All posts by Lars DeSalvio

News, Public Notices

New 2025 Assessed Real Property Values Effective January 1, 2025!

 

This winter, property owners across the City will receive an updated assessed value for their properties. The State of Maryland conducts these assessments every three years, guiding the City and County’s tax rates for residents and business owners. The next reassessment will be effective January 1, 2025 for the 2025-2027 triennial cycle. 

Assessment notices will be mailed on December 30, 2024  and the owners will have 45 days from this notice date to appeal the assessments.

Two factors determine property taxes:
  1.  The total assessed value of the real property (land plus improvements) and;
  2. The property tax rate that is established by each taxing jurisdiction. In Takoma Park, taxing jurisdictions include the State of Maryland, Montgomery County, and the City.

Assessments are based on the property’s fair market value and are issued by the Department of Assessments and Taxation, a State government agency. 

Any increase in assessments is phased-in over the 3 years of the assessment cycle. The phase-in assessments for each year of the cycle will be shown on the notice.

Appealing Your Assessment

The notice contains an appeal form and instructions that must be filed with the local assessment office within the 45-day time limit for appeal.

News, Public Notices

New Rent Stabilization Allowance Annual Increase – 3.4% July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

 

The City of Takoma Park law (City Code Chapter 6.20 Rent Stabilization) maintains the affordability of rental units by limiting the number and amount of rent increases charged for a specific rental unit. Generally, the rent may be increased only once in any given 12-month period.

Beginning July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, the Rent Stabilization Allowance is 3.4%. Landlords are required to comply with Takoma Park’s Rent Stabilization law and cannot increase the rent on occupied units any higher than this allowance.

Multi-family rental units and individual rental condominium units are subject to Rent Stabilization. Rent increases are limited to the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by the Department of Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period of March 2023 through March 2024. Pursuant to the City Code, a two-month written notice must be provided to the tenant (s) before a landlord can legally increase the rent. (City Code Chapter 6.20.050(C) Notice of Annual Rent Increases).

For more information about the requirements of the City’s Rent Stabilization law, visit the Rent Stabilization webpage or contact Jean Kerr, Housing Specialist at 301-891-7216 or jeank@takomaparkmd.gov.

News, News Alert

RFP: Solicitation for Enterprise Document Management System – Ends Thursday, February 29 at 11:59 pm

Purpose:

The City of Takoma Park (“City”) invites qualified firms (“Firms”) to submit responses (“Proposals”) to this Request for Proposals for the Enterprise Document Management System.

Publication Date:

Request for Proposals (RFP) documents were made available on Friday, January 19, 2024. Bid packages may be obtained from the City’s website: Solicitation for Enterprise Document Management System #IT-2024-01

Deadline:

Proposals are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, February 29, 2024

Contacts:

City of Takoma Park, Maryland
Mr. Lars DeSalvio
IT Project Specialist
Email: larsd@takomaparkmd.gov

Vendor Questions and Responses:

The city publishes vendor questions and responses to assist prospective bidders with their proposals.

News Alert, Public Notices

Join us for our Arbor Day Tree Walk on Saturday, April 22

 

Join us at Circle Woods for a celebratory gathering and tree walk. The City’s Urban Forest Manager, Marty Frye, will lead the session identifying some of our choice native trees and expounding upon their virtues. We will also have rain gauges and trunk guards for deer protection to give away; first come, first served! Please RSVP on Eventbrite so we can keep tabs on expected attendance.

Read more and RSVP on Eventbrite.

Date & Time

Day: Saturday, April 22
Time: 10:00 am

Location

Circle Woods
6605 Cockerille Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912

About Arbor Day

Arbor Day is also a time to recognize that a city can be a hard place for trees to live, and that they need our tender love and care! It is a time to redouble our commitment to providing our trees what they need to thrive in our urban environment. One of the most important acts you can take to support our urban forest is to plant a tree where there wasn’t one. Residents and property owners across the City are planting trees this season in solidarity with this mission. For the trees you already have, remember that a broad area of woody or leafy mulched soil for the roots to grow in is ideal. And don’t forget to water your new trees. Typically, fifteen gallons once a week is sufficient for a new young tree, though watering twice a week can be a good idea during times of drought.

Maryland Arbor Day

This year, Maryland Arbor Day is April 5, while nationally recognized Arbor Day is April 28. Tree planting is best done earlier in the spring, but any time is a good time to celebrate trees! See the City’s Urban Forestry page to learn more about tree care and City tree programs.

Contact

Marty Frye, Urban Forest Manager
Email Marty Frye
301-891-7612

Public Notices

Nationwide Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 22

 

The Takoma Park Police Department will be participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Nationwide Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Take Back Day

Takoma Park Police Department
7500 Maple Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912

Date: Saturday, April 22, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

 

More Information About Drug Take Back Day

This campaign gives the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Collection boxes will be set up in the first-floor police lobby of the City building. Prescription, over-the-counter, and pet medications will be accepted. In addition, vape pens and other e-cigarette devices are now accepted, BUT only after the batteries are removed from such devices.

Although we continue to participate in this nationwide event, as a reminder, residents looking to dispose of excess and expired prescription and over-the-counter medications can visit the safe and secure permanent drop-off location at the City of Takoma Park Police Department. The collection site is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Drugs can be dropped off with no questions asked. Items that CANNOT be left are liquids, inhalers, aerosol cans, regular household ointments/lotions, needles/sharps, and/or thermometers.

Contact

If you have questions, please email Cathy Plevy.

News Alert, Public Notices

Code Enforcement in the Neighborhoods

 

A primer on how we keep Takoma Park safe and tidy

It’s common to see Code Enforcement staff out and about in Takoma Park neighborhoods, looking for overgrown weeds, derelict cars, peeling paint, and unshoveled sidewalks. It’s also not unusual for neighbors to get upset about code violation notices – the process can be confusing and even alarming. Who wants a notice of a violation? What will the punishment be?

City staff assures residents that the system is not about punishment– it’s about keeping homes safe and in good repair. It’s also meant to take care of the eyesore properties that threaten to pull down property values across the board.

How It Works

The Property Maintenance Code applies to the exterior of all buildings, vacant land, and even sheds and carports. It establishes basic standards for repair only – it does not address aesthetic choices like paint color. You can paint with any color you like!

Among the most common violations: are grass over 12 inches high, an untagged vehicle, peeling paint, trash on the ground or left out on the curb, rotted wood, or broken fencing. If there is a code violation, residents get a Courtesy Notice hung on the door, with the violation(s) listed and a deadline of 15 days for correcting it. The name of the inspector and the phone number is on the notice in case you have questions or need more time. Staff issues notices so that there will be a weekend between the time the notice is posted and the deadline for correction.

If during the initial inspection, the violation noted is a significant item or a justified complaint from another person, a Notice of Violation (NOV) is issued. A major violation could be any life safety issue, extensive peeling paint, trash left out, structure damage, or graffiti. An NOV is also issued if the items noted on the Courtesy Notice are not corrected. It comes by certified mail, involves no fines, and allows seven to 20 days for compliance.

What if a resident can’t make the corrections? Staff urges residents to call to discuss the issue before the deadline for compliance. If there is more than one violation and one or more have been corrected, residents can request more time to take care of the rest. The decision to extend the deadline is made on a case-by-case basis.

Still no progress? The city issues a Uniform Civil Citation for each of the violations not abated and attaches fines to each. Residents have 25 days to correct the violation from the date it is issued and the option of requesting a trial. Even if you pay the fine, the case is brought to a hearing in District Court if the violation is not abated.

And, even if you’ve got a court date, you should continue to work on addressing the violation. Also, be sure to attend the hearing, as it is the District Court judge that makes the final decision on fines and abatement dates.

Courts typically issue an order requiring the owner to correct the violation, and the Judge may also assess a fine. Once the violations have been corrected, the case is closed, and the owner is notified.

Throughout this process, the owner is encouraged to contact the inspector. The city’s goal is to bring the property into compliance with the code, not to go to court.

Code Enforcement in Takoma Park

Information about the Division can be found in the Code Enforcement web section.

Contact Code Enforcement

Concerned about the condition of a property? Contact the Code Enforcement Manager at (301) 891-7113 or submit your concerns online.

Code Enforcement staff are happy to meet with individual citizens or neighborhood groups to provide information about the code enforcement process and answer any questions. Please reach out to us at 301-891-7113 or email Rick Baravechia, Code Enforcement manager.

 

News Alert, Public Notices

Housing & Community Development (HCD) announces RFP #HCD-2023-03-14 Rental Licensing and Rent Reporting Software

Purpose

The City of Takoma Park (“City”) invites qualified firms (“Firms”) to submit responses (“Proposals”) to this Request for Proposals in order to develop two deliverables: 1) the implementation of a new software solution for the City’s Licensing and Rent Reporting Programs, and 2) ongoing maintenance and support. The selected firm will work with City staff to implement the chosen software solution and address ongoing issues as the solution is used by the City to administer its rental licensing and rent reporting programs.

Information Meeting

Date: Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Time: 1:00 pm
Zoom Registration

Publication Date

Request for Proposals (RFP) documents were made available on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Bid packages may be obtained from the City’s website: Rental Licensing and Rent Reporting Software

Deadline

Proposals are due no later than 11:59 pm on Friday, April 14, 2023.

Contact

Devin McNally
Housing Manager
Email Devin

Takoma Park Newsletter

Library and Community Center Redevelopment Update

 

In September 2022, the City began preparing for the renovation of the library and community center. Since then, the library has been temporarily relocated to 7505 New Hampshire Ave., solar panels have been removed from the library roof, the library mosaic has been stored, partitions between the library and community center have been erected, interior demolition has been completed, and utilities have been disconnected.

In the coming weeks, prior to the demolition of the library, you may notice less parking availability at the Community Center as contractors periodically visit the site and materials are stored in preparation for the construction of the new building. The impact on parking during this phase of the project, prior to the building demolition, should have a minimal impact on access to the Community Center.

The demolition of the library is pending several final permits and approvals from local permitting authorities, most notably the County’s Department of Permitting Services. All permits and approvals are currently submitted and under review. While the timing of the release of the permits and approvals is subject to each permit authority’s queue, demolition is expected to begin in late March or early April. As the demolition date becomes more certain, notices will be provided to the community at large. Prior to demolition, a construction fence enclosing the entire construction site will be installed; however, the Community Center will remain open, and most of the existing City services will continue.

As a result of the construction, parking at the Community Center will be severely limited for both staff and residents. The City has prioritized parking at the Community Center for residents. Below is a map identifying patron parking at the Community Center during construction. Parking restrictions are expected to take effect about a week prior to demolition and last until the project is complete in Fall 2024.

City staff will park offsite on various private lots and public streets within walking distance of the Community Center. To limit the number of staff vehicles on any single street, City staff have been assigned specific streets and, in some cases, particular blocks to park. These streets include the 100 and 200 blocks of Grant Ave., the 7500 block of Maple Ave., Lee Ave., Sherman Ave., and Darwin Ave. Staff will be parked on public streets from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

There will also be several changes along Maple Ave. to accommodate parking during construction. Immediately in front of the Community Center, adjacent to the bridge and Maple Ave Community Center entrance, parking will be restricted to 15 minutes from 7 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. On the adjacent southbound portion of Maple Ave., approximately three parking spaces will be reserved for City-owned administrative vehicles for the duration of construction. To stay up to date, visit: https://bit.ly/tkpkrenovation

 

A version of this article was featured in the March 2023 Newsletter. Visit the Takoma Park Newsletter webpage to see the full list of past newsletters.

Takoma Park Newsletter

Director’s Column: Pi Day

 

As we begin another month in much of the world, a date is abbreviated as day/month/year. The units get increasingly
larger – it’s logical! It makes sense. But, like our resistance to the metric system, American date abbreviations are not logical, as we typically invert the first two numbers: month/day/year.

Why am I telling you this? Because Pi Day relies on the weird American system of abbreviating dates. March 14 is Pi Day: 3/14 (or 3.14…). There is no April 31, so the rest of the world has to use our irrational system to celebrate Pi Day with us.

Sidebar: This is not exactly an aberration, as America tends to assert/impose its cultural hegemony all the time anyway, but I digress.

Second sidebar: Pi, or π as it’s written in mathematics, expresses the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. It is an irrational number, meaning it goes on forever, infinitely.

There are two popular themes for observing Pi Day, and they are Math and Pie, so I am combining them both to give you pie charts. They are not a cohesive series, just a reflection of some of the things I’ve been thinking about.

*note: “Indoctrination of a social agenda,” which, judging by the context, I tend to read as, “What if this book inspires my kid to engage in critical thinking that might upset my worldview?”

In total, all of these books represent a little more than one-third (36%) of children’s books published in the United States that year. I think publishers can (and need to) do better.

 

And, just for fun, some random pie charts for our Library!

Our young readers really love fiction! I also love to see our new adult books circulating so much.

Our staff’s language abilities include Spanish, French, and Amharic!

 

Have a lovely Pi Day, everyone! Celebrate with whatever form of Pi/pie you enjoy the most.

A version of this article was featured in the March 2023 Newsletter. Visit the Takoma Park Newsletter webpage to see the full list of past newsletters.

Takoma Park Newsletter

A new face in the Recreation Department: Introducing Chris Parker

 

We are pleased to announce Chris Parker, who joined the Recreation Department in mid-January as the Recreation Manager. He will oversee classes, facilities, special events, and our Community Center front-desk staff. Take a moment to get to know him!

Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your hobbies.
I was born in Philadelphia, raised on the Eastern Shore, and lived in Baltimore for the past 14 years. My hobbies are traveling and sports. Some of my favorite places to travel to are the Virgin Islands and Canada. My favorite sports are basketball, football, and baseball. I ran track in college. I have a daughter who just turned 4.

What recreation programs were you involved in growing up, and how did they shape who you are now?
I was involved in youth sports, and my coaches taught me about sportsmanship and teamwork. These programs helped me learn how to work with different people and adapt to changing situations.

What are you most excited about regarding your new position?
I am excited to learn about all the classes offered by the Department already, but I am particularly happy to be working with the recreation team and meeting new people around Takoma Park.

What have you enjoyed so far about the City of Takoma Park?
The diversity within the community has been refreshing. Coming from my previous position in Loudoun County, VA, it has been nice to see all the different people that live in Takoma Park and interact with them.

What kind of programs and classes would you like to bring to Takoma Park?
I would eventually like to bring a Track and Field program to Takoma Park.

 

This article was featured in the March 2023 Newsletter. Visit the Takoma Park Newsletter webpage to see the full list of past newsletters.