All posts by Jessie Carpenter

News, Public Notices

It’s Budget Season – Review and Comment on the FY 2023 Proposed Budget

FY 2023 Budget Schedule

The City Manager presented his recommended budget to the City Council on Wednesday, April 6.

City Council meetings are taking place in the Community Center Auditorium. Residents may attend and comment in person or register in advance to comment over Zoom. (Registration no later than 5 p.m. on the meeting day is required to comment remotely.)

View City Council meeting agendas for additional information on viewing meetings and registration to comment by Zoom.

 

Monday, April 18, 7:30 p.m.

• Opportunity for public comments.
• Budget Work Session

Wednesday, April 20, 7:30 p.m.

• Opportunity for public comments.
• Regular Meeting

Monday, April 25, 7:30 p.m.

• Opportunity for public comments.
• Budget Work Session

Wednesday, April 27, 7:30 p.m.

• Constant Yield Tax Rate Public Hearing (view the hearing notice)
• Budget Public Hearing

Monday, May 2, 7:30 p.m.

• Opportunity for public comments.
• Budget Work Session (Reconciliation)

Wednesday, May 11, 7:30 p.m.

• Opportunity for public comments.
• First Reading Ordinance Adopting the FY 2023 Tax Rates
• First Reading Ordinance Adopting the FY 2023 Stormwater Management Budget
• First Reading Ordinance Adopting the FY 2023 Budget

Wednesday, May 18, 7:30 p.m.

• Opportunity for public comments.
• Second Reading Ordinance Adopting the FY 2023 Tax Rates
• Second Reading Ordinance Adopting the FY 2023 Stormwater Management Budget
• Second Reading Ordinance Adopting the FY 2023 Budget

News, Public Notices

FY 2023 Budget Public Hearing – Wednesday, April 13, 7:30 PM

The first public hearing on the City Manager’s recommended FY 2023 budget will take place on Wednesday, April 13, 7:30 PM. Comments will be heard in the Auditorium or over Zoom. No registration is needed to comment in person.

Budget Schedule

Wednesday, April 13, 7:30 PM – Budget Public Hearing

Monday, April 18, 7:30 PM – Budget Work Session (Operating and Community Services Budget)

Monday, April 25, 7:30 PM – Budget Work Session (Capital Projects)

Wednesday, April 27, 7:30 PM

  • Public Hearing on the FY 2023 Tax Rate (Constant Yield Tax Rate Public Hearing)
  • Public Hearing on the FY 2023 Budget

Monday, May 2 – Budget Work Session (Reconciliation)

Wednesday, May 11 – First Reading Ordinances Adopting the FY 2023 Tax Rates and Budget

Wednesday, May 18 – Second Reading Ordinances Adopting the FY 2023 Tax Rates and Budget

News Alert, Public Notices

Message From Jamal T. Fox to the Takoma Park Community

Members of the Community,

I am thrilled to be joining the City of Takoma Park in August as your new City Manager. My family and I are very appreciative of you and many in our community who have and continue to reach out and welcome us.

I have a passion for public service and the impact we have on the community from building inclusive teams, programming, community events, arts, transportation investments to innovative health and wellness opportunities to public-private partnerships for economic prosperity.

I believe Takoma Park has a dedicated and professional workforce, strong commitment to racial equity, strong local employers, and diverse schools. The community is uniquely prepared for a strong future post-COVID-19.

What also attracted me was that this opportunity provided the right blend of cultural and educational opportunities in a region with a unique set of community assets that is unmatched given the proximity to Washington, DC for our young family.

My wife Jaimee and I will have two young kids and we were interested in an environment where we can not only re-establish family roots but also where we can make a significant impact on the community. I grew up in the DMV, particularly in northern Virginia and this opportunity will allow me to relocate closer to my family, who like many families over the last year have been impacted by the pandemic and need support and assistance.

We saw Takoma Park as a beautiful community that shared our family values and where we could raise our family. My family and I look forward to connecting with you in the community. We are very excited to take part in future community festivals, shop at both farmers markets and Takoma Park Silver Spring CO-OP and take advantage of all the City has to offer.

I want to thank you in advance for your grace and understanding as we embark on our journey together. The late Coretta Scott King once said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members, a heart of grace, and a soul generated by love”. As we collectively prepare for my tenure, I encourage us all to embrace the spirit of compassion with acts of kindness and a willingness to work together to solve the most pressing issues facing our community.

***

Link to PDF of Letter

Uncategorized

FY22 Tax Rate and Budget Public Hearings – Wednesday, April 28, 2021

The City Council will hold two public hearings on Wednesday, April 28, beginning at 7:30 PM.

The first public hearing will be on the Proposed FY22 Tax Rate. The second hearing will be on the Proposed FY22 Budget.

View the Proposed FY22 Budget.

CITY OF TAKOMA PARK, MARYLAND NOTICE OF A PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

The City Council of the City of Takoma Park proposes to increase real property taxes.
1. For the tax year beginning July 1, 2021, the estimated real property assessable base will increase by 1.9%, from $2,530,093,068 to $2,578,704,873.
2. If the City of Takoma Park maintains the current tax rate of $0.5397 per $100 of assessment, real property tax revenues will increase by 1.9% resulting in $262,358 of new real property tax revenues.
3. In order to fully offset the effect of increasing assessments, the real property tax rate should be reduced to $0.5295, the constant yield tax rate.
4. The city is considering not reducing its real property tax rate enough to fully offset increasing assessments. The city proposes to adopt a real property tax rate of
$0.55 per $100 of assessment. This tax rate is 3.9% higher than the constant yield tax rate and will generate $528,635 in additional property tax revenues.

A public hearing on the proposed real property tax rate increase will be held at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Due to the public health crisis, the meeting will take place remotely.  Comments may also be sent to clerk@takomaparkmd.gov.

The hearing is open to the public, and public testimony is encouraged. Sign up to testify at the hearing on Zoom. Persons with questions regarding this hearing may call 240-723-0437 or email clerk@takomaparkmd.gov for further information.

News, News Alert, Public Notices

Statement Regarding Communications Between Neighborhood Development Company and TPSS Co-op

The City of Takoma Park is aware of the communications between the Neighborhood Development Company and the Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op regarding the Takoma Junction Redevelopment Project. The City staff and City Attorney are working together to formulate options regarding a path forward. Council will address the matter as appropriate. Staff notes that the FAQ page that the communications referred to had been removed from the City’s website for review over a week ago, but the link remains in a cached mode at this time.

Public Notices

Public Hearings on Traffic Calming and Proposed Residential Stormwater Management Fee System

Wednesday, February 24, 2021, 7:30 p.m.

The City Council will hold public hearings on the following matters on Wednesday, February 24, beginning at 7:30 p.m. All interested persons are encouraged to sign up to speak at the public hearings. Link to sign up to comment live on Zoom.*

1. Traffic Calming on the 8000 Block of Wildwood Drive
Residents have petitioned for traffic calming to be installed on the 8000 block of Wildwood Drive.

2. Traffic Calming on Darwin Avenue
Residents have petitioned for traffic calming to be installed on Darwin Avenue

3. Stormwater Management Fee System
The City Council is considering adopting a new stormwater management fee system for residential properties.

*Comments  are limited to three minutes each. For additional information, contact Jessie Carpenter, City Clerk, at clerk@takomaparkmd.gov. Written comments may also be sent to this address.

View the full meeting agenda.

News Alert, Public Notices

Update: Application Deadline Extended to Feb 5 – Reimagining Public Safety Task Force

 

The purpose of the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force is to develop recommendations that make Takoma Park a safer, more livable community for all residents, with an emphasis on addressing racial inequalities that exist in government and services evolving around public safety. In light of what is happening in our country, we believe that as a city, it is our duty to take inventory of our public safety practices, with emphasis on the experiences of our Black and Brown communities. This Task Force is our opportunity to bring new voices into the process as we take stock of what is working, what is not, and as we explore best practices in public safety.

The City of Takoma Park is seeking the support of community members, non-profit leaders, local business owners, educators, etc. in Takoma Park who can help us make our community a safer and more livable city that serves all residents. The Task Force will be made up of 15 individuals sourced from our diverse community and approved by the City Council.

The Task Force will meet regularly throughout the months of February, March, April and May to create a set of recommendations on Public Safety.

To ensure this Task Force is as representative as possible, the process will begin with an open call for applications. If you are interested in being considered for a spot on the Task Force, please apply by Friday, February 5, 2021.  If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Suzanne Ludlow, City Manager SuzanneL@takomaparkmd.gov.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Links of Interest:

News, News Alert, Public Notices

20th District Delegation and City Council Joint Priorities Meeting – Wednesday, Dec. 9, 7:30 pm

The 20th District Delegation and the City Council will hold a Joint Priorities Meeting on Wednesday, December 9, 7:30 PM.  The complete agenda for the meeting is below.

7:30 PM
Welcome and Overview – Mayor Kate Stewart

7:40 PM
Public Comments – District 20 Residents and Organizations*

(Opportunity for the community to inform the Delegation of needs and priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session. Speakers are limited to 3 minutes each. Advance sign up by 5:00 PM on the day of the meeting is required, and space is limited.) Link to sign up to comment.

8:10 PM
Presentation of Takoma Park Legislative Priorities

8:30 PM
Delegation Comments

9:15 PM
Summary and Closing

9:30 PM*
Adjournment

Due to the public health crisis, the meeting will be held remotely on Zoom. The public may view the meeting on City TV (RCN – 13, HD 1060; Comcast/xfinity – 13, HD 997; Verizon Fios – 28), on the City Council Video Page of the City Website; on YouTube, or on Facebook.

*Immediately after the Joint Priorities Meeting is adjourned, the City Council will begin its final regular meeting of the year.

News

City Manager Statement Regarding Marshall Project Article

I appreciate the work of the Marshall Project in its many efforts, including the recent series on Police K9s. One article in the series focuses on a terrible accident in 2018 when a Takoma Park Police dog bit a woman who was out for a walk with her boyfriend and dog in Washington, D.C. at the border with Takoma Park, Maryland. Our Takoma Park Police officers immediately provided aid to the victim. The City of Takoma Park provided information for the investigation of the incident undertaken by the District of Columbia, undertook our own thorough investigation, and provided information to our insurance carrier regarding the case. Neither the K9 involved in the incident, nor the dog’s handler, works for Takoma Park at this time.

While that incident was the only such incident in the 29 year history of the K9 program of the Takoma Park Police Department, it was a traumatic incident. A major reason the City of Takoma Park instituted a K9 unit in 1991 was to minimize having K9s from other police agencies, with different standards on use and control, in Takoma Park. Currently, the Takoma Park Police Department has one police dog. Whether or not the City of Takoma Park should continue to have a K9 program is part of the charge of a Reimagining Public Safety Task Force being formed in Takoma Park. The primarily Black and Brown membership of the Task Force will provide recommendations on this subject to the Takoma Park City Council, with recommendations to be provided by June 2021.

A copy of the questions asked by a reporter for the Marshall Project is here; the responses to the questions are provided.

Public Notices

Join the Takoma Park Youth Council – Applications Now Available

The City Council will appoint 11 young people to serve as the 2020-2021 Takoma Park Youth Council.

Youth Council members are eligible to earn SSL hours.

Youth Council member qualifications:

  • Takoma Park residents in grades 7-12
  • Maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average for the current school year

The Takoma Park Youth Council provides opportunities for young people in Takoma Park:

  1. Learn about Takoma Park government by active participation.
  2. Help the City Council to address problems and accomplish the goals of this community by working directly with the representatives of youth.
  3. Serve the youth of Takoma Park by:
    • informing the Takoma Park municipal government of the needs and wishes of youth;
    • planning and implementing social, educational, cultural and recreational activities for the youth;
    • working with the Mayor, City Council, City department heads, schools, civic clubs and service organizations to provide service and leadership opportunities for the youth of the City; and,
    • helping to instill a feeling of positive self-worth and esteem, teaching respect for the rights of others, and promoting community pride.

Youth Council Application

Review the Youth Council Charter

Youth Council Web Page

Questions? Contact Jessie Carpenter, City Clerk:

301-891-7267 or jessiec@takomaparkmd.gov.