For Immediate Release: Monday, September 20, 2021
Also on Sept. 21: The Council is expected to review and vote on ZTA 21-02, which would allow multiple building types for independent living facilities for seniors or persons with disabilities and review and vote on ZTA 21-03, Charitable, Philanthropic Institution – Kitchens, which would allow charitable and philanthropic institutions to have kitchens under certain circumstances
The Montgomery County Council will meet virtually on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 9 a.m. The meeting will begin with a proclamation to recognize Peace Day in honor of Mattie J.T. Stepanek’s life and legacy and will be presented by Councilmember Katz.
Hispanic Heritage Month Commemoration
At approximately 9:15 a.m. the Council will hold its eighth annual Hispanic Heritage Month Commemoration led by Councilmember Navarro. This year’s commemoration will focus on the impact of the Latino Civic Project, which Councilmember Navarro implemented in 2012, to promote and strengthen civic participation among Latinos and immigrants in Montgomery County. The commemoration will honor the work and members of the Latino Civic Project and includes a video documenting the success of the project.
County Executive’s appointee for Assistant Chief Administrative Officer: Earl Stoddard
Interview: The Council will interview Dr. Earl Stoddard, who is the County Executive’s appointee for Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Dr. Stoddard is currently serving as acting CAO and was the County’s former director of the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
SRA 20-02, Subdivision Ordinance – Revisions, Clarifications, and Corrections
Review: The Council will review SRA 20-02 which would make revisions, clarifications and corrections to the subdivision ordinance. The goal of the SRA is to clarify language, correct mistakes, and add necessary provisions that are currently missing.
While most of the proposed changes are minor, several substantive changes are also proposed. The significant changes include:
Council President Hucker is the lead sponsor, at the request of the Planning Board.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Casey Anderson, chair, Montgomery County Planning Board; Patrick Butler, chief, Up-County Planning Division, Planning Department; Christina Sorrento, chief, Intake and Regulatory Coordination (IRC) Division, Planning Department; Neil Braunstein, plats and intake supervisor, IRC, Planning Department; and Stephen Smith, planner coordinator, IRC, Planning Department.
Review and vote expected: The Council will review and is expected to vote on ZTA 21-02, which would allow multiple building types for independent living facilities for seniors or persons with disabilities and amend the green area and setback requirements for independent living facilities for seniors or persons with disabilities. The lead sponsors of the ZTA are Councilmembers Friedson and Katz. Council President Hucker and Councilmembers Navarro and Riemer are cosponsors. The PHED Committee recommends approval of the ZTA with amendments.
ZTA 21-03, Charitable, Philanthropic Institution -Kitchens
Review and vote expected: The Council will also review and is expected to vote on ZTA 21-03, Charitable, Philanthropic Institution – Kitchens, which would allow charitable and philanthropic institutions to have kitchens under certain circumstances. The lead sponsor of the ZTA is Councilmember Friedson. Councilmembers Navarro, Albornoz, Glass, Jawando, Katz, Reimer, Rice and Council President Hucker are cosponsors.
Currently certain charitable and philanthropic institutions may provide shelter for people who are supporting a family member at a medical institution in an existing detached house or townhouse. This ZTA would expand this use by allowing these institutions to prepare food on the premises. The food may be distributed for off-site consumption if it’s provided without payment. The PHED Committee recommends approval with amendments.
Ten-Year Solid Waste Management Plan
Review: The Council will meet to review the Ten-Year Solid Waste Management Plan transmitted by the County Executive. The plan includes information on the legal and regulatory environment for solid waste management and background on the County’s solid waste programs and facilities. The T&E Committee recommends approval with amendments.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Adam Ortiz, director, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); Patty Bubar, deputy director, DEP; Willie Wainer, chief, Recycling and Resource Management Division, DEP; and Rich Harris, management and budget specialist, Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
COVID-19 Rent Relief Program (Department of Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program)
Briefing: The Council will receive a progress report on the COVID-19 Rent Relief Program expenditures of U.S. Department of Treasury funds (Emergency Rent Assistance Program) from Dr. Raymond Crowel, director of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and Amanda Harris, chief of DHHS Services to End and Prevent Homelessness. A more extensive update on rental assistance and eviction prevention is scheduled at the Oct. 5, 2021 Council meeting.
Many individuals and families have suffered significant financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID Rent Relief Program (CRRP) is funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury and provides short-term rental assistance. Eligible households can receive up to $12,000 for back rent and up to three months of future rent. For households below 30 percent of area median income, some additional assistance may be available. The U.S. Department of Treasury expects local jurisdictions to have obligated 65 percent of funds received by Sept. 30, 2021. As of Sept. 14, DHHS had received 8,414 unique applications and $26.8 million had been spent. This represents 70 percent of the required 65 percent target which is $38.35 million. Minimum eligibility for assistance include the following: an individual has experienced a COVID-19 financial hardship; their gross household income is at or below 50 percent of the area median income from the previous 30 days for 2020 taxes; the individual has been a Montgomery County resident since at least August 2020; and the individual owes at least $1,000 or more to the current landlord.
Resolution to Approve Lease of Property at Sligo Creek Golf Course to Renovacion Media Group Corp.
Introduction: The Council is expected to introduce a resolution that would approve a lease between the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and Renovacion Media Group Corp. (“RMG”) for property located at 9701 Sligo Creek Parkway, Silver Spring, Maryland to continue to be used to house a 240-foot-tall radio tower.
The tower and its two adjoining transmitter buildings are owned by M-NCPPC and are used to broadcast WACA 1540 AM, a Spanish language radio station serving the greater Washington D.C. area. The initial lease term is for five years, with three additional five-year renewal terms, beginning July 1, 2021.
The current leaseholder, AC Acquisitions LLC has leased the site since January 2001. Because AC Acquisitions recently sold its assets to RMG, a new lease is necessary to renew the site’s current operation as a radio tower. Since January 2019, RMG has been operating the radio station under a license agreement with AC Acquisitions.
The lead sponsor is Council President at the request of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. A public hearing and vote are scheduled for October 5, 2021.
Resolution to Approve Categorical Transfers for MCPS’ FY21 Operating Budget
Introduction: The Council is expected to introduce a resolution to approve categorical transfers of $67,700,000 for the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) FY21 Operating Budget, and $1,700,000 for the MCPS FY21 Grant Funds, Provision for Future Supported Projects.
The categorical transfer request would offset deficits in textbooks and instructional supplies, instructional costs and fixed charges by transferring a surplus from instructional salaries and student transportation. The Board of Education has also requested authorization to make an FY21 categorical transfer of grant funds to align budgeted appropriations with actual expenditures. The appropriate categories for grant expenditures must be anticipated in the budget, and transfers are necessary to reflect actual expenditure requirements of the grants projects when they differ from the budgeted projections.
The Board of Education approved the operating budget categorical transfers on August 24, 2021, and the grant fund categorical transfers on June 29, 2021. A public hearing and vote are scheduled for October 12, 2021. The resolution in the Council staff report includes a breakdown of each categorical transfer.
Introduction: The Council is expected to introduce a $17,082,886 Supplemental Appropriation to Montgomery College’s FY22 Operating Budget for the federal, state and private contract fund.
The funds will be used to defray expenses associated with the pandemic which include lost revenue, reimbursements for incurred expenses, technology costs, faculty and staff trainings and payroll. The funds can also be used for student support activities and allocated as additional financial grants to students. A public hearing and vote are scheduled for October 5, 2021.
Executive Regulation 9-21, Sales Prices of Moderately Priced Dwelling Units (MPDUS)
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Executive Regulation 9-21, sales prices of moderately priced dwelling units (MPDUs), which would adjust and increase the pricing structure of for-sale MPDUs in line with overall changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The Department of Housing and Community Affairs’ (DHCA) informed Council staff that it believes it is critical to make these pricing adjustments given increases in the cost of construction materials. The last pricing adjustment was in 2016. The proposed regulation provides a 6.5 percent increase to pricing standards to reflect the change in the CIP since 2016. Nothing in the proposed regulation would impact rental MPDU pricing or affordability.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Aseem Nigam, director, Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) and Somer Cross, program manager, Affordable Housing Programs Section.
Public hearing: The Council is expected to hold a public hearing on Spending Affordability Guidelines for the aggregate capital budget. These guidelines limit certain types of debt that may be programmed for expenditures in the capital improvements program (CIP). These guidelines also set the Council’s voting thresholds for the Capital Budget each year. By evaluating and setting appropriate debt levels every two years, the Council preserves the County’s fiscal health and manages the amount of general funds required for debt service. The GO Committee meeting on the Spending Affordability Guidelines is scheduled for September 30.
Briefing: The Council will receive a briefing from executive branch staff and representatives from the County’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) consultant AECOM on the CAP recommendations and the status of the County’s climate planning and implementation work going forward.
The County has been active for many years in studying the County's greenhouse gas emissions, developing goals and strategies and implementing numerous initiatives. The current planning effort stems from the December 2017, Council approval of Council Resolution 18-974, Emergency Climate Mobilization. This resolution supported an ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035, as well as initiating large scale efforts to remove excess carbon from the atmosphere.
The CAP development process began in 2019 with the creation of five technical workgroups to provide a broad range of expertise. These groups looked at clean energy, buildings, transportation, adaptation and sequestration, and public engagement.
Those expected to attend and provide information include Adriana Hochberg, climate change officer, Office of the County Executive; Adam Ortiz, Director of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); Patty Bubar, deputy director, DEP; Stan Edwards, chief, Energy, Climate, and Compliance Division, DEP; Lindsey Shaw, Manager of Energy and Sustainability Programs, DEP; Doug Weisburger, senior planning specialist, DEP; Mara Parker, grants coordinator, Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS); Michael Boldosser, Emergency Management Specialist, OEMHS; Kristina Laboy, acting chief, Planning Division, OEMHS; Sandra Brecher, chief, Commuter Services Section, Department of Transportation; Ida Namur, vice president and director, Operations and Energy, AECOM; Vanessa Goh, sustainability planner, AECOM; and Emily Dhingra, coastal team lead, AECOM.
Expedited Bill 28-21, Technical Corrections
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Expedited Bill 28-21 which corrects technical, typographical, grammatical, reference, and codification errors and makes clarifying and conforming amendments to various provisions in County law. The Council periodically enacts a technical corrections bill to fix typographical and stylistic errors in County law.
The Council 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.
The Council is meeting via Zoom this fall because of ongoing construction and technology upgrades in the Council's Hearing Room and the inability to conduct meetings in a socially distant way in other areas of the Council Office Building with television broadcast capacity. Councilmembers will continue to hold meetings in their offices by appointment.
The virtual Council and Committee meetings 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: 21-361