For Immediate Release: Monday, April 12, 2021
Also on April 13: Weekly COVID-19 public health update, review of Capital Improvements Program amendments for Montgomery Parks and Planning, Montgomery College and Department of Health and Human Services and Semi-Annual Report from the Planning Board
The Council will meet virtually on Tuesday, April 13 at 9 a.m. and begin the meeting with three proclamations. The first celebrates 23 years of the Kojo Nnamdi Show and will be presented by Councilmember Glass along with the full Council. The second recognizes Herman Taylor and the Minority Business Economic Council and will be presented by Council President Hucker. Third, a proclamation recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month will be presented by Councilmember Katz and County Executive Elrich.
Council Agenda Items
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and County Public Health Planning
Update: Sitting as the Board of Health, the Council will receive an update on the County’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its recovery and vaccination efforts.
Those expected to provide information include Dr. Travis Gayles, 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. Join the conversation with #COVID-19
Introduction, public hearing and vote expected: The Council will sit as the Board of Health to introduce, hold a public hearing and vote on a Third Amended Board of Health Regulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Montgomery County and provide guidance on summer camps.
Council President Hucker and Vice President Albornoz are introducing the amended Board of Health regulation to provide guidance for the operation of summer camps as follows:
Briefing: The County Executive submitted the Recommended FY22 Operating Budget to the Council in March. The Council will receive a briefing on this $6 billion budget as it works toward its final review and approval at the end of May.
A total of $2.78 billion is recommended to fully fund Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), and nearly $313 million is recommended to fund Montgomery College. The Executive is also recommending increasing the County Government’s budget by five percent compared to the FY21 budget.
As the County faced the global pandemic, 2021 has been unlike any other year in the County’s history. In FY20 and FY21, the Council appropriated more than $382 million to respond to the pandemic. The County’s revenue growth is minimal in 2022, with total tax supported revenues anticipated to increase by 0.8% from the 2021 budget.
Federal aid will play outsized role in the County’s ability to balance the budget in both fiscal years. The County is anticipating receiving more than $384 million in federal reimbursements and aid across FY21 and FY22.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Rich Madaleno, chief administrative officer, Mike Coveyou, director, Department of Finance and Jennifer Bryant, director, Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Resolution to renew Council contract for audit services
Introduction: The Council will introduce a resolution to extend SB & Company’s contract for an additional year. The current contract expires on July 13, 2021 and the contractor’s services are needed to conduct the Fiscal Year 2021 audit.
SB & Company also audited the financial statements of the Montgomery County Employee Retirement Plans, the financial statements of the Montgomery County Consolidated Retiree Health Benefits Trust, and other audit work.
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on the submission of Montgomery County’s third Financial Assurance Plan (FAP) to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).
This plan is being filed with MDE in order to document all actions implemented by Montgomery County to comply with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4).
Those expected to attend and provide information include Adam Ortiz, director, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Frank Dawson, chief, Watershed Management Division, DEP and other County staff.
Issuance and Sale of Parking Revenue Bonds
Vote expected: At the request of the County Executive, the Council will introduce a resolution to refinance parking revenue bonds supported by the Bethesda Parking Lot District. Executive staff estimate that the County could save $1.2 million over the next 12 years by refinancing.
The County typically refinances bond series in low interest rate environments or when savings are possible. The Department of Finance intends to refinance three bond series that are currently supported by parking fees and fines.
Optional Procedure for Condemnation of Land, Advance Taking for Oak Drive/MD 27 Sidewalk Project
Introduction: The Department of Transportation (DOT) is preparing to begin the construction of a sidewalk along segments of Oak Drive and Kingstead Road in Damascus as authorized under the Phase 1 of the Oak Drive/MD 27 Sidewalk project. The planned construction impacts 24 properties along the west side of Oak Drive and on the south side of Kingstead Road.
The project includes the construction of a five-foot wide sidewalk with a five-foot wide green buffer between the road and sidewalk along a 4,200-foot segment of Oak Drive, and along a 350-foot segment of Kingstead Road.
To maintain the DOT’s construction schedule, authorization from the Council is sought to obtain possession of four properties under the County Code’s optional method of condemnation of land for streets and roads.
Resolution to approve FY22 Transportation Fees, Charges, and Fares
Public hearing: The Council will receive public testimony on a resolution authorizing changes to FY22 transportation fees, charges and fares that would go into effect July 1, 2021. County Executive Elrich included these proposed changes in the County's recommended operating budget.
The changes increase certain hourly, daily and monthly parking fees in all three Parking Lot Districts (PLDs) and expand enforcement hours in the Silver Spring and Wheaton PLDs. The resolution also changes two transit fares related to Metrorail to bus transfers.
Amendments to Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s (M-NCPPC) FY21-26 CIP
Review: The Council will review amendments to the Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). Last year, the Council approved $245 million for the biennial FY21-26 CIP for M-NCPPC.
The Council also approved an FY21 Savings Plan in response to budgetary concerns due to the Coronavirus pandemic. This reduced the FY21-26 CIP for M-NCPPC by $528,000. M-NCPPC has requested a handful of amendments to the approved CIP affecting new, ongoing and completed projects.
The County Executive supports the amendments proposed by M-NCPPC with two additional changes, and recommends funding at $222.6 million, which is a 2.2 percent reduction from the agency request.
Those expected to attend include Casey Anderson, chair, Montgomery County Planning Board, Michael F. Riley, director of parks, Andrew Frank, chief, Park Development Division and other County staff.
Montgomery Parks and Planning Spring 2021 Semi-Annual presentation to the Council
Briefing: The Council will receive a briefing on the Semi-Annual Report from the Planning Board. Occurring in the spring and fall, the report is an opportunity for the Board to brief the Council on the accomplishments of the Parks and Planning Departments and provide an update on work program items.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Casey Anderson, chair, Montgomery County Planning Board, Gwen Wright, director, Planning Department, Mike Riley, director, Parks Department and additional Planning Board members and department staff.
Review: The Council will review the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSCWATER) FY22-27 CIP. The six-year proposed CIP is approximately $3.8 billion, an increase of 2.8 percent from the approved FY21-26 CIP.
The largest six-year increases are found in the Water Reconstruction Program, the Trunk Sewer Reconstruction Program, the Sewer Reconstruction Program and the Large Diameter Water Pipe Rehabilitation Program. The largest six-year decreases in projects include the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project, the Blue Plains Projects and other capital programs.
Those expected to attend and provide information from WSSC include Carla Reid, general manager and CEO, Karyn Riley, director, Intergovernmental Relations, Steve Shofar, division chief, intergovernmental affairs, Department of Environmental Protection and other staff.
Montgomery College CIP amendments
Review: The Council will review amendments to the Montgomery College CIP. Montgomery College’s amended six-year CIP request totals $295.6 million, a $1.015 million increase from the FY21-26 approved six-year total. The County Executive recommends a general college affordability reconciliation totaling $9.397 million. The Council will discuss how these reductions might be applied to individual projects.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Dr. DeRionne Pollard, president, Montgomery College and other Montgomery College staff.
District Council Session
City of Rockville Annexation Request (ANX 2020-00146), 16160 and 16200 Frederick Road (MD 355)
Review: The Council will review a proposed annexation to the City of Rockville that includes 11.96 acres of land from Montgomery County. The Annexation Area consists of 10.23 acres of privately-owned parcels referred to as the Victor Property and 1.73 acres of State of Maryland Highway 355 right-of-way.
The current use of the Victor Property is the King Buick GMC automotive sales center. Zoned as general retail, it allows for a mix of commercial and residential uses. The petitioner requests the City’s Mixed-Use Corridor District (MXCD) zoning, to match the zoning of an adjacent parcel that is already within city limits. The petition also proposes a new zone with similar land uses that would be comparable to uses proposed in the Shady Grove Minor Master Plan Amendment.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Casey Anderson, chair, Montgomery County Planning Board and Mid-County Planning staff.
Department of Health and Human Services CIP amendments
Review: The Council will review the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) CIP amendment transmitted by the County Executive. The Council will also generally discuss the work of DHSS in evaluating mental health and social services offered at County schools.
One amendment adds funding for construction of a School-based Health and Linkages to Learning Center site at Neelsville Middle School and construction of a school-based health center site at South Lake Elementary School.
A second amendment provides an accelerated project schedule as well as changes to the sources of funding for the Avery Road Treatment Center project. The Council will also consider funding for the Seneca Valley High School Wellness Center.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Rolando Santiago, chief, Behavioral Health and Crisis Services (BHCS), DHHS, JoAnn Barnes, chief, Children, Youth and Family Services, DHHS, David Dise, director, Department of General Services (DGS), Seth Adams, director, Department of Facilities Management, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Meghan Westwood, executive director, Maryland Treatment Centers, Inc. and other departmental staff.
The Committee meeting schedule may change from time to time. The current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review 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, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream. Release ID: 21-151