For Immediate Release: Monday, April 26, 2021
Also on April 27: Council to review capital budget for Montgomery County Public Schools, compensation and benefits for all agencies and the Ashton Village Center Sector Plan
The Council will meet virtually on Tuesday, April 27 at 9 a.m. and begin the meeting with three proclamations. The first recognizes Cross Community, Inc. and will be presented by Councilmember Katz. The second recognizes Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and will be presented by Council Vice President Albornoz and County Executive Elrich. The third recognizes Fair Housing Month and will be presented by Council President Hucker and Councilmembers Riemer, Friedson and Jawando.
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 is scheduled to introduce, hold a public hearing and vote on a Fifth Amended Board of Health Regulation. Council President Hucker and Council Vice President Albornoz have proposed amendments to the current Board of Health regulation that would add guidance for a further phased reopening that is tied to COVID-19 vaccinations.
Currently, 50.4 percent of the County population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. The three phases of reopening would be automatically triggered when specific vaccination benchmarks are reached, and the Montgomery County health officer reports them to the Board of Health. If passed, the new Board of Health regulation would be effective on April 27 at 5 p.m.
The reopening would require continued face covering usage and social distancing. The phases would be:
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; and Silvia Kinch, division chief, County Attorney’s Office.
Vote expected: Introduced by lead sponsors Council President Hucker, Councilmember Navarro and Councilmember Glass, the Council is expected to vote on a resolution supporting the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Resolution urging statehood for the District of Columbia. Given the inter-connectivity with the population living and working in the District, Montgomery County will be positively impacted by the designation of statehood for the District.
In February, the Council also passed a resolution in support of D.C. statehood which was introduced by lead sponsor Councilmember Glass. All other Councilmembers were cosponsors.
Introduction and vote expected: The Council is expected to introduce and vote on the County Executive’s request to approve the transfer a cable franchise from the current franchisee, Starpower Communications, LLC (doing business as RCN) to Stonepeak Associates IV, LLC.
Public Hearing: The Council will hold a public hearing to consider increasing the FY22 General Fund tax rate to exceed the Constant Yield Tax Rate (CYTR). The CYTR is the property tax rate for the coming fiscal year that would generate the same amount of revenue that was generated during the current fiscal year. The State Department of Assessments and Taxation calculates the CYTR annually for each taxing authority in Maryland. The CYTR fluctuates based on the County's assessable base each year. It decreases when assessments increase and increases when assessments decrease.
Ashton Village Center Sector Plan
Review: The Ashton Village Center Sector Plan is designed to transform Ashton into a viable and vibrant rural village center. The Council will review recommendations for the plan area including land use, zoning, community design and transportation issues.
The plan area includes 127 acres around the intersection of MD 108, known as Olney Sandy Spring Road, and New Hampshire Ave. (MD 650). The plan envisions the Ashton Village Center as a compact, low-rise, walkable and bikeable rural village with a mix of land uses.
The plan provides zoning and design recommendations intended to allow the density and uses expected for a rural village, while ensuring that new development complements Ashton’s existing commercial center and rural character.
Since two state highways (MD 108 and MD 650) form a crossroads at the core of the Ashton Village Center, this plan also provides transportation recommendations related to vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle mobility in the plan area.
Those expected to provide information include Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson; Gwen Wright, director, Planning Department; Robert Kronenberg, deputy director, Planning Department; Patrick Butler, Upcounty division chief, Montgomery Planning Department; and Montgomery Planning Department staff.
Review: The Council will review compensation and benefits for all County agencies in the FY21 Recommended Operating Budget. The Council review will cover five key areas: FY22 budget and compensation context; overview and analysis of FY22 agency requests for pay adjustments; retirement and group insurance; Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) pre-funding; an analysis of compensation cost sustainability; and compensation related Non-Departmental Accounts.
Those expected to attend and provide information include: Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Fariba Kassiri; Jennifer Bryant, director, Office of Management and Budget; Jennifer Harling, chief labor relations officer; Steven Blivess, Office of Labor Relations and Office of Management and Budget staff.
Collective Bargaining Agreements with MCGEO, FOP and IAFF
Worksession and Action: The Council will hold a worksession on a resolution to indicate its intent to approve or reject provisions of the collective bargaining agreements with the Municipal and County Government Employees’ Organization (MCGEO), the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the Montgomery County Career Fire Fighters Association of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
Under County Employees Labor Relations Laws, the Council must indicate by resolution its intention to appropriate funds or otherwise implement the agreements or its intention not to do so, and state its reasons for any intent to reject any part of an agreement.
Montgomery County Public Schools FY21-26 CIP Amendments
Review: The Council will review amendments to the FY21-26 Capital Improvements Program for Montgomery County Public Schools. The Board of Education's FY21-26 amendment request totals $1.73 billion, which is $3.7 million more than the approved FY21-26 CIP.
The County Executive recommends $1.61 billion in six-year expenditures, which is $117.3 million less than the original approved FY21-26 CIP and $121 million less than the Board's request. Large technical adjustments comprise $68.4 million of the Executive’s recommended reduction to reflect actual project expenditures.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Brenda Wolff, president, Board of Education; Dr. Jack R. Smith, superintendent of schools, MCPS; Dr. Monifa McKnight, deputy superintendent, MCPS; Essie McGuire, associate superintendent of operations, MCPS; Adrienne Karamihas, director of the division of capital planning, MCPS; Seth Adams, director of the department of facilities management, MCPS; and Office of Management and Budget staff.
FiberNet P509651 for $5,772,000
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on the $5.7 million FY22 FiberNet CIP to provide funds for the planning, design and installation of a Countywide electro-optical fiber communications network. The network supports voice, public safety, traffic management, data, internet access, wireless networking and video transmissions among Montgomery County Government agencies, departments and facilities.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Gail Roper, chief information officer, Department of Technology Services (DTS); Joe Webster, chief broadband officer, DTS; and Felicia Hyatt, Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Review: The Council will review the $680,000 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for the ultraMontgomery project. The funds support economic development and technology leadership in the County.
The request supports planning, engineering, design and construction of high-speed connections along Route 29, White Oak and along the planned Purple Line, as well as connections to the Ashburn, VA data centers and global Internet hubs for County businesses.
General Government - Economic Development and KID Museum Project
Review: The Council will review Amendments to the FY21-26 Capital Improvements Program for the Economic Development and the KID Museum Project. This includes review of the recommended $40.8 million FY21-FY26 expenditure for the planning and development of the White Oak Redevelopment Program, a 110-acre County-owned parcel on Industrial Parkway.
The Council will also review the County Executive’s FY22 recommendation for $1.2 million in funds for the KID Museum, which is a non-profit organization serving families and students to provide an experiential STEM and cultural learning center for children and families in the region.
In addition, the Council will review funding changes for the Wheaton Redevelopment Program. The Office of Management and Budget accelerated some funding from FY21 to FY20 to account for actual expenditures. The acceleration did not impact the project’s expenditures or timing.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Mary Beck, Pofen Salem and Anita Aryeetey from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
General Government - County Offices and Other Improvements
Review: The Council will review the County Executive’s $212.4 million recommended FY21-26 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) and Amendments for the Department of General Services (DGS). This is a 0.2 percent increase from the FY21-26 Approved CIP. Changes include a cost increase of $500,000 for the COB Renovation project and a cost decrease of $24,000 for acceleration of expenditures from FY21 into FY20 in asbestos abatement and facility planning projects.
Those expected to attend and provide information include David Dise, director, DGS; Greg Ossont, deputy director, DGS; and Office of Management and Budget 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: 21-179