For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 2, 2019
The following committee meetings are scheduled for Thursday, May 2. 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: Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: Seventh floor hearing room
HHS Committee: Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz (Chair), Evan Glass (Lead for Homelessness and Vulnerable Communities) and Craig Rice
Topic: The Committee is scheduled to review the following item included in the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Recommended Operating Budget and Capital Improvements Program (CIP) amendments.
Office of Human Rights
The mission of the Office of Human Rights is to enforce Federal, State and County anti-discrimination laws in housing, commercial real estate, employment, public accommodations and intimidation; and promote increased understanding and tolerance among diverse groups. The County Executive’s Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $1.3 million.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Meeting: Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Location: Third floor hearing room
GO Committee: Council President Nancy Navarro (Chair), Council Vice President Sidney Katz and Councilmember Andrew Friedson
Topics: The Committee is scheduled to review several items included in the FY20 Recommended Operating Budget and CIP.
Board of Elections
The GO Committee will continue its review of the Recommended FY20 Operating Budget for the Board of Elections. The mission of the Board of Elections is to register voters, conduct elections, assist persons seeking elective office with candidate filings and campaign fund reports, assist citizens seeking to place questions on the ballot and preserve election data. The County Executive’s Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $8.1 million.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Innovation Fund Non-Departmental Account (NDA)
This fund is intended to make loans on a rolling basis for internal departmental initiatives with strong potential to improve customer service and performance results, while at the same time reducing budgetary costs and/or increasing County revenue within three to five years. The County Executive’s Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $2 million.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Charter Review Commission
Section 509 of the County Charter requires that a Charter Review Commission be appointed by the County Council every four years, within six months of the Council assuming office, for the purpose of reviewing the Charter. The County Executive’s Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $1,150.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Intergovernmental Relations
The mission of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations is to represent County interests at the regional, State, and Federal levels; to prepare the annual State Legislative Program; to prepare the annual Federal priorities request; and to be the liaison with State Government, and the County’s State and Congressional delegations. The Office is the lead Executive Branch agency representing the County before the Maryland Association of Counties and the National Association of Counties. The County Executive’s Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $1.2 million.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Property Tax Options: Amount, Rate and Income Tax Offset Credit
Every year, the Council considers its options with respect to the amount of property tax revenue, the amount of the credit and the weighted average real property tax rate. This year, the County Executive proposed a credit of $692. The credit has been set at $692 for each tax year since 2011. Councilmembers Jawando and Riemer requested initial analysis of alternatives to facilitate a policy discussion regarding the credit, rate and revenue amount. These alternatives and others may be considered during the upcoming Committee and Council meetings.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Community Engagement Cluster
The Community Engagement Cluster (CEC) works to build stronger, more informed, and inclusive communities. The Cluster is responsible for strengthening Montgomery County’s commitment to civic engagement and community service by engaging residents, organizations, businesses and other community groups. The County Executive’s Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $4.8 million.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Merit System Protection Board
The mission of the Merit System Protection Board is to oversee the merit system and protect employee and job applicant rights guaranteed under the merit system law. The County Executive’s Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $259,443.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Ethics Commission
The Ethics Commission promotes the public’s trust of County government and ensures the impartiality of County employees, including elected officials, in the execution of their responsibilities. The County Executive’s Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $469,955.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
NDAs: County Associations, Public Technology, Inc., Council of Governments, and Boards, Committees, Commissions; Inauguration and Transition
The County Associations NDA funds County membership dues to the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo). The County Executive’s Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $74,728.
Funds are budgeted each year to continue membership in Public Technology, Inc. (PTI) as the County’s research and development link with the National Association of Counties. The County participates in, and has received grants as a result of, initiatives in task forces on energy, solid waste, and telecommunications. The County Executive’s Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $20,000.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) is a voluntary association of major local governments in the Washington Metropolitan Area. COG seeks to provide regional answers to, and coordination of, area-wide issues such as air and water pollution, day care, housing, crime, water supply, land use and transportation. The County Executive’s Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $1,582,391.
There are approximately 75 boards, committees and commissions, created by law or resolution, which serve the County for a variety of purposes. The Boards, Committees and Commissions NDA provides for the reimbursement of certain expenses incurred by eligible members of boards, committees or commissions while on official business and/or for expenses related to the establishment of any new boards, committees, or commissions. The County Executive’s Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $22,950.
The Montgomery County Charter provides for the quadrennial election of a County Executive and Council. This NDA provides for a ceremony and smooth transition of the County Executive and Council every four years. The County Executive’s Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $0 as there are no elections or transitions taking place.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Meeting: Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Seventh floor hearing room
T&E Committee: Councilmembers Tom Hucker (Chair), Evan Glass and Hans Riemer
Topics: The Committee is scheduled to review several items included in the FY20 Recommended Operating Budget and CIP.
FY20 Transportation Fees, Charges and Fares
The T&E Committee will review the County Executive’s recommended transportation fees, charges, and fares associated with services provided by the Department of Transportation. Council staff concurs with the County Executive’s proposed recommendations for the FY20 resolution. A list of those recommendations can be found on circle pages 1-8 of the Council staff report.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Parking Lot District Funds and Associated CIP amendments
The County Executive's Recommended FY20 Operating Budget for Parking District Services is $28,289,292. Council staff recommends approval of the County Executive’s FY20 recommendation and the Executive’s amendments to the FY19-24 CIP for parking projects.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
White Oak Local Area Transportation Improvement Program
In 2017 the Council approved Resolution 18-726 establishing the White Oak LATIP, establishing the LATIP fee and the projects to be funded by the fee. The LATIP fee was established to allow new development in White Oak to pay the fee in lieu of meeting the Local Area Transportation Review (LATR) adequate public facilities requirement. One of the projects ultimately to be built with LATIP fee revenue is an improvement in the vicinity of the New Hampshire Avenue/Powder Mill Road intersection in Hillandale.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Meeting: Education & Culture (E&C) Committee
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Third floor hearing room
E&C Committee: Councilmember Craig Rice (Chair), Councilmember Will Jawando (Lead for Libraries) and Council President Nancy Navarro
Topics: The Committee is scheduled to review several items included in the FY20 Recommended Operating Budget and CIP.
Arts and Humanities Council NDA
This NDA provides funding for the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, the County’s designated local arts agency. The Recommended FY20 Operating Budget is $5,356,943.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
CIP: Public Arts Trust
The purpose of the Public Arts Trust is to incorporate art into public facilities and sponsor privately-funded temporary or permanent displays of art on public property. The trust’s six-year expenditures have totaled $1.16 million.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Cost Sharing - MCG, State Match Community Grants and Arts Capital Grants
The E&C Committee will review large capital grant requests in the Cost Sharing: MCG project which total $1,583,581. The Cost Sharing CIP is for the development of nongovernmental projects where County funding leverages private and other public funds and include art capital projects and community grants. The County Executive has recommended 15 capital projects and two arts capital grants which total $1,330,000 for community grants and four arts capital projects through the Arts & Humanities Council which total $253,581.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
The E&C Committee will close out its meeting by continuing its review of MCPS’ Recommended FY20 Operating Budget and making final recommendations. Based on the County Executive’s adjustments, updated information from MCPS and additional recommended technical adjustments, Council staff recommends a total appropriation for MCPS that is an increase of $30.5 million over the recommended budget the County submitted to the Council on March 15. This increase consists of $24.4 million in State Aid and $6.1 million in County funding.
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: 19-148