Join us and several local experts on Why Are the Oaks Dying? Beetles, Borers and What You Can Do!
The entire DMV area, including the City of Takoma Park, has experienced a large increase in the number of oaks dying, especially white oaks. Join several local experts to learn what is known so far about the causes and what steps residents can take. The meeting will include brief presentations from tree experts followed by a question and answer period.
The experts include:
Colleen Kenny, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Forest Service, Keith Pitchford, independent tree care consultant
Pitchford and Associates, Sara Jensen, Arborist,
SavATree, and Christopher Larkin, Arborist, Bartlett Tree Experts
Community Workshop
Date/Time: Monday, November 4, 7 pm to 9 pm – CLOSED
The City Council will be discussing revisions to theCity’s Sign Ordinance at its meeting on November 6, 2019. The City Attorney has issued a memo addressing the reasons for reviewing the City’s regulation of signs, explaining Montgomery County’s policy regarding signs in the public right-of-way, and advising on the legal parameters of the City’s authority to regulate signs in the public right-of-way.
Takoma Park City Council adopted the 2019-2030 Housing and Economic Development Strategic Plan through Resolution #2019-47
City of Takoma Park, MD – (October 18, 2019) On Wednesday, October 16, the Takoma Park City Council adopted the 2019-2030 Housing and Economic Development Strategic Plan through Resolution #2019-47. This Plan positions the City to set affordable housing goals that complement the work of the Board of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Montgomery County Council and take advantage of new funding and investment opportunities, while considering every action through a race equity lens and taking into account climate change resiliency needs.
Mayor Kate Stewart commented, “When we have stable, high quality housing available for all, families thrive and our community succeeds. On Wednesday night, the City took the critical and necessary steps to work toward the realization of the human right to safe, high quality, and affordable housing and the interrelated right to an adequate standard of living.”
As the City looks to meet its critical housing needs, housing development initiatives are interlaced with the City’s economic development initiatives… Read the entirePress Release
If the plan is adopted, it will represent one of the most significant steps taken by the Council in decades to position the community for a healthy future. The only two other major efforts that rise to this level of significance since I began working for the City 26 years ago are the supporting of the construction of the Purple Line light rail system 20 years ago and the establishment of our City’s sustainability program in 2015.
City Manager Suzanne Ludlow,
The Resolution to be considered begins with strong statements about a fundamental right to housing. For a small municipality in an expensive metropolitan area, it will take an enormous effort for Takoma Park to preserve existing moderately-priced housing, produce more housing for residents at various incomes, and to protect residents from discrimination and displacement.
While there are strong objectives and strategies in the Strategic Plan regarding housing – including the continuation of the rent stabilization program – one of the major ways to move Takoma Park forward is to assist and promote businesses and business development. This is an area where we have not been as strong over the years. We need economic health and growth in the commercial sector to reduce the City’s dependence on residential real property tax. We also have many, many residents without good jobs or sufficient business income. They need workforce development, entrepreneurial programs and business assistance to be able to stay and thrive in Takoma Park.
Throughout the Resolution and Strategic Plan are provisions that show the Council’s commitment to consider every action through a race equity lens and to take into account the climate change resiliency needs of our community.
Please read through the materials for the October 16 Council meeting and share your thoughts with Council. If adopted, staff will assemble and share implementation plans, indicators of success, graphics and presentation materials to move the Strategic Plan forward and clearly communicate the Plan with the public.
Tax Duplication
One way to make Takoma Park a more affordable community is to finally get Montgomery County to pay fair tax duplication rebate payments. (Go here for more info.) County Executive Marc Elrich – who used to be a Takoma Park City Councilmember – has the responsibility to put the correct rebate payment amount in his proposed FY2021 budget.
County Executive Elrich is holding budget forums right now around Montgomery County. This is the time to tell him that a fair tax duplication payment for Takoma Park must be included in the next County budget. The next two forums are at 7 pm on October 21 at the Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Services Center and on October 30 at the Silver Spring Civic Building.
The County Executive is providing a presentation on “Outcome Based Budgeting” as part of the forums. One “outcome” should be fairness. No taxpayer should be paying two governments for services they only get from one. Not paying a fair rebate hurts our collaborative efforts to help keep housing affordable, build climate change resilience, and protect the public. County Executive Elrich knows this and setting the payment amount is in his court.
Please attend an upcoming forum or send an email to the County Executive, copying the Takoma Park City Council, and say the time is now for the County to pay a full tax duplication rebate payment to Takoma Park.
Other Matters
There is an enormous amount of work being done by the City Council and City staff right now. Work on the Tree Ordinance and tree canopy, the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, multiple construction projects, and lots of day-to-day maintenance, programs and services are underway. It can be hard to stay up on all of the important projects – let alone the fun things! If you haven’t already, please sign up to receive the Takoma Insiderweekly e-newsletter. It is interesting and useful.
Numerous tree care professionals in our area have become concerned about the number and relatively quick demise of mature (primarily white) oak trees in our area. This situation is occurring not only in the City of Takoma Park but in the entire DC Metropolitan Area and beyond.
The more detailed answer involves the record amount of rainfall last year over an extended period of time, as well as earlier this year, which resulted in super saturated soils and areas that experienced elevated water levels. Tree root systems in these areas were damaged by low oxygen levels in the soil, resulting in root loss for many trees. In urban environments, the issue of heavy rainfall and saturated soils is compounded because the root area for trees is already limited by soil compaction, space, and other constraints. Also, the health of the trees that have died may not have been the best, to begin with.
Looking even further back to 2016 and 2017, there were very cold temperatures (in the teens) in the early spring after weeks of mild weather. This could have had an impact on the vascular system of the tree, impacting its ability to maintain existing root systems. These past injuries make a tree even more susceptible when periods of heavy rains or high temperatures take place. As time passes, the failing root system reaches a tipping point where the water needs of the canopy can’t be met leading to branch dieback and decline.
With the trees in a weakened state, other pathogens and insects (particularly beetles and borers) take advantage and are secondary contributors to the demise of the tree.
The heavy rainfall this year was followed by a period of intense high temperatures and periods of drought this summer. The stress of the heat and drought led to the already compromised large trees dying in very short periods of time.
One area of concern is that many of the beetles and pathogens in the dead tree can quickly spread to other trees around them. It is essential to have the dead tree removed off-site to keep the infestation from spreading.
Experts from the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service, US National Arboretum, the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the US Forest Service have been contacted and there are efforts underway to better understand and document what is taking place.
What Can You Do for Your Trees?
First and foremost, you should have your trees evaluated every couple of years or as needed by a Licensed Tree Expert/Licensed Arborist. They can take a close look at the tree and its surroundings and diagnose possible problems and recommend a treatment plan. To find a Certified Arborist (Treesaregood.com)
If possible, while minimizing damage to root systems of large existing trees, try to improve your yard’s drainage, particularly in wet areas.
You may also want to add mulch (2-3” max) in a 6’ to 10’ radius around the trunk of a large tree. It is best to keep mulch several inches away from the trunk itself. Adding mulch around your tree provides vital nutrients and promotes macrobiotic activity essential for good soil.
Limit damage to a tree’s root system when mowing. It is better for the tree to create a mulched area around the trunk of a tree rather than grass.
White oaks, particularly hit hard this year, are an upland tree species. White oaks do not deal well with waterlogged soils. Therefore, when planting new trees, it is best to understand the species and its preferred growing environment. During dry spells, new trees especially need watering, particularly in the first 2 to 3 years after planting.
Visit our webpages for additional resources on Tree Care:
City residents can take advantage of the City’s Fall 2019 tree planting program (print form here) with a check made payable to: City of Takoma Park, for the number of trees selected, plus tax = Total Order.
The following links are a helpful resource in selecting tree species:
The City offers assistance for tree removal of dead or hazardous trees for low- and moderate-income residents (85% of the median income for Montgomery County. The Emergency Tree Fund Criteria and Homeowners Application can be found here:
On Monday, August 26, Adventist HealthCare Urgent Care opened in Takoma Park, in the former Washington Adventist Hospital Emergency Department. For many, it can be hard to know when to go to the Emergency Department (ED) or to an Urgent Care, especially in a sudden medical situation. Here’s what you need to know about how to make the right decision for you and your family.
What is the difference between ED and Urgent Care?
The best way to remember if the ED is right for you is if your medical situation or condition is life-threatening. Urgent care centers can handle nonlife-threatening injuries or illnesses and often have shorter wait times and cost less than an ED visit. Urgent care centers are a great place if you’re not feeling well and can’t get an appointment with your primary care doctor.
Many urgent care centers have on-site labs and x-rays and are open daily with extended hours. Urgent Care centers are also able to see most people, ages six months and up.
When should I go to the ED? An ED may be best for you if you experience any of the following:
Chest pain
Broken bones
Head or eye injuries
Seizures
Severe burns
Animal bites
Uncontrolled, severe bleeding
Difficulty breathing
Signs of a stroke, such as weakness or numbness on one side and slurred speech
Appendicitis
Pregnancy-related medical issues
Changes in your mental state
Remember to always call 9-1-1 if you experience loss of consciousness, signs of a heart attack or stroke, shortness of breath or life/limb-threatening injury.
When should I go to Urgent Care?
Urgent care may be best for you if you have any of the following:
Allergies, Asthma
Cold, flu, fever
Cough
Minor cuts
Nausea
Rashes or other common skin infections
Sore throat
Earaches
Pink eye
Urinary tract infections
Stomach aches, nausea or diarrhea
Sprains or strains
If you have a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes, arthritis or high blood pressure or cholesterol, an urgent care center won’t be able to manage your condition. For those types of conditions, see your primary care provider.
How should I prepare for a visit to Urgent Care?
It’s always a good idea to bring a valid ID, insurance card, payment information and known allergies and a list of your medications to any appointment, whether it is with your primary care doctor, specialist or urgent care center. Your list of medications should include how much and how often you take. It’s also recommended to know how much your co-pay is for a visit to urgent care. You can find this out by calling your insurance provider. Most insurance companies cover urgent care visits, but it’s best to know your particular plan’s coverage.
What types of providers will be available at Adventist HealthCare Urgent Care in Takoma Park?
All Adventist HealthCare Urgent Care locations are staffed to handle all urgent care issues. Centers have either a physician, licensed nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant and are under the direction of our medical director. The center will also have on-site x-rays with a licensed x-ray technician available.
How can I be seen at Adventist HealthCare Urgent Care?
The Adventist HealthCare Urgent Care in Takoma Park will be open 24/7 and accepts walk-ins. For more information about Adventist HealthCare Urgent Care, visit AdventistUrgentCare.com.
With public schools opening on Tuesday and the City Council returning from their summer recess on Wednesday, September 11, City staff is gearing up for a VERY busy fall.
I have compiled a summary of some of the more interesting projects or issues that are underway. Most of them are likely to affect you one way or another. And, to keep on top of all things Takoma Park, I encourage you to sign up for the weekly Takoma Park Insider, if you haven’t already. It’s always good to be in the know!
City Manager Suzanne Ludlow
Now, before I go into some of the exciting work that is before us, I ask all of you to do some end-of-the-summer homework:
Check to make sure you and your family are prepared for storms or other emergencies. With climate change, emergency preparations and vigilant property maintenance are more important than ever.
Do you have your supplies to rely on for three days in a power outage?
Do you know your escape routes and meeting-up place if you have a fire?
If you have trees on your property, have they received proper maintenance by a licensed tree care professional within the last two years?
If you have a home, are your house gutters clean and do the paths for stormwater go away from your home and not onto the neighboring property?
Have you eliminated breeding places for mosquitos?
Help make sure children can walk, bike, or bus safely to school.
Check to make sure sidewalks are clear of overgrown vegetation.
Practice coming to a full stop at stop signs. (I’ve seen a number of cars just rolling past stop signs lately!)
If you have children who will be heading to schoolnext week, walk or bike the route with them and make sure it’s safe and they know safety rules.
Report any overgrown vegetation or unsafe locations to the City so we can issue a Courtesy Notice or correct a problem.
Sign up for emergency alerts, City notices, etc so you can be informed. We have great options to let you know if roads are closed, emergency weather is on the way, if classes are canceled, or if there is an imminent danger that might affect you. We also have information on fun programs or opportunities that help make living in Takoma Park great!
Now to what is on tap for Fall, 2019.
Housing and Economic Development Strategic Plan – A draft plan has been prepared for City Council consideration in September after almost four years of research and public outreach. The Staff is already working on some implementation steps and looks forward to the adoption of a final plan. Key goals are to have a City with a range of safe, high quality, and stable housing options affordable for residents of varying incomes as well to plan and prepare for development in the City while maintaining the special character and diversity of Takoma Park. The plan is also guided by race equity and environmental sustainability goals.
Flower Avenue Green Street – While we’ve been planning for the complete overhaul of Flower Avenue between Piney Branch Road and Carroll Avenue for years, visible work on the street has now begun. For the coming year, there will be one-lane closures while utility work is done, and bioretention areas and new sidewalks are installed. This is a very significant project for Takoma Park and our region.
Sustainability and Climate Action Plan – Our existing plan is being updated and we want your input! We will have an online survey, a public workshop on Tuesday, September 17 at 7:00 pm in our Community Center Auditorium and several focus groups. The plan is scheduled to be completed in November to help guide our community to greatly reduced greenhouse gas emissions while increasing resiliency to climate change.
Takoma ParkLibrary Renovation – Council has approved design work up to the construction drawing stage. Changes to the concept plans are being made to raise the floor out of the flood plain, but the exterior configuration remains similar to the one that has been well-received by the community. We need to have a library that meets ADA regulations, has an HVAC system that works, and that has the facilities to function as a modern public library for Takoma Park. As the drawings are refined, we will be able to get more accurate cost estimates and make design adjustments as needed.
Updating of the City’s Tree Regulations and Protection of the TreeCanopy – The Council, staff, Tree Commission, and Committee on the Environment have been working on updating the City’s tree regulations while pursuing greater protection of the tree canopy in Takoma Park. There will be a number of Council discussions on this, referring to the many public comments that have been received and the recent report on the status of the tree canopy. The Council will be jumping right in on this topic beginning September 11.
Takoma Junction Developmentand SHA Intersection Improvements– The City’s development partner, Neighborhood Development Company, is continuing in the plan review process with Montgomery County for the Takoma Junction Development project. At the same time, the Maryland State Highway Administration is following up on its Takoma Junction Vision project, taking comments from the public outreach done in the spring and looking at options for intersection improvements. Stay tuned on both projects.
Takoma Park Recreation Center Redevelopment – The City of Takoma Park recently became the property owner of this facility that we have operated on New Hampshire Avenue since 1997. We will be contracting for a public process to determine how to redevelop the property to ensure that City goals are met for recreation, as well as for housing or other economic development needs. In the meantime, its fitness room is a great place to get in shape, and there are a host of fun programs operating out of the Center. Stop by!
Future of Washington Adventist Hospital Property – The Emergency Department and acute care patients were moved to the new White Oak Medical Center on August 25. Some patients and services remain in the hospital until space is ready for them at the White Oak facility next summer. A new Urgent Care facility opened in the former Emergency Department. (It is for minor ailments and injuries and open 24 hours per day, seven days a week. For more serious medical issues, call 911.) Washington Adventist University intends to purchase the hospital property, but almost any use requires zoning changes. Reuse of the site is years away. Once the hospital is completely moved, most of the property is likely to be subject to property taxes at least until new exempt uses are approved. The Takoma Park City Council is on record as wishing to see community needs met at the site, such as housing, medical care, and/or education.
Election Changes – With the move of City Council elections to even years beginning in 2020, the City Charter needs updating and procedures are being worked on. Information will be in an upcoming Takoma Park Newsletter. And, don’t forget, 16 and 17-year-olds can vote in the City of Takoma Park elections. We were the first in the nation to allow this!
For information on these and the many other major projects going on around Takoma Park, check out our City website under Initiatives. We have details and contact information for many projects.
Some smaller items:
Dispatch Space Improvements – There will be improvements made to our Police Department this fall. The Community Center’s Atrium floor will be filled in, providing room to expand the Police Department’s very cramped Dispatch office. While construction is underway, Dispatch will be moved elsewhere in the building but we will remain open.
EV Chargers – You may notice changes to some of our Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers around the City. Pepco will be operating some of them now that the City’s contract with the company EVI has expired. In BY Morrison Park, the four old Level 2 (slower) EV chargers will be removed. Two new Level 2 chargers will be installed and the other two parking spaces will not have EV chargers. The new Level 2 chargers will require payment. It is likely that all Level 2 chargers will move to become chargers requiring payment. Level 3 (fast) chargers already require payment.
Stormwater Fees – Based on Council discussions this past spring and a consultant’s study, we will be looking to revamp the way we charge for stormwater management, with the possibility of changing the current uniform residential fee to a stepped fee that is higher for properties with more impervious surface and lower for those with less impervious surface, similar to our system for commercial and institutional properties. The topic will be addressed at the September 11 City Council work session.
New Staff! – With the tight labor market, there has been quite a lot of turnover of City staff in the last few months. I am delighted to report that a number of key vacant positions have recently been filled, most helpfully, our Human Resources Director position. We are so happy to have Ms. Tracy Smith on board in that position. Another key position being filled is our Victim/Witness Assistant in the Police Department. Other positions being filled include a Planning Intern, a part-time position in our Finance Department, and many Recreation positions for our before and afterschool programs.
I haven’t even mentioned the exciting arts programming and fun events that are on board for this fall. Again, sign up for notices so you can take advantage of every opportunity for enjoyment and to meet new friends.
On a personal note, I had a nice short vacation with my son earlier this month. As I visited several places, I noticed how really cutting-edge Takoma Park is, despite being a small community. I truly appreciate the dedication of Councilmembers, Committee members, and City staff in helping make Takoma Park a special place for all residents.
A letter from Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart on behalf of the Takoma Park City Council regarding the opposition of the proposal to establish a facility for unaccompanied minors on Laurel Street, NW.
The Takoma Park City Council shares Mayor Bowser’s and Councilmember Todd’s concerns about this proposal. Read the letter, click here
Since its founding in 1976, Takoma Park’s Dance Exchange has been a literal and metaphorical “mover and shaker,” using physical movement as a catalyst for inspiring collective “movements,” such as community engagement, healthy living and creative aging.
A major assist from the City of Takoma Park will allow the organization to expand its reach in the creative aging arena. A community grant award of $10,000 will help launch the Dance Exchange’s Creative Aging and Intergenerational Exchange. The organization will launch a series of workshops with local housing communities and multi-family residential buildings in Takoma Park, such as Victory Towers, Edinburgh House, Parkview, Cambridge House, Winslow House, Essex House, and Hampshire Towers to provide creative aging programs to their older adult residents.
“These ongoing workshops will use movement, dancemaking, and storytelling to encourage physical activity and health, individual and community expression, and community building,” said Cassie Meador, executive artistic director of Dance Exchange.
According to Meador, the exchange had been exploring these types of programs for a while, but it was City Councilmember Peter Kovar who helped bring the concept and the key players together.
“I’m a strong supporter of Dance Exchange’s innovative work and I appreciate the many contributions the organization makes to the Takoma Park community and beyond,” Kovar said. “Earlier this year, after I had a conversation with Dance Exchange staff about this topic, I helped put them in touch with representatives of local apartment buildings that have substantial aging populations and with groups that work on issues affecting older residents. So I’m delighted that they were approved for a grant that will enable them to collaborate with older residents in the City.”
Meador added that while the particular initiative that the grant is funding is new, it fits in perfectly with the Exchange’s history and overall mission. “Dance Exchange has enhanced the quality of life for older adults since its founding in 1976. Our Founder, Liz Lerman, began teaching dance to senior adults at the Roosevelt for Senior Citizens, a city-run residential facility in Washington, DC in 1975,” she said.
“Going forward, our long-term goal is to continue building an intergenerational creative community that uses dancemaking to improve the lives and wellness of local older adults by increasing social connection, opportunities for agency and choice making, and physical health through movement.”
The grant will support Dance Exchange artists in implementing and facilitating the program. In addition, a team of local and national contributors from the arts, health, and creative aging sectors will assess the value and impact of the work for individuals and communities joining the program.
During the pilot year, Dance Exchange will also document and share best practices within the arts, health and creative aging sectors. The organization will host a series of events, including an evening on the science of arts and aging, (co-hosted with the National Academy of Sciences as part of their LabX series) on Oct. 25 at Dance Exchange, and a three-day Organizing with Artists for Change Institute, Jan. 9-12, 2020. They are also planning a culminating performance event in May 2020.
Meador said that none of these initiatives would be possible without the grant. “Without this money, we simply could not launch the program in this coming season,” she said. “Our partnership illuminates how the arts and culture sector can intersect with local government to make a more robust, creative, and connected community.”
It all comes down to using movement to launch “movements.” As Meador said, “Through the Creating Aging and Intergenerational Exchange program, we will be moving for connection, moving for health, and moving together to question and expand the expectations of aging.”
white oaks. Join several local experts to learn what is known so far about the causes and what steps residents can take. The meeting will include brief presentations from tree experts followed by a question and answer period.
