Public Hearing / Meeting Regarding Takoma Park Streets Potentially Named after Civil War Generals (Grant, Hancock, Lee, Sheridan, and Sherman Avenues)

Monday, January 29, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.
Takoma Park Community Center Auditorium

Public Hearing Agenda 

The City Council held a work session discussion on September 13, 2017 about names of City streets and parks that are associated with Civil War figures. Some options under consideration by the Council include the following:

1) seek authority from the Montgomery County Planning Department to change the street names;

2) rely on the procedure already in place for residences and businesses on a street to petition the Montgomery County Planning Department for a street name change, or;

3) maintain the current street names but add commemorative names or markers to the streets to provide a historical context.

Any of these options would require a community process to ensure that the decision reflects the views of the residents on the streets in question.

The Commemoration Commission is developing a recommendation for the City Council’s consideration. To inform the recommendation, the Commission is holding this public hearing to gather comments and suggestions from residents, especially those living on the streets potentially named for Civil War generals: Grant Avenue, Hancock Avenue, Lee Avenue, Sheridan Avenue, and Sherman Avenue.

Comments and suggestions are requested on the following options:

1) pursue renaming of the street(s) through the formal process with Montgomery County;

2) maintain the street names but add a commemorative name and signage to provide historic context for the existing names; or,

3) make no change.

The meeting will begin with an explanation of the process for making a street name change request to the Montgomery County Planning Department.

Please plan to attend the public hearing on Monday, January 29, 7:30 p.m. in the Community Center Auditorium.

Written comments are also being accepted through an online comment form.

The Commemoration Commission is a City Council-appointed commission that documents, maintains, and preserves past, present, and future memorials, commemoratives, and recognitions in the City. The Commission also recommends to the City Council procedures and programs for honors and recognitions and implements those programs.

The Safe Roadways Committee meeting scheduled for December 19 has been canceled.

Wednesday, November 1  – 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue

Thursday, November 2 – 8:00 am to 2 pm
Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue

Friday, November 3 – 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Takoma Park Recreation Center, 7315 New Hampshire Avenue

Saturday, November 4 – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue

Sunday, November 5 – noon to 6:00 pm
Washington Adventist University, Wilkinson Hall, 7715 Flower

ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7
Vote 7:00 am to 8:00 pm
Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue

The Nominating Caucus to accept nominations of candidates for city council and mayor will convene at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12, in the Community Center Auditorium.

This meeting is open to the public and all are invited to attend. Only qualified voters residing in the City of Takoma Park may nominate or second the nomination of candidates. Arrive early to check in if you plan to place a name in nomination or second a nomination.

Any resident who wishes to run for the office of mayor or city councilmember in the November 7, 2017 City Election must be nominated at the caucus in order to have his or her name placed on the ballot. Candidates must meet all the requirements of the office.

View the meeting agenda with notes for participants and other information about the caucus.

View complete election information for candidates.

The City of Takoma Park, Maryland, will hold a public hearing to consider an Ordinance authorizing an amount not to exceed $9,000,000.00 of public debt (the “Bonds”) to be issued under the State of Maryland’s Local Government Infrastructure Financing Program, pursuant to the authority of Section 4-230 of the Housing and Community Development Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended. The purpose of this debt is to finance a portion of the costs of 1) Takoma Park Library and Community Center renovations; 2) construction of the Flower Avenue Green Street Project and the Ethan Allen Gateway Project, including, but not limited to, roadway and streetscape improvements such as ADA compliant sidewalks and ramps and LED street lighting; and 3) to pay the costs of issuance of the bonds. The public hearing will be held in the Takoma Park Community Center Auditorium, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, Maryland at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7, 2017. Written public comments may be submitted to the City of Takoma Park in care of the City Clerk, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 or via email at clerk@takomaparkmd.gov.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017
7:30 PM
Community Center Auditorium

Pursuant to Section 502(c) of the Takoma Park Charter, the Council of the City of Takoma Park will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Charter titled “Nominations and Elections.”

As proposed, the amendment would (1) change the date of City Elections from odd numbered years to even numbered years; (2) set the term for the Mayor and City Council elected in 2017 to one year; (3) change the date of the nominating meeting to the second Tuesday after Labor Day in an election year; (4) extend the time for the Board of Elections to certify election results; and (5) change the day on which the newly elected Mayor and Councilmembers take office.

The hearing will take place in the Auditorium, Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912, on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, at 7:30 PM.

All interested persons should attend the public hearing and sign up to speak. Written comments may be submitted to the City Clerk, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912; or clerk@takomaparkmd.gov. The full text of the proposed amendment is available on the Election Date Change page of the Project Directory.

Attest: Jessie Carpenter, CMC
City Clerk

CITY OF TAKOMA PARK 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, 2017, the estimated real property assessable base will increase by 5.9%, from $2,120,994,549 to $2,246,294,286.

2. If the City of Takoma Park maintains the current tax rate of $0.5675 per $100 of assessment, real property tax revenues will increase by 5.9% resulting in $711,076 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 $0.5358, the constant yield tax rate.

4. The City of Takoma Park is considering not reducing its real property tax rate enough to fully offset increasing assessments. The City of Takoma Park proposes to adopt a real property tax rate of $0.56 per $100 of assessment. This tax rate is 4.5% higher than the constant yield tax rate and will generate $542,604 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 26 at the Takoma Park Community Center Auditorium, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland.

The hearing is open to the public, and public testimony is encouraged.

Persons with questions regarding this hearing may call 301-891-7267 for further information.

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY MANAGER’S PROPOSED FY 2018 BUDGET

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the City Manager’s Proposed FY 2018 Budget. The Proposed Budget is available for review online.

The hearing will take place on Wednesday, April 26, immediately after the  7:30 PM hearing on the proposed real property tax rate increase.

All interested persons should attend the hearing and sign up to speak. Comments may also be sent to clerk@takomaparkmd.gov.

Attest: Jessie Carpenter, CMC
City Clerk

Wednesday, April 5, 2017
7:30 PM
Community Center Auditorium

Pursuant to Section 502(c) of the Takoma Park Charter, the Council of the City of Takoma Park will hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Charter titled “Nominations and Elections.”

As proposed, the amendment would (1) change the date of City Elections from odd numbered years to even numbered years; (2) set the term for the Mayor and City Council elected in 2017 to one year; (3) change the date of the nominating meeting to the second Tuesday after Labor Day in an election year; (4) extend the time for the Board of Elections to certify election results; and (5) change the day on which the newly elected Mayor and Councilmembers take office.

The hearing will take place in the Auditorium, Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912, on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at 7:30 PM.

All interested persons should attend the public hearing and sign up to speak. Written comments may be submitted to the City Clerk, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912; or clerk@takomaparkmd.gov. The full text of the proposed amendment is available on the Election Date Change page of the Project Directory.

Attest: Jessie Carpenter, CMC
City Clerk