For Immediate Release: Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Also on June 25: Scheduled vote on bill enhancing tenant’s health and safety, discussion on County’s economic development strategy; introduction of bills relating to property tax credit for surviving spouses of retired military services members and waiving County licensing fees for disabled individuals in accessory dwelling units
The Council meeting on Tuesday, June 25 will begin at 9:30 a.m. Individuals interested in attending a Council meeting should confirm the information on the day of the meeting by visiting the Council’s web page or by calling the Council’s Communication Office at 240-777-7832. All meetings are held in the Council Office Building (100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD.) in the third-floor hearing room, unless otherwise noted.
Appointments to Montgomery County Planning Board and designation of chair
The Council is scheduled to appoint two members to the five-member Montgomery County Planning Board and designate one member as chair. The Council interviewed seven of the 24 residents who applied for the two positions including: Casey Anderson, Brandy Brooks, Julian Haffner, Charles Kauffman, William Kirwan, Jennifer Russel and Partap Verma.
The Montgomery County Planning Board plans for livable communities by developing large- and small-scale plans, provides guidelines for the pattern and pace of future development and preserving historic resources throughout our 323,000-acre County. The Planning Board implements plans through its review of development applications and its subdivision decisions. The Planning Board also is responsible for the development and management of County’s nationally recognized 36,512-acre park system. The Montgomery County Planning Board, together with the Prince George’s County Planning Board, comprise The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Bill 6-19, Landlord-Tenant Relations - Termination of Lease - Tenant Health and Safety
The Council is scheduled to vote on Bill 6-19, Landlord-Tenant Relations - Termination of Lease - Tenant Health and Safety. Councilmember Tom Hucker is the lead sponsor. All other Councilmembers are cosponsors. Bill 6-19 would require each lease for rental housing located in the County to allow the tenant to terminate the lease, if the landlord does not correct a violation of applicable law within 30 days after being ordered to do so by the department that impacts the immediate health and safety of the tenant. The legislation covers health and safety issues in a tenant’s unit or a common area available for use by the tenant. The goal of this bill is to allow tenants to protect their health by providing them an opportunity to terminate their lease if there are serious health and safety violations that remain uncorrected.
Key search terms for this legislation on the Council’s website include: renter, tenant, lease, health and safety. #MoCoRentersRights is being used for this bill on social media.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
The Council is scheduled to introduce the following bills:
Bill 20-19, Landlord-Tenant Relations - Licensing of Rental Housing - Fee Exemption
Bill 20-19, Landlord-Tenant Relations - Licensing of Rental Housing - Fee Exemption would exempt a license applicant from any license fee requirement to operate an accessory apartment as rental housing in certain circumstances. Councilmember Andrew Friedson is the lead sponsor. Councilmembers Will Jawando, Gabe Albornoz, Hans Riemer, Council President Nancy Navarro and Councilmember Craig Rice are cosponsors. The goal of this bill is to eliminate any license fee associated with operating an accessory apartment as rental housing if the apartment is occupied by an individual with disabilities.
Key search terms for this legislation on the Council’s website include the following: rental housing fee, landlord-tenant relations, accessory apartments, rental housing licensing and license applicant. #AccessoryAptFeeExemption is being used for this bill on social media.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Expedited Bill 21-19, Property Tax Credit - Elderly Individuals and Retired Military Services Member - Surviving Spouse
Expedited Bill 21-19, Property Tax Credit - Elderly Individuals and Retired Military Services Member - Surviving Spouse would expand the property tax credit for surviving spouses of retired military services members. Councilmember Craig Rice and Council Vice President Sidney Katz are the lead sponsors. Council President Nancy Navarro is a cosponsor. The goal of this bill is to implement changes to the state enabling law made during the 2019 General Assembly session.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Key search terms for this legislation on the Council’s website include the following: tax credit, surviving spouses, property tax credit, elderly individuals and retired military service members. #SurvivingSpousesTaxCredit is being used for this bill on social media.
The Council is also scheduled vote on the following bills, which and are preceded with their respective public hearing:
Expedited Bill 16-19, Special Capital Improvements Project - Gude Landfill Remediation
Bill 16-19, Special Capital Improvements Project – Gude Landfill Remediation would authorize the planning, design and construction of the Gude Landfill Remediation project in the Rockville area. The lead sponsor is Council President Navarro, at the request of the County Executive. The goal of this legislation is to provide expenditure authority for the remediation of low-level environmental contamination at the Gude Landfill.
Key search terms for this legislation on the Council’s website include the following: Capital Improvements, Environment, Infiltration. #GudeLandfill is being used for this bill on social media.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Expedited Bill 17-19, Bond Authorization - Stormwater Management
Expedited Bill 17-19, Bond Authorization - Stormwater Management would increase the County’s authority to issue special limited obligation bonds for stormwater management facilities or other related projects. The lead sponsor is Council President Nancy Navarro, at the request of the County Executive. The goal of this legislation is to provide new bond authorization for the planning, design, acquisition and construction of stormwater management facilities and other related projects. The proceeds will fund projects in the Conservation of Natural Resources category that were approved for long-term financing in the FY19-24 amended Capital Improvements Program.
#Bond Authorization is being used for this bill on social media.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
The Council is scheduled to vote on the following resolutions:
Resolution to Amend the 2016-2020 Subdivision Staging Policy in association with blighted/condemned buildings or affordable housing
The Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution to amend the 2016-2020 Subdivision Staging Policy (SSP). Councilmembers Craig Rice and Hans Riemer have sponsored an amendment to the 2016-2020 SSP that would allow a project with housing to be approved in a cluster or individual school service area that is in moratorium, if the project would generate ten or fewer school students and either:
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Resolution to approve the Tax Supported Fiscal Plan Summary for FY20-25 Public Services Program
The Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution to approve the Tax Supported Fiscal Plan Summary for the Fiscal Years 2020-25 (FY20-25) Public Services Program. The County Charter states that the County Executive must submit a comprehensive six-year program for public services and fiscal policy to the Council every year, no later than March 15. The six-year programs require a Council vote for approval or modification. The FY20-25 Tax Supported Fiscal Plan summary, like all versions of the Fiscal Plan, reflects current fiscal projections and policy assumptions. As economic and fiscal conditions change, future versions of the plan will change as well.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
County’s Economic Development Strategy
The Council will hold a discussion on the County’s economic development strategy. Councilmembers met with the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) and WorkSource Montgomery (WSM) in March to discuss the County’s economic development initiatives and strategies with its designated economic development organizations. As follow up to the March meeting, this discussion with County Executive Marc Elrich and Executive staff will focus on the functions of MCEDC, the Department of Finance and other County departments and agencies in creating conditions for economic growth; the possible expansion of such functions over the next 24-36 months; and the Executive branch’s immediate action steps and goals for economic development; and the identification of items that will require Council action.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
The following public hearings will be held at 1:30 p.m. and are followed their respective scheduled vote:
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: 19-226