Dear Neighbors:
Here’s the link to the agenda for the June 23 City Council meeting: https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-meeting-agenda-wednesday-june-23-2021/. The key vote is on the resolution recommending that the Montgomery County Planning Board disapprove the Takoma Junction Development site plan. We will also be voting on the employment agreement for our new City Manager, Jamal Fox; a resolution designating Deputy City Manager Jessica Clarke as our “Resident Agent” with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation; and an extension of the term of the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force.
You can sign up to make a public comment until 5:00 PM on the day of the meeting: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__er2HAAiSGCTVngpao5vUg. Options for viewing the meeting: 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.
COVID UPDATE
The Takoma Park COVID-19 Data Dashboard has been updated with data through June 17, 2021. Key data points noted by City staff:
· For the second consecutive week, there was just one new case of COVID-19 reported in Takoma Park. The city's total remains 1,726 cases because a previously reported case was removed in data cleaning.
· There were 126 new first-dose vaccines administered to Takoma Park residents in the last week and 230 new residents became fully vaccinated, bringing the city's fully vaccinated population to 11,622 (65.8%) and the at-least partially vaccinated population to 13,488 (76.3%). The slowing pace of vaccinations should be expected to some extent; as more people become vaccinated, the number of residents eligible and as yet unvaccinated (people 12 years and older) shrinks.
· There were no new deaths reported in the 20912 zip code due to COVID-19 in the last week, leaving the zip code's total at 39 since the start of the pandemic.
If you missed it, here’s an update on the City’s re-opening schedule: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/takoma-park-reopening-schedule/. You can visit this site: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine/ to register for County vaccines. In addition, you can also register for vaccinations at the State Vaccine Website, which also includes information on pharmacies and other locations giving vaccinations without appointments. For testing options, please see the Montgomery County Testing Sites.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Public Space Tree Removal and Pruning. Marty Frye, Takoma Park’s Urban Forest Manager, has notified us of some upcoming tree removals and prunings in public areas of the City in the coming weeks. There are 5 in Ward One: the removal of street trees in front of 7114 Willow Avenue and near 11 Valley View Avenue by the Austin Place sign; and pruning of two trees near 7808 Takoma Avenue and one by 302 Grant Avenue.
Pollinator Forum. https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUode6vqz8vHddZhaEHArNe-3ritJ-qqruk. June 22, 7:00 - 8:30 PM. Climate Action Coffee and the City of Takoma Park are hosting a Q & A with outside experts on the importance and use of native plants and pollinators. You can learn about native plants, how they interact with pollinators, why both are vital to a sustainable and affordable food supply and critical to maintaining specific bird and insect species, how they help protect local waterways from the impacts of climate change, and how you can create pollinator-friendly habitat on your property. Organizers recommend viewing this video of entomologist Dr. Doug Tallamy before participating in the forum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BETK1RCOj0Y
Summer Mercado. June 26, Noon - 5:00 PM, Anne Street between University Boulevard and Hammond Street: http://takomalangley.org/summermercado/. This festival will highlight the Crossroads international community, with world cuisine, craft vendors, and live music.
Parking Permit Renewals. Unless you have a two-year permit, your permit is probably going to expire at the end of this month. For information on how to renew: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/police/permit-area-parking/
Independence Day Celebration. This year, because of the pandemic, Takoma Park won’t have many of the traditional July 4 celebrations. Instead there will be a Fourth of July Parade of Houses. In place of the traditional parade, the Takoma Park Independence Day Committee asks people to decorate their homes and businesses to show their Takoma Park Independence Day spirit. Any home or business can be a parade “float.” Participants might include music, like a porch concert, or include games, or anything else they can think of to engage and delight their neighbors.
Homes or businesses that register for the Parade of Houses at www.takomapark4th.org will be shown on a map on the website. Registration lets participants describe their entry, including times of any interactive events. Locations outside Takoma Park can register to be on the map, but only entries located within City boundaries are eligible for prizes. Prizes will be awarded for:
· Most Creative
· Most Engaging
· Most Patriotic
· Best Capturing the Spirit of Takoma Park
· Best Overall
· Best Decorated Business
· Best Decorated Street
Registration closes July 1. Have your decorations up by that date so people can visit over the Independence Day Weekend. Then check the map and spend the weekend viewing entries all over town. Visit www.takomapark4th.com to learn about Independence Day activities and how to participate.
Takoma Park Youth Council Applications. Applications for the 2021 - 2022 school year are open. Apply at http://bit.ly/youth-council-app by July 11. The Youth Council meets every two weeks to discuss issues pertaining to City youth and to plan events giving youth opportunities to engage with their community. Open to City residents who are rising 7th - 12th graders.
Takoma Park Street Festival. The 40th Annual Takoma Park Street Festival will return this year, live and in-person, on Sunday, October 3rd from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, rain or shine. Once again, City streets will be filled with artisans, community groups, green companies, food vendors and live music. Apply now here. Details including booth space fees, past participants, and vendor guidelines can be found on the festival website.
City Manager’s Report. You can see the City Manager’s official comments from the June 16 Council meeting here: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-manager/city-manager-comments/2021/cm-comments-20210616.pdf
VOTING SESSION
City Manager Employment Agreement: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20210623-1.pdf. As announced previously, the City Council has selected Jamal Fox to be the next Takoma Park City Manager. The current City Manager, Suzanne Ludlow, will be retiring at the end of June, and Mr. Fox’s formal tenure in the position will commence in early August. During the interim, Deputy City Manager Jessica Clarke will serve as acting City Manager. I’ll be voting in favor of the employment agreement.
Designation of Resident Agent: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20210623-2.pdf. Under State of Maryland requirements, every municipality must certify a staff member as the Resident Agent for matters relating to the Department of Assessment and Taxation. Ms. Ludlow has been serving in that capacity, and with her departure we will be designating Ms. Clarke as the agent. I’ll be voting yes.
Resolution Extending Reimagining Public Safety Task Force: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20210623-3.pdf. The Task Force had been charged with providing its recommendations to the Council by June 4, and was set to dissolve as a formal entity by June 30. However, the Council can extend its term. The Task Force has been diligently working, but does require additional time to formulate its recommendations. Accordingly, this resolution will extend the term of the Task Force and its members to October 15. I’ll be voting for it.
Takoma Junction Resolution: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20210623-4.pdf. In last week’s Council meeting -- after hearing from a number of residents in the public comment period and receiving a presentation from NDC representatives on the most current site plan -- Councilmembers debated whether to recommend to the County Planning Board approval of the site plan, approval with conditions, or disapproval.
After a question and answer period with NDC and after hearing comments from City staff, Councilmembers discussed options for the resolution. That discussion showed there was unanimous support on the Council for a resolution calling for disapproval of the site plan. That’s the resolution option we’ll be considering this week. I support the resolution, and I’ll be voting for its adoption.
A primary reason for the Council’s position, which is cited in the resolution, is the continued lack of approval by the State Highway Administration of the lay-by design for deliveries. SHA has on several occasions in recent weeks indicated in correspondence with the City and NDC that it is unable to approve the lay-by, a position that applies to both the longer and shorter lay-by concepts. Based on these SHA statements, the City Manager stated that she was not able to recommend approval of the site plan. I agree that in the absence of State Highway approval, the plan should not go forward
However, that’s not the only reason for disapproval. Lack of appropriate public space is also mentioned in the resolution as a basis for disapproval. Many residents will recall I voted against the site plan several years ago in part because of what I considered to be an inadequate amount of public space. It’s not just about the specifics of the square footage, but also the quality of the space. So with the current site plan -- even though depending on how one calculates the square footage the overall public area may be larger than before -- the way it’s configured isn’t sufficient as I see it. So that’s a second reason I favor disapproval.
The resolution also cites concerns about the proposed building’s rear façade, the lack of adequate public parking for area businesses, and the level of stormwater treatment. I agree these factors are also valid reasons for not approving the site plan. To see video of my comments specifically on public space and parking during last week’s City Council discussion, go to the 3:54:12 mark of this link: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/meetings-and-documents/city-council-video/.
I look forward to the Council voting on the resolution this week, after which we can begin to determine the next steps concerning Takoma Junction.
As always please be in touch with questions or comments about any of the matters 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.