Dear Neighbors:
Here’s a link to the February 23, 2022 City Council meeting agenda: https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-meeting-agenda-wednesday-february-23-2022/. This week the key agenda items are a first reading vote on the ARPA spending plan (the final vote will be next week), and the last work session on the City’s redistricting plan (votes are scheduled for the March 2 and 9 Council meetings). In the work session we’ll also discuss implementation of the recommendations of the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force. In addition, there will be a public hearing on traffic calming requests for Glenside Drive, Prince George’s Avenue, and Fourth Avenue. These traffic calming requests will be discussed in the work session, too. There will also be a Mayoral proclamation on National Invasive Species Awareness Week. For details on the agenda items see below.
To speak in the Public Hearing or in the Public Comment period sign up by 5:00 PM on the day of the meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hCXIZiBURLar0Lu8dt5QUQ. 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.
Traffic Calming Public Hearing: http://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220223-1-3.pdf
National Invasive Species Awareness Week Proclamation: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/mayoral-proclamations/2022/pr20220223_National-Invasive-Species-Week.pdf
COVID UPDATE
Dashboard: https://takomapark.shinyapps.io/covid_dashboard/. The number of cases in the 20912 zip code continues to decline. I anticipate we’ll have updated Census Tract data -- a better measure of City COVID cases and vaccination rates -- later this month.
Vaccine Clinic Today: There will be a vaccine clinic at Piney Branch Elementary School today (Tuesday, February 22) from 4: 30 - 7:00 PM.
Mask and Testing Kit Distribution: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/covid-19-rapid-test-kits-and-kn95-masks-available-now/. The Library is distributing N95 masks and COVID rapid testing kits daily, during all open hours. Since February 2, the Library and its partners have distributed approximately 2500 masks and 1100 test kits.
Mask Mandate Continues in City Buildings: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/mask-mandate-continues-in-city-buildings-and-facilities-until-further-notice/. Although the County government is lifting its mask mandate, for now the requirement remains in place for City buildings and facilities.
Free COVID Testing at the Rec Center on New Hampshire Avenue on Wednesdays: This program, which began in February, will continue through March. Testing is available every Wednesday from 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM. No appointments are needed.
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/; for information on vaccines for those who are 12 years of age 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. The City is also 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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Peter’s Virtual Office Hours: Thursday, February 24, 9:00 - 11:00 AM. Any topics welcome. No appointments necessary. Zoom link to participate: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88261227668?pwd=Z2lCZnkxVFJ5bjJyRUE0ZWZOcFVFUT09
Dance Exchange Programs in March: Dance Exchange (located at 7117 Maple Ave) has announced that its in-person programming for youth and families is returning in March. Youth ages 8 - 12 are invited to join Youth Exchange on Wednesdays from 4:20 - 5:20 PM (starting March 16; registration required). People of all ages are invited to participate in Takoma Park MOVES on Saturdays from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (starts March 26; drop-ins welcome). Learn more at danceexchange.org or email Dance Exchange Resident Artist Corina Iona Dalzell (corinad@danceexchange.org) for information.
Folk Festival Volunteers: https://www.tpff.org/. The organizers of this year’s festival (which will take place in September) are seeking volunteers to help plan various aspects of the event.
Youth Council Winter Clothing Drive: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/takoma-park-youth-council-winter-clothes-drive/. In partnership with Adventist Community Services, the City’s Youth Council is sponsoring a Winter Clothing Drive. Donations can be dropped off at the Rec Center, Police Department, or Community Center lobbies through March 6.
Free Tax Preparation Assistance: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/rsvp-aarp-free-tax-aide-program/. In partnership with AmeriCorps Seniors and AARP, the County is offering free tax preparation help for low and moderate income residents.
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 are hosting a panel discussion and Q & A on invasive plant species from 12:00 - 1:30 PM. Speakers will provide an overview on invasive plant species, including how to identify and remove them.
Applications for Community Quality of Life Grants, March 16 Deadline: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/city-of-takoma-park-community-quality-of-life-grant-program-now-accepting-applications/. These grants -- up to $10,000 -- are for projects providing access to arts and sciences. The City encourages applications for programs that promote workforce development and entrepreneurial skills for low and moderate income residents.
VOTING SESSION
ARPA Spending Plan: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220223-2.pdf. In last week’s Council meeting, we had an extensive discussion on ARPA, and made some tentative decisions on funding, although the dollars for certain programs aren’t yet finalized. In this week’s meeting we’ll be amending and voting on the draft resolution to implement the ARPA spending plan, with the final vote next week. The updated draft resolution will be posted on the City website today.
Scroll down to “ARPA Spending Plan” to see my statement from last week’s blog: http://www.councilmemberkovar.com/blog/2022/2/14/february-16-2022-city-council-meeting-agenda-amp-more. Regarding the key points in that statement, the results were mixed in terms of Council action last week. I’m pleased that a majority of my colleagues agreed with the idea of restoring to $3 million the funding for the social services partnership program (which would include direct payments to low-income residents, a grant program, and a navigator program to help connect residents to relevant government services). However, there wasn’t support for restoring the funds for multi-family building rehabilitation and energy efficiency grants to their earlier higher levels. Similarly, my proposal to eliminate funding for the Community Center Atrium project did not have sufficient Council backing. For the moment we’re keeping a hold on the monies for the Library project, pending receiving further updates and cost estimates from staff. You can see video of last week’s Council ARPA discussion starting at 2:18:45 via this link: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/meetings-and-documents/city-council-video/
In this week’s meeting, among the changes I’m pursuing are designating a majority of the social service partnership funds for direct payments to low-income residents, and pushing for language that prioritizes rapid action on developing the direct payment program. In addition, I’ll be proposing a sunset on funding for the Business Incubator program if the City isn’t able to identify appropriate partners for the project in a reasonable amount of time. I also agree with my colleague Councilmember Dyballa and others that the Council should review implementation of the ARPA plan on a quarterly basis rather than annually as in the initial draft resolution. We’ll also need more specific language on timing for deciding about the Library, and we’ll be looking at how closely the new mental health counselors program should be connected to the Police Department. I look forward to working on these and other clarifications in this week’s meeting.
WORK SESSION
Traffic Calming: http://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220223-1-3.pdf
Redistricting: Updated agenda material wasn’t available at blog-post time. To see my comments on redistricting from last week’s blog along with the map options, scroll down to “Redistricting Public Hearing” in this link: http://www.councilmemberkovar.com/blog/2022/2/14/february-16-2022-city-council-meeting-agenda-amp-more. Last week we had two maps under consideration, both of which call for the same boundary changes for Ward 1. As I explained in last week’s blog, I prefer option Y over option Z. In our work session discussion last week, it appeared a majority of the Council also prefers option Y, so I think it’s likely we’ll settle on a final map closer to Y. However, there were two points that came up in last week’s discussion, which weren’t fully resolved at that point. So this week we’ll have what I anticipate will be one last redistricting work session, with the votes as I mentioned above scheduled for March 2 and 9.
One of the unresolved issues relates to whether Sherman Avenue should be divided between Wards 1 and 4. Several residents of Sherman requested that homes on both sides of the street be kept together in Ward 4. If the entire Census block containing Sherman were to be moved to Ward 4, that could throw off the numbers and potentially make the spread between the highest and lowest population Wards more than 10 percent. On the other hand, if the Census Block is broken up so that only the Sherman residences are moved to Ward 4 -- combined with a similar move in the opposite direction for a small number of homes on Grant Avenue -- that would keep the overall Ward populations reasonably well aligned and place Sherman and Grant each entirely in single Wards, 4 and 1 respectively. I support these two moves, and the Council seemed supportive of both. I expect them to be included in the final map.
The other outstanding question is how many students to count as residing on the campus of Washington Adventist University. The normal Census policy is to count on-campus students as residents at their college rather than at their family homes. In this case, however, because of COVID, no students were in residence at the time of the Census. Going forward, students will be back on campus, and I think they should be counted in determining the Ward 5 population. So we’ll be getting more information about what specific number to assign for the WAU students, and I expect that figure to also be incorporated into the final redistricting plan.
Reimagining Public Safety: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220223-5.pdf
The Reimagining Public Safety Task Force submitted its report and recommendations in July, and City staff in turn provided their views in November. Now a Council working group consisting of Mayor Stewart and Councilmembers Searcy and Seamens will make a presentation on the status of the recommendations and their suggestions for next steps.
As always, let me know if you have questions or comments about anything 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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