Dear Neighbors:
Here’s a link to the agenda for the October 19, 2022 City Council meeting: https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-meeting-agenda-wednesday-october-19-2022/. There’s one more Council meeting scheduled before the November 8 municipal election, on Wednesday of next week (October 26). After that, the Council is set to meet on November 16 to receive the official election results from the City Board of Elections. The new Council will then be formally sworn in on November 21.
In this week’s meeting, we’ll be starting with a closed session at 6:00 PM to discuss matters related to the Takoma Junction Redevelopment Project, including consulting with the City Attorney to obtain legal advice and to consult with staff and the City Attorney about pending or potential litigation. Note that this meeting was originally scheduled for last week, but was postponed until now due to staff availability issues.
In the public portion of the meeting, which starts at 7:30 PM, there will be a presentation on the tree canopy assessment, a vote on the Ethics Code amendments, and then work session discussions on the Public Space Management Plan and on a possible appointment to the Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs. See below for more details on the agenda items.
There are two ways to comment at the meeting: speaking in-person at the Community Center or commenting remotely. That second options requires sign-up by 5:00 PM on the meeting day: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JkWW9BtGSJeurmrHhkmI5A. 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.
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
We’re in election season, with races for Mayor and City Council on the ballot. Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, though the election will be conducted primarily by mail-in ballots. Voters can also place their ballots in drop boxes located at the Community Center and the New Hampshire Avenue Recreation Center, or vote in person at the Community Center on Election Day. All registered City voters should have already received a notice by mail earlier this month with basic information on the election, and most residents have now begun receiving their mail-in ballots. If you don’t receive a ballot by the end of the week, send an email explaining your situation with your name and address to: elections@takomaparkmd.gov. For more on the election, including who the candidates are, how to register, how ranked choice voting works, etc., use this link: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news/city-election-information/. You can see recordings of City-sponsored candidate forums here: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/meetings-and-documents/city-council-video/
Please note that the Takoma Park election is completely separate from the State of Maryland election, which includes races for Governor and other statewide positions; State Senate and Delegates; County Executive, County Council and other County positions; and U.S. Congress. You can find information on the State election, including mail-in ballots, early voting locations, polling places and more, here: https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2022/index.html. For anyone who votes in-person on Election Day, the polling places for the Maryland State election (generally in local schools) and the Takoma Park election (the Community Center) will be different.
ANNNOUNCEMENTS
Proposed Apartment Development Project on Eastern Avenue (in Washington, DC): https://www.dropbox.com/s/1or41k9xmm2nxs1/20221013_Elm%20Gardens%20-%20HPRB%20SUBMISSION_LR.pdf?dl=0. I’m sharing the latest slides on the proposed new development at 7050 Eastern Avenue in Washington, DC, between Piney Branch Road and Holly Avenue. The project may be taken up soon by the DC Historic Preservation Review Board (perhaps by the end of this month), though it’s conceivable some changes could be made to the submission before it’s formally considered by the Board. If the Board signs off on the proposal or approves it with modifications, then it would still have to go before the DC Zoning Commission, which would probably not happen for a few months.
At this point I'm working on getting more information about the proposal. All the units are as I understand it are to be designated as affordable, though I’m not sure of the details on specific income levels. In any case, regardless of any potential changes to the design, I’ll be pushing for an agreement on the construction process (noise, hours, dust control, truck routes, etc.), similar to what we have in place for the Montgomery College construction project in North Takoma.
Minor Master Plan Visioning Open House, October 18, 7:00 - 9:00 PM, PBES Cafeteria: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/takoma-park-minor-master-plan-amendment-visioning-open-house-on-tuesday-october-18/. As part of the effort to determine future uses of the Washington Adventist Hospital site, the City is working with the Montgomery County Planning Department on a Master Plan amendment process. This event at Piney Branch Elementary School will allow residents to learn more about the process and share their views on potential uses for the site.
Library Re-opening (in Temporary New Hampshire Avenue Site), October 19: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/temporary-library-location-is-opening-wednesday-october-19/. During the renovation of the Library, the facility will be operating from a temporary location at 7505 New Hampshire Avenue. That temporary site is scheduled to open on Wednesday.
Takoma Park Street Festival, October 23, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Carroll Avenue: https://mainstreettakoma.org/featured-events/takoma-park-street-festival/. This annual event -- rescheduled after postponement due to Hurricane Ian -- will include 150 vendor booths, live music from 18 local bands, food trucks and more.
Home Tree Care 101, October 29, 10:00 AM - Noon, $25 Participation Fee: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/public-works/Trees/2022%20Conservation%20Montgomery%20Trees%20101%20Flyer.pdf. Conservation Montgomery is offering their Home Tree Care 101 class at the Thomas Siegler House and Garden (205 Tulip Avenue). In the class, a Conservation Montgomery arborist will discuss a variety of topics on tree care.
Monster Bash, Saturday, October 29, 1:00 - 5:00 PM: PM: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/recreation/monster-bash/. This yearly Halloween season event includes as always the Costume Parade and Contest, plus entertainment, games and more.
PRESENTATION
Tree Canopy Assessment: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20221019-1.pdf. Roughly every three years Takoma Park contracts with the University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Laboratory to conduct an assessment of the City’s tree canopy. This is vitally important information, which helps us gain a more long-term sense of our tree canopy’s health, and also informs our urban forest policy making.
KEY UPDATE FROM OCTOBER 12 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Review of Complete Safe Streets Committee Recommendations: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20221012-10.pdf. In 2021 the Committee issued a report with recommendations on policy changes relating to pedestrian and bicycle safety and other related issues. Regrettably, the COVID pandemic and shifts in staffing, among other factors, contributed to delays in deeper consideration of the recommendations. Last week, City staff made a detailed presentation on the recommendations and also provided an overview of other relevant City, County and State policies and initiatives. As part of our discussion we also reviewed a draft resolution calling for action on this topic, which we may vote on before the election.
Draft resolution: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/supplemental-documents/Resolution-on-Pedestrian-Safety-20221012.pdf
Staff Presentation: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/supplemental-documents/Staff-Response-to-CSSC-Recommendations-Presentation.pdf
Video of Council discussion (starting at 46:46 mark): https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/meetings-and-documents/city-council-video/
VOTING SESSION
Ethics Code Amendments: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20221019-2.pdf. With the recent passage of State legislation tightening requirements relating to gifts and other financial arrangements affecting elected officials, the City needs to enact its own ordinance to ensure our code appropriately matches State law. I’ll be voting yes on this final vote as I did when the Council approved the amendments on an initial vote in last week’s meeting.
WORK SESSION
Public Space Management Plan: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20221019-3.pdf. The Council and City staff have worked periodically over the last several years on the Public Space Management Plan, and decided to contract with an outside consulting firm to move toward finalizing the plan. Our contractor CHPlanning, which has emphasized community engagement in their work on this effort, will present a final draft of the proposed plan. I’m hopeful the Council will be able to vote on the plan before we close out our formal meetings thus year.
One key element I’d like to see in the plan is ensuring it’s well integrated with our other major initiatives like the Racial Equity policy, the Climate Framework, the Housing and Economic Development Strategic Plan, and our urban forest policies. I also favor clearer guidelines on timing for park improvement and upkeep, updated and consistent signage in public areas and City entrance points, and improved rules on use of and access to public spaces by local organizations. I’ve urged the inclusion of those ideas in the plan.
You can see video of the most recent presentation from CHPlanning on September 14, plus the Council comments and questions, starting at the 1:42 mark here: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/housing-and-community-development/planning-and-community-development/public-space-management-plan/.
COLTA Appointment: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20221019-4.pdf
COVID UPDATE
We’re still awaiting data updates on the City COVID dashboard (https://takomapark.shinyapps.io/covid_dashboard/), which I’ll share when they’re posted. Meanwhile, 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. Masks and testing kits can be picked up at the main reception desk in the Community Center.
As always, let me know if you have questions or comments about anything in this blog.
Peter Kovar, Takoma Park City Council, Ward One
240-319-6281; www.councilmemberkovar.com
(He, Him, His)
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