Could a Major Flood Happen in Rockville? Yes it Can.
Like many in Rockville, I’ve been following the tragic news out of Central Texas, where sudden, devastating floods swept through campsites and neighborhoods with terrifying speed. It’s a sobering reminder: even if we don’t live near a major river or the coast, we’re not immune to flooding. So what are the chances that something similar could happen here in Rockville?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes.
Rockville is home to a number of streams that wind through our neighborhoods—many of which remain wooded, preserving natural floodplains. These areas can be affected by what’s known as a “100-year flood.” Despite the name, that doesn’t mean it only happens once every hundred years. According to FEMA, it’s a flood that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year.
The City of Rockville has taken extra steps to understand where such flooding could occur—and how it might impact nearby homes and businesses. The City provides an interactive floodplain map to determine if your home or business is a risk of a major flood. In the Map Gallery, go to the Floodplain Parcel Lookup map and then search for your location.
Continue reading →Child Care, Green Buildings, and City Reorganization on June 2 Council Agenda
At its June 2, 2025 meeting, the Rockville Mayor and Council will issue several proclamations, including ones recognizing Men’s Health Week, Juneteenth, and LGBTQ+ Pride Month. They’ll vote on community arts agreements (Rockville Little Theatre, Rockville Musical Theatre, and Victorian Lyric Opera Company) and a FY25 budget amendment. The agenda also includes potential revisions to the city’s personnel code. A worksession will focus on green building regulations and exploring child care solutions. The public is invited to speak during the 6:45 p.m. Community Forum or send comments to MayorandCouncil@RockvilleMD.gov.
Reorganization of City Government
What’s on the Agenda:
The Mayor and Council will vote on a series of ordinances and resolutions to formally establish two new city departments: Procurement and Communications & Community Engagement. These functions were previously divisions within the City Manager’s Office. The Council will also update the city’s personnel code and pension plan to reflect the new structure and clarify employment policies.
Why It Matters:
Overall, this reorganization has strong potential to improve services, particularly in procurement transparency and public engagement. It reflects a maturing city government structure and a recognition that Rockville’s growth and complexity require more robust administrative capacity.
Continue reading →
Rethinking Rockville’s Proclamation Parade
At the City Council meeting on May 12, 2025, the Rockville Mayor and Council are set to issue seventeen proclamations—yes, seventeen—covering everything from public service and health awareness to historic preservation and cultural celebrations.
Here’s what’s being recognized:
- National Public Service Recognition Week (May 4–10)
- National Police Week (May 11–17)
- Women’s Health Week (May 11–17)
- Taiwanese American Heritage Week (May 11–18)
- National Public Works Week (May 19–23)
- National Kids to Parks Day (May 17)
- Greek Genocide Remembrance Day (May 19)
- ALS Awareness Month
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- Building Safety Month
- National Bicycle Awareness Month
- Jewish American Heritage Month
- Lyme Disease Awareness Month
- Mental Health Awareness Month
- Older Americans Month
- National Preservation Month
- Stroke Awareness Month
Each of these proclamations represents a worthwhile cause or celebration—some with deep relevance to our city. From recognizing the contributions of older adults and public works employees, to celebrating heritage communities and raising awareness for health issues, the topics are both timely and important.
But when so many proclamations are issued in a single night, it’s hard for any one to stand out. And for Rockville’s residents and businesses, the question becomes: how does this affect me?
Continue reading →Budget, Community Grants, and Sustainability on the March 24 Council Meeting
Rockville’s Mayor and Council will hold its regular meeting on Monday, March 24, 2025. Topics range from citywide budget priorities to neighborhood services, affordable housing, economic development, and the future of sustainability. Here’s what’s on the agenda—and why it matters.
Town Center Master Plan: Zoning Changes Under Review
The Council will hold a public hearing on proposed zoning changes related to the Rockville Town Center Master Plan. This initiative introduces three character areas—MD-355 Corridor, Core, and Edge—each with specific development standards. Notably, the proposal allows increased building heights to 235′ for projects that include at least 20% affordable housing units. These changes aim to support economic vitality, encourage housing development, and improve the pedestrian experience in the city’s core. The hearing gives residents and businesses an opportunity to weigh in on how the plan’s goals—such as better connectivity, mixed-use development, and revitalized public spaces—should be implemented through zoning updates.
Sustainability and Electric Vehicles on the Move
As part of the city’s climate action goals, the Council may approve its Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan. This includes preparing infrastructure to support EVs and integrating low-emission technology into city operations. It’s one step in a broader environmental strategy that includes green space planning and expanded use of electric landscaping equipment.
Big Picture: FY 2026 Budget in Focus
The Council will continue work on the proposed FY 2026 operating budget totaling $173 million, a 4.5% increase over last year. Rising personnel costs, inflation, and key investments in public safety, community services, and infrastructure are shaping this year’s spending plan. While costs are going up, the city is not planning to issue new debt this year and maintains a healthy reserve to ensure financial stability. An online budget priorities survey—available in English, Spanish, and Chinese—is also open for feedback. Visit rockvillemd.gov/budget to submit comments, take the survey, or view meeting materials.
Spring is on the Way in Rock Creek Park!
The calendar may say we’re still in winter, but the first signs of spring are already popping up in Rock Creek Park in the Twinbrook neighborhood! Keep an eye out for clusters of delicate snowdrops (Galanthus) pushing up through the leaf litter along the trail from Linthicum Street into the park—they’re just about ready to bloom. At home, our Lenten Rose (Helleborus) has also started to flower, adding a touch of early color to the garden.
With the recent heavy rains, water levels in Rock Creek have risen, and unfortunately, some trash has washed into the stream. A few storm drains are also clogged with leaves and branches, which can hide potholes, so take extra care when walking or driving near the water (Twinbrook Parkway between Viers Mill and the recreation center is in particularly bad shape).
Enjoy the changing seasons, and if you’re out for a walk, take a moment to appreciate these early signs of spring!
Council to Review Town Center and Metro Development Plans
At its Monday, December 9, 2024 meeting, the Rockville Mayor and Council will hold a public hearing on the Town Center Master Plan. On the Consent Agenda (items approved without discussion) are FY2024 Financial Report, contracts for diesel fuel, CDBG funding request, among others. The Mayor and Council will also receive reports on the remodeling of the Rockville Metro Station as part of a worksession on Town Center.
This meeting is an important opportunity for you to stay informed and engaged with the decisions that shape our community.
Key Agenda Items:
Town Center Master Plan public hearing (page 401+). The Rockville Mayor and Council will hold a second public hearing on the updated Town Center Master Plan during their meeting on December 9, 2024. This updated plan, an amendment to the Rockville 2040 Comprehensive Plan, replaces the current Planning Area 1 chapter. It builds on community feedback, research, and the city’s long-term goals to shape a vibrant, equitable, and sustainable Town Center for the future.
Key Themes and Goals of the Plan:
- Housing: Focus on adding 2,000 new residential units by 2040, including affordable and attainable housing.
- Economic Development: Encouraging retail diversity and activating vacant spaces to make the Town Center a hub of activity.
- Transportation: Improving mobility with pedestrian-friendly designs, enhanced bus services, and new wayfinding signage.
- Sustainability and Equity: Promoting green building practices and ensuring that changes support all residents equitably.
- Parks and Recreation: Expanding green spaces and recreational programming for all ages.
Rockville Council Agenda Includes Major Forest Preservation Updates and Transportation Achievements
There’s something for everyone at the Monday, August 5, 2024 meeting of the Rockville Mayor and Council. They will discuss amendments to the Forest and Tree Preservation Ordinance; rezoning of 5906 Halpine Road to permit construction of residential units (with a floating zone amendment); a budget amendment; authorizing the sale of $27 million in bonds to fund capital improvements; and an acknowledgement of the lack of proper notice for the May 4, 2024 meeting. On the Consent Agenda (items approved without discussion) are subaward agreements, license agreements, a public art project in Town Center, MPDU Program Agreement for the Flats at Northside, and July 8 minutes approval (which was marked as having “explicit language”; I’ll have to see what that was about). The Mayor and Council will also receive reports on Vision Zero and from the Transportation and Mobility Commission.
In March 2023, Rockville’s Traffic and Transportation Commission was renamed the Transportation and Mobility Commission (TMC) with a broader focus on all transportation modes (p. 17+). The TMC provides guidance to the Mayor and Council on multimodal transportation, emphasizing economic development, sustainability, social activity, equity, and resilience. They’ve recommended budget priorities, intersection safety improvements, and updates to transportation plans. For 2024, they will focus on zoning ordinance recommendations, intersection improvements, and public communication. The TMC is committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and accessible transportation system for all Rockville residents.
Rockville’s new Asphalt Art Project, funded by a $25,000 Bloomberg Philanthropies grant and an additional $15,000 from the city, aims to beautify Beall Avenue in the Town Center (187+). Set to start after summer roadway improvements, the project will feature artistic designs painted on the road surface between North Washington Street and Gibbs Street. The selected artists, Chalk Riot, will incorporate community survey results into their designs, highlighting local flora, fauna, and historical elements. The project not only aims to enhance aesthetic appeal but also to improve pedestrian safety and foster community pride. Completion is expected by late 2024.
A public hearing will be held regarding proposed amendments to Chapter 10.5 of the City Code, the Forest and Tree Preservation Ordinance, to align with Maryland Senate Bill 526 and enhance local forestry practices (243+). These changes aim to increase tree canopy and streamline the ordinance’s administration. Key amendments include higher reforestation rates, expanded priority retention areas, and new public notice requirements for forest conservation plans. Additional updates involve improving the replacement standards for significant trees and expanding the use of fee-in-lieu funds for street tree plantings. The amendments support Rockville’s commitment to environmental stewardship and urban canopy preservation, promoting a greener, more resilient community.
In addition to need to align with state law, there are concerns about using non-native tree species in city planting projects. The Forest and Tree Preservation Ordinance currently prioritizes native trees for reforestation and afforestation, but staff flexibility allows for the use of non-native species when urban conditions necessitate. While native trees support local biodiversity and are well-adapted to the environment, they can present challenges in urban settings, such as maintenance issues and susceptibility to pests. Non-native trees are often better suited for urban conditions. If you have thoughts, share your thoughts for this public hearing in person or by email (see below).
The Mayor and Council are conducting hybrid meetings. If you wish to submit comments in writing for Community Forum or Public Hearings, please email the comments to MayorAndCouncil@RockvilleMD.gov by no later than 10:00 a.m. on the date of the meeting.
More details in the 663-page agenda packet are available at https://www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08052024-7248.
Contradictory Suggestions Challenge Decision-Making Process for City’s FY2025 Budget
At its Monday, March 18, 2024 meeting, the Rockville Mayor and Council will discuss the budget for FY2025, tax rates, and modifying Council rules and procedures. On the Consent Agenda (items approved without discussion) are contracts for engineering and design services, a collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME #1453, and nearly $500,000 in data center and disaster recovery, among others. The Mayor and Council will also hold a worksession on the FY25 revenues, fees, and cost recovery. They are also approving the minutes from the Closed Sessions held on November 9, 2023 and November 15, 2023–long after the requirements of the Maryland Open Meetings Act (“as soon as practicable after a public body meets, it shall have minutes of its session prepared.” § 3-306(b)(1)).
The bulk of the agenda is devoted to the budget for FY2025 and will include a public hearing to collect more comments (p. 770+. The City has received nearly 800 comments from residents and businesses, which identified the top three priorities as community safety, quality neighborhoods, and maintenance of existing infrastructure (receiving about 35-45% of votes). The highest response rate was from the north end of the city (north of West Montgomery between 270 and 355) and lowest were from the east side of the city (east of 355).
Upon reviewing the open comments, it becomes evident that decision-making is a complex process. There are suggestions that fall outside the City’s jurisdiction, such as implementing a Bitcoin standard (a federal issue), improving academics at Twinbrook Elementary School (a school board issue), and prioritizing common sense (whose responsibility is this?). Once these are set aside, a multitude of individual suggestions remain, some of which are in conflict. For instance, while one person suggests increasing pay for police, another proposes eliminating the police department altogether. Similarly, opinions diverge on the addition or removal of bike lanes. With the assistance of ChatGPT, these suggestions seem to cluster around five major issues. However, the ways to address these can also be contradictory, and understandably, no one is keen on increased taxes to fund these initiatives:
- Infrastructure and Environment, such as improving traffic light timings, addressing potholes and street noise, maintaining and improving existing parks, preserving RedGate as green space, increasing preventative maintenance for storm water infrastructure, and promoting environmental sustainability through controlling invasive species and planting more native trees.
- Community Development and Safety, such as reviving the Town Center [didn’t we already do this?], improving safety in neighborhoods and near the Metro station, addressing crime, improving Rockville Pike, adding or removing bike lanes, and ensuring law enforcement is effective and well-funded.
- Housing and Zoning , such as upzoning detached SFH-only zoning areas, discussing housing for asylum seekers, preserving single-family zoning, and increasing residential density in Rockville Town Center.
- Services and Amenities, such as improving water customer service, providing free shuttle buses to key locations, expanding the Latino Youth Development Program, adding a compost service, increasing public art, establishing more dog parks and exercise classes, and providing easily accessible senior services.
- Economic and Business Development, such as supporting local businesses, reducing business turnover, and encouraging businesses to open in the Town Center (TC continues to be a perennial issue—I guess redevelopment in the 1960s didn’t cure it).
I wonder if if the City Council would have better information if they conducted random, in-depth phone interviews with a couple dozen residents, rather than survey of a thousand who decided to participate?
The Council is considering a change in its current Rules and Procedures because of the increase from five to seven members (p. 957). The City Attorney has drafted an amendment for the Council’s consideration, including that an item may only be removed from an agenda with the approval of at least six Council members, otherwise it follows Robert’s Rules of Order (developed by US Army officer Henry Robert in 1876; it is now in its twelfth edition). To add an item to the agenda still requires the request of two or more members.
The Mayor and Council are conducting hybrid meetings. If you wish to submit comments in writing for Community Forum or Public Hearings, please email the comments to MayorAndCouncil@RockvilleMD.gov by no later than 10:00 a.m. on the date of the meeting.
More details in the 1028-page agenda packet are available at https://www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03182024-7139.
Mayor and Council to Discuss Unsafe Streets in Rockville
At its Monday, January 22, 2024 meeting, the Rockville Mayor and Council will discuss police pension. On the Consent Calendar (items approved without discussion) are contracts for equipment or services related to building construction and repair ($140K); security enhancements to the water treatment plant ($136K), equipment and support for the Data Center ($1.9M); and playground maintenance and repair ($850K), among others. The Mayor and Council will also receive reports on Bus Rapid Transit on MD 355; Environment Commission; Vision Zero; Bikeway and Pedestrian Master Plan; Procurement; and the outreach program for minority, female, disabled, and veteran-owned businesses.
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has been considering Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) throughout the county, including Viers Mill Road (MD 586) and the Rockville Pike (MD 355) in Rockville, to provide fast and reliable public transportation using dedicated lanes on the busiest streets (Agenda page 5+). In July 2019, the County Council stated they preferred two dedicated lanes in the median (one lane in each direction in the center of the street) for MD 355, however, design has become more complicated for the area near College Parkway. Furthermore, the project will affect Rockville’s Vision Zero, Bikeway, and Rockville Pike plans. To help pay for the project, the County has requested a $1 million contribution from Rockville’s portion of the Montgomery County Transportation Impact Tax.
In July 2020, the Mayor and Council adopted the Vision Zero Action Plan (page 28+). Vision Zero is a multidisciplinary traffic safety program with the overarching goal to wholly eliminate deaths and serious injuries that result from traffic crashes. This program is designed for all roadway users: motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. This program departs from past roadway safety programs by explicitly rejecting any traffic death or serious injury as acceptable and recognizing that people will often make mistakes while traveling, but mistakes should not result in death or serious injury. A recent study revealed six roads in Rockville as “High Injury Network” segments, which means there have been at least four fatal or serious injuries crashes: Rockville Pike (from Veirs Mill Road to Bouic Avenue); West Montgomery Avenue (from Research Blved to Mannakee Street); Norbeck Road (from First Street to Avery Road); Frederick Road (from Ridgemont Ave to Watkins Pond Blvd); Veirs Mill Road (from Rockville Pike to Twinbrook Parkway); and North Washington Street (from Hungerford to W. Jefferson St.). Unfortunately, most of these highways are controlled by the State of Maryland (N. Washington Street is the only City-maintained roadway among those listed). Time to contact your State Senator and Delegates to light a fire under the State Highway Administration!
The Mayor and Council are conducting hybrid meetings. If you wish to submit comments in writing for Community Forum or Public Hearings, please email the comments to MayorAndCouncil@RockvilleMD.gov by no later than 10:00 a.m. on the date of the meeting.
More details in the 455-page agenda packet are available at https://www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01222024-7097.
Meanwhile, in the State of Maryland
The 90-day legislative session has begun! Taxes and cost shifts are on the table for the General Assembly session as Gov. Wes Moore (D) and lawmakers look to solve both a structural budget shortfall and massive cuts to transportation projects. In November, legislative budget analysts told the joint Spending Affordability Committee that the state faces a structural gap of $322 million in the coming legislative session. Projections show the gap continuing to grow in fiscal 2026 and 2027 to $376 million and $436 million respectively. More at MarylandMatters.org.
State Delegate Joe Vogel (District 17) is among the seven state lawmakers who are currently running for Congress in either the 3rd or 6th districts, with the primaries fast approaching on May 14.
The FBI arrested Carlos Ayala of Salisbury, a State Board of Elections member, for participating in the January 6 insurrection. He resigned from the Board of Elections on January 11. Ayala was appointed to the state Board of Elections last year by Gov. Wes Moore (D) following a recommendation by the Maryland Republican Party. Looks like they need to do a deeper background check before appointing people to public office.
Candidates Share Their Vision for Rockville at October 5, 2023 Forum
Community Reach of Montgomery County, in partnership with Rainbow Place Shelter, hosted a Rockville Election 2023 Candidate Forum at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre on October 5, 2023. The Forum, which was a significant event in the lead-up to the November election, saw candidates take to the stage to present their qualifications, experiences, and key policy positions. It’s important to note that the candidates’ statements were not independently verified, or as Ronald Reagan loved to say, “trust but verify.”
Candidate forums are a valuable opportunity for voters to hear directly from the candidates on a range of important issues but if you didn’t attend or don’t have time to watch the 90-minute replay on YouTube, I’m offering ChatGPT-generated summaries (with some light editing) to the candidates’ responses to the major questions in the attached six-page handout (thanks TM!). This will enable you to swiftly share your preferred candidate’s stance on issues with friends and family, strategize on the optimal choices for Mayor and Council seats, or potentially identify which candidates may be unclear, evasive, or inconsistent in their responses.
If you’re a candidate, these summaries could serve as a tool for reviewing your positions and assessing how effectively you stand out from others. Do the summaries accurately capture your ideas? Did any crucial points get overlooked? How do your views align or differ from other candidates? Are your statements well-rounded, or do they lean towards being too abstract or too specific? Do any of your opponents exhibit a significant lack in knowledge or critical thinking?
Max for Rockville 