For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 30, 2019
From the Office Councilmember Gabe Albornoz
Councilmember Gabe Albornoz’s Bill 13-19 requires County Executive
to submit a reuse analysis and allows Council to see which departments
or agencies have expressed interest in property
ROCKVILLE, Md., July 30, 2019—Today the Montgomery County Council unanimously enacted Bill 13-19, County Property – Disposition – Reuse Analysis, which modifies the procedures for the disposition of County property and requires the County Executive to submit a reuse analysis to the Council. Councilmember Gabe Albornoz is the lead sponsor.
“This legislation will increase transparency and give the public the opportunity to offer their views early in the property disposition process,” said Councilmember Albornoz, who chairs the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee and is a member of the Public Safety Committee. “It is important that community members have a voice when County property is offered for sale or for use as part of a public/private partnership. Providing additional opportunities for community input will help the Council throughout the decision-making process for surplus County property.”
The goal of this legislation is to bring greater transparency and accountability to the property disposition process and give the Council information on how the reuse analysis was performed. Bill 13-19 also will enable the Council to see which County departments or outside agencies have expressed interest in potential surplus property and for what purpose.
Current law requires the County Executive to implement regulations requiring a comparative analysis of reuse proposals before the County Executive can dispose of County property. Bill 13-19 would require that the reuse analysis be submitted the Council for comment.
This submission will include any proposals received from an outside agency, which includes the Housing Opportunities Commission, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Montgomery College, Montgomery County Public Schools, the Revenue Authority, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and County municipalities.
In addition, Bill 13-19 reaffirms the Council’s authority to disapprove the Executive’s declaration of no further need if: the Council finds that there is a further need for the real property; a County department or outside agency has expressed a need for the property; or approval of the declaration is contrary to the public interest.
Councilmember Albornoz’s remarks on Bill 13-19 can be viewed here. The Council staff report for Bill 13-19 can be viewed here.
# # #
Release ID: 19-269