Dear Neighbors:
It’s my hope that, despite the many challenges posed by COVID, residents were able to enjoy some positive time with family and friends during the holiday season. With the City Council set to start meeting again next week, I’m sending out this message outlining our work plans for the coming weeks.
The Council will have its first meeting of 2022 on Wednesday, January 12, and there are also public meetings on Ward redistricting proposals scheduled for Monday and Tuesday of next week. I’ll be circulating more details about these and other upcoming events, including how to participate in them, via separate emails and/or as part of my regular weekly blog. For now, I thought it would be helpful to flag some of the issues we’ll be focusing on in January and February, along with the anticipated schedule (specific dates for consideration of the agenda items are subject to change). Among the key topics we’ll be addressing are ARPA funding allocations, Redistricting, City Council rules of procedure, City employees’ compensation, Reimagining Public Safety, and the Takoma Junction development. In future messages I’ll be providing background information along with my thoughts on these and other issues which may be added to the agenda.
Monday, January 10: Redistricting Community Listening Session -- 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Tuesday, January 11: Redistricting Community Listening Session -- 6:30 - 7:30 PM
Wednesday, January 12: Council Meeting -- Agenda includes presentation of the City Manager’s recommended ARPA spending allocations; a vote to formalize the City employee compensation actions agreed to last month; and discussion of City Council rules of procedure
Thursday, January 13: Closed City Council meeting to receive legal advice on the Takoma Junction development -- 6:00 PM
Tuesday, January 18: Community Meeting on proposed ARPA spending allocations -- 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Wednesday, January 19: Council Meeting -- Agenda includes discussion of proposed ARPA spending allocations; presentation of draft Redistricting maps; and vote on Council rules of procedure
Wednesday, January 26: Council Meeting -- Agenda includes Public Hearing and discussion on proposed ARPA spending allocations; and presentation and discussion on Reimaging Public Safety proposals
Wednesday, February 2: Council Meeting -- Agenda includes initial vote on ARPA spending allocations; and possible discussion on Redistricting
Wednesday, February 9: Council Meeting -- Agenda includes final vote on ARPA spending allocations; and Public Hearing on Redistricting plan
February 16 and 23: Council Meetings -- Initial and final votes on Redistricting plan
I’ll be scheduling a Ward One meeting on Redistricting later this month, and I may host a meeting on ARPA funding as well, depending on how that issue moves forward. In the meantime, let me know if you have questions or comments about either of those topics, or any others for that matter. I hope to see many of you in person -- weather and COVID permitting -- in the near future.
Peter Kovar, Takoma Park City Council, Ward One
240-319-6281; www.councilmemberkovar.com
(He, Him, His)
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