For Immediate Release: Wednesday, October 28, 2020
The following committees will meet virtually on Thursday, Oct. 29. 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: Public Safety (PS) Committee
Time: 9:30 a.m.
PS Committee: Council President Sidney Katz, Councilmember Gabe Albornoz and Council Vice President Tom Hucker
Topic:
Traffic Enforcement
The PS Committee will receive an update on Countywide traffic enforcement. This briefing was requested by Councilmember Nancy Navarro after receiving repeated resident complaints about drag racing, speeding and excessive traffic noise. The briefing will cover how the Montgomery County Police Department conducts traffic enforcement, including the automated traffic enforcement program, Vision Zero initiatives, staffing and pretextual stops. Those expected to attend include Assistant Chief Tom Didone, Captain Dave McBain (traffic division) and Richard Hetherington (automated traffic enforcement).
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Meeting: Joint Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee and Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee
Time: 1:30 p.m.
HHS Committee: Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz (Chair), Evan Glass (Lead for Homelessness and Vulnerable Communities) and Craig Rice.
PHED Committee: Councilmembers Hans Riemer (Chair), Andrew Friedson (Lead for Parks) and Will Jawando
Topic:
Emergency Shelter Needs for Homeless Adults
The HHS and PHED Committees will meet jointly to discuss planning for meeting the County’s emergency shelter needs for homeless adults. Montgomery County’s goal is to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring. This has not changed because of COVID-19. However, as the Council has heard in previous updates, COVID-19 has changed the requirements for providing emergency shelter for adult men and women. There is a need to provide adequate space for social distancing for sleeping, eating and common program areas. The County is also sustaining its shelter capacity year-round as opposed to closing some shelter spaces outside of the winter overflow months of November through March to make shelter available during the pandemic.
Those expected to provide information at the meeting include: Dr. Raymond Crowel, director, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS); Amanda Harris, chief, Services to End and Prevent Homelessness, DHHS; David Dise, director, Department of General Services (DGS); Greg Ossont, deputy director, DGS; Deborah Lambert, Office of Management and Budget (OMB); Lindsey Lucas, OMB; Susie Sinclair-Smith, chief executive officer, Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless; (MCCH); Jennifer Schiller, chief programs officer, MCCH; Courtney Hall, chief executive officer, Interfaith Works; Christine Hong, director, Homeless Services, Interfaith Works and Lauren Paiva, executive director, Rainbow Place.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.