For Immediate Release: Monday, April 13, 2020
Also on April 14, vote to suspend the carryout bag tax and introduction of rent stabilization bill
The Council will meet remotely on Tuesday, April 14 at 9:30 a.m. All Council staff reports and additional information on each item scheduled for Council review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html
The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council agendas can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html
On the guidance of Health Officer and Chief of Public Health Services Dr. Travis Gayles, there is currently no public access to the Council Office Building. The remote Council meeting will be streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on: Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056 and Fios 30.
Council Agenda Items
Special Appropriation to the Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government, Department of Finance, Economic Development Fund – Public Health Emergency Grant Program, $5 million
The Council will introduce a special appropriation to the Montgomery County Department of Finance’s Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget of $5 million for the Public Health Emergency Grant Program. All Councilmembers are sponsoring this special appropriation that was spearheaded by Councilmember Nancy Navarro. This appropriation is needed to provide additional funding for the Public Health Emergency Grant Program for local restaurants and small store owners who are struggling financially because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. This funding is in addition to the $5 million reserved for these businesses in the original $20 million special appropriation for this program. The County will seek reimbursement from the federal and state government for any eligible costs. The Council is tentatively scheduled to hold a public hearing on this special appropriation on April 21 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Expedited Bill 18-20, Landlord-Tenant Relations - Rent Stabilization During Emergencies
The Council will introduce Expedited Bill 18-20, which would prohibit the increase of rent during and after certain declared states of emergency, prohibit certain notices to tenants and require certain notices to tenants. Councilmember Will Jawando is the lead sponsor. Council President Sidney Katz and Councilmember Craig Rice are cosponsors. Bill 18-20 provides that during an emergency a landlord would be prohibited from raising a tenant’s rent. If, prior to the emergency, the landlord had notified the tenant of an upcoming increase, then the landlord would be required to instruct the tenant to disregard that notice. The bill would prohibit a landlord from notifying the tenant of a rent increase during the emergency, or within 30 days after the emergency expires.
The bill also would require the Department of Housing and Community Affairs to post pertinent information on its website regarding the prohibition against rent increases during emergencies. The website would have to include information about each emergency, including its expiration date and the date that occurs 30 days after the expiration. The goal of this legislation is to prevent landlords from increasing a tenant’s rent during an emergency and to prohibit notices of rent increases during, and within a certain time period after, an emergency. The Council will hold a public hearing and vote on Expedited Bill 18-20 on April 21 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#NoRentIncreases and #RentStability are being used for this bill on social media.
Expedited Bill 19-20, Administration – County Executive – Office of Labor Relations - Established
At the request of County Executive Elrich, the Council will introduce Expedited Bill 19-20, which would create an Office of Labor Relations in the Executive Branch and transfer certain duties and positions from the Office of Human Resources to the Office of Labor Relations. Although the Office would be in the Office of the County Executive, it would be considered separate from the Office of the County Executive for purposes of budgeting and any reduction-in-force. A public hearing on this bill is scheduled for April 30 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#MoCoLaborRelations is being used for this bill on social media.
Bill 20-20, Administration – Office of the County Executive – Business Advancement Team - Established
At the request of County Executive Elrich, the Council will introduce Bill 20-20, which would rename the existing Business Solutions Group as the Business Advancement Team and assign additional duties to the Business Advancement Team from the Department of Finance and the Community Engagement Cluster. A public hearing on this bill is scheduled for April 30 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#MoCoBusinessAdvancement is being used for this bill on social media.
Bill 21-20, Office of Animal Control
At the request of County Executive Elrich, the Council will introduce Bill 21-20, which would remove the Division of Animal Service from the Police Department and transfer those duties to a new non-principal office in the Executive Branch called the Office of Animal Services and make other technical changes. A public hearing on this bill is scheduled for April 30 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#MoCoAnimalServices is being used for this bill on social media.
Bill 22-20, Administration - Position Creation and Position Alteration - Director of Strategic Partnerships and Director of Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission
At the request of County Executive Elrich, the Council will introduce Bill 22-20, which would create the non-merit appointed position of Director of Strategic Partnerships and eliminate the requirement that the position of director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission be filled by a non-merit appointee. A public hearing on this bill is scheduled for April 30 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#MoCoStrategicPartnership is being used for this bill on social media.
Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) and County Public Health Planning
The Council, sitting as the Board of Health, will review the County’s efforts to maintain public health and safety related to the Covid-19 pandemic. At this meeting, the Council will receive updates regarding public health and emergency management including hospital surge planning and increased capacity for testing. The Council also will be provided with an update on Montgomery County’s multicultural outreach and communications. This includes the translation of press releases, videos and other information into multiple languages, the use of multiple communications platforms in multiple languages (such as Spanish language radio and television and the addition of the WhatsApp platform), and communications with special populations, such as the disability community. Mr. Ken Hartman is the County Executive’s lead in this effort and is working in coordination with and support from the County Council’s multicultural communications team. Those expected to provide information include the following: Dr. Travis Gayles, county health officer and chief of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Public Health Services; Dr. Earl Stoddard, director, Office of Emergency management and Homeland Security; Dr. Raymond Crowel, director, DHHS; Julie Parker, Public Information Office; and Ken Hartman, director, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center and lead for Covid-19 communications for special populations and multicultural and language needs.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Public Hearings
Supplemental Appropriation to the FY20 Capital Budget amendment to the FY19-24 CIP, Department of Transportation - $2.1 million for Bridge Renovation
The Council will receive public testimony on a supplemental appropriation to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s Fiscal Years 19-24 Capital Improvements Program (FY19-24 CIP) of $2.1 million for bridge renovation. Specifically, this appropriation funds emergency culvert repairs on Fenway Road, Belfast Road and Spicewood Lane as a result of the significant train event that occurred on July 8, 2019. This work has been completed. The Council is scheduled to vote on this appropriation on April 21. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Expedited Bill 17-20 - Carryout Bag Tax - Suspension
The Council will receive public testimony and is scheduled to vote on Expedited Bill 17-20, which would suspend the imposition of the carryout bag tax until 15 days after the conclusion of the Maryland state of emergency. Councilmember Will Jawando is the lead sponsor. Councilmembers Craig Rice and Gabe Albornoz, Council President Sidney Katz and Councilmembers Hans Riemer, Nancy Navarro and Andrew Friedson are cosponsors. Within seven days after the state of emergency ceases, Bill 17-20 would require the County Executive to notify retail establishments and the public of the date on which the imposition of the carryout bag tax will resume. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#SuspendBagTax is being used for this bill on social media.
Supplemental Appropriation to the FY20 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Public Schools - $3,424,109 for the Title 1-Part A Grant
The Council will receive public testimony and is scheduled to vote on a supplemental appropriation to the FY20 Operating Budget for Montgomery County Public Schools of $3.4 million for the Title I-Part A grant. The source of funds is a Maryland State Department of Education grant. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Supplemental Appropriation to the FY20 Capital Budget and amendment to the FY19-24 CIP, Department of General Services - $1,140,000 for Men’s Emergency Homeless Shelter Addition
The Council will receive public testimony on a supplemental appropriation to the FY20 Capital Budget and an amendment to the FY19-24 CIP for the Department of General Services of $1.1 million for a men’s emergency homeless shelter addition. This appropriation will support construction of an addition to the existing facility on Crabbs Branch Way. The facility will support the delivery of a full complement of wrap-around services to men seeking shelter year-round. The facility will provide space for congregation, meal service, medical offices and case management offices not available at the current site. The Council is scheduled to vote on this appropriation on April 21. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
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