter. The concern at the time this ordinance was adopted was that it might not be possible for the Council to have regular meetings or otherwise exercise normal oversight of staff actions. As things developed, it became clear that the Council — often through the use of remote technology — was able to continue performing its core responsibilities appropriately. In addition, the emergency authority was used less frequently (it’s only been used once in the last 12 months, in October of last year). For these reasons, and given the lifting of most State and County COVID-related restrictions, rescinding the emergency authority grant is appropriate.
As always, please be in touch with 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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