Dear Neighbors:
Happy Independence Day! Here’s a link to the agenda for the July 6, 2022 City Council agenda: https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-meeting-agenda-wednesday-july-6-2022/. In the regular meeting starting at 7:30 PM there will be a single vote on a consent agenda consisting of three resolutions in support of City applications for State economic development grants. In the work session we will discuss changes to the Takoma Park Elections Code recommended by the City’s Board of Elections for this fall’s election. The meeting will begin with an important historical proclamation recognizing the City’s unification 25 years ago on July 1. Prior to that date, the City was divided between Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.
We will begin the evening with a closed session at 6:00 PM to receive legal advice and discuss matters relating to collective bargaining with the City’s two unions. Use the following link to see the recent staff compensation study: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/Takoma-Park-Compensation-Market-Study-Final-Report.pdf
The Council is scheduled to meet each Wednesday this month through July 27 (with a possible meeting on August 3), after which we will be on break from formal meetings until September. We’re currently scheduled to review the bids for the Library renovation in our July 13 meeting, with the anticipation of votes on the project in July.
The first meeting in September will be on the 14th, though the Nominating Caucus (at which candidates for Mayor and City Council are officially placed on the ballot for the November election) will take place on the evening of September 13. As I announced previously, I’m not running for re-election, and I invite anyone who may be interesting in running for the Ward One Council position to be in touch with me if you would like to learn more about what it’s like to run for and serve on the Council.
You can make public comments for this week’s meeting by coming to the Community Center auditorium at 7:30 PM (no advance sign-up is needed) or remotely via Zoom (sign up by 5:00 PM on the day of the meeting): https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RIw-MkWtRUeBICOVrp3QGg. You can watch the meeting 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.
Unification Proclamation: The language of the proclamation was not yet available when I prepared this week’s blog. However, I would note that the City will hold a unification celebration in coordination with Historic Takoma on Sunday, September 18. Meanwhile, residents may wish to stop by Historic Takoma’s fascinating and informative window display on unification, which you can see at their office in Takoma Junction (7328 Carroll Avenue).
COVID UPDATE
The City’s COVID dashboard has now been updated through June 30: https://takomapark.shinyapps.io/covid_dashboard/. Per City staff, Montgomery County's Community Level remains at "Medium" based on CDC guidance. New cases per 100,000 residents in the last 7 days for the County increased 5% from 227 to 238, the percent of beds occupied by COVID-19 patients increased slightly from 4.3% to 4.5%, and hospital admissions per 100,000 residents increased slightly from 8.1 to 8.3. There were 55 new cases reported since last week in the 20912 zip code compared to 47 the previous week.
The state has not updated its zip code level vaccination data since June 1; then, vaccination levels were 80.6% (at least first dose) and 71% (fully vaccinated) in the 20912 zip code. Deaths due to COVID-19 in the 20912 zip code remained unchanged since last week.
Mask/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.
Other COVID resources: For information on vaccine appointments go to: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine/ or State Vaccine Website; for testing: Montgomery County Testing Sites; for food aid: Submit an online request for help with food resources or call 240-777-0311. For help with housing, utility bills, etc. send an email to housing @takomaparkmd.gov or call 301-891-7119.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Independence Day Celebration and Evening Street Party: https://www.takomapark4th.org/. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, the Fourth of July parade is back, starting at 10:00 AM. This year’s theme is Takoma Park: Together Again. The Grand Marshal will be City Manager Jamal Fox. It will also be my last time marching as a Councilmember. The evening party will take place on Maple Avenue in front of the Community Center from 5:30 - 9:00 PM. I’d add that -- while the media outlets in this area love to focus on the “quirky” aspects of our parade (and that’s an undeniable attraction) -- I think the more central theme is that even a generally progressive City like Takoma Park can feature a long-standing parade that’s patriotic, to use that term, even while we also recognize there’s much more work to do in order to live up to the ideals enshrined in the Declaration of Independence.
Federal, State and County Primary Election: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/2022-gubernatorial-county-election/. The primary election -- which includes U.S. Senate and U.S. Representative, Governor and other State officials, and County positions -- is on July 19, with early voting starting on July 7 (the closest early voting location is the Silver Spring Civic Center). You can also deposit mail-in ballots in drop boxes, including one at the Takoma Park Community Center. Note that this primary election doesn’t include Takoma Park Mayor and City Council -- as noted above, candidates for those positions are placed on our local election ballot via the September 13 Nominating Caucus.
Committee Applications: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/apply-now-for-city-boards-and-committees/. Takoma Park is seeking applications for membership on the City’s committees, boards and commissions. It’s a great way to get involved in our municipal government. July 10 application deadline.
Youth Council Applications: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/seeking-applicants-for-the-takoma-park-youth-council/. We’re also seeking applicants for the Youth Council. The application deadline is September 7.
Draft Urban Forest Plan: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/public-works/tree-care-and-resources/. Two years ago, when the Council made changes to the Takoma Park Tree Ordinance and also adopted a tree canopy and urban forest policy resolution, one of the initiatives we called for was the development by the City’s Urban Forest Manager of a long-term management plan. Urban Forest Manager Marty Frye presented a draft of that plan in the June 22 Council meeting, and I encourage residents to review it and offer suggestions and recommendations for the plan by the July 17 deadline. To see the presentation of the draft plan plus the annual reports for the last two years, along with the subsequent Council Q and A, go to the 114:30 mark here: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/meetings-and-documents/city-council-video/
VOTING SESSION (A Single Vote on Consent Agenda Comprising Three Items)
National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund Grants: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220706-1.pdf. The State of Maryland is making available $7 million in grant funding to support community development initiatives. In our most recent meeting, the Council discussed the City staff proposal to apply for three grants: $300,000 to support improvements for the 112 Lee Avenue tenant purchase project; $500,000 for general funding to support affordable housing preservation in the City; and $500,000 for future Tenant Opportunity-to-Purchase projects. I support these proposals, which are all aligned with the City’s housing strategic plan, and I will be voting for the resolutions formally expressing Council support for the grant applications. This will be a single vote on approval of all three resolutions.
WORK SESSION
Proposed Election Code Revisions: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220706-2.pdf. In election years, the Council generally makes modifications to our local Elections Code, in consultation with the Board of Elections and the City Attorney. For this fall’s election, the Board has proposed a series of amendments to the law, which the Council will be discussing this week. The expectation is that we would vote on any changes this month, thereby ensuring they are in place well in advance of the fall campaign season. I agree broadly with the purposes behind most of the proposed changes, though I’m continuing to look closely in particular at the recommendations concerning the registration and role of political committees, and the timing for filing campaign finance reports.
Please be in touch with comments or questions about any of the above information.
Peter Kovar, Takoma Park City Council, Ward One
240-319-6281; www.councilmemberkovar.com
(He, Him, His)
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