All posts by Donna Wright

News, Uncategorized

Resources for Furloughed Agencies/Employees

We know that during a federal government shutdown, many employees and businesses in the DC Metro Area experience a sudden loss of income. We also know that the effects are not limited to federal employees and that there are trickle down impacts on our local economy. Here is a list of resources that are available for information and guidance.

Federal Government
Financial Institutions

Many banks, credit unions and credit card companies are offering assistance. Contact your financial institution to see what options are available for you.

Utilities and other assistance

Many gas and utility companies also are working with furloughed employees. Contact your company to see what options are available.

Nonprofit Resources
Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op (TPSS)
  • All members who are furloughed due to the partial government shutdown are eligible for a TPSS Co-op line of credit through F.A.M (Furlough Assistance for Members). To learn more on this program and sign up: https://tpss.coop/fam/

  • The Co-op is also extending this program to all furloughed government workers who are not current Co-op members, by inviting them to join the Co-op for a $10 deposit paid now (on the $100 lifetime membership) to access the program.  To learn more on this program and sign up: https://tpss.coop/fam/
Resources for DC Residents
Resources for Montgomery County Residents
Resources for Prince George’s County Residents
Resources for Northern Virginia Residents

 

 

 

City Manager & Staff Blog

Evening Winter Weather Update

City of Takoma Park street plowing and sidewalk clearing crews made great progress during the day today. Unfortunately, the heavier late afternoon snow showers covered the cleared surfaces.

City Manager Suzanne Ludlow

The Right-of-Way division staff will work again from 6 pm to 6 am tonight, continuing to clear roads and treat areas with a sand/salt mixture. Please note that the temperature is dropping and many roads are very slippery. If you can, please avoid travel on the roads tonight.

It is likely that we will not know until early tomorrow morning if the Federal government will be closed or have a delayed opening due to weather. If the Federal government closes or has a delay in the morning, the City of Takoma Park will follow that decision. We will get the word out through Takoma Park Alert, the website and social media.

On Monday evening, there is a joint meeting scheduled of the City Council and Committee on the Environment. If there are any closings, we will make a decision as to whether or not the meeting should be canceled.

Monday is also a yard waste/Christmas tree collection day. We will do the collections, but please be careful to put materials out in a safe location that can be reached by our Public Works staff. If you can hold onto your yard waste for two weeks (until January 28th since January 21st is the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday), please do so. Regular trash/recycling collections scheduled for Tuesday are expected to take place with no delays.

Providing it stops snowing overnight tonight, all residential sidewalks are to be shoveled by noon Monday. Sidewalks in front of businesses are to be kept clear from 9 am to 5 pm daily. We will be enforcing the City’s laws on shoveling, but we prefer that folks do the shoveling because it’s the right thing to do. Please help your neighbors who may not be able to shovel. We have a wonderfully caring community that helps each other, and we have a commitment to pedestrian safety that, literally, requires many hands to get the work done when the snow falls.

A final note – I am so fortunate to work with so many good City staff that do excellent work. Two twelve-hour nights in a row at work driving snow plows is draining, but our Public Works staff take pride in their skill and their service. Kudos to them for all they do today and every day!

City Manager & Staff Blog

Winter Weather Update

Good morning!

It’s been a couple of years since we’ve had a substantial snowfall in Takoma Park. Nevertheless, it doesn’t take long before the snow clearing routines fall into place for City staff.

City Manager Suzanne Ludlow, Now

Public Works snow clearing crews reported for work a little before 6 pm last night and worked twelve hours. The crews include drivers of trucks (with plows and sand/salt spreaders attached) as well as a truck mechanic. Before the snow really stuck to the streets, the crews treated hills and major streets. After the snow became more substantial, plowing began. As of 5 am today, most streets had a lane plowed in Takoma Park.

We had one mechanical breakdown. A small truck that focuses on plowing alleys and dead-end streets had a problem with the drive shaft. Our mechanic was working on it overnight and it may be able to be repaired in a timely way.

Because it is Sunday, there are fewer people heading out early to work or school. City facilities are not scheduled to open until noon. If the snow keeps coming, however, we may choose not to open so that staff can focus on snow clearing. I will make a determination before 11 am after I hear from staff on conditions.

Today, I ask that residents work on clearing sidewalks and helping neighbors. It is much better to shovel several times during a snow event rather than wait until it is all over, and it is much easier and safer to shovel during daylight hours. If you can move cars off of the street so that our Public Works drivers can clear from curb to curb, that would be very helpful!

A look at our snow operations:

The second shift of plow operators reported to work before 6 am today. Last night’s shift were our Right-of-Way staff who normally do work on streets, medians, parks, etc for the City. Today’s day shift consists of our Sanitation workers. Right-of-Way staff will likely return at 6 pm today for another shift.

During the day today, the snow plow operators will be joined by other Public Works staff who will focus on clearing sidewalks and the areas around City facilities. A mechanic and other specialized Public Works staff will be working as well.

During a major snow event, the Police Department serves as our eyes and ears, identifying problem areas and issues. The Police Dispatch operators receive calls from the public and others reporting problems and send officers or alert Public Works managers to address them. If you become aware of a slippery street or other similar condition in Takoma Park, please call 301-270-1100 so that it can be addressed. (But, as always, call 911 if there is an emergency.)

Last night, there were few problems noted by the Police Department, which to me means most people were inside when roads were getting slippery. Things will pick up during the day today. Please be safe when you are out and about, whether you’re walking, shoveling or driving!

We will continue to get information out about closings and operations. Residents and businesses are responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks in front of their property, so that will be a big task. We’ll get through this snow event together.

While snow comes with work, it is also fun to play in! Whether you go sledding, or just are reading a book while enjoying the beauty of snow through a window, have a great day!

City Council & Mayor Blog

Mayor Stewart’s Response to Trump’s Oval Office Address

Kate Stewart, Mayor
Kate Stewart, Mayor

On November 9, 2016, the day after the national election, the City issued a statement reaffirming our stance and recommitting to the values we uphold in our community. We vowed that as our nation faced transition and uncertainty, in Takoma Park, we would stand strong against hate and vitriol based on ignorance and misinformation.

Given the current government shutdown and the slurs and attacks on immigrants and those seeking to come to our country, I believe it is once again time to reiterate our values.

We are a City with residents and staff from all over the world and we celebrate and cherish our diversity.

We are a City that welcomes those who are the victims of terrorism, violence, or economic upheaval regardless of their national origins.

We refuse to demonize individuals based on their place of birth, religion, or race.

We are a City that upholds the right of ALL people to live their lives with dignity and respect.

Today, in the face of hateful, dehumanizing, and blatant lies being espoused by the current occupant of the White House, we remind the world that in Takoma Park we believe in building strong, inclusive, and healthy communities by ensuring that the rights of all are upheld — immigrants, people of different faiths, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, people of color.

We believe our immigration system should prioritize keeping families together and not tearing them apart.
Here, we believe that every individual has an inherent right to be treated with fairness and justice, not with hatred and bigotry.

We are a City dedicated to forging stronger relationships and creating out of our myriad of differences and experiences one community that stands together.

News, Takoma Park Newsletter

Three Artists Explore the Beauty of Decay in Opening Reception this Thursday, Jan. 10


Opening Reception Jan. 10, 7 p.m.
Takoma Park Community Center
7500 Maple Avenue Free event

In our consumer-oriented society that disposes of everything that isn’t new, decay is a scary word, conjuring images of obsolescence, advancing age and death. But decay can be beautiful as shiny metal rusts and abandoned buildings crumble, leaving relics transformed by time and neglect. Three local artists will explore these themes in The Beauty of Decay, a new group exhibition in the galleries at the Takoma Park Community Center.

Kristina King creates handmade paper, large-scale drawings, installations and animation to explore themes of decay, fragility, turbulence and the ephemeral. Her ragged handmade paper pieces are riddled with holes and frayed edges, resembling a topographical map of mountain ranges or pock-marked craters on the moon.

Untitled (#77) by Kristina King

King earned a BFA in studio art from Denison University and has shown her work at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, the Alleghany Arts Council, Willow Street Gallery and other venues. She is currently the gallery director at Georgetown Frame Shoppe.

David Mosher photographs himself in deteriorating and abandoned buildings, evoking scenes of melancholy and regret. By sharing very personal and psychological scenes, he engages viewers in exploring their own emotional responses to decay. He is inspired by artists Man Ray, Robert Mapplethorpe and Francesca Woodman, who used self-portraiture to communicate emotions and project different personal identities.

Drawing from personal loss and her own struggles with depression, Chrissy Wilkin’s paintings depict her psychological journey through grief towards acceptance. Her work offers a mandala or spiritual symbol that illustrates how life comes full circle as we continue to live in spirit even after death. She uses different mediums in her work, including marker, charcoal and bleach.

Wilkin has been teaching art since she was 16 years old when she took a mission trip to Haiti to make art with local children. She continues to teach art internationally at summer camps and locally as a teacher at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Md. She is a member of the Hyattsville Arts Alliance and the arts coordinator for the New Deal Café, and she displays her work at various venues in Prince George’s County.

 

This article appeared in the January 2019 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

News, Takoma Park Newsletter

Public Works Winter Weather Response Plan

 Public Works staff are preparing to respond to whatever winter sends to Takoma Park’s 34 miles of city-maintained roads, as well as walkways and sidewalks around city parks and public buildings. City staff track potential storms, and prepare to respond as soon as the snow starts to fall. Crews start plowing operations when one inch of snow is on the ground and are prepared to work 12-hour shifts. The city uses Public Works Right of Way staff as primary plow drivers, and sanitation drivers fill in the second shift, if needed. When significant snowfall occurs, city trash and recycling collection may be canceled to allow sanitation drivers to pitch in with road clearing. The city’s Garden Division staff clears public sidewalks at city parks and public buildings during daylight hours, with assistance as needed from temporary laborers. Public Works encourages businesses and residents to do their part to clear snow and ice from the sidewalks adjoining their property.

Takoma Park’s winter weather response plan divides the city into five snow removal zones, each with an assigned response vehicle. Within each zone, “primary streets” are those with the most traffic, and those that connect neighborhoods. “Secondary streets” are shorter, with fewer homes, and include courts, alleys and dead ends. The map below identifies the Snow Zones and the secondary streets. City crews first clear primary streets then proceed to secondary streets. The city’s goal is to create two travelable lanes on each primary street within a 12-hour shift, if the snow fall is six inches or less. If the snow fall is more than six inches, the expectation is to make one travelable lane over a 12-hour period. Snow removal equipment remains in service around the clock until all the roads are cleared. To see a map of snow removal routes, go to www.takomaparkmd.gov/snow.

Often, when severe weather is on the way, the city begins anti-icing procedures by applying a sand salt mixture or liquid deicing chemicals to the street surface. Plowing begins once snowfall has accumulated to one inch on the street. If the storm produces only sleet and ice, the city treats roadways with sand and salt. Snow and ice response service on some streets within the City is performed by outside agencies. The State Highway Administration is responsible for clearing Carroll Avenue, Ethan Allen Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue, Philadelphia Avenue and Piney Branch Road. Sligo Creek Parkway is a Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission roadway and snow and ice response is performed by Montgomery County. However, city plows will assist with snow removal on these streets in the course of their work to clear city streets.

The Public Works Department has developed a few helpful tips for resident to follow during a snow event: Staying connected. Conditions leading to a declared snow emergency include the expectation of a significant quantity of snow or an ice event. The city manager may declare a snow emergency and will announce the status through Takoma Park Alert, local media, and on the city’s website, Facebook and Twitter. The following restrictions go into effect during declared snow emergencies:

Residents are strongly encouraged to park vehicles in their driveways whenever possible. Fewer cars on the street allow city plows to more quickly and safely clear the roads.

If you must park on the street, make sure to park your car as close to the curb as possible, and maintain a distance of at least 25 feet from an intersection.

Clearing sidewalks

Residents are responsible for clearing the public side-walks adjacent to their property. Keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice by regularly shoveling accumulated snow during and after a snow event. Please DO NOT shovel large amounts of snow into the street when clearing your driveway, lead walk or sidewalk. The best place to pile snow is on the lawn or grassy areas. Piles of snow shoveled out into the street can cause problems for passing vehicles.

Being a good neighbor and helping others in need. Reach out and ask neighbors if they need assistance with keeping their sidewalk clear. Many residents are physically unable to shovel snow and ice and are hesitant to request help from neighbors or friends. Your thoughtfulness can make a big difference to someone who might otherwise be unable to cope. If you have any questions before or during a winter event, please contact the Public Works Department at 301-891-7633.

This article appeared in the January 2019 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

News, Takoma Park Newsletter

Dollars and Sense: Approaching Fiscal Year 2020

Image

By Jason Damweber, Deputy City Manager

Developing an annual recommended budget is the single greatest  responsibility of a City administrator. It is a complex and ongoing task involving many stakeholders that culminates in the Council’s adoption of a document that reflects their priorities and the difficult decisions and compromises negotiated throughout the process. The annual budget is a tool used to plan for and reflect the balancing of resources with many competing needs.

As we gear up for the thick of budget season, we wanted to share information about the process, highlight challenges we expect to see, and begin engaging residents. After all, in the end, it is YOUR budget!

The Process in a Nutshell
While staff refers to late winter and early spring as “budget season,” the budget process is really ongoing throughout the year. We wrapped up and submitted the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for Fiscal Year 2018 in October, the same time as we entered the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2019 and began planning for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20).

In the past couple of months, staff committees have been meeting to review technology investment requests from departments and identify replacement needs of vehicles and other capital equipment. The City Manager and Deputy City Manager have been meeting with Councilmembers to gather feedback and ideas in preparation for both the upcoming Council Retreat meetings (where the Council establishes their priorities, including what they’d like to see in the upcoming budget) and the budget development process.

Looking forward, we’ll have the Council Retreat Meetings, staff work of developing preliminary departmental budgets, revenue projections, and development of a Capital Improvement Plan budget. Using this information coupled with the Constant Yield Tax Rate (more on this later), which we usually learn from the State in mid-February, we develop the City Manager’s Recommended Budget. The Recommended Budget reflects the costs of providing services and programs aligned with the Council’s priorities and the tax rate necessary to fund the work. In other words, where the money comes from and how it will be spent.

From there, Council will have a series of budget work sessions, a budget open house, a public hearing on the Recommended Bud- get and tax rate, and ultimately will adopt the FY20 budget and tax rate.

What We Know and Expect
Even if we “held the line” on the services and programs the City provides and did absolutely nothing new, the process to develop the budget would still be a challenge. In addition to expected increases in personnel and operating costs we have to project and account for, we also have to respond to changing assessments of home values and what those changes mean for the tax revenue that the City uses to provide services and programs. Additionally, we have to account for potential changes in revenues from sources other than property taxes, like funds received through the County or State. On the expenditure side, there are always changes that must be accounted and budgeted for. More on all of this below!

Revenues and the Budget
Revenues to the City come from a variety of sources, including but not limited to:

  • Real property taxes: the taxes paid by property owners on the assessed value of their property
  • Utility fees: taxes paid by public utilities on their property within the City
  • Intergovernmental payments: payments to the City from different levels of government or government agencies, such as grants or reimbursement payments for services provided by the City that would otherwise be provided by the County
  • Income taxes: the City’s portion of State-collected taxes applied to taxable income
  • Charges for particular services: charges for particular City services that are not taxes, such as inspection fees, fees for Recreation programs, passport services, etc.
  • Fines and forfeitures: funds received when the City institutes fines or realizes funds through the sale of forfeitures (the vast majority of these revenues are from fines related to speed cameras)
  • Many people don’t realize that real property taxes – the taxes paid by property owners on the assessed value of their property– make up less than half of the City’s total revenues. In fact, only 39 percent of revenues in the current fiscal year’s budget are derived from real property taxes.

So what do we expect regarding revenues as we head into FY20? At this point it is difficult to say, but we should have a much better idea in late February. While intergovernmental revenues have been flat for some time (we believe we should be receiving much more from the County, but that’s the subject of a different article!) and are relatively easy to project, the City does not receive information on the total impact of changes in assessed property values until February. Around that time, we receive notice of the Constant Yield Tax Rate from the State. The Constant Yield Tax Rate is the tax rate the City would charge in order to receive the same (constant) dollar amount in property tax revenue. In other words, if assessments increase then the Constant Yield Tax Rate would decrease to net the same amount of revenue.

Given the regional trends we have been seeing, it’s probably pretty safe to assume that property values have increased. In fact, in the City of Takoma Park they have increased over 17 percent since FY14. If the trend holds true, then the Constant Yield Tax Rate will be lower than the current tax rate. However, pegging the City’s tax rate to the Constant Yield also means that we wouldn’t bring in enough property tax revenue to cover increased costs to provide services and programs.

Expenditures and the Budget
So now we have a sense of where City funds come from, but how are they spent? A good place to see the types of services and programs the City provides is the page on the City’s website called “City Services: Your Dollars at Work” (takomaparkmd.gov/about-takoma-park/city-services-your-dollars-at-work). If we look at the total budget as we did with revenues above, expenditures break down into the following key areas:

  • Personnel: wages and benefits
  • Capital outlay: costs for capital items like infrastructure and facility improvements, vehicle replacement, equipment replacement, technology improvements, park development, and stormwater management
  • Services and charges: most operating costs other than those for personnel and capital outlay such as contracted services, licensing fees, non-capital small equipment, internal services (telephones, copying, postage), etc.
  • Debt service: payments for the principal and interest on loans to the City
  • Supplies: costs for office supplies, uniforms, vehicle fuel, construction and road repair materials, ice-melt, etc.
  • Other: a catch-all for items that don’t fit neatly into the other categories, such as costs to conduct elections, conferences and training for staff, professional association membership dues, employee recruitment, special events and programs, etc.

If we look at expenditures from just the General Fund (that is, removing special revenues/expenditures provided for a particular purpose, the speed camera fund, and the stormwater management fund), total expenditures drop down to $31,522,928, and break down as indicated in Figure 4.

Something worth noting about these FY19 budgeted expenditures is that Capital Outlay does not typically make up such a large  percentage of the budget. It can jump around a lot from year to year depending on what major projects are occurring or major equipment purchases are expected.

Personnel Costs
As noted above, even if we don’t add any staff, services, or programs, we can generally expect our costs to go up some each year. At the time this article was being drafted, it was not clear whether there would be a proposal to add or eliminate any positions. We also were not yet aware of the changes to costs for benefits like employee healthcare, which can fluctuate drastically from year-to-year. What we do know is that our staff members are our greatest assets and personnel costs make up about 49 percent of the City’s total budget, or 58 percent of the general fund budget.

So…if we assume that we will continue to have 168.86 Full Time Equivalents – the term used to represent the equivalent of the number of employees working full time – and hold the cost of benefits constant, we can expect to see an increase in personnel costs (wages) of somewhere in the ballpark of about three percent. This is a blend of a base increase and some merit pay. A three percent increase, which is in line with increases for local government workers nationally, equals some- where in the ballpark of $548,000. On top of that increase, it is reasonable to expect that employer costs for benefits will also increase slightly, though it is difficult to guess.

Operating Costs
Similar to personnel costs, it’s reasonable to assume that even if we continue to provide the same level of service and programs, the costs for doing so will increase. This is largely due to increasing prices for things like supplies, small equipment, contracted services, etc. That said, we are always looking for efficiencies, and occasionally are able to spend less than previous years on operating costs in certain areas. We also always have the option of discontinuing certain services or eliminating programs, but that could mean taking away something that residents have come to greatly appreciate or even rely on. This is all part of the annual balancing act. When we know more about Council’s expectations and any new priorities, departmental budget requests, and the Constant Yield, we’ll have a better sense of the extent to which we’ll need to hold the line, or change, eliminate, or add services and programs.

Debt Service
Debt service is one of the few areas where we have a good sense of what costs will be in the future. When we borrow money, we lock in a particular interest rate and can plan for spreading costs out over the term of the loan. For that reason, we don’t expect any surprises regarding our debt service payments on outstanding loans. Those loans include bonds used to pay for major Community Center renovations, construction of the Public Works facility, major transportation projects (Ethan Allen Gateway Streetscape and Flower Avenue Green Street), and planned Library Renovations.

Capital Outlay
As noted above, “capital outlay” refers to costs for capital items like infrastructure and facility improvements, vehicle replacement, equipment replacement, technology improvements, park development, and stormwater management. Most of the items in the “Capital Improvement Program” are things that we have known for at least a few years we would need to purchase.

For some items like vehicles and equipment replacement we may be able to realize some savings in the short term by pushing expenditures out if, say, a vehicle is in better shape than expected at the time we planned to replace it. On the “flipside,” sometimes vehicles and equipment may not last as long as we’d hoped. And for capital items involving construction, cost estimates developed one year could change significantly by the time a project goes out to bid. We have seen this recently as federal trade policies have caused dramatic fluctuations (mostly increases) in the costs of construction materials. A real-life and nearby example is the City of Gaithersburg’s planned public safety building. They expected to pay about $15 million on the project until very recently, and now they are looking at an $18 million price tag because of increases in the costs of steel!

There are also often new needs and expenditures that come up during the development process. Of course, these types of requests are viewed more favorably by the City Manager and Council when part of the justification for the expense involves cost-savings down the road.

Reserves
For many years, we have used an unwritten standard that there should be at least $3 million in unassigned funds in the General Fund at the time of budget adoption. That amount had been identified as an approximation of the funds needed to cover monthly cash fluctuations over the course of the fiscal year. It also provided a reasonable amount of cushion in the event of an emergency or disaster. However, over the years personnel costs and the overall budget increased to the point where $3 million was less than comfortable. The “industry standard,” per the Government Finance Officers Association best practices, is for unassigned reserves to be 17 percent of the total General Fund Revenue or Expenditure amount or a minimum of two months of regular operating expenditures.

In May of last year, the Council adopted a reserve policy stating that unless a special situation justifies a lower amount, they would adopt a budget that reflected this minimum reserve level (based on General Fund Revenues). In the event of a special situation, which would be explained in a public statement, they would strive to reach the mini- mum level within three years.

The good news here is that we ended FY18 with a larger unassigned fund balance than we expected. This was due to unexpected savings due to staff vacancies and postponement of certain major projects (for example, the Library Renovations which were put on hold temporarily when we learned that a new floodplain study would have required). The flip-side is that much of what was not spent last year will be carried over into the current year to be spent, so it’s not all actually “savings.”

The Bottom Line
Very few people like it when they have to pay more in taxes. Government officials (who are also human and also pay taxes!) are acutely aware of this fact. We do our very best to understand the needs, interests and priorities of members of the community and develop a budget that balances all these things. While it’s a task with many factors and considerations, there are really two primary, related levers when it comes to the General Fund: taxes and services. In a budget year where we can expect increases in the cost of providing services, tax revenue will need to increase in order to maintain service levels and programs. If we do not increase taxes, service levels will need to be reduced and/or pro- grams eliminated.

If the expectation is that the City continues to provide the same level of services and programs, there is little wiggle room in the budget to make changes or cuts. Our staff and budget are very lean. We do not have “fluff.” This means we cannot add services or programs without adding staff unless we discontinue other services or programs. A reduction in tax revenues will require cuts to services and programs. Cuts to programs usually mean cuts to staff. Most of our staff members wear a variety of hats, so if a position is cut, there could be ripple impacts to other services or programs. Additionally, we have debt obligations that must be met if we are to remain in good financial standing, capital purchases that must be made if we are to continue collecting solid waste and clearing snow, staff members who must be paid…you get the idea.

Hopefully you now have a better sense of the budget process and the many considerations that need to be weighed and balanced as it is developed. As we enter budget season, we welcome your feedback, input and ideas.

Additional Resources
The annual budget is a forward-looking planning document developed by staff that includes proposed expenditures and the revenue sources that will be used to cover those expenditures for a given fiscal year. The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), on the other hand, is backward-looking, prepared by independent auditors, and includes actual rather than estimated/projected dollar figures from the previous year(s). In order to get a full picture of the City’s financial standing and plans, one should refer to both the adopted budget document and the CAFR. These documents are available on the City’s Budget and Financial Documents page of the City’s website: https:// takomaparkmd.gov/government/ finance/budgets-and-financial-documents.

This article appeared in the January 2019 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

News, Takoma Park Newsletter

Tree Ordinance, tree canopy, and outreach improvements

By Takoma Park City Councilmembers Cindy Dyballa, Kacy Kostiuk, and Peter Kovar

When you ask what people think about Takoma Park, one of the attributes mentioned most often is our trees. A satellite image taken in spring or summer instantly reveals the intensity of our tree canopy. Some residents have trees in their yards dating back to before B. F. Gilbert began planning a new community that was “high up – near heaven” (reputed to be the translation of the Native American word “Tacoma”).

It’s no accident we still have such lush greenery in our city. For many years, we’ve had strong advocates for tree protection and equally strong laws. And today, we have an ever growing awareness of how trees help slow climate change by removing carbon dioxide, storing carbon, and reducing energy use in nearby buildings, as well as providing other critical ecological and social benefits. Not to mention they provide shade and look amazing! When the City Council conducted its annual priority-setting process earlier this year, we pledged to take the following inter-related actions:

  • Formulate tree canopy goals to strengthen and expand Takoma Park’s commitment to growing its canopy and helping address climate change
  • Review our Tree Ordinance policies and processes to address resident concerns and ensure alignment with canopy goals
  • Explore improved approaches for education and outreach to the community with a focus on tree retention, maintenance, and growth

At the Oct. 24 Council meeting, we discussed a schedule for moving forward on these points, with a goal of completing the work by May 2019. A crucial part of the plan is ensuring many opportunities for engagement by residents and input from staff members and Council-appointed committees

Tree Ordinance

The Council has asked the Tree Commission and the Committee on the Environment to review the ordinance and recommend areas for updates and improvement. The following are some areas the Council has initially identified for review based on resident feedback: What decisions can, and cannot, be appealed

  • Definition of “hazardous” and “hardship” and waiver policies
  • Timeframes for various actions
  • Fees and tree replacement requirements, including for multifamily buildings
  • Procedures for emergencies, including emergency tree fund

Tree Canopy

The Council asked the Commission and the Committee to review tree canopy data and identify recommended goals. Both panels have previously urged the Council to establish a formal tree canopy goal. Older, mature trees are dying, and a 2014 review showed that tree canopy coverage in Wards 4 and 6 lags behind other areas. The disparity between wards connects with the City’s commitment to racial equity.

A tree canopy goal would help prioritize how to provide residents throughout the City appropriate access to the many benefits that flow from a healthy urban forest. Canopy data compiled on our behalf by Montgomery County is now undergoing a rigorous academic review, after which we’ll be well positioned to start considering longer term canopy goals and policies.

Education and Outreach

The third component of our strategy is focused on helping residents gain a better understanding of tree health and maintenance. Professional arborists recommend that residents think about tree care as seriously as they focus on home maintenance, but many property owners aren’t aware of how best to promote tree health and extend life through regular pruning and watering, and adding soil amendments. We hope to develop ways of disseminating information of this type to residents, and also improving the accessibility of information about the Tree Ordinance. Throughout this process, resident feedback will be very important. There are many ways to engage and share your views, including:

  • Online Tree Ordinance Comment Form – Fill out this form to share your experiences with the tree ordinance, recommended modifications, and/or questions.
  • Open House/Public Forum – Details will be provided as we make plans this winter.
  • Contact your Councilmember – Residents are encouraged to contact their Councilmembers to share their thoughts and experiences.
  • Public Comments at Work Sessions – The Council will hold multiple work sessions this winter, at which residents can share their opinions during the public comment period. Resources The City’s website includes information and resources on the value of our trees, how to care for them and the tree permit program.
  • Tree ordinance and canopy review project page (including online survey): takomaparkmd.gov/initiatives/project-directory/ tree-ordinance-review-tree-canopy-goal
  • Tree Permits: takomaparkmd.gov/services/permits/tree-permits/
  • Tree Commission: takomaparkmd.gov/ government/boards-commissions-and committees/tree-commission
  • Councilmember contact information: takomaparkmd.gov/government/citycouncil/contact-us

This article appeared in the January 2019 edition of the Takoma Park Newsletter. The Takoma Park Newsletter is available for download here.

City Council & Mayor Blog

Year-end Message from Mayor Kate Stewart

Kate Stewart, Mayor
Kate Stewart, Mayor

“The future is now. Roll up your sleeves and let your passion flow. The Country [City] we carry in our hearts is waiting.” — Bruce Springsteen

It is an exciting time in our City. We face both opportunities and challenges. The arrival of the Purple Line, increased growth in population in the region, the need to continue to provide affordable, good quality housing, the urgency to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and pushing back on the policies and actions of the current federal Administration are just some of the issues that we have been working on and will continue to do so in 2019.

Our future is now and we certainly have the passion in this City to do the work needed to face head-on the challenges and opportunities before us.

As we look toward 2019, I want to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and the work to come. In January 2018, the Council met to establish our priorities for the next few years. The Council priorities are used as a tool to guide policy and budget decisions. Think of the priorities as our roadmap. We will meet again this January to review the priorities and make adjustments as needed for the year ahead.

Before we move on to 2019, let’s review what happened in 2018. It’s impressive!

Livable Community for All

A major priority for the Council has been to ensure a livable community for all residents. In 2018, we continued this work to ensure a range of safe, quality, and stable housing options are available for residents of varying incomes, including:

We continue to defend our status as a Sanctuary City and work toward making sure we are a welcoming and inclusive community. To that end, the first act we took as a Council in 2018 was to pass a Resolution to call on Congress to continue Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for currently covered residents and establish a pathway to permanent residency for TPS and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.

Throughout the year, we have moved forward on a number of other efforts to make sure we are welcoming community, such as newsletter articles in multiple languages and links to the City website with additional translations.

Part of being a livable community for all is continuing and deepening our work on racial equity.

  • Most of the Councilmembers and City department heads have now completed racial equity training through the Government Alliance for Racial Equity, and Councilmember Kostiuk and I completed the National League of Cities Racial Equity 201 training and I completed the 301 training this fall.
  • We continue to work with the Government Alliance for Racial Equity and this year I was appointed to serve as the Vice-Chair of the Racial Equity And Leadership (REAL) Council for the National League of Cities which enables us to learn from what other cities around the country are doing to implement a racial equity framework.
  • This summer we took a close look at how we are approaching this work and made changes to our approach based on lessons learned and community input, which is outlined here.
  • We are also continuing to provide workshops on racial equity in the City. In particular, a group of 17 residents, including members of the City’s resident committees, are taking part in the “What’s My Bias?” trainings. Last year I attended these training’s and this year’s cohort includes Councilmember Kostiuk.
  • Prior to the distribution of the Resident Survey (which is currently being completed by randomly selected residents), we conducted focus groups with residents who are immigrants from African and Latin American countries. The reason for focusing on these groups in particular is that response rates to previous surveys from African and Latin American immigrants in the City have been low. Focus groups were seen as way to gather important feedback from these residents that could both help inform the content of the survey and also information about their perspectives and needs to City officials.
  • And, starting in 2019 with our priorities retreat, thanks to Councilmember Smith, we will be working with consultants on racial equity to facilitate the retreat and help inform our discussion.

Related to the racial equity work, is the Social Justice Film series co-sponsored by Washington Adventist University’s Center for Law and Public and local community activists including members of the City Council. New films and discussions will be announced in January.

We also continued to identify programming needs emphasizing youth, families, seniors, and our more vulnerable residents. The City:

  • Continued to develop the new youth success division of the Recreation Department, including bringing a new Youth Success
  • Coordinator on board and developing new programming geared toward youth success.
  • We continue to provide scholarships to Takoma Park residents who are students attending Montgomery College, an effort started by Councilmember Smith.
  • The Youth Council finished its first year and throughout the year advocated for issues of importance to young people. We look forward to their second year.

We closed this year with work on cell towers and will begin 2019 taking up this issue again to ensure we are protecting the community and its residents as telecommunications companies look to install this equipment in the City.

Community Development for an Improved and Equitable Quality of Life

A great deal of the Council’s work this year focused on planning and preparing for development in the City.

  • Purple Line construction has begun and Councilmember Searcy has taken the lead in advocating on behalf of the businesses and residents in the area. And, thank you to Councilmember Searcy for all her work to assist the Crossroads Development Authority to hire their new Executive Director and review their bylaws this year.
  • Ethan Allen Gateway Project completed! This project, which was years in the making, provides increased pedestrian safety at the intersection of Ethan Allen and New Hampshire Avenue. Councilmember Dyballa and I are thankful to the residents who met with us numerous times to ensure the project was a success.
  • Takoma Junction Project, after many meetings, open houses, and other forms of public engagement (including an evening where we experimented with one-on-one conversations with Councilmembers), moved to the next step in the process. The site plan is beginning the County planning review process, and we will keep updating the City website with more information as it becomes available.
  • MDOT-SHA Takoma Junction Vision Study started. We successfully advocated with the Maryland State Highway Administrator to undertake a project to study and put forward a vision for the intersection at Takoma Junction to address safety and traffic issues.
  • The next step in the New Hampshire Avenue Recreation Center project took place by initiating a land swap with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. I want to thank the residents who have been advocating for this project.
  • Advocated on public school facilities. In 2018, the City Council and staff focused more than past years on advocacy regarding public school facilities, especially Piney Branch Elementary School. In 2019, we will continue to push for better school facilities in our community.
  • Continued efforts to work with Washington Adventist Hospital regarding the future of its campus once the hospital moves, and continued advocacy at the County and State level for greater attention to the health needs of the community.
  • Montgomery College’s new Isiah and Catherine Leggett Math-Science Building moves forward after a series of charrettes with local residents that Councilmember Kovar and myself attended this year.

More detailed information about these and other major projects in the City can be found here.

Environmentally Sustainable Community

On the environment and sustainability, we have redoubled our efforts to fight climate change.

  • Our biggest step forward to date – and a monumental move for the City! – is the switch of all our streetlights to LEDs. This will reduce the City’s annual electricity use from 850,000kWh to 340,000kWh and reduce annual expenditures by approximately $100,000. We continue to be a leader in programs and policies for energy and environmental sustainability!
  • Purchase of Dorothy’s Woods was finalized this year. With the assistance of residents, the City was able to clear the debt and liens on the property and now owns the 2.68-acre parcel of mostly wooded area – one of the largest undeveloped properties in Takoma Park that was privately owned. Thank you to Councilmember Dyballa for all her work on this effort and to all the residents who helped us secure the resources needed.
  • Under the guidance of Councilmembers Dyballa, Kostiuk and Kovar, we have begun the process of reviewing and updating the tree ordinance and preserving and growing our tree canopy. Be on the lookout for an article in the January Newsletter highlighting the work to come in 2019.

In the upcoming year, the City will be looking to do more not only to mitigate but to put in programs and policies to adapt to the impact of climate change we are already witnessing in our community.

Engaged, Responsive & Service-Oriented Government

We started 2018 welcoming a new Police Chief to Takoma Park.

  • Chief DeVaul in his first year is instituting structural changes in our police department and placing a greater emphasis on community policing. I want to thank Councilmember Seamens for all his work over the years on ensuring we have a police department that reflects the values of our community.
  • A great opportunity to get to know the what, how and why of policing in Takoma Park is to take part in the Community Police Academy. Last year Councilmember Kostiuk and I took part in the Academy and it is a great way to get to know and learn more about policing in the City.

The Council and City staff are always looking for ways to increase our engagement with the community and make sure we are a responsive and service-oriented government.

  • In addition to the weekly Council meetings, we held a number of open houses and interactive, web-based informational sessions for residents to come and ask questions about the budget, the affordable housing and economic development strategic plan, Takoma Junction, and many other issues. Staff put together a pop-up in Takoma Junction so people could get a better sense of the dimensions of the proposed project. And, we took a streetlight tour with Pepco to examine the LED lights.
  • In addition, we continued the Friday morning coffees in different parts of the city and the Friday lunches in the Crossroads area that allow the public to drop in and chat with Councilmembers and key staff. Individual Councilmembers also held meetings, play dates, walks and other great gatherings to get to know, listen and engage with residents.
  • As noted above, we completed a series of focus groups this fall to gather feedback from members of our immigrant community on City services and are in the process of conducting our periodic Resident Survey.

A challenge this year has been the amount of utility work in the city. Councilmembers Kovar, Kostiuk, Searcy, and I, along with the City staff, have tried to find ways to lessen the impact on residents and hold the utilities and their subcontractors accountable. It has been a difficult year in this area and we appreciate your patience and continue to look for ways to address these challenging situations. I am pleased that Councilmember Kovar will be the City’s representative on a newly reconstituted Pepco Community Advisory Group and his advocacy will be helpful.

Fiscally Sustainable Government

In 2018, the Council undertook a number of actions to ensure we are fiscally sustainable, as well as responsible. Among other things, we:

  • Adopted a financial policy to establish the appropriate level of designated reserves.
  • Began looking at a sustainable investment and banking policy and practices and the steps we need to take to put in place a policy. Thank you to the work of the Nuclear Free Committee on this issue.
  • Took action to do away with the inventory tax on businesses in the community.
  • We began the process of revising the procurement policy for the City and will return to this in 2019.
  • Continued efforts to advocate on increased funding from County and state to address tax duplication. I am hopeful that with the new County Council and County Executive, 2019 just might be the year we resolve this issue!
Advocating for the City and Residents

Throughout the year, we find ourselves outside the City in Rockville or Annapolis or Washington, D.C., advocating on behalf of residents. Members of the Council serve on a number of regional and national boards and councils to learn from other jurisdictions and to advocate for the City.

  • This year we saw successes in our work to lobby in Annapolis. Councilmember Smith in his roles with the Maryland Municipal League as the District Vice President, Board Member and Chair of the Conference Planning continues to keep us up-to-date with legislative issues in Annapolis and represent the City. The biggest win this year is the reinstatement of highway user revenue fees to municipalities.
  • An area many of us worked on this past year is fighting preemption. We have advocated at the state and national level to ensure that our local authority is not usurped, and have defended our ability to pass laws to benefit members of our community. We filed an Amicus Brief in the Appeal of the Circuit Court Ruling on the Montgomery County Healthy Lawns Act, and we have joined lawsuits against the FCC on the cell tower installations.
  • On the preemption front, we saw some success in this area. We helped to defeat a preemption amendment in the national Farm Bill, securing our local laws that protect our children, pets and pollinators from pesticide industry overreach.
  • We also successfully lobbied and testified this year on gun safety, renewable energy, and many other issues. Coming in 2019, we will be advocating in Annapolis on just-cause eviction, ranked choice voting, prohibiting widening of Maryland Route 410, efforts to combat climate change, and other issues.
  • Members of the Council also advocated for the needs of Takoma Park residents within the larger region in their roles on boards and committees of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the National League of Cities. In particular, Councilmember Kostiuk represents the City on the MWCOG Transportation Planning Board and Councilmember Dyballa serves on the MWCOG Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee and the Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee.

In addition to all of this work, I want to acknowledge the work of Councilmember Seamens and his wife Joyce. Terry and Joyce help those most vulnerable in our community through their work with Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington and Manna Food Center of Rockville to address food insecurity in the community. They also are working with Frontline Community Services to develop a transitional housing program for some of the area’s homeless residents.

I have the great honor to work for the residents of Takoma Park, with my colleagues on the Council, and with the most dedicated staff of City employees. Together, we accomplished a great deal in 2018. I am looking forward to rolling up our sleeves and working together in 2019!

Thank you!

Mayor Stewart