For Immediate Release: Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Also on Nov. 26: Council will introduce a zoning measure
that would allow roof signs in certain areas of the County
The Council will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 11 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 Legislative Information 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. Council staff reports for all items on the Council’s agenda can be found here.
Supplemental appropriation to the County Government’s FY20 Operating Budget, Department of Finance - $500,000 for the Economic Development Fund Grant and Loan Program
The Council will introduce a supplemental appropriation of $500,000 to the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Operating Budget of the Department of Finance, for the Economic Development Fund Grant and Loan Program. This appropriation would fund a resolution to support the expansion of Supernus Pharmaceuticals in Montgomery County. County law requires that the County Executive fund all business incentive packages that are valued at more than $500,000 through a supplemental appropriation. Supernus Pharmaceuticals intends to invest about $18.2 million to relocate its headquarters within the County. The project includes an additional 68,000 square feet of leased space and 160 jobs above its current base. A public hearing on this appropriation is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 10 at 11:30 a.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Bill 36-19, Contracts and Procurement - Office of Grants Management - Established
The Council will introduce Bill 36-19, which would establish an Office of Grants Management as a principal office of the County’s Executive Branch. Council President Nancy Navarro is the lead sponsor. Bill 36-19 also would alter the circumstances in which a contract may be awarded without competition; prescribe the authorities and responsibilities of the Office of Grants Management; and generally amend the law regarding grants and related functions. The Office of Grants Management would have the following responsibilities:
The goal of this legislation is to increase efficiency in the County’s grants process and in managing the grants received by the County. A public hearing on this bill is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 14, 2020 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#MoCoGrantsManagement is being used for this bill on social media.
Zoning Text Amendment 19-09, Roof Signs Metro Station Policy Areas
The Council will introduce ZTA 19-09, which would allow roof signs in Red Policy Areas as identified in the most recent Subdivision Staging Policy. Each area in the Subdivision Staging Policy Map has been given a category which is used to assess impact fees. These categories are green, yellow, orange and red. The map can be viewed here. Some buildings in high density areas are constructed with glass walls. Signs that block windows are impractical. On buildings with all glass walls, the zoning ordinance effectively prohibits high wall signs and prohibits roof signs. A public hearing on this ZTA is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 14, 2020 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
The Council will hold the following public hearings at 1:30 p.m.:
Special Appropriation and CIP Amendment - MCPPC - Transfer of GO Bond Appropriation from Legacy Open Space to Acquisition: Non-Local Parks - $6,800,000; and $1,960,000 for Acquisition: Non-Local Parks
The Council will hold a public hearing on a special appropriation and Capital Improvements Program (CIP) amendment. On Oct. 22 the Montgomery County Planning Board requested amendment of the Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Capital Budget and the FY19-24 CIP to provide funding for acquisition of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority property in the Wheaton Central Business District (CBD) through the transfer of $6.8 million in GO bond appropriation from Legacy Open Space to Acquisition: Non-Local Parks. This amendment is needed because the acquisition would support development of new and expanded affordable housing, create a new urban recreational park in Wheaton, implement key goals of the Wheaton CBD and Vicinity Sector Plan to create more affordable and workforce housing and to provide the appropriate parks, and provide a rare opportunity to support two major public priorities with one project.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Supplemental Appropriation – Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) - $4,000,0000 for HOME Investment Partnerships Program
The Council will hold a public hearing on a supplemental appropriation to DHCA of four million dollars for its HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which is a federal program that provides funds to build, buy and rehabilitate affordable housing for low-income households. Most often, this is accomplished in partnership with non-profit organizations and the Housing Opportunities Commission. Loan repayments from investments made with the HOME Program funds are higher than the one million dollars expected in the originally approved FY20 budget. This appropriation is needed to allow DHCA to spend these funds in the current fiscal year. The Council is scheduled to vote immediately following this public hearing.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
The Council meeting 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: 19-372