Dear Neighbors:
There are two City Council meetings this week. Yesterday I sent out a separate blog on the budget reconciliation session taking place this evening (Monday, May 2): http://www.councilmemberkovar.com/blog/2022/5/1/may-2-2022-city-council-session-on-fiscal-year-2023-budget-reconciliation
Here’s a link to the agenda for the regular Wednesday night Council meeting on May 4: https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-meeting-agenda-wednesday-may-4-2022/. There are two votes scheduled: on a major budget amendment making a series of changes to the current fiscal year’s budget, and on a resolution approving proposed street closures in support of the 2022 Old Takoma Business Association event calendar. In the work session, we’ll be discussing a contract for purchase of a Police Department vehicle, and design plans for the Community Center Atrium project. For more on these agenda items see below.
To make public comments in-person at either meeting, go to the Community Center auditorium at 7:30 PM. To speak remotely, sign up by 5:00 PM on the day of the meeting: for May 2 use this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1rIwrvvvQdannDL_sfjeQA, and for May 4 this one: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NA3n5SxYRlKOgb8oFYekUw
You can watch both meetings 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.
COVID UPDATE
The Takoma Park COVID-19 Data Dashboard has been updated to reflect data through Thursday, 4/28: https://takomapark.shinyapps.io/covid_dashboard/. Per City staff, there were 39 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 7 days, compared to 32 between 4/15 and 4/21. The City's new cases per 100,000 residents in the last 7 days stands at 217, for a "high" level of transmission per CDC guidance, compared to 122 in last week's update. In Montgomery County, cases are up 60%, hospitalizations up 22%, and the test positivity rate up from 2% to 4%, although the County's community level remains "low". The 20912 Zip Code’s fully-vaccinated rate increased from 69.9% to 70.1%, and the at-least first dose vaccination rate increased from 79.5% to 79.8%. There were no new deaths in the Zip Code due to COVID-19 reported since the last update.
COVID Testing: The New Hampshire Ave. Rec Center is hosting Maryland Department of Health COVID-19 testing every Wednesday in May from 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
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: 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.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
National Bike Month: https://takomaparkmd.gov/public-notices/celebrate-national-bike-month-with-takoma-park/. May is National Bike Month, and Takoma Park is participating in Bike to School Day on May 4 and Bike to Work Day on May 20.
Takoma Park Children’s Business Fair: https://www.childrensbusinessfair.org/takomapark. Saturday, May 7, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM on Laurel Avenue.
Takoma Metro Station Development: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/. The EYA company is proposing a new design for its planned apartment building at the Takoma Metro Station. There’s an informational meeting on the project on May 9 at 7:00 PM. Here's the zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86342327213?pwd=ZDl4cm93Y0ZReER3UEtNTjlOSGhQZz09
Exploring Takoma Stormwater Solutions: This event, hosted by Takoma Stormwater Solutions (https://www.takomastormwatersolutions.net/), will take place on Tuesday, May 10 from Noon - 1:30 PM. Ward One’s own Dr. Paul Chrostowski will present information on recent studies of Takoma Park’s stormwater capacity. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86981353858?pwd=TG5yS3p2eW9FSEppVGxobk1jSXdVQT09
Friends of the Takoma Park Library Spring Book Sale: https://ftpml.org/upcoming-events/. This favorite local event will be on the Library lawn on Saturday May 14 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.
Takoma Park Safe Routes Virtual 5K Run, May 15 - 31: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/housing-and-community-development/planning-and-community-development/safe-routes-to-school/tkpk5k-challenge/. The proceeds from this event will benefit health, fitness, bike, and pedestrian safety activities at five local schools.
Takoma Foundation Azalea Awards: Residents can nominate members of the Greater Takoma community in six categories. Please make sure the person is willing to be nominated, and include a 4-to-5-sentence explanation of why they are deserving. Nominations close at midnight on May 15, after which ballots will be on the Foundation website, with the awards presented at a ceremony in June. Send nominations to: katya@partan.com; dorisduarte@aol.com; pamela_fields@yahoo.com; dlanar@starpower.net; kohn@erols.com. The award categories are: COVID Super Hero (someone who rose to the occasion during the pandemic); Youth Leader (an educator, coach or mentor who motivates children to aim high); School Activist (a parent who brings the best to our schools); Business Person (someone who promotes a progressive spirit through local commerce); Neighborhood Volunteer (someone who "walks the walk" at the neighborhood level); Tak-tivist (a civic leader who inspires others by example)
Let’s Play America Playground Scavenger Hunt: https://www.letsplayamerica.org/takoma-park-playground-guide. A fun way for kids to learn about play areas in the City.
Independence Day Celebration: https://www.takomapark4th.org/. The Independence Day Committee is seeking volunteers for several key roles in this year’s events, including Vendor Manager and Web Manager. For information on these positions and other ways to get involved contact: tara.marie.egan@gmail.com.
VOTING SESSION
Budget Amendment: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220504-1.pdf Periodically the Council considers amendments which reflect spending changes due to slower than anticipated work on projects and programs, temporary staff changes, and other factors that may require shifting of funds from one fiscal year to the next. This budget amendment makes a series of changes along those lines and also reflects the use of ARPA funds for programs which had been expected to be covered by the regular budget. The amendment’s net impact is over $5 million in budget reductions, though most of that represents spending that will be moved to next fiscal year’s budget for the Library project. The remainder -- approximately $936,000 in net reductions -- comes from an array of primarily smaller cuts. As part of our recent discussions, Councilmembers requested more details from City staff on how the amendment would impact the FY 23 budget. I’m continuing to review the staff information, and haven’t decided how I’ll be voting.
Old Takoma Business Association Street Closures: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220504-2.pdf. There are 6 public events with temporary street closure requests. They are all on either a Saturday or Sunday, and all will take place on Laurel Avenue, with one exception involving the unit block of Grant Avenue. I’ll be voting in favor of the resolution.
WORK SESSION
Police Vehicle Purchase: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220504-3.pdf. The Police Department is proposing purchase of an unmarked special assignment vehicle. I look forward to learning more about how it would be used.
Design Plans for Community Center Renovation: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220504-4.pdf. We will receive a presentation on the proposed design to fill in the Atrium and make other related changes to the Community Center. The project is estimated to cost $1.2 million, of which $1 million would come from the City’s ARPA account. When we debated the ARPA spending in March, I voted against including this project in the plan.
Feel free to contact me if you have questions or comments about any of the topics in this blog.
Peter Kovar, Takoma Park City Council, Ward One
240-319-6281; www.councilmemberkovar.com
(He, Him, His)
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