Ward 1 Tie Dye Tomorrow and City Council Meeting July 1st

Good Afternoon,

As advertised before: Ward 1 Tie Dye Party, tomorrow, Sunday, June 30th from 12pm-3pm at 7102 Maple Avenue. Come create a tie dye to wear this summer, perhaps on the Fourth of July? I will provide dye and have volunteers to help. You will need to bring an article of clothing to dye.

This week’s City Council meeting will be Monday, June 1st in order to give everyone time to prepare for Independence Day festivities. Please see below for a summary of the agenda.

Thank you,

Shana

Public Comments-Comment in person or via Zoom*

Agenda (PDF)

Voting Session

1. First Reading Ordinance Amending Takoma Park Code, Title 14, Health and Safety, to Add Chapter 14.01 Non-Stormwater Discharge (PDF)

This ordinance is being added to the Takoma Park Code by request of the Maryland Department of the Environment. The purpose of this ordinance is to amend Takoma Park Code regulation of non-stormwater discharge into the storm drainage system.  It does three things: regulates contribution of pollutants by any user, prohibits illicit connections/discharges, and establishes the City’s authority to carry out inspection, surveillance, & monitoring. This language of this ordinance was largely provided by MDE and then tweaked by the City’s attorney in order to make it enforceable by our staff.

2. First Reading Ordinance Amending the Takoma Park Code to Remove Provisions Referring to the Repealed Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights and Add References to Maryland’s Police Accountability Act (PDF)

This ordinance replaces the Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights (LEOBR) from the City’s code with the Maryland’s Police Accountability Act. This is more inline with the type of guardianship police force that we continue to work towards and is now what is required by Maryland law.

3. First Reading Ordinance Amending Takoma Park Code, Title 7, Purchasing and Taxation, Chapter 7.04 General Provisions, Chapter 7.08 Source Selection and Contract Formation to Address Software and Information Technology Related Contracts (PDF)

Currently, the City Manager and staff may only enter into two year contracts for software and other information technology related contracts. This creates inefficiencies in staff’s ability to negotiate best costs and requires more staff time on negotiations, since they must renegotiate every two years. With this ordinance, staff will be allowed to enter into five year contracts with those technology items.

4. First Reading Ordinance Amending Takoma Park Code, Title 5, Chapter 5.04 General Provisions, Chapter 5.18 Mail-In Ballot Voting, and Chapter 5.12 Fair Election Practices (PDF)

As discussed in our work session on June 5th

The recommended amendments are to adjust for:

A. USPS issues. If we allow ballots to be received until the fifth business day, it delays tablature and cuts it very close on swearing in of elected officials. Also, many ballots show proof of being mailed within the appropriate time frame, other than the meter stamp. This change would allow those ballots to count.  

B.  It seems appropriate to allow candidates to use loans in their campaigns. This provides guidelines on how that would work.

5. Single Reading Ordinance Approving Payment in Excess of Contract Amount for the Brashear’s Run Outfall Repair and Stream Restoration (PDF)

The cost of this project rose significantly, from $102,335 to $268,128.44. The estimate provided by the construction company was based on measurements the City provided. When the work began it was obvious that more work than was originally expected by Public Works staff. This ordinance is to approve paying the additional costs.

6. Single Reading Ordinance Authorizing Renewal of Canon Solutions America Lease Agreement (PDF)

The City uses Canon solutions for its printing. This ordinance will authorize a four year contact renewal and save $25,000 over the course of the contract.

7. Resolution Adopting an Emergency Operations Plan (PDF)

• Emergency Operation Plan (PDF)

On June 12th, Ron Hardy came and presented his last Emergency Operation Plane to the City Council before his retirement. This resolution seeks to adopt that plan.

8. Resolution Providing for Appointments to the Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs (PDF)

This resolution appoints one new member and reappoints two members to the Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs.

WORK SESSION

9. Housing Policy Discussion #1 (PDF)

This work session will be led by HCD. They are seeking feedback and guidance from Council about what our priorities are for the protection and development of housing.

10. Board and Committee Appointment Recommendations (PDF)

The Board and Committee Appointment working group will present its recommendations of appointees.