Mayor and Council to Approve 82-Townhouse Development Despite Environmental and School Capacity Concerns
At its Monday, October 2, 2023 meeting, the Rockville Mayor and Council will discuss permission to build 82 townhouses at 2200 Tower Oaks Boulevard and reduce parking by 18% at 2000 Tower Oaks Boulevard. On the Consent Calendar (items approved without discussion) are increasing funding for stormwater management from $95,000 to $422,000 and appointing David Sklar to the Board of Supervisors of Elections. The Mayor and Council will also receive reports on the Seven Locks Road Diversion Center (aka “county jail”), Financial Advisory Board, and Pedestrian Master Plan.
The Planning Commission, Bicycle Advisory Committee, and Pedestrian Advocacy Committee reviewed and approved the proposed 82-townhouse development, but strangely, the Mayor and Council excluded the Environment Commission and Education Commission. This project will replace about 10,000 sf of forest and with 7,600 sf of “new” forest; is adjacent to a stream; and subject to an existing Forest Conservation Plan (pages 47-8)—aren’t these environmental issues? For those who are concerned about school capacity in the Richard Montgomery Cluster Area, the proposed townhouse development will generate 18 students at the elementary school grade level; 10 students at the middle school level; and 14 students at the high school level (page 44). That means capacity is expected to rise to 99% for Bayard Rustin Elementary School, to 95% for Julius West Middle School, and to 123% for Richard Mongomery High School. By fall 2027, however, “capacity at Richard Montgomery is slated to be adequate due to an approved CIP project that will reassign students among Gaithersburg HS, Richard Montgomery HS, Quince Orchard HS, Thomas S. Wootton HS, and Crown HS.” What’s the purpose of the Education Committee if they aren’t aware of one of the most contentious school issues?
On pages 135-166, the Financial Advisory Board, chaired by Bob Wright, presented its FY2023 Annual report and found no discrepancies in Rockville’s financial reports; had no recommendations on the financial policies (although noted that no policies on donations was needed); found that the investment portfolio declined in value due to rising interest rates; stated that the city staff had done an outstanding job in preparing the annual budget; made three recommendations regarding the Capital Improvements Program; made complex findings and recommendations regarding the 2015 Purchasing Study; reported that the City has spent nearly $6 million on the King Farm Farmstead (and noted that the Mayor and Council do not agree on future uses); and that City is making good progress on including performance measures in the budget.
On pages 167-189, the Pedestrian Master Plan seems to be running ahead of itself and should take a step back. It offers five goals and ten recommendations, but nothing sufficiently specific nor any priorities to help the Mayor and Council know what to do next and why. Strangely, the Traffic and Transportation Department is hoping to propose an ordinance to City Council on October 23 even though the nearly 300 public comments collected since May haven’t been summarized (it doesn’t even close until October 13!). Perhaps they’re trying to get in done in “Walktober” month but it looks like they need to do a lot more research and analysis. For examples, here are pedestrian master plans from Portland and Seattle. Let’s hope the Mayor and Council provides clarity on expectations for a master plan.
October is National Arts and Humanities Month and the Rockville’s Cultural Arts Commission recommends that you celebrate by reading book, putting your child’s art on the fridge, and singing in the car, among others. Alas the expectations are pretty low, so here are five better suggestions from the non-human ChatGPT:
- Visit a Local Museum or Art Gallery: Explore the rich cultural heritage and artistic talent in your community by visiting local museums and art galleries.
- Attend a Workshop or Lecture: Many institutions offer workshops, lectures, or webinars during National Arts and Humanities Month. These can provide a deeper understanding of various art forms and humanities topics.
- Participate in a Community Art Project: Engage with your local community by participating in a collaborative art project or humanities event. This could be a mural painting, a community theater production, or a local history project.
- Read a Book: Celebrate the humanities by reading a book on a topic you’re interested in, such as history, philosophy, or literature. Consider joining a book club to discuss and share insights.
- Support Local Artists and Scholars: Purchase artwork from local artists or attend performances and presentations by local scholars. Your support can help sustain the arts and humanities in your community.
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 197-page agenda packet are available at https://www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10022023-7016.
Can You Survive on $1,693 a Month in Rockville?
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal chronicled the lives of baby boomers living in Florida on Social Security and unable to secure affordable rental housing. They are rotating between “couch-surfing” at friends’ homes, living in their cars, or sleeping on the street. While the article cited several areas across the country where the percentage of homeless people over the age of 65 is growing rapidly, Miami-Dade County rose to the top. As of the end of 2022, it was reported that over 31% of people over the age of 65 were homeless.
Rent Payments vs. Social Security Payments in Rockville
The most recent data from the Census’ American Community Survey (ACS) estimates that 12,000 people over the age of 65 live in Rockville (17% of the population). Of them, 7% or 840 people are living in poverty. As of February 2023, the average SSI check was $1,693 per month or $20,300 per year. It would not be a stretch to assume that most of these 840 people with annual incomes less than $25,000 are living off their Social Security benefits alone.
So, what rent can you afford when your monthly income is $1,693? According to HUD, a household is considered burdened when they spend more than 30% of their income on housing and severely burdened when they spend more than 50% of their income on housing. Ideally, an individual in this case would want to spend no more than $510 per month on housing for it to be considered affordable. As you can see in the map for Rockville, finding a place at a reasonable level of rent is highly unlikely (green is less than $510; orange or red exceeds $510 per month or 30% of the average Social Security monthly payment). The only neighborhoods that are affordable are College Square, Cambridge, and Heritage Park (in green; in addition there are several apartment buildings throughout the city that offer a limited number of affordable units).
Eligibility vs Participation: Three Rockville Council Candidates Didn’t Vote in 2019
October 7, 2023: I’ve been informed by a candidate for council that their voting record reported in this post is inaccurate. This information is this post is based on data provided by Montgomery County and the City of Rockville, so I am in the process of requesting further information from them to determine the source of the errors. My apologies to candidates affected by this blog post but I encourage all voters to ask about a candidate’s voting record to ensure they actively participate in our civic life and to ask the City of Rockville about the process for ensuring the accuracy of the voter database. More details at A Week of Surprises on Rockville’s Campaign Trail.
To run for a seat on the Mayor and Council, candidates must be 18 years old, a registered voter, and have lived in Rockville for at least one year prior to the election (that’s Nov. 7, 2022 for the current race). While you might be a registered voter, that doesn’t mean you vote. Indeed, in a review of voter records from Montgomery County and the City of Rockville shows that three candidates for City Council did not vote in the most recent 2019 City Council election: Danniel Belay, Ricky Mui, and Adam Van Grack. Perhaps they moved into Rockville after 2019, were sick, or out of town (although vote-by-mail was available), but it did make me wonder about the voting record of the other candidates. If you want to lead our little part of democracy, how active have you been in our democratic process? If you’re trying to convince people to vote, how convinced are you about the importance of voting?
Going back to the 2010 elections (I don’t have records for 2020 and 2022), four candidates voted in every election: Mark Pierzchala, Richard Gottfried, Anita Powell, and Marissa Valeri. That’s a 100% voting record. Voting less than half the time (50%) are Daniel Belay, Kate Fulton, Ricky Mui, Paul Scott, and Adam Van Grack. That doesn’t mean they should be automatically dismissed, but they should provide an explanation to voters (why should I vote for you when you didn’t vote most of the time?). The remaining field has a mixed record, although their voting record improved over time.
To see their voting records of the candidates at a glance, see the chart below. Green means they voted, red they didn’t vote, and yellow or ? is unknown. The date they registered to vote is important for evaluating their records—how long has the candidate been part of the democratic process? For example, Anita Powell has the longest record for Rockville, being a registered voter since 1975. On the other hand, Danniel Belay didn’t register until 2014 (I suspect he was under 18 until then), so he didn’t vote until 2014. Again, I don’t have records for 2020 and 2022 (the Montgomery County Board of Elections sells the list at a cost of a couple of hundred dollars), but the patterns are pretty clear from the data I have available.
Councilmember Pierzchala Announces Independent Run for Mayor
In response to Councilmember Myles’ arrest, Councilmember and candidate for Mayor Mark Pierzchala issued the following statement:
While we are still learning about the events that led to the arrest of Councilmember David Myles, I want to publicly state that I condemn domestic violence and all other forms of abuse. The harms of domestic violence go beyond the physical. No one should live in fear of those they love.
As a mayoral candidate, I am running independently, and not in conjunction with CM Myles or others at this time. I look forward to making sure that our City has the leadership it needs in the next term.
Mark Pierzchala
Candidates for City Council Expands to 14
By September 7, the Board of Supervisors of Elections had certified two candidates for Mayor and twelve candidates for Council for the upcoming November 7, 2023 election. Danniel Belay, Richard Gottfried, and Anita Neal Powell are the latest additions, so if candidates were selected randomly, the chances of gaining a seat on Council decreased from 67 to 50 percent. But Councilmembers are not elected randomly and rely on their campaign strategies and voter motivation and preferences. Here’s the current list of candidates:
- Candidates for the Office of Mayor
- Monique Ashton
- Mark Pierzchala
- Candidates for the Office of Council
- Danniel Belay
- Kate Fulton
- Richard Gottfried
- Harold Hodges
- Barry Jackson
- Ricky Mui
- David Myles
- Anita Neal Powell
- Paul Scott
- Izola Shaw
- Marissa Valeri
- Adam Van Grack
Rockville Town Center Dominates Community Discussions in January-March 2023
Based on an analysis of the minutes of the Rockville City Council by ChatGPT, the top five most discussed topics in the community forums from January to March 2023 seem to be:
- Town Center Parking and Plan: This topic was mentioned multiple times—what’s the future hold for downtown after the recent seismic shifts in the economy and work?
- Streetlights and Roadway Pothole Repairs: These two topics are grouped together as they both pertain to infrastructure and public works issues.
- Charter Review Commission Recommendations: The possibility of ranked-choice voting, lowering the age to vote, and establishing council districts were discussed in two different forums.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: These topics were mentioned in different contexts, reflecting the community’s interest in social issues. The Supreme Court eliminated the use of affirmative action in college admissions—how should that affect decisions by the City of Rockville?
- Rent Stabilization and Accessory Dwelling Units: Housing is an ongoing issue in Montgomery County—what is Rockville’s role and responsibility?
We’ll be watching for these topics in the upcoming council election.
Please note that this is an interpretive summary and the actual prominence of topics may vary depending on the number of comments and the depth of discussion for each topic.
Candidate Forums: The Heart of the Rockville City Council Race
The race for Rockville City Council is gaining momentum, with candidate forums being among the most intriguing events. These forums provide an opportunity for each candidate to answer questions on various issues. While sometimes referred to as “debates,” they rarely involve direct exchanges between candidates or in-depth discussions. However, they do provide a platform for comparing candidates and understanding their stances. Their responses may be rough and awkward at times, yet this rawness often provides more insight into their true beliefs and intentions, unlike the polished and often vague statements we typically hear from elected officials in Congress.
The City of Rockville has selected the candidate forums that will be broadcast on Rockville 11 and YouTube, but everyone is welcome to attend in person:
Tuesday, September 26 from 2-3:30 pm at the Thomas Farm Community Center, hosted by the Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce.
Thursday, October 5 from 7-8:30 pm at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, hosted by Community Reach of Montgomery County with Rainbow Place Shelter.
Thursday, October 12 from noon to 1:30 pm at the Rockville Senior Center, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County.
The hosting organization determines the format and questions, and obviously, each has a different interest so the topics will vary among the forums.
Other community organizations and neighborhood associations will host their own forums. Usually everyone is welcome and some will be broadcast, so look for announcements on a candidate’s or organization’s web sites or social media pages.
There are currently two candidates for mayor and nine candidates for council. If you are interested in serving, there is still time to get on the ballot. Petitions need to be signed by as least 100 registered voters who live in Rockville and submitted by this Friday, September 8. More details at Running for Office on the City web site.
Starting today until Election Day, I will close comments on this blog. Unfortunately, elections can bring out the worst in people and the blog comments become a place for slinging mud and venom. Question every fact and assertion from candidates, expect the stealing of yard signs, and know that impersonators will lurk on social media. Yes, in Rockville. Sigh.
Unexpected Resignation: Rockville City Manager Rob DiSpirito Departs Post
Rockville City Manager Rob DiSpirito resigned yesterday on Thursday, August 17, effective at 5:00 pm. The Mayor and Council accepted his resignation and appointed Deputy City Manager Barack Matite as acting city manager, effective immediately. DiSpirito had served as Rockville’s city manager since January 2017. DiSpirito was interim senior manager of the Sarasota County (Florida) Planning and Development Department when appointed in December 2016 and previously served as the city manager of Dunedin, Florida for nine years and city manager of Oberlin, Ohio for 11 years. Barack Matite was previously City Manager of Eudora, Kansas (population 6,449) and holds a master’s in public administration from the University of Kansas.
It’s unclear what prompted the resignation, but we can assume it’s related to the Mayor and Council Closed Session meeting yesterday, which was to conclude the Performance Improvement Plan that the Mayor and Council instituted 90 days ago. Unfortunately, once again the Mayor and Council is unable to follow Maryland Open Meetings Act and failed to post the adjournment of the meeting, which was held exclusively on WebEx. In Maryland, “After a public body has met in a session closed under § 3-305, it must include a summary of the session in the minutes of its next public meeting. Public bodies may instead include the summary in the minutes of the public meeting held that day—that way, the public will see the summary sooner—but should follow a consistent practice or include a cross-reference in the later set of minutes so that the public knows where to look” (Chapter 6, OMA). I strongly recommend the latter approach to provide greater transparency to government, but so far, the Mayor and Council has been reluctant to go down this path. What are they trying to hide? Perhaps this an issue for the upcoming election.
The City Manager is the “executive officer and head of the administrative branch of the City” and one of three employees that report directly to the Mayor and Council (Chapter 2, Rockville City Code). City Manager Rob DiSpirito served six years. The previous City Manager, Barbara B. Matthews, served almost four years, when she was fired by the Mayor and Council in a contentious 3-2 vote (Mayor Bridget Newton and Councilmembers Beryl Feinberg and Virginia Onley voted to terminate her employment; Councilmembers Mark Pierzchala and Julie Palakovich Carr voted against). City Manager Scott Ullery retired in December 2011 after seven years following conflicts with Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio over the management of the City. Notice a pattern? Ironically, most of the current city council members have NO experience supervising employees at a management or executive level, yet make crucial decisions about hiring, supervising, and terminating these types of employees. Are management skills an increasingly important qualification for Mayor and Council?
Follow-up: On August 19, 2023, Barry Jackson, candidate for Rockville City Council, insisted that current Mayor and Council should not begin the search for the new City Manager but instead that the “newly elected Mayor and City Council hire a City Manager through a transparent and thorough process.”
Can You Buy Your Way onto City Council?
Election campaigns, even small local ones like Rockville City Council, require time and money. With the absence of a local newspaper to reach voters, candidates have to either spend most of their time walking door to door or most of their funds to print and mail campaign literature. In 2019—the last election for Mayor and Council—candidates for Council spent from $424 to $48,776 on their campaigns. Does money matter in local elections? Absolutely, under the right conditions.
As can be seen in the chart above, the candidates who spent the most money (Ashton, Feinberg, Myles, and Pierzchala) were elected to City Council—with one notable exception (Gottfried). The difference? Gottfried had less than a handful of individual contributors to his campaign; his campaign was mostly self-funded. The successful candidates had lots of money and contributors, and those who tended to spend less per vote had more Rockville residents as supporters. I suspect local supporters are more influential on the election than contributors who live out of town.
Looking more closely, successful candidates in 2019 needed at least 5,000 votes and spent between $3 to $10 per vote. In other words, to win a City Council election in Rockville required $15,000 to $50,000—mostly raised from local residents. If a candidate can’t raise those funds locally, they will need to put in a lot of their own money. At the other end of the spectrum, small campaigns who spent $500 to $5,000 didn’t have the capacity to gain sufficient support to cross the 5,000-vote threshold. If there are candidates you’d love to see on City Council, give them your financial support. A contribution of $25, $50, or $100 can make a big difference, especially in September.
The middle-sized campaign of $2 to $5 per voter ($10,000 to $20,000) seem to rely not only on the number of local contributors but also a thoughtfully-crafted campaign. To get out the vote, candidates have lots of ways to spend money (mail, literature, photography, videos, buttons, yard signs, t-shirts, social media, advertising) and time (parades, events, walking door to door, planning meetings, Community Forums, phone calls) but some are more effective than others. Campaigns of this size can’t shoot from the hip; they have to plan and manage carefully. Cotte Griffiths, Hedrick, Lee, Mullican, and Pitman fell into this nebulous and fraught category, so this year’s candidates may want to talk with a couple of them for advice. Perhaps the enlargement of the Council by two seats will allow more middle-sized campaigns to succeed. BTW, Kuan Lee’s expenses are low in the chart but he had over $10,000 in outstanding unpaid bills at the end of 2019, so his expenses are actually closer to $13,000.
The chart also shows that campaigns ramp up in September and at full-speed in October. November is very quiet by comparison because the election is held early in the month. I suspect that Labor Day will begin the campaign season in Rockville and it will include the usual craziness of mud-slinging and dirty tricks (yes, it unfortunately happens in Rockville).
The data for the chart is derived from each candidate’s campaign finance report, which are submitted monthly during the height of the campaign season. Rockville developed its own campaign report forms and they desperately need to be revised because most candidates are unable to complete them properly and have to submit amendments regularly—some of them months later. Plus, key information can obscured because the forms allow candidates to reimburse themselves for expenses—the public can’t see where the cash is flowing, which is the primary purpose of campaign finance reports. The Board of Supervisors of Elections needs to revise the form and establish a standard of performance that no more than 25% of reports in any periods are amended.
Say “Hello Vietnam!” in Twinbrook
Opening at the start of August is “Hello, Vietnam!,” a Vietnamese restaurant open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 8:30 pm (closed Mondays). Their ambitious menu includes spring and summer rolls; pho (soup); noodle and rice dishes with grilled chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, or vegetables; banh mi (sandwiches); milk tea (with tapioca, crystal, or popping boba), and of course Vietnamese coffee (American available, too). They’ll fill out this menu eventually with shaking beef, caramel fish, crispy noodles, fried rice, and fruit smoothies. If you’ve never had Vietnamese food before, I suggest you start with the banh mi sandwich, summer rolls with peanut butter sauce, spring rolls with sweet sauce, and maybe a rice noodle dish. The interior is entirely new and clean with large photo murals decorating the walls. The staff is working hard during these start-up weeks and happy to explain the menu to you. Their website at hellovietnamfood.com includes a menu and map.
You’ll find Hello Vietnam in the middle of the Twinbrook Shopping Center at 2200 Viers Mill Road at Atlantic Avenue, midway between Lotte Grocery and the Twinbrook Library. Parking is always a little crazy, so I’d avoid trying to park in front of the restaurant and instead choose a spot away from the stores. This shopping center is a bit ragged-looking, but don’t let that discourage you. When it was built in the 1960s, the appeal of this “California style” shopping center threatened the businesses of downtown Rockville. It just needs some painting and a good powerwash to remove years of bubblegum from the sidewalks. Today it serves as the unofficial “old downtown Twinbrook” with a wide range of international grocery stores and restaurants, enriching the diversity of the neighborhood.
Max for Rockville 