Dear Neighbors:
Here’s a link to the agenda for the October 23, 2019 City Council meeting: https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-meeting-agenda-wednesday-october-23-2019/. The key items are a public hearing on charter amendments to our election laws, and a continuation of the in-depth discussion on tree policies, this week with a focus on hazardous trees and tree canopy goals. We’ll have a single vote on a consent agenda which includes several replacement vehicle purchases; information systems purchases; Community Development Block Grant project designations; a memorandum of understanding with the Montgomery County Board of Elections regarding our joint efforts for next year’s elections; street, sidewalk and stormwater construction contracts; and a speed camera contract.
PUBLIC HEARING
Election Charter Amendments: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191023-123.pdf. As part of our process for synchronization with County, State and Federal elections, our City Board of Elections conducted a comprehensive review of the election related provisions of our municipal Charter. The Board recommended a series of changes that aren’t specifically connected to synchronization. The Council has discussed the changes, but we aren’t scheduled to take any votes until next month. The public hearing will give residents a chance to comment on the proposed changes, and those comments along with others that may be submitted this month will be able to be taken into account for the voting sessions next month.
Many of the proposed changes are technical or involve modifying pronoun references to reflect more up-to-date thinking about gender nomenclature. Other more substantive changes include:
· Requiring Ward boundaries to be compact
· In situations like referenda or recalls when a threshold number of signatures is required, using percentages of registered voters (rather than percentages of qualified voters or specified numbers of voters), meaning that a lower number would be required
· No longer requiring newly registered voters to have lived in the City at least 21 days
· Clarify that candidates for Mayor or Council can self-nominate or self-second at the nominating caucus, and that all residents (not just citizens) can participate in the caucus
UPDATES & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Takoma Junction Historic Preservation Commission Consultation -- Wednesday, October 23, 7:30 PM, 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring -- https://montgomeryplanning.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/II.A-7221-Carroll-Avenue-Takoma-Park.pdf. Takoma Junction developer NDC has submitted another revised version of their site plan, and there will be a public consultation on the new design at this week’s HPC meeting. The main changes to the design are a simplified façade and parapet; elimination of one of the stair towers; a two foot increase in the setback along the sidewalk area; and pushing back the second floor of the part of the building closest to the Co-op, making the front façade height of the structure at that end one story and creating a “balcony” area. Beyond this week’s meeting there will be additional consultation on the project with HPC, as well as review and feedback in the future by the County Planning Board and the State Highway Administration.
Signs in Public Rights of Way: Next Discussion at November 6 Council Meeting. As noted previously, the Council is divided on whether to seek a broad ban on public posting of signs or to continue allowing posting of signs announcing local community events, etc. I would like to find a way for us to allow public posting of community-oriented signs and flyers. Currently, the City Code bans posting of most signs in public rights of way, with exceptions for “home centered, occasional activities” like yard sales and bake sales. Also advertisements for home day care providers are explicitly exempt from the ban, and lost pet signs have typically been allowed. Elsewhere in Takoma Park there have been conflicts about the placement of political signs, which is one of the reasons this topic has come before the Council.
With the Supreme Court having ruled a few years ago that municipal governments can’t distinguish between publicly posted signs based on their content, my hope is that we can find a way to manage this activity perhaps based on the timing of events rather than the content, though that may not work for political signs. In any case, we’ll be getting legal advice about potential options in this area prior to our November 6 Council discussion. In the meantime, I’d welcome comments from residents about this issue.
Housing and Economic Development Strategic Plan -- https://takomaparkmd.gov/city-council-and-mayor-blog/for-immediate-release-city-council-adopts-the-2019-2030-housing-and-economic-development-strategic-plan/. This past week the Council approved the Strategic Plan on a 6 - 1 vote; I voted for it. As we finalized the plan, I thought it was important to have more specificity, and I urged that we include additional details in areas like preventing and reducing economic segregation; zoning changes the City could seek; working with other levels of government; making clear the value of collaborating with regional and national partners to pursue our housing goals; the importance of addressing renters’ concerns; focusing on the housing needs of the disabled community; helping residents who may be facing eviction or who in other ways may find it difficult to remain in the community; working collaboratively with small businesses; and responding to the economic challenges posed by the Purple Line.
I’m glad that all of those points have been more specifically called out in the plan. I was also focused on ensuring that racial equity and climate change would be key considerations throughout the plan, and I’m pleased both of those priorities are appropriately emphasized. Of course, as I noted in my comments prior to the vote, there’s still plenty of work to be done in order to move toward achieving the plan’s goals and objectives. But I think the plan gives us a firm base from which to make significant advances in housing policy and economic development, with a key focus on promoting affordability. For those who may wish to hear what I had to say about the plan in this past week’s meeting, you can see video of my remarks starting at the 20:15 mark of this link: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/meetings-and-documents/city-council-video/
Parking Management Task Force volunteers needed -- https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/boards-commissions-and-committees/parking-management-task-force/. The City is assembling a residents’ task force to explore issues relating to parking, and to make recommendations to the Council on potential changes to our policies. We need more applicants for the task force, including especially apartment building residents.
Council Compensation Task Force volunteers needed -- https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/boards-commissions-and-committees/council-compensation-task-force-2019/. Every four years the Council appoints a task force to review the compensation of Councilmembers and to make recommendations for potential changes. Among the issues to be examined this year is whether the salary and level of benefits of the current compensation system are barriers to running for or serving on the Council.
Monster Bash -- Saturday, October 26, 1:00 - 5:00 PM --https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/recreation/monster-bash/. This City sponsored Halloween event kicks off with dancing and other activities, followed by a Costume Parade and Contest, and ending with a Costume Award Ceremony and Celebration at the Community Center parking lot.
Prescription Drug Take-Back Day -- Saturday, October 26, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM -- The Police Department is participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s nationwide Take-Back Day, which enables the public to dispose of potentially harmful expired, unused, and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs, along with pet medications. Collection boxes will be set up in the Police Department on the first floor of the Community Center. This service isn’t limited to October 26 -- you can drop off expired medications 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the Police Department, no questions asked.
“Watch Your Car” Program -- Saturday, October 26 -- At the Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, residents can also sign up for the “Watch Your Car” program. This program, administered by the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council, is a way for police to ensure your vehicle is not being driven by an unauthorized driver. Owners sign a form stating their vehicle is not normally used between 1:00 and 5:00 AM. This allows police to stop the car between those hours to verify the driver is the owner or an authorized driver. To sign up you’ll need your license, tag number, make, year, model, style, color, and Vehicle Identification Number.
Emergency Preparedness -- Saturday, October 26 -- The Emergency Preparedness Manager will also have a table set up with safety and emergency information at the Take-Back Day.
Takoma Radio (WOWD, 94.3 FM), Sunday, November 10 at 1:00 PM -- I’ll be on the “Talk of Takoma” show hosted by Eric Bond.
CONSENT AGENDA
These items, which will be considered in a single vote, were all discussed in last week’s Council meeting. I don’t believe any of them are controversial, and I plan to vote yes.
Replacement Vehicle Purchases: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191023-4a-4b.pdf
https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191023-4c.pdf
Information Systems Purchases: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191023-4d-rev.pdf
Montgomery County Board of Elections MOU: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191023-4e.pdf
CDBG Program Project: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191023-4f.pdf
Street, Sidewalk and Stormwater Construction Contracts: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191023-4g-4h.pdf
Speed Camera Contract: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191023-4i.pdf
WORK SESSION
Continuation of Tree Policy Discussion: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191023-5.pdf. This will be the second of three intensive discussions on tree policies this month. Last week we covered a number of technical aspects of the Tree Ordinance, including steps that can be taken to make the ordinance clearer and speed up residents’ interaction with staff on permits and other tree ordinance issues, as well as potential ways of improving the process for Tree Impact Assessments, Tree Protection Plans, and appeals of staff decisions on these matters.
This week’s discussion will be focused on how hazardous trees are handled and possible changes to the definition of “hazardous”, along with the City’s tree rating charts, and the replanting requirements that may apply when trees are removed. We’ll also have a very important discussion on developing tree canopy goals, which will factor in recommendations from the Committee on the Environment and the Tree Commission. Again, these are discussions only. Votes on any changes would take place in future Council meetings.
As always, please feel free to be in touch with questions or comments about any of the issues covered in this message.
Peter Kovar, Takoma Park City Council, Ward One
240-319-6281; www.councilmemberkovar.com