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Press Releases - County Council
Montgomery County Council Meets on Dec. 9 to Appoint Temporary At-Large Councilmember and Introduce the Trust Act
For Immediate Release: Monday, December 8, 2025
Also on Dec. 9: Council will vote on the University Boulevard Corridor Plan and the HERO Act
The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting will begin with a vote on a resolution to confirm a temporary councilmember, followed by an interview with Gabe Albornoz, who is the County Executive’s nominee for director of the Montgomery County Department of Recreation.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Resolution to Confirm Councilmember
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on a resolution to confirm a temporary councilmember to fill the vacant seat formerly held by Gabe Albornoz. On Dec. 2, the Council interviewed three candidates as finalists, Shebra Evans, Henry Lee and Reemberto Rodriguez, for the temporary councilmember position. On Oct. 16, Councilmember Gabe Albornoz announced that he planned to step down from the Montgomery County Council and submit an official letter of resignation on Dec. 1. In accordance with the Montgomery County Charter and Montgomery County Code Section 16-17, a vacancy occurring on or after Dec. 1 the year before a Council election is filled with an appointee. The appointed councilmember will fulfill the functions of the office for less than one year.
County Executive's nominee for Director, Department of Recreation: Gabriel Albornoz
Interview and vote expected: The Council will interview Gabe Albornoz, who is the County Executive’s nominee for director of the Montgomery County Department of Recreation. The Council is expected to vote on a resolution to confirm or reject the nomination later in the meeting following the interview.
Consent Calendar
Each item on the Council’s Consent Calendar can be found on the Council agenda for Tuesday, Dec. 9, which is available on the Council website.
District Council Session
University Boulevard Corridor (UBC) Plan
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on the University Boulevard Corridor Plan. The plan makes recommendations within an approximately three-mile stretch of University Boulevard (MD 193) from the edge of East Indian Spring Drive, just south of I-495, to Amherst Avenue in Wheaton. The recommendations include a new range of residential housing options for existing detached residential properties and new infill development on larger institutional and commercial properties.
As introduced, the University Boulevard Corridor Plan would amend the approved and adopted 1989 Master Plan for the Communities of Kensington-Wheaton, 1996 Four Corners Master Plan, 2001 Kemp Mill Master Plan, and 2012 Wheaton Central Business District and Vicinity Sector Plan.
The Council reviewed the University Boulevard Plan at a meeting held on Nov. 18. The Council continued to review and held a straw vote on the plan at a meeting held on Dec. 2. The Council’s Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP) Committee reviewed the draft plan over the course four meetings held on Nov. 10 and Nov. 3, Oct. 20 and Sept. 29. The committee recommends approval with a series of amendments. Additional information about the committee’s recommendations is available in the Council staff report.
The Council held public hearings on the University Boulevard Corridor Plan on Sept. 10 at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring and Sept. 16 at the Council Office Building in Rockville. More information about the University Boulevard Corridor Plan is available on the Montgomery Planning website.
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-12, Overlay Zones - University Boulevard (UB) Overlay Zone
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-12, which would create a new University Boulevard Overlay Zone that implements the recommendations found in the draft University Boulevard Corridor Plan. The plan makes recommendations within a three-mile stretch of University Boulevard (MD 193) from the edge of East Indian Spring Drive, just south of I-495, to Amherst Avenue in Wheaton. The recommendations include a new range of residential housing options for existing detached residential properties and new infill development on larger institutional and commercial properties.
To implement the zoning changes recommended by a master plan, a ZTA is needed. ZTA 25-12, as recommended by the Planning Board, provides development standards for sites less than 15,000 square feet and for sites 15,000 square feet or larger that consider building placement, site coverage, and open space. The ZTA also allows accessory dwelling units (ADUs), allows residential R-60 development standards on commercial residential neighborhood (CRN) sites with no commercial floor area ratio (FAR), and prohibits certain auto-centric land uses.
The lead sponsor of ZTA 25-12 is the Council President at the request of the Planning Board. The PHP Committee recommends enactment with amendments.
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-13, Omnibus - Revisions, Clarifications, and Corrections
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on ZTA 25-13, Omnibus - Revisions, Clarifications, and Corrections. ZTA 25-13 would amend height restrictions for a regional shopping center in the Regional Shopping Center (RSC) Overlay Zone, place a gross floor area cap on household living in the employment zones, and clarify the gross floor area cap on non-residential uses for commercial to residential reconstruction. In addition, the ZTA would clarify the applicable conditional use standards for townhouse living, require setbacks for limited outdoor storage of items such as vehicles and boats, and correct outdated cross-references to expedited approval plans. The ZTA is needed to make several technical, clarifying and other amendments to the zoning ordinance.
The lead sponsors of ZTA 25-13 are Council President Natali Fani-González and Councilmember Andrew Friedson. The PHP Committee recommends enactment with amendments.
Update: The Council is expected to receive an update on the County’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027-2032 Fiscal Plan from Department of Finance and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) representatives. The fiscal plan provides a high-level overview of the County’s fiscal condition and position based on current revenue and expenditure assumptions. The update includes revisions to the County’s revenues based on actual collections to-date, assumed additional revenue that will be received in the coming months and estimated annual expenditures. The fiscal plan is updated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in December and again by OMB in March as part of the County Executive’s recommended operating budget. The fiscal plan is reviewed and approved by the Council each June following the Council’s budget decisions for the coming fiscal year.
Legislative Session
Introduction: The Council is expected to introduce Expedited Bill 35-25, County Administration - Immigrant Protections (Promoting Community Trust - Immigrant Protections Act), also known at the Trust Act. Spearheaded by Council President Fani-González, the entire Council has sponsored the Trust Act, which reaffirms Montgomery County’s commitment to ensuring that all residents, regardless of immigration status, can safely access County services without fear or discrimination.
Bill 35-25 would prohibit discriminatory practices by the County against foreign nationals and immigrants in the County; limit, consistent with federal and state law, the use of County agents and resources in the enforcement of civil immigration laws; ensure that, to the greatest extent permitted under federal and state law, County benefits and services are provided to residents regardless of country of birth or immigration status; require certain notices to individuals; and generally amend the laws regarding County government administration and immigrant protections.
While the County cannot determine the federal immigration policy, this new legislation codifies that County resources and processes promote a welcoming and inclusive community, regardless of immigration status. The legislation does not change the County’s approach to criminal law enforcement. Montgomery County Police will continue to enforce all criminal laws and the State’s Attorney will retain full authority to prosecute those cases. Those who commit crimes in Montgomery County will continue to be held accountable through the justice system. Consistent with current policy, the County will continue narrowly circumscribed cooperation with federal immigration officials on cases involving serious, violent crime.
A public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 13.
Expedited Bill 31-25, Landlord-Tenant Relations - Landlord Notice Requirements – Evictions
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Expedited Bill 31-25, which would require landlords to notify tenants and the County of scheduled evictions and establish penalties for noncompliance. In accordance with a new state law that went into effect Oct. 1, known as the Tenant Possession Recovery Act, the bill would increase the eviction notice requirements in Montgomery County to 14 days before the scheduled date of repossession.
The Maryland General Assembly amended landlord-tenant law regarding notices of evictions during the 2025 session. Effective Oct. 1, 2025, Maryland law requires a landlord, at least six days before a scheduled date of repossession as set by the sheriff, to provide written notice to the tenant of the date the warrant of restitution is scheduled to be executed. Under the new state law, the written notice must be provided to the tenant through multiple methods, including by posting on the premises, a first-class mailing, and if available, an email or text. In addition, the new law enables local jurisdictions to increase the requirement of the six-day advance notice to a 14-day advance notice. In accordance with the enabling authority, Expedited Bill 31-25 would increase the notice requirement to 14 days in the County.
The lead sponsor of Expedited Bill 31-25 is Councilmember Kristin Mink. Councilmember Kate Stewart, Councilmember Will Jawando and Council President Fani-González are cosponsors of Expedited Bill 31-25. The PHP Committee recommends enactment with amendments.
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Expedited Bill 32-25, Employees’ Retirement System – Survivor Benefits – Death During Line of Duty, also known as the HERO Act. Bill 32-25 would increase death benefits to spouses of Group G members whose deaths are service connected; and generally amend the law regarding the employees’ retirement system, including pension benefits and other benefits available to survivors upon service-connected deaths. The purpose of Bill 32-35 is to maintain existing survivor benefit options for spouses and children of career firefighters (Group G members) who are killed in the line of duty, while adding an option for the spouse to receive a pension as if the member had at least 20 years of credited service. The HERO Act also would ensure that benefits are received expeditiously following a line of duty death and reaffirm the County’s commitment to honoring the critical work of the County’s first responders and public safety officials.
The lead sponsors of Bill 32-25 are Councilmembers Evan Glass and Sidney Katz. Councilmembers Stewart and Friedson, Council Vice President Marilyn Balcombe, Council President Fani-González, and Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke, Mink, and Laurie-Anne Sayles are cosponsors of Bill 32-25.
The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee recommends enactment with amendments.
The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. View the current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review on the Council website.
Council and committee meetings are 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, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream.
Release ID: 25-407
Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926, Benjamin Sky Brandt 240-777-7884