For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Also on Dec. 2: Transportation and Environment Committee holds virtual meeting
The Council and the Transportation and Environment Committee will meet virtually on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for committee review can be viewed here. The Council and committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council and committee agendas can be viewed here.
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 and committee 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).
Council agenda:
Council Interviews on the Commission on Redistricting
The Council will begin interviewing members for the Commission on Redistricting. The Montgomery County Charter requires that the Council appoint a Commission on Redistricting that is composed of 11 registered voters who reside in the County. At least one member of the commission must reside in each Council district. No person holding an elected office can serve on the commission. By Nov. 15, 2021, the Commission on Redistricting must present a plan of Council districts together with a report explaining the plan to the Council. Within 30 days after receiving the plan, the Council must hold a public hearing on it. If within 90 days after presentation of the Commission’s plan no other law re-establishing the boundaries of the Council districts has been enacted, then the plan as submitted becomes law.
The Council staff report that includes the names of those who are being interviewed can be found here.
Meeting: Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee
Time: 1:30 p.m.
T&E Committee: Council President Tom Hucker (Chair) and Councilmembers Evan Glass and Hans Riemer
Topics:
Expedited Bill 36-20, Forest Conservation Law Amendments
The T&E Committee will review Expedited Bill 36-20, which would do the following: apply the forest conservation law to two or more platted contiguous lots that collectively total at least 40,000 square feet under certain circumstances; modify provisions related to the preferred sequence for afforestation and reforestation, forest mitigation banks, and in lieu fees to conform with state law; and exempt agricultural activities from the forest stand. Councilmember Sidney Katz, who was the Council president when the bill was introduced, is the lead sponsor at the request of the Planning Board. This bill is proposed to align the County’s laws with recent amendments to the state law in the Natural Resources Article of the Maryland Code that took effect on Oct. 1, 2019. Kristin Taddei, forest conservation planning coordinator, Planning Department; Mark Pfefferle, division chief, Planning Department; and Christina Sorrento, associate general counsel, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission are expected to participate in the meeting.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Abandonment of Portion of Reed Street
The T&E Committee also will review the abandonment of a portion of Reed Street in Bethesda. County Executive Marc Elrich has proposed recommending conditional approval to abandon an 18-foot wide, 3,303 square-foot portion of the Reed Street right-of-way in the Miller’s Second Addition located in Bethesda. Reed Street is 50-feet wide and carries the Capital Crescent Trail between Bethesda Ave. and the former Apex Building site/Capital Crescent Trail (7272 Wisconsin Ave.) JBG Woodmont II, LLC is the applicant. Eric Willis, chief, Property Acquisition Section of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, is expected to attend the meeting.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
OLO Report 2020-10, Ride On Routes and Services
The T&E Committee will review the Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) Report 2020-10, which responds to the Council’s request to better understand who uses Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) Ride On bus services, how MCDOT makes changes to Ride On services and how similar jurisdictions evaluate their transit networks. This report also provides information about Ride On data collection and reporting. OLO analyzed MCDOT Ride On reports, conducted interviews with County staff and community stakeholders, and researched transit decision processes in ten jurisdictions. In sum, OLO found that MCDOT routinely collects and reports transit data and engages in a regular process to review bus routes and services. However, it found that opportunities exist to define Ride On goals, strengthen performance metrics and increase transparency of MCDOT’s transit decision processes. The following individuals are expected to attend the meeting: Emil Wolanin, deputy director, Department of Transportation (DOT); Dan Hibbert, division chief, Division of Transit Services, DOT; and Phil McLaughlin, Ride On chief of Planning and Implementation, DOT.
The Council staff report can be found here.
Resolution to Approve Ride On Title VI Policies, Title VI Implementation Plan 2021-2023, and Title VI Compliance Monitoring Report
The T&E Committee will close out its meeting by reviewing a resolution to approve Ride On Title VI policies, the Title VI implementation plan for the years 2021-2023 and the Title VI compliance monitoring report. Title VI of the Civil rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race or national origin in any program or activity that receives federal funds or other federal financial assistance. The following individuals are expected to attend the meeting: Christopher Conklin, director, DOT; Dan Hibbert, chief, Division of Transit Services, DOT; and Deanna Archey, Title VI Manager, Division of Transit Services, DOT.
The Council staff report can be found here.
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Release ID: 20-469