Dear Neighbors:
Here’s the link for the February 2, 2022 City Council meeting agenda: https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-meeting-agenda-wednesday-february-2-2022/. There’s one vote this week, on the budget amendment we discussed in last week’s meeting. In our work session we have two important topics: the City’s ARPA plan (we’ll be making preliminary decisions on spending options, with formal votes in our February 9 and 16 meetings), and redistricting (votes on a final updated City Ward map are also planned for later this month). See below for details on the agenda items.
Sign up for public comments by 5:00 PM on Wednesday: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dDybRhDtQJGSQVdDqYR0Zg. 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.
COVID UPDATE
• Per City staff, we still have not received updated City-level data from the County, and the County does not know when we will receive updated data. Because of this, we have created a temporary replacement dashboard pulling State data at the 20912 zip code level: https://takomapark.shinyapps.io/covid_dashboard/. This dashboard pulls directly from the State website, so it will remain updated as new data is posted. We will return to the previous dashboard when we begin receiving new data from the County.
• Residents are advised that they can order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests kits from the US postal service at this link: https://special.usps.com/testkits. In the month of February, the City will provide free walk-in COVID-19 PCR tests at the Takoma Park Recreation Center on New Hampshire Avenue on Wednesdays from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/onsite-covid-19-testing-every-wednesday-in-february.
• The at-least first dose vaccination rate in the 20912 zip code increased to 75.7% from 75% and the fully-vaccinated rate increased from 65.4% to 65.7%.
• In encouraging news, from the previous Friday to this past Thursday, there were 64 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the 20912 zip-code, a 67.7% decrease from the previous week's total of 198 cases and an 83% decline from the week before that of 385 cases. Cases are also down 80% in Montgomery County over the preceding 14 days; hospitalizations are up 2% in the County, and test-positivity rates are at 22%. In nearby DC, cases are down 77% in the same time frame, and in Maryland down 70%.
• There were no new deaths due to COVID-19 in the 20912 zip code since last week.
Other Important COVID resources: Vaccines for children ages 5 - 11: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/covid-19-vaccines-are-now-available-for-children-aged-5-11/; vaccines for those who are 12 and older: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine/ or State Vaccine Website; Testing: Montgomery County Testing Sites; Food aid: Submit an online request for help with food resources or call 240-777-0311. Also, the City is partnering with the Salvation Army to help residents with water, gas and electric bills. Send an email to: housing @takomaparkmd.gov or call 301-891-7119.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Peter’s Virtual Office Hours, Wednesday, February 2, Noon - 2:00 PM: With the continued concerns about COVID as well as the colder weather, the option of in-person office hours seems ill-advised, so I thought it would be worth trying virtual office hours. If residents would like to “stop by” within the two hour block on Wednesday, I’ll be able to talk with people one on one sequentially. We’ll see how it goes. Here’s the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81048985138?pwd=ajVhd1d5dXFBeElHZXduSUgxUnRydz09
Virtual Community Meeting on Planned Re-development at 6800 Laurel Street, NW, February 3, 7:00 - 8:30 PM: This site (the former Strayer University and EF Language School location) is in Washington, DC. But one end of the property is literally right across Eastern Avenue from the Adventist Church in Old Town (or catty-cornered from Pizza Movers). Geoff Bromaghin, the ANC Commissioner who represents that part of Washington, is holding the meeting, at which representatives of Douglas Development will present their design ideas and answer questions. Use these log-in credentials to participate: https://dcnet.webex.com/dcnet/j.php?MTID=m812aa4bdb344e24524c0d366d4edf8c4
Montgomery College Leggett Math-Science Building Construction Update, February 8: https://mcblogs.montgomerycollege.edu/tpss-math-science-building/virtual-project-update-forum-february-8-2022/. This project update forum begins at 6:00 PM. Representatives of the College and construction team will share information on the status of construction and an overview of upcoming work, and be available to answer questions. RSVP to join in the Zoom meeting.
Youth Council Winter Clothing Drive: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/takoma-park-youth-council-winter-clothes-drive/. In partnership with Adventist Community Services, the Youth Council is sponsoring a Winter Clothing Drive. Donations of coats, gloves, hats, sweaters and other winter clothes can be dropped off at the Rec Center, Police Department, or Community Center lobbies through March 6.
Let’s Play America’s Mid-Winter Play Day, Sunday, February 13: https://www.letsplayamerica.org/upcomingevents. This fun annual event for the whole family will take place from 1:00 - 4:00 PM at the Community Center.
Free Tax Preparation Assistance Starting February 16: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/rsvp-aarp-free-tax-aide-program/. In partnership with AmeriCorps Seniors and AARP, Montgomery County is offering free tax preparation assistance for low and moderate income residents. Appointment scheduling starts on February 7.
Spring Plant-A-Tree Orders Accepted Through February 21: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/public-works/tree-care-and-resources/. The City offers discounted tree plantings for private property for the spring and fall planting seasons. This program is focused on native shade trees.
Invasive Species Forum, March 1: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/252041842937. To coincide with National Invasive Species Awareness Week, Climate Action Coffee and the City of Takoma Park are hosting a lunch time panel discussion and Q & A on invasive plant species from 12:00 - 1:30 PM. Featured speakers will provide an overview of invasive plant species in our region, why we should care about them, how to identify them, and what you can do to remove them. Updates on what Maryland is doing at the legislative level to curb the spread of invasive plants will be followed by a Q & A session.
Information on Property Tax Assessments: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/new-2022-assessed-real-property-values-are-here. This statement on the City website includes access to details on how to appeal your assessment, as well as links to interactive maps showing property values in the City and how they have changed since the last assessment three years ago.
VOTING SESSION
Budget Amendment: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220128-1.pdf. The Council periodically votes on adjustments to the City budget to reflect changes which occur within a fiscal year due to expenditure slow-downs caused by staff shortages, delays in project implementation, unanticipated cost increases, etc. In this case, the amendment consists of a series of increases and decreases with a net impact of an additional $114,000 in expenditures. I plan to vote in favor of the amendment. This is a First Reading vote; the final vote will be at next week’s Council meeting.
WORK SESSION
ARPA Spending Plan: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220128-2.pdf. This week’s discussion on the City’s ARPA spending plan will be a very important one. We’ll be going through the individual proposals in the staff report, plus ideas City Council members have suggested, in order to make some initial decisions on which projects to move forward on and how much in funding to devote to them. We will then formally vote on the plan in our next two Council meetings on February 9 and 16.
As I’ve pointed out, I’d like us to focus at first primarily on expenditures aimed at providing urgent or more immediate assistance to those who have been most negatively affected financially or in other ways by COVID, or who are most at risk. So I’m hopeful that this week we’ll draw a distinction between projects which can be implemented relatively fast, and those for which we still require more information. With that second group -- assuming there’s Council support -- we could keep them on the list of potential ARPA projects, but with the understanding that further information is needed before a final decision is made. In addition, some proposals, even meritorious ones, may be put aside with the idea that separate sources of funding could be sought for them.
Beyond the idea of prioritizing ARPA projects into those which are ready to move forward and those for which we need more information, I summarized in last week’s blog my thinking on some of the key proposals. Specifically, I recommended that we: clarify that local NGOs can apply for funds through the community partnership program; increase the funding for small business grants; hold off on the Maple Avenue Complete Street project until we decide on, and set time tables for, the Library renovation and the Community Center Atrium project; require landlords to maintain rent affordability as a condition of receiving funds for building repairs or energy efficiency upgrades; include additional funds to address food insecurity; explore providing direct financial assistance to lower income residents; and allocate funds for stormwater infrastructure work. To that list I would add I’d like to see more cost details on the Library renovation from our construction management firm before we make a final decision. I appreciate all the comments I’ve received from residents on these and other matters, and -- especially if you haven’t yet been in touch -- please let me know about your ARPA funding priorities.
Redistricting: The Council is expected to vote on a final revised Ward map in late February. At present we have on the table for Council consideration three maps developed by our outside consultant, though it’s unlikely any of those precise maps will end up as our final redistricting plan. I anticipate the Council will make changes, taking into account the comments and recommendations we’ve received from residents. There are multiple links to review for this discussion, all of which are accessible through the main agenda link at the start of this blog.
As I’ve noted, because the draft maps are drawn based on Census Blocks -- which helps ensure we have accurate population and demographic information for Wards -- in some cases that means neighborhoods or streets which are currently in the same Ward could end up being divided between two Wards. I’m hopeful that, in at least a few cases, the Council will agree to make exceptions to the Census Block principle in order to keep neighborhoods together. One such case I’m working to address is to keep Darwin Avenue and 8 homes on the north side of Grant Avenue in Ward 1 rather than shifting them to Ward 4, which would happen if we went with Census Blocks. The affected homes (19 in all) would be physically divided from Ward 4’s residential sections by the parks and schools in the area. I think it makes sense to keep them with the rest of the Hodges Heights neighborhood in Ward 1, as called for in a petition from residents.
Other proposed changes to Ward 1 include shifting the businesses on the east side of Carroll Avenue (Republic, Ace Hardware, etc.) plus those on Laurel Avenue into Ward 3; moving Victory Tower and the adjacent apartment building plus the homes along Carroll between Columbia Avenue and the Fire Station into Ward 3; and adding several blocks near Takoma Junction including the commercial strip across from the Co-op into Ward 1. I’d prefer to keep Ward 1’s borders close to what they currently are, and I’m continuing to explore options for doing so. But there’s no doubt there will be changes to Ward 1’s boundaries, and I encourage residents to let me know your thoughts on re-mapping options. Note that the scenario remodeling tool enables you to come up with your own maps complete with updated demographic data.
Please feel free to contact me with questions or comments about any of the topics in this blog.
Peter Kovar, Takoma Park City Council. Ward One
240-319-6281; www.councilmemberkovar.com
(He, Him, His)
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