For Immediate Release: Monday, July 27, 2020
Council also scheduled to vote on: additional COVID-19 recovery funding for rental assistance, culturally competent health resources through the creation of Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar, and mental health services; resolutions calling for Md. general election to be held primarily by mail, recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day, and replacing state song; and a Planning Board appointment
The Council will meet virtually on Tuesday, July 28 at 9:30 a.m. Council staff reports and additional information on items 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 virtual 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
Resolution to Approve FY21 Savings Plan
The Council will vote on the County’s Fiscal Year 2021 Savings Plan. The Council’s recommendations total $72 million ($43.7 in funding from the operating budget and $28.3 from the Capital Improvements Program). This exceeds the Executive-recommended reductions because it includes reductions for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The Council supported most of the reductions identified by the County Executive but did not support $2.4 million of the $34.3 million in reductions for County Government. Final action on the $628,000 reductions to M-NCPPC's CIP must be delayed until the fall to meet the public hearing advertising requirements.
The Council staff report that includes a table of specified reductions can be viewed here.
Appointments to the Policing Advisory Commission
The Council will vote to appoint the members of the Policing Advisory Commission. In December 2019, the Council enacted Bill 14-19 which established the Policing Advisory Commission to provide enhanced oversight of the Montgomery County Police Department while working to improve community trust in the police. The law requires the Council to appoint 15 members to the commission, with nine public members nominated by each member of the Council and four public members nominated by the County Executive (two of whom are youth members). Additionally, the police chief, or a designee, and the president of the Fraternal Order of Police, or a designee, serving as non-voting, ex-officio members. The commission members serve three-year terms. More than 200 applicants applied for the Council appointments to the commission. The Council interviewed 16 applicants. The Council appointees scheduled for confirmation tomorrow include: Cherri Branson, Caroline Fredrickson, Jenn Lynn, Shabab Ahmed Mirza, Jerome Price, Justice Reid, Vernon Ricks, Nadia Salazar Sandi, and Eric Sterling. The County executive appointees scheduled for confirmation tomorrow include: Robin Gaster, Alicia Hudson, Dalbin Osorio and Jasmine Williams.
The Council staff report including more information on each appointee can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS), FY20 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program - $357,801 for Covid-19 Supplemental Grant
The Council will introduce, hold a public hearing and vote on a special appropriation of $357,801 to MCFRS’ FY21 operating budget for a Covid-19 supplemental grant. This appropriation will fund Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and related supplies to prevent, prepare for and respond to Covid-19.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Resolution to authorize Montgomery County to procure lines of credit for the purpose of providing funds for the payment of operating expenses
The Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution to authorize Montgomery County to procure lines of credit. The County Executive requested that the Council authorize the Department of Finance to procure up to $300 million in lines of credit to cover operating expenses. These lines of credit will provide additional financial coverage for the County should the timing of certain tax receipts not align with the ongoing operational expenses of the County in fiscal year 2021. The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee recommends approval with amendments.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget - $1,500,000 for Conference Center Non-Departmental Account (NDA)
The Council is scheduled to vote on a $1.5 million special appropriation for the Conference Center NDA. The County Executive requested this special appropriation to support operating expenses of the Montgomery County Conference Center in the event its revenues are insufficient to cover operating expenses in 2020.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Supplemental Appropriation to MCPS’ FY21 Operating Budget - $250,000 for the Mental Health Program to Support Schools
The Council is scheduled to vote on a special appropriation of $250,000 to MCPS’ FY21 operating budget for the Mental Health Program to Support Schools. The joint Education & Culture and Health and Human Services Committee voted to amend the special appropriation as introduced by providing the funding to the Department of Health and Human Services instead of Montgomery County Public Schools. The funding will be used to provide mental health services to students.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budget; Montgomery County Government; COVID-19 Human Services and Community Assistance NDA; Short-Term Assistance to Distressed, Affordable Common Ownership Communities; $2,025,000
The Council is scheduled to vote on a special appropriation of $2,025,000 to provide short-term assistance for financially distressed, affordable common ownership communities. These funds would be used by the Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) to provide assistance to affordable common ownership communities in financial distress because of revenue lost since the start of the public health emergency declaration for Covid-19. The appropriation, which was spearheaded by Council President Sidney Katz, is sponsored by the full Council.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Resolution to Amend the FY21 Operating Budget for the Montgomery County Government, Resolution 19-472, Section G, Designation of Entities for Non-Competitive Contract Award Status: Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc. (HIP); Latino Economic Development Corporation; Legal Aid Bureau, Inc.
The Council will introduce and is scheduled to vote on a resolution to amend the FY21 Operating Budget for the Montgomery County government related to designation of entities for non-competitive contract award status. The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is recommending three new non-competitive contracts to support tenants who are facing possible evictions with on-site legal assistance at the District Court, and financial and other counseling and assistance.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Resolution to Amend the FY21 Operating Budget for the Montgomery County Government, Resolution 19-472, Section G, Designation of Entities for Non-Competitive Contract Award Status: Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, Inc.; Interfaith Works, Inc.; Career Catchers, Inc.; Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation; Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families, Inc.; and Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland, Inc.
The Council will introduce and is scheduled to vote on a resolution to amend the FY21 Operating Budget for the Montgomery County government related to designation of entities for non-competitive contract award status. The CAO is recommending three new non-competitive contracts to implement Rapid Rehousing programs that will be funded with recently appropriated Federal Emergency Solution Grant (ESG) funding. The CAO is also recommending a new contract for matching Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at farmer’s markets because of a need to change the vendor and increases to contracts for a youth drop-in center and Montgomery Cares.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Resolution to Urge the Maryland state lawmakers to change “Maryland, My Maryland” as the state song and urge against the song from being played at official Montgomery County events
The Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution to urge the State of Maryland to repeal and replace the state song “Maryland, My Maryland” and prohibit the song from being played at public events in Montgomery County. The full Council is sponsoring the resolution. “Maryland, My Maryland” includes lyrics that refer to President Abraham Lincoln as “the tyrant”, “the despot”, and “the Vandal”, and to the Union as “Northern scum,” as well as referring to the phrase “Sic semper tyrannis,” which was the slogan later shouted by Marylander John Wilkes Booth when he assassinated Lincoln. According to Randall, the poem was a plea to his home state of Maryland to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
The Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) will release the following research papers:
Ethics Commission - Receipt of Proposal to Cure
The Council will discuss the Ethics Commission’s review of potential ethics violations by Chief Administrative Officer Andrew Kleine and the resulting proposal to cure, which was accepted by the Ethics Commission. Ethics Commission representatives will provide a chronology of the investigation and resolution; explain the proposal to cure process; and summarize the key elements of Mr. Kleine’s Proposal to Cure. Council staff recommends that ethics training conducted or supervised by Ethics Commission staff be mandatory for all County employees.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and County Public Health Planning
The Council will sit as the Board of Health to receive an update on the County’s ongoing response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its recovery efforts. Those expected to attend the meeting 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; and Dr. Raymond Crowel, director, DHHS, are among those expected to attend.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Subdivision Regulation Amendment (SRA) 20-01, Rules of Interpretation - Computing Time Periods
The Council will hold a public hearing and is scheduled to vote on SRA 20-01, which would extend the duration of all deadlines and validity periods established for previously approved subdivisions by two years. Councilmember Hans Riemer is the lead sponsor. Councilmembers Nancy Navarro and Andrew Friedson and Council Vice President Tom Hucker are cosponsors. The sponsors believe that previously-established deadlines in subdivision approvals may be unrealistic in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the County’s economic recovery outlook. The Planning Board has recommended a revised SRA to accomplish the sponsors’ objective, and Council staff has no objections.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board
The Council will appoint a member to the Montgomery County Planning Board. The Council selected four applicants to be interviewed: Gerald Cichy, Anthony Falcone, Justin Malcom and Roberto Pinero. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Public hearings
All public hearings will be held on July 28 at 1:30 p.m., unless otherwise indicated.
Bill 6-20, Solid Waste (Trash) - Release of Balloons - Prohibited
The Council will hold a public hearing on Bill 6-20, which would amend the Solid Waste Chapter of the County Code to prohibit the release of a balloon into the air in certain circumstances and prescribe penalties for the unlawful release of a balloon. Councilmember Tom Hucker is the lead sponsor. Several jurisdictions throughout the nation have adopted laws to restrict balloon releases in response to concerns about environmental harms caused by balloons, including harms to farms, water and wildlife. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#BalloonWaste is being used for this bill on social media
Bill 28-20, Human Rights and Civil Liberties - Discrimination in Public Accommodations - LGBTQ Bill of Rights
The Council will hold a public hearing on Bill 28-20, which would define and prohibit discriminatory practices based on sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity and HIV status in places of public accommodation, including nursing homes and other healthcare and personal care facilities. Councilmember Evan Glass is the lead sponsor. All other Councilmembers are cosponsors. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#LGBTQRights is being used for this bill on social media.
Bill 29-20, Taxation - Payment in Lieu of Taxes - WMATA Property - Established
The Council will hold a public hearing on Bill 29-20, which would require the director of the Department of Finance to offer a payment in lieu of taxes for a residential or commercial high-rise building constructed by a private developer on property leased from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) at a Metro station. The bill would require the payment in lieu of taxes that would exempt 100 percent of the real property tax that would otherwise be levied for a period of 15 years beginning in the year a use and occupancy permit is issued for the qualifying development. Councilmembers Hans Riemer and Andrew Friedson are the lead sponsors. Councilmembers Evan Glass, Nancy Navarro, Council President Sidney Katz, Councilmember Gabe Albornoz, Council Vice President Tom Hucker and Councilmember Craig Rice are cosponsors. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#WMATAPilot is being used for this bill on social media.
Special Appropriation to the Housing Opportunities Commission’s FY21 Capital Budget and amendment to the FY21-26 Capital Improvements Program - $2,800,000 for Housing Production Fund
The Council will hold a public hearing and is scheduled to vote on a special appropriation to the Housing Opportunity Commission’s FY21 capital budget of $2.8 million for the Housing Production Fund. Councilmembers Hans Riemer, Andrew Friedson and Will Jawando are the lead sponsors. This appropriation will fund the creation of the Housing Production Fund and allow HOC to issue $50 million in bonds. County funding will increase to $6.8 million annually to allow HOC to increase the bonds to $100 million. The Council staff report will be available here by July 28.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - $355,000 for Permanent Supportive Housing for Veterans and Unsheltered Adults
The Council will hold a public hearing and is scheduled to vote on a $355,000 special appropriation for permanent supportive housing for veterans and unsheltered adults. Montgomery County estimates that there are about 100 single adults, who are homeless or living in emergency shelters, who could leave homelessness if more permanent supportive housing is available. The Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee is the sponsor of this special appropriation. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget, COVID-19 Human Services and Community Assistance Non-Departmental Account (NDA) - $20,000,000 for COVID-19 Response: Rental Assistance and Eviction and Homelessness Prevention
The Council will hold a public hearing and is scheduled to vote on a special appropriation of $20 million to the COVID-19 Human Service and Community Assistance NDA to support rental assistance and eviction and homelessness prevention. This funding for rental assistance is needed to help people with rent arrearages and prevent evictions for those who are not able to enter into a repayment plan or work with landlords on other options to avoid eviction. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget, Department of Police, Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, and Sheriff’s Office - FY20 Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) -$431,707 for Byrne Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Grant Funding
The Council will hold a public hearing and is scheduled to vote on a special appropriation of $431,707 to the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation’s FY21 operating budget for Byrne coronavirus emergency supplemental grant funding. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Supplemental Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget, Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice - $260,961 for staffing and operating expenses
The Council will hold a public hearing and is scheduled to vote on a supplemental appropriation of $260,961 to the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice’s FY21 operating budget to support staffing and operating expenses. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget, Conference and Visitors Bureau Non-Departmental Account, Support for COVID-19 Response - Hospitality and Tourism Support, $200,000
The Council will hold a public hearing and is scheduled to vote on a special appropriation of $200,000 to the FY21 operating budget for the Conference and Visitors Bureau NDA. This funding will allow Visit Montgomery to market the County to encourage local spending by residents in businesses throughout the County and attract regional and leisure travelers within three driving hours during October to December 2020. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget, Community Engagement Cluster, Office of Community Partnerships (OCP) - $296,436 for 2020 Census Grant Program
The Council will hold a public hearing and is scheduled to vote on a special appropriation of $296,436 to the FY21 operating budget of the Office of Community Partnerships (OCP) – Community Engagement Cluster. OCP was awarded funds through the Maryland State 2020 Census Grant Program to implement 2020 Census activities through June 30, 2020 to create a Census Grant Program housed under the care of the Montgomery County affiliate of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Resolution in Support of Mailing Ballots to Voters for the 2020 General Election
The Council will hold a public hearing and is scheduled to vote on a resolution in support of mailing ballots to voters for the 2020 general election. On July 21, the Council introduced a resolution calling on Governor Hogan to require that ballots be mailed to each registered voter in Maryland along with a postage prepaid envelope. The Council also is requesting that touch-free drop boxes be available for voters to submit their completed ballots. Moreover, the Council calls on Governor Hogan to defer to each local Board of Elections to recommend, in consultation with the County health officer, an appropriate number of early voting sites and polling places for the 2020 General Election. The full Council is sponsoring this resolution. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Resolution in Support of Indigenous Peoples’ Day
The Council will hold a public hearing and is scheduled to vote on a resolution in support of Indigenous Peoples’ Day to celebrate and honor Native American peoples and commemorate their histories and cultures. This holiday is celebrated across the U.S. on the second Monday in October and is an official city and state holiday in various jurisdictions. The resolution calls for the Council and County government to recognize the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, starting on Oct. 12, 2020, and directs that all official calendars be updated. Moreover, it calls on the Maryland General Assembly to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day as an official state holiday. In addition, the resolution urges Montgomery County Public Schools to undergo a review of its curriculum to better incorporate the histories, narratives and cultures of the country’s Native peoples. Councilmember Nancy Navarro spearheaded this resolution which is sponsored by the full Council. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget , Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Health and Crisis Prevention Crisis Prevention & Intervention Services - $395,000 for Montgomery County Hotline (Source of Funds: Federal Grant and General Fund Reserves) and Amendment to Fiscal Year 2021 Operating Budget Resolution 19-472 Section G, FY21 Designation of Entities for Non-Competitive Contract Award Status: EveryMind
The Council will hold a public hearing and is scheduled to vote on a special appropriation of $395,000 to DHHS’ Behavioral Health and Crisis Prevention and Intervention Services: Montgomery County Hotline. Councilmembers Andrew Friedson, Will Jawando and Gabe Albornoz initiated this appropriation which is sponsored by the full Council. This special appropriation would support a higher level of service for residents from EveryMind’s Montgomery County Hotline which serves community members in crisis. This special appropriation will support the addition of eight, full-time specialists to staff the hotline, along with supervisory, managerial and administrative support for these positions through December 2020. The additional positions are needed to address the increased calls due to the Covid-19 emergency and maintain the number of hotline shifts per week and double staffing coverage provided in FY20 because of the public health crisis. In addition, the funding will support the expansion of text services from 8 a.m. to noon through FY21. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget - for COVID-19 Human Services and Community Assistance NDA - $5,596,115 for Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar (For Our Health and Wellbeing)
The Council will hold a public hearing and is scheduled to vote on a special appropriation of $5,596,115 to provide a strategic, culturally competent and community-focused approach to public health to help contain the spread of Covid-19 in the areas of the County hardest hit by the virus. The introduced appropriation of $7.5 million has been reduced by $1.9 million because the contact tracing portion of the appropriation will be funded through FEMA reimbursement. Councilmembers Nancy Navarro and Gabe Albornoz are the lead sponsors of this appropriation. This funding will be used to establish Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar (For Our Health and Wellbeing), which will provide wrap-around services including Covid-19 testing, health resources and public education targeted to Latino residents in the County. While overall Montgomery County has made great strides in flattening the curve of new infections, this has not been the case for the Latino population. The full Council is committed to providing culturally competent and community-focused health care for underserved communities across Montgomery County. The Council staff report can be viewed here. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, FY20 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program - $357,801 for COVID-19 Supplemental Grant
The Council will introduce, hold a public hearing and vote on a special appropriation of $357,801 to MCFRS’ FY21 operating budget for a COVID-19 supplemental grant. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Proposed Charter Amendments and recommendations of Charter Review Commission
The Council will hold a public hearing on the 2020 Charter Review Commission report. In its 2020 report to the Council, the Charter Review Commission recommended against changing the current composition or size of the Council. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
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Release ID: 20-327