For Immediate Release: Monday, November 28, 2022
The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, November 29 at 10:30 a.m. The afternoon session will begin at 1 p.m. with a proclamation presentation by Councilmember Craig Rice, recognizing the 20th Anniversary of the BlackRock Center for the Arts. In addition, a proclamation will be presented by Council President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmember Sidney Katz recognizing the retirement of Judge Patricia Mitchell.
At 2 p.m. the Council will hold a ceremony to mark the conclusion of the final Council session of the 19th County Council.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Review and vote expected: The Council will review and is expected to vote on a more than $1.4 million supplemental appropriation to the FY23 capital budget and amendment to the FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for the Farm Women’s Market Parking Garage Project. This project, along with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's (M-NCPPC) Bethesda Lots 10-24 Parks Project, would contribute to improvements to Lots 10 and 24 in Bethesda near the Bethesda Farm Women’s Market. Together, the funds would provide for an underground public parking garage beneath the Bethesda Farm Women’s Market, the creation of housing, retail space, public parks and the preservation and enhancement of the market.
Review and vote expected: The Council will review and is expected to vote on a more than $9.4 million supplemental appropriation to the FY23 capital budget and amendment to the FY23-28 CIP for the M-NCPPC Bethesda Lots 10-24 Parks Project. This project, along with the Farm Women’s Market Parking Garage Project, would contribute to improvements to Lots 10 and 24 in Bethesda near the Bethesda Farm Women’s Market. Together, the funds would provide for an underground public parking garage beneath the Bethesda Farm Women’s Market, the creation of housing, retail space, public parks and the preservation and enhancement of the market.
Review and vote expected: The Council will review and is expected to vote on a $9.5 million supplemental appropriation to the FY23 capital budget and amendment to the FY23-28 CIP on phase two of the U.S. 29 Bus Rapid Transit Project. The project would construct dedicated lanes for bus transit, carpools and vanpools along U.S. 29 between Burtonsville and downtown Silver Spring.
The Department of Transportation is reviewing two possible options for implementation. One option would create one or two new dedicated lanes in the median of U.S. 29. The other option would repurpose an existing lane during peak traffic to serve buses and potentially be available for carpools and vanpools.
The Council will hold the following public hearings at 1:30 p.m. Residents can visit the Council website to learn about the multiple ways to provide testimony.
Expedited Bill 30-22, Buildings - Demolition or Removal
Expedited Bill 29-22, Local Laws - Updates to Required Numbers of Councilmember Votes
Public hearing and vote expected: The Council is expected to hold a public hearing and vote on a $15 million supplemental appropriation to the FY23 operating budget, for the Institute for Intelligent and Immersive Computing for Science and Medicine Non-Departmental Account. Earlier this month, the County signed a memorandum of understanding with the Universities of Maryland College Park and Baltimore and the University of Maryland Medical System that will create a research facility and academic presence in the County's bio-life science corridor that will serve as an anchor and attraction to developers and businesses.
The new facility will bring together world-class researchers from the University System of Maryland's partner institutions prominent in artificial intelligence, machine learning and virtual/augmented reality fields with researchers and clinicians at the University of Maryland Medical System. It will also provide new student experiential learning and job opportunities near the North Bethesda Metro station.
The subject appropriation is for seed funding of the new Institute and the current expectation is for the County to provide an additional $5 million annually for another five years following the launch. The new institute's location near the National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Walter Reed would provide a unique opportunity for this area to emerge as the prime location for innovative and cutting-edge research.
Each item on the Council’s Consent Calendar can be found on the Council agenda for Tuesday, Nov. 29, which is available on the Council website.
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Expedited Bill 31-22, Finance – Economic Development Fund - Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Matching Grant Program. The expedited bill will alter the administration and eligibility requirements of the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Matching Grant Program and generally amend the law regarding the program and the Economic Development Fund. The bill would provide greater flexibility for awarding these grants.
The lead sponsors are Councilmembers Hans Riemer, Will Jawando and Andrew Friedson.
Expedited Bill 29-22, Local Laws - Updates to Required Numbers of Councilmember Votes
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Expedited Bill 29-22, Local Laws - Updates to Required Numbers of Councilmember Votes, which would update provisions of County law to reflect the required numbers of votes due to the expansion of the Council from nine to 11 members.
The lead sponsor is Council President Albornoz.
Bill 13-22, Buildings – Comprehensive Building Decarbonization
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 13-22, Buildings – Comprehensive Building Decarbonization, which would require the County Executive to issue all-electric building standards for new construction, major renovations and additions by Jan. 1, 2024.
All-electric building standards will help the County achieve its zero-greenhouse gas emissions goal by ensuring future construction is electrified. Exemptions would be provided for emergency backup systems and certain uses such as manufacturing, crematories, life sciences and commercial kitchens. In addition, income restricted housing and schools will have an extended timeline. The Council will consider several amendments from the Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee to Bill 13-22, which include limiting the all-electric standards to new construction, adding additional exemptions and extending the effective date.
The lead sponsor is Councilmember Riemer. Councilmember Jawando is a cosponsor.
Commitment Statement to Racial Equity and Social Justice
Review and vote expected: The Council is expected to review and vote on a commitment statement in support of racial equity and social justice. The commitment statement will capture the 19th Council’s ongoing and deep commitment to transforming daily, organizational, cultural, internal and external practices to ensure racial equity and social justice in Montgomery County.
On April 24, 2018, the Montgomery County Council adopted a “Resolution to Develop an Equity Policy Framework in Montgomery County”. The lead sponsors were then-Council Vice President Nancy Navarro and then-Councilmember Marc Elrich.
On Sept. 17, 2019, the Council introduced the Racial Equity and Social Justice Act, spearheaded and led by then-Council President Navarro. The legislation was cosponsored by the full Council.
The law was enacted by the Council on Dec. 2, 2019 and was signed by County Executive Elrich to create the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice (ORESJ) and charge the office, and each County department, with developing a racial equity and social justice action plan designed to remedy individual, institutional and structural racism and social justice issues that adversely impact County residents. The law also requires racial equity and social justice impact statements for bills, appropriations and zoning text amendments.
Farewell to the 19th Council
The Council will hold a ceremony to mark the conclusion of the final Council session of the 19th Montgomery County Council.
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 recommends that residents, who choose to attend in-person Council meetings, get fully vaccinated to protect themselves and others against COVID-19. If this is not possible, virtual participation is encouraged.
Council and committee meetings are 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: 22-403