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Press Releases - County Council

Council to introduce bills on accessory dwelling units, cybersecurity investment and air conditioning requirements for rental units on July 16

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Also on July 16: Scheduled vote on bill for Board of Trustees for the Consolidated Retiree Health Benefits Trust

The Council meeting on Tuesday, July 16 will begin at 10:30 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.

The Council will introduce the following bills:

Bill 22-19, Accessory Dwelling Units - Licensing - Requirements - Amendments
The Council will introduce Bill 22-19, which would replace the phrase “accessory apartment” with “accessory dwelling unit.” Councilmembers Hans Riemer, Andrew Friedson, Will Jawando and Council President Nancy Navarro are the lead sponsors. Bill 22-19 also would do the following: amend the standards for minimum ceiling heights for basements or cellars used for an accessory dwelling; amend the accessory dwelling unit licensing procedures concerning ownership and common ownership associations; require information and notice concerning common ownership communities in the applicant and review of an accessory dwelling unit license; and require reporting by the Executive of accessory dwelling unit problems and planned solutions.

The Council staff report can be viewed here.

Key search terms for this legislation on the Council’s website include accessory dwelling units, accessory apartments and DHCA licensing. #AccessoryDwellingUnits is being used for this bill on social media.

Bill 23-19, Cybersecurity Investment Incentive Tax Credit Supplement – Amendments
The Council will introduce Bill 23-19, which would allow a qualified investor to receive the cybersecurity investment incentive tax credit supplement. Councilmembers Hans Riemer, Andrew Friedson and Will Jawando are the lead sponsors. The Cybersecurity Tax Credit Supplement Program is Montgomery County’s local incentive program aimed at spurring job and business growth in the cybersecurity sector. The County offers a local supplement to the Maryland Cybersecurity Investment Incentive Tax Credit to qualified Maryland cybersecurity companies that receive a final Maryland tax credit certificate and have their headquarters and base of operations in the County

The Council staff report can be viewed here.

Key search terms for this legislation on the Council’s website include the following: cybersecurity investment, Maryland Cybersecurity Investment Tax Credit Program, qualified investor, cybersecurity company, tax credit and cybersecurity incentive. #CybersecurityTaxCredit is being used for this bill on social media.

Bill 24-19, Landlord-Tenant Relations - Obligations of Landlord - Air Conditioning
The Council will introduce Bill 24-19, which would require a landlord to provide and maintain air conditioning service for rental housing located in the County during certain months and establish standards for air conditioning service provided by a landlord. Councilmember Tom Hucker is the lead sponsor. Councilmember Will Jawando is a cosponsor. The goal of this bill is to ensure tenants in rental housing have access to a working air conditioning unit.

The Council staff report can be viewed here.

Key search terms for this legislation on the Council’s website include: air conditioning, AC unit, air conditioning in rental housing, obligations of landlords, landlord-tenant relations. #MoCoRentalAC is being used for this bill on social media.

The Council is scheduled to vote on the following bill:

Expedited Bill 9-19, Consolidated Retiree Health Benefits Trust - Delegation of Duties
The Council is scheduled to vote on Expedited Bill 9-19, which would permit the Board to delegate duties if such an action is deemed appropriate and consistent with its fiduciary duties. The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee recommends enactment. Council President Nancy Navarro is the lead sponsor, at the request of the Board of Trustees for the Consolidated Retiree Health Benefits Trust. The goal of this bill is to better align the roles and responsibilities of the Board and its staff in the oversight of the investment program and to further enhance the efficiency of the operation of the program.

The Council staff report can be viewed here.

Key search terms for this legislation on the Council’s website include: Board of Trustees and Trust Management Fund. #MoCoRetireeHealthTrust is being used for this bill on social media.

Public Hearings
The following public hearings will be held at 1:30 p.m.:

Bill 18-19, Landlord Tenant Relations - Relocation Expenses. The Council staff report can be viewed here.

Expedited Bill 19-19, Economic Development - Workforce Development - Amendments. The Council staff report can be viewed here.

Bill 20-19, Landlord-Tenant Relations - Licensing of Rental Housing - Fee Exemption. The Council staff report can be viewed here.

Expedited Bill 21-19, Property Tax Credit - Elderly Individuals and Retired Military Services Member - Surviving Spouse. The Council staff report can be viewed here.

The Transportation and Environment Committee with hold the following public hearings at 7:30 p.m.:

Supplemental Appropriation and Amendment to the FY20 Capital Budget and FY19-24 Capital Improvements Program (CIP), $3,000,000 for Bus Rapid Transit: MD 355. The Council staff report can be viewed here.

Supplemental Appropriation and Amendment to the FY20 Capital Budget and FY19-24 CIP, $1,000,000 for Bus Rapid Transit: Veirs Mill Corridor. The Council staff report can be viewed here.

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: 19-249
Media Contact: Sonya Healy 240-777-7926, Juan Jovel 240-777-7931