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.
Rockville Featured in February’s Washingtonian
Washingtonian, the regional magazine about the DMV, featured Rockville in Neighborhood Guide of the February 2024 issue. These are the places they highlighted but there’s so much more to discover! Add your suggestions in the comments.
Food and Drink
- Hulu Skewer House (1488 Rockville Pike, across the street from Staples). Authentic Chinese BBQ.
- MezeHub (11508 Schuykill Road, technically south of Rockville off Parklawn Drive). Balkan and Mediterranean food.
- Èkó House (150 Gibbs Street, Rockville Town Center). Modern Pan-African (primarily Nigerian) restaurant and bar.
- Clear Skies Meadery (15201 Display Court, off East Gude Drive near Fisher Lumber). More than a dozen locally-brewed meads on tap.
- Kumbia Restaurant (100-B Gibbs Street, Rockville Town Center). Peruvian, Bolivian, and other South American entrees.
Bakeries
- Z&Z Manoushe Bakery (1111 Nelson Street, near Carmen’s Italian Ice in Woodley Gardens). Middle Eastern flatbreads.
- Mastiha Artisan Greek Bakery (2387 Lewis Avenue, near Twinbrook Metro). Featured in a previous post.
- Lil’ Cakes & Creamery (844 Rockville Pike, between Edmonston and First/Wooton). Artisan cupcakes, macarons, and dog treats!
Shopping and Recreation
- Dinkers Pickleball Court (40-C Southlawn Court). Eight indoor courts, ball machine, and a pro shop.
- BubbleGum Spa (1680 E. Gude Drive). Dedicated to extraordinary parties for children’s birthdays.
- MWBC Shop Local (36-D Maryland Avenue, Rockville Town Center). Incubator program for women-owned retail businesses.
- Nature by Trejok (130-B Gibbs Street, Rockville Town Center). Distinctive women’s clothing and household accessories.
- Ebisu Japanese Life Store (836 Rockville Pike, between Edmonston and First/Wooton, across the street from Ourisman Auto). Japanese snacks, anime, toys, cookware, beauty supplies, and lots more.
Mayor and Council to Discuss 68% Increase in Car Thefts
At its Monday, February 26, 2024 meeting, the Rockville Mayor and Council will discuss 2024 state legislation and community engagement plans. On the Consent Agenda (items approved without discussion) are a transportation grant agreement and purchasing of three different types of trucks, among others. The Mayor and Council will also receive reports on police statistics and recognize the Richard Montgomery High School Girls Varsity Volleyball Team on winning the state 4A Championship.
For the first time, the Rockville City Police Department (RCPD) shared its annual statistics on crime and their report states that “thefts of automobiles and thefts from automobiles remain one of the highest reported criminal offenses in the region and across the nation. The RCPD noted an increase in theft of automobiles by 69 from 2022 to 2023, an increase of 68%. Thefts from automobiles were up by 19 from 2022 to 2023, an increase of 2%. The most noteworthy change in crime reporting was Carjackings. Carjackings have been on the rise, locally, regionally, and nationally.” Furthermore, “Montgomery County Department of Police re-deployed personnel assigned to the Rockville District to other areas of Montgomery County. This has left parts of the city that once had dual police coverage between the RCPD and the Montgomery County Department of Police to be policed solely by the RCPD.” That resulted in a significant increase in calls for help to RCPD and a significant reduction in response time (“on average, for every additional 1,000 calls dispatched to police per month, officers arrive nine minutes slower”). More on pages 12-20.
The City Council will discuss legislation being introduced at the state level and which they will support or oppose. Under discussion are SB484: Housing Expansion and Affordability; SB537: Restrictions on Cannabis Licensee Locations; SB 783/HB 1435: Renewable Energy (Net Energy Metering Aggregation, Solar Renewable Energy Credits, and Taxes on Solar Energy Generating); HB 601/SB 442: Prohibiting Street Racing and Exhibition Driving; and HB 1306 Taxing Food and Beverages. These bills are complex and continually revised, so if you have an interest, read the staff report for a summary and recommendations (pages 190-200) or contact Senator Kagan or Delegates Palakovich-Carr, Vogel, and Spiegel.
Potential topics for the March 4, 2024 meeting is a presentation on the FY2025 budget and approval of taxes and fees.
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 205-page agenda packet are available at https://www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02262024-7117.
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?
Artisan Greek Bakery Opens in Twinbrook
Mastiha Greek Bakery has recently opened its doors in Rockville, Maryland, offering authentic Greek baked goods to the local community—and Maryland. Since 2011, they have been operating in Kensington and delivering wholesale to Dawson’s, MOMs, Yes!, Roots, and other grocers throughout the Mid-Atlantic.
Now open to the public on a limited basis in Twinbrook, the bakery specializes in traditional Greek pastries, such as kourambiedes (almond shortbread), koulourakia (butter twists), and baklava (including some modern versions such as walnut rosemary and hazelnut chocolate). And their pita bread is handcrafted–no pocket, baked on an open flame over a grill! They also offer savory items like spanakopita (phyllo pies) and dips (hummus, tzatziki). Soon they will be offering coffee, tea, and other beverages to accompany the delicious treats.
On Friday, May 5 from 6:00-8:00 pm, they will be hosting a ribbon cutting with the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, a blessing by Father Demetrios Antokas, live Greek music, and popup stores selling wine, food, and leather shoes. Everyone is welcome and be sure to say kalimera to owner Katerina.
Mastiha is near the Twinbrook Metro and a bit off the beaten path, although close to the Twinbrook neighborhood, at 2387 Lewis Avenue (the mini-industrial area adjacent to the railroad tracks). To reach it from Twinbrook Parkway, you’ll need to take Ardennes Avenue to Halpine Road (see map below). They are open on Thursday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with limited items will be available for walk-in purchase while they last.
Mayor and Council to Discuss Human Rights and Rockville Town Square
At its Monday, April 18, 2022 meeting, the Rockville Mayor and Council will discuss an ordinance to establish an education commission, the management agreement with Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT) for Rockville Town Square, and once again, the FY 2023 budget and what to do with the remaining ARPA funds. On the Consent Calendar (items approved without discussion) are contracts for tree care ($900,000 annually) and landscape maintenance ($193,000 annually); $250,000 grant agreement for Lincoln Park Community Center improvements; and six proclamations. The Mayor and Council will also receive a report from the Human Rights Commission.
Continue reading →Planning Commission to Discuss Priorities for 2022-23
At its Wednesday, October 27, 2021 meeting, the Rockville Planning Commission will discuss implementation of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan. During the September 22 meeting, the Commission and staff recognized that development of a
complete implementation framework covering the entire Plan, including Commission discussions, would
not be possible to complete this fall; and that the Commission could continue to work on this framework
over the next approximately six months. The city staff will present a list of about 30 recommendations for the next year to implement the Plan and, should the Commission choose to do so, make a recommendation to the
Mayor and Council in time for their development of the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget, which would mean
delivering its recommendation during the fall of 2021.
Among the short-term recommendations for implementation are:
- a comprehensive update to the Zoning Ordinance
- update the Town Center Master Plan
- enhancements to the pedestrian and bicycle safety and accessibility
- identify and acquire properties for parks
- complete the plan for Red Gate Park
- identify a solution for the King Farm Farmstead
- relocate the materials and distribution facility from North Stonestreet Avenue owned by MCPS and Montgomery County
- complete a climate action plan
- expand the number of charging stations for electric vehicles
- prepare a flood resiliency plan
- develop a marketing and branding plan to attract businesses and customers to Rockville
- complete a strategic plan for affordable housing
That’s the short list from nearly 30 items suggested. It is far longer than reasonable to get anything significant accomplished in the next year. To get anything done, the Planning Commission will need to choose no more than three—and more importantly, they need to be the right things that will have a lasting and significant impact on the community. Which three would you choose?
More details in the 11-page agenda packet available at https://rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10272021-6389.
Replacing Dawsons Market Requires a Cluster of Solutions; That May Be Too Much for the Mayor and Council
Dawson’s Market in Rockville Town Square, shortly before its closing in October 2018.
At the end of October 2018, Dawson’s Market closed in Rockville’s downtown. It was a big disappointment for the City of Rockville, who hailed its arrival in 2012 as a major success for the new Town Square. They spent years searching for an anchoring grocery store to attract daily shoppers to support the adjacent stores and restaurants (see MyMCM video, which includes hopeful remarks by several current and former elected officials).
In response to its closing, Dawson’s opened a short-lived $100,000 GoFundMe campaign and the Rockville Mayor and Council held two special meetings to discuss the future of Town Square (a couple other businesses recently closed as well) on October 9 and November 13, which attracted standing-room-only crowds. These meetings generated lots of questions, including current efforts by Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT) and the City of Rockville. Unfortunately, most of FRIT’s responses are vague and uninformative:
- “not uncommon for independent business owners to have more challenges than larger chains” (so what are the major challenges and how are you addressing them?)
- “lease rates are determined through…many variables” (so what are the lease rates and how do they compare to areas outside of Town Square?)
- “we value and pursue feedback from our merchants” (so what are they telling you and what have you learned?)
So what are the challenges facing merchants in Town Square? According to Continue reading →
Planning Commission discussing Development Plans for Downtown and Lincoln Park
Proposed north elevation (street facade) for 50 Monroe Place, an 81-foot-high/7-story building with underground parking.
On Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 7:00 p.m., the Rockville Planning Commission will be considering three new development projects that could add two houses and 310 apartments to the city in downtown and Lincoln Park. Here’s what’s on the agenda:
1. 304 Frederick Avenue in Lincoln Park: JJ Realty of Bethesda proposes to create two residential lots from a 11,428-square foot lot, which will require a waiver to allow a minimum lot area below 6,000 square feet in a R-60 zone. Because this subdivision consists of fewer than 3 lots, it is exempt from the APFO.
2. 50 Monroe Place in Downtown Rockville (currently a vacant lot adjacent to the Americana Centre): RST Development proposes the development of an 81-foot-high/7-story building with 1300-sf restaurant, 8000-sf office for non-profit organizations, 70 apartments, and an underground garage on a half-acre of land located on the south side of Monroe Place, with a request to reduce the parking requirement from 91 to 40 spaces because of its proximity to public transit. The property is zoned Mixed Use Transit District (MXTD). A majority of the apartments will be Continue reading →
Mayor and Council focus Priorities around Development
The Rockville Mayor and Council recently engaged the Novak Consulting Group (who aided in the search for the new city manager) to help refine their list of 23 priorities created in 2016—far too many to get things done. As a result, the Mayor and Council identified the priorities among their priorities, coming up with a list of twelve which are overwhelmingly focused on city planning and development, and may just be wishful thinking: Continue reading →
Max for Rockville 