For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Also on the Council's Jan. 19 agenda: Montgomery County's fiscal update and the introduction of a $25 million FY21 Savings Plan, special appropriations to provide additional Covid-19 financial assistance through the Restaurant and Hotel Relief Grant Programs and the introduction of a bill to increase funding for the Agricultural Land Preservation Fund
The Council will meet virtually on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 9 a.m. and will begin with a proclamation presentation recognizing David Gamse’s retirement from the Jewish Council for the Aging by Council President Hucker and County Executive Marc Elrich.
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
Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) and County Public Health Planning
At 9:30 a.m. the Council will sit as the Board of Health to receive an update on the County’s Covid-19 vaccination program and the ongoing public health response to the pandemic. The Council will be joined by 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.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Bill 4-21, Weapons - Protection of Minors and Public Places - Restrictions Against Ghost Guns and Undetectable Guns
Council Vice President Gabe Albornoz will introduce and is the lead sponsor of Bill 4-21, which would do the following: define terms related to firearm laws; restrict the manufacture, possession, use, sale and transfer of ghost guns, undetectable guns and certain other firearms with respect to minors; restrict the manufacture, possession, use, sale and transfer of ghost guns, undetectable guns, and certain other firearms within 100 yards of places of public assembly; and generally amend the law regarding firearms and other weapons. The goal of this legislation is to prohibit the use and sale of ghost guns, which pose a significant threat to public safety, to the greatest extent possible consistent with state law. Council President Tom Hucker and Councilmembers Sidney Katz, Will Jawando, Nancy Navarro, Andrew Friedson, Craig Rice, Hans Riemer and Evan Glass are cosponsors of Bill 4-21. A public hearing on Bill 4-21 is scheduled for Feb. 9 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#NoGhostGunsMoCo and #SafetyMattersInMoCo are being used for this bill on social media.
Bill 5-21, Agricultural Land Preservation - Solar Collection System - Dedication of Business Personal Property Tax Revenue
Councilmember Andrew Friedson will introduce and is the lead sponsor of Bill 5-21 that would dedicate business personal property tax revenue received for a solar collection system constructed in the Agricultural Reserve Zone. The revenue would be dedicated to the Agricultural Land Preservation Fund which is an existing special, non-lapsing revolving fund that is used to purchase property interests, such as an agricultural easement, to preserve agricultural land in the County. The goal of this legislation is to increase overall funding for the Agricultural Land Preservation Fund. A public hearing on Bill 5-21 is scheduled for Feb. 9 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#PreservingAg is being used for this bill on social media.
County Fiscal Update and FY21 Savings Plan
The Council will receive a fiscal update from Executive branch staff. On Dec. 8, the Council received an update that provided a high-level overview of estimated fiscal year 2021 (FY21) revenue and expenditures to-date as well as updated projections for FY22 and beyond. At that meeting, the Council requested a follow-up session in Jan. to review and discuss the fiscal update in more detail. The individuals expected to participate in the update include the following: Rich Madaleno, chief administrative officer; Mike Coveyou, director, Department of Finance; Jennifer Bryant, acting director, Office of Management and Budget (OMB); David Platt, chief economist, Department of Finance; and Chris Mullin, budget manager, OMB.
The fiscal update will include information on the second FY21 Savings Plan totaling $25 million that was transmitted by County Executive Elrich to the Council on Jan. 15. The plan recommends $16.4 million in savings from the County's operating budget and $8.6 million in savings from the capital budget. In addition, Montgomery County Public Schools would participate in the FY21 Savings Plan by reappropriating a $25 million fund balance in FY22. The July 2020 savings plan approved by the Council totaled $56.9 million.
The Council staff report for the fiscal update can be viewed here and the second FY21 Savings Plan starts on page 37.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget - $2,500,000 for Conference Center Non-Departmental Account (NDA)
The Council is scheduled to vote on a special appropriation of $2.5 million for the Conference Center NDA. The County Executive requested this special appropriation to support operating expenses of the Montgomery County Conference Center. The Council previously approved a $1.5 million appropriation to address any revenue shortfalls in July 2020. Due to the pandemic, another appropriation is required. The County owns the property jointly with the state, and the management agreement with Marriott requires that the County cover operating losses in an event the property does not generate a profit.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation Non-Departmental Account, Support for Covid-19 Response - $4,938,298 for Restaurant Relief Grant Program; and Amendment to FY21 Operating Budget Resolution 19-472, Section G, Designation of Entities for Non-Competitive Contract Award Status: Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation
The Council will introduce a special appropriation of more than $4.9 million for the Restaurant Relief Grant Program. The County Executive requests approval of the subject resolution to implement a second round of funding for the program, which is fully funded through a state grant. The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) will implement the program for the County, as it did during the first grant period. The Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and vote on this special appropriation on Jan. 26 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the FY21 Operating Budget, Office of the County Executive, Support for Covid-19 Response - $6,232,666 for Hotel Relief Grant Program
The Council will introduce a special appropriation of more than $6.2 million for the Hotel Relief Grant Program. The County Executive requests approval of the subject resolution to implement the Hotel Relief Grant Program. This program is fully funded through a state grant and is part of the Governor’s additional $50 million in economic relief associated with Covid-19 recovery efforts. The County will administer the program in coordination with the Conference and Visitors Bureau. The Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and vote on this special appropriation on Jan. 26 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Office of Legislative Oversight Report 2021-1, Labor Agreements with Montgomery County Police Officers
The Council will receive and release Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) Report 2021-1. The Council asked OLO to prepare a report that describes the terms and conditions of the County Government’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with County police officers. In Montgomery County, police officers are represented for collective bargaining purposes by the Fraternal Order of Police, Montgomery County Lodge 35, Inc. (FOP). This OLO report summarizes the provisions in the County’s CBA with the FOP and discusses the degree to which the content of the collective bargaining agreement documents between Montgomery County and the FOP is accessible and understandable by a third-party reader.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Special Appropriation to the County Government’s FY21 Operating Budget, Office of the County Executive - $500,000 for Connected DMV Contract, Global Pandemic Prevention Center
Councilmember Hans Riemer will introduce and is the lead sponsor of a special appropriation of $500,000 for a ConnectedDMV contract to help develop and advocate for a new global Pandemic Prevention Center in Montgomery County. The Council will hold a public hearing on this special appropriation on Jan. 26 at 1:30 p.m.
The Council staff report can be viewed here.
The following public hearings will be held at 1:30 p.m.:
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 20-05, Commercial/Residential Zones - Additional Heights
The Council will receive public testimony on ZTA 20-05, which would allow a maximum building height of 200 feet for certain properties in the commercial-residential (CR) zone under certain circumstances. The maximum building height in a CR zone is generally determined when the zone is placed on the official zoning map. There are properties near Metrorail stations in the central business districts that are mapped with a maximum height of 145 feet but have abutting and confronting properties that are mapped with a building height of 200 feet. Under certain circumstances, ZTA 20-05 would allow an increase in building height up to 200 feet for those properties, without going through a local map amendment process. The ZTA includes a sunset provision. Council President Tom Hucker and Councilmember Hans Riemer are the lead sponsors. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Zoning Text Amendment 20-06, Surface Parking – Residential Zones
The Council will receive public testimony on ZTA 20-06, which would allow the Planning Board approval of a site plan to supersede a special exception for surface parking in a residential zone, at the option of the site plan applicant. Council President Tom Hucker and Councilmember Hans Riemer are the lead sponsors. Councilmember Andrew Friedson is a cosponsor. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Zoning Text Amendment 20-08, Residential Care Facility: Continuing Care Retirement Community
The Council will receive public testimony on ZTA 20-08, which would add a definition for a Continuing Care Retirement Community to the Zoning Ordinance to allow for flexibility in senior living unit types while also requiring assisted living services. Council President Tom Hucker is the lead sponsor at the request of Montgomery County Planning Board. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
Expedited Bill 2-21, Taxation - Development Impact Taxes for Transportation and Public School Improvements - Amendments - Effective Date
The Council will receive public testimony on Expedited Bill 2-21, which would change the effective date of Chapter 37, Laws of Montgomery County 2020 (Bill 38-20). Bill 38-20, Taxation - Development Impact Taxes for Transportation and Public School Improvements – Amendment was enacted with an effective date of Feb. 26, 2021. The revised impact tax rates and the rates for the new Utilization Premium Payment tax were set to take effect on February 26 as well. Due to the County Executive’s veto of Bill 38-20, it did not take effect until the Council overrode the County Executive’s veto on Dec. 8. The bill is now set to take effect 91 days after Dec. 8, which is March 9. Under Charter Section 112, a non-expedited bill takes effect 91 days after it becomes law. The full Council is sponsoring this legislation. The Council is tentatively scheduled to vote on Expedited Bill 2-21 on Feb. 2. The Council staff report can be viewed here.
#Transportation&SchoolImprovements is being used for this bill on social media.
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Release ID: 21-015