Good Afternoon Ward 1,
Last night I virtually attended the Hodges Heights Sidewalk meeting. This meeting was to look at the proposal for new sidewalks along Hodges Lane, Darwin Avenue, and Chestnut Lane. These would not only serve those residents along those streets but also better connect everyone to Takoma Park Elementary School, Takoma Park Middle School, and the Takoma-Piney Branch Park. The proposal is not yet finalized as there is still discussion to have about specifics with the neighbors on those streets. I expect that construction will take place in FY2026, so after next June.
On Saturday, I attended the Long Branch Festival. I really appreciate how businesses and organizations all throughout Takoma Park show up to celebrate together. On Sunday I was lucky enough to get to taste 17 different apple pies and 6 others as a judge for the Takoma Park Farmers Market Pie Contest. According to OTBA’s Laura Barclay, “The market raised a record $1,761 which will entirely be used to extend the shopping dollars for those using federal benefits at the market!” Thank you to all of our bakers and to everyone who bought a pie ticket to take a taste of our entries.
This Thursday at 2pm I will attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Catherine and Isiah Leggett Math and Science Building at Montgomery College. I went to the ice cream social they held last week and the new building is gorgeous. The science classrooms looked particularly inviting.
This Saturday September 21st from 10-2 I will attend the 16th Annual Play Day. I’m looking forward to crafts and talking smack to my kids as they cream me at a board game of their choosing.
City Council Meeting Agenda - Wednesday, September 18, 2024
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS
Comment in person or via Zoom*
VOTING SESSION
If you tuned in last week, you’ll know that there were some neighbors in the vicinity of this proposed installation that still had some concerns. Director Braithwaite has worked with them and proposes to add stop signs at Westmoreland and First Avenue. This added compromise assuages some opposition. I have a hard time wrapping my head around people speeding on this busy road. I will vote in support of this ordinance.
We did not hear any opposition to these traffic calming measures last week. I will vote in support of this ordinance.
We have been happy with our attorney’s performance. I will vote in support of this ordinance.
Ann Ceikot is a really great advocate for our city. I will vote in support of renewing her contract.
As I said last week, eliminating candidates was extremely difficult this year due to how impressive our applicants were. I will vote in favor of this resolution.
WORK SESSION
We have reached a point where we have to make sure that we are quick to responsibly allocate and spend our remaining ARPA dollars. All of the municipal leaders that I talk to throughout our region really needed this money to weather the storm of COVID and will all feel the impact of not having that financial support in the very near future. I’m looking forward to a conversation this evening about how those last dollars can serve our city.
Presentation (PDF)
This proposed schedule looks great with more opportunities for public input and a longer council engagement than previous years. I appreciate the thoughtful work that staff has put into this schedule after the finance/budget work group that I was a part of made recommendations for these additions to our budgetary process.
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