For Immediate Release: Wednesday, July 15, 2020
The following Committees will meet virtually on Thursday, July 16. Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Committee review can be viewed at: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondemand/index.html.
The Committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Committee 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 virtual Council meeting will be streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube (MoCoCouncilMD) and on Facebook Live (MontgomeryCountyMdCouncil) and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on channels 30 (Fios), 1056 (RCN) and 996 (Xfinity).
Meeting: Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee
Time: 9:30 a.m.
HHS Committee: Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz (Chair), Evan Glass (Lead for Homelessness and Vulnerable Communities) and Craig Rice
Topics:
FY21 Budget Savings Plan
On July 6, the County Executive transmitted a revised spending plan for fiscal year 2020 which includes changes to the FY21 Operating Budget as well as amendments to County Government projects in the FY21-26 Capital Improvements Program. The recommended savings plan is expected to save approximately $33.5 million from the operating budget of County government. In addition, $27.7 million in savings is expected from cuts to the capital budget. The Council introduced this savings plan on July 7. Public hearing and a Council vote is expected on July 28.
The HHS Committee will review and make recommendations to the Council on the savings plans for the Office of Human Rights and the Department of Health and Human Services. The saving proposed to these operating budgets are as follows: $35,000 or 2.53 percent from the Office of Human Rights and $2,901,035 or 1.15 percent from the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Bill 25-20, Rental Assistance – Amendments
The HHS Committee will also review Bill 25-20, which would do the following: change the age of eligibility for the County’s Rental Assistance Program (RAP); clarify the definition of a person with a documented disability; remove the prohibition of eligibility of County residents without immigration documentation; and provide that the benefit amount for RAP is established in regulations. Council President Sidney Katz is the lead sponsor, at the request of the County Executive. The goal of this legislation is to ensure that access to RAP benefits is not conditioned upon a resident’s immigration status.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#MoCoRental Assistance is being used for this bill on social media.
Special Appropriation to the Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budget; Montgomery County Government; Covid-19 Human Services and Community Assistance Non-Departmental Account (NDA); Assistance to Community Clinics, Medical and Dental Practices—$3,000,000
The HHS Committee will review a special appropriation to the Human Services and Community Assistance NDA’s FY21 operating budget of $3 million for assistance to community clinics and primary care medical and dental practices that serve County residents. The Covid-19 health emergency required medical and dental practices, including community clinics, to stop non-emergency, in-person visits which has put a financial strain on many providers. In addition, many primary care health providers have incurred additional expenses associated with transitioning to telemedicine and acquiring personal protective equipment. The full Council is the sponsoring this appropriation.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Meeting: Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee and Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee
Time: 1:30 p.m.
PHED Committee: Councilmembers Hans Riemer (Chair), Andrew Friedson (Lead for Parks) and Will Jawando
T&E Committee: Councilmembers Tom Hucker (Chair), Evan Glass and Hans Riemer
Topic:
Zoning Text Amendment 20-01, Solar Collection System - AR Zone Standards
The PHED and T&E Committees will meet jointly to continue reviewing Zoning Text Amendment 20-01, Solar Collection System - AR Zone Standards. This ZTA would revise the solar collection system use standards to allow larger facilities in the Agricultural Resource (AR) Zone. Councilmember Hans Riemer and Council Vice President Tom Hucker are the lead sponsors. The total amount of collection systems on all parcels would be limited to 1,800 acres. Any collection system constructed under the proposed amendment must be designated pollinator-friendly under the Maryland Pollinator-Friendly Designation Program.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
# # #
Release ID: 20-300