For Immediate Release: Monday, January 25, 2021
Also on Jan. 26: Council scheduled to vote on zoning measure to update solar collection system use standards in the Agricultural Reserve Zone and introduce a $3.6 million special appropriation to continue funding Educational Equity and Enrichment Hubs
The Council will meet virtually on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 9 a.m. and will begin with the following proclamation presentations: recognizing National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month by Council President Tom Hucker and celebrating the Open Streets Coalition by Councilmember Hans Riemer, Council President Tom Hucker and Councilmember Evan Glass.
Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council agendas can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
On the guidance of Health Officer and Chief of Public Health Services Dr. Travis Gayles, there is currently no public access to the Council Office Building. The virtual Council meeting will be streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056 and Fios 30.
Council Agenda Items
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and County Public Health Planning
At 9:30 a.m. the Council will sit as the Board of Health to receive an update on the County’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its recovery and vaccination efforts. The Council will be joined by Dr. Travis Gayles, County health officer and chief of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Public Health Services; Dr. Earl Stoddard, director, Office of Emergency management and Homeland Security; and Dr. Raymond Crowel, director, DHHS. Montgomery County is dependent on the state of Maryland for their supply of the COVID-19 vaccines. As of Jan. 19, the County has administered more than 30,000 doses of the vaccine. DHHS is generally notified each Saturday about the quantity of the vaccine doses it will receive for the following week. County leaders continue to advocate for additional vaccine doses from Maryland, so that expanded vaccination efforts can ramp up as quickly as possible.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Resolution to appoint members of the Commission on Redistricting
The Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution to appoint the members of the Commission on Redistricting. The Council interviewed 32 applicants on Dec. 2, 3 and 8. The Council must recommend 11 members for appointment. The names of the appointees and acting chair will be announced during the Council meeting. The Montgomery County Charter, as amended by the voters in the 2020 general election, states that the County shall be divided into seven Council districts for the purpose of nominating and electing seven members of the Council. Each district shall be compact in form and be composed of adjoining territory. Prior to the recent election, the Charter required the County to be divided into five Council districts. The new requirement for seven districts will apply to the 2022 election, and the Council will consist of eleven members, with four at-large members.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget, Children's Opportunity Fund Non-Departmental Account (NDA) - $3,600,000 for COVID-19 Educational Enrichment and Equity Hubs and Amendment to FY21 Operating Budget Resolution 19-472, Section G, FY21 Designation of Entities for Non-Competitive Contract Award Status: Greater Washington Community Foundation
The Council will introduce a special appropriation of $3.6 million for the continued operation of the Educational Equity and Enrichment (EEE) Hubs through March 2021, while Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) remains in a distance learning mode. The EEE Hubs offer before, during and after school childcare services to students from low-income families while MCPS is meeting virtually. The EEE Hub services provide supervision and support for children as they navigate online learning. Councilmember Craig Rice and Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz are the lead sponsors of this appropriation. A joint Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee and Education and Culture Committee meeting is scheduled for Jan. 28 at 1:30 p.m. A public hearing and vote on the special appropriation are scheduled for Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Supplemental Appropriation to the FY21 Capital Budget and Amendment to the FY21-26 Capital Improvements Program, Department of General Services, Council Office Building Renovations (No. P010100), $92,000
The Council will introduce a supplemental appropriation of $92,000 for Council Office Building renovations to accommodate two additional Councilmembers, following the recent amendment of the County Charter as approved by County voters in the 2020 general election. The two additional Councilmembers will begin their terms in Dec. 2022.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Supplemental Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Capital Budget and Amendment to the FY21-26 CIP, Department of Technology Services - $1,434,000 for County Radio Replacement and Related Equipment
The Council will introduce a supplemental appropriation of $1,434,000 to replace radios and related equipment for the County’s Department of Transportation and the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, to ensure compliance with the County’s new 800 MHz radio system. A public hearing on this supplemental appropriation is scheduled for Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 20-01, Solar Collection System - AR Zone Standard
The Council is scheduled to vote on ZTA 20-01, which would revise the solar collection system use standards to allow larger facilities in the Agricultural Reserve (AR) Zone. The goal of this legislation is to increase the ability to produce solar energy in the County. Councilmember Hans Riemer and Council President Tom Hucker are the lead sponsors. Councilmember Craig Rice is a cosponsor. The total amount of collection systems on all parcels would be limited to 1,800 acres. Any collector system constructed under the proposed amendment must be designated pollinator-friendly under the Maryland Pollinator-Friendly Designation Program. The joint Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee and Transportation and Environment Committee recommends approval with amendments.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Office of Legislative Oversight Report 2021-2, Economic Indicators for Montgomery County and Surrounding Jurisdictions: January 2021 Update
The Council will receive and release Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) Report 2021-2. Bill 28-17, enacted in Nov. 2017, phases in increases to the County’s minimum wage so that by 2024 the minimum wage for all businesses operating in the County will be $15 an hour. The law requires the County’s chief administrative officer adjust the wage to keep pace with inflation, subject to certain economic conditions determined by the Director of Finance. Bill 28-17 also requires that OLO prepare a report to the Council by Jan. 31 of each year “related to implementation of the County minimum wage and the local economy.” The Council wanted a way to monitor how Montgomery County businesses and the County’s economy may be impacted by the minimum wage increases. The Council envisioned an annual report that could provide an early warning to the Council about any adverse economic changes. Accordingly, in 2019 OLO identified 17 high-level economic indicators that could be used to monitor the County’s economic performance and compare it with the economic performance of nine other area jurisdictions.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Subdivision Regulation Amendment (SRA) 21-01, Exemptions - Alcohol Production and Agritourism
The Council will introduce SRA 21-01, which would add an exemption from the requirements to subdivide agricultural land and record a plat before the Department of Permitting Services can issue a building permit to construct a building used for Alcohol Production and Agritourism. Under current law, before the Department of Permitting Services can issue a commercial building permit, the building must be on a lot shown on a record plat or be on property that is exempt from the subdivision of land process. It is the experience of the Office of Agriculture that the subdivision process is cost-prohibitive for most agritourism businesses looking to diversify operations.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
The following public hearings will be held at 1:30 p.m.:
Spending Affordability Guidelines for FY22 Operating Budget
The Council will receive public testimony on the Spending Affordability Guidelines for the County’s Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Operating Budget. The Council must adopt guidelines for the next operating budget by the second Tuesday in February. The spending affordability guidelines that must be adopted are:
A Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 1.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Expedited Bill 50-20, Landlord-Tenant Relations - Fire Safety - Removal of Mercury Service Regulators
The Council will receive public testimony on Expedited Bill 50-20, which would require landlords to schedule the immediate replacement of indoor mercury service regulators and to provide certain notices to tenants. Council President Tom Hucker is the lead sponsor. Councilmember Hans Riemer, Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Nancy Navarro, Sidney Katz, Craig Rice and Will Jawando are cosponsors. The purpose of this expedited bill is to facilitate the immediate replacement of indoor mercury service regulators with safer, more modern regulators. Indoor mercury service regulators have contributed to fatal building fires. Therefore, their replacement would improve fire safety. A PHED Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 8. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#GetTheMercuryOut and #MercuryRemovalMD are being used for this bill on social media.
Special Appropriation to the FY21 Operating Budget, Office of the County Executive - $500,000 for Connected DMV Contract, Global Pandemic Prevention Center
The Council will receive public testimony on a special appropriation of $500,000 to help develop and advocate for a new global Pandemic Prevention Center in the County. Councilmember Hans Riemer initiated this special appropriation, which would support a contract with ConnectedDMV, a regional non-profit. A joint PHED and HHS Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 28. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation NDA - $4,938,298 for Restaurant Relief Grant Program; and amendment to FY21 Operating Budget Resolution 19-472, Section G, Designation of Entities for Non-Competitive Contract Award Status: Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation
The Council will receive public testimony and is scheduled to vote on a special appropriation of more than $4.9 million for the Restaurant Relief Grant Program. The County Executive requests approval of the resolution to implement a second round of funding for the program, which is fully funded through a state grant. The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) will implement the program for the County, as it did during the first grant period. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the FY21 Operating Budget, Office of the County Executive, Support for COVID-19 Response - $6,232,666 for Hotel Relief Grant Program
The Council will receive public testimony and is scheduled to vote on a special appropriation of $6.2 million for the Hotel Relief Grant Program. The County Executive requests approval of the subject resolution to implement the Hotel Relief Grant Program. This program is fully funded through a state grant. The County will administer the program in coordination with the Conference and Visitors Bureau. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
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Release ID: 21-025