All posts by Ryan Kelly

News, Public Notices

Takoma Park – Safe, Strong and Supporting Each Other

 

Dear Residents,

Consistent with the actions of other jurisdictions in the Washington, DC area, the Montgomery County Board of Health voted this afternoon to move Montgomery County into Phase 1 Reopening on Monday, June 1 at 6 am. Phase 1 allows some outdoor seating around restaurants, some curbside service from retail stores, limited hair appointments, and some child care operations. Rulings and guidelines related to these private businesses are under the State of Maryland and the County health departments.

The City of Takoma Park continues to work with our business community to assist them in preparing for changes allowed under Phase 1. Unfortunately, there was not much advance notice from Montgomery County that Phase 1 Reopening would begin Monday, so we and the businesses are scrambling to get ready. Thankfully, we have been working closely with them since the health crisis began and we are here to support our businesses and protect public health.

City Manager
Suzanne Ludlow

What does the County decision mean for Takoma Park? The biggest changes starting on Monday will be:

  • Restaurants will be able to continue take out service and begin outdoor seating following social distance protocols.
  • Retail stores will be allowed to have curbside pick up.
  • Hair salons and barbershops are allowed to reopen following specific guidelines.

There will be no significant change in the City of Takoma Park governmental operations due to Montgomery County’s Phase 1 Reopening.

City of Takoma Park governmental buildings will not be open to the public for many weeks and most of our services will continue to be handled remotely. Our Police Department is always open for emergency services and our Police and Public Works staff continue to work serving the community.

What have we been doing in this time before Phase 1 Reopening?

Our City staff has been putting in long, difficult hours working with families and small businesses in need. It is hard to adequately describe the heart-wrenching situations many of our residents face. We have families whose primary breadwinner is sick and suddenly the family is without income and health insurance. Applying for and access to services and stimulus payments are complicated by limited English or lack of documentation.  We have been able to help a number of these families get testing, pay rent, obtain food and face masks and make key connections to ongoing services. We will continue to provide this assistance.

Our small businesses have also been pressed to the limit. When the federal stimulus program was issued to help small businesses, the program went through banks. Banks focused on the businesses they worked with most closely, which were often larger businesses. Most of our businesses in Takoma Park were not helped. However, the City of Takoma Park had already acted. Even before the federal government acted, we had started our Mini-Grant program with funds we were able to pull together. So far, we have helped about three dozen businesses with our Mini-Grant program with grants mostly in the $2,000 range. When we received their applications for help, the businesses were ranked by need. Those with employees and special needs ranked higher, and we have been working through the 93 approved applications as funds become available. Now that the Council has identified additional funds, we hope to be able to assist all or most of the eligible businesses that applied for assistance over the next two months. However, we estimate that the businesses that applied represent only about 15% of our business community, so much more work is needed. Staff has been having weekly calls with the Crossroads Development Authority and the Old Town Business Association and communicating directly with many small businesses. We will continue to provide assistance to our businesses and we have prepared recommendations for Council consideration of the use of public space to support our small businesses and protect public health.

City administrative work has been heavy: our staff has been working long hours on budget preparation, oversight of employee health measures and hazard pay, IT services to staff working remotely, and facilitating the City Council as they hold virtual meetings. We will continue to hold virtual meetings at this time.

Recreation, Library and Arts staff have been doing virtual programming, and it is wonderful! Please watch for the special summer programming the Recreation Department is putting into place. They have also been planning for direct services under new health protocols. Senior Recreation staff are studying the child care protocols, which are quite extensive, and preparing for a number of options depending on how Montgomery County Public Schools decides to proceed with its classes. The Library is looking to begin contactless book lending in June. (If you still have Library books from before the pandemic started, please return them so that we can get them ready for our new program!) Besides work for their own departments, some Recreation and Library staff have been helping other City efforts, from garden maintenance to assisting residents through the Emergency Assistance program.

Communications about the rapid changes that have occurred during the health emergency are key. We have been helping residents and businesses access funds and services, providing health information, and telling success stories. Our one Communications Specialist has had her hands full, but staff from other departments have stepped up. We have done mailings, social media, and website updates. It’s a huge lift and ever-changing, but we have focused on being accurate and targeting information to those who need it the most. We will continue to communicate with residents and keep them informed during the crisis. Be sure to check out our Covid-19 Information and Resource page.

Soon our Neighborhood Services Team staff will be returning to more active service. They provide educational information regarding our Safe Grow and other environmental laws, and they do parking enforcement and property code enforcement. While enforcement of serious safety issues has continued throughout the health emergency, most parking and code enforcement activities have been on hold. We will not start regular parking enforcement right away, but now that more businesses can do curbside sales, we know there may need to be increased parking enforcement.

Even as we look at how to address City service needs this summer and fall, we also have to keep our eyes forward to next year and the year after that. We will be watching how revenue changes may affect Takoma Park. The City Council and I will have frequent discussions on that topic as we learn more. And, we need to keep our eyes on the vision and priorities for Takoma Park post-pandemic. What will we be doing to make Takoma Park a more equitable and livable community?

“Takoma Park – Safe, Strong and Supportive of Each Other” is not just a nice sentiment; it is a necessity. The pandemic has brought that home. What each of us does affects our neighbors. Wearing your mask, keeping your social distance, washing your hands, and helping each other out when we can is a health and community necessity.

We are in this together!

 

 

 

 

News

Message to the Community From Chief DeVaul on the Death of George Floyd

 

As are all in our community, I am deeply disturbed by the actions of Minneapolis Police officers in the murder of George Floyd. The actions taken by the involved officers were incredibly disturbing and go against the basic law enforcement principle of the preservation of life. The lack of compassion, abuse of power, and use of excessive force does not just tarnish our profession, they tear at the very fabric of race relations in our country. Every human being must be treated with dignity and respect. George Floyd was afforded neither.

I am glad to see the outrage from law enforcement leaders across the country. We can no longer sit back and allow these incidents to happen. Real change must happen. The changes start with our hiring and training. We must hire people who want to be in law enforcement for the right reasons; those who truly want to help people and understand the importance of developing trust and positive relationships with our community members. It is not us against them, just us. We must also train our officers to deescalate situations with dialog, not force.

A vital key to developing trust and legitimacy with our communities is removing problem officers from our ranks. It is my understanding that the primary officer involved in the death of George Floyd had nearly twenty previous complaints lodged against him. While I do not know the individual facts of each complaint, the fact that an individual officer had nearly twenty complaints and two letters of reprimand filed against him in a 20-year career is, in itself, alarming and should have warranted some intervention by his supervisors.  The fact that three other officers stood by and did not intervene to stop Mr. Floyd’s death is extremely troubling. All officers have a moral and ethical obligation to intervene when they see injustice occurring. All too often we have seen officers stand by and not act when other officers abuse people of color. This must change and all officers who do not act to intervene and stop incidents like the Floyd incident must be held accountable.

Every police officer and leader I know has condemned the actions of the involved officers.  What is not being unilaterally addressed is the role race placed in the incident and others across the country. It is clear there were moral and tactical shortcomings in the George Floyd case. What is also clear is that all too often these cases involve police victimizing unarmed persons of color.

I am not one to say, “it could never happen here in Takoma Park.” I will say this, we are doing everything we can to ensure something like the incident in Minneapolis and others across our country does not occur in Takoma Park.

As your police chief, I am acknowledging the role race plays in our everyday life and how we police our communities. I am committed to hiring individuals who want to be police officers for the right reasons, providing on-going training to officers, and holding officers accountable for actions.

I am proud of the work we have done in Takoma Park to make positive connections with all of our stakeholders, especially those who hold the most mistrust of the police; our minority youth. An example of how these connections have had an impact can be found in the partnership formed between our police department and city youth during the passing of Cyril Briscoe, a local rapper and beloved member of our community. In the aftermath of his death, several members of our community began publicly expressing grief and remembrance of Cyril. Some members of our community complained about the impact the vigils were having on our community. Our officers worked directly with the organizers of the events to allow our community members to grieve while minimizing the impact on the surrounding neighbors. Some departments may have taken an aggressive stance to shut down the vigils and aggressively dispersed the mourners. We chose to work with the group to respect their rights and need to grieve. Many of the mourners expressed how thankful they were for how we handled the vigils. The one-year anniversary of Cyril’s death occurred two days ago. While many areas of the country were experiencing violent protests, youth in Takoma Park held a peaceful vigil with our police present and supportive. I bring this incident up to illustrate how we as police need to work with our communities to build relationships and trust. These relationships can be called upon in good and bad times.

We are a long way away from solving this problem. The first step to fixing a problem is acknowledging that there is a problem. As I stated before, I am very pleased to see so many law enforcement leaders and line officers come out to condemn the murder of George Floyd. We as a community and a nation must come together to address the issues facing the law enforcement profession.  I and all of the members of the Takoma Park Police Department are committed to being part of the solution, not the problem.  We are stronger together!

We are always open to ideas and input on how we can provide equal and equitable service to all of our community members. Have suggestions? Please send them to me at tonyd@takomaparkmd.gov.

 

News, Public Notices

Public Works holds Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day: Saturday, June 13 from 10:00am – 2:00pm

 

2020 Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day

To assist residents with proper and safe disposal of hazardous waste, the Public Works Department holds an annual Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off day.

Date:  Saturday, June 13, 2020
Time:  10:00 am to 2:00

Location:
Public Works Yard
City of Takoma Park
31 Oswego Ave
Silver Spring, MD 20910

On Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day, Takoma Park residents can drop off household hazardous waste for free (non-residents will be charged a $10 fee (CHECKS ONLY) at the yard at the Public Works Facility.

In light of the pandemic, participants will be asked to follow these steps:

  1. All participants must wear a mask – no exceptions.
  2. Enter from the Oswego Avenue entrance only.
  3. Follow the guidance of the staff directing traffic, all vehicles will exit out the Ritchie Avenue driveway.
  4. All hazardous materials for drop off must be in the trunk of the car or back of a pickup trunk only – no materials will be taken out of the interior of your car.
  5. City staff will remove the hazardous materials from the trunk or pick up truck – participants must stay in their cars at all times.
What Can Be Accepted at the Household Hazardous Waste Drop-off Day in Takoma Park?
  • Aerosol cans containing hazardous products
  • Antifreeze and hydraulic fluids (5-gallon limit)
  • Batteries: lithium, lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium, car (lead acid)
  • Brake fluid
  • Charcoal containing flammable agents
  • Driveway sealant, tar
  • Gasoline, gas-oil mixes, kerosene
  • Herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides
  • Fluorescent light tubes and ballast
  • Thermostats and thermometers containing mercury
  • Oil-based paints, paint thinners and solvents
  • Photographic chemicals
Not Accepted Household Hazardous Waste Items
  • Latex paint
  • Commercial, industrial or medical wastes
  • Compressed gas cylinders or radioactive materials
Questions? email:
News

It’s time to return your Takoma Park Maryland Library Books!

 

Hooray! Sometime soon, the Takoma Park Maryland Library will launch a contactless checkout “Books-To-Go” service. Stay tuned for details.

As part of getting ready for this service, we’d love it if you returned the books you took out in the mad rush before we closed. Please help us get back into the swing of things by returning your books—our book drop is open 24/7 and checked at least once daily.

No overdue fines, of course.

 

News

Community: Joint Ownership and Shared Togetherness

 

A few months ago, I was asked what does community mean to me.

The first thing that popped into my mind was to respond with our geographic location – the City of Takoma Park – 2.4 square miles located in the corner of Montgomery County bordered by Washington DC, Prince Georges County, Silver Spring.

But, community is so much more. The word itself is rooted in the Middle French communité. Initially, it meant: “joint ownership.”

Joint ownership. Shared togetherness. That is community.

So what does that mean during a pandemic, and what does community mean for our budget process this year?

We have been working since early April on the FY2021 City Budget. We knew from the first presentation on April 6th that the proposed budget needed to be revised to take into consideration the health crisis, and we have learned much more about the health and economic situation since then.

We are thankful that even in a pandemic, we have had a great deal of feedback and input. The Zoom Council meetings have given people who have never attended or spoken at a Council meeting the opportunity to provide comments. Individual councilmembers have done their own virtual town halls and online surveys. And our terrific City staff led by our City Manager have been working round the clock to provide answers to all of our questions so we can make the best decisions possible in an ever-evolving situation.

Thank you for all the engagement. We have had a very robust discussion this year. And, we needed it. None of us have ever tried to do a budget during a world pandemic with so much changing daily.

We heard a number of differing views on the specifics of the budget, but throughout the discussion, there has been a common commitment to our community and those who call it home.

I have said many times over the last few weeks, as the City, we are the first line of defense for those most impacted during this crisis. And now is the time to act quickly and with sufficient resources, to help more people stay in their homes and keep businesses afloat while we wait and advocate for assistance at the county, state, and federal level. We also know that while this crisis impacts everyone, the magnitude of the impact is not equal, further exposing the racial injustices that we must address as a City.

So with all of this in mind on Monday night the City Council made the following changes to the proposed budget:

  • Created a COVID-19 Fund with over $600,000 in resources to enable the City to continue to provide financial support for residents and small businesses ($440,000 for FY2021 and about $194,000 that we are spending this year).
  • Cutover a half a million in personnel costs and put a hold on over $300,000 on other personnel costs.
  • Kept the same tax rate as last year — 53.97 cents per $100 assessed valuation
  • Kept stormwater fee the same.
    Continued funding for public safety initiatives such as traffic calming.
  • Suspended funds for large public gatherings.
  • Put a hold for at least the first quarter of the year $1.3 million dollars of expenditures that will be re-evaluated throughout the year.

In terms of different reserves or funds we can use in the emergency as we learn more about the needs and impacts we have:

  • General Contingency Account: $135,000 (to cover unexpected operating expenses)
  • Emergency Reserve: $510,000 (for emergency expenditures for the health, safety or welfare of persons or to perform essential government services)
  • Housing Reserve: $1,058,294 (as of June 30, 2020) (requires a housing purpose)
  • Unassigned Reserve: $1.8million; plus the $1.3million in on-hold projects for a total of over $3million in unassigned reserves.
  • Staff is now preparing the final budget documents which Council will vote on May 13th and 20th.

Thank you very much for all the input and collaboration to get us to this point.

Our FY2021 budget reflects our shared togetherness during the greatest challenge we have ever had to face as a community.

City Council & Mayor Blog, News

A Letter to the Community on Budget Goals and Priorities.

 

Dear Takoma Park Community,

The uncertainty and enormity of the COVID-19 pandemic hangs over us all. Although there are many unknowns that make planning even for the next few weeks — let alone the next year — harder than usual, we are committed to ensuring the long-term wellbeing and safety of all Takoma Park residents.

As members of the Takoma Park City Council, we have been working since early April on the FY2021 City Budget. We extend our deep appreciation to the work of the City Manager and staff during this time. We knew from the first presentation on April 6th that the proposed budget needed to be revised to take into consideration the health crisis, and we have learned much more about the health and economic situation since then.

Over the past few weeks, we have discussed and posed questions about the City Budget and heard from many residents about their priorities and concerns. As we work to finalize the budget, we’ve come together to summarize some of the overarching goals we have identified over the past few weeks.

There is still more discussion and difficult decisions for the Council to make on the budget. We have differing views on various specific line-items in the budget, but our discussions over the past weeks have shown a common commitment to ensuring that City funds are managed responsibly to ensure the wellbeing and safety of our community now and into the future.

As the City, we are the first line of defense for those most impacted and vulnerable during this crisis. By acting quickly and with sufficient resources, we can help more people stay in their homes and keep businesses afloat while we wait and advocate for assistance at the county, state, and federal level.  We also know that while this crisis impacts everyone, the magnitude of the impact is not equal, further exposing the racial injustices that we must address as a City.

Our focus for the remainder of FY2020 and as we consider the FY2021 budget must be to provide for those residents, staff, and businesses most impacted and vulnerable during this very difficult time.

Therefore, we are prioritizing:

  • Resources to enable the City to continue to provide financial support for residents including rent, HOA fees, utilities, medical care, food, and other needs.
  • Resources to increase workforce development assistance to residents who have been laid-off or forced to job transition.
  • Support and assistance to our small businesses and business associations.
  • Resources to support the City’s frontline staff who are working hard to provide critical support and services to the community during the pandemic, including hazard pay.
  • Resources and flexibility to shift how our staff and government operates to meet the needs of residents now and into the future.
  • Continuation of funding for public safety initiatives.
  • Continue and explore expanding targeted property tax assistance programs.
  • Maintenance of healthy reserves to ensure the City has resources to meet unexpected challenges.

To meet the goals above, we support the following and continue to explore other options:

  • Reductions and cuts to the proposed budget to reach a tax rate not exceeding the current rate of 53.97 cents per $100 assessed valuation.
  • Suspension of funds for large public gatherings and savings from unused overtime for police and public works for such gatherings.
  • A hold on filling some staff vacancies.
  • A hold for at least the first quarter of the year on certain expenditures that can be re-evaluated throughout the year.

While we agree on these overarching goals and direction, we are each still looking at specific line items that may be included in the budget, cut, or placed on hold for at least the first quarter.

A budget is our roadmap for the work we do in the City. Unfortunately, the road ahead is filled with much uncertainty. We must, therefore, have a budget that is flexible enough to allow us to respond to the unknown ahead and keep our main priorities – the wellbeing of our residents, businesses, and staff – front and center.

Thank you again to the staff and to residents who have provided their input throughout this process.

Mayor Stewart
Mayor ProTem Seamens
Councilmember Kostiuk
Councilmember Searcy
Councilmember Dyballa

 

City Council & Mayor Blog, News

Takoma Park businesses are a huge part of our lives and right now they need us!

 

I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, in the 1970s. As a child, my mother would send me to the corner market to pick up groceries. I had a list that I would hand to the owner, stretching on my toes to reach over the counter. He would hand me back a bag of groceries and add the total to my mother’s account.

These memories of growing up and the small businesses that made my neighborhood feel like a community are a big part of why I wanted to raise my family in Takoma Park.

Mayor Kate Stewart

Takoma Park businesses are a huge part of our lives. From the first time, my children went to the Co-op by themselves, to their first haircuts at Shampoo (and now at Scissor & Comb), to ordering flowers for special occasions from Park Florist, to always taking my mother to Mark’s Kitchen and then for ice cream when she visited, to ordering from Red Chilis or Sardis for Friday night movie night, or being able to find amazing jollof rice at Mansa Kunda or Patrick’s in the Crossroads; Takoma Park businesses and the people who own them are part of what makes this City home.

For a City of 2.4 square miles, we have an incredible number of diverse, independently run small businesses. You can buy fabrics at Sarah’s Fabrics, children’s clothes at Discount Mart, cowboy boots at El Alazan Western Wear, tea sets at JK Mart or have a dress custom made at McDoris Fashion and Fabric and so much more. These businesses, owned and run by our neighbors and friends, play a big part in creating a sense of community in our City. They add to the uniqueness and character that we love in Takoma Park.

And, right now, they need us.

Across the City, our businesses are struggling as they try to stay afloat through the current crisis.

There are also many small businesses and sole practitioners who don’t have a storefront but who provide vital services to our community, including educational consultants, dentists, optometrists, and physicians. And, we cannot forget our vibrant creative community of artists, photographers, designers, dancers, and musicians.

We really pack a lot into 2.4 square miles!

As Councilmember Searcy stated at a recent Council meeting, one of our jobs right now as a City is to come together to make sure our small businesses can weather this crisis. To ensure we can see as many as possible of these businesses re-open and resume their work, we need the assistance of the federal, state, county, and city governments and our community. This is truly going to take all of us.

In particular, many of the businesses in our community face barriers to accessing the relief funds available from the federal and state government. The difficulty of navigating complex applications and the lack of existing relationships with banks and lenders put many of our small businesses at a disadvantage in applying for relief. This makes the funds and staff assistance we can provide at the City level even more vital.

Over the last few weeks, the City has undertaken a multi-layered campaign to support small businesses in Takoma Park.

The “Takoma Together Campaign” highlights three ways that the community can assist businesses during this trying time.

The Takoma Park Together (#TogetherTKPK) Campaign

Working with Laura Barclay of Old Town Business Association, City staff were able to quickly get up and running the Takoma Park Citywide Small Business Mini-Grant Program. We received over 100 applications for grant assistance of up to $3,000. Requests came in from local businesses ranging from home-based businesses to 49-year long-standing businesses across varying industries. At the writing of this blog, we have been able to provide assistance to a third of the businesses. We are counting on our community for additional support.

Donations can be made online:


 

Support local businesses that are raising money for the mini-grants program.

  • No Plan Press has created three unique posters featuring designs promoting the Takoma Park Together campaign. 100% of the profits from the sale of these limited-edition posters will benefit Takoma Park’s Citywide Small Business Mini-Grant Program and the Old Takoma Business Association’s (OTBA) Micro-Grants Program
  • Order online at No Plan Press online to purchase an exclusive “Takoma Park Together” poster. 
  • Coming soon, plants by Indigro Plant Design!
  • Buy a Meal from a “Takoma Park To-Go” Restaurant and TAG Your Favorite Takoma Park Together Mural on Social Media (#TogetherTKPK)
  • Thanks to a partnership with ChalkRiot, up to 40 small chalk murals and designs will be created on sidewalks and walkways around the City in the next two months to identify our To-Go businesses and brighten the daily walks of our residents. Chalk murals will be created in and around restaurants listed on the “Takoma Park To-Go” website as a demonstration of our ongoing support and commitment to our beloved small businesses.

I want to recognize some of the amazing work of individuals and businesses. This is by no means a complete list of all those who are coming together to help, so please send me more stories!

Small businesses stepping up for community:

  • Old Town Business Association continued its micro-grants program to assist businesses in Takoma DC, and in Old Town, and Takoma Junction during the COVID-19 crisis.
  • Food donations: Takoma Beverage, Middle Eastern Market, Cielo Rojo, and others.
  • Emergency donation of toilet paper to Victory Towers: Girl and the Vine and Takoma Beverage
  • Stepping up to assist with social distancing and providing resources: Old Town ACE Hardware, Takoma Park Farmers Market, Crossroads Farmers Market, OTBA, Takoma Park/Silver Spring Co-op, Aldi, and Red Apple Farmers Market
  • Rental assistance: Urciolo Properties – rent assistance for businesses in Old Town and Takoma Junction
  • Thank you to all who have stepped up to donate to the City’s mini-grant program:
    • 26 family and friends online and 142 fundraising posters ordered from – No Plan Press
    • Crossroads Development Authority
    • Neighborhood Development Company

There is still a lot of uncertainty about when businesses will be able to get back up and running. Our small businesses are a vital part of what makes Takoma Park a great place to live. Let’s make sure they can survive and thrive in the future.

News

Takoma Park Together = Small Business Support

 

Here’s how you can help!

Background

The City is embarking on a multi-layered campaign to support small businesses in Takoma Park.  This exciting outreach campaign will engage residents and support local businesses, in a socially responsible way, during this unprecedented health emergency.

Phase One

We are kicking off the campaign with the installation of our first chalk mural near the Takoma Park Recreation Center on New Hampshire Avenue.  We have branded the campaign as “Takoma Park Together” and are using the trending hashtag #TogetherTKPK to spread the word on social media. Up to 40 small chalk murals and designs will be created on sidewalks and walkways around the City in the next 2 months to identify our To-Go businesses and brighten the daily walks of our residents. Chalk murals will be developed in and around restaurants listed on the “Takoma Park To-Go” website as a demonstration of our ongoing support and commitment to our beloved small businesses.

Phase Two

The second phase of the Takoma Park Together campaign is a fundraising effort led by another Takoma Park business. No Plan Press has created three unique posters featuring designs promoting the Takoma Park Together campaign.  100% of the proceeds from the sale of these limited-edition posters will benefit Takoma Park’s Citywide Small Business Mini-Grant Program and the Old Takoma Business Association’s (OTBA) Micro-Grant program.

Phase Three

We will continue to receive donations for the Takoma Park Citywide Small Business Mini-Grant Program.  We have over 100 applications for grant assistance received in the last 7 days. This demonstrates the tremendous need from a variety of local businesses ranging from home-based businesses to 30-year long-standing businesses across varying industries. City funds will be exhausted well before the need and we are counting on our residents for additional support.

4 Ways You Can Help

1. Buy a Meal from a “Takoma Park To-Go” Restaurant and TAG Your Favorite Takoma Park Together Mural on Social Media (#TogetherTKPK)

Takoma Park Together Chalk Murals: the City has partnered with our local business, Chalk Riot, to create temporary chalk murals on sidewalks/walkways across the community, to engage our residents around social distancing and safety issues, and identify businesses that are still open and offering takeouts and delivery. You can help support these businesses by picking up a meal from one of our Takoma Park To-Go restaurants.

 

2. Purchase a Limited-Edition “Takoma Park Together” Poster

No Plan Press Fundraiser: Visit No Plan Press online to purchase an exclusive “Takoma Park Together” poster with locally inspired designs. Each piece will be letterpress printed by hand, one at a time on an antique 19th-century printing press right here in Takoma Park.  All orders will be delivered for free to Takoma Park addresses. Posters range in price from $20-$100, and all profits from the sale will go to the Citywide Small Business Mini-Grant Program and Old Takoma Business Association Micro-Grant Program.

 

 

3. Purchase Limited-Edition “Takoma Park Together” Herbs, Flowering Plants and Succulents

Takoma Park local business, Indigro Plant Design, has created 4 exclusive Takoma Park Together designs of herbs, succulents, and flowering plants to raise funds for the Takoma Park Together campaign to support our local businesses during the COVID-19 emergency.  Up to 50% of the profit from sales will support both the CItywide Small Business Mini-Grant program and the Old Takoma Business Association (OTBA) Micro-Grant program.

 

4. Donate to the Citywide Mini-Grant Program 

Donate Online: We are still accepting donations online or via check for the Citywide Small Business Mini-Grant Program.

We would like to thank OTBA for assistance with the technical infrastructure to receive online donations. You will see OTBA information on the donation page, however, funds are directed to a separate City of Takoma Park donation account for the Takoma Park Citywide Small Business Mini-Grant program.

Donations can be made online:



 

or by check made out to:  City of Takoma Park

Mail to:
City of Takoma Park
Finance Department
Attn: Small Business Mini-Grant Donation
7500 Maple Avenue, 3rd Floor
Takoma Park, MD 20912

Thank you for your generous support for our small businesses during this challenging time!

City Manager & Staff Blog, News

The Next Three Weeks and After – Getting Back to Normal?

 

The Takoma Park City Council will be considering the details of the proposed City budget over the next three weeks. They will be looking at what is needed for responding to the pandemic right now, what will be needed for the recovery period, and what will be needed for the City in the long term.

City Manager
Suzanne Ludlow

On the evenings of Monday, April 20 and 27, the City Council will have budget work session discussions on the capital improvement program and on departmental and non-departmental budgets. At the end of each work session, at the Council meeting of April 22, and then in detail on May 4, there will be discussions of the budget reconciliation list. The final budget to be adopted by the City Council will be based on the outcome of the budget reconciliation decisions on May 4. The budget will then be officially adopted with the approval of the budget ordinances in mid-May, in time to meet the County and State requirements for budget adoption.

Last Monday, the budget work session was devoted to programs and funds that support residents and businesses in Takoma Park, particularly when they are having difficulty. The City has at least a dozen staff involved in reaching out to those in need, sharing information, and in helping review or process applications, payments and legal documents.

On Monday the 20th, the work session will be on capital projects and purchases. In a time of the pandemic, it is hard to think of planning for future infrastructure projects or purchasing vehicles, but these are part of our long term planning, budgeting, and good stewardship so that the City can function today and when the pandemic is over. I am recommending that some capital projects be pushed off until FY2022 and will be recommending that we continue with others in order to take advantage of grant funds or not put the City in a more difficult financial situation in future years.

On Monday the 27th, we will be looking at the proposed departmental work programs for FY21. Based on the evaluation done so far by the staff and finance department during the last couple of weeks, I will recommend a number of individual line items that may be removed or changed in the budget to help bring down the proposed tax rate, increase reserves, and/or move funds to programs that the Council would like to augment. As I have stated before, the FY2021 budget was largely prepared prior to the current health pandemic, and we have been carefully tracking City expenses and discussing how this and next year’s finances will be impacted.

A note about the tax rate. I have been asked why I proposed to increase the tax rate for FY21, particularly during a pandemic. There are two main reasons.

  1. Under the Maryland State Code (Section 6-308 Tax-Property Article), the Council cannot approve a tax rate that is larger than the tax rate that is advertised for the budget public hearing. The City Manager must propose a tax rate that will be larger than or equal to the one the Council will adopt.
  2. There are more questions this year about the coming year’s work program and budget than in any previous year that I have worked for the City of Takoma Park. What will happen to the City’s expected revenues? Will we be required to do different work or offer different services or assistance during a pandemic that might cost us more money? Having the larger tax rate available as the Council considers the budget allows flexibility in their deliberations.

As I have noted in prior messages, I have taken a number of steps to save money or increase flexibility while the Council considers the budget this year. We put a pause on union negotiations and pay increases, I proposed the postponement of some capital expenditures until FY22, and I have delayed some expenditures on art projects (the Lincoln Avenue mural, the Holton Lane sculpture, and the restoration of the BY Morrison mural). Funds that couldn’t be spent due to the pandemic were rerouted to programs to assist residents and businesses. Most of these actions are to provide flexibility as the Council considers the FY21 budget or to provide timely assistance.

Getting Back to Normal?

In the last week, there has been a lot of discussion at the national and local levels about beginning to plan to “get back to normal’ after this COVID-19 pandemic. As Chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s Chief Administrative Officers (COG CAOs) Committee, I have been involved in communications with leaders of the various jurisdictions in the National Capital Region about how we are handling the current situation and what might be involved in reopening businesses and services. I will be serving on a COG CAO subcommittee in the coming weeks to address this topic.

There are a number of aspects to consider. There is the expertise of the public health specialists regarding what is happening in specific locations and populations and what is needed in terms of testing and contact tracing to begin lifting stay at home orders. And, there are the fiscal resources of our government operations and the needs of the individual communities to consider as we implement the public health recommendations.

The Washington, DC area is complicated by consisting of two states and the District of Columbia. There are large numbers of people who live in one jurisdiction and work in another so the actions of one jurisdiction affect the other two. Fortunately, the elected leaders of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia are communicating with each other. And, there is a strong interest by area elected officials and the CAOs in having the National Capital Region’s
jurisdictions coordinate on pandemic response.

On a recent conference call of the CAOs, some of the issues that were raised dealt with speaking with a unified voice to the extent possible and a discussion of the intersection of child care, business needs, and government operations.

Obviously, we all want our businesses to reopen and residents to return to work. People need money to support themselves and their families and we want to see Takoma Park getting back to normal.

We will want to know when it is safe to have businesses reopen and what the precautions are that the businesses will need to operate under. And, we know that there is great concern that COVID-19 infections could flare up again if testing and contact tracing is not robust, so we must be prepared for setbacks.

  • If more people are allowed to go to work, though, how will children be cared for?
  • If schools reopen, will they be safe for the children, teachers and other child care providers?
  • And, particularly in a community with multi-generational immigrant populations, will the children bring home illness to the more vulnerable grandparents in the families?
  • What happens when some children can attend school and others must stay home due to health constraints?

I know the jurisdictions that operate school systems are wrestling with these issues. And, in Takoma Park, there are governmental impacts of school system decisions. As a traditional provider of children’s programs and care, will the City of Takoma Park be called upon to start offering these programs? Do we have the right staff and facilities for this? What will be needed to train and protect our employees for the services they may need to provide?

To the extent possible, the jurisdictions of the National Capital Region want to work on the same timelines and think holistically about the implications of our actions and non-actions. Just as the virus does not respect jurisdictional boundaries, neither do the impacts of our decisions at this time.

As the Council considers the details of the proposed City of Takoma Park budget over the next three weeks, we will all be thinking about the scenarios we may be facing over the next year. We will be looking at what we need for responding to the pandemic right now, what we will need for the recovery period, and what we will need for the City in the long term.

The City of Takoma Park will need to be flexible and nimble to respond to the changing demands. Just as we have made great strides to respond quickly to the concerns and needs of residents in multifamily buildings, homeowners needing help, and owners of small businesses, we may need to have funds available to ramp up services or go without certain revenue depending on the timing of actions in the region.

This is a hard time. However, I can’t express enough my appreciation for the great staff of the City of Takoma Park. They rose to the challenge and continue to come up with creative, cost-effective ways to serve and help. As a small jurisdiction, it is inspiring to see City staff doing amazing work. And, it has been so wonderful to see the outpouring of appreciation from our residents to our staff.
Thank you!

TogetherTKPK!

City Council & Mayor Blog, News

Be Kind. Be Bold. Resist.

 

During the health emergency, I have been trying to remember to get outside each day. This week, during a walk around my neighborhood, I noticed the dogwoods coming into bloom.

The dogwood is a personally meaningful flower – it appears very fragile but can withstand harsh conditions. As a symbol of strength and durability, it speaks to the challenges we all overcome in our lives.

Three years ago, I had a dogwood flower and the words, “Be Kind. Be Bold. Resist.” tattooed on my left forearm. It was right after the 2016 Presidential elections, and I wanted a reminder of our collective ability to stand together in the face of challenges. Today, as we face the health crisis, I am again reminded of our need to be kind, be bold, and resist.

Be Kind.

As we enter this fifth week of the crisis, the stress and the uncertainty are mounting. For some in our community, the fears of falling ill or losing loved ones have become a reality. Remember that now, more than ever, we need to treat each other and ourselves with kindness and compassion.

Be Bold.

My resolution for the new decade was to, in the words of Angela Davis, “act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And… do it all the time.”

Right now, that is a difficult task as the uncertainty and enormity of COVID-19 hang over us all. It is hard to think about a time after the crisis. But each day, there are little things we can still do that will radically change our world. Here in Takoma Park, we have so many heroes in our community, stepping up to care and support each other.

From donating food or money to standing outside and cheering our public works department as they pick up trash and recycling, to calling a neighbor or friend to give them support – there are things each of us can do to uplift others and ourselves.

No act is too small.

Resist.

Resist facing this alone. If you need assistance, please reach out. We have resources on the website, and my blog has listed other ideas. You can also call the City at 301-891-7100.

Like the dogwood flower, we are strong. By treating each other with kindness, by remembering to act boldly, and by resisting the idea that you or your family must face this alone, we will get through this crisis together.