For Immediate Release: Monday, March 19, 2018
Bills on County climate policy, green roofs and solar panels to be introduced at Council meeting on Tuesday, March 20
Council also continues review of Committee recommendations for County’s capital budget and holds several public hearings
ROCKVILLE, Md., March 19, 2018—The Montgomery County Council will introduce the following three bills related to the environment and sustainability on March 20 at 9:30 a.m. in the third floor hearing room:
Bill 10-18, Administration - Director of County Climate Policy – Established;
Bill 11-18, Buildings – Environmental Roof Design – Non-residential and Multi-family Buildings; and
Bill 12-18, Real Property - New Home Sales Contracts – Solar Panel Systems.
Bill 10-18, Administration – Director of County Climate Policy – Established would require the County Executive to designate an employee as the Director of County Climate Policy and define the duties of the Director of County Climate Policy. Councilmember George Leventhal is the lead sponsor. Councilmembers Roger Berliner and Tom Hucker are cosponsors. A public hearing is scheduled for April 10 at 1:30 p.m. The staff report can be viewed at: https://tinyurl.com/y7t8mdsc .
Bill 11-18, Buildings – Environmental Roof Design – Non-residential and Multi-family Buildings would require an environmentally sustainable roof on certain new and extensively modified non-residential or multi-family buildings. It would also authorize the Director of the Department of Permitting Services to approve a full or partial waiver. Councilmember Marc Elrich is the lead sponsor. A public hearing is scheduled for April 10 at 1:30 p.m. The staff report can be viewed at: https://tinyurl.com/yabsu4em .
Bill 12-18, Real Property – New Home Sales Contracts – Solar Panel Systems would require the seller of a new single-family home to give the buyer an option to install a solar panel system. It would also require the seller to disclose the benefits of a solar panel system and an estimate of the cost to install the system. The purpose of Bill 12-18 is to increase the use of renewable energy in the County. Councilmember Marc Elrich is the lead sponsor. Councilmember Tom Hucker is a cosponsor. A public hearing is scheduled for April 10 at 1:30 p.m. The staff report can be viewed at: https://tinyurl.com/y7kvj64w .
The Council also is scheduled to vote on Bill 41-17, Economic Development Fund - Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Matching Grant Program – Established. Councilmember Leventhal is the lead sponsor. All other Councilmembers are cosponsors. The Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED) Committee recommends approval with amendments. As introduced Bill 41-17 would establish a Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Matching Grant Program and define eligibility for the program. The goal of this bill is to encourage small businesses that receive federal grants under these programs to locate in the County. The staff report can be viewed at: https://tinyurl.com/ycbspkh6 .
At 2 p.m. the Council will review the semi-annual report of the Montgomery County Planning Board for spring 2018. The semi-annual report can be viewed at: https://tinyurl.com/y78ont2q.
The Council also will review Committee recommendations for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Capital Budget and the FY19-24 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Over the past few weeks, Council Committees have reviewed and made recommendations on the County Executive’s $4.521 billion recommended six-year CIP.
The Council will review the following FY19-24 CIP recommendations:
The Council also will hold the following public hearings on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m, unless otherwise indicated:
Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro Area Minor Master Plan Sectional Map Amendment (H-127)
Supplemental Appropriation - MCPS - $3,459,737 to provide additional support to students at risk
Supplemental Appropriation - MCPS - $672,957 to provide student support and academic enrichment
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 18-02, Telecommunications Towers - Limited Use (7:30 p.m.)
The Council meeting and public hearings will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM). The channel can be viewed on Cable Channels 996 (high definition) and 6 (standard definition) on Comcast; Channels 1056 (HD) and 6 (SD) on RCN; and Channel 30 on Verizon.
The Council meeting also will be available live via streaming through the Council web site at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
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Release ID: 18-081