For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 24, 2019
The following committee meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, April 24. Individuals interested in attending a committee meeting should confirm the information on the day of the meeting by visiting the Council’s web page at tinyurl.com/CountyCouncilMeetings or by calling the Council’s Communications Office at 240-777-7931. All meetings are held in the Council Office Building (100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md.), unless otherwise noted.
Meeting: Joint Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) and Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: Seventh floor hearing room
PHED Committee: Councilmembers Hans Riemer (Chair), Andrew Friedson (Lead for Parks) and Will Jawando
HHS Committee: Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz (Chair), Evan Glass (Lead for Homelessness and Vulnerable Communities) and Craig Rice
Topics: The Committee is scheduled to review several items included in the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Recommended Operating Budget and Capital Improvements Program (CIP) amendments.
- Housing First (Housing Initiative Fund)
The County’s Housing First plan focuses on reducing the length of stay in homelessness and providing stable housing for those who are exiting homelessness. Efforts focus on assisting households at imminent risk of homelessness to remain housed and assisting homeless households to rapidly exit homelessness to permanent housing. For FY20, the County Executive's Recommended Operating Budget is $60,177,754. This includes both funding appropriated to the operating and capital parts of the Housing Initiative Fund.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
- CIP Amendments - Affordable Housing Acquisition & Preservation
This project provides funding for the acquisition and/or renovation of properties to preserve or increase the County’s affordable housing inventory. The Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $17 million.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
- Department of Health and Human Services—Services to End and Prevent Homelessness (SEPH)
SEPH provides services to address homelessness and affordable housing, including housing stabilization, homeless diversion and permanent housing, and employs evidence-based practices to help end homelessness. The Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $24,257,922.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Meeting: Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Seventh floor hearing room
PHED Committee: Councilmembers Hans Riemer (Chair), Andrew Friedson (Lead for Parks) and Will Jawando
Topic: The Committee is scheduled to review several items included in the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Recommended Operating Budget and Capital Improvements Program (CIP).
- Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC)
The mission of HOC is to provide affordable and supportive housing services that enhance the lives of low and moderate-income families and individuals throughout the County. The Recommended FY20 Operating Budget for this non-departmental account is $6,788,049.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
- CIP Amendment - Demolition Fund
In order to replace some of the County’s least sustainable affordable housing and to embed a new stock of affordable housing in mixed-income communities, HOC has vacated its Emory Grove Village property and is beginning the process of vacating its Ambassador property. The entitlement and permitting process for each site will take from two to four years. In the interim, upon vacating these sites, HOC will demolish the existing buildings so they do not become blights on the surrounding neighborhoods. The County Executive's recommended budget amendment will push $500,000 of the County contribution from FY20 to FY21.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
- Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA)
DHCA’s mission is to prevent and correct problems that contribute to the physical decline of residential and commercial areas; ensure fair and equitable relations between landlords and tenants; increase the supply of affordable housing; and maintain existing housing in a safe and sanitary condition. The Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $58,574,829.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
- CIP Amendment - Burtonsville Community Revitalization
This project provides for community revitalization in the Burtonsville area with a primary focus on the commercial core. The objectives are to support the existing small businesses, create new opportunities for private investment, and create a “village center” by improving the visual appearance of the area. Project elements include gateway signage, pedestrian lighting, streetscape elements, and the acquisition of long-term facade and commercial center signage easements. The County Executive is recommending a $1 million reduction to the appropriation for this project based on the actual commitments from the remaining property owners.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
- CIP Amendment - Colesville/New Hampshire Revitalization
This project provides for commercial revitalization in the Colesville community focused on the four commercial intersections along New Hampshire Avenue (MD Route 650). The objectives are to support the existing small businesses, create new opportunities for private investment and improve the visual appearance of the area. Project elements include gateway signage, pedestrian lighting, connectivity, streetscape elements, landscaping/screening, acquisition of long-term facade and commercial center signage easements and other amenities. The County Executive is recommending reducing the total funding and adjusting the timing of the expenditures based on actual expenditures and commitments. Work has been completed at 13401 New Hampshire Avenue. Other properties targeted for improvements are Colesville Mall, Ethios Corner, Meadowood Center and the Hollywood Avenue Center.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
- CIP Amendment - Facility Planning: HCD
This project provides funds for Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) facility planning studies for a variety of projects for possible inclusion in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). In addition, facility planning serves as a transition stage for a project between the master plan or conceptual stage and its inclusion as a stand-alone project in the CIP. The County Executive is recommending reduced overall funding for the project based on the current estimated implementation schedule. This is achieved by appropriating $25,000 in additional funding for FY20 while retaining the current expenditure schedule of up to $125,000.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Meeting: Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Seventh floor hearing room
PHED Committee: Councilmembers Hans Riemer (Chair), Andrew Friedson (Lead for Parks) and Will Jawando
Topic: The Committee is scheduled to review several items included in the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Recommended Operating Budget and Capital Improvements Program (CIP).
- CIP—Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
As introduced, the amendments modify two acquisition-related capital projects:
- Acquisition Local Parks-This capital project allows the Parks Department to acquire land that serves County residents on a neighborhood or community basis; and
- Acquisition: Non-local Parks-This capital project allows the Parks Department to acquire land for non-local parks that include regional, recreational, conservation, stream valley, special, historic, and urban parks of countywide significance. Both projects are primarily funded through Program Open Space (POS) funding, which is a significant funding source from the State of Maryland's transfer tax dedicated to the planning, acquisition and/or development of recreation land or open space areas. Occasionally acquisitions are partially funded by developer contributions.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
- Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC)
The County Executive recommends $129,265,933 for the M-NCPPC. This is 0.8 percent higher than the appropriation approved in the FY19 Operating Budget, and 4 percent less than the FY20 M-NCPPC budget request. Council staff has recommended to approve $131,612,992, which is an increase of $2,347,059 over the County Executive's recommended FY20 Operating Budget, and $3,638,804 less than the FY20 M-NCPPC budget request.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Meeting: Public Safety (PS) Committee
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Third floor conference room
PS Committee: Council Vice President Sidney Katz (Chair), Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Tom Hucker
Topics:
Supplemental Appropriation to the FY 19 MCFRS Operating Budget - $1,963,432 to Expend the proceeds of the FY19 State of Maryland Senator Amoss Fire, Rescue and Ambulance Fund grant
The PS Committee will review a supplemental appropriation to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) FY19 Operating Budget in the amount of $1,963,432. The appropriation will fund acquisition or rehabilitation of apparatus and capital equipment and the renovation of facilities used to house apparatus.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
FY20 Operating Budget and CIP Amendments
- Collective Bargaining Agreement with Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (MCVFRA)
The current structure of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Association was established by Bill 36-03, which took effect on January 1, 2005. One of the most innovative changes in Bill 36- 03 was the establishment of a process for Local Fire and Rescue Departments (LFRD’s) to select an authorized representative to represent their interests, and a requirement for the fire chief to negotiate in good faith with the authorized representative on certain issues affecting LFRD’s and their volunteers. The process was intended to be like collective bargaining with career employees. The LFRD’s selected the MCVFRA as their representative. On January 30, 2007, the Council approved the first agreement between the County Government and MCVFRA. On April 1, 2019, the County Executive submitted a negotiated agreement between the County Executive and the MCVFRA, effective July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020, for Council review and action.
The Council must review and act on each provision that requires an appropriation of funds in FY20. In total, the FY20 budget includes a total fiscal impact of $178,309 in County funding under this agreement.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
- Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS)
The mission of MCFRS is to provide maximum protection of lives, property and the environment with comprehensive risk reduction programs and safe and effective emergency response provided by highly-skilled career and volunteer service providers representing the County’s diverse population. The Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $223.3 million.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
The Council committee meetings 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 meetings 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: 19-136
Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926, Juan Jovel 240-777-7931