Are you a renter in the City of Takoma Park? If so, the City is looking to hear from you! The City’s tenant survey will occur between March 1- April 30. We encourage you to complete the short, 5-minute survey if you rent in the City.

Survey Details:

• Survey length: 5-10 minutes
• Access the survey online here: https://arcg.is/jb85W0
• Survey Deadline: May 1, 2024
• You should receive a survey mailed to your home with a QR code to access the survey online, or a paper version you can fill out and mail back (there is a pre-paid envelope you can use included!).

By answering the survey, you will help the City enforce housing laws and develop new programs and policies. We thank you for your time and consideration!

From City Manager DiSpirito

I want to announce that I have promoted Ira Kowler to the permanent Director of Housing and Community Development.

Ira has performed very well this past year in the acting HCD Director role while still covering his economic development duties.  He has the enthusiastic support of his department staff, works quite well with the Senior Leadership Team, and has earned this opportunity.  His knowledge of planning, housing, and economic development, coupled with his productivity, will continue to serve us well.  He will report to Deputy City Manager Eubanks.

Please join me in congratulating Ira on his permanent role.

A Message from Robert DiSpirito, City Manager:

In the weeks since I started, I have, among many other things, observed and assessed what I believe would be the most productive executive administrative structure that will most effectively serve the Mayor and Council, this organization, and our residents. Therefore, I have appointed a two-deputy city manager structure. I am pleased to announce Andrew Bolduc (internal operations) and David Eubanks (external operations) as Deputy City Managers for the City of Takoma Park.

Please join me in congratulating Andrew and David on their new positions!

• Deputy City Manager- Andrew Bolduc
• Deputy City Manager- David Eubanks

Purpose:

The City of Takoma Park (“City”) invites qualified firms (“Firms”) to submit responses (“Proposals”) to this Request for Proposals for the Houston Avenue Stormwater Treatment Project.

Registration Information

• All prospective responders must register with the City of Takoma Park to submit a responsive Proposal and receive future RFP communications, including any Request for Information updates.
• To register for the RFP, complete the Registration Form
• Once completed, a registration confirmation email will be shared with the prospective Respondent.
• Responders registered before Monday, March 18, 2024, will receive a link to participate in the Information Virtual Meeting at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2024. An email will be sent out separately.

Publication Date:

Request for Proposals (RFP) documents were made available on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Bid packages may be obtained from the City’s website:  https://takomaparkmd.gov/services/bids-contracts/

Deadline:

Proposals are due no later than 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2024

Contacts:

Daryl Braithwaite, Director
Public Works
Email: darylb@takomaparkmd.gov

Patti Mallin, Grants Coordinator
Housing and Community Development
Email: grants@takomaparkmd.gov

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore today announced $10 million for small business and community development grants through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Project Restore 2.0 and Business Boost grant programs. The funding will activate vacant spaces in business corridors, support small businesses with start up or expansion funds, create jobs, and increase local economic activity—all to make Maryland more competitive.

“When storefronts close down, our entire state feels it. Now is the time to work in partnership with the private sector to revitalize our business districts, and that’s what this grant funding is about,” said Gov. Moore. Together, we will continue to make Maryland more competitive by moving in concert with entrepreneurs and small businesses – not in conflict with them.”

Project Restore 2.0 will provide $8 million to designated Main Streets, Arts and Entertainment Districts and other economic development organizations in a designated Sustainable Community. Grants of up to $300,000 per applicant will go to organizations that have identified priority vacant storefronts or buildings in local business districts. Those organizations would then sub-grant the funding to businesses for rental assistance, renovation and equipment to activate those vacant spaces. Businesses that receive sub-granted funds will have until December 2025 to open and be operational.

Business Boost is launching its first round of grant funding with $2 million that will be awarded directly to eligible small business owners in amounts between $20,000 and $50,000. The businesses must be new or expanding and located in designated Sustainable Communities. Preference will be given to businesses that are home-based and seeking their first commercial location, are designated as a Minority Business Enterprise, that are innovative, focused on regional strengths to grow local economies, or leverage partnerships between school districts or other education institutions in Maryland.

“By strengthening the successful Project Restore grants to fill storefronts on Maryland main streets and launching Business Boost, we are building on what we know to be the best way to help grow Maryland communities’ economies: from the center out, empowering locally-owned businesses, and bringing life back to vacant storefronts,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “These grants are just the beginning of the department’s renewed efforts to double down on the hearts of our cities and towns, maximizing the positive impact of our funding to create lovable places and help businesses choose to set up shop in Maryland.”

Applications will open on March 13 for small business owners to apply through Business Boost and for economic development organizations to apply through Project Restore 2.0. For more information on either grant opportunity, go to https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Business/Pages/Small-Business-Grants.aspx.

Since the 1970s, plastic straws and stirrers have reigned supreme. In fact, Americans go through 500 million a day.  However, these plastic straws and stirrers are not recyclable and end up in our oceans, causing pollution and harming wildlife. These straws and stirrers account for about 4 percent of the plastic pollution found in oceans by volume but less than 1 percent by weight, and plastic never decomposes, as it uses UV rays to break down into smaller pieces, never disappearing entirely.

In an attempt to address this environmental issue, the City of Takoma Park decided to ban plastic straws and stirrers. City staff began monitoring compliance with this law commencing January 1, 2020 and shall issue notices for violations occurring between January 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020. City staff may issue infraction citations for violations commencing July 1, 2020.

This isn’t the first environment-centered product restriction law established by Takoma Park. We have enacted a Plastic Bag Ban, a Polystyrene Ban, and the Safe Grow Law.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to completely eliminate plastic straws from the City. If retail establishments, other institutions, the City, vendors at City-sponsored events, or persons using City facilities for private events provide non-plastic straws, they shall maintain a reasonable stock of flexible, disposable plastic beverage straws for customers, patrons, or participants for whom straws made of non-plastic materials are unsuitable and who request plastic beverage straws.

Information about the Plastic Straw and Stirrer Ban can be found on the City of Takoma Park website:

• https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/housing-and-community-development/code-enforcement/plastic-straws-and-stirrers-ban/

Read the full Plastic Straw and Stirrer Ban Ordinance:

• https://www.codepublishing.com/MD/TakomaPark/#!/TakomaPark08/TakomaPark0852.html

From the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection

Landscapers in Montgomery County, MD- we want your opinions/experience on using electric leaf blowers! The County has passed a law that will prohibit the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers effective on July 1,2024 and the use of gas-powered leaf blowers effective July 1, 2025.

The following 5-minute survey will gather your perspective on a rebate program to help with the financial burden of making the transition from gas-powered to electric leaf blowers:

• Survey Link (English)
• Survey Link (Spanish)

We value your input. Please complete the above surveys and share these links with others, especially with solo landscapers and small businesses! Your survey will be anonymous.