Dear Neighbors:
Here’s a link to the March 9, 2022 City Council meeting agenda: https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-meeting-agenda-wednesday-march-9-2022/. The meeting will start at 6:30 PM with a presentation from Montgomery County planning staff on the Minor Master Plan for the Washington Adventist Hospital site. Then in the regular meeting the Council will vote on the Ward redistricting plan; three traffic calming measures; and purchase of Police mobile data terminals.
The Work Session covers three topics: the Police Department’s annual report; review by the Police Chief’s Advisory Board of the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force report; and appointments to the Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs. In addition, there will be a proclamation recognizing the City’s two years of working to address COVID. I’m also drafting a resolution expressing solidarity with the people of Ukraine as they face the military invasion by Russia. I’m hoping we’ll be voting on that resolution very soon.
This week we will be returning to in-person meetings in the Council chamber, though some participants may appear remotely. Residents making public comments can do so in-person or by Zoom. Those making in-person comments don’t need to sign up in advance. Simply come to the Council chamber (with a mask) at 7:30 PM. Those who wish to comment remotely will need to sign up, as before, by 5:00 PM on the day of the meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QVim_IdCQYOvn4V3sahAZw. 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.
MINOR MASTER PLAN
With the closing of Washington Adventist Hospital, the County has initiated a Minor Master Plan process to consider and ultimately decide on how the site should be used in the future. One of the initial decisions was related to the area covered by the plan. The presentation information (see below) includes a map showing that the area includes not only the former hospital campus, but Washington Adventist University, Maple Avenue up to Philadelphia Avenue, close-by municipal and County facilities, and some residential areas. This week’s presentation is focused on the existing conditions in the designated area, including demographics, community and government resources, environmental conditions, etc. There will continue to be multiple opportunities for public input as part of this planning process.
Background: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220309-1.pdf
COVID UPDATE
The COVID dashboard is updated as of March 4: https://takomapark.shinyapps.io/covid_dashboard/. Since the previous week, City staff have added data and visualizations on transmission rates. Each day, these count the total cases of COVID-19 reported in the last 7 days, normalize them to 100,000 residents (dividing the total cases by the population of the 20912 zip code, and then multiplying that by 100,000), and determine the CDC transmission-level based on that number (<10 is low; 10-49 is moderate; 50 - 99 is substantial; 100 or more is high). The graph shows transmission levels in the 20912 zip code in the last 90 days.
Transmission levels are different from CDC "Community Levels," a new metric the CDC released last week. Transmission levels are just based on COVID-19 case numbers, and are meant to measure COVID-19 spread. Community levels are partially based on transmission-levels, but also account for COVID-19 hospitalizations and hospital capacity. For each community level, the CDC defines what behaviors communities and individuals should adopt, including wearing masks or other prevention strategies. Montgomery County's Community Level is currently "low." The basic idea seems to be transmission levels just looks at how quickly cases are spreading, and community levels try to more holistically assess how COVID is impacting a community, and what behaviors the community should adopt given the impact.
Between 2/25 and 3/3, there were 14 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the 20912 zip code, 3 less than the previous week. New cases per 100,000 residents in the last 7 days are at 53.4, marking a "substantial" level of transmission per CDC guidance. New cases are down 37% in Montgomery County in the last 14 days and hospitalizations down 49%; the test-positivity rate stands at 2%. The 20912 zip code's at least partially vaccinated rate increased to 77.2% and the fully vaccinated rate increased to 67.4%, an increase of 0.2% and 0.3% since last week. There were no new deaths due to COVID-19 reported in the 20912 zip code.
Mask and Testing Kit Distribution: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/covid-19-rapid-test-kits-and-kn95-masks-available-now/. The Takoma Park Library is continuing to distribute N95 masks and COVID rapid testing kits during all open hours.
Mask Mandate Continues in City Buildings: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/mask-mandate-continues-in-city-buildings-and-facilities-until-further-notice/. The mask requirement remains in place for City buildings and facilities.
Free COVID Testing at the New Hampshire Avenue Rec Center: Testing is available every Wednesday in March from 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM. No appointments are needed.
Other 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 people 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. The City is partnering with the Salvation Army to help residents with utility bills: email to housing @takomaparkmd.gov or call 301-891-7119.
UPDATE ON ARPA SPENDING PLAN
In last week’s meeting, the Council gave final approval on a 7 - 0 vote to the City’s ARPA plan. There remain several key elements of the plan which aren’t yet finalized. This includes the use of ARPA funds for the Library (the funds are on hold, pending further review of the project’s cost estimates and construction plans), and direct payments to individual residents (the Council approved $2.3 million for this purpose, but the program details still need to be worked out). There were no substantive changes made to the ARPA plan in last week’s meeting, so you can scroll down to “ARPA Spending Plan” in my blog from last week to see the details: http://www.councilmemberkovar.com/blog/2022/2/28/march-2-2022-city-council-meeting-agenda-amp-more
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dance Exchange Programs in March: Dance Exchange’s 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 can participate in Takoma Park MOVES on Saturdays from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (starts March 26; drop-ins welcome). For details: danceexchange.org.
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 the arts and sciences. The City encourages applications for programs that promote workforce development and entrepreneurial skills for low and moderate income residents.
Montgomery County Go Electric Event -- March 19, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM: https://mygreenmontgomery.org/2022/goelectric/. This event, at Montgomery College in Rockville, includes recycling of gas yard equipment and small appliances, information rebates for purchase of electric leaf blowers, a lightbulb exchange, sustainable food, and much more.
Air Quality Poster Contest for Local Students: https://cleanairpartners.net/contest. Clean Air Partners is sponsoring a poster contest for local middle and elementary students to engage students and educators to study and actively pursue solutions to air pollution and climate change. Students in grades 4 - 8 are invited to submit a creative poster that brings to light solutions to air pollution and climate change and inspires people to take action to improve our region’s air quality. The deadline is March 25.
VOTING SESSION
Redistricting Background: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220309-1.pdf
Redistricting Map Y: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/Map-Y-w-Split-Blocks-2022-02-17.pdf
The Council had a final discussion in last week’s meeting and agreed to vote this week on Redistricting Map Y. In last week’s meeting we considered shifting portions of several streets from Ward 4 to Ward 5 to help balance the Ward populations. However, even without that change, the estimated difference between the highest and lowest population Wards would be below 10 percent, which is the target we set at the start of our redistricting work. So the Council chose not to make that change and to proceed with a vote on option Y. I support option Y, and I intend to vote yes. This is a first reading vote, meaning that -- if the map is approved this week -- the Council would have to vote a second time on the map in next week’s meeting.
Traffic Calming Measures: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220309-3-4-5.pdf. I’ll be voting in favor of the traffic calming proposals for Glenside Drive, Prince Georges Avenue, and Fourth Avenue.
Police Mobile Data Terminals: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220309-6.pdf. The funds for this purchase, in the amount of $148,000, are included in the current fiscal year’s budget. This procurement will enable the Police Department to replace outdated equipment.
WORK SESSION
Police Department Annual Report: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/supplemental-documents/police-annual-report-2021.pdf. Police Chief DeVaul will lead the presentation of the Department’s annual report.
Police Chief’s Advisory Board Review of Reimagining Public Safety Report: I look forward to hearing the Board’s comments on the report, which you can see here: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/initiatives/project-directory/Reimagined%20Public%20Safety/uploads_0721/takoma-park-task-force-to-reimagine-public-safety-report-2021-07-13.pdf
Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs Appointments: There are three openings on COLTA, and we will have a brief discussion on applicants to fill those slots.
As always, feel free to be in touch with questions or comments on any of these matters.
Peter Kovar, Takoma Park City Council, Ward One
240-319-6281; www.councilmemberkovar.com
(He, Him, His)
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