For Immediate Release: Friday, November 8, 2024
The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m., and the meeting will begin with two proclamation presentations. The first, presented by Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe, will recognize Jacob Lee and Bryan Yung, who are the Creators of the Runway App. The second, presented by Councilmember Will Jawando and County Executive Marc Elrich, will recognize Remembrance and Reconciliation Month. Councilmember Evan Glass will present a third proclamation recognizing Lung Cancer Awareness Month at 1:15 p.m.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Interview: The Council will interview Shawn Ellis, who is the County Executive's nominee for director of the Office of Community Partnerships. Ellis is currently the acting director and the multilingual/cultural communications outreach manager in the Office of Community Partnerships.
2024-2028 Growth and Infrastructure Policy
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on the 2024-2028 Growth and Infrastructure Policy. The Council previously held a work session on the policy at a meeting on Oct. 15 and took straw votes on the policy at a meeting on Oct. 22. The PHP Committee held a series of meetings on Sept. 16, Sept. 23 and Oct. 7 to review the 2024-2028 Growth and Infrastructure Policy.
The 2024-2028 Growth and Infrastructure Policy is the set of guidelines adopted by the County for administering the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. Although commonly referred to as a separate ordinance, the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance is part of Montgomery County’s subdivision regulations of the County Code. The ordinance was adopted by the Council in 1973 with the goal of synchronizing development with the availability of public facilities needed to support that development.
The Growth and Infrastructure Policy is updated every four years to ensure that the tools used for evaluating the impacts of development reflect the latest growth patterns and trends in the County. Its purpose is to evaluate individual applications for development to determine if the County’s public infrastructure is adequate to meet the demands of such development.
The Montgomery County Code requires the Planning Board to approve and send to the Council a recommended Growth and Infrastructure Policy by Aug. 1. The Planning Board submitted their recommended draft policy on July 25, 2024. The Planning Board often recommends other legislative changes concurrent with its recommended changes to the Growth and Infrastructure Policy. Bill 16-24, which was introduced to the Council on Sept. 10, is the Planning Board’s recommended changes to the impact tax law. The Council is also expected to vote on Bill 16-24 on Nov. 12.
The resolution for the 2024-2028 Growth and Infrastructure Policy can be viewed on the Council’s website.
M-NCPPC Semi-Annual Presentation to the Council
Presentation: The Council will receive a presentation on the semi-annual report of the Planning Board, which outlines accomplishments and current work program items of both the Montgomery Parks and Planning Departments. The semi-annual report to the Council typically occurs in the spring and fall each year.
Each item on the Council’s Consent Calendar can be found on the Council agenda for Tuesday, Nov. 12, which is available on the Council website.
Unless otherwise noted, the Council will hold the following hybrid public hearings at 1:30 p.m. Residents can visit the Council website to learn about the multiple ways to provide testimony.
FY26 WSSC Water Spending Control Limits
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on spending control limits for WSSC Water’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Budget. WSSC Water’s spending control limits process was established in April 1994 by both the Montgomery County Council and the Prince George’s County Council. On Oct. 29 the Montgomery County Council took a straw vote (10-1) to support a 10.2 percent increase, pending further staff discussion with the Prince George's County Council to determine if a consensus rate increase scenario was possible. According to the Council staff report, the Prince George’s County Council has not indicated that it will revisit its Oct. 29 action approving a nine percent FY26 rate increase ceiling scenario.
The goal of the spending control limits process is to reconcile both Council’s actions, so that WSSC Water can build the approved limits into its upcoming operating budget public hearing draft document, which will be released for public comment by Jan. 15, 2025. WSSC Water’s operating budget request will be formally transmitted to both counties by March 1.
Bill 15-24, Taxation - Public Safety Officers - Bi-County Agency Police
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 15-24, Taxation - Public Safety Officers - Bi-County Agency Police, which would expand eligibility for the Property Tax Credit for Public Safety Officers to public safety officers in bi-county agencies and municipalities as well as Department of Health and Human Services crisis center employees. The proposed expansion of the property tax credit to bi-county agencies includes officers employed by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and WSSC Water.
The Council enacted Bill 39-21 in Nov. 2022, which established a County property tax credit for a full-time sworn police officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician or correctional officer employed by the County. The bill authorized a maximum $2,500 credit for an eligible employee. The purpose of the bill was to increase the number of County employees occupying these positions who reside in the County and help recruit and retain these employees. Bill 15-24 would expand the number of public safety and crisis response professionals who are eligible to receive the property tax credit.
The lead sponsors are Councilmembers Natali Fani-González and Gabe Albornoz. Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke and Evan Glass and Council President Andrew Friedson and Councilmembers Jawando, Balcombe, and Laurie-Anne Sayles are cosponsors.
The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee recommends enactment with amendments.
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 17-24, Administration - Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions - Non-merit Positions, which would repurpose the non-merit position of Chief Data Officer in the Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS) by abolishing it and establish the non-merit position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) in TEBS.
The bill is accompanied by a resolution to approve Executive Regulation 7-24, Position Description – Chief Operating Officer, Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions. The regulation would establish a position description for the newly created non-merit COO position in TEBS.
The lead sponsor is the Council President, at the request of the County Executive. The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee recommends enactment with amendments.
Bill 18-24, Housing Policy - Standards and Procedures - Amendments
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 18-24, Housing Policy - Standards and Procedures – Amendments, which would remove the requirement for the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) to send notice and hold public hearings on assisted family housing proposals. The purpose of the bill is to streamline the process for completing affordable housing projects.
The lead sponsors of Bill 18-24 are Council President Friedson and Councilmember Fani-González. Councilmembers Balcombe, Albornoz and Sayles, Vice President Kate Stewart, and Councilmembers Luedtke and Sidney Katz are cosponsors. The PHP Committee recommends enactment with amendments.
Bill 19-24, Taxicab Licenses - Amended Requirements
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 19-24, Taxicab Licenses – Amended Requirements, which would increase the age limit for vehicles that are permitted to provide taxicab service in the County, modify the standards required for a taxicab driver identification card and clarify certain language as it pertains to reporting accidents involving taxicabs. This legislation would increase the in-service eligibility for traditional sedans from eight to 10 years, while also permitting alternative fuel, electric vehicles, hybrid and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles to be operated for 12 years. Additionally, taxicab drivers who are in an accident would be required to submit accident reports not only to the holder of the taxicab license, but also to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT).
The lead sponsor is the Council President, at the request of the County Executive. The Transportation and Environment (TE) Committee recommends enactment with amendments.
Bill 20-24, Public Campaign Financing - Amendments
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 20-24, Public Campaign Financing – Amendments. The legislation would increase the maximum amount of funds a certified candidate may retain to pay post-election expenses, require periodic adjustments to permissible contribution limits and retention amounts based upon the Consumer Price Index and make updates and technical corrections throughout the public campaign financing law.
The purpose of the County’s campaign finance law is to encourage greater voter participation in County elections, increase opportunities for more residents to run for office and reduce the influence of large contributions from businesses, political action groups and other large organizations.
The lead sponsors of Bill 20-24 are Councilmember Glass, Council Vice President Stewart, and Councilmembers Fani-González, Albornoz, Kristin Mink, Balcombe and Sayles. The GO Committee recommends enactment with amendments.
Bill 16-24, Development Impact Tax - Amendments
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 16-24, Development Impact Tax – Amendments, which would update transportation impact tax districts and modify the applicability of development impact tax exemptions for certain uses and in certain locations.
Bill 16-24 is associated with the Planning Board’s recommended changes to 2024-2028 Growth and Infrastructure Policy. Bill 16-24 is the Planning Board’s recommended changes to the impact tax law. The Planning Board is required to approve and send to the Council a recommended Growth and Infrastructure Policy by Aug. 1. The Planning Board submitted their recommended draft 2024-2028 Growth and Infrastructure Policy on July 25, 2024.
The lead sponsor is the Council president, at the request of the Planning Board. The GO Committee recommends enactment with amendments.
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on a resolution to approve Executive Regulation 7-24, Position Description – Chief Operating Officer, Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions. The regulation would establish a position description for the newly created non-merit COO position in TEBS. The resolution accompanies Bill 17-24, Administration - Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions - Non-merit Positions, which would repurpose the non-merit position of Chief Data Officer in the Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS) by abolishing it and establish the non-merit position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) in TEBS. The GO Committee recommends approval.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Cost Drivers
Briefing: The Council will receive a briefing on cost drivers and spending at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) from Fiscal Years 2015-2025. The purpose of the briefing is to enhance the Council’s oversight of the $3.3 billion MCPS operating budget, which is among the largest components of the County’s $7.1 billion operating budget. The briefing is expected to include a high-level review of the MCPS’ budget and spending and an analysis of multi-year trends. In addition, the briefing will include an overview of spending on contractual services and the potential fiscal impacts of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. View the current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review on the Council website.
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: 24-394