All posts by Ryan Kelly

City Manager & Staff Blog

City Council and 20th District Delegation Joint Priorities Meeting – Wednesday, December 11

City Council Recess

The City Council is on recess until January 15, 2019. However, the Council will meet with the 20th District Delegation on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, for the annual Joint Priorities Meeting.

City Council and 20th District Delegation Joint Priorities Meeting – Wednesday, December 11

The Joint Priorities Meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 11 in the Auditorium, Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM. The complete meeting agenda is below. The meeting can be viewed on City TV (Comcast and RCN – Channel 13; Verizon FIOS – Channel 28). It will also stream live online on YouTube or on the City website. Archived meetings with index points are available on the website.

Advance Sign Up Required for Comments at the December 11 Joint Priorities Meeting

To comment on needs and legislative priorities for the 2020 Legislative Session, sign up in advance by emailing Clerk@takomaparkmd.gov or call Irma Nalvarte at 301-891-7214.

City Manager & Staff Blog

2019 Caring Heart Award Presented to the City Manager for Outstanding Service to the City of Takoma Park

Most are not aware of the distinguished and prestigious award that our City Manager, Suzanne Ludlow, was given on Saturday, November 23 at the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church. Suzanne Ludlow  was invited for an interview with Pastor Pastor McFarlane, Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church. Pastor McFarlane started the interview by stating that although Suzanne Ludlow’s job is City Manager it’s so much more. It’s also a passion for her. You can see the entire interview:  Interview

Later on during the service, Suzanne was invited up by Erwin Mack to say a few words about the tremendous collection of Thanksgiving basket donations. He proceeded to say he forgot to add something else. He wanted to talk about Suzanne’s tremendous contributions as the City Manager of Takoma Park. He said that Suzanne Ludlow has exemplified the best of what a City Manager can do for a City she cares for.  See the presentation in its entirety:  Presentation

News

Best Wishes to DCM Jason Damweber

Dear Residents,

It is with a sigh that we announce the upcoming departure of our Deputy City Manager Jason Damweber. In January, Jason and his family will be moving to Colorado. Although it’s an amazing move for him, we will be sorry to see him go.  We wish to thank Jason for his professional service to our community, Council and staff. He will be greatly missed!

The City has already begun the task of looking for that right person to carry on the exciting duties of a Deputy City Manager. If you think you have what it takes, then please read the job description and apply:  http://bit.ly/34leznU 

News

City Council sends letter to Montgomery County Council President Navarro expressing concerns regarding ZTA 19-07 (Telecommunications Towers – Limited Use)

On November 15, the City Council sent a letter to Nancy Navarro, President of the Montgomery County Council, regarding ZTA 19-07. While the letter expressed City support for retaining local control of regulations, it also expressed some concerns.

The letter can be read in its entirety here: City Council Letter

 

 

Public Notices

The Community Police Academy will begin on Tuesday, January 7, 2020!

 

 

The Community Police Academy is a 13-week long program consisting of one class a week on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. The classes cover topics such as patrol, traffic enforcement, use of force, criminal investigations, canine, firearms, crisis negotiation, etc. The presentations are slide show/lecture style and will be given by officers, detectives, and civilians of the Takoma Park Police Department. There will also be multiple opportunities for hands-on learning through equipment demonstrations, practical scenarios, field trips and ride-along with patrol officers.

The Takoma Park Police Department believes that educating the community will result in gaining their understanding and support. Through the implementation of the Community Police Academy, the community will gain new insight into how law enforcement officers perform their duties. The success of any law enforcement agency depends largely upon the amount of cooperation and support it receives from the community it serves. To hear what others have said about the Academy, please visit: Testimonials  

The Community Police Academy is free to the public. Seats are limited to the first 25 students and will be filled based on a first-come/first-serve basis. The Takoma Park Police Department encourages all applicants to be able to commit to the full 13 weeks to get the most out of the program.

If you are interested in learning about the Takoma Park Police Department and local government, you are 18 years of age or older, and live or work in Takoma Park, you may apply. The applicants may not have any serious misdemeanor or any felony offenses.

Applications for the Community Police Academy are available at the Takoma Park Police Department located at 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912. You may also click the following link, fill out the application and submit it electronically to Cathy Plevy:  https://takomapark.seamlessdocs.com/f/kb2evbr4rbj7  The deadline to turn in a completed application is Friday, December 20, 2019.

Contact:

Catherine Plevy
Public Information Officer
Takoma Park Police Department

Email: cathyp@takomaparkmd.gov
Phone: 301-891-7142
Cell:  240-338-2901

Public Notices

This Just In – Resurfacing – Update: November 15 through November 20

 

Street Resurfacing

Updated: November 7, 2019

The planned paving schedule has been changed due to rain and low temperatures. The revised schedule is as follows:

  • Sycamore Avenue- paving Friday 11/15/19
  • Elm Avenue, from Pine Ave to Poplar Ave – paving Monday 11/18/19
  • Woodland Avenue, from Ethan Allen Ave to Elm Ave – paving Monday 11/18/19
  • Lincoln Avenue – paving Tuesday 11/19/19 & Wednesday 11/20/19
  • Auburn Avenue – paving Wednesday 11/20/19

Please contact Ian Chamberlain Ianc@takomaparkmd.gov with any questions.

City Council & Mayor Blog

Application To Replace Existing Antennas on Park Ritchie Apartment Building

 

Recently, concerns were raised about possible radio frequency (RF) exposure from a proposal by Verizon to replace 9 antennas on the Park Ritchie Apartment building. The Takoma Park City Council issued a letter to the Chair of the Transmissions Facilities Coordination Group requesting clarification about potential dangers posed by the cumulative RF emissions from this proposed action. The application was reviewed by the Montgomery County Transmission Facilities Coordination Group on Wednesday, 11/6. At that meeting, they agreed to ask the applicant to provide additional information and tabled a vote on the application until the December meeting.

The application submitted by Site Link Wireless, on behalf of Verizon, included an analysis of the RF emissions from all antennas currently on the building, including the proposed 9 replacements. Based on modeling completed by EBI Consulting, RF emissions were found to be in excess of the FCC limits in three finite locations both above the roof and to the exterior of the building. There was no indication that RF levels would be elevated below the roofline nor reach any additional building on any side of the Park Ritchie Apartment building.

Based on the assessment, there are no areas where RF emissions would exceed the FCC standard where the public would be exposed. The areas where emission exceeded the FCC level are above the roof on the main roof level and at the roofline outside the building envelope on the lower roof level on two sides of the building. There is no indication that RF levels exceed standards inside the building, even directly below the main roof. The roof areas are only accessible by certain personnel. There is currently signage, as required, notifying anyone on the roof of the presence of antennas and radio frequency.

There was no actual RF testing done at this site, there is no requirement for actual testing of these facilities. The information provided is based on predictive modeling using worst-case scenarios based on the type of equipment and the number of antennas on the roof.

The Tower Commission has requested additional visual information from the applicant so that the area where RF emissions exceed the FCC limit will be more clearly shown, particularly in relation to the top floor of the building.

Anyone with a question about this issue can contact:

Daryl Braithwaite, City’s Public Works Director
301 891 7615 or DarylB@takomaparkmd.gov.

Daryl is the City’s representative on the Transmission Facilities Coordination Group.

News

Why Are the Oaks Dying? Join us and some local experts as we explore some options: Monday, November 4, 7-9 pm

 

Join us and several local experts on Why Are the Oaks Dying? Beetles, Borers and What You Can Do!

The entire DMV area, including the City of Takoma Park, has experienced a large increase in the number of oaks dying, especially white oaks. Join several local experts to learn what is known so far about the causes and what steps residents can take. The meeting will include brief presentations from tree experts followed by a question and answer period.

The experts include:
  • Colleen Kenny, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
  • Forest Service, Keith Pitchford, independent tree care consultant
  • Pitchford and Associates, Sara Jensen, Arborist,
  • SavATree, and Christopher Larkin, Arborist, Bartlett Tree Experts

Community Workshop

Date/Time:
Monday, November 4, 7 pm to 9 pm – CLOSED

Recorded Presentation:  Beetles, Borers & What You Can Do 

Location:
Takoma Park Community Center
Auditorium
7500 Maple Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912

City Council & Mayor Blog

City Attorney Clarifies Reasons for Proposed Sign Ordinance Revisions

 

The City Council will be discussing revisions to the City’s Sign Ordinance at its meeting on November 6, 2019. The City Attorney has issued a memo addressing the reasons for reviewing the City’s regulation of signs, explaining Montgomery County’s policy regarding signs in the public right-of-way, and advising on the legal parameters of the City’s authority to regulate signs in the public right-of-way.