Good Evening,
There is no City Council meeting this week, but I do have a couple of things to share.
There has been an increase in crime in Ward 1:
There have been several commercial burglaries in businesses in Ward 1 and Ward 3 over the last month. The Takoma Park Police Department had one meeting with business owners and OTBA Executive Director Laura Barclay. The Police Department provided some information and suggestions for those business owners. I have heard that business owners were generally pleased with the meeting. Since the meeting there have been more burglaries. The TPPD is planning to work with businesses to get them tracking devices for their register drawers. They will also be moving a police camera to the area and have already started more high visibility patrols. The Mayor and I will join the TPPD and business owners for a second meeting in the near future.
There has also been an increase in thefts from automobiles. Please remember to remove all your valuables from your car and to lock it.
Last week’s meetings:
Housing Strategic Planning Discussion 9/24: HCD presented three plans to help support low and moderate residents in Takoma Park. Four proposals were originally being considered. Staff has recommended that we consider only the three right now. This is because one program focused on missing middle housing construction and there are a few similar supports proposed from the state and federal level.
Important points to highlight:
The City currently provides Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT/tax credits) to seven buildings in Takoma Park. These PILOTs are reducing their taxes by 50% and all will expire by the FY2027.
Takoma Park has historically done PILOTS that last ten years. Montgomery County presently does them in perpetuity.
The proposed credits are suggested in place of the previous PILOTs the City once offered.
The City’s PILOTs did not have a true “system” in place. Building owners or developers would informally ask for them mostly through councilmembers. It was an inequitable process since it required being savvy enough to know to ask.
Tax credits for the New Rental Construction will only apply to added units. This proposal would not reduce the current tax load of a landlord, but would forgo possible tax revenue for the City for a limited period of time.
In future years, these units would add revenue to the City.
In order to take part in the Affordable Housing Preservation Credit, a deed restriction must be in place and the credit would be reviewed annually.
City Staffing costs have been brought up in this discussion. It is not as simple as a mathematical formula to determine what each additional resident will mean in staffing. For example, we wouldn’t need an additional City Manager or department directors. Apartment buildings with more than twelve units are required to provide their own trash removal. Recreation is in large part covered by fees.
An outside consultant is currently working on a full fiscal analysis expected to be available mid-October.
If the City Council votes in favor of an ordinance for the proposed credits, the City would have a public comment period while HCD Staff continues to work on how to implement the program. After passing, Council may also request another public forum to get input. Council may also request an annual review of the programs to determine when we reach a point where we should suspend them.
Tax credits are an important part of a project’s portfolio when a developer or landlord secures financing. A small amount of tax revenue forgone for the City can mean millions of dollars of money invested in our residents, both current and future, by banks, non-profits, the state, and the federal government.
City Council 9/25: Restricted covenants were a large part of Wednesday’s discussion. I went in thinking I supported one plan, moving somewhat quickly, and came out supporting another plan, seeking state level legislation changes. The wording of the Maryland law makes it onerous for the City to remove restricted covenants. We are hoping to have some language changes in the law, without having to pass new legislation. This would make it easier for all Maryland cities to remove restricted covenants, making a bigger impact for all of Maryland while costing the City less money. I spoke with Jim Douglas from Historic Takoma and he is also in support of pursuing the legislative change.
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