All posts by Jessie Carpenter

News, Public Notices

Notice of Public Hearings on Proposed Charter Amendments

On Wednesday, October 23, 2019, the City Council will hold three public hearings on proposed amendments to the Takoma Park Charter. The hearings begin at 7:30 PM in the Auditorium of the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park.

A. The proposed amendment to Article III City Council (1) adds a requirement that each voting ward be “compact in form, composed of adjoining territory, and have substantially equal populations,” a requirement currently imposed by the City Code; (2) changes the day of the first meeting of a newly elected Council from the second Monday following an election to the second Wednesday following the election to reflect the Council’s meeting schedule; and (3) eliminates gender binary language.

B. The proposed amendment to Article V Amendment Procedures: provides that the signature requirement for Charter amendment petitions is twenty percent of registered voters at the time of the last election, rather than twenty percent of persons qualified to vote.

C. The proposed amendment to Article VI Registration, Nominations and Elections: (1) eliminates the 21-day residency requirement for voters; (2) eliminates outdated procedures; (3) clarifies existing language; (4) eliminates gender binary language; (5) revises deadlines to comport with early voting; (6) provides for election ties to be resolved by lot rather than runoff election; (7) eliminates requirement that election judges be appointed by the Council; (8) establishes a list of voters only registered to vote in City elections rather than a list of noncitizen registered voters; (9) changes references to “citizens” to “residents”; (10) provides that the signature requirement for advisory referendum petitions is twenty percent of registered voters at the time of the last election, rather than twenty percent of persons qualified to vote; (11) provides that the signature requirement for recall petitions is twenty percent of registered voters at the time of the last election, rather than the greater of 1500 qualified voters or twenty percent of qualified voters; (12) requires that signatures on recall petitions be obtained after the most recent election and at least 180 days prior to the next general election; (13) prohibits the Council from reappointing a recalled official; and (14) allows potential candidates to nominate themselves or second their nomination.

All interested persons should attend the public hearing and sign in to speak. View the full text of the proposed amendments:

See agenda item #4 from the City Council meeting of September 18, 2019 (Continued Discussion of Election-Related Charter and Code Amendments).

For information contact the City Clerk at clerk@takomaparkmd.gov or 301-891-7267.

(Post updated October 6, 2019)

News, Public Notices

Apply to Serve on the Parking Management Task Force

The Parking Management Task Force is a short term task force  appointed by the City Council review parking management in the City, consider policy proposals for parking management, engage community participation in identifying problems and considering policy proposals, and provide advice to the City Council on possible next steps.

City staff will present the Task Force with the data and research on parking management, as well as staff’s suggestions for consideration by the Task Force. Guiding questions for the work of the Task Force will include:

  • How should uses of on-street space be prioritized?
  • What are the City’s objectives for the City’s right-of-way network?
  • How well does the City’s current parking program manage the following:
    • parking meter demand, turn-over and rates?
    • commercial demand for employees and customers?
    • on-street parking space and Residential Parking Permit zones?
    • handicap parking needs?
    • parking enforcement?
  • What are the equity issues in the current parking program?
  • How can parking be managed to address the City’s concerns about climate change and sustainability?

The City Council will appoint approximately 10 individuals to serve on the Task Force: one member selected by each Councilmember and the Mayor, and possibly representatives from the business community, the accessibility advocacy community, and from relevant City committees such as the Committee on the Environment and the Complete Safe Streets Committee. Appointees will include residents of both single-family houses and multi-family units.

For more information, contact planning@takomaparkmd.gov.

To apply:

The deadline for applications has been extended until the Task Force is full.

News, Public Notices

Youth Council Application Deadline

The City Council will appoint 11 young people to serve as the 2019-2020 Takoma Park Youth Council. The application deadline is June 28, 2019.

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:

  • Learn about Takoma Park government by active participation.
  • Help the City Council to address problems and accomplish the goals of this community by working directly with the representatives of youth.
  • 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.

Public Notices

Proposed Administrative Regulation – Telecommunications Facilities and Equipment in City Rights-of-Way

An Administrative Regulation is being proposed for the implementation and enforcement of Takoma Park Code, Chapter 11.12 Streets – Permits and Improvements, to regulate the installation of certain telecommunications facilities and equipment in City rights-of-way.

The regulation will address permit applications, process for review of applications, requirements for approval of applications, aesthetic requirements, fees, and continuing obligations of permittees.

Pursuant to the requirements of the “Administrative Regulations Ordinance” (Authority: Chapter 2.12 “Administrative Regulations,” of the Takoma Park Code), notice of the City’s intention to adopt an administrative regulation must be publicly noted, allowing the public an opportunity to comment on the proposal.

Review the Proposed Regulation

 

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT COMMENTS

The deadline for receipt of public comments has been extended from Wednesday, June 12 to Thursday, June 20, 2019.

Schedule for Review of the Regulation:
• Publication of Proposed Regulation – April 30, 2019
• Presentation and Public Hearing – Wednesday, June 12, 2019
• City Council Work Session Discussion – Wednesday, June 19, 2019
• Publication of Regulation and Notice of Final Action – July 2019 City Newsletter
• Effective Date – July 15, 2019

To obtain further information about the proposed regulation, contact Daryl Braithwaite, Director, Department of Public Works, 301-891-7615, DarylB@takomaparkmd.gov.

Public Notices

Public Hearing on Proposed Ordinance Banning Commercial Use of Plastic Beverage Straws and Stirrers (March 13 – 7:30 pm)

On Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. in the Takoma Park Community Center Auditorium, the City Council will hold a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to ban the commercial use of plastic beverage straws and plastic stirrers in the City.  All interested parties should attend the public hearing and sign up to speak.

Review the proposed ordinance.

Public Notices

Public Hearing and Schedule for Addressing Regulation of Small Cell Antennas in the Right of Way

On December 5, the City Council will hold a public hearing on proposed City Code amendments to regulate installation of telecommunications equipment in City rights of way. The hearing will begin at 7:30 PM in the Auditorium.

COUNCIL SCHEDULE FOR ADDRESSING THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS:

Wednesday, November 28, City Council Meeting

  • Work Session Discussion of (1) Amending Takoma Park Code, Chapter 11.12, Permits and Improvements to Regulate the Installation of Telecommunications Equipment in City Rights of Way and (2) Resolution Identifying the Council’s Goals for the Ordinance

Wednesday, December 5, City Council Meeting

  • Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the City Code to Regulate the Installation of Telecommunications Equipment in City Rights of Way
  • Vote on Resolution Identifying the Council’s Goals for an Ordinance
  • Tentative Vote on First Reading of Ordinance

If First Reading of the Ordinance is adopted on December 5, Second Reading of the Ordinance will be scheduled for January 9, 2019.

Additional information can be found in the Project Directory: Small Cell Antennas in the City’s Rights-of-Way

Also see the City Manager’s Blog: Why Now? Regulating Small Cell Antennas in Takoma Park

 

Public Notices

Youth Council Advisor Wanted

The Takoma Park City Council is seeking an adult volunteer to serve as the Advisor to the Takoma Park Youth Council. The Youth Council Advisor will work directly with the Youth Council to plan and coordinate meetings, guide and help prepare the Youth Council in its activities, encourage and empower Youth Council members in building their communication and leadership skills, and to facilitate their decision-making processes without controlling their decisions. The Youth Council Advisor will attend all meetings of the Youth Council.

Application to serve as Youth Council Advisor

Read more about the Youth Council

 

Public Notices

Youth Council Applications – Due October 15

The deadline to apply for appointment to the Youth Council has been extended to October 15.

The City Council will appoint nine young people to serve as the  2018-2019 Takoma Park Youth Council.

Youth Council member qualifications:

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

The Takoma Park Youth Council provide opportunities for young people in Takoma Park to:

  1. acquire a greater knowledge of and appreciation for local government through active participation in the system;
  2. help the City Council to address problems and accomplish the goals of this community by working directly with the representatives of youth; and
  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.

The application to serve on the 2018-2019 Takoma Park Youth Council is now available.  Apply by October 15.

Youth Council Application

Additional information is available on the Youth Council web page.

 

Public Notices

City Council Site Visit / LED Streetlight Tour – Monday, October 8, 2018

On October 8, beginning at 7:30 PM, the City Council will tour the LED streetlights that the City is piloting. During the tour, staff will share information about the lights and respond to residents’ questions.

If you are interested in attending, meet at the back lot of the Community Center shortly before 7:30 PM. The tour, which will require some short distance walking, is expected to last about 90 minutes. In the event that residents would like to only participate in a portion of the tour, below is a tentative schedule:

• 7:35 PM: Buses leave Community Center, proceed down Flower Avenue from Piney Branch Rd to Erie Avenue, park on Erie Ave
• 7:45 – 8:05 PM: Brief walk around Erie and Flower Avenue to observe the two types of LED lights
• 8:05 to 8:10 PM: Drive to Elm Avenue near Hickory, park on Elm
• 8:15 – 8:45 PM: Walk up Hickory, to Columbia, turn on Columbia to Pine, turn down Pine to Montgomery, arrive back at Hickory and walk to buses on Elm
• 8:50 to 9 PM: Return to Community Center

For more information about LED streetlights:

Takoma Park Streetlight Replacement Project Page

Sustainability and Takoma Park’s Streetlights