Dear Neighbors:
The City Council resumes meeting this Wednesday, September 8. While there had been some hope we could to return to in-person meetings, given the current state of the pandemic, we’ll continue to meet remotely for now. This week’s meeting includes Council discussions on the proposed purchase of an EV Street Sweeper; proposed City code changes relating to Council-appointed committees; a task force on sustainable investment; and an update on American Rescue Plan Act funds. The meeting will also include the introduction of the new Youth Council appointees, and three proclamations: on National Preparedness Month; Doris Rodgers Day; and Car Free Day. For more information on the various agenda items see below.
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. Register by 5:00 PM on the day of the meeting to speak during the public comment period: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Q9Z2xjHoQEW0oag3M7Jfqg
National Preparedness Month Proclamation: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/mayoral-proclamations/2021/pr20210908_Preparedness-Proclamation-2021.pdf
Doris Rodgers Day Proclamation: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/mayoral-proclamations/2021/pr20210908_proclamation-Doris-Rodgers.pdf
Car Free Day Proclamation: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/mayoral-proclamations/2021/pr20210908_Car-Free-Proclamation-Sept22.pdf
COVID UPDATE
The Takoma Park COVID-19 Data Dashboard has been updated with data through September 3, 2021. According to the dashboard’s data, there were 29 confirmed new cases in the City in the week prior to September 3, compared with 23 in the previous week. The number of confirmed new cases in the City has regrettably been on an upward path the last two months.
You can use this site to make County vaccination appointments: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine/. You can also sign up for vaccinations through the State Vaccine Website. For testing see the Montgomery County Testing Sites. There is information on City resources along with COVID related assistance available from other levels of government and/or non-profit organizations here: https://takomaparkmd.gov/initiatives/project-directory/information-and-resources-covid-19/
TAKOMA JUNCTION UPDATE
As most residents are likely aware, in June the City Council unanimously approved a resolution recommending that the County Planning Board disapprove the Takoma Junction site plan: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/resolutions/2021/resolution-2021-19.pdf. The Planning Board will be considering that recommendation and the overall project at its September 15 meeting. Here’s a link to the agenda for that meeting, including information on how to watch it live: https://montgomeryplanningboard.org/agenda-item/september-15-2021/, plus detailed background on the Junction agenda item: https://montgomeryplanningboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Takoma-Junction-Regulatory-Plan-Extension-Request-No.-5-w-attachments.pdf.
The developer NDC has requested an extension of the date for the Board’s consideration of the project beyond the current September 16 deadline. So at their meeting on the 15th the Board will first consider that extension request. If it’s approved, there will be no further action on the project at that meeting. If the extension is turned down, then they will move right into consideration of the project. Planning Board staff have issued a detailed report which recommends the Board disapprove the extension and the site plan: https://montgomeryplanningboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Takoma-Junction-Staff-Report-MR-Preliminary-Plan-Site-Plan-FINAL.pdf. Because the City has recommended that the Planning Board disapprove the site plan, it would require a super-majority (4 or 5 votes, as opposed to simply 3) for the Board to go against the City’s recommendation and approve the plan.
ANNNOUNCEMENTS
City Recruitment Spotlight: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/city-career-recruitment-spotlight/. There are a number of openings on the City staff, with competitive wages and excellent benefits.
Council-Appointed Committees: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/the-city-council-is-accepting-applications-for-city-boards-and-committee-volunteers-through-september-30/. As part of the Council’s work to reform our committees, boards and commissions (see below), there is also active recruitment underway for new members of these bodies. It’s a great way to contribute to the community, meet fellow residents, and work on issues that interest you.
Folk Festival -- September 12: https://www.tpff.org/. This year’s festival will be live streamed on Sunday, September 12, from 4:00 - 9:00 PM. There will also be an outdoor craft show (rain or shine) featuring 23 artists, from Noon - 6:30 PM in the Community Center parking lot.
Play Day -- September 26: https://www.letsplayamerica.org/upcoming-events. This fall’s Play Day -- sponsored by Let’s Play American in coordination with the Recreation Department -- will take place on Sunday, September 26, from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM at Takoma Park Middle School. It will be a day of blended virtual and in-person community play. Anyone who would like to suggest ideas or to lead activities should send an email to info@letsplayamerica.org.
Street Festival -- October 3. 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. This year’s festival will feature booths on only one side of the street to help reduce crowding, and follow relevant COVID protocols for larger outdoor events.
COUNCIL WORK SESSION
EV Street Sweeper Purchase: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20210908-1.pdf. Given the high cost of going with an EV street sweeper, I look forward to getting more details during this work session on the environmental benefit of this purchase.
Code Amendments for Council-Appointed Committees: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20210908-2.pdf. As described in a number of previous blogs, the Council -- led by a three member working group consisting of Councilmembers Dyballa, Kostiuk and Searcy -- has been considering a series of changes to our overall policies on Council-appointed committees, as well as modifications to individual panels. As part of that work, we’ve tentatively agreed to standardize many of the committee procedures and to discontinue the Personnel Appeal Board, the Façade Advisory Board, and the Commemoration Commission. Most of the other bodies would likely be preserved, though some may have their structure or mission modified. In this week’s meeting we’ll be reviewing the very lengthy set of proposed changes to the City Code that would effectuate all of the proposed changes.
One major outstanding question is the status of the Nuclear Free Committee, which the Council has been considering phasing out. I’ve suggested the idea of a task force to explore how best to implement the committee’s recommendation that the City change its banking and investment practices to better comply with our policy against financial support of the nuclear weapons industry. So I’m glad we’ll be separately considering a proposal along those lines (see below). If we do decide to establish that task force, I’d still like to find a way to preserve the committee, perhaps in a modified form, and I’ll be working for that goal. I’d add that the proposal to also have the task force review and recommend updates to other aspects of the committee’s mission seems to me a reasonable approach to answering questions about the committee’s future role. Regardless of what we decide, we’ll have to carefully review the proposed code changes relating to the committee in any case.
Another aspect of the proposed code changes which I think bears a closer look relates to the work of the Façade Advisory Board. While I’m supportive of discontinuing the FAB -- given that the County Historic Preservation Commission largely covers the same responsibilities -- it’s not clear to me whether we should repeal all the code language relating to design standards and maintenance requirements. So that’s an area I’ll also look forward to exploring in this week’s meeting.
Sustainable Investment Task Force: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2021/council-20210908-3.pdf. In addition to the provisions discussed above relating to the work of the Nuclear Free Committee, the task force proposal would also include reviewing options for avoiding investments that support the fossil fuel industry. This concept is part of the City’s climate change framework, and I agree it makes sense to include it in the charge to the task force.
Update on American Rescue Plan Act Funding (agenda materials not currently available): The Council will continue discussing how to make use of the funds the City is receiving under ARPA, the massive Federal aid package primarily for COVID assistance and relief, along with some infrastructure improvements. We’ll be receiving approximately $17.4 million, of which we’ve already received the first tranche totaling over $8 million. Determining how best to use the funds will be an important set of discussions this fall, especially given the unfortunate persistence of the pandemic.
While I’m pleased the Council raised the initial amount of ARPA funds for eviction prevention and assistance from the initial staff recommendation of $150,000 to $250,000, and also approved new funding of $250,000 for food and nutrition assistance, those figures represent only a down payment from my perspective. The food and nutrition funding will be released in the form of grants to area non-profits, and the grant availability is expected to be formally announced this month. I’ll be pushing for us to get the funds out to the community as soon as possible.
More broadly, while it’s important to have in place appropriate administrative systems to manage ARPA monies (and we’ve allocated some funding for new staff to assist in that work), I think it’s vital to ensure we don’t establish cumbersome procedures that may unduly delay delivering financial help to those in the City facing more immediate challenges because of the pandemic. We don’t have to decide this fall how every single ARPA dollar will be spent, but I don’t want us to heavily stockpile large amounts of funding for potential future use either.
So, as with the food and nutrition funding, I’ll be urging that we keep a focus on getting other categories of COVID-related ARPA financial assistance out the door quickly. I’d add that, to the extent possible, we should pursue that goal in close coordination with the County -- which has also received substantial funding under ARPA -- to help ensure we cover the widest possible range of those who are in need.
Sign up for Local Alerts: You can sign up to receive the Takoma Insider (which includes bi-weekly updates on what’s happening in City departments), as well as updates and alerts from the Police Department, the Office of Sustainability, Takoma Park Arts and more: https://takomaparkmd.gov/sign-up/. You can also register with WSSC to be notified when they are planning local water/sewer work near your home: https://member.everbridge.net/1332612387831877/login.
Please 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)
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