2026-09-14 - Mayor and Council

00:00.00] Rockville today is September 14, 2026, and we'd like to begin with the Pledge of Allegiance.

00:05.86] Please join us, you're able.

00:06.81] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for

00:18.00] which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

00:30.47] So we are happy to have a packed house here today, and this is our first meeting back

00:34.77] from recess.

00:35.77] We appreciate all of you.

00:37.25] You've been out in the community still but first meeting since first week of August.

00:42.13] We're going to start our day today with honoring and celebrating some key milestones in the

00:46.65] city of Rockville, and I'll ask my colleagues to join me at the podium.

01:17.67] Good afternoon, everyone.

01:18.83] I am pleased to start off our certificate of recognitions to present a certificate

01:29.18] for record-breaking basketball scoring achievement for [name] [name] of Richard

01:35.74] Montgomery High School.

01:37.92] If the family can come up while I get to read all the wonderful things that he has done,

01:57.65] I have a special affinity for saying names correctly.

02:02.49] On behalf of the residents of Rockville, the Mayor and Council are pleased to present

02:05.71] this certificate to [name] [name] in honor of his record-breaking scoring

02:10.85] achievement of 1,592 points.

02:22.06] The Mayor, Council member, staff, and entire Rockville community congratulate him for all

02:26.88] of his stellar athletic achievements while at Richard Montgomery High School.

02:31.04] During his high school basketball career, [name] distinguished himself by scoring a

02:34.76] record 1,500 points over 98 games from his freshman to senior years.

02:40.63] His career statistics include 295 rebounds, 351 assists, 205 steals, and 18 blocks.

02:50.24] He also achieved multiple all-division, all-county, and regional awards.

02:55.12] These are truly monumental achievements.

02:57.80] We wish [name] continued success with all his future endeavors.

03:21.92] Today, I am honored and we are honored to present the certificate of recognition to

04:04.13] four individuals who provided aid to a resident of Newmark Commons, [name].

04:13.13] Let me read the proclamation and I will get [name] to come up and say a few words

04:17.57] and then we will give out the certificates.

04:22.41] The Mayor and Council of the City of Rockville, providing aid and assistance to a resident

04:27.45] presented to the Newmark Commons life card for them in recognition of your quick thinking,

04:35.14] professionalism, bravery, and compassion assistance to Rockville resident [name]

04:41.42] following a serious fall on July 29, 2026.

04:47.49] When [name] was unable to get up or assist herself, you immediately responded, kept

04:53.43] her calm, monitored her condition, summoned emergency medical assistance, and remained

04:59.20] by her side until help arrived.

05:02.39] Your actions demonstrated selflessness, care, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to

05:07.81] the safety and well-being of a fellow Rockville resident.

05:11.58] You rose to the occasion during a time of crisis and provided critical assistance when

05:16.34] he was needed most.

05:18.32] Thank you for your courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to serving the City

05:22.48] of Rockville and its residents.

05:25.55] Thank you very much.

05:27.75] So [name], if you want to come up and say a few words.

05:42.89] I do have some comments, but you've said everything I was going to say.

05:46.01] But I did want to acknowledge [name] and [name] and [name] and [name] and tell all of you personally,

05:53.08] I know [name] is not here tonight, but I know the parents of all of you are here.

05:57.78] I wanted to tell you that the four of you represent the best of who we are as neighbors

06:04.02] and I know I speak for everyone in this room in saying we are thankful that you are part

06:08.90] of our community.

06:10.66] We are surely in good hands with these young people and I thank all four of you from the

06:15.75] bottom of my heart for helping me that day when I was very seriously injured and by

06:21.12] myself and afraid.

06:23.54] I can't tell you how much it means to me that you were able to hear me yelling for

06:29.84] help and respond the way you did, call an ambulance, keep me calm, and assess my situation

06:36.96] and pass it on to the EMTs.

06:39.78] I was very seriously injured that day, clearly.

06:44.62] But I thank you all from the very, very bottom of my heart and thank you Mayor and Council

06:49.90] members for having me here today and for acknowledging these young people.

06:53.18] Thank you so much.

06:54.62] Thank you all.

06:56.28] Thank you.

06:57.61] So we could have [name] and [name] and [name] up, no, no, you as well, you stay up here.

07:12.67] All right.

07:18.55] All right.

07:19.55] So [name] is in the soccer game?

07:20.51] Yeah.

07:22.09] Is this [name]?

07:23.89] Oh, sorry.

07:24.89] Ava.

07:30.50] All right.

07:31.50] So it looks like we have one.

07:39.76] I love celebrating young people and I'm glad you're okay.

08:31.21] So we have a couple of other celebrations I'd like to invite up to join me, [name].

08:39.88] We're now going to recognize and present the 2026 Recreation and Parks Foundation Community

08:44.68] Achievement Awards.

08:46.70] Who knows how many parks we have in the city of Rockville?

08:49.95] Yeah, that's right.

08:50.95] Yeah.

08:51.95] We're upwards of more than 65, but I'm impressed, did you feed her that answer?

09:01.91] Well done on the homework.

09:03.63] But Recreation and Parks really does take a village and we're so thankful to be joined

09:07.07] by partners and Chair [name] is going to share a little bit about each and will

09:13.07] bestow a Rockville Recreation and Parks Community Achievement Award.

09:17.50] Okay.

09:18.49] Thank you.

09:20.46] So the foundation was established to support rec and park activities and programs in the

09:24.91] city of Rockville.

09:25.82] And about a dozen years ago or so, we created the Community Service Awards because we recognized

09:33.69] that before we existed as a foundation, there were many Rockville residents who were doing

09:38.74] terrific volunteer work that supported rec and park programs and activities in the city.

09:44.70] And so we've recognized people every year who have done that so well for us.

09:49.18] And we have three recipients this year and I'm going to read something about each of

09:53.66] them and invite them to come up.

09:56.69] So we'll start off with, in the individual category, [name].

10:03.75] [name] has been part of the Croydon Creek Nature Center community since she first joined

10:08.59] us as a young camper.

10:11.24] After aging out of many of our programs, she chose to maintain involvement by becoming

10:17.17] a volunteer, continuing the connections she built there as a child.

10:22.00] For the past four and a half years, [name] has served as a dedicated animal care volunteer,

10:27.81] coming in every week to help care for our animal ambassadors.

10:32.84] I guess that's right, ambassadors, they're animal ambassadors.

10:37.40] Over the past two summers, she expanded her role by volunteering with our camps, helping

10:42.52] create the same meaningful experiences she once enjoyed as a child.

10:49.18] [name] has contributed more than 230 hours of service.

10:54.23] Staff is incredibly proud of her growth, her commitment, and her enthusiasm.

10:58.95] [name] has made a lasting positive impact on our staff, our animals, and the community

11:04.17] we serve.

11:05.65] Her dedication truly makes the Nature Center a better place, and we are honored to recognize

11:10.81] her as a community award recipient.

11:14.63] So congratulations to [name].

11:17.19] [name] is away at college, first month at college as a freshman.

11:22.18] So she couldn't be here in attendance, but tonight, her mother, [name], who

11:27.23] also happens to be a volunteer with the city on the City's Rec and Park Advisory Board.

11:32.60] So [name] is going to come up here and accept the award on behalf of [name].

11:43.07] So where are we going to see her?

11:49.21] Are we able to do that?

11:52.78] We'll go to the next question.

11:57.00] Unmute, [name].

11:58.00] Yeah.

11:59.57] Hello?

12:00.56] Can anyone hear me?

12:02.20] Yeah, I'm here.

12:04.46] Did you hear us talking about you?

12:06.41] Yes, I did.

12:07.36] Everything you said was very nice.

12:09.32] Okay.

12:10.32] Was it all true?

12:12.18] I'd like to think it was.

12:13.18] Yes.

12:14.18] Well, sure it was, and congratulations, and thank you for being a terrific example for

12:18.98] the rest of us in our volunteer activities with the city.

12:23.09] Thank you.

12:24.75] And good luck in college.

12:26.87] Thank you.

12:27.87] Stay up here, because we'll take a picture.

12:31.75] Okay.

12:32.75] In the business category, we have Montcare Potomac, otherwise called Montcare.

12:38.51] Montcare is an exceptional business partner whose generosity and commitment greatly enhance

12:44.37] programs and services at the Rockville Senior Center.

12:48.37] Each year, they support more than 20 events, providing in-kind contributions ranging from

12:54.02] T-shirts to turkey trot, participants to giveaway items for the annual health fair.

13:00.75] Their support extends beyond the senior center.

13:03.53] They also contribute to the villages program and events throughout the neighborhoods by

13:09.27] supplying bands, tents, food, and other key resources.

13:13.66] During Heart Healthy Month, Montcare generously provides food for celebrations and ensures

13:19.58] a representative is present to engage with participants at our heart health events.

13:26.07] They also coordinate the Better Breathers Club by organizing monthly meetings, coordinating

13:31.65] presentations, and often volunteering after regular work hours.

13:36.81] Their representative even serves on the board for the Village Support Network, further demonstrating

13:42.10] their dedication to our community.

13:45.87] Montcare also plays an important role in our seasonal housing tours, helping seniors explore

13:51.23] local senior living options.

13:54.38] But their impact goes far beyond in-kind support.

13:57.52] It's the way they show up, their representative [name] attends activities, sits with

14:03.19] seniors, and jumps in to support staff whenever needed.

14:07.46] Montcare is not only a generous partner, but they are also a true champion of Rockville

14:12.60] Senior Services and the senior community.

14:15.20] It is with sincere appreciation that we recognize and honor their outstanding contributions.

14:21.66] Here to accept the award for Montcare is [name].

14:24.82] Carrie, where are you?

14:26.82] Okay, and finally, in the non-profit category, we have the Capital Area Food Bank.

14:46.23] The Capital Area Food Bank has been an outstanding partner to the Rockville community for the

14:51.07] past three years.

14:52.80] Each month, they provide fresh produce to residents in need, focusing on supporting

14:57.84] individuals rather than relying on strict income requirements.

15:02.44] Their thoughtful selection of both fresh and shelf-stable foods brings a sense of dignity

15:08.24] and joy to participants, many of whom look forward to their distribution day.

15:13.72] Serving more than 300 people monthly, the Capital Area Food Bank plays a vital role

15:19.05] in ensuring that our neighbors have access to nutritious food.

15:23.36] The City of Rockville is deeply grateful for their commitment, compassion, and dedication

15:29.96] to reducing hunger and strengthening our community.

15:33.45] Their partnership is truly valued and worthy of recognition.

15:37.40] The Capital Area Food Bank representative, [name], is online with us tonight, but

15:42.21] here to accept the award on their behalf is [name].

15:46.69] [name], where are you?

15:54.95] We want to take a picture, but again, these three recipients are great examples of volunteerism

16:00.87] in Rockville and we also should mention there's nothing to volunteer for unless we have the

16:07.63] terrific Rockville recreation programs, activities, sites that are supported and maintained by

16:16.02] our fine mayor, council, and city staff.

16:19.61] So let's have a hand of applause for them.

16:36.42] [name], cut your camera back on so we can see you in the picture.

17:18.48] The next two proclamations that we have today deal with a very important issue and that's

17:23.44] voting.

17:24.72] We have an election coming up and in this nation and across the world, people have

17:29.38] lost their lives to have the right to vote and so we have two special proclamations

17:35.10] that we're honoring this month.

17:36.74] One, which is the National Disability Voting Rights Week where we talk about the importance

17:42.66] of making sure everybody can have fair access to voting, but then also National Voter Registration

17:49.00] Day which is coming up and I know the clerk's office does a phenomenal job, at least here

17:53.90] in Rockville, of getting people to register, but whether you're in Rockville or not, if

17:57.62] you're not registered, please register to vote.

18:00.46] We even have same day registration here in the state of Maryland.

18:06.20] Whereas the right to vote is a cornerstone of what it means to be a free society representing

18:11.95] the bedrock tenants of equity, equality and civic participation upon which our nation

18:17.95] was founded and for which many have fought to obtain and protect.

18:22.89] And now therefore the mayor and council of the city of Rockville, Maryland do hereby

18:26.47] proclaim September 15, 2026 as National Voter Registration Day and encourage all residents

18:34.70] to register to vote, renew their voter registration status, update their information as needed

18:40.22] and be ready to exercise their most fundamental American right, the right to vote.

18:46.12] Madam Mayor, I move the proclamation.

18:49.27] >> Thank you.

18:53.19] >> Aye.

18:54.19] Now we do have a recipient but we're going to read the second one and then have him come

18:56.39] up.

18:58.03] Whereas there are over 61 million people of all ages living with disabilities in communities

19:04.03] throughout the United States, making up almost a quarter of this country's population.

19:10.52] And now therefore the mayor and council of Rockville, Maryland designate the week of

19:14.12] September 14th to 18th, 2026 as Disability Voting Rights Week in Rockville, Maryland

19:21.22] and support the growing involvement of the disability community in the process and urge

19:27.54] all residents to support this effort.

19:30.28] Madam Mayor, I move the proclamation.

19:31.28] >> Aye.

19:37.65] >> Aye.

19:38.65] All right, so we've got two unanimous proclamations and I believe we have [name] from the

19:44.07] Rockville Board of Elections to come and say a few words.

19:49.12] >> Yeah, thank you very much, Cosmon von Grack, thank you very much and mayor and council.

19:55.58] It's really inspiring to me to see just how seriously the city of Rockville supports

20:00.97] voter registration and importantly disability voter rights.

20:06.68] And the board, my fellow board members and I, [name] and [name], manifestly

20:13.37] share those commitments and we're very happy to accept, I'm very happy to accept these

20:19.17] proclamations on behalf of the board and I'd like to remind everyone that tomorrow,

20:23.66] as the councilman has noted, is National Voter Registration Day.

20:27.38] For those of you who would like to register to vote or update your voter registration,

20:31.94] please come to Rockville Town Square and we will be there from 10 until 2 in order

20:38.03] to help everybody who is interested to register to vote, including those who are 16 and above

20:44.20] and citizens here and living in the city of Rockville or in Montgomery County, we can

20:48.90] also take those registrations as well.

20:51.18] But thank you very much and it's really a pleasure to serve the city.

20:54.34] >> Thanks.

20:55.34] >> Yeah, thank you.

20:56.56] >> Thank you very much.

21:06.00] >> Can someone help me hold this, hold this open?

21:10.11] Maybe one on both sides here.

21:11.11] There we go.

21:12.54] Thank you very much.

21:14.35] >> Greetings.

21:15.35] Greetings.

21:17.56] Thank you for indulging me.

21:46.09] My faces have none from unexpected dental procedures, so I'll do my best not to drool

21:52.07] on the proclamation here.

21:54.49] This proclamation recognizes Hispanic Heritage Week and I'm very proud to be able to give

22:03.08] this or read this proclamation this evening.

22:08.64] It reads, "Whereas the observation of Hispanic Heritage Week started in 1968 and was expanded

22:15.67] into a month-long observation in 1988 and, now therefore, the mayor and council of the

22:22.49] city of Rockville, Maryland do hereby proclaim September 15th through October 15th, 2026

22:28.95] as National Hispanic Heritage Month in Rockville and are proud to celebrate the resilience,

22:34.85] contributions, and culture of Latinx, Hispanic, and Latino-identified individuals, groups,

22:41.61] and communities."

22:42.76] With that, Madam Mayor, I move the proclamation.

22:45.06] I believe we have a recipient this evening, Ms. [name] or Lee, and how did I pronounce

22:57.40] your last name, ma'am?

22:58.41] Lee.

22:59.68] I apologize for my mispronunciation.

23:00.68] Do you want to say a few words?

23:03.80] >> No.

23:04.80] >> No?

23:05.80] Okay, that's all I'm doing.

23:06.80] That's all I'm doing.

23:07.80] Take a picture with us if you want.

23:08.80] >> Of course.

23:09.80] >> Good evening.

23:10.80] It's my honor to present the National Car Free Day Proclamation, whereas Car Free Day

23:38.58] benefits Rockville and the National Capital Region through improved air quality, reduced

23:43.50] traffic congestion and parking demands and the conservation of energy, and whereas Car

23:51.22] Free Day is a special day to rediscover Rockville without a car and reconnect with fellow residents,

23:57.30] businesses, community organizations, and neighbors, and remind people about the transportation

24:03.13] options, environmental impacts, and other quality of life issues.

24:08.30] Now, therefore, the Mayor and Council of the City of Rockville, Maryland hereby proclaim

24:14.49] September 22nd, 2026 as Car Free Day throughout the City of Rockville and encourage all residents

24:22.03] to pledge to go car free or car light by car pool or van pool.

24:27.13] >> Madam Mayor, I move the proclamation.

24:36.90] And I believe we have Mr. [name] from Rockville Bicycle Advisory Committee.

24:42.22] I want to say a few words.

24:48.75] >> Good evening, everybody.

24:49.75] I'm honored to receive this proclamation.

24:52.07] My wife and I live car light.

24:53.19] We've only ever had one car.

24:54.51] We've always gotten around using all the options that are available to us, and we always

24:58.49] encourage people and those of us to do the same with us.

25:01.33] I rode my bike here today because I live a kilometer from here.

25:04.01] You don't drive a car a kilometer, do you know?

25:07.53] And one way we can all kind of figure that out actually as a segue is to learn how to

25:11.58] do this.

25:12.58] We're having a family bike festival in Town Square on September the 27th from 1 to 4 p.m.

25:18.47] Bring your kids, everybody along.

25:19.99] We're going to have bike demonstrations.

25:20.99] We're going to have a balanced bike parade decorating stuff all for the little ones.

25:24.23] Teach people, teach kids how to, you know, ride bikes and enjoy them and maybe work to

25:28.27] be car free themselves.

25:29.27] Thank you.

25:30.90] >> Next up, I am really pleased to do the proclamation in honor of Economic Development

26:10.50] Week.

26:13.35] Whereas, the economic growth and stability of the state affect all regions and jurisdictions

26:18.67] of Maryland.

26:20.56] And whereas, October is Global Diversity Awareness Month, and this is an opportunity for us to

26:26.87] spotlight and support diverse businesses here in Rockville.

26:31.32] Now therefore, the mayor and council hereby proclaim the week of September 28th through

26:36.46] October 2nd, 2026 to be Economic Development Week in the city of Rockville, Maryland in

26:42.48] recognition of the importance of economic development and its role in supporting the

26:47.57] business community, creating new and dynamic opportunities for residents and visitors,

26:53.00] and enhancing the fiscal health of the city.

26:55.22] Madam Mayor, I move the proclamation.

27:03.37] And I believe we have [name] from Rockville Economic Development Inc., our amazing economic

27:07.47] development partner, to come accept the proclamation.

27:13.80] Of course you should come as well.

27:16.80] Who wants to say a few words?

27:21.00] >> Thank you very much.

27:22.58] I want to introduce the Ready Board Chair, [name], and our Deputy Director, Richelle

27:28.02] Wilson.

27:29.30] It takes a village, as you know.

27:32.68] We really appreciate the acknowledgment of Economic Development Week.

27:37.92] Our work is to increase the tax base of Rockville, to bring new businesses here, create more

27:44.68] jobs, help the business who are here grow and be fruitful.

27:50.80] And we do that with a lot of different services, helping people find locations, giving market

27:56.80] data, helping people connect to resources.

28:00.40] And so if anybody needs assistance with the business, please give us a call.

28:05.40] Our website is www.rockvilleready, R-E-D-I, dot org.

28:12.16] And thank you again.

28:13.16] We really appreciate the city's support.

28:51.62] Now we will proclaim September 2026 as National Preparedness Month.

28:55.90] I should also note that on September 11th this Friday, we celebrated and honored -- well

29:01.62] not celebrate, but honored and commemorated the 25th anniversary of September 11th.

29:06.75] I can't believe it's been so long, it feels like yesterday in this 250th year of our country.

29:13.19] We honor the 3,000 lives who were lost.

29:15.93] And we know that many others were impacted, people who had health issues after, people

29:20.37] who were impacted by the subsequent wars, and many families who have suffered.

29:27.46] It's a good reminder that we always have to be prepared.

29:31.04] And preparedness comes in so many ways.

29:32.90] We've dealt with COVID since then.

29:35.21] We've had storms and changes related to climate change.

29:38.66] And it's an important part of our city that we are prepared to protect our residents here

29:43.47] in the city of Rockville.

29:45.41] And I'm going to call up [name] from the City of Rockville Emergency Manager.

29:49.85] This is a new area that we have invested in the city.

29:53.69] And I'll start with the proclamation and if you could say a few words about our preparedness

29:56.77] efforts.

29:58.56] Whereas the city of Rockville is dedicated to promoting preparedness for its residents.

30:02.28] Whereas emergencies come in many forms, including fire, heat wave, drought, flood, hurricane,

30:06.88] winter storms, and more.

30:08.77] And whereas September is National Preparedness Month.

30:11.79] And it's observed nationwide and in Rockville to raise awareness about the importance of

30:14.95] preparedness and encourage all individuals, families, businesses, and communities to take

30:18.75] action to be prepared for emergencies.

30:22.37] Now therefore the Mayor and Council of the City of Rockville, Maryland do hereby proclaim

30:26.05] September 2026 as National Preparedness Month and urge the Rockville community to prepare

30:31.51] for emergencies and spread the word regarding the importance of everyone having a plan.

30:35.79] As well as thanking our very many first responders including police, fire, health, and many other

30:40.87] folks who help keep us safe every day.

30:43.03] Welcome [name].

30:45.02] Do we have someone who can move for me?

30:50.25] Council Member Fulton and second, all those in favor please raise your hand and say aye.

30:54.65] Excellent thank you.

31:04.91] Thank you Mayor and Council, Chief West.

31:09.20] It is an honor to accept this proclamation on behalf of the City of Rockville with emergency

31:13.26] management embedded within the police department.

31:16.29] Our role has become increasingly operational focused on readiness and response.

31:22.82] In just a few months we will also open the City's new Emergency Operations Center strengthening

31:28.20] our ability to coordinate during major incidents.

31:32.94] Preparedness is a team effort and I am proud to be a part of that effort here in Rockville.

31:39.11] Thank you.

31:49.41] Chief West also want to acknowledge you.

31:50.65] Thank you for being an amazing first responder.

31:52.77] Oh man, I rolled a posse on this one, this is awesome.

32:29.15] For many reasons this is awesome.

32:31.21] So I am beyond honored to move the National Recovery Month proclamation as I'm sure everybody

32:41.01] has seen around the city or on some people's dresses we're all purple this month but I'm

32:47.95] a big fan of walking the walk.

32:50.66] It's not just about putting the purple lights up, it's about the celebration of recovery.

32:55.70] We can use this month to talk about opioid misuse but if we're not celebrating recovery

33:01.26] we're only doing a small part of the story and the recovery community is something that

33:06.42] is beautiful, it is full of love and support and no matter where you go in the country

33:12.69] you can find that kind of support and that is a rarity especially in this day and age

33:18.71] and I wouldn't be myself if I did not come up with a prop as well to say if you are

33:26.19] not an RCAM trained, myself, Mayor Ashton, Councilmember Jackson, we all got trained

33:32.55] up last Friday it is just as important as being CPR certified it is simple and you can

33:38.75] literally save a life and so I really encourage everybody plus you can get really cool things

33:44.27] like this.

33:45.27] So I will go ahead and read the proclamation trying to see like man there's so many people

33:51.85] here and I see Fred so we and there's Lacania and Bunny okay cool I want to make sure like

33:57.33] I wasn't gonna give you a shout out if you're in here all right whereas National Recovery

34:02.80] Month is observed each September to celebrate the millions of people living in recovery

34:08.42] and honor those whom we have lost to substance misuse recognize the families and communities

34:14.22] who support them and promote the message that recovery is real whereas substance misuse

34:21.09] and related mental health disorders affect individuals families workplaces schools and

34:27.17] communities across every region background and political affiliation and whereas the

34:33.52] city of Rockville was part of Rockville Goes Purple in the month of September has lit city

34:37.88] buildings in purple to support those struggling with substance misuse and those in recovery

34:43.88] additionally several events will take place including but not limited to the International

34:48.96] Overdose Awareness Day event that was held on August 29th a panel discussion and movie

34:54.47] screening of [name] with an introduction by Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller on September

35:00.50] 30th and community naloxone training and distribution and drug take back day in October Madam

35:09.43] Mayor I am proud to move the proclamation and now I'm like I'm gonna invite everybody

35:19.86] up if if the the wonderful and amazing Latanya and bunny and the steer team and the youth

35:31.20] team y'all can come up here I'm sorry this is like all right I will here is for you

35:41.26] excellent all right so I'll give you the steer team one and then y'all can fight over

35:51.11] the youth team will make copies of them to you so great thank you for this recognition

36:02.25] I really want to share and really appreciate everybody for giving us a chance to put a

36:06.22] face on recovery it's really important from our end and I know from all of our teams

36:11.44] it really does mean a lot to be seen I do want to say a couple things about each team

36:16.49] so we have a steer team which is directly connected to the opioid response in the county

36:23.60] something happens in the county in emergency directly related to opioids we get alerted

36:28.19] 24 hours a day seven days a week and they show up bedside everybody on the steer team

36:35.24] does that we also have a youth team which is the next gen pathfinders where we work

36:39.30] with kids in high school and middle school from 13 all the way to 18 and provide them

36:46.87] peer support so in the same way that we're in recovery we're also introducing young people

36:51.40] into recovery so that they have an opportunity to see that it doesn't stop where they are

36:55.64] it continues to go and then the last one that we have is our really important our parent

37:00.26] program which directly supports the community and the parents of those that are struggling

37:05.16] with substance misuse and the benefit of that is that we're able to connect with people

37:09.21] that don't understand what's going on and don't don't really understand what to do and

37:14.75] I think the biggest part of that is that we're able to show up for them and show them that

37:18.51] it's possible and recovery is possible but thank you I'm with [name] and I am co-founder

37:42.13] and I'm executive director of tree of hope and I really just wanted to thank the city

37:47.20] of Rockville for recognizing that organization the people who work here have rebuilt their

37:56.09] lives into something that's incredible so the thing that used to give them shame is

38:01.15] now empowers them to help so many people right and and so I'm just proud to be a part of

38:08.09] this everyone back here is like living they don't work they just do what they'd be doing

38:14.66] anyway but they get a paycheck for it right and as a direct result of being recognized

38:21.76] that it as a service they get to do that and they get to help other people live their

38:29.10] best lives as well so I thank you for the support for the city of Rockville it's just

38:34.34] been amazing being here and being so welcome so thank you so it's my honor to present

39:30.56] the last proclamation of the day and it's a special one it's to honor national service

39:37.64] dog month service dogs play a vital role in helping people with disabilities whether

39:46.54] it's helping to lead the blind or alerting when people have seizures or when blood sugar

39:55.28] is low and not many people realize that there are so many roles that service dogs do play

40:01.98] so it's really my honor and our honor to honor national service dog month so whereas

40:10.05] service dogs play a vital role in enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities

40:15.05] in our community both visible and invisible including visual impairments hearing impairments

40:22.47] mobility limitations autism post-traumatic stress disorder and seizure disorders and

40:29.89] now therefore the mayor and council of the city of Rockville Maryland do hereby proclaim

40:36.27] September 2026 as national service dog month in Rockville and earns all residents to celebrate

40:44.29] service dogs honor their invaluable role in the lives of those with disabilities and

40:50.24] respect the rights of the adults children and veterans who lead more independent lives

40:56.52] because of their assistance and with that Madam Mayor I move the proclamation aye and

41:07.65] I believe we have [name] to well I will present this proclamation to her and

41:13.99] she can say a few words and is [name] here all right this is Jennifer this is Makeda

41:32.23] she's seven months old and she is my sixth dog that I've trained as Barry said these

41:41.11] dogs mean the world to a lot of people many of us have pet dogs and and love them very

41:46.88] much but I will never hopefully know what it's like to need a dog and to have that

41:54.50] relationship where I depend on a dog or that dog saves my life so these dogs mean the world

42:01.64] to the people that they serve and there's a lot of volunteers out there like myself

42:06.88] who raise and train them through their first year year and a half before they go on to

42:11.87] more professional training we're always looking for more volunteers to puppy sit to help

42:18.35] us raise them and and get them to be respectable community members where they know how to behave

42:24.70] in public so that they can go on to further training and become an invaluable part of

42:29.66] someone's life so thank you all for honoring her and all of her little buddies today thank

43:17.81] you very much and we will take a brief break and we join at 6 30 want to thank my colleagues

43:24.21] and staff as well as all of you for coming out to help us commemorate these important

43:28.13] milestones and to celebrate achievements and each other we'll be back the evening Rockville

44:19.29] today is September 14 2026 and we are reconvening meeting 21 - 26 before we begin with the rest

44:28.01] of our agenda we wanted to take a moment to acknowledge a member of our Rockville family

44:32.58] who we recently lost I want to acknowledge the life and legacy of former Councilman

44:39.34] Beryl F Feinberg she was a dear friend and a dedicated public servant she served on Rockville

44:46.32] City Council from 2013 to 2023 and she also served for many years a Montgomery County

44:53.30] government supporting their budget office and she was a tireless advocate throughout

44:59.46] her entire life for seniors for children with disabilities for the LGBTQ+ community

45:06.15] as well as just overall fostering a welcoming and inclusive community we wanted to share

45:11.40] a brief video tribute for council member Beryl F Feinberg while we get the video may I acknowledge

46:14.78] her partner [name] he's also become a friend of mine and to the council and to

46:20.75] the city you guys were an incredible couple and would you like to share a few words welcome

46:30.85] [name] thank you ask the members of the council era loved her 10 years as a member

46:41.55] of this body she was a pragmatic visionary she had high expectations for the city and

46:48.58] for herself but she was also conscious of budget limitations the need to balance what

46:54.74] was desirable with what was fiscally possible she was a champion of serving people who had

47:03.18] been historically marginalized Beryl celebrated outreach and high quality services for people

47:11.15] who are unhoused people whose lives were affected by addiction seniors who need a vital gathering

47:18.65] place with top-notch programming she chaired the caregiver task force and was a fierce

47:25.73] advocate for emergency preparedness in the city as well as through the Maryland Municipal

47:31.91] League Beryl was critical of government systems that did not always consider the impact on

47:38.29] schools and public utilities when housing developments were proposed she viewed the

47:44.40] business community as the economic engine of the city Beryl was highly collaborative

47:51.81] and she also had strong convictions she was prepared for all debates and discussions she

47:59.56] did prodigious research and expressed her opinions and positions with strength and eloquence

48:08.00] thank you for your support during her four months of illness after the diagnosis of

48:13.67] pancreatic cancer was made in April we so appreciated the cards texts emails phone conversations

48:24.98] and tributes from the mayor and the council and colleagues and city government special

48:31.87] thanks to [name] and her colleagues for creating this outstanding video I am now

48:40.72] and will always be immensely proud of Beryl the fact that she was my partner for 52 years

48:47.70] for her advocacy integrity and action thank you thank you so much

49:27.81] yourselves here for remaining here and being a vital partner to the city of Rockville

49:35.16] in terms of economic development the city of Rockville honored Matty J.T. Stepanek for

49:44.90] his remarkable contributions to his community it's the willingness to look at our differences

49:51.02] celebrate our differences communicate with each other and respect one another the city

50:11.67] of Rockville is very proud of our multicultural tradition and we want to continue to actively

50:18.42] celebrate the diversity of our community thank you and now we'll take a brief moment of

50:47.64] silence thank you for taking some time to celebrate and honor the life of Beryl Feinberg

51:25.87] friend and a servant to the city we are a better city because of her also I want to

51:34.70] acknowledge those who served with her as well my colleagues up here and former council

51:40.08] member [name] and I see Mayor former Mayor Bridget Newton thank you for being

51:46.10] here as well we also want to remember a few other lives that were unfortunately cut too

52:01.91] short here in the city of Rockville we remember [name] she was a Rockville resident

52:08.62] who was tragically struck struck and killed while walking her four-year-old son at the

52:13.31] intersection of Twinbrook Parkway and Chapman Avenue her young son survived and our thoughts

52:19.09] are especially with him and all of [name]'s family as loved ones as they endure this unimaginable

52:25.18] loss this morning we also lost [name] a longtime Rockville resident he worked for

52:32.89] the city for more than 40 years and also served on the Rockville housing enterprise

52:37.41] board we send condolences to his family and a global icon we recognize Dolly Parton people

52:46.96] might ask what does Dolly Parton have to do with Rockville well she helped fund the

52:52.02] COVID vaccine and that was that clinical trial happened one of those and here in Rockville

52:59.46] she provided one million dollars of her own work on of her own funds for that in addition

53:05.22] she shared our love and compassion for LGBTQ+ communities she supported racial and ethnic

53:13.00] minorities she shed light on support importance of supporting teen mothers and others who

53:19.50] are often left at the margins she lived through philanthropy thank you for allowing us some

53:27.77] time to recognize the lives that were lost and our dear friends who have touched us and

53:33.74] made us a better place we're now going to move to agenda review miss [name]

53:49.62] Madam Mayor and council members there are no changes for the agenda this evening and

53:54.28] there are agendas in the back of the row thank you we'll now move to City Manager's

54:00.21] report Mr. Mahalik Mayor Ashton members of City Council ladies and gentlemen good evening

54:08.76] we have had unfortunately way too many vehicular a pedestrian conflicts only in the city limits

54:14.28] but also just outside so as an extension of our existing Vision Zero initiative we're

54:20.57] gonna be launching a brand new campaign it's about traffic and pedestrian safety we're

54:26.48] calling it simply it's up to us and the campaign really is going to reinforce a simple but

54:32.24] important message that everyone every single one of us plays a role in keeping Rockville's

54:37.43] streets safe doesn't matter whether we're driving walking rolling biking or taking

54:43.08] transit everyone has a responsibility to pay attention follow the rules of the road and

54:49.19] look out for one another I think that's the most important point and that's again to

54:52.83] look out for one another so this new campaign can it would be a saturation campaign we're

54:58.65] going to use some existing programming that we have we're going to dust that off and

55:01.93] push that out immediately in fact we started last week and then we're doing some additional

55:07.13] content as well it's going to be a saturation of social media Rockville 11 bulletins Rockville

55:14.40] report articles we'll do a special conversation with the mayor and council episode on this

55:20.14] initiative and also a conversations in Rockville podcasts that will include short term medium

55:26.60] term and long term goals it's really important for all of us to make sure that we're taking

55:32.03] care of one another in this space we're excited to launch that initiative secondarily

55:39.84] member Valeria kind of stole my thunder a little bit but it's a good thing we are I'm

55:44.58] going to really invite people to go to one of our last Rockville goes purple and national

55:50.03] recovery month events it is the filming of La Estrella it's a short film about Latino

55:55.67] families who are affected by counterfeit prescription pills it'll close out our discussion

56:01.00] this this this month the screening and panel discussion will be from six thirty to eight

56:06.61] thirty p.m. Wednesday September 30th at the F. [name] theater we have great

56:12.83] attendance so far but there's plenty of seats available I think people would really enjoy

56:16.98] and learn from watching the screening and even more enjoy the panel discussion that

56:21.37] will happen thereafter that's all I have here thank you so much thank you and we did

56:26.63] show earlier the next on training kit that we had just want to also remind folks that

56:32.99] there is another training on September 28th at 7 p.m. at the Rockville swimming fitness

56:37.61] center last week Rockville City police saved a life using it it is available at fire departments

56:44.63] at a police station but you too can get trained on it and have one so tree of hope has been

56:50.77] partnering on that training and come see us on September 28th at 7 we'll now move on

57:02.51] to community forum welcome Mark for Sheila thank you Madam Mayor and council members

57:17.44] I'm gonna talk about zoning and I'm speaking on my own behalf tonight as a follow-up to

57:23.24] the recently adopted zoning ordinance I would like to provide additional information on

57:27.64] the concept of a champion project this concept came up for discussion at both the Planning

57:32.59] Commission and an admirer mayor and council meeting I am the one who proposed the concept

57:37.67] of a champion project in a letter I sent to my mayor and council colleagues on May

57:41.37] 26 2016 for the Rockville Pike plan among its eligibility requirements is that it be

57:48.14] at least five contiguous acres in the South Pike area and if a developer chose to use

57:54.17] a champion project concept there would be a requirement for a 20% open space the reason

58:00.87] for the five acres and the 20% open space among other goals was to promote the idea

58:05.91] of developing neighborhoods through property acquisition instead of watching development

58:11.39] happen one building at a time on June 6 2016 the mayor and council and sort of champion

58:17.21] project idea into the Rockville Pike plan with a few changes notably the requirement

58:22.27] for open spaces dropped to 15% Rockville Pike plan was adopted on August 1 2016 the

58:29.41] idea of creating new neighborhoods is my key motivation for champion projects the

58:34.35] BFS all company quickly use the idea of a champion project for his twin brick quarter

58:38.79] plan an additional necessary counterpart for BFS all was the adoption of a developer rights

58:45.13] and the responsibility agreement known as a DRR a this is a contract between the developer

58:50.78] and the city and gives the development certain guarantees and responsibilities guiding us

58:56.48] of belt ability to develop geographically the DRR a is defined as the boundaries of

59:02.69] the champion project area twin brick quarter the concept of a champion project can be

59:08.02] applied other parts of the city but the eligibility criteria requirements would have to be modified

59:13.24] to fit the area but let us think more broadly that is the idea of a plan development these

59:19.20] went out with the 2009 zoning ordinance were briefly allowed in the transition to the recent

59:25.28] zor adoption but are now out again but why falls grove king farm and newmark comments

59:31.47] are examples of plan developments among many others in the city these are outstanding neighborhoods

59:37.60] my recollection of the 2009 zor process is that plan developments were not liked by

59:43.59] certain neighborhoods because of their size as you take up the Rockville Pike plan I

59:49.36] urge this mayor and council to consider expanding the idea of champion projects into full blown

59:55.24] plan developments and to allow these back into the zoning ordinance this could be

60:00.00] a key tool in encouraging the quick provision of housing. Thank you. Thank you very much. We now

60:08.57] welcome [name]. Please state your name. Please state where you live in the city of Rockville.

60:14.72] Yeah, I live in, my name is [name]. I live in the city of Rockville. Okay, sorry, one minute.

60:25.63] Oh wait, that was.... You have three minutes. I have three minutes, yeah. Let's go for it. Sorry, I don't know why it's not loaded. It's okay. Don't you love Google Drive? I love technology. It's really nice.

60:42.83] If you want to speak from the heart, you could also email it to us. No pressure. Yeah, I don't think I'm very good at that, to be honest. Okay, cool. I'm good now.

60:59.41] Good evening, Council Member and Mayor Ashton. I'm here today to ask that you implement Rank Choice Voting in the upcoming election.

61:07.55] So let's take a look at our neighbors in Tacoma Park whose City Council adopted this in 2006 and implemented it in 2007.

61:16.09] According to Tacoma Park's website, Rank Choice Voting offers many benefits, like allowing voters to rank their preferred candidate first without having to worry that doing so would help elect a less preferred candidate.

61:28.47] In addition, RCV allowed for encouraging more positive and inclusive campaigns as candidates have an incentive to appeal to voters beyond their core supporters to get a second, third, or fourth ranking.

61:42.11] In addition, being forced to appeal to everyone means expanding the electorate to younger people like myself who may not be as politically tapped in, although I'm pretty politically tapped in.

61:52.05] This is a great opportunity to get younger folks excited about local politics, and I know the Rockville City Council is always working hard to try to expand the numbers of voters.

62:01.24] I've seen that, especially with how in 2023, Rockville implemented a vote-by-mail election which has increased the number of voters.

62:08.73] Now, the primary issue is getting more voters to register to vote. So there are actually studies on RCV that show that Rank Choice Voting jurisdictions are 17% more likely to turn out for non-RCV jurisdictions, according to a 2024 study.

62:25.72] By the way, I can send you all the studies later. It also turns out that youth turned out in RCV voting cities was higher than non-RCV cities, according to a 2021 study.

62:36.88] So these studies all say that if we want to get more people, especially younger people, to come out and vote in Rockville City elections, we need to implement Rank Choice Voting effective immediately.

62:47.77] Do keep in mind that the average age in Rockville is between 39 and 39.6 years old. Millennials are between the ages of 30 and 45, so not trying to target them to come out and vote would be a mistake.

63:01.44] I do find it a little bit disappointing that this isn't on the agenda and no one as far as I'm aware has made it a point to bring this up as an issue for 2027.

63:10.97] In essence, it really takes taking the Tacoma Parks RCV voting bill, maybe changing some things up and making it fit our election and implementing it.

63:23.50] I understand that there is some admin work that needs to be done, and I know you all are working very hard,

63:28.10] but I think this will be very well worth implementing now rather than waiting for the next election where it will be a whole new city council.

63:36.42] So to be honest, we don't know about the future, so why not implement it now?

63:40.04] We've seen Greenbelt on their ballot measure in 2025 vote 67 percent in favor of RCV.

63:46.81] I hope Rockville can join Tacoma Park in implementing RCV. Thank you.

63:51.54] Thank you. I should also note just something new in our city hall.

63:59.39] We have a more inclusive podium, and so if you need to raise it or elevate it, you can.

64:05.84] And we hope that it works out well. Thank you.

64:09.53] Thank you for to the residents who help provide input.

64:11.93] Mr. Mahalik wants anything else about it. OK, thank you. All right.

64:16.77] Now we welcome [name]. Good evening, mayor and council members.

64:29.05] My name is [name]. I am the deputy director for ranked choice voting Maryland.

64:33.89] And I'm here to provide just a brief comment ahead of your work session on city elections.

64:38.75] Our recommendation is that you keep the keep moving forward ranked choice voting

64:44.16] so the city is ready for by the twenty thirty one elections.

64:48.74] The conversation on RCV has been ongoing since the charter review committee recommended the city

64:54.42] consider ranked choice voting, which I believe was back in twenty twenty two.

64:57.72] And since the summer when the election reform process began, I've seen residents speaking up on the issue.

65:04.64] And I've seen how residents have been really happy to learn of your support for implementing ranked choice voting

65:10.30] and express some disappointment that the city won't be ready in time for the twenty twenty seven elections

65:17.24] but are excited about the prospect of using ranked choice voting as soon as possible.

65:21.49] So we respectfully ask that during the work session you find a way to keep the ball moving forward,

65:27.03] whether that is including some language forward looking language in the code or some other official action.

65:33.92] We also want to thank the city staff and board of supervisors of elections for taking such great care

65:39.07] to recommend thoughtful updates to the city elections.

65:42.27] Democracy is truly an ongoing project that needs all of us to keep alive and grow.

65:47.87] And we will continue to do voter education efforts and provide support to you all.

65:53.71] However, you need throughout this process.

65:55.58] I look forward to the work session. Thank you. Thank you.

65:58.17] Welcome, [name] back.

66:04.44] Good evening, Madam Mayor and Rockville City Council.

66:07.16] My name is [name]. I live at Granite Avenue in the city of Rockville.

66:11.26] And I'm here as the chair of the Rockville Bicycle Advisory Committee.

66:15.30] I spoke to the room earlier and this time I wanted to formally invite the city council to our event in Town Square on September the 27th.

66:22.11] We're having our second family bike festival in partnership with WABBA and bike shops around the area.

66:27.53] We're going to have interesting bike demonstrations, a balanced bike parade, kids decorating,

66:32.45] some community organizations going to be speaking with people.

66:35.71] We're going to have an opportunity for anybody to speak.

66:38.23] I'm going to have some audio equipment.

66:39.35] So if you want to say a couple of words to people at the event,

66:41.35] we would appreciate that as well.

66:43.00] So we'd love to see you there at the family bike festival on September the 27th, Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.

66:49.08] Thank you. Thank you very much.

66:52.67] That exhaust the list of those who signed up in advance.

66:55.43] If anyone else would like to speak, please raise your hand.

66:58.19] And I'll also note there is a public hearing later.

67:00.87] So if you want to hold for public hearing for the topic we'll be discussing, we will call that at its time.

67:06.69] Welcome. Please state your name, whether you live in the city of Rockville.

67:10.01] Hello, my name is [name]. I live in the city of Rockville. Good evening, mayor and council members.

67:15.65] Wonderful to to be in front of you this evening.

67:18.57] I'm going to be here for another reason.

67:20.61] Otherwise, I would have dressed up in my period guard today to invite you to Rockville Cemetery.

67:26.00] So while the rest of the country is celebrating 250 years, we are celebrating 300 years at Rockville Cemetery.

67:33.45] Christ's Episcopal Church is going to be having a 300th year celebration on Sunday,

67:39.72] September 20th, starting at 10 a.m.

67:43.52] For those of you who have attended parties at Rockville Cemetery, you know not to miss this one.

67:51.55] I want to extend the invitation.

67:53.47] We're going to roll out the green carpet for all of you from Christ Episcopal Church.

67:59.28] [name] will be giving a sermon starting at 10 a.m.

68:02.44] He's going to have the pulpit from the old church from the early 1800s.

68:08.61] We're going to be doing an unveiling of a plaque commemorating 300 years.

68:13.49] We're doing that with the Rockville Chamber of Commerce.

68:16.02] And we're going to have Rockville Cemetery volunteers dressed in period garb talking about the history of the cemetery.

68:23.91] So please come one, come all. Thank you.

68:27.16] Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to speak?

68:37.66] My name is [name]. And as of Wednesday, I guess I will no longer be a Rockville resident.

68:51.61] Every single member of this city's council has been extremely vocal about the mold situation over in Wooten High School,

69:00.25] citing that kids are there for more than eight hours a day exposed to mold, roaches and rodents.

69:07.86] Families are living in those kind of conditions 24 hours a day, 365 days a year over in the fields of Rockville.

69:17.12] I haven't heard anything from any of you about that.

69:20.58] Is it a concern for Wooten because it's a rich neighborhood or maybe because your son goes there?

69:26.59] I want to know where the outrage for my family and the other families living in the toxic conditions over in fields of Rockville is.

69:34.56] People are being poisoned in their homes and you all are silent.

69:37.39] I've provided all of you with the proof of the toxic mold in the building at the fields of Rockville, which I have with me if anybody wants to see it.

69:44.81] I'm willing to share it with anyone and everyone.

69:47.57] Mr. City Manager, you said in June that you addressed all of my issues and were in complete compliance with the Maryland mold law.

69:57.08] That couldn't be further from the truth.

69:59.02] The mold law went into effect July 1st, 2025 and states that it could be triggered simply by a renter reporting a musty smell.

70:07.83] My complaints were more than that.

70:09.56] I have the trap with the termites and the vial of sludge for my toilet, if you would like to see it.

70:14.30] [name] from Rockville City Landlord Tenant Department sent me an email on 11/25/25 assuring me that my unit was safe to return to and all tests indicated that it was free and clear of mold.

70:29.06] My family was forced back into that apartment Thanksgiving and despite me making further complaints to the city.

70:36.15] They know. Oh, oh, I guess you're not paying attention to me anymore.

70:40.57] Even though I made further complaints to the city, even though I made further complaints to the city, they were ignored.

70:48.35] Four months later and still without help, I paid for another professional mold test.

70:53.24] As you all know, because you were copied on the email, it still shows black mold and indicates that there is still mold growing behind the walls.

71:00.89] I'm pretty sure that makes you about 10 months out of compliance.

71:04.56] All of you have been made well aware of the current state of that complex when I sent the email with the updated test results to which I was ignored.

71:12.63] Fields of Rockville is a health hazard to the community.

71:15.50] You guys made it a low income property and I can't help but wonder if the income caps, the income caps over there are geared specifically to filling the building with people that can't afford to fight back.

71:26.53] I know what I've been left with is go get a lawyer.

71:31.08] I'm a disabled single mom of two. I can't afford a lawyer.

71:34.69] I guess that means the laws only protect me if I can afford a lawyer, which I find to be pretty absurd.

71:42.34] That doesn't seem right.

71:43.38] Last year, our lives, belongings, lastly, our lives, belongings are scheduled to be put on the street on Wednesday because I can't afford a lawyer.

71:50.66] And the city refuses to help you very much.

71:52.74] I just wonder if the sheriff and the moving company that's there to perform the the eviction.

71:57.46] Thank you very much.

71:58.26] We appreciate your testimony.

71:59.94] They are entering and that this knows about it and says nothing.

72:03.44] Thank you very much.

72:07.30] Thank you for your testimony.

72:10.49] Thank you.

72:11.90] Appreciate your testimony.

72:13.31] Is there anyone else who would like to speak?

72:16.06] Welcome.

72:18.94] Mr. Mahalik, did you want to say something?

72:27.74] Okay.

72:30.00] Good evening, Madam Mayor and council members.

72:38.33] I am a Rockville resident.

72:41.39] In fact, indeed, a couple of you have seen me where I resided, the David School Courts,

72:47.74] which looks so much better than it used to with the new paved parking lot.

72:53.74] Thank you very much for your guys support on that work on that.

72:58.14] I have an issue I was working with the code enforcement on.

73:06.37] I won't name any particular code enforcement person.

73:11.10] But bordering the David School property, there's another commercial property.

73:19.52] And there's a lot of trash there.

73:22.40] I have pictures.

73:23.83] I don't know if I am allowed to pass these to you guys.

73:29.55] Okay.

73:31.77] I think yes.

73:36.93] And the thing is, what prompted this was that a lot of the children,

73:43.10] there's a lot of children there.

73:45.64] And I was getting ready to sort of coax them or convince them that not littering is good.

73:57.92] It's good not to just drop your trash anywhere.

74:01.14] And then I remembered that they walk by a bunch of trash every day walking to school.

74:12.45] And they can see that people litter there right on their path to school.

74:20.55] And so I was thinking of the children they learned by demonstration what they see.

74:29.36] So I figured maybe I should start asking the council.

74:35.90] I did make a little headway.

74:37.99] I'm going to send you some pictures, but it used to be really bad.

74:41.98] I mean, there was actually the trash halfway covered and blocked half of the sidewalk

74:48.67] that these children had to walk around and work with code enforcement.

74:53.90] They got the owner to do something, but it was very half measured type.

75:02.05] And it's still really bad.

75:04.75] And it borders the [name] property.

75:09.72] And so it's, I don't know, maybe it's, I don't think I would see this anywhere else.

75:17.85] Maybe this is a environmental equality issue.

75:22.30] But anyways, thank you for your time.

75:25.90] And I will find out who I need to send these pictures to you.

75:30.62] Thank you for your time.

75:31.58] Thank you.

75:31.90] We'll have a staff member in the back.

75:33.02] We can get you an email.

75:34.38] And if we can get the locations, we can help follow up.

75:36.96] Thank you.

75:37.80] Is there anyone else who would like to speak?

75:41.17] I'm going to take advantage of lifting this up.

75:51.78] Hi, I'm [name].

75:52.66] I'm the president of Rockwell's Sister Cities Corporation.

75:55.06] And very quickly, I just wanted to make sure to take this opportunity to say

75:58.58] the Bubble Tea Festival is this Saturday, which is an annual event that celebrates

76:02.34] Taiwanese culture and honor of our sister city in Elon City.

76:06.18] It's become quite a regional affair, not just in Rockville.

76:09.46] But we're very proud to be the sponsors and hosts here in Rockville.

76:13.05] And we thank the city for all the collaboration we've had with the departments

76:16.49] in the PIO getting information out and events making Gibb Street available to us,

76:20.25] which gives us the room to expand.

76:22.73] Last year, we were the biggest single day event in the city.

76:25.69] And I think if the weather holds, because it is outdoors,

76:29.85] we may bring in even more than that this year.

76:31.93] So it's from 10 o'clock to 4 o'clock on Saturday.

76:35.85] We'll have 21 vendors, mostly food and bubble tea drinks and other

76:40.73] cultural and community groups that are involved all spread out.

76:45.21] Trader Joe's is participating with us this year.

76:47.61] We're trying to make a map of all the local businesses to encourage people

76:51.37] to recognize those and find out what they do and come back and patronize them.

76:57.11] But it's a good time.

76:58.07] And you can come anytime during that period of open public visitation from 10 to 4.

77:01.91] We hope to see all of the mayor and council around noon.

77:04.87] We'll get you all up on stage that are there.

77:07.43] And we'll have continuous stage performances

77:09.59] at the Gazebo and Town Center throughout that.

77:11.75] So it's a good time.

77:12.63] And yeah, please come on up.

77:14.15] Thank you.

77:14.69] Thank you very much.

77:15.74] I'm not seeing any additional hands.

77:21.03] Mr. Mahalik, did you have something?

77:23.03] Okay.

77:23.51] Hello.

77:26.92] And I'll be brief.

77:28.44] My name is [name].

77:29.32] I do live in Rockville, just a short walk away, actually.

77:32.67] And I came to voice my support for ranked choice voting.

77:35.75] And there are a lot of reasons that you can look up

77:39.65] or the people apparently are going to send you and all that.

77:41.33] But I think one of the main reasons that I supported,

77:44.59] especially on a local level, is because when there's a party skew in a certain direction,

77:52.25] there ends up with a lot of complacency,

77:54.41] especially by the time you get to the general election.

77:56.73] The election is kind of already over.

77:58.53] The primary ends up being the general election

78:01.37] because it previews everything that comes later.

78:05.47] So having the ability to rank will give additional voice

78:10.88] or additional opportunities to voices that are not as well heard.

78:14.65] And people can vote for and it will force people to actually think

78:20.09] about who they're voting for, as opposed to just voting the party line,

78:23.92] which I would be very excited about.

78:26.53] So that's it.

78:27.90] Thank you.

78:28.51] Okay.

78:31.13] Last call for any other community forum members.

78:34.24] Thank you for all of your testimony.

78:36.24] Mr. Mahalik.

78:37.02] Thank you, Mayor.

78:40.29] I don't want to get in the habit of creating a venue where we have dialogue

78:46.03] of dispute or disagreement between residents and city staff.

78:50.24] But every now and then, when a resident says something that's just simply untrue,

78:55.90] or more importantly attack very hardworking, very well-intentioned city staff,

79:01.42] then it's really important for me to speak up.

79:02.97] And that's what I'm going to do right now.

79:05.14] We are in full compliance with the state's mold law.

79:09.15] We always have been since the first day I was adopted.

79:12.16] We've been out to the fields on numerous occasions, both our housing team,

79:17.21] our inspectors, members of the city manager's office, et cetera,

79:21.15] routinely regularly making sure that that property is in full compliance.

79:26.69] We've probably been out to that site in that particular unit,

79:29.95] more so than any other unit over the past couple of years.

79:33.41] So I want folks to know that the mere thought that

79:37.18] we've been ignoring this situation, nothing could be further for the truth.

79:40.89] And I'm happy to share emails with anybody.

79:43.84] What we have now in the unit that's been brought up for discussion

79:48.54] is really a dispute between the property owner and the tenant.

79:52.77] The tenant did leave a number of their personal belongings in the unit.

79:57.12] Then they also vacated the unit, did not take their personal belongings with them,

80:03.19] then decided not to pay electricity bill, which means the electricity was turned off

80:07.81] and there was no air circulation throughout the unit, which created some challenges there.

80:12.32] That's where it stands today.

80:14.37] So it is a dispute between the property owner and the tenant.

80:18.24] We've talked to the property owner and said that unit should not be occupied.

80:23.27] It is not occupied now.

80:24.86] And we want to allow anybody to occupy that unit till city staff goes back in,

80:29.82] does a re-inspection to make sure it meets all applicable locals and state codes.

80:35.08] So please know we've done everything in compliance with state law, city code,

80:39.58] and we've gone above and beyond to make sure that that property is safe.

80:42.53] Thank you, Mayor.

80:43.23] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate the clarification.

80:46.99] I just also want to note we do have an enhanced inspection program.

80:50.95] And I just want to make sure that folks have the number 240-314-8300.

80:56.26] And if there are any code enforcement or concerns,

80:59.59] you can reach out to our and file a landlord tenant code complaint.

81:05.88] It's [email protected].

81:09.00] And they can also direct you to the appropriate code enforcement folks.

81:12.23] Thank you.

81:12.93] Okay, we'll now move on to the special presentation.

81:18.58] We are going to hear from the Transportation and Mobility Commission.

81:21.46] And they're going to share their annual report with us.

81:23.71] Welcome [name], Principal Transportation Planner of Public Works.

81:43.45] Good evening, Mayor and Council.

81:47.68] My name is [name].

81:48.88] I'm a Principal Transportation Planner with the Department of Public Works.

81:52.06] I'm also the staff liaison for the Transportation and Mobility Commission.

81:56.65] Allow me to introduce to you [name],

81:58.57] who's going to provide the Transportation and Mobility Commission's annual report this evening.

82:02.65] I'm also here with us is [name], Chair of the Commission.

82:06.72] And with that, I'm going to pass it on to Mike.

82:08.51] So thank you.

82:10.44] Welcome, thank you.

82:11.56] Good evening, Madam Mayor.

82:12.52] Good evening, members of the Council.

82:14.52] My name is [name].

82:16.28] I am resident of Rockville.

82:18.76] And I am a Commissioner on the Transportation and Mobility Commission.

82:22.28] We are a group of volunteer residents with an interest in transportation issues

82:29.12] across multiple modes, be it cars, biking, walking, transit, the sort of whole gamut.

82:38.09] I am a regular Commissioner.

82:39.85] [name], our Chair, is here.

82:43.05] If I go a little too astray, I suppose.

82:47.17] But no, I wanted to share what we have done over the last year.

82:53.02] What we are continuing to work on to offer our invitation to continue to work with you.

83:01.33] And just to reinforce the values and sort of guideposts that inform our work.

83:11.68] So some of the concrete things we've done over the last year.

83:15.62] One area where we do have at administrative capacity is evaluation

83:20.26] of residential parking permits, applications.

83:23.94] And we actually did have one of those last year on Crab Avenue.

83:27.60] We did decide to keep it as it's currently zoned.

83:32.59] But we did have a very healthy consideration of both merits of residents, local businesses.

83:41.24] And we really did put a lot of thought and you took our responsibility seriously there.

83:48.06] This was fun. We went through, analyzed, and provided recommendations for all of the

83:55.48] transportation-related and Rockville-related bills coming up before the state legislature

84:01.24] last year.

84:01.97] And we passed those on and we hope those were helpful.

84:07.26] We also provided comments and recommendations for the Chapter 25 Zoning Ordinance Update.

84:14.07] And we've had an ongoing effort to provide guidance and commentary on

84:23.09] T-intersection crossings throughout the city.

84:27.71] So that's kind of what we've been working on.

84:31.45] [name], we go to the next slide.

84:33.82] Right, so sort of our guiding principles.

84:39.80] And I might bounce around a little bit in order here.

84:44.19] As a transportation professional, my opinion is that safety is the bedrock for everything we do.

84:52.32] People need to be safe in their communities.

84:55.10] They need to be safe to conduct commerce.

84:59.39] The transportation system I've always said is, in terms of all the issues we talk about,

85:05.77] it's sometimes in the background, but it's really the connective tissue,

85:11.39] the sort of neural network that connects so many other aspects of our lives.

85:16.49] And it's critical.

85:18.96] And our dedication as a commission to help our community with these issues is apparent,

85:27.02] I think, and your guys' commitment to keeping our city at the forefront and safe,

85:36.07] I think is also very important.

85:38.81] I mentioned multimodal in my opening.

85:43.58] We're not just talking about roads.

85:46.08] We don't meet every month and just talk about,

85:48.48] okay, how can we get the pike a little better?

85:52.84] We think about personal vehicles.

85:56.40] We think about pedestrians, bikes, transit,

86:00.20] and how they all sort of work in concert.

86:02.84] Each one of these modes and considerations requires different types of infrastructure,

86:08.67] different design standards.

86:10.51] And they all have to work in unison for a smooth experience for travelers of all shapes and sizes.

86:21.47] So I already talked about safety.

86:23.91] I think we're all committed to Vision Zero accessibility.

86:30.91] Sort of mentioned that with the sort of T intersection work we're doing.

86:36.77] We want our city to be enjoyable for not just the young, spry, able-bodied folks.

86:46.68] We're not much of anything as a challenge.

86:49.00] We want our entire community to be able to enjoy all of our events, all of our amenities.

86:54.84] And we don't want that to be a hassle in their everyday life.

86:59.82] So we, I think as a community, are very committed to that.

87:03.00] And I know we as a commission are very committed to that.

87:09.56] And I think community sort of brings together sort of all those considerations I've talked about.

87:16.40] Just making sure that our transportation system just enables the best lives for all of our residents.

87:24.16] Next slide, [name].

87:31.26] Future topics.

87:33.65] I think this is one area where I think I'm comfortable offering,

87:38.83] we're at your service, working with [name] and the planning team and Public Works.

87:47.42] Our job and what we volunteered to do is to get together,

87:51.67] offer our perspective on behalf of the community and try to provide our service that way.

88:00.34] So if you guys have anything transportation related, please come to us.

88:08.20] Later in the presentation, I'll remind everyone it's Fourth Tuesdays every month.

88:13.24] And of course, Council Member Valeri works very closely with us as our

88:18.74] dedicated liaison from the Council.

88:23.30] So thank you.

88:24.58] Thank you, Council Member.

88:26.85] And in terms of other things that we have coming up,

88:31.81] I'll share my personal perspective that my day job, I work in the intelligent transportation.

88:39.90] And I think that, you know, working with [name], working with Public Works,

88:46.82] I think that there are a lot of things that we could do in that area.

88:53.31] Not just, I mean, step one is sort of educating what exactly does that mean.

88:57.52] I won't bore everyone here right now, but there are a lot of technological innovations,

89:03.11] even starting at a small scale and at a local small city level like us,

89:09.68] that I think could really reinforce all of those values that we talked about earlier.

89:15.73] So happy to work with you guys on that.

89:19.97] Yeah, we're continuing to provide comments and review on a comprehensive transportation review.

89:29.50] So I'm going there.

89:31.73] And yeah, we are also working, and this goes back to safety and accessibility.

89:42.40] If everyone's not aware, the city is currently undergoing a multi-year

89:47.46] asphalt rehabilitation effort where we're doing all the streets, basically.

89:53.81] And we're taking that opportunity.

89:56.05] We've been advocating for taking that opportunity to upgrade our intersections,

90:02.98] our sidewalk, you know, infrastructure up to current federal guidance.

90:08.75] Because a lot of this infrastructure is decades old. It was not built to the same standard.

90:16.46] The latest and greatest standard is something called ProWag,

90:19.71] which is the public right-of-way guidelines.

90:22.18] And we've been really advocating for that to be our standard.

90:26.17] We're tearing up these roads anyway.

90:28.44] Let's take the time to do it right.

90:31.67] So that's sort of where we are now and moving a little into the future.

90:37.55] I think, [name], we can go to the next slide.

90:40.41] Yes, our meetings are fourth Tuesday every month.

90:45.63] We start at 7 p.m. It is a public forum.

90:48.79] Everyone's welcome to join and provide their feedback.

90:53.85] Next slide, [name].

90:55.55] Thank you.

91:01.45] Excellent presentation.

91:02.78] Thank you so much.

91:03.34] Thank you so very much.

91:04.14] We appreciate all the work of the Transportation and Mobility Commission.

91:08.14] Also appreciate that you work collaboratively with our PAC and our back on pedestrian and bike safety.

91:14.37] We appreciate all your advocacy and the ideas you share with us.

91:17.89] Thank you, Madam Mayor.

91:18.69] Thank you, Council.

91:19.57] Thank you.

91:20.51] Okay, we have several items on consent.

91:29.41] I'll read them, and then we'll discuss next steps.

91:33.02] Consent Agenda Item 9A, award and authorize the City Manager to execute a contract

91:39.08] responsive for bids 3826 for David Scull Park improvements.

91:44.30] This is for a 12-month term of about 1.116 million dollars,

91:51.64] and this is to help improve the park in the east side of the city.

91:56.00] B is authorization for the City Manager to execute a right of entry agreement

92:01.15] with the property owner of Astor Boulevard due to construction impacts,

92:05.14] and this is to support the Senior Center Entrance Project on West Goudy to help

92:09.46] residents of northern and western part of our city access it more efficiently.

92:14.97] C is authorization for the City Manager to execute the Federal Aid Project guidelines

92:21.22] and working supplemental agreement with the Maryland Department of Transportation,

92:24.74] State Highway Administration, for the Twin Brook Bikeshare project

92:28.50] under the carbon reduction program.

92:30.18] So this supports environmental as well as our Vision Zero efforts.

92:34.38] D, adoption of a resolution to support the Bird City Maryland Initiative and World Migratory Bird Day.

92:41.11] E, authorization for the City Manager to execute Amendment 1 to the Memorandum of Understanding

92:47.50] between the City of Rockville and the Maryland State Highway Administration

92:50.91] in continued partnership in implementing stormwater projects throughout Rockville,

92:55.46] and F would be the approval of minutes for July 27, 2026, as well as August 3, 2026.

93:02.19] Colleagues, let's say you.

93:04.61] Can we move all or do you have any questions?

93:07.07] Okay, if not, we'll entertain an option to move.

93:10.81] Councilmember Valeri.

93:13.40] Madam Mayor, I move to approve consent agenda items A, B, C, D, E,

93:20.67] and F.

93:21.47] Thank you.

93:21.93] Do we have a second?

93:22.73] Councilmember Shaw seconds.

93:23.93] All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye.

93:26.25] Aye.

93:26.78] Dr. Miles.

93:28.60] May I make a brief comment about consent agenda item nine?

93:32.69] So you just wanted to say great job to the City in securing those matching funds

93:37.21] to bring more bike share stations and access to Twin Brook.

93:40.63] That's all.

93:41.28] Thank you.

93:43.84] We'll now move on to our public hearing.

93:46.24] Public hearing item agenda 10A, on sexual map amendments, map 2026-127,

93:54.24] to rezone property by Martin's Lane from R60 to R60HD,

94:00.40] to place the property in the historic district zone.

94:03.57] Welcome [name] and [name] from the community planning and development services department.

94:10.72] Thank you, Madam Mayor.

94:14.39] Good evening, Madam Mayor, members of the Council.

94:16.87] I am [name].

94:17.91] I'm a principal planner here at the City.

94:20.55] And this is sectional map amendment 2026-127 for a historic designation of 24 Martin's Lane.

94:27.36] So I just want to start by going over the historic designation process.

94:38.06] So the first step is the historic district commission or the HDC conducts an evaluation

94:43.34] of significance to determine if the criteria are met.

94:46.54] And then they recommend the historic designation.

94:49.81] Staff then applies for a sectional map amendment to apply the historic district overlay zone

94:55.17] to the property based on the HDC's determination.

94:58.56] And then the planning commission reviews the sectional map amendment application

95:03.23] and makes their recommendation to the Mayor and Council.

95:06.11] So we are now at the final step of the process,

95:08.94] which is the Mayor and Council holding a public hearing

95:11.50] and taking action to designate the property or dismiss the request.

95:16.18] So going back to that first step, the HDC evaluation of significance.

95:24.97] On June 18th, the HDC conducted their evaluation of significance

95:29.93] and determined that the property at 24 Martin's Lane

95:33.13] met the City's adopted designation criteria

95:36.09] and therefore recommended to the Mayor and Council for historic designation.

95:40.17] That criteria includes the historic significance criteria shown on the screen here

95:44.97] and also architectural design and landscape criteria.

95:52.95] Then on July 22nd, the planning commission found

95:55.83] that the historic designation of 24 Martin's Lane,

95:59.11] one conforms with the purposes of the historic district overlay zone

96:02.87] and two is consistent with the City's comprehensive plan.

96:09.34] So getting into the property itself, 24 Martin's Lane

96:14.85] is located on a narrow but deep internal lot.

96:18.29] The legal lot lines are shown on the aerial image here.

96:21.61] And as you can see, it doesn't have direct frontage on Martin's Lane,

96:24.81] but it does have a pipe stem on the eastern side of the property

96:27.69] that extends out to Martin's Lane and has the frontage there.

96:31.52] And the property is accessed via a drive or alley on the west side of the home.

96:36.93] So here we have the building itself. The home on the property is commonly

96:46.70] referred to as the Powell [name] House.

96:49.02] It's a two and a half story vernacular style home

96:52.06] and it's estimated to have been built sometime between 1892 and 1909.

96:56.99] So the photo on the left is showing the home in 1988, the front or eastern facade.

97:03.26] And then the photo on the right is showing the home as it currently stands today.

97:07.49] So as you can see, the home is in severe disrepair.

97:10.61] We have the door to the screen porch is falling off

97:13.33] and there's some overgrowth of ivy on the house.

97:16.41] And then here we have the rear or western facade of the home,

97:22.71] again showing it in 1988 on the left and in 2026 on the right.

97:27.68] And the home is actually enlarged in the 1920s

97:30.71] with an L-shaped kitchen wing, which was added onto the rear.

97:34.91] And again, you can see here there's extensive damage on the rear of the home.

97:38.03] The roof is collapsing in large areas and there's some missing windows as well.

97:42.88] And then finally, we have the north and south facades of the home

97:49.70] and both of these photos are showing the home in 2026.

97:53.14] So this is as it currently stands today.

97:55.89] And again, you can just see the deteriorating condition of the home.

97:59.25] There's some damage siding, some overgrowth and some more missing windows.

98:03.74] And we do have a structural report from 2022,

98:07.36] which determined that the home is currently uninhabitable.

98:10.49] So getting into some of the historic significance of this property,

98:19.08] especially the family and neighborhood history.

98:21.88] The map on the left is showing the Hays High Martins Lane Historic District.

98:27.00] And other parts of this area are designated, including Martins Lane,

98:31.24] but this property Martins Lane is not currently designated.

98:35.41] So the Hays High community is one of the earliest black communities in Rockville.

98:39.60] It was first established by [name],

98:41.76] and it traces back to formerly enslaved people on the Bell property.

98:45.95] And these lands were actually deeded from the Bell family,

98:48.96] originally.

98:49.85] And then the 1916 map on the right shows the distinct geographic areas

98:55.24] of the Martins Lane District,

98:57.27] which includes the original [name] homestead.

99:01.46] And that's outlined in red and that does include Martins Lane.

99:06.94] And 24 Martins did remain in the same family

99:10.53] and its descendants for several generations until 2023.

99:17.20] So staff recommend that the mayor and council

99:22.62] hold a public hearing on map amendment 2026,

99:25.50] 127 to rezone the property at Martins Lane from R6C to R6C HD,

99:31.61] which would apply the historic district overlay zone to the property.

99:35.39] Thank you very much.

99:40.27] And I appreciate there's more details in the condition of property

99:43.23] as well as very extensive information on the important history as well.

99:47.47] So thank you for that information.

99:49.98] We'll now open to the public hearing.

99:52.61] We have several folks who have signed up in advance.

99:56.03] I'm going to call you by name.

99:58.31] Please feel free to correct any mispronunciations

[100:01.60] and say whether you live in the city of Rockville.

[100:03.44] You'll each be given three.

[100:04.64] You'll be given three minutes.

[100:06.90] If you're an organization, please let us know.

[100:09.72] Okay, so first we have [name].

[100:12.54] Are you an organization?

[100:20.83] I'm the owner, representative.

[100:23.40] Okay, yes.

[100:24.96] Sorry.

[100:31.58] Good evening, Mayor Ashton and members of the council.

[100:35.66] My name is [name].

[100:37.34] I'm with Pavilion Real Estate.

[100:39.02] And I'm here as the authorized representative.

[100:42.94] [name], the owner of Martins Lane on behalf of NRHQ.

[100:50.09] I respectfully ask you to deny the map 2026-127.

[100:58.37] NRHQ has submitted detailed written oppositions further.

[101:04.35] So rather than repeating that letter,

[101:06.43] I want to focus on what the city's own record actually says.

[101:10.56] First, briefly, who is NRHQ?

[101:14.69] NRHQ did not purchase this property as a developer

[101:18.82] looking to tear down a historic family home.

[101:21.92] NRHQ was the lender.

[101:25.73] The property was sold from one family member to another one

[101:29.95] who had plans for development.

[101:31.99] A family dispute followed.

[101:34.14] The borrower ultimately defaulted

[101:36.63] and the property reverted to NRHQ through the foreclosure process.

[101:41.28] And NRHQ was caught in the middle of a dispute it did not create.

[101:46.29] And let me be clear at the onset.

[101:49.98] Nobody is disputing the importance of the history

[101:52.87] of the Haytai and Martins Lane community.

[101:54.95] We respect that history.

[101:56.55] But there is a fundamental difference

[101:58.13] between preserving the history of a community

[102:00.45] and permanently designating this particular structure

[102:03.74] and parcel as historic.

[102:06.21] I think that distinction matters.

[102:08.52] And it's gotten lost in the process.

[102:11.04] The applicant before you tonight is the historic district commission.

[102:15.06] But the city's own professional historic preservation staff

[102:18.53] recommended against designation of this property,

[102:21.69] specifically because of the severe neglect of the property

[102:25.24] and its lack of integrity.

[102:27.29] That is significant because the city's own definition

[102:30.63] of a historic resource states that the physical resource

[102:33.83] must retain their integrity and defines integrity

[102:39.12] as the authenticity of a property's historic identity,

[102:43.10] evidenced by the survival of physical characteristics

[102:46.97] that existed during its historic period.

[102:50.19] The structural evidence goes further.

[102:52.87] The engineer report concluded that most of the structural members

[102:56.23] have collapsed or rotten,

[102:58.15] that the property cannot be repaired or restored

[103:01.62] in its present condition.

[103:03.20] And that structural should be entirely demolished.

[103:08.19] Planning staff acknowledged that full restoration

[103:12.02] and rehabilitation is not probable.

[103:15.04] And that designation could result in a structural symbol

[103:19.14] in the structure simply remaining in its present deteriorated condition

[103:23.65] until the owner eventually returns to the HDC,

[103:27.20] seeking demolition approval anyways.

[103:30.19] Staff also acknowledged that designation may be inconsistent

[103:34.37] with historic preservation action 4.9 of the comprehensive plan,

[103:39.23] which is intended to keep designated properties code compliant

[103:43.13] and to avoid demolition by neglect.

[103:45.73] So I respectfully ask the council a very simple question.

[103:50.08] What exactly are we preserving?

[103:52.38] The proposed ordinance recites a number of historic designation criteria.

[103:57.98] I would ask the council to look past the labels

[104:00.77] and examine the city's own explanations for them.

[104:04.19] The city says this property qualifies as the site

[104:08.13] of an important event in Rockville's history,

[104:10.29] but the actual staff analysis did not identify an important event

[104:14.84] that occurred at Martins Lane.

[104:17.08] The explanation given is that the site

[104:19.28] is one of the earliest Black settlements in the city

[104:22.22] that supports the historical significance

[104:24.67] of the broader Haiti community.

[104:26.81] It does not identify a discrete historical significant event

[104:31.88] that occurred at this particular house or on this particular parcel.

[104:35.71] There is also a piece of history.

[104:38.43] Martins Lane was historically associated with what was then Martins Lane

[104:43.87] and treated as a separate portion of a larger family holding.

[104:47.77] When Martins Lane was nominated and designated as historic in 2003,

[104:55.55] that designation was made at the request of then owners.

[104:58.68] Martins Lane was not included and was not submitted for evaluation.

[105:04.39] The city's own report confirms that the 2003 designation was voluntary.

[105:09.95] This one is not.

[105:11.23] The two remaining purposes, planning staff concluded that designation satisfies

[105:18.28] only two of the five stated purposes of the historic district overlay.

[105:23.36] On the other three, staff found that the designation

[105:26.95] would not permanently foster civic beauty

[105:29.43] is unlikely to meaningful strength in the local economy.

[105:33.39] And the economy of the blah, blah, blah.

[105:36.59] Thank you.

[105:36.91] We do have your letter.

[105:37.87] We appreciate it.

[105:40.35] Anyways, in conclusion, we don't mean to erase the history

[105:45.93] and what are we preserving.

[105:49.81] So again, thank you for your time.

[105:51.98] Thank you.

[105:53.50] Welcome, [name].

[105:55.81] Good evening again.

[106:01.37] I'm [name].

[106:02.09] I live at Bell Avenue in Rockville.

[106:05.00] I've been a former land use commissioner for an extensive amount of time

[106:07.88] and a few guises for the city and also certainly the county.

[106:10.20] But tonight I do speak as a private individual in support of this action.

[106:13.88] The HDC has already judged this is a historically significant property

[106:18.02] and the planning commission has recommended the offered designation

[106:21.02] is consistent with master planning and the city ordinance.

[106:23.87] Will you replace your judgment for theirs?

[106:26.46] It is also odd that the state and county larger,

[106:30.07] less local jurisdictions recognize this property on their historic inventories,

[106:34.52] but the city does not.

[106:35.84] I urge you to follow these positions with enacting the subject map amendment.

[106:40.96] I observe to you the historic context of the property,

[106:45.02] which I think has received lesser due attention, not just the structure therein.

[106:49.42] And I'll add a little comment to say that the representative,

[106:52.30] the owner that just spoke used structure and property interchangeably,

[106:56.10] but there are two different things.

[106:59.09] This is an large internal, mostly open lot,

[107:02.57] and it acts as the glue between the Martins Lane and North Street

[107:06.81] nodes of this enclave, both historically and contemporaneously.

[107:11.66] Changing this with a dramatically different structure out of scale

[107:16.03] will effectively divide this historic community into two parts and damage its entirety.

[107:20.76] The poor condition of the structure on the subject property is given as a negative point.

[107:25.73] Yet a property can be both historic and have a structure in poor condition.

[107:31.45] The worst outcome here would be the loss of actual historic structure,

[107:35.98] fiber and property context based solely on the poor structural condition

[107:40.86] without a clear way to something better.

[107:44.13] Clouding that way forward includes the current zoning,

[107:48.35] the community stability and expectation,

[107:50.65] the likely pipe stem character of access

[107:52.91] to anything else residential built on this property and more.

[107:56.22] Therefore, having the HDC exercise ongoing regulatory oversight

[108:01.80] of change to this property is a good approach.

[108:04.78] This would be the effect of putting the R60HD overlay on this parcel in a map amendment now.

[108:11.78] Designating it as a historic property worth specialized care

[108:15.45] to balance the issues encumbered on it by the HDC,

[108:19.37] the city body form for the care of historic resources.

[108:23.23] Thank you.

[108:27.46] Thank you.

[108:28.09] Welcome, [name].

[108:31.84] Thank you.

[108:36.95] Good evening, Madam Mayor and Council Members.

[108:39.49] My name is [name].

[108:40.53] I live at North Street,

[108:41.97] and my backyard is directly adjacent to the property at Martins Lane.

[108:46.05] I'd like to speak tonight about how the approval of this historic overlay

[108:49.33] preserves precious Rockville history,

[108:51.17] adheres to the city's planning goals by remaining consistent with our comprehensive plan

[108:55.49] and serves the greater interest of the Rockville community.

[108:57.85] I've lived for close to 25 years across the yard from the [name].

[109:01.19] My neighbor, one of the patriarchs of Haytai, [name],

[109:03.99] was instrumental in the historic designation of the nearby Haytai Cemetery.

[109:07.75] You're joining property at Martins Lane before you passed away,

[109:11.11] and this property had to be sold.

[109:12.79] I've watched generations of the [name] family celebrating

[109:15.30] countless reunions and holidays on this very property

[109:18.02] as they have for more than a century and a half.

[109:20.25] The precious and fragile story of our freed black population

[109:23.36] is told in Rockville's oldest black kinship communities and properties like these.

[109:27.87] These sites aren't side notes to our signature

[109:30.36] and better preserved historical treasures like Glenview Mansion and the Bell Dawson House.

[109:34.20] On the contrary, they complement and they complete the story of these landmarks

[109:37.80] and are vital to a fuller understanding of Rockville's past.

[109:40.76] Historic District Commissioner Denvo stated this property

[109:43.27] was the most significant site they'd evaluated in his tenure,

[109:46.39] the sentiment that was widely shared by the other commissioners

[109:48.75] before they voted to recommend the overlay.

[109:50.91] I worked for more than three years starting in 2016,

[109:53.64] side by side with the city's planning department

[109:55.88] on a WECA committee tasked with developing a neighborhood plan for area four.

[109:59.72] It's now formally integrated as part of Rockville's comprehensive plan.

[110:03.07] In this plan, Haytai was just one of a small handful of areas

[110:06.15] specifically singled out in desperate need of critical historical evaluation and preservation.

[110:11.19] This particular site in its context contiguous to Martins Lane,

[110:15.11] its location near other important designated and non-designated historic sites

[110:19.03] like the Haytai Cemetery, the Carroll House,

[110:21.34] and its function as a bridge between North Street and Martins Lane

[110:23.99] makes it a vital component in the overall historic neighborhood character

[110:27.51] and a critical candidate for preservation.

[110:29.77] Fair to approve this overlay would clearly be inconsistent

[110:32.79] with the intentions that are now codified in Rockville's comprehensive plan.

[110:36.25] The Planning Commission agreed.

[110:37.99] At their hearing, Commissioner Fulton

[110:39.67] confided that the Haytai community is the most historically significant and important in the city

[110:43.67] before voting along with the rest of the commission in favor of the overlay.

[110:46.94] We're incredibly fortunate as a city that we still have pieces of this history

[110:51.27] that exist in its context through the homes, land,

[110:53.19] and families like the [name] and others that are there today.

[110:55.83] To our detriment, properties like these are rapidly being lost to sale or disrepair

[110:59.87] because the families that own them traditionally do not come from significant means.

[111:03.25] It's incredibly sad this home wasn't cataloged sooner by the city

[111:07.41] and that resources weren't made available to assist in its preservation,

[111:10.37] but the historic overlay applies to the overall map plot,

[111:13.33] not just to structures on the property.

[111:15.33] We should certainly strive to preserve this store comb,

[111:17.31] but whatever happens, the location and context of the house and land

[111:20.35] are vital in preserving the essential character of the neighborhood

[111:22.99] and our city's rich and diverse history.

[111:25.28] I'll close by saying that places like Haytai and Arch's peaches of Rockville's past,

[111:29.18] but incredibly significant parts of Maryland and American history,

[111:32.06] and it's our duty and responsibility to preserve them.

[111:34.72] As we lose these properties in the land they occupy,

[111:37.25] we forever lose the legacy of these entire communities

[111:39.73] and with it our own identity as a city and country.

[111:41.89] Thank you very much.

[111:43.13] Welcome, [name].

[111:50.60] Thank you, and good evening, Madam Mayor and members of council.

[112:00.98] [name], director of Peerless Rockville,

[112:03.54] speaking tonight on behalf of the organization.

[112:07.49] I want to thank the staff for the report tonight,

[112:10.01] and I want to note many of the things that were, you know,

[112:14.81] called your attention to.

[112:15.93] I'll speak to some of those tonight.

[112:17.95] The designation of Martins Lane before you

[112:21.08] provides a great opportunity to the city to protect historic Black resources,

[112:26.04] and Peerless Rockville very strongly supports the designation of this property.

[112:30.46] We agree with the staff findings that Martins Lane

[112:34.27] meets the city's historic significance criteria, A, B, C, and D,

[112:39.33] as well as architectural design and landscape criteria A.

[112:42.97] The city found, and the HCC found, that the property is representative of the development,

[112:50.35] heritage, and cultural characteristics of the city.

[112:53.47] In particular, its relevance and very strong importance

[112:57.27] to the nascent Black community known as Haytai.

[113:00.54] Haytai grew on the edge of Rockville

[113:04.03] and provided a place for the recently enslaved for their descendants,

[113:09.59] a place for them to live in peace and to enjoy the right of a secure home,

[113:14.46] land ownership, and economic stability.

[113:17.92] All of these things had been very cruelly withheld from them in the past.

[113:22.11] That didn't happen here.

[113:25.43] The Planning Commission also looked at this property,

[113:29.47] and based on its background and history,

[113:32.17] unanimously agreed that adding an historic overlay

[113:35.42] is not only important for this parcel,

[113:37.48] but meets the zoning and master plan goals of the city.

[113:40.76] This particular parcel and the adjacent parcels

[113:44.34] are known to have been deeded from [name] of the Bell Dawson House and Farm

[113:49.26] to individuals that were held in slavery.

[113:51.93] Martins Lane was conveyed to and for [name] and her husband, [name].

[114:00.82] It is very likely that Flora, who was born in 1856,

[114:05.70] was herself enslaved by the Bells as a child.

[114:08.82] The fact that she could find freedom for her family should not be lost

[114:13.42] and is important to the city's history.

[114:15.45] In Haytay, several generations of the Ross,

[114:18.96] as well as the Wood and Smith families,

[114:20.80] remained for many years growing their families

[114:23.20] and establishing a distinct kinship community

[114:25.92] that we can still recognize today.

[114:28.24] We would hate to lose that.

[114:29.89] From its late 19th century beginning and up until today,

[114:33.37] this small but significant community

[114:35.69] has stood as a testament to the tenacity of the early owners

[114:39.37] and the desire for them to find a better future for their children.

[114:42.98] For the people who founded the Haytay community,

[114:45.54] owning land was a chance for prosperity,

[114:48.06] the possibility of a stable future for descendants, and for some status.

[114:52.80] Martins Lane and Haytay continues to be a source of pride

[114:56.58] and an example of resourcefulness for those who live there today.

[115:00.29] Many descendants of the original residents remain in the neighborhood

[115:04.54] and I think they will speak passionately this evening.

[115:08.51] The strong ties remain very important.

[115:12.27] Not only was it here in Rockville hard to secure a place,

[115:15.70] but as you know, all throughout the county.

[115:17.92] This history should be recognized

[115:20.54] and it meets an important goal

[115:22.30] of the city's historic preservation element,

[115:24.96] a goal that suggests that we need to, as a city,

[115:27.86] pursue an equity and inclusion framework

[115:31.09] that includes this particular kind of history.

[115:33.85] We hope that tonight will be a significant step forward

[115:38.03] in recognizing and preserving the historic resources of Haytay,

[115:41.71] marking both the tenacity of the early owners,

[115:44.91] despite great social challenges and inequities,

[115:48.54] but also claiming that history is significant to the entire city of Rockville.

[115:53.16] Martins Lane meets strict qualifying designation criteria

[115:58.71] and is in compliance with the city's comprehensive plan

[116:02.79] and with the purposes of the historic district overlay.

[116:05.60] I'd like to just say a word about integrity

[116:08.67] because that was brought up as a condition that has not been looked at tonight.

[116:13.47] I don't know if everyone understands the meaning of integrity.

[116:16.83] It's based on the national register criteria

[116:21.54] and when you look at integrity, they actually look at seven factors

[116:25.06] that kind of judge a property for why it's important

[116:28.26] and is there enough left of that property to still be considered historic.

[116:33.12] And while size and condition and materials are very important factors,

[116:39.06] other factors that are listed, and these are nationwide,

[116:43.56] include location, size, feeling, and association.

[116:49.79] And I think when you look at this property,

[116:52.62] things like location, size, scale, feeling, and association,

[116:57.21] they are all still there and all still available to be read.

[117:00.79] Thank you.

[117:01.44] Thank you very much.

[117:02.53] Welcome, [name], [name], [name].

[117:20.96] Good evening, Mayor and Council.

[117:33.26] Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

[117:34.94] My name is [name] and I do live at Martins Lane.

[117:38.08] I'm here to highlight the enduring historical importance of Martins Lane,

[117:42.98] a property that stands as a meaningful part of Rockville's culture and agricultural story.

[117:47.85] This site is more than a structure, it's a physical record of the people,

[117:51.60] traditions, and generations that helped shape Rockville

[117:55.19] from its earliest days into the community that we know.

[117:58.23] For generations, the Martins Lane community has been home to the [name] family,

[118:05.23] their ancestors, and other African American families

[118:08.03] who have lived in the cornerstone of the African American life in Rockville.

[118:11.98] Families who lived, worked, and worshipped here in Rockville

[118:14.62] helped to shape the culture and the civics identity of the city.

[118:18.27] Martins Lane is more than a street.

[118:20.41] It is a living archive of the Black history in the city of Rockville.

[118:24.38] The property at Martins Lane stands as one of the few remaining physical links to the history.

[118:29.92] Its preservation would ensure the future residents and visitors

[118:33.44] understand the contributions, resilience, and lived experience

[118:37.44] of the African American community that helped build Rockville.

[118:41.59] Historical designation of this property is not simple,

[118:44.88] but protecting where the current structure is built,

[118:46.96] but also safeguarding the memory and identity and the truth

[118:50.16] of how the [name] family were able to persevere

[118:53.12] when African American families face segregation,

[118:56.24] redlining, and limited access to housing.

[118:59.17] As redevelopment pressures continue to increase,

[119:02.31] it becomes more urgent to preserve the site

[119:05.43] that reflects the diversity of Rockville's past.

[119:08.09] Recognizing Martins Lane a historic would affirm the city's commitment

[119:12.29] to inclusivity, storytelling, and the equitability of preservation.

[119:18.14] As you consider the matters before you tonight,

[119:21.10] I respectfully ask that the historical value of Martins Lane

[119:25.82] remain central to its deliberations.

[119:29.34] Preservering the sites and ensuring the future residents

[119:31.85] will continue to have a place where the city's heritage is not only remembered,

[119:35.61] but experienced firsthand and can continue to embrace diversity.

[119:39.49] I would like for the mayor and council to protect the landmark

[119:44.09] and uphold Rockville's commitment to honoring its past

[119:47.29] while planning thoughtfully for its future.

[119:49.28] Thank you for your time.

[119:50.69] Thank you.

[119:52.00] Welcome, Pamela.

[119:55.06] Quickly.

[120:03.81] - Hello, my name is [name] quickly.

[120:06.04] I live at Glenmore Terrace, Rockville, Maryland.

[120:10.46] I've lived at the same address for 50 years.

[120:12.40] My family has been resident of Rockville since 1805.

[120:17.37] Good evening commissioners.

[120:18.47] This is my testimony to you for the mapping of the property

[120:21.79] at Martins Lane to have the historic district

[120:24.55] full of overlay.

[120:26.24] African-American historic places are facing a reassure

[120:29.82] that this property at Martins Lane is historic

[120:32.74] should not be viewed as inconvenient.

[120:35.68] We're not making new historic properties

[120:38.42] and we can't reach back and make new historic properties

[120:41.82] from this community and period.

[120:43.40] We can only preserve what we have.

[120:46.54] This overlay needs to come in line

[120:48.62] with the Maryland Historical Trust

[120:50.96] which is already designated a historical zone.

[120:54.99] Just like the historic district overlay

[120:56.95] at the front lot of Hatai Cemetery at Martins Lane

[121:00.25] was extended to the street

[121:02.20] to include the historic district overlay in 2020,

[121:05.59] the property at Martins Lane should also have

[121:08.17] the historic district overlay from Martins Lane

[121:11.59] in 2003 extended to Martins Lane.

[121:16.89] Originally when the house at Martins Lane

[121:19.17] was granted the historic district overlay,

[121:21.77] the property at 24 should have gotten the same treatment.

[121:25.90] The current city's overlay should reflect

[121:29.19] what the AMHD overlay illustrates

[121:31.64] from the Maryland Historical Trust

[121:33.24] state historic sites inventory form

[121:36.08] with the Hatai Martins Lane historic district

[121:39.01] encompassing Hatai Cemetery, Martins Lane

[121:43.12] and Martins Lane.

[121:45.47] All of these paper trails document

[121:47.23] that 24 is a derivative of the historic properties

[121:50.07] around it historically USPS, ESTAT

[121:54.34] and Maryland Historical Trust all agree.

[121:58.71] I will say that the historic preservation community

[122:01.23] in Rockville is in alignment.

[122:04.43] That this piece of history be saved and protected

[122:07.77] and this community is ready to back that up.

[122:11.91] To end, I will say that I attended the 80th birthday party

[122:15.49] of former owner [name] on the grounds

[122:18.53] of Martins Lane in July, 2018

[122:22.21] under five outdoor tents rented to host the event

[122:26.38] and to say that the community congregated in this space

[122:29.26] would be missed in the future is a great understatement.

[122:34.11] Please take this recommendation from the HDC

[122:36.93] to apply the historic district overlay over this property.

[122:40.31] Thank you very much.

[122:42.64] - Thank you.

[122:45.62] Is there anyone else who would like to speak?

[122:48.58] Welcome, please state your name

[122:50.12] and why they live in the city of Rockville.

[122:53.01] - Good evening, Mayor and Council.

[122:54.54] My name is [name].

[122:56.64] I'm the seventh generation of this property.

[122:59.71] One thing I would like to declare

[123:01.35] that I have to clear every time.

[123:03.36] The property that I currently live in

[123:05.58] is the original Martins Lane.

[123:08.94] This property is the one that we call Martins Lane.

[123:12.32] My great uncle, [name],

[123:15.16] who was my grandmother, brother built that home

[123:19.14] that we call Martins Lane back in the early 1900s.

[123:23.21] So I want everybody to get an understanding

[123:25.01] that the original 24 property

[123:27.98] is the property that I currently live in

[123:30.57] and that's now called Martins Lane.

[123:33.60] And the reason why I'm here is to let you know

[123:35.92] that I don't have paper, I don't have a computer,

[123:38.80] I'm speaking from the heart.

[123:40.58] Growing up in the neighborhood with my great grandparents

[123:43.83] and my great, great grandparents,

[123:45.92] we saw how history meant a lot to us.

[123:49.15] My grandparents always spoke about the black community

[123:51.79] being a strong community.

[123:53.55] I remember as a child going to both properties, 22 and 24,

[123:57.73] and seeing some of the educators

[124:00.16] who came up from the South so they can get a better job.

[124:03.77] I sat at a dinner table with principals.

[124:06.72] I sat at the dinner table with math teachers.

[124:09.33] And I sat at the dinner table with reverends and preachers

[124:12.61] that sat in that property so that they could do a better

[124:16.14] and get a better life for their family.

[124:18.86] My grandparents who worked their butt off,

[124:21.14] my grandmother who lived in 24, as we call it now,

[124:24.14] was an elevator operator.

[124:25.93] She never missed a day.

[124:28.28] She went to Dunbar High School in DC

[124:30.93] so that she can get the education.

[124:32.68] Her brother, my uncle Claude,

[124:34.32] he went to what's now called Bowie State

[124:38.35] so that he can get the education to bring us up.

[124:42.22] My uncle [name], UMBC,

[124:46.15] my family was raised on these properties.

[124:49.65] The original property carried a long way.

[124:52.05] Some of you might not know,

[124:52.97] but where the Snowden funeral home

[124:54.61] was owned by my great grandmother, [name],

[124:57.28] or better known as [name].

[124:59.63] So this property has a lot of history, a lot of history,

[125:05.56] because I'm the seventh generation

[125:07.04] with my two cousins back here.

[125:08.91] But now I have children who are living in the property now,

[125:12.35] who are the eighth generation.

[125:14.23] And then when they have children who are going out right now,

[125:17.87] my grandkids are the ninth generation of this property.

[125:21.96] So what I'm asking is that because there were some things

[125:26.36] that beyond our control with other family members,

[125:30.25] but I would hate to see lose this

[125:32.17] because I would hate to see my grandparents,

[125:34.96] my great grandparents, and my great, great grandparents.

[125:39.15] I was lucky enough to know my great grandparents,

[125:42.43] Ms. [name], then my grandmother,

[125:45.27] Ms. [name],

[125:47.57] who worked their rear ends off to preserve what we have.

[125:51.79] I had a great time growing up,

[125:54.62] but it was all about education and it was all about pride.

[125:57.67] It was all about how you feel

[125:59.64] and how you want to feel as your family.

[126:02.73] So what I'm asking is, let's not lose this.

[126:07.04] Yes, things happen, granted, but let's not lose this

[126:10.87] because you know what, they work too hard for this.

[126:14.05] They work too hard.

[126:14.97] My grandfather was a assistant printer.

[126:17.73] We're going to DC every day with a shirt and tie on

[126:20.29] and he was a printer, but he kept that house

[126:22.57] and that property in immaculate shape.

[126:25.10] I got married in that yard.

[126:26.36] It was one of the most beautiful places in the world.

[126:28.87] So this property means a lot to us.

[126:30.99] Not only does our graveyard mean a lot to me,

[126:33.71] but this property, along with my home,

[126:35.75] which is the original, the original home,

[126:38.96] I still got log cabin floor.

[126:41.45] I still got log cabin walls.

[126:43.64] I still got the original wood floor.

[126:46.59] I don't want to lose it.

[126:48.34] I don't want to lose it

[126:49.18] 'cause it meant so much to our family.

[126:51.51] And I'm asking you to really consider it, think about it,

[126:54.92] but think about the history

[126:56.24] 'cause I think about it every day.

[126:58.51] Thank you.

[127:00.25] - Thank you very much.

[127:02.95] Is there anyone else who would like to speak?

[127:11.82] All right, I do want to acknowledge

[127:13.22] that we have received written commentary as well.

[127:16.98] The mayor and council has received.

[127:19.00] Just last comment.

[127:20.12] Is there anyone else who would like to speak?

[127:21.84] All right, we'll now close this public hearing.

[127:28.29] Staff, is there team, Mr. Fervis and others?

[127:31.88] Are there anything else you want to do

[127:33.93] to close this public hearing?

[127:36.01] - Nothing else for the public hearing now.

[127:37.89] - Okay, all right.

[127:39.13] We can now move then onto our action agenda and discussion,

[127:44.11] which is 11A, potential adoption of a sexual amendment,

[127:48.80] MAP 2026-127 to rezone property at Martins Lane

[127:54.39] from R60 to R60HD to place the property

[127:57.89] in the historic district zone.

[128:00.68] Turn it back to you, Ms. Fervis and Ms. Flick.

[128:04.48] - Sure, so for mayor and council action,

[128:06.96] our staff recommendation is as follows,

[128:09.98] citing the HTC's finding that the property

[128:12.38] at Martins Lane meets five

[128:14.10] of the city's adopted designation criteria

[128:16.26] and the planning commission's finding

[128:17.88] that the proposed designation is consistent

[128:19.98] with the comprehensive plan

[128:21.42] and the purposes of the historic district overlay zone.

[128:24.46] Staff recommend adoption of the proposed ordinance

[128:26.74] to designate Martins Lane.

[128:28.96] And just want to note here

[128:30.08] that we do have a new zoning ordinance

[128:32.82] and we have modified preservation regulations,

[128:35.56] including for historic designation of properties.

[128:38.92] So one of these modified regulations

[128:40.56] has to do with property owner consent.

[128:43.18] So due to formal opposition from the owner,

[128:45.58] which you all heard tonight

[128:46.54] and have also received in writing,

[128:48.94] we will need a super majority vote from the council

[128:51.52] for adoption of the ordinance

[128:53.66] and that would be five out of seven members.

[128:58.79] - Thank you very much.

[128:59.79] I'm gonna open the floor to my colleagues

[129:01.59] starting on this side

[129:02.43] to see if you have any questions before we move forward.

[129:06.30] - Thank you to staff.

[129:07.14] Thanks to the community.

[129:08.71] Thanks for our community partners in Peerless Rockville.

[129:12.55] Everybody who's opined, who's lived this story

[129:17.21] and come today.

[129:20.20] My question, it kind of posed it to staff,

[129:22.60] but I just wanted to be clear

[129:25.68] for my own clarification.

[129:29.78] If we weigh the layover period,

[129:34.38] we get the super majority to label it historic.

[129:38.04] What are the implications for the property owner themselves

[129:41.43] in terms of the building?

[129:42.95] Can they not make any changes?

[129:44.71] Can they make changes?

[129:46.69] Is it, as was indicated in the brief book,

[129:51.26] I mean, it is in disrepair.

[129:53.20] So what sort of provisions then

[129:56.09] come as a result of this designation,

[129:57.97] both things that the owner can do

[130:00.17] and things that the owner is mandated to do

[130:02.15] because of this designation,

[130:04.05] given the agent and repair of the property?

[130:06.74] - Sure.

[130:07.58] So historic designation of the property

[130:09.74] would essentially mean that once the overlay is applied,

[130:12.98] the owner would have to come back to the HDC

[130:16.02] to either do any modifications or repairs to the home

[130:19.69] or to request demolition again if they wish to do that.

[130:25.71] - Man, just to follow up.

[130:27.22] Thank you for your indulgence.

[130:29.71] Are they mandated to do repairs even before applying for,

[130:33.05] because as you all know,

[130:35.34] there appears to be, based on the pictures, holes in the roof,

[130:37.42] among other things.

[130:38.95] - From a historic preservation perspective,

[130:40.95] no, they're not mandated to do it.

[130:42.51] We do have a property maintenance code in the city,

[130:44.63] so certainly there is an expectation

[130:46.73] that all properties, regardless of ownership,

[130:48.83] regardless of if they're residential or commercial,

[130:50.85] are held to certain property maintenance standards.

[130:53.47] So potentially there would be some implications there,

[130:55.67] but we cannot mandate that a property owner

[130:58.47] say restore this structure.

[131:03.68] - Please proceed.

[131:04.52] - I apologize.

[131:05.36] This should be the last comment.

[131:06.58] - That's okay, go ahead.

[131:07.42] - Thank you for your indulgence.

[131:09.54] Were those city co-provisions applied prior to this?

[131:13.95] I mean, how did they get to this point?

[131:15.31] I guess is what I'm trying to get at.

[131:16.69] - The property maintenance code, yes.

[131:18.91] So my understanding,

[131:20.07] and it's been a couple weeks since I've last pulled it,

[131:22.47] but the property over the years has been cited

[131:24.45] for property maintenance issues, such as tall grass,

[131:27.87] unsafe entries to the home, things of that nature.

[131:30.95] So that continues regardless

[131:32.98] of if a property is designated or not.

[131:43.70] - AI is speaking.

[131:44.90] - It is, it is.

[131:46.99] - Are you done?

[131:47.83] Council Member Miles?

[131:48.89] - Yes, ma'am, for now.

[131:49.71] Thank you.

[131:50.55] - Council Member Fulton.

[131:53.64] - Thank you.

[131:54.48] Maybe I'll pull a thread

[131:55.32] on what Council Member Miles was saying.

[131:58.43] Any alteration, change, demolition of the lake

[132:01.03] needs to be approved by the HDC.

[132:03.13] What are the criteria that HDC would be applying

[132:06.49] in deciding whether to prove any other user change

[132:09.51] to the property?

[132:12.65] - So the Historic District Commission

[132:13.97] has no authority over the use of a property.

[132:16.45] That's a zoning issue.

[132:18.33] So they only have purview over the built form of it.

[132:22.85] So they would be looking to make sure

[132:24.33] that any new development on the land

[132:26.45] is consistent with our technical guides

[132:28.15] for exterior alterations.

[132:30.05] That's a series of guidelines that gives feedback

[132:31.89] on the type of materials, the style,

[132:35.41] how the character of alterations to historic properties

[132:38.45] are consistent with the period of significance

[132:40.75] from when that home was designated.

[132:42.61] We also would apply the Secretary of the Interior Standards.

[132:45.55] So those are a set of federal standards

[132:47.33] that apply all across the country

[132:49.49] to make sure that when we are making alterations

[132:51.61] to historic properties,

[132:52.53] we're doing that in a respectful way

[132:54.45] that maintains the history,

[132:56.21] celebrates the history and heritage,

[132:57.69] but also differentiates the new from the old.

[133:00.97] In preservation, we don't necessarily like

[133:02.97] to make a new additions look to be exactly old.

[133:09.33] We want there to be a little bit of differentiation.

[133:11.29] We want them to be consistent.

[133:12.85] We want them to have similar styles and form and massing,

[133:16.73] but we don't want a new structure to come off

[133:19.25] as if it was that old structure.

[133:20.85] So those are standards that apply

[133:22.77] to all of our historic districts regardless.

[133:25.42] Then specific for this historic district,

[133:27.42] if it were to be designated,

[133:29.44] the HCC would be looking at the rest of the district

[133:32.14] to kind of make sure that whatever is proposed there

[133:34.54] is consistent and compatible with the district at large.

[133:37.58] Right now, we have several other historic districts

[133:40.08] in the Haytai Martins Lane community.

[133:42.99] This would not necessarily be one of those.

[133:45.71] There's kind of two ways we could do it.

[133:47.07] This could be its own single site historic district

[133:49.15] or we could expand the historic district.

[133:51.43] That's immediately to the north at Martins Lane.

[133:55.93] So we would be looking for consistency

[133:57.89] with again, the period of significance,

[134:00.38] what's currently in that neighborhood

[134:01.90] that's deemed historic and within that historic district.

[134:06.72] - Do we have examples of designated historic properties

[134:10.66] in the city that were demolished in a new structure built

[134:14.03] and approved by the HCC?

[134:16.68] - Yes and no.

[134:17.72] There have been historic sites

[134:19.32] where structures have been demolished over the years.

[134:22.44] One example that I'm thinking of

[134:23.80] is right where the courthouse is right across here,

[134:26.42] the old Rockville Library.

[134:27.96] That was demolished.

[134:28.96] I don't know off the top of my head

[134:30.64] if that got a certificate of approval for that demolition.

[134:34.28] More recently, I would say in the last calendar year

[134:37.16] or around the last calendar year,

[134:38.88] the HCC did issue a certificate of approval

[134:41.88] to demolish a structure at,

[134:43.80] looking at Ms. Walters, 100 West Montgomery.

[134:49.31] I think it's 100 West Montgomery.

[134:50.55] I can fact check that address for you.

[134:53.07] That demolition has not yet taken place,

[134:55.79] but it's a structure that's been vacant

[134:57.35] for I believe 15 to 20 years.

[134:59.07] There was a fire.

[135:00.47] It's not safe for habitation as well.

[135:02.55] So they've given that approval.

[135:04.07] I do not believe that demolition has happened yet.

[135:07.07] And because the demo has happened yet,

[135:08.47] we have not had a new structure be constructed there yet.

[135:11.50] - So just to clarify that answer,

[135:12.76] then I just have one more question.

[135:14.61] We've had approval to demolish,

[135:16.30] but no approval to actually build

[135:18.53] a new designed structure in place yet.

[135:20.73] - On that property, no.

[135:22.65] However, on other properties, yes.

[135:25.33] So we have several new more modern structures

[135:28.29] that are on historic land, actually on Martins Lane.

[135:31.25] We have a few examples of that.

[135:32.57] So on the north side of Martins Lane,

[135:34.39] there are three properties, 17, 19, and 21 Martins.

[135:38.37] The original, it was one kind of big piece of lot

[135:40.57] that had one structure on it.

[135:41.93] That whole property was designated.

[135:43.89] And then it's since subdivided,

[135:45.53] and there are two more modern, I would say,

[135:47.57] built in the last 10-ish years,

[135:49.97] homes on those structures,

[135:51.77] or on those parcels that were subdivided.

[135:53.65] So those homes did have to come

[135:55.33] to the historic district commission for approval.

[135:57.65] And very recently in the last like six months,

[136:00.40] we've had one of those property owners

[136:01.68] wanna make an alteration,

[136:02.72] and they still have to come to the HGC.

[136:04.96] So the HGC still reviews it.

[136:07.28] They're still looking to make sure it's compatible.

[136:09.08] I will say that the HGC, I think,

[136:10.96] weighs alterations or new construction there

[136:14.12] a little bit differently than it does an alteration

[136:16.32] to a home that's 200 years old, for example.

[136:18.72] They recognize this is a modern home

[136:20.72] that's on a historic lot.

[136:22.40] So it is possible.

[136:23.64] In separate instances, we've had them,

[136:25.20] but we've not yet had an example on one property

[136:27.96] where it's demo and rebuilding.

[136:31.05] - Okay, so last question.

[136:33.09] That might be slightly unfair.

[136:34.29] This is clearly a historic property,

[136:36.62] but we've known heitai's historic

[136:38.70] and important to preserve for a really long time.

[136:43.21] Can you help me understand why it,

[136:45.61] and we just designated, what do they say,

[136:47.75] in 2023 or 2020, something next to it.

[136:51.23] Why are we not considering

[136:52.59] when we make the initial determinations

[136:54.47] when a property becomes a forest,

[136:55.87] like maybe taking a look broader

[136:57.43] and seeing is there more we should cover here?

[137:01.21] - Absolutely, fair question.

[137:02.71] So the property of the north was in 2003

[137:05.09] that it was designated.

[137:05.93] So it has been a chunk of time.

[137:07.95] Staff looked in to the records there

[137:09.97] to see if there was any consideration

[137:11.89] of any of the adjoining parcels in that application,

[137:14.81] and there were not.

[137:15.81] So staff simply, that was an owner initiated designation.

[137:19.86] So the owner said, hi, I want to be designated city.

[137:23.13] Looked at it and looked at that specific parcel.

[137:25.69] I hear you and likely largely share your thought

[137:29.37] of as we're looking, we should be looking more broadly.

[137:32.01] I think one of the reasons

[137:33.29] that we haven't done a lot of that is historically,

[137:36.29] no pun intended.

[137:37.45] We've kind of done these as they've come up.

[137:39.25] So as we're performing an evaluation of significance

[137:41.65] requested by someone who wants the property

[137:43.81] to be designated or someone who's looking to demolish it.

[137:47.01] I frankly don't think we've had the resources

[137:49.17] and bandwidth internally to be looking more holistically

[137:51.87] and more proactively at our historic sites

[137:54.41] or potentially historic sites.

[137:56.31] That's something that certainly in the future

[137:58.31] we can look into and I personally would be a proponent of.

[138:06.27] - Council Member Larry.

[138:07.70] - Sorry.

[138:09.10] I'm always waiting for Council Member Fulton to be like,

[138:11.18] that's great, thank you.

[138:13.54] - All right, so thank you.

[138:16.81] This is actually, everything has been really helpful.

[138:20.98] The materials, I was kind of joking

[138:23.42] that I have like a stack of paper like this

[138:25.24] because I'd like to have a map in my hand.

[138:28.49] I like to look at, you know, on these issues,

[138:32.48] kind of see where the neighborhood plays into it.

[138:36.63] I was struck by the fact that it does seem

[138:40.43] to be a donut hole and until Ms. Gerbus said

[138:45.26] when the property, I think you said to the North

[138:49.24] was designated in 2003, well, let's just say

[138:53.64] that that Jedi principles were not widely held in 2003

[138:57.96] and neither was the preservation of Black history.

[139:00.12] So in that sort of context, we can always do better

[139:04.92] than, you know, 20 years ago, but I agree.

[139:08.18] Like I think we should look at it more holistically

[139:10.46] if it takes greater staff input

[139:13.94] than that is something to consider

[139:16.61] for subsequent budget discussions

[139:19.80] because I think it would be nice

[139:22.46] to kind of look at in general at these decisions

[139:25.91] in a more holistic way.

[139:28.90] So where I stand on this,

[139:31.15] I want to be super transparent about something.

[139:34.81] I have spent months in hours or deliberations

[139:38.65] advocating for owner consent protections

[139:41.65] in historic designation.

[139:43.63] Because I believe, and I really do believe

[139:46.22] that property owners deserve meaningful notice

[139:49.42] and a voice before a permanent overlay

[139:52.58] kind of seals in those protections.

[139:55.21] This case is exactly why I cared about that question,

[139:58.69] why I wanted us to dig in to the issue

[140:02.08] of historic designation, why I wanted us

[140:05.08] to think thoughtfully about the levels

[140:08.29] of historic designation, a example

[140:11.51] of an architectural style that is replicated

[140:14.39] across the city versus a piece of black rockville history

[140:22.71] that is only existent in one point.

[140:25.98] Like those should be different when we're not,

[140:28.38] we're treating it like all the same

[140:30.76] and I appreciate it from like a process perspective,

[140:33.52] but I think from history, historical preservation

[140:38.20] and I mean the preservation of history and not buildings,

[140:41.14] it makes sense for us to have levels of

[140:44.86] historical significance.

[140:46.82] I appreciate what we heard about,

[140:50.04] well, there's nothing happened on this spot.

[140:52.87] That's not technically one of our criteria.

[140:56.25] It's built into the cultural significance part of that.

[141:00.63] I just wanted to flag that for my colleagues.

[141:04.68] If we could not kick this can down the road,

[141:07.42] if we could have a work session on

[141:10.60] how we look at historic designation,

[141:12.72] extraordinary example, I think this is

[141:15.16] an extraordinary example of a historic property

[141:21.67] and whether or not that means

[141:23.21] that it's the exact same building.

[141:25.16] It's another building.

[141:26.66] It is the property that we're discussing

[141:29.39] and the historical significance of this.

[141:32.79] I really ask my, urge my colleagues to join me

[141:36.09] in having that work session, having that discussion

[141:39.67] because we're gonna keep having these conflicts

[141:42.50] if we don't look at this issue,

[141:46.02] not just when it's coming forward

[141:48.18] and to that extent, having a public hearing the same night

[141:51.49] as we were asked to have this action,

[141:54.41] frankly, to Mr. City Manager.

[141:57.41] I hope that we don't do that going forward

[141:59.31] because this is something we should be having

[142:01.96] a deliberate, thoughtful approach on

[142:04.63] and having us have the hearing

[142:06.63] and then us voting on it the same night

[142:09.35] really doesn't allow us to reflect

[142:11.23] on what we're hearing in the testimony.

[142:13.21] So I think we're done a disservice there.

[142:16.17] I appreciate everything that you both have.

[142:19.13] The presentation was really helpful

[142:21.77] and I truly believe that sometimes

[142:26.19] extraordinary circumstances need to earn a different answer

[142:30.27] and I still truly believe in owner consent protections

[142:33.75] that they belong in the code

[142:35.07] and that you need to have a real conversation

[142:37.15] about delisting and I will continue to push for them

[142:40.47] but tonight I think this is an example

[142:43.23] that makes sense for us to designate

[142:45.39] and to protect for future generations going forward.

[142:52.70] - Thank you.

[142:53.54] I have a lot of feelings and thoughts

[142:55.18] bottled up in myself right now

[142:58.09] but I really appreciate the questions of my colleagues

[143:00.41] because it helped to inform my thinking

[143:02.09] so thank you for your questions.

[143:04.27] I also wanna thank the public

[143:05.63] for sharing your shared history

[143:07.03] as well as the tremendous responsibility.

[143:11.54] I respect the owner as well

[143:12.86] so I just really appreciate the space

[143:14.94] to have this incredibly difficult discussion.

[143:19.76] I will start focus on this property

[143:21.44] and then I have another comment to make.

[143:24.15] For me, the historic district commission

[143:26.27] determine the property meets the city's

[143:28.87] adopted designation criteria.

[143:31.68] I really, not only, we've had a lot

[143:34.26] that are focused on architecture

[143:35.62] but this one really hits home

[143:37.02] at the cultural heritage significance

[143:39.51] not only of this property but of our place and time

[143:42.75] in Montgomery County and Rockville.

[143:45.48] The planning commission also unanimously found

[143:47.52] that the designation's consistent

[143:48.72] with Rockville's comprehensive plan

[143:50.04] and the purposes of district overlay

[143:52.60] but beyond the criteria, there's really important story

[143:55.36] that we have a responsibility as a city

[143:58.46] and why I'm struggling here is because

[144:00.70] I see oftentimes resources that represent the history

[144:06.24] of groups that are not as underrepresented

[144:10.75] be preserved by government,

[144:12.47] be invested in, be beautiful

[144:16.53] and are museums now and I see properties

[144:21.63] and this is not just in this community

[144:23.15] but it's happening all across the United States

[144:25.74] where black resources and history are not as respected

[144:29.15] and I have a problem with that.

[144:31.33] So I just, I say this is important

[144:34.07] and I'm really sorry that this is caught up

[144:36.42] in the finances of what the new property owners

[144:40.06] dealing with but we should never have had this get here

[144:44.38] whether that's a cemetery or such a historic property

[144:47.57] is this one.

[144:50.75] Martins Lane is a very important part

[144:53.71] of the High Tane neighborhood.

[144:54.79] It's an important part of Rockville period

[144:58.67] and it reaches back into that mid 19th century

[145:01.07] and reflects not just on land

[145:02.95] or it's about resilience and self-sufficiency

[145:05.98] and determination that cultural experience matters

[145:09.30] in Rockville.

[145:11.56] When we developed the comprehensive plan

[145:13.20] for the first time in the historic preservation section,

[145:16.11] we added a goal.

[145:19.28] This isn't the 20, was it 2021, 2022.

[145:24.62] Took that long to add a goal focus

[145:27.40] on equity and inclusion frameworks

[145:29.12] to recognize diverse Rockville's diverse history.

[145:33.43] This is where the road meets the road for me

[145:36.55] and this is clearly a historic property.

[145:40.15] Now with that said, I do appreciate

[145:42.69] that it's gonna go through the historic district commission.

[145:45.16] It doesn't mean that nothing can happen here.

[145:46.68] It doesn't mean that everything is stopped.

[145:48.65] It means that there's a conversation

[145:50.61] and that the historic district commission

[145:52.33] review the history of the project

[145:54.28] and try to create a bright future for it going forward.

[145:56.93] So I look at this as an open conversation

[146:00.08] and a way to reflect as a city

[146:02.32] of how we preserve that history

[146:03.93] while also looking towards the future.

[146:05.95] So I don't have a question but I had a lot to say

[146:09.27] and I just wanna thank all of you for being here.

[146:12.53] Councilmember Jackson.

[146:13.98] - Thank you, Mayor and that was wonderfully said.

[146:18.09] I wanna thank my colleagues

[146:19.21] 'cause they've asked many of the questions

[146:21.81] that I would have and thank the staff

[146:24.41] for the presentation and also the historic district

[146:28.49] district commission and the planning commission.

[146:32.21] I take their views into account.

[146:35.90] That means a lot to me but also I thank the residents

[146:39.66] and the owner for coming here and speaking tonight.

[146:43.54] You spoke really passionately and with a mind

[146:48.59] to the historic nature of the property

[146:51.31] and this is a session that I don't take lightly

[146:54.99] and I appreciate everybody's input and everybody's time

[146:59.43] and the effort it took to get up before this council body

[147:06.79] and speak and so thank you all for your time

[147:09.55] and for your presentation.

[147:13.75] - Councilmember Shaw.

[147:16.14] - I wanna echo my colleagues

[147:18.78] and thank them for their questions

[147:21.64] as well as to thank staff and most of all

[147:24.00] to thank the community for testifying,

[147:27.01] particularly the [name] family

[147:29.45] and going back to something Ms. Picard said

[147:32.69] around the feelings of the property and integrity,

[147:38.94] I feel like the [name] family really spoke

[147:41.49] to that feeling and sharing the family history

[147:45.45] and lineage and why that space and place

[147:48.93] are so incredibly important to Rockville

[147:52.41] and to everyone's history here in Rockville

[147:56.46] and I also am gonna take this moment

[147:58.94] to just highlight how throughout the history of Rockville,

[148:05.45] black homes have not received

[148:07.88] that same type of respect and value

[148:11.85] even through to today, right?

[148:16.55] From the history that we heard today,

[148:20.45] through urban renewal,

[148:22.17] through who actually is getting displaced right now

[148:26.50] and who is being priced out.

[148:28.44] There is a long history of Rockville

[148:32.31] of not really respecting the homes

[148:34.95] and lands of black families

[148:38.73] and so if we have a majority,

[148:44.46] I would like to move forward

[148:46.34] and introduce this ordinance,

[148:49.02] that opportunity rises.

[148:51.26] - Thank you.

[148:52.75] Councilman Van Grack.

[148:55.19] - Thank you.

[148:56.71] Echoing a lot of what's been said here today,

[148:59.55] there is no question Martins Lane

[149:02.59] is historically significant.

[149:04.75] We have a significant history in this area of Rockville.

[149:08.99] I know I grew up with the [name] hanging out.

[149:11.79] This is a history that doesn't just go to this neighborhood,

[149:15.03] it goes to their involvement in Rockville

[149:17.31] at Richard Montgomery High School.

[149:19.31] Throughout the involvement of civic

[149:21.83] and the boards and commissions throughout this entire city,

[149:25.99] there is an involvement and there is a culture

[149:28.79] that this neighborhood and these families bring

[149:32.19] and have brought to Rockville

[149:33.91] that is a key preservation

[149:35.31] and I wanna go back to something that was said earlier.

[149:37.95] The big question in my mind is,

[149:39.67] why haven't we done this earlier?

[149:42.19] Why have we gotten to,

[149:44.51] I mean, I have to tell you, I've been in this neighborhood,

[149:46.71] I assumed this property was historically designated

[149:49.95] and I assumed that actually the reason why

[149:52.31] it was in a derelict state

[149:54.67] was some catch up with the historic designation

[149:58.74] that was having an issue with approval

[150:00.38] and hadn't realized it,

[150:02.78] which I think brings us to kind of some of the concerns

[150:05.46] that my colleagues and us have talked about,

[150:08.34] not just why it was, has gotten to the state

[150:11.58] because Lord knows it should never have gotten here,

[150:14.21] but what are we gonna do going forward?

[150:16.47] And so I wanna kind of ask some questions of staff

[150:19.41] because I mean, again, let's put it off the table.

[150:22.30] This is a historically significant property period and stop.

[150:25.90] The question is, what are we gonna do going forward?

[150:28.14] 'Cause we've let it get to this state.

[150:30.26] And I read through,

[150:32.43] and I know I think the city manager and staff

[150:34.43] are getting through to some of my questions.

[150:36.33] My understanding is we're just presuming is correct

[150:39.67] to the 2022 report, which says, and I quote,

[150:42.97] cannot be repaired or retained.

[150:45.58] That concerns me because we're relying now

[150:48.27] on a situation that says this building

[150:50.27] cannot be repaired or retained.

[150:52.40] What does that mean with regard to our historic designation?

[150:55.58] Does this mean that our only option here is a rebuild?

[151:00.13] I mean, it sounds like we're not going to force

[151:02.37] a demolition 'cause we can't, other than we give citations.

[151:05.37] But with regard to a rebuild, are we preserving the house?

[151:09.02] Are we preserving this property?

[151:10.72] What are we essentially doing with this designation

[151:15.20] with a property that it is unquestionably historic?

[151:19.39] What are we assigning with regard to the responsibilities

[151:22.84] of the city and the historic district commission?

[151:27.00] - So the way that our preservation program works

[151:29.58] currently in Rockville is when a site is designated,

[151:32.10] it applies to the structure and the site itself,

[151:34.50] so the property.

[151:35.78] So as we talked about before, in theory,

[151:38.58] the structure could be demolished or altered in any way

[151:41.70] while the preservation regulations would apply

[151:43.76] to anything new that were to come onto the site,

[151:45.66] whether that's alterations to the existing,

[151:47.38] we're demoing, we're building something else,

[151:49.18] we're building a shed, whatever it may be.

[151:51.78] So what do we do here?

[151:54.12] We kind of have to address them both.

[151:55.60] We have no way to force someone to demolish their property,

[151:59.00] we have no way to force them to rebuild the property.

[152:02.44] You brought up some quotes

[152:03.44] from the structural assessment, accurate.

[152:05.56] I'm sure like money solves everything, right?

[152:07.95] Like if we had a money tree,

[152:09.21] we could probably restore the property as it is,

[152:12.25] but we would not mandate that.

[152:14.07] Like designation and the loan does not mandate

[152:16.07] that the property owner has to restore

[152:17.55] exactly what's there.

[152:18.63] We will provide them guidelines

[152:20.15] for if they did want to do that,

[152:21.57] what would we be looking to do?

[152:22.91] What would be the characteristics

[152:24.37] that we would be monitoring and giving approvals for,

[152:26.79] but we can't mandate it.

[152:30.11] - So I wanna bring up something

[152:32.05] because, and I know it really doesn't come into play

[152:34.85] because again, this property is historic,

[152:37.40] but when we've got a situation like this

[152:39.65] and we've got shared history,

[152:41.62] history of these families that are so ingrained

[152:44.07] in Rockville and these communities,

[152:46.39] it seems like we're so focused here on structures

[152:50.71] and here's a demolished structure,

[152:52.27] whereas I know we've done a wonderful job

[152:55.11] and I know we've got that represented from peerless here.

[152:57.73] They've done a wonderful job

[152:58.71] with some of these historical markers,

[153:00.31] some of these locations of letting folks know

[153:03.27] of the shared history.

[153:04.62] And if we're just saying, hey, you can rebuild

[153:07.91] and you know, rebuild it similar,

[153:10.29] are we really preserving the history?

[153:12.91] I know council member Valeri was instructive

[153:15.41] with regard to Twin Burpool

[153:17.01] and getting a historical marker there.

[153:19.47] We've got historical,

[153:20.63] and I know there is a historical marker in this community,

[153:23.71] but we've got history with regard

[153:25.09] to some of these buildings

[153:26.29] and what they've meant to the community,

[153:27.69] what they've meant to our city.

[153:29.29] And I wonder whether we're weighing a preservation

[153:32.21] of a structure versus the preserved history.

[153:35.65] And I know that's not really within the bounds

[153:37.93] of kind of the historic designation,

[153:39.93] but it's something to think about

[153:40.89] because this is such a strong community.

[153:43.41] There's such a strong history.

[153:45.17] And I sometimes worry that, you know,

[153:47.17] the next generation might not have people like me

[153:49.43] that grew up with the [name], you know,

[153:50.81] playing football around, you know, in the area

[153:52.85] and some of that history might be lost.

[153:55.53] And I don't wanna lose the forest for the trees.

[153:57.23] I mean, heck, and I know we can't mandate that

[153:59.41] if this house is gonna have to be demolished,

[154:03.14] is there a way to preserve some parts of the house

[154:05.66] and incorporate it with the historical structure?

[154:07.82] I mean, I know there's so much shared history.

[154:09.82] We are testimony about people being in this house

[154:11.82] and it looks like we're gonna lose the house.

[154:14.06] And so again, goes to what happened in the past.

[154:17.06] We can't always change it, but what we can do to move forward.

[154:20.34] But I know there was a lot of going into it

[154:22.58] from the historic district commission

[154:24.14] and everything going into evaluating this.

[154:27.15] This is a tough case because of it.

[154:29.25] And I know staff, you did a phenomenal job looking into it.

[154:32.45] The historic district commission did a great job.

[154:34.37] So I really commend everybody in addition to those who came

[154:38.09] and here to testify today because this is an important part

[154:41.57] of our history and our city.

[154:47.61] - Thank you.

[154:49.49] I just wanna just, I'm hearing some energy

[154:53.09] on an introduction, but I just wanted to again,

[154:56.56] thank the family members as well as a property owner

[154:58.86] and everyone for coming out.

[155:01.08] And I wanna thank staff and pre-list

[155:03.98] and previous people who have done history projects on this.

[155:07.28] This packet is something to look at

[155:09.48] and print out and put somewhere.

[155:12.68] It documents so much incredible history

[155:15.48] and what the value of that land is.

[155:17.86] And as I noted before, some people's land and houses

[155:21.40] have been preserved and people put money into it.

[155:24.01] We haven't seen that as equitably in other places

[155:27.09] and that's part of why potentially we're here.

[155:29.69] But I did wanna honor some of the families,

[155:33.05] the Prater family, the Crutrill family.

[155:35.31] There's also a larger history, the Carols, the Rosses,

[155:39.08] the Proctors, there's so many people

[155:41.96] that are listed in this history book

[155:43.72] that you've put together for us.

[155:44.96] And I hope that we can find other ways

[155:46.40] to bring this to life, not just when we're coming

[155:49.04] at a historic designation.

[155:51.48] And I wonder if there's an opportunity

[155:53.40] for a larger conversation on how we can prevent

[155:59.17] this kind of thing from happening in the future

[156:01.17] and how we can proactively preserve our history.

[156:04.54] I think that's something that for the work session

[156:07.25] and other ideas, we need to do it.

[156:10.48] So with that said, Councilmember Fulton.

[156:15.80] - So I do just wanna, to the point you're making,

[156:19.44] it is clearly historic property.

[156:21.00] We need to preserve it.

[156:21.84] If there's anything that meets the criteria,

[156:23.16] it's this yes period full stop.

[156:25.38] But this is the third time that I can think of

[156:28.70] where we've, property owner has bought a property

[156:32.55] unencumbered, thinking it was free,

[156:35.55] could do what they wanted and then the designation came.

[156:39.63] We have got to do something to stop finding ourselves

[156:42.27] in this situation.

[156:43.15] And I don't mean to look just at staff.

[156:45.79] I'm looking at, one of the things that HGC

[156:48.33] is supposed to do is identify and recommend properties

[156:51.01] in the area so it shouldn't take the trigger of,

[156:54.97] the point is that we don't have to wait for the trigger.

[156:57.46] And Peerless does a great job of documenting the history

[157:01.72] here.

[157:02.56] Peerless has come forward and recommended now

[157:04.64] through HGC properties.

[157:05.72] I would love for it not just to be staff

[157:08.32] that has to do that.

[157:09.16] I don't wanna be here again.

[157:12.86] Couldn't move out without saying that point.

[157:15.99] - I agree and I'll just note that that goes for,

[157:18.43] I know that was one of the challenges with some

[157:20.35] of the design guidelines is when you're buying in,

[157:24.00] you need to know what you're getting into.

[157:25.60] You need to be able to have it documented

[157:28.28] so when you're buying something for info,

[157:29.80] you know what you're walking into and that purchase.

[157:32.47] And so that's, I do think that we need to look at,

[157:35.23] and I think there's a remit to update the historical guide.

[157:38.47] I know there's an official name for it, but yes, yes.

[157:43.87] It's from last term actually and this term.

[157:45.91] - And this term.

[157:48.15] - So I just, I think you're hearing from us

[157:49.79] that we would like to not be in this predicament

[157:52.15] and to just be more comprehensive so that people

[157:55.03] who are buying in the city of Rockville know

[157:56.95] what they're buying into.

[157:59.33] Dr. Miles.

[158:00.39] - Thank you, Madam Mayor.

[158:01.23] Just one quick clarifying question, probably in there,

[158:04.05] but I apologize, but also for the listening public.

[158:07.04] The historic designation would be for the home

[158:08.76] and the property, is that correct?

[158:11.57] - Yeah, the designation would cover the entire property

[158:14.61] based on the parcel lines.

[158:16.62] - Thank you.

[158:25.04] - Thank you very much.

[158:26.36] Appreciate the comments of my colleagues

[158:29.35] and welcome additional discussion after the session.

[158:36.16] So colleagues, what say you?

[158:42.77] Do we want to move?

[158:45.35] Should we move to, does anyone have a motion

[158:47.39] to move to introduce Council Member Shaw?

[158:53.95] - Thank you, Madam Mayor.

[158:55.65] I introduce the ordinance to grant zoning map amendment

[158:58.81] map 2027-127 to rezone Martins Lane

[159:04.18] into the historic district overlay zone.

[159:07.91] - Thank you.

[159:09.46] If we want to proceed tonight, we can move the layover period.

[159:12.22] Does anyone want to speak to that?

[159:13.94] Council Member Jackson.

[159:15.51] - Thank you, Mayor.

[159:16.63] I move to waive the layover period.

[159:19.83] - Thank you, Council Member Valeri.

[159:21.71] - I second.

[159:22.52] - Thank you.

[159:23.36] All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye.

[159:25.32] - Aye.

[159:26.11] - I'm just making sure we have six.

[159:29.42] Okay, do we have a motion to adopt the ordinance?

[159:33.63] Council Member Fulton.

[159:36.52] - I move to adopt the ordinance

[159:38.00] to grant zoning map amendment map 2027-127

[159:43.00] to rezone Martins Lane

[159:45.00] into the historic district overlay zone.

[159:48.07] - Council Member Van Graak seconds.

[159:50.39] All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye.

[159:52.71] - Aye.

[159:54.12] - Thank you all.

[159:55.75] Thank you to everyone.

[159:56.79] (audience applauds)

[160:03.58] We're gonna take a brief break.

[160:05.61] We can come back.

[160:06.85] I know we're gonna get to the team on the elections,

[160:09.25] we promise, but we'll come back in about 840.

[160:14.90] Let's do that 840, all right?

[160:34.40] Good evening, Rockville.

[160:35.60] Welcome back.

[160:36.76] We are getting started

[160:38.44] on our legislative bond initiative discussion.

[160:41.66] This is our work session part of the evening.

[160:44.06] I wanna thank my colleagues

[160:45.38] and all the residents for your input.

[160:48.33] We're now ready to re-begin, reconvene meeting 21-26.

[160:53.02] I wanna turn it over to [name]

[160:54.82] who's gonna walk us through

[160:55.78] our 2027 state legislative priorities and bond initiatives.

[161:00.61] Welcome.

[161:02.15] - Thank you.

[161:02.97] Good evening, Madam Mayor, members of the council.

[161:04.79] It's a pleasure to be here this evening.

[161:08.13] We will begin tonight's presentation

[161:10.12] by reviewing the outline.

[161:11.96] We will begin with an introduction

[161:14.00] followed by background, proposed priorities,

[161:17.05] a discussion, next steps,

[161:19.68] requested feedback, and questions.

[161:24.33] This is the mayor and council's annual discussion

[161:27.23] of state legislative priorities

[161:28.95] and legislative bond initiatives

[161:31.15] for the 2027 general assembly session.

[161:34.45] The upcoming session is going to begin on January 13th

[161:37.57] and it will end on April 12th, 2027.

[161:42.83] It is important for the mayor and council

[161:44.61] on an annual basis to adopt state legislative priorities.

[161:48.29] It disseminates the elected body's position

[161:51.18] on important bills

[161:52.74] and it focuses the city's legislative advocacy

[161:55.70] on the highest priorities,

[161:57.54] which maximizes the impact

[162:00.24] of Rockville's legislative advocacy in Annapolis

[162:03.08] during the legislative session.

[162:06.05] As far as factors that we've been tracking

[162:08.05] that may impact the 2027 general assembly session,

[162:11.77] we think there are going to be a few,

[162:13.45] but I will make a caveat that we're four months out

[162:15.85] from the session and in the months and weeks,

[162:18.40] the agenda is going to change and evolve

[162:21.48] probably right up until the start of the session.

[162:24.12] But we think at this point,

[162:25.64] the November 2026 election results will have impact

[162:30.05] as well as the deepening state budget shortfall

[162:32.93] and fiscal uncertainty around federal job losses

[162:35.89] and grant reductions,

[162:37.52] as well as the affordability of the blueprint

[162:39.65] for Maryland's future public education funding.

[162:44.43] Back on June 1st, early this year,

[162:46.67] the mayor and council began their discussion

[162:48.75] of 2027 state legislative priorities

[162:51.65] by approving three Maryland Municipal League

[162:54.03] legislative action requests

[162:56.17] as 2027 priorities to forward to MML.

[162:59.87] And I will briefly recap them here.

[163:02.03] The first item is modernizing municipal revenue structures.

[163:05.33] This includes protecting highway use of revenue

[163:08.13] and state aid for police protection funding.

[163:11.47] This item is tied to the local government revenues

[163:15.47] restructuring task force that is underway in Annapolis.

[163:19.03] They will provide a report to the general assembly

[163:21.27] in early December,

[163:22.76] and the recommendations coming out of that report

[163:25.28] could lead to legislation perhaps in aligns

[163:27.84] with this initiative.

[163:29.60] The second item is legislation requiring boards of education

[163:33.50] to consult with municipalities

[163:35.74] and incorporate municipal data

[163:37.68] into their annual student residency and school zones reports,

[163:41.86] as well as advocating for municipal government autonomy

[163:45.80] to make benefits and leave decisions

[163:48.20] regarding the state's family

[163:49.88] and medical leave insurance program.

[163:54.72] The slide here shows a proposed 2027 state legislative

[163:59.19] priorities that staff is proposing.

[164:01.67] I will briefly go over them with you right now.

[164:04.42] The first three were just covered in the previous slide,

[164:06.90] so I'm going to skip to the fourth item.

[164:10.44] That is legislation to support funding

[164:13.10] for youth service bureaus and initiatives

[164:15.79] and juvenile services for teens

[164:18.06] during out of school hours,

[164:20.01] legislation strengthening tenant protections,

[164:23.33] expanding access to the state property tax credit

[164:26.33] for income challenge seniors

[164:28.29] and individuals with disabilities,

[164:30.89] advocating in support of the city's vision zero

[164:33.69] and pedestrian master plan efforts,

[164:36.28] advocating in support of educational needs

[164:38.48] across the spectrum,

[164:39.52] including capital and operating funding,

[164:42.52] advocating for senior programming,

[164:45.41] and supporting legislation that advances

[164:47.41] the city's climate action goals.

[164:49.78] In terms of legislative bond initiatives

[164:51.88] for the 2027 session,

[164:54.08] staff is recommending that the mayor and council

[164:57.06] give staff approval to forward two project options

[165:00.70] to the district 17 delegation

[165:03.01] for their review and consideration.

[165:05.18] They are most familiar with the priorities

[165:07.38] and initiatives of the general assembly

[165:09.34] and have a really good finger on the pulse

[165:11.38] of what projects may be most impactful.

[165:15.21] The first project is a playground equity project.

[165:17.99] This is at the Lone Oak Park playground

[165:20.83] in Twin Brook community.

[165:22.44] This is at a cost of 350,000.

[165:25.44] This would provide a safe and accessible playground

[165:29.25] and equitable playground for children of all abilities

[165:32.41] at this location,

[165:33.53] and the playground equipment at this park

[165:35.37] has not been replaced in 25 years.

[165:38.02] And the second location is at the Maddy Stepanek Park,

[165:41.39] and that's the playground accessibility enhancement project

[165:44.14] for a total request of 350,

[165:46.10] and it makes this total project cost at 700,000.

[165:49.88] This would provide a completely accessible

[165:53.31] and inclusive playground that meets the criteria

[165:55.79] for Maryland's playgrounds for all program,

[165:58.72] and that's a program that has heightened ADA requirements,

[166:03.19] and we're understanding that there's only a few parks

[166:05.67] across the state that meet this requirement.

[166:08.37] And this park project aligns with the memory

[166:11.55] of Maddy Stepanek, who was a strong advocate.

[166:14.03] He was an individual with a disability,

[166:15.95] and he supported accessibility inclusiveness and kindness.

[166:20.71] The second project is the City Hall

[166:24.30] Accessibility and Security Project,

[166:26.34] and that's a project cost at $550,000.

[166:30.32] This project would provide enhancements

[166:32.88] to the front entrance of City Hall.

[166:35.08] It would include a gender-neutral restroom,

[166:37.46] co-compliant bathrooms, a adult changing station,

[166:41.48] doorway improvements, and security upgrades.

[166:47.38] As far as next steps, staff will prepare a resolution

[166:50.87] that reflects a direction provided by the mayor and council

[166:53.47] this evening on state legislative priorities

[166:56.11] and legislative bond initiatives.

[166:58.21] Staff will return on October 5th with a resolution

[167:01.37] that reflects the mayor and council's direction

[167:03.39] for adoption, and at the November 16th priorities hearing

[167:08.36] at the Montgomery County State Delegation,

[167:10.64] Rockville will provide testimony in support

[167:13.39] for the 2027 state legislative priorities.

[167:16.43] And in the coming weeks and months,

[167:17.96] Rockville will collaborate with the District 17 delegation

[167:21.20] and other key stakeholders to advance Rockville's priorities

[167:24.24] in the upcoming state legislative session.

[167:28.23] On this slide shows the recommended priorities,

[167:31.03] and it also has a requested feedback.

[167:33.15] There are two key questions that staff

[167:35.48] is seeking input from from the mayor and council.

[167:38.28] Does the mayor and council support

[167:40.24] the proposed 2027 state legislative priorities,

[167:43.68] and does the mayor and council have any priorities to add?

[167:47.85] We will end the presentation with questions

[167:52.13] and we will move the slide back to the requested feedback

[167:56.57] so it can guide the mayor and council's discussion.

[167:59.22] This will end the presentation.

[168:00.68] Staff is available to answer any questions.

[168:03.12] We also have our state lobbyist, [name],

[168:05.67] on the line who can help answer questions.

[168:08.43] We're very much looking forward to the mayor

[168:09.95] and council's conversation and direction this evening.

[168:12.57] And we thank you, and with that,

[168:13.86] we'll turn it back over to you, Madam Mayor.

[168:15.78] - Thank you.

[168:17.39] It feels like just yesterday we're preparing

[168:18.87] for the last session.

[168:20.27] It comes around quick.

[168:22.15] So just wanted to say thank you

[168:23.79] because it's not only this that you do with us in public,

[168:26.19] but when session begins, we're having weekly meetings

[168:28.39] on legislative priorities and trying to be quick

[168:31.21] and responsive to be able to advocate

[168:33.09] on behalf of the residents of the city of Rockville.

[168:35.09] So in advance, thank you for that as well.

[168:38.17] If we could start with the LBIs,

[168:40.01] Legislative Bond Initiatives,

[168:41.93] 'cause I think that's a short item

[168:43.57] to try to be able to get consensus on,

[168:47.30] but just to set the level playing field,

[168:49.51] we, what I understand about the processes

[168:52.18] we're gonna submit, they're three,

[168:54.19] but they're technically two,

[168:56.37] and we are going to give options.

[169:00.52] Sometimes the D17 team wants to come and see.

[169:04.24] They're gonna schedule a tour for them

[169:05.64] to be able to see these properties like we did last year,

[169:08.28] so they can put their eyes and hands

[169:10.28] and physically see the property and ask questions of us.

[169:13.93] Is that right?

[169:15.59] - Yes, that is correct.

[169:16.86] - Okay, and then sometimes they give us feedback.

[169:18.97] This is likely to go versus not.

[169:20.33] So I'm just saying that we don't have to whittle down

[169:23.41] necessarily because we're presenting options to D17.

[169:27.34] So if you have anything else you wanna consider

[169:30.62] for the future, let us know,

[169:32.02] but I just want to know that we don't have to say,

[169:34.97] I want this and not that.

[169:36.45] We can present all three, technically two.

[169:40.14] All right, colleagues,

[169:41.14] do you support the Legislative Bond Initiative?

[169:43.58] Do you wanna go, question?

[169:44.94] You have a question, go ahead.

[169:47.05] - Yeah, I just have a quick question.

[169:49.46] I'm wondering, can staff provide a complete list

[169:52.67] of all the CIP projects that would be eligible for state

[169:55.83] bond initiatives?

[169:59.66] I appreciate the work that's done to present us

[170:03.46] with the options that we have here,

[170:05.78] but it would be, I think, helpful knowing our CIP load

[170:12.23] and knowing some of our other priorities

[170:15.00] if we could just see the full list of what's eligible.

[170:19.27] Is that something that can be provided?

[170:21.22] - Mr. Mahalik.

[170:22.06] - We can provide that list.

[170:24.71] - Thank you, and I've asked this in the past

[170:26.99] 'cause I'm trying to read your mind a little bit,

[170:29.55] but we've asked in the past

[170:31.90] about the Twin Brook pedestrian bridge, for example,

[170:33.90] and there's a certain level of readiness

[170:36.16] that you have to do for these LBIs.

[170:38.52] Mr. Mahalik, is that correct?

[170:39.96] - That's correct.

[170:40.80] - So some CIPs may qualify and some might not.

[170:43.52] You just have to have the studies done.

[170:46.37] - That's also correct.

[170:47.21] - Shovel ready, okay, perfect.

[170:48.65] - That was, and thank you, Madam Mayor.

[170:50.17] That's where I was coming from,

[170:51.15] but I also know that there, again,

[170:52.81] we have a lot of really important CIPs

[170:55.37] in general, and it would be helpful to get that list,

[170:59.67] and then we can kind of see the other,

[171:03.50] 'cause I think these are great,

[171:04.60] but I'm kind of, and I appreciate it,

[171:09.09] especially I know the Lone Oak Park playground

[171:12.21] has not been touched in a very long time,

[171:15.54] so I'm appreciative of that for sure,

[171:18.21] but I just kind of want to see

[171:20.29] where some of these projects came from,

[171:23.52] and then shoot for the moon,

[171:26.45] and we can always have backup plans.

[171:30.71] - Okay, so are there any questions on LBIs,

[171:33.39] or can we give direction?

[171:35.68] Okay, all right, colleagues.

[171:38.20] Do you need a motion from us?

[171:39.44] We're just gonna do this as a work session,

[171:40.68] so we're gonna do a thumbs up, okay?

[171:44.64] Okay, you've got six thumbs up and a question.

[171:48.05] Council Member Shaw.

[171:49.13] - Well, I would just, I would follow up

[171:52.92] with Council Member Valeri's question,

[171:55.29] and just have to have more understanding.

[171:57.87] I definitely support the first two,

[172:01.30] but I think there may be some more opportunities

[172:06.92] to do some projects and have some grants

[172:09.14] outside of City Hall, like within the community,

[172:12.27] and so I just wanted to have some more information,

[172:15.95] and so I support two out of the three.

[172:18.50] - Thank you.

[172:20.29] Council Member Van Graak.

[172:21.29] - Well, not to be kind of the opposite,

[172:23.65] but I actually think the City Hall accessibility

[172:25.89] is a great idea.

[172:26.73] I have actually heard from numerous community members

[172:29.81] who've talked to me about some of the accessibility issues

[172:32.61] at City Hall and complained to me personally,

[172:35.09] so to the extent we can fix some of those issues,

[172:38.13] whether it's with our money, with the state's money,

[172:41.21] I know this is an issue that I've heard

[172:43.51] from community members is in need,

[172:45.63] so I actually was actually gonna compliment staff

[172:50.03] for putting that one on the list.

[172:54.38] - Council Member Shaw.

[172:56.13] - Thank you, Madam Mayor, and I just wanna be clear.

[172:59.15] I do support accessibility in City Hall,

[173:02.37] but I just wanna see if there are any other accessibility

[173:06.49] issues outside of City Hall

[173:09.89] that we could make a comparison with.

[173:14.74] - Thank you, and I know we'll go into the budget discussion

[173:17.30] about City Hall more broadly,

[173:18.74] so that we'll have a more robust discussion there,

[173:20.64] but thank you for bringing these to us,

[173:22.10] and I definitely appreciate that you're looking at

[173:25.02] recreational equity to make sure we're getting

[173:27.68] a different parts of the city

[173:28.52] and replacing playground equipment that is outdated

[173:31.48] and looking, I know that as you're following the pros plan

[173:33.68] to help guide these suggestions to the mayor and council,

[173:39.97] and then in terms of City Hall,

[173:41.49] I know all of us really support accessibility,

[173:44.57] and we'll just note that there are other things

[173:48.97] in City Hall that could be discussed, so.

[173:52.17] Gaithersburg did get some money outside of the LBI,

[173:54.93] and I did send some information about that,

[173:57.01] so I just wanna also be creative about other grant funding.

[174:02.15] Okay, all right.

[174:04.03] We're now moving on to the legislative priorities,

[174:07.43] so this really has grown to represent

[174:11.06] a lot of the feedback of our colleagues.

[174:12.94] Just wanna see, do you support what's here?

[174:20.66] Can the slide be added back to the screen, please?

[174:27.02] While you're doing that, I did wanna make one comment

[174:29.78] about the Time to Care Act.

[174:33.13] I think that my colleagues and I were clarifying that

[174:38.47] while we have concerns with the self-insurance approach

[174:41.95] that might inadvertently reduce benefits

[174:44.87] in some jurisdictions because they're gonna revert

[174:47.21] to something that has less,

[174:49.41] I wanna be careful that we're not saying

[174:51.85] don't make any requirements for parental leave

[174:54.81] and family leave.

[174:56.21] We, as an ethos, I think most people believe that,

[175:00.56] but we were just asking for them

[175:02.16] to have something in legislation

[175:04.54] that acknowledges jurisdictions who are meeting

[175:08.03] that through a leave option versus the employee

[175:13.61] has to pay in and the city has to pay in.

[175:16.17] So I think it's an important distinction,

[175:18.23] and some of the language made me slightly uncomfortable

[175:20.53] with the way it is,

[175:22.01] 'cause I don't think it gives full support of family leave.

[175:26.35] I did send some alternate language

[175:29.35] to the city manager to consider,

[175:32.19] and I can share that with my colleagues as well,

[175:33.83] if you'd like, but I think we just need to tweak that.

[175:37.93] Council Member Shaw.

[175:40.05] - I had some similar concerns with that,

[175:43.05] and I think we're getting at the same point here,

[175:46.32] but I do wanna just make sure for employees

[175:49.42] that whatever is decided for their insurance,

[175:54.07] that it's either equal or better than the state

[175:58.30] and what the state is providing across the board.

[176:01.72] - Yes, that's exactly what I shared.

[176:05.20] - And not an increased cost

[176:07.56] than what they would have to pay for.

[176:10.79] Just across the state.

[176:12.45] - So the idea was trying to,

[176:13.93] so there's potential guidance on salary continuation,

[176:17.09] which is a paid leave versus making the employee

[176:19.41] pay through an insurance,

[176:20.29] and I think that is what we talked about

[176:22.15] advocating to the state for.

[176:23.95] To say, listen, the city provides more,

[176:27.43] we would meet the leave requirements,

[176:30.37] but we would do it through leave

[176:31.65] versus having employees and the city

[176:33.77] and pay into a self-insurance model.

[176:36.69] And I've heard similar comments at MML

[176:40.49] wanting to make sure that municipality,

[176:42.53] I know Gaithersburg has been in the same position.

[176:45.77] Council Member Jackson.

[176:47.44] - Thank you, Mayor.

[176:48.81] I can't shed too much thought on it,

[176:51.70] but there was a discussion,

[176:53.02] so I'm on the sit now on the legislative committee of MML,

[176:57.88] and there was a discussion we had

[177:00.30] about the family medical leave,

[177:04.56] and I believe, and maybe Linda used that on this as well,

[177:09.48] but the thinking was that we were gonna wait and see,

[177:14.92] because there were regulations

[177:16.16] that are being developed by the department

[177:19.84] to take care of municipalities that had their own.

[177:27.42] So I'm not sure exactly where that is,

[177:30.14] but I think that we're gonna wait,

[177:33.53] at least the MML, and take a position

[177:37.09] until we see what those regulations are.

[177:39.85] - Yeah, so the payments start in January, 2027,

[177:43.36] and that is a few months away,

[177:46.66] and I was at a board meeting this past week

[177:50.26] where they are looking to try to do something

[177:53.17] through guidance, but it's not legislative.

[177:56.13] And so what I'm saying is that we could,

[177:58.29] since we're putting together legislative priorities,

[178:00.42] be clear, as Rockville, on our legislative priorities.

[178:04.94] So, and I won't go too much into this,

[178:07.97] 'cause I wanna be brief,

[178:08.81] but I would note that Rockville was one

[178:10.41] of the first municipalities in Montgomery County

[178:11.81] to offer a robust paid leave program for parental leave.

[178:14.09] We support the State School of Expanding Access

[178:15.89] to Family Medical Leave,

[178:16.81] and Rockville offers a generous leave and benefits program,

[178:19.01] including paid parental leave.

[178:20.53] The city believes that paid salary continuation approaches

[178:22.97] should be allowed in the current regulatory framework

[178:25.25] that focuses on an insurance model

[178:26.49] unintentionally penalizes jurisdictions

[178:28.01] that offers a full paid leave approach,

[178:29.45] its employees and taxpayers.

[178:31.17] In addition, Rockville approach doesn't require

[178:32.81] additional payments by the employee,

[178:34.17] while the current law will collect payments

[178:35.49] from the jurisdiction and employee

[178:36.73] a year before benefits are allowed to be used.

[178:39.49] Request consideration of a regulatory framework

[178:41.71] for family that would allow municipalities

[178:43.43] to offer equal or better to the comments

[178:45.95] of my colleagues leave programs

[178:47.29] without the paid insurance model.

[178:48.91] This would help achieve the shared goal

[178:50.26] of providing employees the benefits

[178:51.50] of time to care and parental leave.

[178:53.73] So I've given that to the city manager.

[178:55.97] I just wanted to make sure if we are putting out language

[178:58.99] that it reflects what we were trying to achieve.

[179:06.18] Councilor Bushell.

[179:09.14] - Was there any input from any workers or unions

[179:15.64] that got to this measure?

[179:17.90] Maybe this is a question.

[179:19.30] - Yeah, that's a question for Ms. Moran,

[179:22.06] but what I can tell you is that there,

[179:25.64] the, and Councilmember Jackson might have it as well,

[179:28.30] but I think there are some education,

[179:31.18] there are some unions as well as boards of education,

[179:35.12] as well as the counties are coming together to say,

[179:38.99] this might be burdensome on employees,

[179:41.89] let's figure out approach to have a salary continuation.

[179:45.48] So I know that they're trying to appeal,

[179:47.47] but there's not a lot of time between now and January,

[179:50.30] the payments are gonna take effect.

[179:51.52] So that's why I just suggested that we be clear

[179:53.78] about what Rockville is suggesting.

[180:00.64] So we have everything else on this, is there anything that we want to add or remove?

[180:05.34] Councilmember Valerian.

[180:07.36] Not remove, so yay, but I would really like to, I'd love to add something to our priorities.

[180:20.52] I'd been thinking about the enabling legislation that would let municipalities negotiate MOUs

[180:27.04] with their counties so that a guaranteed percentage of school impact taxes generated within our

[180:32.32] boundaries, come back to serve the students who actually live here.

[180:36.08] I think Crown High School is a great example of where this matters.

[180:39.85] We're sitting here generating real school impact fee revenue, and right now there's

[180:44.46] no mechanism to ensure any of it flows back to the schools those kids will attend.

[180:49.97] I'd love for staff to take a look at whether this could work as a standalone

[180:54.62] 2027 priority or as part of a broader maybe MML related conversation.

[181:03.04] But I want to throw that out there because I would like to see the ability for municipalities

[181:10.00] to even enter into that discussion.

[181:12.56] My understanding is that it would require enabling legislation.

[181:16.06] And I'd love to hear the thoughts from my colleagues on being groundbreaking in this way.

[181:21.97] I will say I'm open to the discussion.

[181:28.00] I think it's a great one.

[181:28.96] I'm not sure if it's a statewide issue, because I'm not sure that all counties

[181:33.12] do impact taxes the way we do.

[181:35.24] So it would be more of a Rockville.

[181:37.12] You know, maybe we can also coordinate with others in Montgomery County.

[181:41.71] But I do think it's worth looking at.

[181:44.00] Councilman Van Grack.

[181:45.78] So I actually would support this, but it can also be a Montgomery County

[181:50.73] passed particular bill.

[181:53.26] So I think that's absolutely the right thing, because whether it's happening in Gaithersburg,

[181:57.82] whether it's happening in Rockville or any other region of Montgomery County,

[182:01.34] I think that makes perfect sense.

[182:03.02] Councilman Jackson.

[182:05.22] Thank you, Mayor.

[182:06.74] I think that Councilmember Van Grack is on to something.

[182:11.06] So I don't think that there was broader support in MML.

[182:16.66] That was one that we talked about.

[182:20.02] And it didn't get my support.

[182:24.20] So not saying that someday it wouldn't, but right now there's not.

[182:29.43] But I think that making it a Montgomery County focus bill would have more traction.

[182:35.65] I think it may be because everyone does impact taxes differently.

[182:39.22] So that's probably why it would be for Montgomery County.

[182:43.46] Then I would definitely want to then put it forward as a Montgomery County specific bill

[182:46.98] and see if we can work with our delegation to get that moving.

[182:53.33] OK, so who supports this?

[182:56.96] OK, Councilmember Fulton, you have a question?

[183:00.15] Or you're saying yes.

[183:01.11] OK, yeah.

[183:04.15] We're a yes.

[183:04.87] OK, good.

[183:10.12] Do you need anything from us on the parental leave,

[183:13.33] time to care act language change?

[183:16.13] Do you want me to do a roll call on that too?

[183:20.24] I'll just make a broad comment.

[183:24.08] I think that that whole matter is evolving,

[183:28.19] and it has been for a number of months.

[183:30.11] We're tracking it very, very carefully.

[183:33.50] I would encourage you, but of course, we'll do whatever Council wants on this.

[183:38.35] Back in June, what we asked you guys supported was for us to just ask for

[183:43.85] some additional flexibility for municipalities.

[183:46.77] Some municipalities are saying we want an exemption from municipalities from that act,

[183:51.90] and that's it.

[183:54.13] We would accept that, at least from staff's perspective.

[183:58.32] We think that makes some sense, but we're not so sure that's going to get to the finish line.

[184:01.95] But we do think we need more flexibility to implement as much as we can.

[184:07.32] I'll also say, with a little bit of reluctance,

[184:11.17] I'm wondering if this initiative actually gets to the finish line,

[184:15.23] considering that the state really hasn't, through our knowledge,

[184:18.30] stood up the infrastructure in place to guide this for 150,000 businesses in the state of Maryland.

[184:25.10] So we really wonder about that.

[184:26.78] Having said that, I think you're having something in your priorities

[184:33.06] that talk about additional flexibility for municipalities

[184:37.11] to move forward with this act is what I would recommend.

[184:40.94] Thanks, Jeff.

[184:45.54] I do think that some other municipalities are hoping Rockville takes a more clear stance.

[184:50.66] I've heard this.

[184:52.91] There are some that are leading on this.

[184:54.75] I think we need to help lead on this.

[184:57.47] This is so close.

[184:58.55] January 2027 is going to hit before we know it.

[185:03.02] So I do think that the language I was raising

[185:07.13] kind of puts a more clear stake in the ground.

[185:09.11] As we're not saying we don't support this,

[185:11.03] we're saying this is how it could happen without having a negative impact.

[185:15.08] So I feel uncomfortable with the current language

[185:18.14] that may give the impression that we don't support.

[185:22.17] So that was how I read it.

[185:24.41] Councilmember Foulthorne.

[185:26.97] Maybe just trying to thread a needle here.

[185:32.53] What I hear the mayor saying is we need the context, right?

[185:36.21] So people don't assume that we want to provide worse benefits.

[185:40.29] The language that I think I heard you read, Madam Mayor, was a long.

[185:46.27] Do we achieve the goal by adding the words so long

[185:49.92] as the benefits provided are equal to or better than to what's in this bullet?

[185:54.62] Yeah, so the actual full text that is not on the slide

[185:59.14] that is currently there is about as long as what I said.

[186:02.88] So I was trying to replace it, but it basically says the city believes

[186:08.33] the decision should be left to municipalities to determine the legal

[186:10.57] benefits that align with their budgetary and operational structures.

[186:14.00] It could mean, like, don't bother us. We may or may not do leave.

[186:19.66] And so what so I just that's not where Rockville has been.

[186:24.43] And so I just want to be clear about what that what position

[186:27.07] Rockville is taking salivate continuation.

[186:29.18] Who is who supports just the clarity so that Rockville's position.

[186:38.53] All right. Anything else?

[186:44.48] I have a question about the sustainability.

[186:51.39] There are a lot of states that are looking at patio solar.

[186:55.20] I've heard this on the Environment Commission discussions as well.

[186:59.61] Hasn't made it in Maryland, but that's something that has been

[187:04.92] helping people to reduce electricity costs in other jurisdictions.

[187:08.64] And I just wonder if we might be supportive of something like that in Maryland.

[187:15.60] And then there's some pieces.

[187:17.44] I'm saying this so that as things bills come through, you can

[187:21.31] we can know potentially what I know what I'm interested in.

[187:24.91] Maybe my colleagues have others as well.

[187:26.67] But the secretary of housing is looking for some piece of legislation

[187:34.16] that supports single staircase.

[187:35.36] I know I've raised this in the past as well.

[187:36.80] Montgomery County is looking at it as well

[187:38.72] as a way to get more diverse housing types and reduce cost.

[187:42.74] And they also are looking at some things like being able to leverage approved plans.

[187:48.94] So that's a state bill that they would give local support

[187:53.02] where the state has some approved plans and local jurisdictions have approved plans

[187:56.62] and they can really expedite permitting and making sure things are done

[188:00.35] more expeditiously but safely.

[188:02.40] Okay.

[188:05.57] All right.

[188:07.93] Do a thumbs up.

[188:14.59] All right.

[188:17.47] Anything else?

[188:18.40] Yeah.

[188:18.94] Council member Larry.

[188:22.08] Thank you.

[188:23.78] As part of the packet that are the attachments to the Transportation Mobility Commission's report,

[188:34.01] the commission sent us in February of this year

[188:39.00] their list and actually Mr. Brooks alluded to it, their legislative list.

[188:44.83] I would love, I'm not sure, I believe that this would still be their priority.

[188:51.89] So if any of the bills in the February 26th memo did not cross the finish line,

[189:00.03] then I would say that these would continue to be our Vision Zero,

[189:05.15] the baseline for our Vision Zero related legislative priorities.

[189:10.03] This is especially things like the no right turn on red, the fixed route transit services,

[189:20.84] crosswalk monitoring.

[189:22.43] I think just generally it might be great to let them know, okay, this is the things

[189:29.02] that are still outstanding, presuming that they still support it,

[189:32.76] then those should be things that we would continue to support.

[189:36.52] And these are not really, they don't deviate from things that this mayor and council have

[189:42.57] supported in the past too.

[189:43.85] So I would suggest that.

[189:45.93] And then the question.

[189:48.17] So this would be on a bill watch list.

[189:49.69] So if these bills come up, then those will be presented to the mayor and council

[189:52.89] out of legislative discussions.

[189:54.09] And when we decide to write or not write, correct, correct.

[189:57.56] Exactly being clear for the staff.

[189:59.66] Exactly.

[190:00.12] Yes, this would be like a really good starting point on that.

[190:04.03] And then I'm also presuming that everything that we were advocating for last year,

[190:10.77] that did not get passed, we would continue to support or am I okay?

[190:17.02] That's my understanding.

[190:18.75] And we would watch for nuance changes because that happens.

[190:23.03] Yes, definitely.

[190:24.71] I know that there was the one climate action plan goal related one.

[190:30.26] The tree heaven bill became more of a expansive invasives related bill.

[190:36.14] And yeah, I just wanted to make sure because we supported some good stuff last session.

[190:42.38] And I think there's still work to be done.

[190:44.91] So thank you.

[190:46.14] All right.

[190:48.12] Council Michelle with the reductions in federal funding around SNAP,

[190:55.38] if we could put on the watch list any bills related to food security and sustainability.

[191:00.80] Thank you.

[191:02.27] Thank you, colleagues.

[191:09.02] Thank you, [name].

[191:10.43] And thank you, [name].

[191:11.87] Thank you.

[191:13.41] All right.

[191:14.75] We're now moving on to our next work session.

[191:23.36] Discussion of the draft to amend chapter eight of the Rockville city

[191:28.70] cold entitled elections to update provisions, make technical and other amendments.

[191:34.30] Welcome to our agenda presenter, [name],

[191:37.67] who is our city the city clerk, director of council operations

[191:41.41] and panelists, participants, [name], acting city attorney.

[191:45.98] Thank you, Madam Mayor and council members.

[191:49.84] Before we get started tonight, I just want to acknowledge our new board members and our

[191:56.00] former board members to the board of supervisors of elections,

[191:59.71] just in case nobody knows who they are.

[192:02.24] Mr. [name] is our chair.

[192:05.69] [name] is our new member.

[192:08.01] And then [name] is our returning member who is serving with us.

[192:13.29] So I just wanted to acknowledge they are here.

[192:17.08] Before we get started, I just want to acknowledge that they have done a lot of work.

[192:26.44] And so have my our acting city attorney working with us on many work sessions.

[192:35.69] Tonight staff is seeking directions on proposed amendments to our chapter eight of the city

[192:41.37] cold.

[192:42.05] Our goal is to walk through the proposed changes in which most of these changes

[192:48.37] were circulated via the red line version to the mayor and council on August 28th.

[192:55.04] We hope to answer any questions and to receive directions needed to finalize and move forward

[193:01.75] on the final ordinance.

[193:06.50] Slide two is the outline.

[193:08.82] I'll begin with a brief timeline and background and walk through recommendations

[193:13.86] of this chapter eight amendments.

[193:15.84] We will then discuss future voting methods, public financing proposed charter amendments,

[193:22.49] protection of election officials and then have discussion on specific feedback staff

[193:28.82] is requesting tonight.

[193:32.28] Slide three is introduction.

[193:35.59] The draft incorporates recommendations from the board of supervisors of elections

[193:40.70] along with the directions provided by the mayor and council during the June 8th work session

[193:46.74] and earlier discussions.

[193:49.12] Please be reminded that this is a targeted amendments to the existing election code

[193:55.83] rather than a complete rewrite of chapter eight.

[193:59.13] The draft includes revised definitions, update campaign finance provisions,

[194:07.20] a revised enforcement procedures, new state mandate legislation and provisions that correspond

[194:16.65] with potential charter amendments.

[194:19.33] Tonight's work session is intended to confirm whether the draft reflects mayor and council's

[194:25.88] directions and to identify any additional changes before we introduce and approve the ordinance.

[194:36.80] As slide four our feedback summary as we move through the presentation there are three

[194:42.97] principal areas where staff is requesting mayor and council's direction.

[194:48.06] Chapter eight amendments particularly definition section eight dash one.

[194:53.66] The powers and duties of the BSC, campaign financing and enforcement.

[195:00.51] Whether ranked choice voting and public financing should be considered as a non-binding

[195:06.84] referendum question for the ballot in 2027.

[195:10.53] Proposed charter amendments addressing voting 16 17 year olds and term limits.

[195:18.27] And slide five our background this proposed amendments focus on the areas that were identified

[195:25.80] through the city's election review process and needed clarification,

[195:30.96] modernization and greater consistency.

[195:34.18] One significant aspect of this draft is to use plain language.

[195:39.58] The intent to make the election code easier to understand for candidates,

[195:46.74] campaign committees, voters, election officials and members of the public.

[195:53.35] Center for civic design provided substantial assistance

[196:00.44] and guidance and revision of our provisions to make it more clear and more accessible language.

[196:07.74] You will notice that some of the language looks different from the traditional ordinance language.

[196:13.31] This is intentional.

[196:15.07] The long-term goal is that when the city undertakes a comprehensive rewrite of chapter eight,

[196:21.13] the entire ordinance can be drafted using plain language principles.

[196:26.27] We had consultant assistants working with us to outside organizations through this process.

[196:34.81] One of which I just mentioned center for design.

[196:38.01] They provided expertise and election best practices in plain language drafting.

[196:44.03] They previously and 2023 helped us with our advisory ballot questions on that election

[196:54.71] during that cycle.

[196:55.90] Campaign Legal Center provided expertise specializing in related campaign financing.

[197:02.97] These resources combined with the work of the city clerk, the city attorney and the BSC members

[197:08.68] helped staff to address these presented challenges and questions during our 2023 election.

[197:16.61] There are state requirements now that are required for municipalities

[197:24.67] and they have been important component to propose in these amendments.

[197:30.91] The sections incorporate requirements imposed on municipalities by the Maryland General Assembly

[197:38.21] in the 2026 legislative session.

[197:41.77] These requirements include reporting certain municipal election information

[197:47.00] to state board elections.

[197:49.02] This includes election dates, candidate qualifications,

[197:53.63] qualified candidates and information regarding voting procedures and locations.

[197:59.87] Following certification of results, municipalities now will be required

[198:05.38] to report election results to the state board for publication on their website as well.

[198:12.61] Including these requirements directly in chapter eight provisions provides a clear reference

[198:19.99] to the city's election administrative responsibilities that we didn't have in the past.

[198:28.03] Slide six, work completed.

[198:30.56] The work began with the consultants facilitated work sessions in May and June of 2025

[198:36.55] followed by the acceptance of the consultant's report in September of 2025.

[198:42.11] The BSC began reviewing the proposed updates in April of 2026 and continued its review through May.

[198:51.68] Mayor and council held a work session on June 8th and the BSC work session

[198:57.32] continued during their June and July.

[199:00.93] Following these discussions, staff, BSC members, city attorney's office and outside consultants

[199:07.66] worked through the proposed amendments before you tonight.

[199:10.94] Our timeline proposed adoption schedule.

[199:15.71] The first draft was provided for the mayor and council of the review on August 28th

[199:20.28] followed by the September 4th brief book distribution and tonight's work session.

[199:27.34] Subject to the mayor and council's direction, the proposed schedule is on October 5th of

[199:33.15] 2026, introduction of the election code and charter amendments, October 26th, public hearing,

[199:42.33] November 2nd, attentive additional public hearing and November 16 proposed adoption.

[199:50.24] The timeline then allows for the required posting, publication period with the charter

[199:58.92] amendments shown effectively for January 5th of 2027 and the election code to become effective

[200:07.54] in January 8th of 2027.

[200:10.54] Once adopted, we would provide the training that is necessary for the revisions that you

[200:18.06] will hear about the updated campaign financing and the board is actively working on a new

[200:25.26] candidates how to run for office. We are also, I need to add in here that we have

[200:34.70] piloted with our IT department and have also will have the new instructions for online

[200:41.74] petition.

[200:43.91] Slide eight, 2027 election readiness. The schedule is designed to help revise framework

[200:51.94] in place and will for the 2027 election which is on November the 2nd. This presentation

[201:00.75] identifies the readiness notice for our first mailing in March is usually when the first

[201:07.63] postcard is when I'm saying first mailing is the first notice of postcard that goes

[201:12.67] out for the 2027 in March.

[201:16.58] May 1, we have to have everything completed for the candidates information packet and

[201:24.70] ready for the election in November 2nd and between that time there will be one or two

[201:31.86] campaign finance reports that are due and there will be a lot of training involved with

[201:38.88] the new candidates and their treasures.

[201:41.60] Working backwards from those operation deadlines is why staff is seeking clear direction

[201:48.70] tonight.

[201:50.98] Slides nine through 14 is the section eight dash one our definitions.

[201:58.37] The first substance group of amendments updates and clarifies definitions through

[202:05.02] chapter eight. This is a new section. We've never had a clear definitions of a section so

[202:13.70] these are all new. The proposed revisions address the terms including board, campaign

[202:22.73] committee, campaign materials, candidate, contribution, election expenditures, general

[202:31.05] election, independent, political committee, provisional ballots, recall, registration,

[202:39.01] runoff elections, special elections, and treasure. Several definitions are intended

[202:45.95] to make campaign finance obligations clear. For example, the proposed candidate definitions

[202:54.11] create a simplified definition but still identifies specific actions that trigger

[203:00.34] candidate status including receiving or spending more than 300 or circulating and nominating

[203:09.34] petition. The political committee definitions similarity uses a 300 dollar

[203:17.63] threshold for contributions received or expenditures made during a calendar year.

[203:24.41] We have also added several new definitions. I am just going to stop there and ask if

[203:33.15] there's any questions or any concerns that the mayor and council have read about the

[203:39.02] definitions since it is a long presentation. Thank you. So I have some definitional questions

[203:44.97] my colleagues may as well. Would you like us to raise those now? Sure. Okay. I started here.

[203:51.73] I'm going to start on, do you guys have any questions that you want to raise? I just,

[203:54.93] we don't have to go on the line the whole way but I wanted to at least offer the opportunity

[203:58.77] first in that direction. Okay. All right. I had a few questions about the definitions. One is

[204:07.38] on the committee side. I felt like it was confusing on committee being described as a

[204:14.95] political committee but then we describe a political committee in a different way later.

[204:21.10] So that, that was something that I found to be because you, a little bit confusing. There's

[204:27.78] committee then there's political committee but you use political committee in the definition

[204:31.66] of committee. You want to answer that? It's more or less in conjunction with one or committees we

[204:40.27] identified as more than two persons in a committee or a slate or a organization or a pack. That is

[204:51.21] how it was identified and how it should be clarified. It's more or less persons

[204:58.81] and not looking at an individual. Okay. So would you include packs in here or not? No because

[205:08.01] they have consolidated that with political committees. Okay. And you wouldn't include

[205:12.97] slates in here? No, it's a group. Yes. Persons. This could be, these are people not candidates?

[205:22.28] Correct. Okay. All right. I will note that you use political committee, a political committee

[205:29.25] that is formed to support or oppose any candidate but then you have a definition of political

[205:35.15] committee later so a distinctive weight, those are both phrased. Okay. It's confusing. Okay.

[205:40.19] So I just wanted to flag that. Candidate versus an official candidate. Okay. Okay. Gotcha. So

[205:50.70] candidate, it's, I'm just going through the line here. So a person can consider themselves a

[206:00.16] candidate when they receive money of more than $300, make an expenditure more of $300,

[206:06.65] or they circulate a nomination petition. In the past, a candidate has become a candidate

[206:13.99] when they were certified as a candidate. So I just wanted to clarify. That's correct. An official

[206:17.67] candidate. An official candidate is after you're certified. So it's a potential candidate. After

[206:22.48] you met those requirements. They're not, they're not, they're not certified. Correct. Maybe that's

[206:27.23] worth clarifying, but Councilmember Vangrat. I was going to say, I actually like that. Yes.

[206:33.00] Because it prevents a loophole of someone trying to go around our finance procedures prior to the

[206:40.87] formal certification. Is that kind of your intent? That's the intent of that. Okay. Thank you. Yes.

[206:46.21] Because anybody can say you're a candidate, but until you certified by the board and you have

[206:52.06] met all the requirements for a certified candidate, you're not a certified candidate. You can, you can

[206:57.26] be out there and say, hey, I'm a candidate running for office, but you're not an official candidate.

[207:04.57] And you have requirements to file after you've received a threshold of funding. So do we use

[207:13.21] official candidate anywhere else in this document? I think it was just a definition so we could

[207:20.85] clarify that. Okay. Well, it may be worth just clarifying in the one candidate section.

[207:25.25] Okay. We can do that. You're a candidate, but you know that you must be certified. Absolutely.

[207:31.23] Just put those together. You have to meet those requirements for a certified candidate. Okay.

[207:35.15] And it keeps it in one place so people can see what it takes. Okay. Yeah. Okay. All right. I

[207:41.28] appreciate that. The other piece was on the expenditure section. So I'm looking at page

[207:49.87] four of the draft. The following are not expenditures. Any costs incurred producing

[207:58.01] any media. Yeah. Perfect. It's also has that language on contributions. Yes. So if you hire

[208:10.02] a consultant to produce media for you, that is that a loophole? Because you're saying any cost

[208:17.08] incurred in producing any media. Some people get, they might have someone doing a professional video

[208:22.30] or they, that's the production. Why are production costs included in expenditures or contributions?

[208:30.59] That might be, that might, you want to. We're trying to get to the finish line. Yes. We're

[208:39.32] trying to get to the finish line. Okay. Great. So [name]. So as we, as we discussed this

[208:53.34] particular provision, and it's a, it's a great question. But I think what we were trying to get

[208:59.70] at was that we didn't want candidates to be sort of on the hook for the cost of so-called earned

[209:09.27] media. Could we say that? That is, you know, news reporting or other sort of outside media attention

[209:19.68] that would feature them on a podcast or something like that. That was not a, that was not something

[209:27.65] that that was related directly to their campaign. So, you know, a bonafide news account, I think

[209:32.67] there's a definition here, at least in the, in the file that I'm looking at, a bonafide news account

[209:38.74] in a broadcast facility, for example, or part of a general pattern of campaign related coverage.

[209:45.34] Not a broadcaster controlled by any political party or any political action committee or

[209:51.26] anything like that. But, you know, basic news media that might feature a candidate, that's what we're

[209:59.06] talking about when we talk about media that is not a contribution. That's what we're trying to

[210:04.49] get at. Okay. I, I definitely appreciate that because media can be also perceived more broadly.

[210:12.03] So it might be just be something to look at so that there's not any loopholes there,

[210:16.29] Council Member. On that point, I think adding, there was a key word there in your explanation,

[210:23.56] that was the earned media component of it. So if we just added earned there, because I can appreciate

[210:31.60] that. I would hope that we wouldn't need to make that clear, but nobody should be on the hook for,

[210:38.82] you know, any cost incurred in producing any earned media. Because I think otherwise we start

[210:45.89] getting into a bit of a sticky situation there. So I think the definition is that you are treating

[210:51.95] this as earned media, not media as materials. Right. Like not like a campaign video that someone

[210:57.87] produced. Right. Okay. I think that's, thank you for the clarification. Okay. And then the other

[211:07.41] piece preservation of ballot withdrawal candidacy, are there, are there no changes to those sections?

[211:18.08] There are forms that are required procedural for withdrawal. Okay. That's more of a forms and SOPs

[211:30.62] and for the administrative part. And one part of the draft that was empty, that's why it was,

[211:35.96] it was printed twice in the brief book and the first part it was empty and I just wanted to

[211:39.32] understand how you were dealing with that. Those parts that aren't new or added or updated,

[211:47.55] we left those blank. Okay. That's helpful. Just to be clear. Yeah. Okay. So my next section is eight

[211:58.66] I just want to make sure that my colleagues have any more definitional questions.

[212:02.42] These are just kind of like, I can submit the via in the email, but they're very minor, but

[212:06.74] I figured just bring them up because I think we're doing it sweeping under the special elections

[212:10.50] definition. I think it's a cross reference error because you say section eight 48, but there is

[212:16.39] no eight 48 or at least that's reserved. Probably a typo. We're going to scrub this again. Thank you.

[212:24.02] Yeah. I'd notice a few like typographical and, but I assume that you guys are going to do it. Yeah.

[212:29.06] Definitely. Okay. And like, for example, it says the board's established from the code. It's a

[212:33.62] charter. It's a charter. Exactly. Yeah. So, all right. So we don't need to get into all the

[212:38.74] thank you, but we did catch it. We were going back. Yes. Thank you. So, okay. I had a couple

[212:51.40] and I'm losing my notes. I'm losing my mind a little bit here. On the point on an individual

[212:59.63] seeking, what definition is that? Candidate. And we're talking about a non-certified candidate,

[213:08.54] an individual seeking election to a city office, an individual becomes a candidate when they take

[213:13.86] any of the following actions. So, an individual becomes a candidate, a non-certified candidate,

[213:20.85] totally clear on that. Are you, are you stating then that an individual does not need to

[213:27.88] necessarily circulate a nomination petition if they either receive a contribution in excess of

[213:34.61] $300 or make an expenditure in excess of $300? At that point, I would assume they are collecting

[213:43.12] petition signatures to qualify as an official candidate. Because in theory, somebody could be

[213:49.86] receiving contributions or making an expenditure without being a certified candidate because that

[213:57.11] was the only threshold previously to become a certified candidate was the petition, the

[214:01.94] nominating petition. But as I'm reading this and totally correct me if I'm wrong, as I'm reading

[214:07.74] this, it's, it's, you can do, you know, it's like choose your own adventure. You can pick like one

[214:12.30] of those three and that would make you a non-certified candidate. To be certified then, how,

[214:19.21] what would that process look like? All the requirements would have to be met for an official

[214:25.93] candidate, which means your petitions, your, your forms, your treasurer, your campaign, all of that

[214:34.59] would have to be submitted to the clerk's office. And you would be certified with your nominating

[214:39.71] petitions with the board. That, that is a lot more clear than maybe it's just a very slight

[214:45.07] tweak in an individual becomes a candidate when they take, instead of saying any of the following

[214:50.71] actions, take the following actions because I think, and I defer to my, my, my legal colleagues,

[214:59.61] the word any there to me sounds like you can do one of those things and then you become,

[215:04.99] okay, so it's not just me kind of losing my mind a little. All right, sorry, sorry. I didn't think

[215:14.00] I was confused, but now I'm confused. I thought that the definition of candidate was expanded to

[215:19.12] be beyond just filing the petition so that somebody who's going around calling themselves

[215:24.25] a candidate, taking money, spending money, but hasn't filed the certification, the petition yet

[215:30.20] is still subject to these rules. It's still subject to those rules to become an official,

[215:35.08] so that's why we want it, we want any in there to identify the two. Because you want to identify

[215:43.46] one from the other, because people do do that. No, no, and I totally appreciate, sorry, I'm sorry,

[215:48.90] Madam Mayor. They do. I think that there's, there's something in between the two, right,

[215:54.02] like there is, as the rules apply to someone and then there is the process by which you become a

[216:00.26] certified candidate. I think it's, it's just in the framing of the definition, because I, I hear

[216:06.70] what you're saying, totally get that as far as where the rules apply, but there's, there's something

[216:12.07] in that first sentence that's just not, I think maybe we could be more clear to, that it is for

[216:19.28] the application of the rules in this section, as well as the process by which you become a certified

[216:25.45] candidate. Because to me reading, I'm just saying me reading this, I'd be like, okay, the rules apply

[216:31.71] to me and I don't have to do all these to become a certified candidate. Can I ask a follow-up question?

[216:39.42] We were talking earlier about potentially them adding language in this section to say what it

[216:43.66] takes to become an official candidate so that people see it in one place. But that might make,

[216:47.42] I think the goal of what they're trying to do is so that people who are collecting money that they

[216:53.13] know you still have to follow the rules. You're under the rules. So maybe you become certified,

[216:57.45] you become official/certified and you're going to, we'll, we'll put that in this,

[217:01.28] this one definition so people understand. There's a step to becoming official. There's a more

[217:05.98] official, okay. Even if you don't become official and you collect money over $300, you still have

[217:11.58] to follow the rules. You still have to follow the campaign finance report. That makes a lot,

[217:16.78] a lot more sense. Thank you. I appreciate it now and I appreciate the earned media,

[217:25.62] the addition of that to the media definition then as well, just to make that clear to folks.

[217:34.44] There was something else. We have a recall, we have runoff. If I remember then I will, I believe

[217:45.97] it has something to do with, not that we can add, resign to run, but there is the, I know,

[217:54.04] I am not even trying to get there, but there is the, the, I don't know how we would define

[218:00.84] the, the, the vacancy, how we would change the vacancy definition to encompass those

[218:08.22] sort of strange situations. But that would be a definition is what I'm saying. Yeah.

[218:18.01] We have a candidate definition. Would we define vacancy before we have that section?

[218:22.60] I think that we can keep that in the section. Okay. I just turned it out there.

[218:34.21] Thank you mayor. I was listening to the comments from the council member of

[218:39.91] Valerian. It was, it was fascinating. Anyway, so I had a question just in terms of like

[218:53.48] carrying through the whole document. So where did the specific language come from,

[219:00.60] from $300? Like how do you decide on $300? Well, why not $500? Why not $150? Like why $300?

[219:10.30] Good question. The board just came up with that and it's up the discretion of the mayor and

[219:15.16] council. You can raise it, lower it. It's your discretion. So the only thing I would say,

[219:19.86] and I'm fine with $300, but elsewhere in the document, you actually mentioned $500. And I

[219:26.82] forget whether that's for independent expenditure or whatever it is. So it might just want to be

[219:32.10] consistent with our numbers there. So either $500 throughout the document or $300 throughout

[219:38.26] the document. That's one thing. On bullet number three, under the definition of contributions,

[219:47.83] well, it says the following are not contributions. And then bullet number three,

[219:52.39] it's a little bit confusing. A nominal fee paid by an individual for the use of a room on the

[219:59.41] residential premises. Like what are you trying to get out there? Are you under this contribution

[220:08.04] that we're looking at on the slide? Sorry, page four is at the top of the page. Yeah, the boat.

[220:14.28] That's what's not a contribution. Yeah, and I know it's not a contribution, but maybe the

[220:20.33] language just needs to be tightened because honestly, what is a nominal fee? I mean,

[220:28.70] I guess the purview of the board, but a nominal fee, I mean, to me, a nominal fee might be

[220:37.08] $50, but to somebody else, a nominal fee might be $500. I think we could. Hope you can hear me.

[220:49.58] I think we could, you know, we could add some clarity to that. Some of these definitions

[220:57.75] at the behest of the board were based to some degree off of what's in the Code of Federal

[221:05.12] Regulations, which is similar to what we're doing. So one of the things we wanted to be

[221:14.90] clear about is what is not a contribution, but we can, I mean, if we need to add additional

[221:22.12] language to clarify what a nominal fee is, we can be, you know. Yeah, and I mean, and just

[221:28.34] the use of a room on their residential premises, like what are we talking about there? What does

[221:35.13] that actually mean? And I guess my broader point, and this was the third point I was going to bring

[221:42.11] up, was just tightening up the language and making sure that it's not too casual. Like I understand

[221:48.67] that what you're trying to do is make it so that the, you don't have to be a super

[221:54.39] lawyer to understand the Code, and I appreciate that. But I noted that on mail-in voting

[222:02.12] definition, a voter receives their ballot in the mail, and they mark it and seal it in the envelope

[222:09.37] following instructions for the ballot. They can return it by mail at a ballot. It just seems a

[222:14.61] little bit too casual, and I noticed that throughout the document. So while I appreciate

[222:22.33] the attempt to kind of make it more accessible to people reading it, I just think that maybe we

[222:30.96] should go in and clean it up where we can, because I think that some of the documents

[222:38.94] just reach a little bit too casually for what is intended for. And that was one of our consultants

[222:47.70] with Civic Design who write for these definitions like that. The goal is to keep it where somebody

[222:56.02] on a third grade level or fifth grade level can read and understand something without having to

[223:00.98] go in and really try to figure out what's that word mean or what actually are they trying to

[223:06.74] say to me. So we can do some of that, but we don't want to dive into it because the state has come

[223:14.90] up with the plain language and we really need to try to stick with the requirements when we're

[223:20.66] updating these ordinances and stuff, particularly when it involves elections. All right, thank you.

[223:27.87] Are we ready to move on? Councilmember Shaw. Oh, sorry. Thank you. No, I just wanted to make

[223:35.56] a small comment that I appreciate the plain language and the grade level, especially if

[223:44.44] folks that are running, like English may be their second language or for whatever reason,

[223:51.00] I found it a lot clearer because of the plain language and I just appreciate that. So thank you.

[223:57.66] You're welcome. I like plain language as well. Good, we do too. But I do understand my college,

[224:06.79] but just make them look something consistency and make sure it's tight. We can go back there and

[224:11.56] tighten it up some. Thank you. Councilmember Valerian. Obviously, we all appreciate plain

[224:18.11] language, but yes, just consistency. I love plain language. On that note, I just wanted to,

[224:26.09] I'm reconciling, it's my last input on the definitions, I'm reconciling public communication

[224:32.25] with media. I just want to be sure that under public communication, that we add digital in

[224:41.65] there in a more expansive way. So not just broadcast cable satellite. Public communication

[224:48.93] should also cover digital communications, because then otherwise it wouldn't cover social media,

[224:57.63] which we do have that requirement. We're now done with definitions. Okay, now we're on to

[225:10.86] slide 15, eight dash four, which is the powers and duties of our BSE. This draft also revises

[225:17.85] concerning powers of the BSE for the election and how they administer the election during

[225:24.85] the election cycle. The proposed language clarifies the board's role in administrating

[225:30.67] and supervising Rockville municipal election, reflects the operational support provided by

[225:36.75] the city parks office and other city departments. The intent is to be more clear distinguishing

[225:45.60] their role and oversight and responsibilities from the administrative support necessary

[225:51.73] to carry out their responsibilities. There are quite a few things that we really went in

[226:03.09] depth and tried to add exactly the role of the board. There are some things that

[226:11.29] were not in there with the canvassing and oversight. The notices, the investigation part,

[226:19.52] all of this is all new. And we have to get SOPs written up for that and establish a process and

[226:27.64] procedures so that this board will now have a clear guidance on their role and as well as for

[226:35.33] the administrative part for my office and the city attorneys. I'm raising my hand to myself.

[226:47.48] Councilor Fulton, do you want to go first? I didn't say, go ahead. Thank you for this. I think

[226:53.12] this was a huge part that we needed to clarify in the code. But one of the things that we needed

[226:59.40] to clarify is what an investigation is. And I think, and you said you're going to cover

[227:05.45] that in SOPs, how do those get approved? The forums, the administrative, that's all

[227:12.83] done through the board, just like your forums for the election packet, they're all approved

[227:19.44] through the board. Well, I guess my concern is investigate can mean look through publicly

[227:25.44] available material and draw conclusions of fact, or it can mean have subpoena power and the ability

[227:32.38] to require sworn statements. I think we need a little bit more clarity on what investigate means

[227:38.69] in the code itself. So I think that would come in the part of enforcement and remedies,

[227:47.61] and that's where we would have to go in more depth with that since those are the new sections

[227:54.26] of the code that we really needed to put in so that they'd have some guidance. Okay, so you're

[228:02.59] telling me that the clarity that I'm looking for is not in this duties. It's not in their outline

[228:07.31] of their duties, but it will have to be in the enforcement and the remedies section. Thank you.

[228:13.69] Thank you. I was looking at the language related to, I see we added the city manager in here.

[228:23.37] Yes. So you still have that the board will administer supervised elections with the city

[228:28.63] clerk. And then this is a city manager and city departments will assist and support the board in

[228:34.21] its official duties. That's very broad. I'm guessing it is very broad because as I said to our

[228:40.53] city manager at our directors meeting on Friday, there is the election process expands across all

[228:49.10] city departments and we're going to have a little lesson learned of what those are. So yes,

[228:56.52] it's not just my myself and the board. I need help assistant with CCE. I need to help with

[229:04.25] our graphics and printing and need help with our police department. And those are all departments

[229:09.78] ran supervised under the city manager's office. Thank you for the clarification.

[229:17.98] Long as city manager is cool with that. Yeah, we certainly talked about it. Yes. Thank you.

[229:24.86] So one of the things the previous board talked about is wanting to have more clarity on whether

[229:30.97] the city attorney supports the BSC as well. And I didn't see the city. I saw the city manager

[229:36.78] added here, but I see the city attorney. So I was just wondering if that was intentional

[229:39.97] and what you're thinking. You want to answer that? That is a real. Yes. Yes. And yes,

[229:51.34] we're not going back there again. We will have our attorney present with this board when we.

[229:57.78] It wasn't in the code. So there was room for interpretation. That's why I wanted to.

[230:01.38] Yes, exactly. We can add it. We can add it. Yeah. So I think the city attorney was involved

[230:13.40] in municipal infractions, but they wanted advice along the way. So that was the challenge

[230:18.94] and wasn't clear in code before. So I just will say that may need additional clarity.

[230:24.59] You all had the experience to be able to figure out what you need to fix, but

[230:28.30] I just wanted to. I remember that from my notes. So comes from Jackson. Thank you.

[230:39.01] Mayor, just a couple of questions if I can six and eight for page eight number two. I'm just

[230:51.82] curious. What is the oversee the nomination of elected city officials? Like what are we getting

[230:57.90] out there? And I'm sorry, maybe I'm just not understanding, but maybe you could clarify for

[231:04.44] me. What are you looking at the number two right at the top? It says oversee the nomination

[231:23.54] of elected city officials. Yeah, I don't, I don't see where he's talking about it.

[231:35.30] Yeah, session eight dash four. Oh, okay. Yeah, sorry.

[231:44.70] Okay. All right. So that is clearly them over them actually certifying you as a candidate.

[231:58.67] If we want to make it clear, well, that's what we should say.

[232:01.65] So my other question and thank you for clarifying that is section B. The board does not have the

[232:12.58] authority to ever see any of the following. Do we really need even need that section? I mean,

[232:17.74] if it's not listed enumerated in what they have the power to do, then really do we need a section

[232:25.37] specifying that they don't have the power to do these two things.

[232:29.35] So that section is the campaign policy section, which we don't oversee. That is those signs for

[232:40.04] the debates that the parade, all of that we do not have any, the board does not have anything

[232:51.16] to do with that that falls under the campaign policy itself. So that's a separate policy.

[232:57.66] Council member, I believe we added it because candidly people think the board has that

[233:03.93] authority all the time, reach out to the board for those concerns. And so this would be a way

[233:11.33] of just making it clear that no board doesn't have this authority. And that's a good answer.

[233:16.05] Thank you very much. So that's like, if someone comes into the building wearing campaign materials,

[233:22.01] the BSC is not responsible for regulating that. No. And that would be the city manager,

[233:26.95] the city clerk under campaign policy falls under the city manager's office.

[233:34.49] Does the city manager know that?

[233:37.88] He will know that. He wasn't here. We can't do that to him. But the department of signs

[233:47.01] falls under the city manager. So I wouldn't feel comfortable telling, you know, enforcement,

[233:54.89] go take somebody signed down because that's not my department to do that. And the parades,

[234:01.10] Memorial Day Parade falls under rec and parks, which is under the city manager. I'm not going

[234:07.15] to tell a candidate whether or not, you know, you can participate in that. I don't even know

[234:14.19] what the requirements are to even participate in the parade other than being a certified candidate.

[234:21.87] That's helpful. Yeah, there may be some useful scenarios to share because we have new staff

[234:29.77] on what to look out for. Sure. Yeah, Helper Fulton.

[234:34.21] Sorry, just one thing to clarify on that. I heard some of my colleagues say it. I was reading this,

[234:38.08] people have mentioned signs, the use of city facilities for campaign purposes.

[234:44.25] Is that how the right of way is it? How are we covering signs? Well,

[234:49.69] signs are through enforcement or a sign. No, no, I know. But if we're being clear here,

[234:55.83] I think, actually, to your point, if we things that people think the board is responsible for,

[235:02.92] that they're not clear, we should probably add signs some way. If that's what we're trying to

[235:08.20] enumerate. That's one of the biggest things. Yeah. I was trying to squeeze it into city

[235:13.48] facilities. I'm like, is the right of way? It's also use of facilities for

[235:21.71] things as well. Maybe use of facilities, different department, different like community centers and

[235:31.01] stuff for those who might for events, but I appreciate your point is city facilities and

[235:40.14] right of way to cover the sign issues. Council Member Larry, then Jackson.

[235:46.03] I think, no, and I think that was a good addition. On B2, the dissemination of election

[235:55.01] information, I would just change debates to forum because we don't have debates.

[236:02.01] Some of us have thoughts on that, but you just don't have debates.

[236:10.17] All right. So let me just return. I guess I'm just stuck on this language.

[236:16.54] Oversee the nomination of elected city officials. I understand now what you're getting at,

[236:21.57] but maybe to make it more clear just because some people might read it the same way I did.

[236:27.36] Oversee the nomination of candidates for elected city officials. So, I mean, that kind of clarifies,

[236:34.88] you know, I think what you're trying to get at. So the nomination for candidates for elected city

[236:42.37] officials. Okay. Councilmember Shaw. And just building on Councilmember Jackson's point for

[236:53.76] clarity, we could also include for section A, I think there has to be 100 signatures, correct?

[237:02.82] Yes, 100. So maybe we could add reviewing and certifying the petition for the 100 signatures.

[237:19.02] That'll be in other parts of the code. Yes. Okay. That's in your forms and required.

[237:23.82] And now that we are going to have an online version for petition signatures, so all of that

[237:29.21] have to be included. But 100 is somewhere in the code.

[237:34.91] I don't know that 100 signatures, because here's the thing. If somebody collects 100,

[237:44.64] just 100 signatures they give to us and only 75 are qualified signatures, I have to go back out

[237:51.64] to the person and say, hey, you did not meet that requirement of 100. But if it's not in the code

[237:58.33] language then, because this has come up before on who had the appropriate. Really, because it's one

[238:05.71] of the four. There was in 2019, there was a whole thing about this person had, I'm just trying to go

[238:12.15] back to history here. Oh, you mean in circulation. I remember what you're talking about now. One

[238:20.35] person, one, it was not the candidate who actually circulated the petition. That's another issue.

[238:26.42] Yeah, that's a different issue. The issue of should it be in code, because you,

[238:32.56] we are saying in the city, you should, we want at least 100 signatures, right? It is 100 listed

[238:39.13] here. If that's what the goal is, then we should put in the code. Council Member Larry.

[238:46.92] I think, shouldn't we have that discussion when we get to that part of the code?

[238:52.28] But she made a comment saying that it was going to be in a document.

[238:55.96] Yeah, it's in the forms, not necessarily part of the code that covers candidate certification,

[239:04.63] correct? I am making the comment because she said it was not going to be, it's not in the code.

[239:09.90] But it's not in this part, but it is and what qualifies you as a candidate and that list out

[239:17.89] these requirements you need to certify it. Okay, we will just put a pen and see if it says the

[239:23.89] number. Okay, thank you. Anything else on the powers and duties of the BSE? So slide 16 here,

[239:50.32] these are sections of 8-6, 8-21, and 8-41. These are the

[240:00.00] 8-6 includes proposed language related to voter eligibility for individuals who are

[240:06.36] not on the state or county voter rolls, including those proposed for 16-17 year olds for the

[240:15.23] city of Rockville.

[240:17.19] This provision is independent and it would require a charter action.

[240:24.61] 8-21 includes the proposed term limit language for the Mayor and Council.

[240:31.55] The draft reflects a policy change that still requires the Mayor and Council to take direction

[240:37.49] on the number of consecutive four year terms.

[240:47.21] Section 8-41 updates the election procedure for ballot drop boxes, including the outside

[240:54.17] locations at City Hall Montrose Community Center and a new, a third one at Twin Brook

[241:01.85] Quarters, a location to be determined, as we'll need another additional outside drop

[241:08.66] box.

[241:14.14] Councilmember Jackson, are we raising your hand?

[241:15.14] No, we're ready for questions, but I was just....

[241:16.14] I'm ready.

[241:17.14] Yeah.

[241:18.52] All right.

[241:19.52] Thank you.

[241:20.61] I'm just raising my hand to get in line, but the line was so short.

[241:28.33] So....

[241:30.35] I'm loving your punchiness today.

[241:36.98] So I just want to ask, on 8-41, do we really want to be so specific?

[241:43.42] You know, talking about Thomas Farm, Twin Brook, Montrose, I mean, I'm fine if there's

[241:51.35] a reason to be specific, but if there isn't, I mean, we might, the board might change

[241:59.30] or, I mean, the change where the drop boxes are, so, I mean, do we want to be that specific

[242:05.74] and lock them in or do we want to be more flexible?

[242:09.58] Good question.

[242:10.78] Last year, the board did not want them to be specific because they wanted to make a

[242:15.32] decision on where they thought it would be the best places for them, but it was, you

[242:22.85] know, unanimous to put them in there.

[242:26.22] Okay.

[242:27.22] So that's why we're doing it and we just added Twin Brook Quarters for another location.

[242:34.66] Councilmember Larry?

[242:36.19] Yes.

[242:37.66] That's what [name] said, absolutely.

[242:41.01] I think that we ultimately did make that decision, but I think it's also important

[242:47.29] for vote centers, outside drop boxes and inside drop boxes are all three very different

[242:56.08] entities.

[242:57.08] The inside drop boxes, for instance, at the Twin Brook Community Rec Center was like a

[243:06.50] little wagon that you then put your ballot into and was on the inside.

[243:12.69] The outside ones look like the one here at City Hall.

[243:16.13] So we were looking at the idea of the 24-hour outdoor one because having that one in Twin

[243:25.53] Brook, because that was the only, the east side of the city was the only one that didn't

[243:30.20] have a 24-hour.

[243:31.20] We have one in the middle, we've got one over here, and so that was the rationale

[243:36.73] on that.

[243:37.83] I just wanted to share that.

[243:43.04] Councilmember Shaw, followed by Councilmember Van Grack.

[243:47.15] I support the clarity and sharing the locations here.

[243:51.75] I know for a lot of first-time voters, they were trying to put their ballot in some of

[243:59.45] the like in front of the executive building, like some of the other like precinct locations.

[244:05.67] And so just having more information on where there's drop boxes, especially for first-time

[244:10.77] voters I think is very helpful.

[244:12.91] And I, you know, I don't expect a lot of first-time voters to be reading our code.

[244:19.17] But I do think that it's best just that we're, where it's more places.

[244:24.85] They get those four mailers and each time they're all on there.

[244:30.57] Councilmember Van Grack.

[244:31.57] So with regard to Section 841, I know that there was a discussion previously.

[244:39.70] I'm sorry.

[244:43.64] That's okay.

[244:44.64] I know that in Section 841 there was a discussion previously that the council had with regard

[244:50.08] to 841(d) and that's the order of the names on the ballot alphabetically versus random.

[244:56.91] And I know we had discussed random and I know prior versions have a random and outside

[245:02.91] of just retaining it, I think we should go with what we talked about before, which was

[245:08.82] a random one.

[245:09.82] Now though, no, there was also a further discussion as to whether that randomness

[245:13.14] means we've got full multiple types of random ballot with different orders or just one

[245:18.78] draw of the straw.

[245:20.14] I don't think, I think that's up to the board, whichever way it is, you know, I don't think

[245:26.25] it's matter.

[245:27.25] We didn't come to a conclusion.

[245:28.69] But I think having random would make more sense, which is also goes against I think

[245:35.88] only about one fifth of states in the U.S. still go by alphabetical.

[245:40.94] The thing with random, we would have to do it once and the reason why we say that is

[245:46.26] because we are working with the state board elections contractor and the only way we would

[245:54.60] be able to do that is to fix it a one time and then have the data to be incorporated

[246:01.19] in the scanning of the tabulation.

[246:04.07] So and I'm not even sure if they are okay with doing that.

[246:08.58] I would have to reach out to the vendor, ES and S and see if that's something that

[246:13.49] they could do for us.

[246:15.49] I'm sure they could.

[246:17.01] I'm sure it would also come with the cost because we're now having to have programming

[246:24.34] involved where before we did not.

[246:26.85] Wait.

[246:27.85] So you're telling me that it's a debate as to whether the vendor could put the names

[246:33.08] in a random order as opposed to alphabetical?

[246:35.56] No.

[246:37.58] I'm just saying if we did that, we could probably do it once, do the draw before we

[246:43.68] actually had the set ballot, the one race ballot, one for mayor, one for council.

[246:51.14] We would have to pick those names.

[246:53.74] It then would have to be in the random and it be a fixed ballot in random and then the

[247:00.02] ES and S would have to program their system to scan and tabulate those tabulations in

[247:09.67] that random order.

[247:11.47] I've never asked them to do or investigate into seeing what that would look like, but

[247:18.11] I'm sure that it would require us to pay for programming which we have never additionally

[247:25.57] paid for that kind of programming.

[247:27.25] So wait, to list them on the ballot in the order that we have that's randomly drawn,

[247:34.15] how would that be more cost than just an alphabetical order, which we told them to

[247:39.50] be?

[247:40.50] It's the programming.

[247:42.00] It's the programming of the tabulation.

[247:43.16] Can I clarify something?

[247:44.60] You're saying if you just change it one time, Councilman Van Graak, that's not an additional

[247:49.00] cost.

[247:50.00] Right.

[247:51.00] Oh, okay.

[247:52.00] But if we're randomly, if you're trying to say every print, every other one's going

[247:56.24] to be random, we're not going to be able to do it.

[247:58.56] Oh, yes.

[247:59.56] So to do it once is not an additional cost.

[248:01.04] Right.

[248:02.04] To do it multiple times is an additional cost.

[248:03.89] Right.

[248:04.89] Now I understand what you're saying.

[248:05.89] And I would also state that we would have to set up some procedure to do that.

[248:10.77] And I don't think the board would be that person to pick those names randomly.

[248:16.27] So we'd have to come up with something.

[248:17.98] Okay.

[248:19.12] I wouldn't want it personally to follow my office or my board.

[248:23.65] I'm just saying.

[248:24.57] Yeah.

[248:25.91] But we can't usually put a procedure together.

[248:26.91] Yeah.

[248:27.91] Yeah.

[248:28.91] I will say in the last election, those with more advanced letters than the alphabet, not

[248:38.81] even last level, previous elections, people with further down the alphabet have gotten

[248:45.10] more votes than people with.

[248:46.10] So I just wanted to say I have not seen it have an impact.

[248:49.78] But when we talked about it last time, there were two people who were interested in this.

[248:53.82] I didn't see that there were multiple, so we should probably do a straw vote if you're

[248:58.59] trying to give direction.

[248:59.59] But I would say either it doesn't matter, in which case we can have it random or it

[249:04.55] matters and it should be random.

[249:06.94] So it's one way or the other.

[249:08.30] If it doesn't matter, then there's no problem with random.

[249:10.56] And if it does have an impact, then we should do a random.

[249:16.57] It doesn't necessarily have an impact as whether you want to do it or not.

[249:21.28] And we're pulling them out of a straw hat and do it randomly.

[249:25.04] It's just one time.

[249:26.20] No, no, no.

[249:27.20] Well, what I'm saying is either ballot order has an impact on how many votes you get,

[249:32.41] in which case we should do it randomly.

[249:35.99] Or it doesn't matter what the ballot order is, in which case there's no problem doing

[249:40.71] it randomly.

[249:41.99] It has never been a problem, alphabetical order.

[249:45.15] No, whether it's been a problem or not isn't the issue.

[249:48.27] There's clear data, which is in election.

[249:52.13] People have done these studies for decades and they've shown that ballot order does

[249:56.73] have an impact.

[249:57.88] This is kind of well documented, and it's the reason why right now you have only one

[250:03.86] fifth of states that do it purely alphabetical.

[250:07.61] And they do it randomly for a reason.

[250:09.87] So the documented evidence show that ballot order makes a difference, in which case having

[250:14.51] it randomly is a fair way to do it.

[250:17.49] But if anybody on this day believes that it doesn't have an impact as to what the ballot

[250:23.03] order is, then therefore there should be no objection for it being done randomly.

[250:28.57] Okay.

[250:30.49] Thank you, Ms. Moore.

[250:31.49] Shah, then Valerie.

[250:33.48] Yes, Madam Mayor.

[250:34.48] Shah first.

[250:35.48] Okay.

[250:36.48] Oh, no, no, no, no.

[250:37.44] If you want to, I feel like we're all speaking from the cohort of the end of the alphabet

[250:42.47] crew.

[250:43.47] And as somebody from the end of the alphabet crew, I believe that in municipal elections

[250:53.60] that the data is not there to show that order.

[250:56.76] I understand and have seen what Councilmember Van Grack, also from the end of the alphabet

[251:02.03] crew, is mentioned that is more on the federal level.

[251:04.95] We're also looking at larger elections.

[251:09.23] And also I would not want to institute any policy that may make things such as if we

[251:15.73] are exploring rank choice voting, would not want to make that process any more complicated

[251:23.01] than it may already be.

[251:25.79] Thank you, Councilmember Shah.

[251:28.30] So I support this request from Councilmember Van Grack.

[251:33.56] There is actual data that on every level of elections that shows that there is a bias

[251:41.08] with the first that are listed.

[251:46.12] And I reviewed this data during the Charter Review Commission within my individual subcommittee.

[251:54.92] And I know that there are a lot of jurisdictions on the local level that do do a random ballot

[252:02.02] or they pick names out of the hat, like, for example, Greenbelt.

[252:05.76] They pick names out of an actual hat.

[252:10.57] And I think it's even worth if there is a cost of random ballots just to see how much

[252:18.35] it is, just to see how much that cost is and not saying that we're going to do that.

[252:26.48] But just to have that information, because I do think it does lead to fairer elections.

[252:32.54] And that is our goal.

[252:37.29] Thank you very much.

[252:38.24] Councilmember Colton.

[252:39.35] I never thought we'd spend as much time on this, but I guess I'll weigh in.

[252:44.23] If there's a cost to it, I don't want to do it.

[252:45.87] But I think we said there is not a cost to do it one time, right?

[252:51.58] If there is data that says it leads to fairer elections and there's no downside and potential

[252:56.97] upside, I'm in favor of doing it, because I haven't heard anybody say there's a downside.

[253:03.64] Thank you.

[253:04.64] I don't support it for this election, but I would love to see the data for future elections.

[253:09.76] So should we have a straw poll?

[253:11.14] Yeah, sure.

[253:12.14] Because we need something.

[253:13.14] Yeah.

[253:14.10] So we're going to have to go back and get some data.

[253:16.94] Dr. Miles.

[253:17.92] I'm just saying, I need to see the data.

[253:20.11] I'm kind of agnostic, but I can be swayed by data, so that's all.

[253:24.93] So for what more data?

[253:28.27] For more data.

[253:29.26] On the municipal, on municipal level.

[253:42.36] Thank you.

[253:43.36] I have comments on other sections.

[253:44.39] Are you?

[253:45.39] One comment.

[253:46.39] Okay.

[253:47.39] And that is that I'm with Council Member Shaw.

[253:49.86] I would like to understand the cost of truly having randomized ballots.

[253:56.38] So not just one, you know, that we call out of the hat, but randomized ballots.

[254:01.86] I think that that would be worth looking into because that, to me, seems like the most

[254:07.06] fair answer that we could come up with, but is it possible and then how it spits a visit?

[254:13.86] Exactly.

[254:14.86] Specifically, as we're using the dates, the state's vendor.

[254:19.74] So you know, in order for us to keep our costs down, we really need to really dive

[254:25.12] into those things.

[254:26.28] We don't want to put additional.

[254:27.97] But the goal and objective is that the data shows that's more equitable than making it

[254:32.57] truly randomized is more equitable, otherwise you're just creating a different inequity

[254:39.34] potential.

[254:40.32] Right.

[254:45.91] All right, I have some comments on, we need to weigh in on, you specifically asked us

[254:52.64] on the....

[254:55.62] You need to know about the 16, 17 year olds.

[255:00.10] I think we talked about 16, 17, previously.

[255:03.52] So our clarification is the, the term limits, the consecutive fourth, three, we're a little,

[255:13.53] we weren't sure.

[255:16.05] I am fine with four consecutive terms, but I could be swayed to get away.

[255:20.05] So why don't we just go down that way?

[255:22.61] Council Member, four, four, three, four, four, four, two, four, okay, four wins.

[255:35.15] Four wins.

[255:39.72] Thank you for that.

[255:41.15] Thank you, Council Member Shaw.

[255:44.07] So just to clarify, for the 16 and 17 year olds, which who are already registering at

[255:50.39] 16 and 17, you're saying that they can vote here and it would be for 2027?

[255:56.43] Yeah, we discussed that last week.

[255:59.10] Absolutely.

[256:00.10] No, I just wanted to....

[256:01.10] 16 and 17 year olds are already in the database.

[256:04.50] It's just a matter of us requesting to pull their registration and include them in our

[256:10.58] municipal election.

[256:12.00] That's all.

[256:13.00] And I know it was discussed.

[256:14.00] I did just want to confirm because there was a lot of back and forth with this conversation.

[256:17.86] Yeah.

[256:18.86] Thank you.

[256:25.23] Oh, I didn't weigh in.

[256:26.23] I'm fine with putting Twin Brook, listing Twin Brook Rec Center as the location.

[256:31.12] Okay.

[256:32.15] Thank you.

[256:33.79] I think that was an equity conversation that we had previously.

[256:37.84] Are we ready to move on to slide 17?

[256:45.25] Yes, please.

[256:48.17] This is on provisional voting, mail voting, state requirements, and election official

[256:54.74] protection.

[256:56.62] The draft removes the existing provisional voting provision that identified the slide

[257:04.91] and deletes outdated terminology like absentee voting, voter assistance, mail-in voting,

[257:14.58] it's mail-by voting instead on election day and provisions for that.

[257:21.80] The new section 8-47, the state requirements, consolidates the municipal reporting obligation

[257:28.84] enacted by the Maryland state legislation in 2026.

[257:36.91] Municipalities must report their dates, their candidates, qualifications, qualified candidates

[257:42.76] and voting procedures, location of their state board of election, and must report certified

[257:49.72] candidates results for the state to publish on their website.

[257:56.61] The only thing that we were required before was to send campaign finance reports.

[258:03.26] I think when you all submitted to us, you had to submit to the state as well.

[258:08.48] There are some other provisions that were now added on the administrative side that

[258:14.22] we'll be responsible to do.

[258:18.15] The draft also includes the BSE recommendations for making it unlawful to threaten a municipal

[258:25.04] election official.

[258:28.00] This is not a new municipal, this is a new municipal mandate, but it parallels the state

[258:37.85] legislation enacted in 2025.

[258:46.73] We listed here on the state selection code 16-904, which pretty much kind of helps those

[258:58.10] who administer and those election officials who are at the poll workers, staff, the BSE,

[259:08.31] those who are ministering the election process, it's a protection.

[259:12.69] We thought that that would be something that should be added in as the state has already

[259:17.85] added that provision in in 2025.

[259:22.27] That's for clarification though, that section is in 8-111, it's not in 8-47.

[259:31.26] Okay, 111.

[259:45.44] Colleagues, any comments or questions on this section, Councilmember Fulton?

[259:52.18] Just one request on 8-44.

[259:55.44] It does note that the terminology was modernized throughout.

[259:58.10] I want to just take a double check, like I don't know if the, are we going with handicaps

[260:04.73] still in 2026?

[260:08.89] It looks like.

[260:09.86] Let's say disability.

[260:10.91] Okay, thanks.

[260:11.91] Yeah.

[260:12.91] We got a clear, we've got to come back and clean up some things, we know, we've got

[260:21.36] to scrub it one more time.

[260:22.94] Councilmember Valerie?

[260:25.09] Yes.

[260:27.59] To crosswalk that last part of the state requirements, the addition of the making

[260:34.15] it unlawful to threaten the municipal election official, if I skip to there, is that just

[260:40.13] completely, I believe, I didn't have the chance to do a one-to-one.

[260:45.55] That's just taken straight from the state law and making it applicable.

[260:50.33] Yes.

[260:51.81] I just wanted to make sure.

[261:04.94] Anyone else have other comments or questions?

[261:13.70] Okay, the next two slides, Division II, campaign financing.

[261:19.57] This group amends and addresses campaign financing across sections 8-71 through 8-84.

[261:29.40] These provisions cover appointment of campaign committees, officers, treasures, campaign

[261:36.00] accounts, expenditures, treasurer records and receipts, candidate contribution, loans,

[261:47.37] activity, reporting forms, reporting requirements, and preservation of records.

[261:52.37] The goal is to make the campaign finance framework clearer, more administrative consistent

[261:58.04] for candidates, treasures, committees, and the cities.

[262:02.25] I'm just saying, I don't want to go into a deep dive because we're, I mean, we could

[262:08.99] be here for another two hours.

[262:12.14] If there are any of these sections, 8-71, which is appointment and registration of treasurer,

[262:20.54] 8-72, candidates joining slate, campaign or committee, 8-73, campaign committees, 8-74,

[262:31.75] campaign accounts, 8-75, expenditures by treasurer, 8-76, account records and receipts,

[262:41.80] 8-77, candidate contributions and loans, 8-78, contributions, expenditures by persons who

[262:50.78] are not candidates, 8-79, campaign communications by organizations, 8-80, walk around services,

[263:04.16] 8-81, election reports, 8-82, campaign finance forms, 8-83, requirements and late filing,

[263:18.51] 8-84, preservation of reports.

[263:25.20] Are there any of those sections that the mayor and council have questions or concerns about?

[263:32.05] Dr. Miles.

[263:33.62] Thank you, Madam Mayor, and I appreciate you all answering the questions prior to this.

[263:38.74] I just need a little more clarity with regard to what constituted walk around services.

[263:44.38] Is this like canvassing or is this, that's what I'm trying to figure out.

[263:56.88] Can you put your mic on please?

[263:57.88] Oh.

[263:59.04] Thank you.

[264:00.06] Apologies, I thought it was on.

[264:01.60] The question was about section 8-80 and what constitutes walk around services.

[264:06.22] Is this canvassing as in knocking doors?

[264:09.12] In some instances, people volunteer canvases, sometimes propositions pay people a canvass.

[264:15.96] So that's, I was trying to get clarification on what walk around services meant.

[264:21.32] So in the definition, it's defined paid election day services performed on behalf of a candidate

[264:26.56] or committee or cross reference in section 8-80 for covered activities and exceptions.

[264:34.49] So we would have to go to 8-80.

[264:43.43] So I have retaining the general prohibition against paying for election day political

[264:53.50] endorsements, walk around services, that means the vote centers, the workers, or distribution

[264:59.94] of sample ballots.

[265:01.81] It also updates the terminology for poll worker, which include their activities like you could

[265:10.09] not pay for what we call somebody coming into the poll to watch, or challenger and watcher

[265:18.66] for you.

[265:20.01] You couldn't pay for those services.

[265:21.69] So thanks for the clarification that's, you said election day services.

[265:28.52] What about, I guess the other thing to keep in mind is that mail, vote by mail mail in

[265:35.02] voting occurs over a continuum.

[265:37.50] It's not just, I guess, one day.

[265:40.92] So I don't know if there needs to be some clarification, but that's all semantics.

[265:44.91] I guess I was just trying to clarify more broadly whether or not this included canvassing

[265:49.11] where people just knock in doors on the on the, yeah, it doesn't include canvassing.

[265:53.19] Got it.

[265:54.19] Thank you.

[265:55.92] It's only on election day so people can pay canvases and they will have to show that.

[266:00.70] Yes.

[266:01.83] Oh yeah.

[266:03.59] No, I actually really like this section around the walk around services as listed in 8-80

[266:13.40] because I think it goes in some small way toward what we're trying to do.

[266:21.50] I will say that we may want to consider, you know, some of the things about, you know,

[266:29.11] putting an individual or object that obstructs the path of any voter.

[266:34.82] That is the possibility to occur outside of election day.

[266:39.41] You could, in theory, you know, pay somebody to block getting to the ballot dropbox and

[266:49.18] I could not not that I wouldn't do that, but I just want to like close like loopholes

[266:54.69] that there are obstructions that you unless we're more explicit about, you know, the obstructing

[267:04.17] the ability for a voter to drop off a ballot, anything like that, just to clarify because

[267:11.94] I think it's really solid.

[267:13.70] I don't think you should be able to pay for political endorsements, but maybe I'm just

[267:19.48] wearing my rose colored glasses.

[267:20.80] I think just to be clear, disclose that that loophole obstructing access to ballot dropboxes.

[267:28.76] I'm trying to figure out if that, I know like on election night, we have had an issue with,

[267:39.00] you know, we've had to police escort and monitor dropbox locations and other people,

[267:48.26] other community, you know, the community wanting to help get through the line and

[267:53.23] they take the person, but that is against the law.

[267:56.93] They're not supposed to touch other people's ballots unless they authorize, you know,

[268:02.85] but the board has usually handled that on election day.

[268:09.65] So I'm not sure we'll have to dive into that a little more.

[268:14.49] I think it's more in adding to like the integrity and safety of, you know, the ability to use

[268:21.50] the ballot dropboxes because that in a way is the safety of an election worker and you

[268:27.76] wouldn't, you know, again, like you said, but what I'm thinking more so is just, you

[268:32.32] know, you wouldn't want people to be able to putting any individual or object that obstructs

[268:39.62] the path of any voter on election day.

[268:43.31] That's all that we have in here.

[268:44.51] So the exception would be you could then pay somebody on not election day to block access

[268:51.83] to a ballot dropbox if you think that would help your candidate.

[268:57.41] That's why we have cameras.

[268:59.01] No, no, no, absolutely.

[269:01.45] I just want to make sure it's like, you know, maybe there's a five and like any other, you

[269:10.06] know, all of the above or other, you know, applicable obstructions to the ability to

[269:16.34] vote, something like that just to close that loophole.

[269:21.03] Does that make sense?

[269:22.03] Does that make sense?

[269:24.35] Ms. Walters?

[269:31.56] It's number three.

[269:33.02] It's number three on page 19.

[269:34.82] Yeah.

[269:35.79] Are you wanting to put more adding?

[269:38.31] Well, no, it that clause section 880B only any of the following activities when performed

[269:45.72] for money on election day, but I'm just saying to be expansive.

[269:51.38] You shouldn't be able to pay somebody to do that outside of election day either.

[269:59.04] You know what I mean?

[270:01.06] Yeah.

[270:02.03] We can add it.

[270:03.22] That's all.

[270:04.77] We can add it.

[270:06.71] It just made me think about the electioneering section.

[270:13.77] So this past county election, there was a lot of commenting on electioneering and potential

[270:19.26] there was some fights about electioneering.

[270:22.43] And it just reminded me at City Hall, you kind of have to go, you know, if you're coming

[270:27.35] from the parking lot, you're going through the one narrow way and you're talking about

[270:33.26] getting in someone's way.

[270:35.47] Can people stand right in the middle of that walkway?

[270:38.49] No, because it technically doesn't hit the, I think the 50 foot mark was above.

[270:46.48] So I know like some people stood and then the people were angling to stand there as

[270:50.63] well on that ramp so that you have to cross them.

[270:55.24] So is that allowed in this new code?

[270:59.37] We actually mark it off now and it's over on the other side.

[271:04.28] If you remember last year, people were on the other side of the parking lot.

[271:09.45] They were not at that ramp.

[271:11.66] There were people at the ramp, standing in the ramp, people at the ramp.

[271:15.02] Absolutely they were.

[271:16.02] And yeah, some of our board members had to go out there and take care of that.

[271:19.30] But I'm just saying it might be anyway, just you might want to clarify.

[271:23.27] So it's 50 feet.

[271:27.06] So I mean, we would definitely have to have some policing to help us with that.

[271:34.11] It just was a thing.

[271:35.11] And I just seeing how it's up in the county election.

[271:37.51] I'm just trying to think about all the scenarios.

[271:40.27] Okay, I just wanted to flag that.

[271:43.92] Question about campaign chairperson, that's new that we're requiring a campaign chairperson.

[271:49.32] I know you have to have a treasurer, but do you have to have a chairperson?

[271:52.56] I know there was a place on the form for it, but is it now required or was it always

[271:58.42] required?

[272:01.34] So a campaign committee has to have a treasurer and so does an individual and so does a slate.

[272:10.71] So that's where we were getting that because we didn't have that for some of those groups.

[272:17.00] Okay, but in addition, it looks like it's a treasurer and a chairperson now.

[272:22.55] Well, it could be that and it has been that before because we've had had for some of

[272:30.41] the slates, there is a chairperson and a treasurer.

[272:34.18] It's on the form, but it wasn't necessarily clear as explicit as required as it is here.

[272:39.26] Yes, it's still on the form and we're making it.

[272:42.87] Question, is it currently required to have a chairperson?

[272:46.78] It is required to have a treasurer, but is it currently required to have a chairperson?

[272:50.37] Yes.

[272:51.54] Is that a new thing?

[272:52.54] No, that's, we've had that.

[272:54.50] And then you have language, you have language that it has to be a residence of Rockville.

[273:00.12] No, it has to be a county resident.

[273:04.56] We got rid of Rockville, that should be changed because Montgomery County.

[273:09.78] Sorry, I have more to finish in a section, but please go ahead.

[273:13.64] It should say Montgomery County.

[273:15.23] As I understood it as a candidate, a candidate can be a chairperson, right?

[273:20.68] A candidate can also be the chairperson of the committee, because I know on the state

[273:28.98] level, on the county level, and the past elections, I believe the chairperson was also

[273:38.76] the candidate, no, no, no, okay, because I know on other level elections, the chairperson

[273:51.30] can be the candidate.

[273:53.51] So this year, having a chairperson is new.

[273:56.93] No, it's always been there.

[273:59.33] You can have a chairperson and a treasurer.

[274:01.27] It's not can versus required.

[274:03.67] It's required.

[274:04.67] But was it required before?

[274:05.83] No.

[274:06.83] It was not required before.

[274:07.83] No.

[274:08.83] And that's what I'm questioning.

[274:10.12] And why?

[274:11.12] We're doing that because we had some people that we couldn't locate for those who violated

[274:18.25] the campaign policy.

[274:19.77] But isn't the treasurer always required so you have to find somebody?

[274:24.24] Yeah, we thought we did have that, but having that on file, if we can't find one, we'll

[274:30.77] find the other.

[274:31.77] Well, the reason why I raised it is because when you have someone who's new, finding

[274:36.90] a treasurer is a big deal, but now having to find a chairperson, I think, is an undue

[274:41.60] burden on it.

[274:42.60] On some candidates.

[274:43.60] I just want to be very mindful of that.

[274:46.78] I totally support we must have a treasurer, but a required chairperson, I think it should

[274:52.54] be optional.

[274:55.26] I would love to hear others.

[274:56.50] It could be one of the same.

[275:00.89] You have something else to say.

[275:05.80] I agree with you, Madam Mayor.

[275:08.26] Councilmember Fulton.

[275:09.26] Okay.

[275:10.26] Who thinks that a chairperson should be optional?

[275:13.02] Right.

[275:14.59] It could be one of the same person.

[275:18.24] It could be both.

[275:21.23] So you've changed in this code to make it required.

[275:24.35] That's something that we're trying to discuss to figure out whether we want it to be optional

[275:27.91] or required.

[275:29.19] The board, I think the board weighs in on this because they're the ones who are reviewing

[275:34.19] these campaign finance report.

[275:38.40] I'm open to hearing.

[275:40.58] My colleague said they were open to hearing from them, but we're trying to also think

[275:46.01] of the perspective.

[275:47.01] I get it.

[275:48.25] I get it.

[275:49.16] I get it.

[275:50.21] They're all burdensome, either one or the other, or are we requiring both?

[275:53.89] I get it.

[275:54.91] Definitely treasurer.

[275:56.00] But definitely a treasurer because you're responsible for the account.

[276:01.29] You could also listen alternate contact is what my colleague is saying.

[276:09.67] Yeah.

[276:12.14] I know.

[276:13.14] Sorry, Madam Mayor.

[276:14.14] If I may.

[276:15.14] Go ahead.

[276:16.14] Councilmember Fulton.

[276:17.14] I mean, it's kind of like, you know, for some of us that went through the whole student

[276:18.14] loan process very recently.

[276:19.54] Okay.

[276:20.54] The board weighed in.

[276:21.54] They said they can get rid of chairperson, but we want the treasurer.

[276:23.78] We have the treasurer, but you could have an alternate contact.

[276:26.82] We have to have the treasurer.

[276:29.54] The requirement will be a treasurer, and we'll remove the chairperson.

[276:34.58] Yeah.

[276:35.58] And you can leave it as optional in the form, like, as you have done, in case someone has

[276:38.52] one.

[276:39.52] So it's optional.

[276:40.51] And then the idea of an alternate contact has also been raised by my colleagues.

[276:44.15] Councilmember Vanguard.

[276:45.15] So I just want to make sure we're doing what you want because you just told us that you

[276:49.31] want a second person because you have trouble.

[276:52.30] So are we requiring a second person or requiring a chairperson?

[276:55.54] You tell us what you want.

[276:57.38] Well, I definitely want the chairperson.

[277:00.71] I want a treasurer.

[277:02.03] I want the treasurer, and I want an alternate, if I can't find one, so we can leave the

[277:07.19] chairperson as an alternate, or if they would do.

[277:10.30] But you're requiring a second contact.

[277:13.30] No.

[277:14.77] No, no.

[277:16.18] If they want to, they can, as the form already presents itself, as a treasurer and a chairperson,

[277:24.18] but we will definitely require that treasurer.

[277:27.80] But didn't you say moments ago you wanted the chairperson because the treasurer, in

[277:32.87] some cases, was not enough to contact someone?

[277:36.41] Yes.

[277:38.62] Madam Mayor.

[277:39.62] But it can be one of the same person, though.

[277:40.77] Please go ahead.

[277:43.16] Yes.

[277:44.45] Okay.

[277:45.45] Go ahead.

[277:46.57] Yes, please.

[277:48.15] I hope that I'm going to add clarity and not subtract.

[277:52.48] So we had a really brief discussion amongst ourselves here with respect to the appointment

[277:58.73] of chairperson for a candidate.

[278:04.46] And so I don't think, I mean, I think from our perspective, we agreed that that probably

[278:09.01] isn't necessary, although a treasurer certainly would be necessary.

[278:12.85] When we talk about a campaign committee, there may be a requirement, or it may be useful,

[278:18.99] let's say, to have a chairperson for a campaign committee, as well as a treasurer, which is

[278:24.70] definitely be required.

[278:27.57] And that also would be, in my view, the same if we had a slate campaign committee, that

[278:36.25] there would be a chairperson and a treasurer of that slate campaign committee.

[278:41.48] And I think the reason is, as [name] very rarely said, you know, we'd like to have multiple

[278:46.86] people who are sort of accepting the responsibility of filing the reports at an appropriate time,

[278:54.86] you know, are legally liable for any financial reporting that needs to be submitted, those

[279:00.57] kinds of things.

[279:01.95] I very much take the point about a candidate may not have the resources or the connections

[279:07.85] to find both a campaign chairman and a campaign treasurer.

[279:11.95] But I think for a campaign committee, it could be a useful thing.

[279:15.49] And I think that's where we were looking for a campaign committee chairperson, sorry,

[279:23.12] campaign committee chairperson, as well as a treasurer.

[279:26.34] So that'd be the difference, that'd be the where I would draw a differentiation between

[279:30.81] the two.

[279:31.81] Okay.

[279:32.81] I think that's fair.

[279:34.03] I'm hearing support for that.

[279:35.03] Thank you.

[279:36.12] We're hearing support for that.

[279:37.25] Thank you.

[279:38.25] So not for individuals, but for committees, groups, more than two persons.

[279:43.44] I thought, and this is why I was confused, and so thank you for actually clarifying.

[279:48.64] I thought that was in the document, because I had -- I was reading it before, as I was

[279:55.63] preparing for this meeting, and it was something that was not clear to me.

[279:59.99] And then I came across something in it that kind of clarified that the candidate was not

[280:06.36] obligated to have a chairperson and a treasurer.

[280:12.03] But maybe I just found clarity.

[280:15.79] But it would be good to, like, clarify that, because, yeah, we don't want candidates thinking

[280:21.19] that they have to have two.

[280:23.35] But the campaign, I think, it makes sense that they have a treasurer and a chairperson.

[280:33.67] Thank you.

[280:34.67] We also, just to clarify, I'm trying to find where I read it earlier, looking at my notes,

[280:40.88] but you are going to address the issue of has to be a Rockville folder.

[280:47.43] It has to be a registered Montgomery County resident.

[280:53.23] Okay.

[280:54.23] Yeah.

[280:55.23] So my question is, if someone has to be a citizen to be able to be your treasurer, because

[280:59.90] they have to be registered to vote?

[281:03.75] They need to be registered.

[281:05.98] I'm just -- why?

[281:08.59] Why not just a resident?

[281:11.85] Well, I mean, how would we verify that they're a resident?

[281:16.69] We wouldn't be able to verify, and we usually verify through voter registration.

[281:21.91] It's basically how we do it.

[281:28.98] You can make that.

[281:29.98] It's your decision.

[281:30.98] Is it state of state IDs?

[281:31.98] I mean, but most of the time, we don't get to see the treasures unless there's a problem.

[281:39.16] All we get is a signature and an address.

[281:46.34] We don't -- It makes me uneasy, but I will go with the majority.

[281:49.80] I mean, what does the board think about that?

[282:00.86] It would become very difficult for us to verify.

[282:31.67] I apologize, voice from wherever that came from.

[282:38.82] It's the us.

[282:41.51] Yes.

[282:42.51] Yes, I do apologize.

[282:43.51] You know, we haven't had a chance to discuss that.

[282:47.94] The rationale, as I understand, and long-standing rationale for having the treasurer in particular

[282:55.80] or other campaign committee officials be residents of Montgomery County and preferably

[283:02.12] Rockville and/or Rockville, I guess it would have to be and Rockville, wouldn't it?

[283:09.24] Is that we wanted them to be accessible, right?

[283:11.60] In case we needed to be in contact with them, there was problems with filings, those kinds

[283:16.53] of things.

[283:17.53] And I understand that in the past, there may have been cases where we had campaign officials

[283:23.35] who were from other parts of the state or maybe not even from the state of Maryland.

[283:27.27] It was very difficult to locate them when we had problems in the past.

[283:32.37] And so that's why this provision is here.

[283:35.47] We want to make sure that they're accessible and we know how to find them.

[283:39.50] We haven't had an opportunity to discuss whether being a registered voter is necessarily required.

[283:47.63] I mean, that's something, if the council feels strongly, that we should consider that

[283:52.90] as a factor.

[283:53.90] I mean, I guess we would have to find another way to identify them and make sure that they're

[283:59.90] actually where they say they are, but I'm not sure that that's something that would

[284:07.61] be impossible.

[284:08.61] We just have to figure out how to do it.

[284:11.13] Thank you.

[284:12.51] Councillor Shaw, then Valeri.

[284:15.42] Just on the citizenship point, I do think there are ways to find folks, especially with

[284:21.90] a state-issued ID, and this allows more people to get involved in the election.

[284:29.94] Councillor Valeri.

[284:31.83] That was going to be my point, too.

[284:33.59] I think that, obviously, if somebody is going to be a treasurer, you want them to be accessible,

[284:39.27] you want them to be, you know, within close proximity to the election, that they're being

[284:44.48] a treasurer and/or a chairperson, but I have to show my ID for very silly things.

[284:50.64] I don't think it's a burden to just ask somebody to show a state-issued ID, and that way it

[284:58.11] wouldn't have to be a requirement to be a registered voter, because perhaps some of

[285:03.72] us don't agree with the definition of registered voter right now, so.

[285:08.34] Councillor Van Grack.

[285:09.56] So if we're requiring to show a state-issued ID, that means the treasurer has to show

[285:13.56] up in person, because right now you're certifying the petitions through online and through

[285:18.80] documentation and that's the information you're certifying.

[285:22.40] If we're requiring IDs, then things, again, I'm just, there's a logistical step that's

[285:27.83] going to require in-person interaction.

[285:33.60] Thank you.

[285:34.60] Let me just say, and let me just go to my other colleagues who haven't had a chance

[285:36.84] to speak, just to share the floor.

[285:38.76] Do you have any comments or questions, Dr. Miles?

[285:44.28] Thank you, Madam Mayor.

[285:45.28] I'm actually, I do understand the equity issues, I also understand the logistic issues.

[285:51.40] I'm okay with the status quo, but I'm open to being persuaded.

[285:56.59] The status quo being that we just keep it as a registered voter, but I wouldn't be

[286:02.02] being persuaded.

[286:02.97] I'm in country county, yeah.

[286:08.96] Councillor Valeri, then Councillor Michelle.

[286:10.80] I swear, this will be the last thing I say on this.

[286:13.89] When the candidate trainings occur, I saw the laughter, y'all, when the candidate trainings,

[286:20.33] I remember having to be present with the treasurer for my campaign committee, so that

[286:25.37] would be the opportunity, then, to verify through identification, hi, this is me, this

[286:33.06] is who I am, photo ID, I don't know what I need.

[286:37.01] That wasn't necessary before training, I mean the petition itself has the treasurer on it,

[286:42.53] so if you're circulating that petition form or something, how would we know who that

[286:50.41] person is?

[286:51.41] You may do it before training, you may not.

[286:53.79] Yeah, sorry, I meant to open up a can of worms here, but....

[287:00.37] I understand.

[287:01.37] That was just a question.

[287:02.37] Councillor Michelle.

[287:03.49] You know, I think it could be for registered voters, you wouldn't have to perhaps show

[287:11.07] the ID, but if you're not a registered voter, then have the additional requirement to show

[287:15.99] an ID.

[287:20.64] That would require them coming in and, or uploading on the online petition.

[287:27.37] I don't know if we have that capability or not.

[287:33.51] So we haven't given you time to really discuss this, so I just wanted to put it on the list

[287:38.23] as something that....

[287:39.23] And not only that, the state has different, they're allowed to go into what they call

[287:43.79] ERIC and identify people by name, so security, ID, and we don't have that, we don't have

[287:51.00] any of that.

[287:52.44] We can't get into any of that, but the state does.

[287:56.83] Thank you.

[287:58.39] Okay, Councillor Van Grack.

[288:01.63] So I guess this might be opening up another can of worms, but it's in this section so

[288:05.55] I'll bring it up.

[288:07.35] I know I've mentioned and I appreciate the questions back and forth, it appears as though

[288:11.69] we have not raised the campaign financial limit per person, which is $1,000 in about

[288:16.85] 39 years.

[288:19.65] Has there....

[288:20.65] I know you said that at least you're not aware of any conversations.

[288:24.85] Has there been any interaction or discussion that you're aware of either with passports

[288:29.46] otherwise to raise that limit for the first time in 39 years?

[288:34.55] No, only because the only discussion I've heard about that from previous mayor and

[288:40.96] council and people running for office is it's financially burdensome, and money is

[288:46.74] a big thing when you put those caps and raising it would probably....

[288:52.97] Some people wouldn't have the money to run for office.

[288:57.50] So wait, I'm confused, explain what you're saying?

[289:01.83] So they have not raised the cap because it's been a burdensome for candidates to run for

[289:09.03] office.

[289:10.03] I think that's one of the reasons why it's been so hard to get participation and candidates

[289:15.35] to run for office.

[289:17.58] So why is a cap to make it burdensome?

[289:21.63] Well, and the cap itself, I mean, there are some people who can afford to cap, I mean,

[289:34.41] give more.

[289:35.41] I think that's a big change.

[289:36.41] I just want to....

[289:37.41] I had another colleague trying to raise hands, or maybe two over here, and then I'll come

[289:39.41] back to Council Member Van Grak, Council Member Valerie.

[289:43.76] I think that my colleague will probably know what I'm about to say, and that is, I think

[289:48.90] that we already have a lot of money in our elections right now.

[289:54.58] I don't think that we want a municipality that is really just the oligarchy and that

[290:00.06] only people who have the most money will be the ones to get elected.

[290:04.24] I realize I'm not very popular saying that here.

[290:07.34] That the status quo really only supports everybody up here.

[290:11.34] We need to change and do things differently.

[290:14.14] If we want to be more expansive and more representative, I would so wholeheartedly

[290:19.41] not support increasing the campaign contribution limit.

[290:23.10] It was already ridiculous last election.

[290:27.68] Does anyone else want to weigh in on this?

[290:29.08] Do you have a desire to keep it or change it?

[290:32.80] Dr. Miles?

[290:34.60] Thank you, Madam Mayor.

[290:35.60] I think you raised a good point, my colleague, in terms of it not being raised in 39 years.

[290:40.83] I think one could foresee, say it's raised 10-fold or 5,000 or 10,000.

[290:47.43] There are people within our community who are relatively financially privileged and

[290:52.52] who could donate that amount of money, but a significant amount of people who couldn't

[290:56.33] in different parts of the city.

[290:58.52] By increasing the limit, it would incentivize those who are well connected to the well-heeled

[291:04.89] people to perhaps raise more.

[291:07.42] That said, it is, I mean, inflation is inflation, so I do recognize the point being raised.

[291:12.97] I think that's the yin and yang of it all, that's all I have.

[291:17.54] Councilmember Fulton?

[291:20.58] This is a situation where I'd like to actually see more, like, how do we compare to other

[291:25.11] municipalities?

[291:26.11] Because both of these arguments are very compelling, but so I'd like to know what's

[291:32.27] everybody else doing to address those two issues.

[291:35.54] So I'd like to know how we compare to other counties and municipalities.

[291:42.51] Councilmember Jackson?

[291:44.98] Thank you, Mayor.

[291:46.67] I'm torn, as everybody else is, because I understand Councilmember Van Grack's argument

[291:54.55] and is compelling.

[291:55.45] I also understand Councilmember Fileri's argument and it's compelling, too.

[292:00.72] So I kind of come down to what Councilmember Fulton was talking about, looking around

[292:07.00] at the limits that other municipalities have, and maybe, I mean, we punted back to the

[292:17.70] Board of Supervisors of Elections to look at and come up with either a change or not.

[292:26.65] But yeah, it's tough because I understand that we don't want more money flooding into

[292:32.81] the system, but at the same time it's been 30-something years since we've changed the

[292:39.15] amount that we've been given.

[292:40.55] We have had inflation just running rampant through that.

[292:47.41] So it's tough, but I would just like to see more data on what other municipalities, what

[292:54.38] their cap is.

[292:56.23] Can I confirm that it is that length of time since it's been raised?

[293:00.87] How long has it been?

[293:01.87] Let me get the data on that.

[293:03.56] Has it really been that many years?

[293:06.54] I don't know.

[293:07.54] Where did that data come from?

[293:08.54] Did it come from you all?

[293:09.54] Adam provided that data.

[293:10.54] I mean, I thought you were, because that's the data that I saw, if you disagree.

[293:17.69] I mean, it has always been that, and I've been here for 30 years, so I don't know.

[293:23.69] I mean, Councilmember Shaw.

[293:26.01] Before me.

[293:27.01] Councilmember Shaw and Councilmember Fileri.

[293:29.81] You know, I would also just add, in addition to inflation, I believe the electorate has

[293:36.17] expanded in 39 years, and it may cost more for candidates to reach all of the voters,

[293:44.91] and so that could also just be helpful to candidates in reaching more voters.

[293:54.40] I think it can come down to fundraising, but I would also just like to learn more

[294:02.44] about the data, but I just also just wanted to share that our electorate has expanded

[294:07.64] as well.

[294:08.64] I understand Gaithersburg is 1,000, too.

[294:12.64] Can I just also say that I think we should also look at municipalities that have similar

[294:19.32] voter turnout, or similar, like the same amount of voters.

[294:24.52] There's nobody compared to the Rockville.

[294:27.40] Well, then....

[294:29.58] Or not on a municipal level.

[294:31.58] I don't mean voter turnout, but has the same, well, maybe even voter turnout, or big voter

[294:37.70] registration the same, because I know that Gaithersburg actions, it doesn't have the

[294:43.45] similar type of turnout.

[294:45.49] I will say I have concerns about kicking too many decisions down the can because you

[294:51.51] guys are crunching on time, so I have, I'm kind of like Councilmember Miles, I feel in

[294:56.98] both directions, I lean towards equity and have concern about how much money is spent

[295:03.02] on elections versus nonprofits and feeding people and all those things, but I do understand

[295:10.20] the cost, and to do a mailer to the entire city could cost $10,000 to $15,000, so I understand

[295:16.64] that as well, but I think we are really up against time, is what I'm worried about.

[295:22.52] We are.

[295:23.52] We're already kicking for data on other things, so it wouldn't take any more time.

[295:28.08] Okay, several things, one, it would have been a lot cheaper to run an election if we had

[295:35.79] representative districts, but this body didn't want to do that.

[295:39.19] That would make it real affordable to two mailings, let me tell you, City of Gaithersburg,

[295:44.36] $1,000 per candidate per election.

[295:47.87] I understand what everybody's points, I get it, status quo helps all of us, doesn't help

[295:53.01] new folks, totally understand it, that's the data, and that was actually something

[295:58.58] that we did talk about at Charter Review Commission when we looked at different municipalities.

[296:04.08] Gaithersburg and the city, in this county, Gaithersburg is the closest to us, the only

[296:09.71] closest in terms of population size and registered voters, so if it's working there and they

[296:16.82] don't have runaway money in their elections, which we did, like, I don't get it.

[296:24.86] We either do representative districts make it more affordable, public financing of elections,

[296:31.33] or we chill on $1,000 because that seems to be working with our colleagues, but you

[296:36.54] gotta do one or the other, or it's just all the gates are open and only the richest will

[296:40.78] ever get elected.

[296:43.15] Councilmember Shaw.

[296:46.07] Another option could also be, and this is for the board and for my colleagues, could

[296:51.99] be increasing the amount for the mayoral election, which I think overall may cost more.

[297:01.27] And also, I do support public financing, but I know that that's a whole 'nother discussion

[297:10.27] that we probably could not do in, by 2027.

[297:14.82] Thank you, Councilmember Van Grack.

[297:16.58] And just to be clear, I'm not necessarily advocating for any limit or anything, I'm

[297:21.70] just noticing that we've had a limit that has not been raised in 39 years.

[297:26.38] I'm not suggesting any number, I'm not specifically doing it.

[297:30.14] I respect some of the vitriol that's coming, or some of the emotion, which is wonderful.

[297:36.06] I'm just noting that we've had numbers that haven't changed in almost four decades, and

[297:40.79] it's a point that I think is fair to make when we're evaluating an election code.

[297:44.75] We'll leave it at that.

[297:46.90] Thanks for the can of worms.

[297:50.80] It's all fair to raise, we're trying to get it right, so.

[297:54.20] Is there anything else on these sections?

[297:55.56] Yeah.

[297:56.56] Okay, Councilmember Jackson, then Councilmember Volcker.

[297:57.96] So changing the topic a bit.

[298:01.12] So I'm in the unusual position of being a wordsmith or an editor.

[298:06.76] So on Section 871 D, subsection D, you say, or an active participant in a city political

[298:25.30] campaign like no member of the board shall be an active participant in a city political

[298:30.92] campaign.

[298:32.54] Can you define what active participation means?

[298:35.98] Well, you wouldn't want the board members to be serving on any capacity of any.

[298:48.68] Yeah.

[298:50.06] So I mean, so we can explain it more.

[298:53.66] Yeah.

[298:54.62] Yeah.

[298:55.95] We can give you a more in depth explanation.

[298:59.40] We can add more.

[299:00.89] And it's a little thing, but it's just it should that section, the D, should it be

[299:07.30] in 871 or should it be in 84?

[299:11.93] Now, I really don't know why that matters, but just, you know, for under the powers

[299:24.51] and duties, we can include it.

[299:26.15] Absolutely.

[299:27.15] All right.

[299:28.15] Thank you.

[299:31.51] Yeah.

[299:36.77] Councilman Fulton really don't want to have anything, but I do.

[299:42.47] And I'm sorry if I'm relitigating something that we actually did decide on these numbers,

[299:46.51] but in terms of late fees for campaign finance reports in section 883 B, we have it as $50

[299:56.32] a day for the first 10 days.

[299:59.43] What that means.

[300:00.00] I would like to raise that amount or require the campaign finance report that's due before the election to a couple days, like some days earlier, but if it's a 50, it's $50 to just not have to disclose your finances and I don't think that's what we're trying to encourage.

[300:29.33] I don't think that's what we're trying to encourage. Could there be a big a bigger penalty for that last report? Yes. Could there be a bigger penalty for that report? Is that a possibility?

[300:51.55] Let me try to be helpful and propose something actual for these reports that's due on the Wednesday before the election day up to the Tuesday, whatever that is.

[301:02.04] Can we make that reports late fee something closer to, I don't know, $200 a day? There's my proposal. Yes, that's what we're glad you're bringing it up because we left it up to you all to make that decision. I support that.

[301:17.18] Okay, Councilman van Grack. What did we get for in that? Yeah, my only corollary of that is the election code gives some buffers with regard to violations. That includes both the report violations and election day violations and the question is, to what extent can there be an enforcement mechanism to address the issues on a timely basis before the election?

[301:48.33] That's what we got in our remedies and enforcement. Yes, yes, it's not going to be that 30 day period anymore before that we go after them. It's going to be right. I'm going to be able to now reach out to that person and say you haven't filed and we're going to start initiating penalties.

[302:13.62] Okay, and that's going to be for all violations. Yes. Question about the expenditures. This says that all of the expenditures must be made by your treasurer only so the candidate could never issue an expenditure. Where are you? 875 handled can meet payments. Is that, can the campaign, a candidate issue a payment?

[303:07.79] It just means that they have to be knowledge that you have spent the money. But the candidate can make a payment as long as the treasurer is aware. It's informed of it, yes. It just says any candidate or any member of a campaign committee must not make any expenditures without the knowledge of the treasurer.

[303:36.80] Yes. So as long as you make them aware, but you can't make the payment. Right. Should it say the treasurer manages all? It says handles. We can say manage. We can make it. Too many communications professionals on the dais right now.

[304:03.58] Okay, anything else? 871 through 878. Councilman Greg. So I know this is bringing up the can of worms, but I want to go to Gaithersburg says $1,000, but they say, because they just revised their code.

[304:34.96] It says $1,000. Then it says upon every election and every year after this, it's simply adjusted by the CPI for all the numbers that addresses the and it says to the nearest $25. I don't mind that.

[305:01.07] That way we no other body has to deal with in the future with trying to say, is this appropriators and not because we've said $1,000 is reasonable and we should go CPI. I'm fine.

[305:14.88] Councilman Shaw and I for the like general public and trying to understand what that means. I just think that that should also just be clarified just within our communications. Well, it would have to be an hour. It would have to be an hour that the guy that's issued for the candidate guide for that year. Just with the exact amount with the exact amount. Just because I support that you guys. Okay.

[305:50.09] All right, we're fine with CPI. Welcome to the closing the can of worms. We're just following Gaithersburg.

[305:59.84] No, we're not just following Gaithersburg at all. Thanks. Go ahead.

[306:05.31] Just and also just to clarify, if there's a couple, I think there's like it's like 175 or something. Isn't it higher for a couple? If it's an individual, it's individual and a couple.

[306:21.05] Two individuals. So no, I thought it was 175 or something. I don't. I'm not aware of that. And I'm seeing though a couple is to are treated to individuals. Okay. Okay. Anything else? 871 through 878. Any more cans to be open.

[306:43.73] It is 11 16. I'll just flag it.

[306:46.73] We have another 4 slides to get through. Thank you. Her up to slide page 20 there. Slide 20 division for remedies and enforcement that proposed amendments also address the enforcement provisions, including concernings on 8 dash 1 1 1 violations and penalties and section 1 12 concerning injunctions.

[307:20.35] These changes are part of the broader efforts to make the enforcement process clear and more consistent with the obligations established in this chapter 8. If we want to take a deep dive, we can.

[307:36.04] But as I said, the this is a new sections. There has to be SOPs put in place and we haven't gotten there yet, but we at least have an outline of what we're proposing. I guess I, I still have the same question here and I'm sorry if I miss it that I raised in the wrong place earlier.

[308:01.35] Like, we have to define investigatory powers in code. Is it here? I think we can have more detail here regarding what the investigation or what their powers are. I don't think we anticipated that members of the board would be issuing subpoenas or anything like that.

[308:24.84] I do think we anticipate the board being able to question, you know, people may be asked for some documents or proof of some things.

[308:35.42] So I, we can certainly add more parameters or a framework around their investigative powers. And to be clear, I don't actually, I don't have a preference one way or another for what they are. I just think we need clarity because there was a problem there wasn't.

[308:52.01] So whatever you all think is best, just a clarity on it. But typically, even if we have a framework, typically the actual investigative process or a hearing process or something like that is set forth in my procedures.

[309:08.24] It's either in some rules or procedures or SOPs or something like that. But we can add more meat to it if that's, you know, what, what the framework is going to be. We can definitely do that. I can. I can do it.

[309:25.45] I just, you know, some of my notes as I have the board may issue a formal notice of violation, identifying the violation based on relief sought and deadline for correction. If a violation is not corrected, the board then will forward it to the city attorney's office.

[309:44.70] And then we will go through those guidelines for issuing a municipal infraction or proceeding with an investigation.

[309:55.29] Hearing just add some of that into the code. Thank you. Support that. I have a question. I didn't see 879 and that was adjusted. No, I didn't see it on your slide. I may have missed out.

[310:20.47] Campaign communications by organizations. Right. So what about advocacy organizations like nonprofit advocacy organizations? Do they fit in here?

[310:34.34] Here's what I have for my notes. The rules for corporations, unincorporated businesses, associated associations and labor organizations are reorganized.

[310:48.11] Such organizations may communicate with members, stockholders and certain personnel without becoming a political committees, provide the communication is produced at their expense, expresses their governing body's views and does not simply reproduce a candidate's

[311:11.03] produced campaign materials. Councilwoman for Larry. I see where Madam Mayor's coming from. And I think it's just funny.

[311:24.74] I think it should probably just say something to the effect of corporation association or nonprofit. If you don't want to get into the tax code part of it or labor organization, because right now, a nonprofit entity would not necessarily

[311:44.19] be captured by unincorporated business association. And is this come from state law? Yes. Yeah, we got that. Can you clarify that state law? It's from the federal state. Okay, just want to make sure as you are adjusting it.

[312:02.28] Yeah, because it also says, and their families on any subject, I didn't see that in the previous language, a dash, a two, dash, a two.

[312:26.21] Councilman Jackson. So, when we're talking about nonprofits, I mean, and I think I know what you're getting at. But just to be clear, I mean, nonprofits are really regulated by the IRS, the federal government, and they really

[312:45.02] are strict rules on playing in campaigns when you have a nonprofit, whether it's a Father Wednesday three, Father Wednesday four.

[312:54.27] That's right. So, I'm, I'm, I'm a little bit confused by that because I don't think that that's really something that we need put in the code because nonprofits really are strictly regulated.

[313:09.15] Councilman Basha. So I think also, yes, yes, some nonprofits are regulated, but I think nonprofits are able to get involved in ballot measures like issue campaigns that could be a part of an election cycle.

[313:26.28] Well, we've seen across the county, as well as in other elections where C4s get involved in campaigning, do they not have to file campaign reports? They should, right? They should, but we couldn't get them to.

[313:42.91] So I was just responding to like the nonprofit, but I also I think churches can now get involved. Right. And with that, I guess my question is shouldn't. Why can't I'll just go ahead. No, I just wanted to follow up with, with Councilmember Jackson's

[314:01.11] point about nonprofits and just clarifying that nonprofits can get involved in in elections, but there's usually for issue campaigns and ballot measures. I guess my question is going beyond. I'm sorry.

[314:16.90] So I don't know if nonprofits to go back to the point. I'm not sure if nonprofits should. I mean, nonprofits could be here because churches can get involved.

[314:28.13] Yeah, so I just I'm questioning whether all these groups, I want to make sure we're following the federal law and any state law, but not going beyond that because we have seen groups get involved in elections, which is fine.

[314:40.40] We welcome it, but they should file reports if if they're not examined by the federal government. That's my point. Councilmember Valeri.

[314:48.93] If need be, then we we should use the actual IRS designations. We should use a C3 and C4 and C6 because those are all nonprofits.

[315:01.15] But the amount of political activities that are able to do and whether or not it's issue advocacy versus direct endorsement of a candidate is completely dependent.

[315:12.18] C6 is can straight up endorse C3 is only 20 percent of their total budget. So if we want to be super clear and yes, everybody should be following the law.

[315:22.30] Does that happen? Yeah, probably not. We should then at least be as descriptive as the IRS designations for who can do what.

[315:32.33] I was just trying to say, can we check the federal law? Because I we want to extract, we want to have as many transparent campaign reports as possible. That's my goal.

[315:45.15] So, Councilmember Jackson, you had a comment and Councilmember Shaw. Go ahead.

[315:50.92] So I think this section is related to like the disclaimer and where we, exceptions of where they won't use a disclaimer because I think it's basically inside their membership or where it's very clear where it's coming from.

[316:06.98] So I think this section is just related to the disclaimer.

[316:11.71] It was revised to say they can make campaign communications without becoming a campaign committee to its stockholders and members and executive administrative personnel and their families are any subject.

[316:28.57] So that's the clarification.

[316:37.72] Just if we could cross check the law.

[316:46.02] All right. Anything else? Let's go to your next slide.

[316:49.27] Okay, the violations. Councilmember Fulton gave you feedback already was accepted. Councilmember Larry you had something else.

[317:02.46] Yes, I did.

[317:04.60] I had a question and it may have been addressed while I was taking a bio break.

[317:19.88] Yes. Okay. Under 111 it mentions a administrative hearing process administrative hearings require hearing officers.

[317:32.28] I think this might be what I kind of came in on the tail end of from Councilmember Fulton but just making sure that whoever the administrator or whoever the hearing officers would be that there would be some sort of way for them to be both independent

[317:48.32] and credible in this enforcement process. I would want us to ensure that.

[317:53.60] So I appreciate the language added for threatening to harm a municipal official, especially in this day and age.

[318:09.89] The only question I have is do we have the capacity to determine jail time isn't that something that the state's attorney and isn't that out of our jurisdiction.

[318:19.39] I mean we could talk about fines but I don't think that we have the jurisdiction to determine jail time.

[318:25.69] This language was, as we said, taken pretty much from what the state did. Maybe because the state's attorney has that authority we don't.

[318:36.59] Understood. So we could say, I mean, we could say, leave the fine end there. Yeah, by the state's attorney. Yeah, you had that language at the previous one. Perfect. Thank you.

[318:52.89] And Councilmember Valeri, I'm confused about the verbiage you were talking about because this took the whole hearing officer out. Okay.

[319:11.25] Sorry, I slipped away from it.

[319:16.31] It revised. Yes, I thought the revision. No, I apologize because it's getting late. The revised enforcement framework uses an administrative hearing process as it no longer. Okay. And my notes are bad. You can ignore me. Sorry.

[319:36.06] This goes back to a municipal infraction. It just allows the board to issue the notice of violation and then go from there to a municipal infraction which goes to district court.

[319:48.66] I have a question related to those fees. So you made it so that if someone who's actually who gets elected has not paid their fees, you can deduct it from their stipend.

[320:00.36] But for people who may not get elected, you don't do you normally do you send those to collections or what do you have you escalate that we haven't usually they do comply, but that could be a provision that we could put in there, and that they, they won't be allowed to run for office.

[320:23.54] You have that in there now. Yeah, right. That's just flagging that for five years I think right. Usually they comply. They just want to comply and move on. So if they comply, then they can run.

[320:41.29] Yes, but they can't run until they comply. Right. And if they don't comply and never comply, then they have five years to wait to be able to run again. That's what I read. Yeah. Okay. Councilor Shaw.

[320:57.18] You good. Okay. Okay. Anything else. Oh, I have, I have a question that was not raised as a section. So we've had, I'm going back to my history book of mayor and councils.

[321:15.39] But what happens if there's a special election week that has that was not an easy process previously and we haven't cleaned it up. So, I haven't, I haven't, I'm not saying we have to discuss it tonight.

[321:27.86] But I don't, I didn't see any changes to that section. And you might, you might have discussed it, but no, there were no changes to that section that works. Yeah, yeah, we should put a note that we need to address that at some point.

[321:46.53] Yes, I know we're on a deadline so I'm not putting that on you now but we can't that that was really messy. And my last question are the number of mailings the same I know we talked about this last work session.

[322:02.79] Yes, therefore. Okay, that's good. Councilor Michelle, we have something.

[322:15.25] I believe I saw this on this. So, we're done. So I believe I saw this on the slide for ranked choice voting.

[322:27.33] Okay, next.

[322:34.85] We've already I slide 21 addresses the protection of the election officials. We've already gotten that so we can skip that one.

[322:42.91] Slide 22 future voting methods and public finance. There are no provisions in the current draft for implementing rank choice voting or public financing chapter eight establishes requirements that are currently effective.

[322:57.64] These potential future reforms require additional policy consideration before they can be implemented, and staff is recommending that may be mayor and council consider putting right choice voting and public financing as a non bonding referendum

[323:17.46] question for the 2027 ballot should staff proceed with development either, or both non that ending for 2027. Right now we are already up against the wall for implementing anything new other than getting these updates and implementing

[323:41.15] and updating our campaign financing and all of our SOPs that are associated with just the updates and this and so both myself and my board are not, we don't have the bandwidth to really dive into it to be honest with you, and to do it right.

[324:02.53] I thought that the last time we had this work session, we talked about for a public financing that we wanted to have some data come back to us. I don't think we were with like maybe three options, I don't think that we were saying, implemented

[324:17.10] in 20, right. And I don't, I didn't hear anyone say anything about referendum for that either. So I think I get through this code update but I still think that we were hoping to see some of the three options for consideration, so that we have that to review.

[324:35.02] That's what I had in my notes. Now there's some discrepancy on this but I did check with, there are at least four people who for ranked choice voting who didn't say, though, I don't, none of us remember saying this would be a referendum.

[324:48.32] But I think there are at least four of us who remember saying that would be for 2031.

[324:53.44] I'm not sure what what happened there. How did that we think it's, it's unusual in code language to not put in a requirement that's currently affected, but not illegal.

[325:15.45] So I mean if you're saying, put in language that says at 2031 or whatever. I think what we were implying at least that was my vote that we should do it for 2031.

[325:28.42] We wouldn't amend this code here for that, but we would implement what we would need to do for 2031. After this next election, so that we're not previewing anything, but it would be amendment to section eight between the two elections.

[325:44.46] I can't speak for all my colleagues, that's what was I was implying that makes sense. What did not make sense to me is to have in the code language that says in 2031 we're going to do X.

[325:58.63] That's what didn't make sense. Yeah, I got you.

[326:07.74] I thought it was 123.

[326:10.77] Let me just, let's just go down the line. Councilmember Fulton comes from the library councilor shots.

[326:18.87] I'm on ranked choice voting. What did you say it doesn't make sense I'm an advocate for something it doesn't make sense.

[326:25.06] Because, or maybe there's a better way to do it because I guess the majority of this body thinks we don't have time to do it for 2027.

[326:33.88] I also think, and I could be wrong that the majority of this body thinks we should do it.

[326:40.06] And I think there is a missed opportunity. If we don't take some action now that solidifies that decision and direction by this body.

[326:51.72] So, if I certainly don't want to put it on as a non binding referendum, and I really don't want to just punt it till some future date in the next term before the next election, because this body wants to do it.

[327:05.97] The only reason we're not doing it tell me if I don't want to be speaking on turn in 2027 is because we don't have time.

[327:12.06] So, what can we do. You're saying it's not illegal to say, effective in the election second election following this.

[327:22.01] If not that, what can we do for this body to lock in the decision that we want to do that. I'm open to other options.

[327:31.61] But if right now is the time that we're changing the code, and we can put something in it, that still gives us the time, but locks in that we want to do it. I'd like to do that.

[327:43.07] Thank you, Councilmember Larry then Councilmember Shaw. Yes. Hi, absolutely. Second that I think that I don't, I was under no illusion that either ranked choice voting or public financing was going to be implemented for 2027.

[328:01.49] There are so many other moving parts and pieces, including the actual procurement of machines to be able to do the tabulation of ranked choice voting, the cost estimates for these style of ballots and then the postage estimates.

[328:16.49] I think there's a lot of administrative leg work, not to mention, we have this compromise, you know, compress rather, not compromise, compress time frame anyways.

[328:26.55] I don't see a difference in like, we don't have to make it the specifics of when things will be implemented, but the allowance that there is a reserved spot in code we have a couple empty other areas.

[328:46.85] And frankly, just, you know, there are a couple different options as far as what the ordinance could look like, that would be triggered upon, you know, provision of the machines like we're all having this conversation we don't have the machines actually do the tabulation.

[329:04.80] So what would need to be in place ordinance wise to prepare for that point at which we've got the tabulation machines, everything is all set it's literally just like turning a switch and making sure that the state clerk's office has the budget for whatever

[329:21.51] other implication in terms of printing, postage, whatever.

[329:26.53] Yes, I absolutely agree with that I, I'm just not a fan of these non binding ballot questions they're just surveys of existing voters and I think we're all just looking to expand it on on public financing.

[329:42.55] I think that y'all know how I feel, clearly, I don't hold back on that but I have put a, a, a option on the table, I think having a secondary comparison, even a third one.

[329:56.69] There are experts out there, actually campaign legal centers, one of them that has looked at public financing of elections on all levels so these are things that I don't think any of us or any under any illusion that they were happening in

[330:14.75] this country. I would not do that to you all. I would definitely not do that to anybody, but these are things that are important, especially as we're sitting up here talking about making changes the contribution limits.

[330:27.27] We need to have some tough conversations on campaign finance. Council Michelle.

[330:35.81] With rank choice voting. I definitely want rank choice voting, you know I've been raising this on the charter review commission to hear so I'm really actually very happy that we got to this point of rank choice voting.

[330:52.58] But I do understand that we should not be implementing it in 2027 I just don't think that we have the capacity, would, would it be possible to do an ordinance or a resolution for 2031.

[331:07.58] And then also just another question, or a recommendation that we do some sort of work session on rank choice voting and I, you know, I think there's a lot of support here for rank choice voting.

[331:23.60] But I think there is a learning curve with rank choice phony for the public. And so I think it's really important that we dive in and we kind of understand some of the facts there's also different ways and methods of doing rank choice voting.

[331:37.08] There's also some questions around, like do we do rank choice voting just for the mayoral seat or for the council seat. There's a lot of different nuances with rank choice voting.

[331:49.10] And I have just some details about that within the charter review commission report as well.

[331:56.09] Having a work session where we flush out more of these details just so we can have some direction. And this will also provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about rank choice voting, and even getting some like testimonies or questions about it.

[332:20.35] And I think you've heard from the majority we want to find some way to codify it, and we recognize that it's going to take some time after you finish all this code and SOPs to flush it out and get the systems and the planning and future work sessions I do know that

[332:35.31] you have to focus on this but I think you hear from many or most of us the way to write it, I mean it's not gonna be enforceable for right now.

[332:43.65] We don't yeah we're not intentionally yeah yeah we want to make sure you're set up for success so that we feel confident in the results. Is there anything else.

[332:57.11] So, just to clarify, the two policies for the charter amendments will be allowing the 16 17 year olds to vote and imposing the term limits.

[333:11.78] So, staff will move forward and writing the charter language, along with bringing back this ordinance for an update with all the

[333:27.41] for October 5.

[333:29.41] I think, slide 24 I have all we have our requested feedback on the charter amendments campaign finance rank choice, public financing.

[333:47.87] So in closing, I just want to thank the mayor and council for your time and direction and thank the members of the city attorney's office, the BSC Center for design and campaign legal, and once this is adopted,

[334:01.59] we will start our trainings for our new campaign finance, and also our handbook for how to run for office, and we'll bring back in October 5 as Cindy said,

[334:20.81] for the charter amendments language and the update for possible introduction and adoption of the ordinance to move forward.

[334:29.16] Excellent. I think you all did a very nice job pulling together this complicated document and I know we're in a compressed timeframe. So we will try to clear and steer out of your way so you can really get this done well.

[334:41.76] But I just want to say and thank you to the BSC for all the volunteer time, you guys are incredible.

[334:47.95] So, and thanks my colleagues. All right. We're now moving on to Mac agenda, we had a leadership plan to planning team meeting this morning we went over the agenda and six month calendar, and there are notes that have been shared and will be posted online.

[335:08.37] The video. All right, only business. Okay. Do we have a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Larry. I move that we adjourn. Councilmember Fulton. All those in favor. Have a wonderful evening everyone thank you.