Thursday, December 29, 2016

What's In and What's Out for 2017

In -- Education:  We committed ourselves to the core goals of closing the educational opportunity gap; reducing class sizes across the board; and making decisions that are both achievable in the short term and sustainable over time. That's why we passed an "education first" budget.

In -- Marriott:  Marriott is the gold standard for corporate excellence, and their decision to continue growing their business right here in Montgomery County is great news.

Out -- Hate:   After some incidents of inflammatory speech, vandalism and harassment, the Council passed a resolution reaffirming this County's tradition of respect for all residents.

In -- Economic Development:  We launched the privatized Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation to give economic development a real shot in the arm, and we have welcomed its first executive director.

Out -- Job Insecurity:  Our sick and safe leave law, which requires employers to provide paid sick leave, took effect in October. New legislation expanded the law to include parental leave.

In -- Renters:  Under the new landlord-tenant law, renters can look forward to greater transparency about their rights and obligations under a lease as well as an enhanced focus on inspections and enforcement with regard to health and safety issues.

In - Clean Energy:  The Council Office Building's new solar panels are a part of a larger, and very successful, County initiative to generate clean solar energy on-site.

Out -- Electronic Cigarettes:  In 2015 the Council approved my bill to ban the use of electronic cigarettes wherever traditional tobacco smoking is prohibited and to require child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine. Now the federal government is following our lead and taking aggressive steps to keep e-cigs out of the hands of minors.

In -- Gold:  Montgomery County's four Olympians brought home seven medals from the Games in Rio.

In -- New Leadership:  Congratulations to Roger Berliner and Hans Riemer who have been elected president and vice president of the Council. As the outgoing president, I had the opportunity to reflect on the Council's business over the past year.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Holiday Schedule for Christmas and New Year

Here's the County's holiday schedule for the Christmas and New Year holidays:

  • County Offices – closed Monday, December 26 and Monday, January 2 
  • Libraries – closed December 25, 26 and January 1, 2
  • County Liquor stores – closed
  • Recreation – All facilities and programs closed December 25 and January 1. Senior centers are closed December 24 through January 2. For information on schedules for aquatic facilities and community centers during the holiday week go to http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec/Resources/Files/thingstodo/events/2016HolidayWeekRecreationOpenings.pdf
  • Montgomery Parks - for the holiday operating schedule on Parks’ facilities visit www.MontgomeryParks.org
  • Ride On – Saturday, December 24: Saturday schedule with limited late evening service. Trips scheduled to depart from the terminal at 10:01 p.m. or later will NOT depart. Sunday, December 25: Sunday schedule. Monday, December 26: Sunday schedule (Christmas Day - observed). Sunday, January 1: Sunday schedule; Monday, January 2: Sunday schedule (New Year's Day - observed)
  • Metrorail – Information available at www.wmata.com
  • Metrobus – Information available at www.wmata.com
  • TRiPS Commuter Stores (Silver Spring and Friendship Heights) – closed
  • Transfer Station and Poolesville Beauty Spot– closed on December 25 and January 1
  • Refuse/recycling pickup – will operate as scheduled
  • The Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station - closed
  • Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters – free
  • MCPS Schools and Administrative Offices – Schools and offices closed Monday, December 26 and Monday, January 2; no school for students and teachers December 26 – January 2
  • State offices and courts – closed Monday, December 26 and Monday, January 2

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

County's Olympians to be Honored

Update 12/21: see the video of the event.

Here's your chance to congratulate the County’s 2016 Team USA Olympians. The free celebration will be held on Monday, December 19 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The evening will include presentations from the County Executive and Council, musical entertainment and more. Jack Conger, Katie Ledecky and Ashley Nee are confirmed to attend. Helen Maroulis is traveling and will not be able to attend.

Montgomery County is home to four of the 11 athletes who represented Maryland during the 2016 Olympic Games which took place in Rio de Janeiro from Aug. 5-21.

  • Jack Conger from Rockville competed in the 4x200m freestyle swimming event. Conger graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in 2013. Conger earned a gold medal.
  • Katie Ledecky, former gold medalist from the 2012 Olympics competed in the 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle. Ledecky, from Bethesda, graduated from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in 2015. Ledecky earned a silver and four gold medals.
  • Ashley Nee from Bethesda competed in the Canoe Slalom. Nee graduated from Northwestern High School.
  • Helen Maroulis, a graduate from Col. Zadok Magruder High School student, is a wrestler who competed in the Freestyle 53 kg. Maroulis earned a gold medal.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

New Leadership and a Look Back

Congratulations to Roger Berliner and Hans Riemer who have been elected president and vice president of the County Council starting today. I have every confidence that next year will be another great one for our county.

As the outgoing president, I had the opportunity to reflect on the Council's business over the past year. Here are my remarks in full (see the video):

This was absolutely a year to look back on with pride. The Montgomery County Council truly set the gold standard for commitment and hard work to move our community forward.

Principally, this was an "Education First" year. Entering into a historic and unprecedented partnership with the Board of Education, we took their budget both for instruction and construction to the highest levels ever funded.  We followed that up with tightening the school capacity test for development and significantly increased the school impact taxes. As a result of our budget decisions, students and parents are now getting more teachers, paraeducators, counselors and other student support positions, as well as expanded programs to support achievement goals and enhance college and career readiness. What’s more, we’re on track to construct school revitalizations and additions sooner than expected. 

I want to especially recognize Craig Rice as chair of the Education Committee for his leadership and advocacy, particularly with respect to the opportunity gap he has prioritized us addressing.

While we’re on the subject of education and opportunities for youth, I especially want to congratulate Nancy Navarro for partnering with the Norman and Ruth Rales Foundation and MCPS to bring the Building Educated Leaders for Life (BELL) summer program to more than 1,000 students annually from Title 1 schools, as well as her dedication to early childhood education initiatives.

Certainly we focused heavily on education this year, but it wasn’t our only priority.

We also focused on health and welfare, including prohibiting minors from using indoor tanning devices and mandating food allergen awareness training in restaurants.

And for those residents who aren’t sure where their next meal will come from, we thank Roger Berliner for leading the charge to create a strategic plan to reduce food insecurity in our county.

We also focused on equality, fairness and lending a helping hand by creating a new property tax credit for seniors; tightening wage reporting requirements to ensure workers are paid a living wage; and ensuring workers can take parental leave.

Also, Montgomery County now benefits from a Mental Health Court designed to address the challenges of increasing numbers of people committing minor crimes due to mental illness. Thanks in part to Sidney Katz’s participation on the Mental Health Court Planning and Implementation Task Force, people who have committed crimes due to a mental illness can access a structured program for treatment.

And, as a result of Marc Elrich’s landlord-tenant bill, renters can look forward to greater transparency about their rights and obligations under a lease as well as an enhanced focus on inspections and enforcement with regard to health and safety issues.

In the category of good government, I want to recognize George Leventhal for introducing the bill that established a salary schedule for heads of County departments and principal offices, thereby ensuring better transparency and accountability. 

And I also recognize Hans Riemer for spearheading the effort to win a Department of Labor grant to study paid family and medical leave throughout the county, thereby helping chart the best path forward.

It has been a very big year in terms of business and development. We launched the privatized Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation to give economic development a real shot in the arm, and we have welcomed its first executive director. We have put our business community in charge of our business development program, and that is an outstanding achievement for this County.

In our land use planning efforts, we have focused on supporting and modernizing existing communities. We are completing the work on Lyttonsville, which will join the sector plan work on Montgomery Village and Westbard to encourage appropriate reinvestment in those areas. We put many hours into updating the Subdivision Staging Policy, and subdivision regulations, which modernized our processes for reviewing development, tightening tests, adding clarity to often misunderstood regulations that will guide our future, and support the infrastructure that the future requires.

Of course, legislation is only part of the work we do here.  There have been quite a few challenging community issues this past year. There is no better example of that type of constituent service than that of Tom Hucker and his deep involvement with families affected by the explosion and fire at the Flower Branch apartments in Silver Spring.

In fact, public outreach to our more than one million residents has been a hallmark of this body. 

This year the Council as a whole held four town hall meetings, a public forum on cell towers and 52 public hearings. Individual Councilmembers held dozens more town halls, forums and special events in their districts or for special populations. This is a Council that likes to meet with people face to face, and you can find at least one our sponsored events just about every week of the year.  

In 2016, we made great strides in reaching more people and doing it in more ways, reflecting a County that is becoming more tech savvy and more diverse. We have aggressively expanded our use of social media to better inform residents about issues and about Council actions. We now have thousands of followers on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. In order to expand our reach we have staff dedicated to outreach in our Hispanic and Asian communities. We also greatly improved our immediacy in 2016. You can now get video summaries of many Council actions and key discussions the day they happen. Our cable station, County Cable Montgomery was recognized with a local Emmy for its outstanding communications work. It's quite an array of community connections success.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t address one big issue of the last year or so, and that is the seismic shift in the way our country engages in public discourse. We’ve seen a dramatic increase in vitriolic speech and a prevalence of style over substance. It seems that the news media have been crippled by the overwhelming task of fact finding and fact checking, and the American public is showing signs of political fatigue no matter what their party affiliation.

Although we like to think of ourselves as somewhat insulated from national trends here in Montgomery County, the truth is that we’ve experienced tremblors here too.

Unfortunately we’ve seen some acts of vandalism, hate speech and harassment, and that has made folks understandably jittery. Many Councilmembers and staff have experienced more impoliteness and a lack of civility in the course of their everyday work, and that can be dispiriting. 

But we cannot let this get in our way. The work we do represents our future, and we are fortunate to be in this unique position of being able to shape it for the better.

It is with the particular challenges of this past year in mind that I want to say thank you to all of you for what you do to make our little corner of the world a better place.

On a personal note, I want to thank my chief of staff, Judy Jablow for her sage advice and for her outstanding leadership among the Confidential Aides. I also want to recognize the rest of my team--Ruthann Eiser, Jocelyn Rawat and Tedi Osias.  I know that each of my colleagues feels equally grateful to their own personal staffs.

Of course we all are indebted to the larger Council team—the 5th floor analysts and support staff, the Office of Legislative Oversight and the Legislative Information Office. You are the backbone of this organization, and we are deeply grateful to you.

Success is no accident. It takes hard work, patience, perseverance, learning, trust, collaboration and commitment, with a dose of good humor thrown in. By that, by any definition, this has been a most successful year for this Council. You all have demonstrated these qualities and for that our county has been very well served. It has been my deep privilege to lead you this past year, and I am sure that next year will be equally outstanding. Thank you all.

Friday, December 2, 2016

Changes to Council Web Site Create More Access

Check out the new and significant revision to the Council's Web site. You can now access in one click agendas for Council sessions and committee meetings. You can also get informational packets for every issue to be discussed at meetings and view live meetings and archived videos of past meetings. Go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council and click on "Council Meeting Portal" to get this information plus minutes of prior meetings, summaries of Council actions and voting outcomes on legislation.

The Council broadcasts live all Council sessions, public hearings and committee meetings. If two committee meetings are ongoing simultaneously, you can choose from the site to see the live broadcast of either.

On the same page, click on “Archived Agendas and Packets,” to access archived agendas and prior informational meeting packets dating to 2004. A new “search” feature greatly improves the ability to find items by subject or name. Videos on demand are available for Council meetings and most committee meetings dating to 2005. Videos of evening public hearings back to 2010 also are available.

You can view videos of some Council special events, such as town hall meetings, or special programs produced by County Cable Montgomery  under “Other Council Videos.”

To access the new site and its key information for upcoming meetings:

  • From the Council home page, click on the box near the top of the page that reads “Council Meeting Portal. Agendas, Packets, Live and Archived Video.”
  • On the page, under “Current and Upcoming Meetings,” find meetings identified by date and the desired session.
  • Click on “Agendas/Packets” and then go to the meeting informational packet for that specific item.Agendas for upcoming meetings are generally available two-to-three working days before a meeting. Detailed informational packets for each item on an agenda are generally added about 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Information on previous Council sessions or committee worksessions are available by finding the desired meeting and clicking on either “Agendas/Packets” or “Video.” Meeting videos can be viewed by specific items, so you do not have to watch the entire meeting when seeking video on just one item.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Council Approves Landlord-Tenant Bill

On Tuesday we unanimously approved amended Bill 19-15 that addresses issues with landlord-tenant relations. The Council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee held five worksessions on the bill that would make several changes to the landlord-tenant law principally aimed at enhancing the existing rights of tenants and improving the quality of rental housing through increased inspections.

The major provisions of approved Bill 19-15 will:

  • Provide tenants with greater transparency about their rights and obligations under a lease.
  • Require the Department of Housing and Community Affairs to inspect a sample of every multi-family rental property over the next two years to establish baseline information about the condition of the County’s rental housing stock.
  • Focus ongoing enforcement resources on properties with significant health and safety issues and properties with numerous code violations.
  • Provide clearer information about the state of rental units in the County via improved data collection and publication.
  • Provide many benefits to tenants that should improve the stability and quality of their living arrangements. 
Other provisions in the bill will:
  • Require each lease to include a plain language summary of a tenant’s rights and responsibilities.
  • Require DHCA to conduct a two-year intensive inspection schedule (twice the current number of inspections, prioritized by need).
  • Require DHCA to provide annual reports to Council and County Executive about past and upcoming year inspections. 
  • Require certain properties to be inspected more frequently than the current triennial schedule (based on type and severity of violations).
  • Require landlords to pay the cost of subsequent inspections, if a property needs multiple inspections for uncorrected violations.
  • Require that tenants can make certain repairs when authorized by the DHCA director or his designee, if DHCA orders a repair and the landlord fails to correct the issue in the allotted time.
  • Requires lease renewal terms of two years, if the landlord is offering renewal.
Approved Bill 19-15 also provides tenants with greater access to information including:
  • Improvement of the availability of landlord-tenant handbooks.
  • Requiring landlords to provide tenants with more information about utility bills in older buildings.
  • Requiring landlords to give 60 days’ notice if the landlord intends to terminate the tenancy at the end of a lease term, and 90 days’ notice for all rent increases.
  • Requiring DHCA to publish certain data from the annual rental housing survey on its web site.
  • Requiring that tenant organizations be allowed to use available meeting space for free once per month.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

County Maintains AAA Bond Rating

Good news: Montgomery County has maintained its Triple-A bond rating for 2016 from three Wall Street bond rating agencies. Fitch, Moody’s, and Standard & Poor’s all affirmed the “AAA” rating – the highest achievable -- for the County. They all termed the outlook for Montgomery County as “stable.”

The Triple-A bond rating enables Montgomery County to sell long-term bonds at the most favorable rates, saving County taxpayers millions of dollars over the life of the bonds. The rating also serves as a benchmark for numerous other financial transactions, ensuring the lowest possible costs in those areas as well.

The County has held an AAA bond rating since 1973 and is currently one of just 45 of the more than 3,000 counties nationwide with the top rating from all three rating agencies.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Stand Up for the Montgomery Way

I hope to see you this Sunday when I will join other public officials, faith leaders and neighbors as we reaffirm our values of diversity, inclusion and respect for all that have made Montgomery County special at the Stand Up for the Montgomery Way event. We will be at the Silver Spring Civic Building at 1 Veterans Place in Silver Spring, 2:30 to 3:30.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Council and Executive Reaffirm Community Safety and Trust

As a number of people have written and stated, the events of the past week have brought out demons in our society that many of us thought had been put to rest. That's why the Council passed a resolution reaffirming this County’s tradition of respect for all residents. We stand united in saying we are a diverse community that believes in the dignity and importance of all our members. We reject discrimination and disenfranchisement in all its forms, and we condemn hate speech, hate crimes and harassment. See the news conference.

Here's the full text of the resolution:

SUBJECT:       Reaffirming Community Safety and Trust and Denouncing Anti-Immigrant Activity, Racial Bias and Discrimination, Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, Hate Speech, Hate Crimes, and Harassment in Montgomery County 

Background

1. Montgomery County’s strength is its diversity. People from every corner of the globe come to our County seeking peace, stability, and a better quality of life for their families, and their contributions greatly enrich our community. 

2. Montgomery County has the largest population of foreign born residents in the State of Maryland with nearly one-third of our residents coming from other countries. 

3. More than 70 percent of students in Montgomery County Public Schools are Hispanic/Latino, African American, Asian American, or multi-racial.

4. The County Council affirms the dignity of all County residents and recognizes the importance of their contributions to social, religious, cultural, and economic life.

5. County officials and employees and our entire community have worked diligently to build trust among people of all races, ethnicities, and religions. These efforts make our County a thriving, welcoming community. 

6. Montgomery County has a long history of protecting all individual freedoms, and we will continue to protect and defend our people and our progress. 
7. All our residents should be free to go about their daily life without fear of hate speech, hate crimes, harassment, or deportation. 

8. The Council strongly opposes any federal action that may undermine the trust created in our community and threaten public safety.   

9. The Council is committed to ensuring that activity at the federal level will not impact our democratic values or the progress made in our community to protect individual freedoms. Federal authorities must proceed with great caution and respect for the values of our County and the requirements of the Constitution. 
  
Action

The County Council for Montgomery County, Maryland approves the following resolution:

Montgomery County will continue to be a citadel of justice and provide unlimited opportunities for people from all walks of life. The County will continue to be an inclusive and pluralistic community where all people are treated with respect.

Montgomery County believes that no deportations should take place without ensuring that the person to be deported received adequate representation and due process of law under the Constitution. The Montgomery County Police Department will play no role in enforcing federal immigration law.  County residents should never be afraid to seek help from our public safety officers. 

The Council rejects bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and xenophobia in any form.

The Council denounces hate speech, hate crimes, and harassment and condemns the recent hate crimes that have occurred in our County.   

The Council calls on the County’s MC311 system to provide operators and staff with special instructions to assist anyone on how to report and deal with hate crimes and harassment, including information about legal resources and support services. When appropriate, MC311 operators should also transfer calls to the Montgomery County Police Department’s non-emergency number and provide information about the Office of Human Rights. 


This is a correct copy of Council action.

Linda M. Lauer, Clerk of the Council

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Holiday Schedule for Thanksgiving

Here is our holiday schedule for Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24:

  • County Offices – closed
  • Libraries – closed
  • County Liquor stores – closed
  • Recreation - all programs and facilities are closed
  • 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 – Ride On will run on a Sunday schedule
  • Metrorail – Information available at www.wmata.com
  • Metrobus – Information available at www.wmata.com
  • TRiPS Commuter Stores (Silver Spring and Friendship Heights) – closed
  • Refuse/recycling Collections – No collection*
  • The Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station - closed.  Public Unloading Facility and Recycle Lot, at the Transfer Station will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23
  • Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters – free
  • MCPS Schools and Administrative Offices – closed Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25
  • State offices and courts – closed Thursday, November 24 and Friday, November 25
*Collection for Thursday and Friday provided one day later for remainder of week (last collection day is Saturday)

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Expansion of Sick and Safe Leave Law

Today the Council unanimously approved Bill 32-16 that will extend the provisions of the County’s paid leave law for certain parental purposes. The bill will add two related purposes for which use of paid leave accrued under the Earned Sick and Safe Leave law will be permitted. The bill will permit the use of paid leave for the birth of a child or for the placement of a child with the employee for adoption or foster care. It also will allow use of the leave to care for a newborn, newly adopted or newly placed child within one year of birth, adoption or placement.

The Council in July 2015 enacted Bill 60-14 that requires an employer doing business in the County to provide a minimum amount of paid leave for an employee who works in the County. Bill 60-14 was enacted with an effective date of October 1, 2016. Bill 32-16 will go into effect immediately as expedited legislation.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Telework at the Library for Metro Surge

Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) is a resource for telecommuters who are impacted by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Surge 10. MCPL has multiple options for telecommuters who are looking for alternative work sites or resources during the surge. The WMATA Surge 10 will affect the Red Line October 29 through November 22. This surge is expected to cause delays on the entire Red Line -- the Metrorail system’s busiest line.

MCPL library card holders have access for the following telecommuting resources available in branches:

The following resources are available online to MCPL card holders -
For more information about MCPL services call Regina Holyfield-Jewett at 240-777-0106.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

SafeTrak Surge 10 Oct. 29 - Nov. 22

Here's the full press release:

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Surge 10 will affect the Red Line October 29 through November 22. This surge is expected to cause delays on the entire Red Line -- the Metrorail system’s busiest line. Metro is urging commuters to find alternatives, particularly during weekday, peak travel hours. Surge 10 is the last surge that will directly affect Montgomery County.

Summary of SafeTrack Surge 10: 

  • Red Line trains will run in two segments -- Shady Grove to NoMa-Gallaudet U every six minutes and Glenmont to Fort Totten every ten minutes. 
  • Metrorail stations at Brookland-CUA and Rhode Island Ave. will be closed. 
  • Metro will run free shuttle buses to replace trains between NoMa-Gallaudet U and Fort Totten. 
  • Ride On will run free shuttle buses between the Silver Spring, Takoma and Fort Totten Metrorail stations during extended rush hours. 
  • The Green/Yellow Line provides a good alternative between Fort Totten and Gallery Place. 
  • Other alternatives include the MARC train; additional Metrobuses along key north-south routes; and Park and Ride lots at Green/Yellow Line Metrorail stations. 
  • For those riding other sections of the Red Line, there will be fewer trains arriving less often. 
  • Overall, Red Line customers are urged to consider telecommuting, off-peak travel, bus, MARC and other alternatives. Commuters should expect trains to be extremely crowded. 


What is Montgomery County Doing to Help Travelers?
Montgomery County, including the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), is assisting travelers during SafeTrack Surge 10, as outlined below.

For Riders:

To encourage commuters to travel outside of peak hours, provide free Ride On “Red Line Shuttles” between the Silver Spring, Takoma and Fort Totten Metrorail stations weekdays every 10 minutes from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. MCDOT is extending peak-hour service to 4 ½ hours in both the morning and afternoon. 
  • Distribute free round-trip MARC Train tickets prior to the start of Surge 10 at the Silver Spring and Rockville Metrorail stations to encourage commuters to try this alternative. Tickets will be distributed, while they last, on Tuesday, October 25 from 7 to 9 a.m. and Thursday, October 27 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. 
  • Sell MARC Train tickets at the MCDOT TRiPS store in Silver Spring, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • Provide commuter services assistance, including telework, alternate work schedules, carpooling, vanpooling and use of car-sharing. 
  • Post bike route “SafeTrack Detour” signs at station entrances to connect West Hyattsville on the Green/Yellow Line with the Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont stations. 
  • Co-sponsor a “Learn the Route” free, guided bike ride on Saturday, October 29 at 10 a.m. to aid bike commuting. 
  • Encourage commuters to use MCDOT’s recently created interactive map of Park and Ride Lot options. 
  • Coordinate with Montgomery County Police to provide traffic control to improve bus operations at the Silver Spring Transit Center and other key locations. 
  • Offer free Bikeshare memberships, training and helmets to qualified, low income residents through the MC Liberty program
For Drivers:
  • Monitor traffic and adjust traffic signals in areas most affected by SafeTrack to improve bus operations and traffic flow. 
  • Suspend MCDOT road repair projects along key commuter routes affected by surges. 
  • Request that the Maryland State Highway Administration restrict lane closures and construction projects along key routes affected by surges. 
  • Prohibit metered parking on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. along the MD 97 and US 29 corridors in Silver Spring to improve bus operations and traffic flow. 
Educate Travelers:
  • Extend MC311 Call Center hours during Surge 10 to 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, between October 31 and November 22. People can call 311 from within the County, 240-777-0311 from outside the County or use Maryland Relay Services. 
  • Provide Ride On staff at affected Metro stations to assist passengers, direct them to shuttles and distribute information. 
  • Hold “pop-up” events at Metrorail stations to educate passengers. 
  • Post interior and exterior Ride On bus and bus shelter ads. 
  • Display informational posters at all transit centers. 
  • Use social and traditional media to communicate with customers and the public. 
  • Promote the Fare Share commuter benefits matching program in Transportation Management Districts and to major employers that allows them to buy down the cost of transit or vanpooling for their employees. Employers may contact Commuter Services at 240-777-8380 or by email. 
  • Transportation Alternatives
Ride a Bus

Take a free Ride On “Red Line Shuttle” between Silver Spring, Takoma and the Fort Totten Metrorail stations weekdays every 10 minutes from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Connect to the Green/Yellow Line at Fort Totten. Look for Ride On shuttles at the following locations:

  • Silver Spring (southbound only): Colesville Road (between Wayne Avenue and the Metrorail entrance) 
  • Takoma (northbound and southbound): Bus Bay A 
  • Fort Totten (northbound only): Bus Bay C 
Ride enhanced Metrobus service
  • Route 80 weekday rush hour service connecting downtown DC and Fort Totten 
  • Route P6 weekday rush hour service connecting downtown DC and Rhode Island Station 
  • Route L2 weekday rush hour service connecting downtown DC with Chevy Chase Circle 
  • MetroExtra S9 limited stop service, midday and rush hour, between Silver Spring and McPherson Square 
Check other bus options
Ride the Metrorail Green/Yellow Line
Take MARC Train
  • Try the Brunswick Line, which has stations in Rockville, Metropolitan Grove, Garrett Park, Kensington, Silver Spring and Union Station (limited parking available near Garrett Park and Kensington stations). 
  • Connect with Ride On at many MARC stations. Enter station name here to view transit options. 
  • Buy MARC train tickets at the station or in advance: In Person: Quik-Trak ticket vending machines at some stations; On the platform from MARC staff at Rockville and Silver Spring during peak travel times; Onboard with cash only; $20 denominations or less. (Note: MARC charges a $5 surcharge for onboard purchases); Online http://www.mta.commuterdirect.com (Note: When purchasing a ticket, use “Washington, DC” for Union Station.); Silver Spring TRiPS store at the Silver Spring Transit Center, Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Explore Commuter Services Options
  • View Montgomery County’s telework video and webinar or receive free, expert consulting services from Montgomery County Commuter Services. Call 240-777-8380 or email. 
  • Consider allowing employees to flex their time. 
  • Consider signing up for the County’s FareShare program for employers that allows them to buy-down the cost of transit or vanpooling for their employees. Contact Montgomery County Commuter Services at 240-777-8380 or email. 
Try Biking
  • Ride to the West Hyattsville Green/Yellow Line station: Look for MCDOT’s bike route “SafeTrack Detour” signs that begin at station entrances at the Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont stations; Route distances along the Sligo Creek Trail, with local street connections, range from about five miles between Takoma and West Hyattsville to 11.6 miles between Glenmont and West Hyattsville; As with any bike route, prepare for the weather and be sure your bike has a headlight. 
  • Use the Georgetown Branch Trail between Silver Spring, Bethesda and Georgetown. This signed trail combines on-street travel with a gravel and paved path. Route distances are 5.7 miles between Silver Spring and Bethesda and 12.1 miles between Silver Spring and Georgetown. 
  • Use Capital Bikeshare: Acess Capital Bikeshare in Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Friendship Heights; Bethesda, Chevy Chase Lake, Rockville or Shady Grove. See full station map online; Use a credit card for a $2 single trip fare, good for up to 30 minutes, or an $8 daily fare: Limited income residents can call Montgomery County Commuter Services at 240-777-8380 to learn about eligibility for a free, annual, Bikeshare membership. 
  • Plan your ride by checking the Montgomery County Planning Department’s Level of Traffic Stress map
  • Join a “Learn the Route” free, guided ride on Saturday, October 29 at 10 a.m., co-sponsored by Montgomery County Commuter Services and led by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. Register at waba.org/safetrack
Consider Driving as a Last Resort

For those with limited choices, driving may be the best option, but expect more traffic congestion than usual.

For more information, visit Montgomery County SafeTrack, Metro SafeTrack or Montgomery County Commuter Services.

The Montgomery County’s 311 Call Center is extending its hours to 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday from October 31 through November 22. Call 311 from within the County, 240-777-0311 from outside the County or use Maryland Relay Services. You can learn more about Surge 10 at www.mc311.com by using the key words “safe track”.

Town Hall Meeting for Silver Spring

Let us know what matters most to you at our Town Hall Meeting for the Silver Spring area on Wednesday, November 9, at Sligo Middle School (1401 Dennis Avenue) beginning at 8 p.m. with a pre-meeting reception at 7:30. You can voice your opinions on specific issues and ask questions of us in an organized, but informal, setting. I hope to see you there.

The meeting will be taped for later broadcast on County Cable Montgomery (CCM—cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon or in high definition). For more information about the Town Hall Meeting or about the broadcast times, call 240-777-7931.

Holiday Schedule for Veterans Day

Here's our holiday schedule for Veterans Day, Friday, November 11.

  • County Offices – closed
  • Libraries – closed
  • County Liquor stores – all Country liquor stores will be open normal hours
  • Recreation: aquatic and community centers open as scheduled; classes and programs will meet as scheduled; all senior programs cancelled, and administrative offices and senior centers closed
  • Montgomery Parks - For operating schedule, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org
  • Ride On – Ride On will run on a Special Modified Holiday Schedule
  • Metrorail – Information available at www.wmata.com
  • Metrobus – Information available at www.wmata.com
  • TRiPS Commuter Stores (Silver Spring and Friendship Heights) – closed
  • Transfer Station recycling and trash drop-offs: Open with normal hours.  Recycling Center: closed;  Transfer Station and Recycling Center administrative offices: closed
  • Trash Collections –Friday collections will slide to Saturday
  • The Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station - closed
  • Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters – free
  • MCPS Schools and Administrative Offices – Schools and administrative offices are open; early release day for K-8th grade students
  • State offices and courts – closed

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Marriott Plans New Office and Hotel Complex in Montgomery County

Marriott is the gold standard for corporate excellence, and their decision to continue growing their business right here in Montgomery County is great news. Here's the full press release:

ANNAPOLIS, MD, October, 18, 2016--Marriott International, Inc., the world’s leading hotel company, announced today plans to relocate its global corporate office to a state-of-the-art, build-to-suit $600-million facility to be located in downtown Bethesda in Montgomery County. The county has been Marriott’s home for more than 60 years. The new complex will house more than 3,500 employees in approximately 700,000 square feet of leased office space. The company is continuing its consideration of several sites in downtown Bethesda, and is expected to select a final site in the first half of 2017. Marriott plans to occupy the new space before the expiration of its current lease at 10400 Fernwood Road in late 2022. Marriott also announced that a 200+ room, Marriott-branded hotel will be built on the site.

As part of the announcement, Marriott President and CEO Arne Sorenson said, “Marriott has been headquartered in Montgomery County, Maryland for more than 60 years and we intend to remain close to our roots. Our goal is to provide a cutting-edge workspace for our associates that offers state-of-the-art technology, modern amenities, and access to a range of transportation options.” Sorenson added, “We also plan to manage a new 200+ room Marriott-branded hotel to be built on the site, which will be a significant economic driver for the community. After a comprehensive review of many excellent options in Washington, D.C., as well as Arlington and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia, and North Bethesda, we have narrowed our search to downtown Bethesda, an area which offers multiple sites that meet our priority needs.”

In addition to being home to Marriott’s corporate headquarters, Maryland also has 93 Marriott-branded hotels in the state – totaling nearly 18,000 guest rooms – following the company’s merger with Starwood Hotels and Resorts last month. In 2015 there were more than 10,400 jobs in Maryland at Marriott properties, including its corporate offices, Marriott-managed hotels and franchised properties.

“Marriott is a world-class company with deep roots in our state, and their decision to continue growing their business right here in Maryland is tremendous news,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “For over 60 years they have been a vital member of our business community, employing thousands of Marylanders, and making a real and lasting positive impact on our state’s economy. Today’s announcement also reflects a great partnership with County Executive Ike Leggett and his team – a partnership that ensures our state will continue to benefit from Marriott’s presence and investment for decades to come.”

“I am pleased by Marriott’s decision to keep its headquarters operations and employees in Montgomery County,” said Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett. “The county, working closely with Marriott’s team and with Governor Larry Hogan, has partnered on an agreement that benefits the company, the state, and Montgomery County. Marriott has long been a mainstay here and has been an excellent corporate citizen, giving back again and again to help strengthen our community. The Marriott brand, now the largest in the lodging world, will shine ever more brightly from right here in the county.

Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen said: “The Montgomery County Council is very enthusiastic about the agreement reached today to relocate Marriott’s corporate headquarters in downtown Bethesda. Marriott is the gold standard for corporate excellence. We are honored they have been here for 60 years and happy they plan to stay and build. This is a good deal for the County and County taxpayers. It creates jobs, stimulates business activity, and grows the County tax base.”

“Marriott is a brand recognized and respected around the world, and the fact that they call Maryland home does a lot to advance our economic development efforts,” said Maryland Secretary of Commerce Mike Gill. “With more than 90 hotel properties across Maryland that had more than $600 million in sales last year, Marriott is also a valued part of our state’s tourism industry, which contributes some $16.4 billion in economic impact within our borders each year.”

Marriott International, Inc. is a global leading lodging company with more than 5,700 properties in more than 110 countries. Worldwide property level sales of hotels operated or franchised under the company’s 30 hotel brands totaled $62 billion in 2015. The company is ranked 195 on the most recent Fortune 500 list. The company was founded by J. Willard and Alice Marriott and continues to be guided by Marriott family leadership for nearly 90 years.

Monday, October 17, 2016

Tax Credit for Seniors in their Home More than 40 Years

Tomorrow I will introduce Bill 42-16 that would create a new property tax credit for residents who are at least 65 years old and who have lived in the same dwelling for at least 40 years. Retired members of the U.S. armed forces who are at least 65 years old also would be eligible for the tax credit. See the video.

Councilmembers Sidney Katz, Nancy Navarro and Craig Rice are co-sponsors of the bill.  A public hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15. If you can't make the hearing, you can also send your testimony to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Residents who qualify for the credit would be eligible to receive a 20 percent credit for the property tax imposed on their property. The credit would be granted annually for five years subject to application requirements.       

The dwelling for which a property tax is sought must have a maximum assessed value of $500,000 or less.

We want to do whatever we can to encourage people who love living in Montgomery County to continue to be able to live here as their life circumstances change. We understand that this can be an expensive place to live for many people at the prime of their earning power, and it gets more challenging for those in retirement years. With this bill, we can offer some help to people who have lived here a long time and helped build this County and to those who served our country and helped preserve and protect all the things for which we are thankful.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Apply Now for Grants Advisory Group

Apply by November 9 to the Council’s Grants Advisory Group. We will appoint the volunteer community panel to review grant applications and advise us on proposals received from the non-profit community. 

The Council believes that a strong partnership with non-profit organizations is critical in meeting the County’s needs, so we have established a grants process in which the Council accepts applications from non-profit organizations seeking funds, forwards proposals to the Grants Advisory Group for advice and comments and then makes funding decisions during our spring budget deliberations.

It is anticipated that the Grants Advisory Group will be appointed in December and will be asked to report to the Council by the end of April 2017. Panel members will need to attend training sessions and review relevant materials during late January and February. The applications review will take place between late February and April 15.

The Grants Advisory Group will be asked to provide the Council with written comments on each of the grant proposals. The workload will vary based on the number of applications received and panel members appointed; however, it is expected that each member would review approximately 20-25 applications. Panel members should anticipate approximately six to eight meetings between late January and mid-April, with the potential for weekly meetings in March. 

Volunteers for the Grants Advisory Group can come from panels reviewing Community Development Block Grants or Community Service Grants, as well as from other advisory boards or community groups. Applicants for the Advisory Group cannot be employees of, or member of a board of, a nonprofit group applying for Council grant funding. The Council will designate the chair of the Advisory Group. 

Send your letter of interest along with a resume to Council President Nancy Floreen, Montgomery County Council, Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, or by e-mail to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov by 4:00 on November 9. If you have questions, contact the Council Grants Manager at 240-777-7935 or council.grants@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Three Ways to Vote

Voting is easy in Montgomery County with three ways to cast your ballot. For more information, visit the Board of Elections at www.777vote.org.

Vote by Mail
Any voter can vote by mail. Download the absentee ballot request form and send it to the Board of Elections by November 1 if you want your ballot mailed to you or by November 4 if you want it delivered electronically.

Vote Early
Early voting is available October 27-November 3, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at any of these ten early voting sites: 
  • The Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg
  • Damascus Community Recreation Center, 25520 Oak Drive, Damascus
  • Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville
  • Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown
  • Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase
  • Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville
  • Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring
  • Potomac Community Recreation Center, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac
  • Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring
  • Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad, 2401 Arcola Avenue, Silver Spring
Vote on Election Day
Show up at your local precinct on November 8.

* New! If you missed the October 18 registration deadline and are qualified, you can register and vote the same day at any of the early voting sites. Just bring a Maryland driver's license, identification card, learners permit or other proof of residency.

Public Forum on Small Cell Antennas

Update 10/25/16: Check out the Council's new web page featuring information on cell antennas. You may find the link to the frequently asked questions especially helpful

***

This meeting will provide an opportunity to learn about pending telecommunication tower applications and to ask questions about existing and proposed County regulations. Here's the full press release:

The Montgomery County Council from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26, will hold an informational forum at Ridgeview Middle School in Gaithersburg on a proposal that would allow for the installation of small cell antennas and poles in public rights-of-way. The meeting will provide an opportunity to learn about pending telecommunication tower applications and to ask questions about existing and proposed County regulations.

Ridgeview Middle School is located at 16600 Raven Rock Dr. in Gaithersburg.

The meeting will be recorded by County Cable Montgomery (CCM) and broadcast numerous times on Cable Channels 996 (high-definition) and 6 (standard definition) on Comcast; Channels 1056 (HD) and 6 (SD) on RCN; and Channel 30 on Verizon. Times of the rebroadcasts have yet to be determined. The recording of the meeting also will be available via streaming through the Council web site at http://tinyurl.com/z9982v8.

The Council is now considering proposed Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 16-05, sponsored by Council President Nancy Floreen, which would allow telecommunications poles no higher than 30 feet in various zones with standards for their construction. The Council held a public hearing on the proposal on July 19.

As people are disconnecting from the traditional wired telephone and use their cell phones for far more than voice communication, there is a greater demand for wireless services in residential areas. The telecommunications industry can meet this need with small antennas on short poles.

Under the Federal Communications Act and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules, the County may not unreasonably discriminate among providers of functionally equivalent services, may not regulate in a manner that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting the provision of personal wireless services, must act on new tower applications within 150 days and must make any denial of an application in writing supported by substantial evidence in a written record. The statute also preempts local decisions premised directly or indirectly on the environmental effects of FCC allowed radio frequency (RF) emissions.

Antennas may be placed on utility poles.  Some neighborhoods have underground utilities without utility poles; however, most neighborhoods have street light poles. The new equipment cannot be supported on existing residential street light poles. An applicant intends to replace the existing street light pole with a pole that could accommodate antennas and a street light.  These poles would be less than 30 feet tall compared to the traditional oversized cell towers that rise high above the areas in which they are erected.

The current Zoning Ordinance requires a conditional use approval for every new pole, no matter how short the pole. Councilmember Floreen proposed the ZTA in the belief that standards for 30-foot poles will offer the community and the providers with a more predictable approach to moving forward on improvements in County wireless service.

Monday, October 3, 2016

Update on MCPS Efforts to Reduce Class Size and Address the Opportunity Gap

Tune in to County Cable Montgomery at approximately 1:45 tomorrow to see the update from Montgomery County Public Schools on its efforts to reduce class size and address the opportunity gap. In approving the Fiscal Year 2017 operating budget in May, the Council provided significant new funds that would go toward those purposes. If you aren't able to watch the meeting live, you can get it on demand about 24 hours later.

New MCPS Superintendent of Schools Jack Smith, Chief Academic Officer Maria Navarro, Associate Superintendent of Elementary Schools LaVerne Kimball and Associate Superintendent of Secondary Schools Darryl Williams are among the MCPS representatives expected for the update on schools.

The FY17 budget for MCPS resulted from a historic collaboration between the Board of Education and the Council. Together we agreed to redirect significant resources to reduce class size and address the opportunity gap. Specifically, the Council's appropriation for MCPS was $89 million above the State-mandated Maintenance of Effort minimum spending level, with $37.9 million redirected within the budget directly for class size reductions and closing educational disparities by adding instructional and support staff.

On September 13, MCPS staff briefed the Board of Education on how it is allocating the additional resources in FY17 and the metrics that will be used to measure the success of these efforts. The Board of Education found the briefing to be very timely, detailed and informative, and expressed a strong desire for the superintendent to request to provide the same update to the Council.
Superintendent Smith’s presentation to the Board of Education addressed the following planned actions:

  • Reducing average class size and targeted staffing to provide closer monitoring and supports for students 
  • Leveraging resources to increase staff capacity to meet student needs in schools with the largest learning disparities 
  • Focusing efforts on increasing the academic success of Black or African American students, Hispanic/Latino students and students impacted by poverty to mitigate disparities in learning opportunities 
  • Developing instructional supports and programmatic options to increase learning opportunities for students receiving special education services and our English language learners 
  • Providing enhanced curricular and instructional options 
  • Increasing programmatic access by removing barriers and increasing opportunities for learning

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Update on Silver Spring Apartment Explosion and Fire

Tune in to County Cable Montgomery at approximately 1:45  today to see the update on issues relating to the August 10 explosion and fire at the Flower Branch apartment complex on Arliss Street in Silver Spring where seven people were killed in the blast and ensuing fire and 39 others were injured. If you aren't able to watch the meeting live, you can get it on demand about 24 hours later.

Among those expected to provide information on the Flower Branch apartment building fire are Earl Stoddard, the director of the County’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security; County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein, County Police Chief Thomas Manger; Clarence Snuggs, the County’s director of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs; Uma Ahluwalia, the County’s director of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board, which has taken over the investigation into the cause of the explosion, and Washington Gas also have been invited to attend.
             
Several federal agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the NTSB, investigated the explosion. ATF concluded its field work on August 19, and determined that a natural gas leak in a basement meter room caused the explosion and fire. NTSB then took over the investigation. It is expected to issue a report in nine to 12 months.

Monday, September 26, 2016

Early Voting October 27-November 3

Mark your calendar early voting October 27-November 3, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.  Any registered voter may cast a ballot at any one of ten sites on the same voting equipment used on Election Day. Many voters find that early voting is more convenient than voting at their assigned polling place on Election Day.

The locations are:

  • The Activity Center at Bohrer Park, 506 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg
  • Damascus Community Recreation Center, 25520 Oak Drive, Damascus
  • Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville
  • Germantown Community Recreation Center, 18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown
  • Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase
  • Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville
  • Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring
  • Potomac Community Recreation Center, 11315 Falls Road, Potomac
  • Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place, Silver Spring
  • Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad, 2401 Arcola Avenue, Silver Spring
For more information about early voting, visit the Board of Elections at www.777vote.org. If you prefer, you can also vote by mail.

Friday, September 23, 2016

Sick and Safe Leave Law Effective October 1

Montgomery County's Sick and Safe Leave Law takes effect October 1. Under the new law, an employer must provide each employee with sick leave for a variety of reasons, including personal illness, preventative care, a family member's illness, a public health emergency or domestic violence.

Employers with fewer than five employees must provide up to 32 hours of earned paid sick and safe leave and 24 hours of unpaid earned sick and safe leave in a calendar year. An employer with five or more employees must provide up to 56 hours of paid sick and safe leave in a calendar year. In either case, employers are not required to allow an employee to use more than 80 hours of earned sick and safe leave in a calendar year.

See the frequently asked questions or get the informational poster for more information.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Town Hall Meeting for Students

This year we will hold the always-popular Town Hall Meeting for Students on Wednesday, October 5, at the Council Office Building in Rockville. The meeting will be held in the Council’s Third Floor Hearing Room beginning at 7:30 p.m. A pre-meeting reception will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the building’s second-floor cafeteria.

The October meeting is open to high school, middle school and local college students. The meeting will allow the participants to let Councilmembers know how they feel about specific issues and also will provide the opportunity to ask questions of us in an organized, but informal, setting.

The event will be broadcast live on County Cable Montgomery (CCM—cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon) and rebroadcast at various times in the weeks following the meeting. Susan Kenedy, a producer for the County station, will moderate the meeting.