Dear Neighbors:
There are only a handful of City Council meetings before this fall’s local election. We won’t be meeting next Wednesday (October 5) because of Yom Kippur. That then leaves three other Wednesday meetings in October, and possibly one in the first week of November. (Though generally we don’t meet the week before an election, and most likely would do so only to complete action on something that was important to wrap up before the next Council takes office.)
Here’s a link to this week’s Council meeting: https://takomaparkmd.gov/meeting_agendas/city-council-meeting-agenda-wednesday-september-28-2022/. There are three votes: on designating the City’s Poet Laureate; on the Election ordinance; and on the Kentland Avenue speed hump installation. The topics in the work session are a proposed Charter amendment; proposed changes to the process for amending the Charter; changes to the Ethics Ordinance to bring it into conformity with recent State law changes; the rescission of a Human Resources contract; and updates on the ARPA spending plan and the Library project. There will also be a proclamation on Hispanic Heritage Month.
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_0myfbafyQi2IZHblEnmVDQ. 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.
Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/Proclamation-Hispanic-Heritage-2022.pdf
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Takoma Foundation Beerfest, October 1, 4:00 -- 8:00 PM, Cady Lee Mansion: https://www.takomafoundation.org/events/beerfest/beerfest-2022.html. The event features bratwurst and local craft beers, along with live music. Proceeds will fund grants to local nonprofits working in Greater Takoma in such areas as food justice and racial equity.
Takoma Park Street festival, October 2, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Carroll Avenue: https://mainstreettakoma.org/featured-events/takoma-park-street-festival/. This annual favorite event includes 150 vendor booths, live music from 18 local bands, food trucks and more.
Piney Branch Elementary Pool Re-opening October 14: After over two years of closure due to COVID and infrastructure upgrades (and one recent minor delay due to a missing part), the indoor pool at PBES is now set to reopen for lap and general swimming. Schedule information should be available soon.
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.
Catalytic Converter Etch & Catch Program: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/police/services-and-programs/catalytic-converter-etching-program/. The Police Department is continuing its program aimed at deterring catalytic converter theft, which has been a problem in particular for Toyota Prius owners, though other vehicles have been targeted. This can be done for no charge at RS Automotive on Carroll Ave.
VOTING SESSION
Poet Laureate Resolution: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220928-1.pdf. A committee led by outgoing Poet Laureate Kathleen O’Toole has reviewed the applications for this position, and recommended Taylor Johnson. I support the appointment, and will be voting yes.
City Election Ordinance: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220928-2.pdf. Each election year, the Council adopts an ordinance establishing the terms of the local City election. This year -- as in 2020 -- the election will be conducted primarily through mail-in ballots (every registered City voter will receive a ballot in the mail), with an in-person voting option available on Election Day. There will also be ballot drop-boxes available prior to Election Day. The Council approved this ordinance unanimously in last week’s meeting, and I’ll be voting for it again this week on final passage.
Kentland Avenue Speed Hump Installation: https://dwpl4lfcfux0y.cloudfront.net/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220928-3.pdf. This proposal has gone through the required neighborhood approval process, and I’ll be voting in favor of it.
WORK SESSION
Board of Personnel Appeals Charter Amendment: The background information for this agenda item was not yet available.
Charter Amendment Process Update: The background information for this agenda item was not yet available.
Ethics Ordinance Amendments: The agenda background information for this agenda item was not yet available. 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 we’re in conformity with the State laws.
Ordinance Rescinding Human Resources Contract: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220928-7.pdf. The Council previously authorized a contract for Human Resources services with Paycom, but the contract terms have apparently not been able to be finalized. I look forward to learning why and whether there could be any potential impacts on our HR activities.
ARPA Update: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220928-8.pdf. City staff will be providing an update on the status of and plans for the various components in the ARPA spending plan. You can see details on the plan here: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/american-rescue-plan-act-arpa/. One of the key areas I’ll be focused on as part of this discussion is where things stand with the Direct Cash Assistance program, for which the City has allocated $2.3 million targeted to lower income households in Takoma Park.
Library Project Update: https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-council/agendas/2022/council-20220928-9.pdf. I believe most residents are aware that the City is in the process of moving the Library to a temporary site located on New Hampshire Avenue, where it will be in operation during the construction of the new facility. It’s anticipated that the temporary site will open as soon as mid-October.
COVID UPDATE
The City’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard has been updated through September 22: https://takomapark.shinyapps.io/covid_dashboard/. Key data points noted by staff:
Montgomery County's Community Level remained at "Low" based on County data and in the CDC data shown on Takoma Park's dashboard. In the County dashboard, which updates daily, new cases per 100,000 residents declined slightly from 126 to 119, the percent of beds occupied by COVID-19 patients decreased from 7.4% to 7.1%, and hospital admissions per 100,000 residents increased from 7.9 to 8.9. You can see the County data here: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/
In the CDC data -- which the Takoma Park dashboard displays -- cases declined slightly from 126 cases per 100,000 to 123; hospital admissions per 100,000 declined from 7.5 to 6.5; and the percent of beds occupied by COVID-19 patients declined slightly from 5% to 4.7%.
There were 24 new cases of COVID-19 reported in the 20912 zip code in the last week, compared to 41 the previous week. Deaths due to COVID-19 in the zip code remain unchanged since last week.
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. Masks and testing kits, previously available at the Library, can now 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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