Thanks for Everything, Jed Millard

If you have ever called my office, you probably talked to the charming and professional Jed Millard, and you know what a terriffic asset he has been to my team. I'm thrilled for him (and sad for myself) that he's moving on to the Office of Management and Budget for much-deserved new opportunities beginning next week. I'm going to miss his smiling face every day, but I'm glad he'll have the chance to apply his smarts to new challenges.

Gwen Wright Selected as Planning Director

The Montgomery County Planning Board has selected a new planning director, placing a professional who has held top planning jobs in the City of Alexandria, Virginia, and our own Montgomery County Planning Department at the helm of the county’s 150-member planning department. I look forward to working with Gwen Wright once again beginning July 1.

The Planning Board has been vetting planning director candidates for several months since the departure of its previous director, Rollin Stanley, in May 2012. The search process resulted in a number of qualified candidates who were considered before the Board made its final selection.

Ms. Wright was with the Montgomery County Planning Department from 1987 to 2008, most recently as Acting Director of the Department and prior to that as Chief of Countywide Planning. Currently, she is Chief of the Development Division at the City of Alexandria, Virginia’s Department of Planning and Zoning. She has a degree in Architecture and Architectural History from Yale University. Ms. Wright has been a speaker at the national conferences of the American Planning Association and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a university instructor in planning and zoning and preservation, and a board member of the Maryland Association of Historic District Commissions.

As planning director, Ms. Wright will oversee a department responsible for making recommendations to the board on master plans, development applications, forest conservation, historic preservation, and a host of other land-use issues.

Thanks go to Rose Krasnow for her exceptional efforts as Acting Planning Director since Mr. Stanley’s departure. We are extremely grateful for her management expertise, her unfailing professionalism and her willingness to serve in this demanding position.

Montgomery County Hackathon

Montgomery County will bring together residents, software developers and entrepreneurs for a hackathon event on June 1-2 at the Universities of Shady Grove, Building III at 9630 Gudelsky Drive in Rockville. The County’s Hack for Change Hackathon will be part of the first annual National Day of Civic Hacking that is designed to leverage the power of public data with the expertise of residents and entrepreneurs in finding technology solutions for the common good. Other agencies hosting civic hacking events on that date include the White House, NASA, the Census Bureau, HHS, FEMA, the National Archives and departments of Labor and Energy.

The Montgomery County event, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on June 1, will offer County residents a unique opportunity to get involved and improve community life by developing new applications for smart phones and other devices. Government challenges, potential solutions and desired outcomes will be pitched by County staff to spur ideas for technology solutions, and participants will have an opportunity to pitch their own ideas for new apps that could benefit the public. Participants will select the idea they find most compelling and will form a development team to work on it. Some ideas may have multiple teams and others may have none.

Software development skills are not a requirement for participation. With the exception of County employees who are prohibited from serving on a development team, participants only need to be willing to collaborate with others to create, build and invent solutions using public data to address challenges relevant to the community. That includes students, educators, community members, engineers, technologists, civil servants, scientists, designers and artists.

Each team will develop a solution for the idea they select, and County staff will be available throughout the event to answer questions and provide guidance. At the end of the event, teams will be judged on what they have created.

Meals will be provided, and the event will conclude at 6:30 p.m. on June 2 following team presentations and judging.

Storm Preparedness Tips

June is traditionally the start of hurricane and summer storm season. Take precautions to stay safe, including heeding storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service and taking shelter when appropriate.

A hurricane watch is issued if there is a threat of hurricane conditions within 24-36 hours. A warning is issued when hurricane conditions are expected in a specified area in 24 hours or less. Hurricane conditions include winds of 74 miles per hour (64 knots) or greater, and/or dangerously high tides and waves. Actions to protect life and property should begin immediately when the warning is issued.

Sign up for Alert Montgomery to receive up-to-date information on hurricane watches and warnings and other storms. Alerts can be sent to one or more electronic devices, including cell phones, text pagers and wireless PDAs, along with home and work emails.

Storm Preparedness Tips

• Keep flashlights, battery-powered radios and extra batteries on hand, along with a basic first aid kit, emergency food and water, and a non-electric can opener.

• Listen to the radio or television for weather reports.

• Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys and garden tools; or anchor objects that cannot be brought inside but could be tossed by high winds.

• Clean out gutters.

• Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting in anticipation of a power outage. Open the door only when necessary and close quickly. Frozen food in a half-full freezer will remain safe for up to 24 hours, and in a full freezer, up to 48 hours.

• Refrain from putting out trash cans the night before the regular pickup.

During Power Outages

• Use flashlights and battery-powered lanterns for light and battery-powered radios and computers for storm progress reports and information.

• Avoid using candles to prevent the risk of a fire.

Flooding

• In anticipation of possible flooding, residents are encouraged to store valuables and personal papers in a waterproof container.

• Avoid areas subject to flooding, including low spots, canals and streams.

• Do not attempt to drive over a flooded road – you can be stranded or trapped. The depth of the water and the condition of the road is not always obvious.

Night Time Safety

• Use extra caution at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers, downed wires and other hazards.

High Winds

• To report downed trees on public property, Montgomery County residents should call 311 (or 240-777-0311 from outside the county or from a cell phone), or file a report. If live wires are involved, the tree is blocking a roadway, the tree is on a structure or if anyone is trapped under a fallen tree, call 911.

• Trees that have fallen on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. The County’s Office of Consumer Protection advises homeowners to deal with established businesses only, and to call Consumer Protection first to check on a business complaint record. Consumer Protection can be reached at 240-777-3636.

Important Utility Numbers and websites

Pepco: 1-877-737-2662, www.pepco.com

BG&E (Baltimore Gas and Electric): 1-877-778-2222 or 1-800-685-0123, www.bge.com  

Potomac Edison (Allegheny Power): 1-800-255-3443, www.firstenergycorp.com  

Washington Gas: 800-752-7520, www.washgas.com  

WSSC: 1-800-828-4002, www.wsscwater.com

Council Passes FY14 Budget

Today we unanimously passed the FY14 budget. Overall, this is a good budget that maintains fiscal responsibility while beginning to restore some of the cuts we had to make over the past four years of the economic downturn. Particularly gratifying is the increase in funding for some very important human services.

This budget includes some long overdue pay increases for our employees who have been sacrificing for several years now. It is only because of their sacrifices that we are in a position today to try to get them back on track, and it is important to put the pay increases in context with everything else that has happened in the last four years.

Employees did not get any raises—no COLAs for four years and no step increases for three years. What’s worse, employee pay actually went down because of furloughs one year and increases in employee contributions to health and retirement benefits for the next two years.

Our employees really have been great throughout the recession, and I’m glad that we finally are able to provide some measure of increased compensation this year. It certainly is overdue and well deserved.

I’m also very pleased that we made economic development and job creation high priorities in this budget. We fully funded the Montgomery Business Development Corporation, which is providing us an invaluable business perspective on growing our local economy. We also added new positions in the Department of Economic Development so that the department can pursue new and innovative job development programs. While it is true we are still operating under constrained circumstances, I think these are responsible decisions to invest in our long-term growth. Only through job creation will our residents and our county as a whole be able to achieve the future we envision.

Also with an eye to helping families and businesses thrive, we decreased the proposed energy tax. While I wish we could eliminate the energy tax increase from FY11 entirely, I’m glad we at least were able to reduce it by 10 percent. Times remain tough for many of our residents and businesses, so any relief we can provide will help.

Last but not least, this budget restores funding for stump removal, which I know will make many residents happy. This program has been on hold for years, and we finally will be able to start addressing the backlog of stumps in county rights-of-way.

I want to thank our Council President, Nancy Navarro, for her leadership throughout the budget process. There were a lot of moving parts this year, and she did a great job managing it all.

For more details on the budget, click here.

Find a Farmers Market Near You

Did you know that the County's diverse agricultural industry's 561 farms and 350 horticultural enterprises produce more than $243 million in economic contribution from agricultural products and operations? The majority of Montgomery County farms are family-run operations, many reaching back several generations, which employ more than 10,000 residents. Of the County's 561 farms, 43 percent are farmed as a primary occupation.

Check out one of the many Montgomery County farmers markets for fresh fruits, vegetables, bedding plants, cut flowers, preserves, herbs, baked goods and more. Each week, farmers markets provide different varieties of products as they come into season.

Holiday Schedule for Memorial Day

~ County Offices – closed

~ Libraries – closed

~ County liquor stores – all retail stores open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

~ Recreation – indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities will be open; administrative offices, senior centers and community recreation centers will be close

~ Montgomery Parks – for holiday operating schedule on Parks’ facilities, including Brookside Gardens, ice rinks, tennis centers, trains and carousels, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org.

~ Ride On – Sunday schedule

~ Metrobus – Sunday schedule

~ Metrorail – Sunday schedule

~ TRiPS Commuter Stores (Silver Spring and Friendship Heights) – closed

~ Refuse/recycling pickup – no collection*

~ Transfer Station – closed

~ Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters – free

~ MCPS Administrative Offices – closed

~ State offices and courts – closed

*Collection provided one day later for remainder of week (last collection day is Saturday).

 

My Thoughts on the Tentative Budget Agreement

Today we reached a tentative unanimous agreement on the FY14 budget. Overall, this is a good budget that maintains fiscal responsibility while beginning to restore some of the cuts we had to make over the past four years of the economic downturn. Particularly gratifying is the increase in funding for some very important human services. We will cast our final, formal votes next Thursday.

This budget includes some long overdue pay increases for our employees who have been sacrificing for several years now. It is only because of their sacrifices that we are in a position today to try to get them back on track, and it is important to put the pay increases in context with everything else that has happened in the last four years.

Employees did not get any raises—no COLAs for four years and no step increases for three years. What’s worse, employee pay actually went down because of furloughs one year and increases in employee contributions to health and retirement benefits for the next two years.

Our employees really have been great throughout the recession, and I’m glad that we finally are able to provide some measure of increased compensation this year. It certainly is overdue and well deserved.

I’m also very pleased that we made economic development and job creation high priorities in this budget. We fully funded the Montgomery Business Development Corporation, which is providing us an invaluable business perspective on growing our local economy. We also added new positions in the Department of Economic Development so that the department can pursue new and innovative job development programs. While it is true we are still operating under constrained circumstances, I think these are responsible decisions to invest in our long-term growth. Only through job creation will our residents and our county as a whole be able to achieve the future we envision.

Also with an eye to helping families and businesses thrive, we decreased the proposed energy tax. While I wish we could eliminate the energy tax increase from FY11 entirely, I’m glad we at least were able to reduce it by 10 percent. Times remain tough for many of our residents and businesses, so any relief we can provide will help.

Last but not least, this budget restores funding for stump removal, which I know will make many residents happy. This program has been on hold for years, and we finally will be able to start addressing the backlog of stumps in county rights-of-way.

I want to thank our Council President, Nancy Navarro, for her leadership throughout the budget process. There were a lot of moving parts this year, and she did a great job managing it all.

For more details on the budget, click here.

Apply Now to Commission for Women

Apply by May 17 for one of five spots on the Commission for Women. Three vacancies are for applicants that must be nominated and recommended by an organization within the County whose interests relate to the status of women, and this endorsement should be included with the application. Two of the vacancies are for individuals applying on their own behalf. Three incumbents are eligible to apply for reappointment.The primary responsibility of the 15-member Commission is to advise and counsel the County government on issues of concern to women.

Send your cover letter and resume, along with an endorsement from a women’s organization if applicable, to County Executive Isiah Leggett, 101 Monroe Street, 2nd Floor, Rockville, MD 20850, or by email to countyexecutive.boards@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Public Hearing on the Zoning Code Rewrite

June 11 is your chance to weigh in on the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite. After 35 years, the code definitely needs some updating as it has become overly technical, contradictory in some places and difficult to understand. We aim to make the revised version more transparent, clear and consistent. To sign up for the public hearing on June 11 call 240-777-7803.

Affordable Housing Bill on Hold

Two of the highest priorities for the Montgomery County Council are affordable housing and economic development. At least that’s what we say. What we do is a different matter altogether.

Today the Montgomery County Council tabled Bill 39-11 which would have fostered the creation of affordable housing through impact tax incentives. The excuse? It hasn’t been fully vetted.

I introduced Bill 39-11 a year and a half ago with three cosponsors. After a public hearing, significant research and two comprehensive work sessions, the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee endorsed the bill. That can hardly be called a rush to judgment.

We need more affordable housing not just for downsizing seniors, single heads of household and young starter families to have a decent place to live, but also to support a workforce for a robust economy. The future of our economic development hinges on our ability to retain and attract moderate wage earners and the younger, skilled labor force.

In November 2011, Dr. Stephen Fuller, Director of the Center for Regional Analysis at the George Mason University School of Public Policy told us the top three challenges facing Montgomery County were:

• Having a sufficient supply and quality of labor to support future job growth;
• Having sufficient housing resources—in number, variety of types, and range of costs—both for renters and owners to house an increasing share of the county’s workforce thereby reducing the economy’s dependence on commuters to fill the county’s jobs; and
• Being competitive with other area jurisdictions in terms of location and operating costs and business friendly reputation.

It is time for the Council to start practicing what we preach. Affordable housing is part of the foundation of our future, and we need to use every tool at our disposal to achieve it.

County Job Growth up from 2010

According to our Department of Economic Development, employment in Montgomery County between 2010 and 2012 grew by nearly 25,000 jobs - from 631,154 jobs in 2010 to 655,824 jobs in 2012. That represents a 3.9 percent job growth rate. During the same period, job growth in Fairfax City and County was 3.6 percent and the District of Columbia was 2.8 percent. The Department used data provided by Economic Modeling Specialists Intl.

The County’s top job-gaining sector was professional, scientific and technical services, which added almost 5,300 jobs from 2010 to 2012. The other top growing sectors were government, retail trade, and health care and social assistance, each adding over 3,000 jobs during the three year period.

Contributing to the County’s increase in jobs were several Top 50 employers. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, with four offices in Rockville, added nearly 330 jobs, the most of the Top 50 employers. Just behind them was Capital One, adding almost 300 jobs, followed by the Henry M. Jackson Foundation and MedImmune, which each added more than 200 jobs.

New Green Landscaping Business Certification Program

The Green Business Certification Program has expanded to include the Green Landscape Business Certification Program, and I was glad to help congratulate the first seven certified businesses yesterday in Garrett Park.

The new program expands eligibility for the Green Business Certification Program beyond businesses with office-based operations to the landscaping sector. It emphasizes actions landscape companies can take for their clients to enhance County environmental goals, including reducing or eliminating pesticides and fertilizers; planting native canopy trees; installing rain gardens to capture and filter stormwater; creating conservation landscapes; reducing mowing areas to cut emissions; and conserving water.

Landscape businesses, such as garden centers, or those offering design, installation or maintenance services are eligible for the program. To be certified, a landscape business must meet requirements from a checklist of over 130 actions. Learn more.