Dear Neighbors:
Here’s a link to the agenda for the November 18, 2019 City Council meeting: https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-meeting-agenda-monday-november-18-2019/. Please note that the Council is meeting on Monday of this coming week rather than the usual Wednesday evening meeting. We’ll start at 6:30 PM with a public reception and proclamation in honor of the Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department’s 125th anniversary. With the holiday season starting soon, this will be the last regular Council meeting in 2019, though we will have a public meeting at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, December 11 in the Council Auditorium with our State Delegates and Senator to discuss legislative priorities for the coming year.
The key agenda item for this Monday’s meeting will be a presentation from staff on the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. The agenda also includes Council votes on the budget amendment to which we gave preliminary approval last week, along with a contract for a new City Attorney, and a contract for a stormwater system video and cleaning services. There will also be a Consent Agenda consisting of a single vote covering several relatively routine matters which the Council has previously discussed: the one-day closure of Laurel Avenue in May 2020 for the Children’s Business Fair; an elevator retrofit contract; a Police vehicles replacement purchase; a resolution setting the dates of the Council’s holiday recess; and appointments to several resident committees. In addition, the Council will receive presentations on the Police Pension Plan and on the 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
PRESENTATIONS
Police Pension Plan: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191118-1.pdf. The Council receives an annual report on Takoma Park’s Police Pension Plan from our outside actuarial consultant. In addition to covering the financial health of the plan, the report always includes a recommended funding amount the City should contribute to the plan in the next budget cycle. The Council has consistently contributed at least the recommended amount and in some years has gone above that figure.
2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report: http://dwpl4lfcfux0y.cloudfront.net/government/finance/budgets-and-financial-documents/CAFR/Fin-20191104-Comprehensive-annual-financial-report-fiscal-year-end-June-30-2019.pdf. Our outside auditor will present the annual report which contains detailed information on the City’s finances.
Sustainability and Climate Action Plan: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191118-3.pdf.
This will be an initial presentation on options for the Plan from the City’s Sustainability staff, accompanied by representatives of Cadmus, the outside firm with which the City contracted to help develop the plan. Work on the plan is expected to continue well into 2020. Decisions on the contents of the plan will be made based on intensive Council review, engagement with residents and area organizations, and consultation with Montgomery County and other regional governments.
VOTING SESSION
Budget Amendment: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191118-4.pdf. I’ll be voting yes on the amendment as I did in the preliminary vote in the last Council meeting.
Legal Services Contract: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191118-5.pdf. After a thorough review of our municipal legal services needs, which included an analysis from a three member Council-appointed resident panel, we chose to seek a new firm to act as our City Attorney. Following the issuance of an RFP, we ended up with three finalists, which were interviewed by Councilmembers. We’ve selected the firm of Karpinski, Colaresi and Karp, a law group with extensive experience in providing legal assistance to local governments in Maryland. The new contract will likely begin next month, and there will be some overlap with our existing City Attorney, whose contract runs through the end of January. As someone who participated in the interview and reference checking process, I have a positive impression of the Karpinski firm, and I plan to vote for the contract. I look forward to getting to know, and working with, the firm’s team.
Stormwater System Video and Cleaning Services Contract: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191118-6.pdf. This is an extension of an existing contract for services which are important for keeping the City’s stormwater system in good order and also required under State law. I’ll be voting to approve the contract.
CONSENT AGENDA (a single vote covering all the agenda items -- I’ll be voting in favor)
Laurel Avenue Closure Authorization: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191118-7a.pdf
Elevator Retrofit Contract: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191118-7b.pdf
Police Vehicle Replacement Purchase: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191118-7c.pdf
City Council Holiday Recess: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191118-7d.pdf. As noted above, this Monday’s meeting will be the last one in 2019 other than the joint meeting on December 11 with our State elected officials. The first Council meeting in 2020 will be on January 15.
Appointments to Resident Committees:
Board of Elections: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191118-7e.pdf
Council Compensation Task Force: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191118-7f-rev.pdf
Parking Management Task Force: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191118-7g.pdf
Façade Advisory Board: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2019/council-20191118-7h.pdf
As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments about any of the issues that are covered in this report.
Peter Kovar, Takoma Park City Council, Ward One
240-319-6281; www.councilmemberkovar.com