Good morning!

It’s been a couple of years since we’ve had a substantial snowfall in Takoma Park. Nevertheless, it doesn’t take long before the snow clearing routines fall into place for City staff.

Public Works snow clearing crews reported for work a little before 6 pm last night and worked twelve hours. The crews include drivers of trucks (with plows and sand/salt spreaders attached) as well as a truck mechanic. Before the snow really stuck to the streets, the crews treated hills and major streets. After the snow became more substantial, plowing began. As of 5 am today, most streets had a lane plowed in Takoma Park.

We had one mechanical breakdown. A small truck that focuses on plowing alleys and dead-end streets had a problem with the drive shaft. Our mechanic was working on it overnight and it may be able to be repaired in a timely way.

Because it is Sunday, there are fewer people heading out early to work or school. City facilities are not scheduled to open until noon. If the snow keeps coming, however, we may choose not to open so that staff can focus on snow clearing. I will make a determination before 11 am after I hear from staff on conditions.

Today, I ask that residents work on clearing sidewalks and helping neighbors. It is much better to shovel several times during a snow event rather than wait until it is all over, and it is much easier and safer to shovel during daylight hours. If you can move cars off of the street so that our Public Works drivers can clear from curb to curb, that would be very helpful!

A look at our snow operations:

The second shift of plow operators reported to work before 6 am today. Last night’s shift were our Right-of-Way staff who normally do work on streets, medians, parks, etc for the City. Today’s day shift consists of our Sanitation workers. Right-of-Way staff will likely return at 6 pm today for another shift.

During the day today, the snow plow operators will be joined by other Public Works staff who will focus on clearing sidewalks and the areas around City facilities. A mechanic and other specialized Public Works staff will be working as well.

During a major snow event, the Police Department serves as our eyes and ears, identifying problem areas and issues. The Police Dispatch operators receive calls from the public and others reporting problems and send officers or alert Public Works managers to address them. If you become aware of a slippery street or other similar condition in Takoma Park, please call 301-270-1100 so that it can be addressed. (But, as always, call 911 if there is an emergency.)

Last night, there were few problems noted by the Police Department, which to me means most people were inside when roads were getting slippery. Things will pick up during the day today. Please be safe when you are out and about, whether you’re walking, shoveling or driving!

We will continue to get information out about closings and operations. Residents and businesses are responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks in front of their property, so that will be a big task. We’ll get through this snow event together.

While snow comes with work, it is also fun to play in! Whether you go sledding, or just are reading a book while enjoying the beauty of snow through a window, have a great day!

From Suzanne Ludlow, City Manager of Takoma Park

Twenty-five years ago today, I walked into a much smaller Takoma Park City Hall building for my first day of work with the City. As I moved things into my new office, I met Bruce Williams, just elected to the Council. Other Councilmembers I remember early on were Mayor Ed Sharp, Kathy Porter and Marc Elrich.

My first days were a whirlwind. My first assignment was to coordinate notifying residents near Sligo Creek that WSSC’s start of construction that week of a pipeline and hiker-biker trail along the creek would chase rats into adjacent neighborhoods. I jumped into unfinished, and sometimes contentious, work on plans regarding affordable housing, transportation and open space. My father-in-law, with whom I was staying at first, worried about my many late meetings and the stress level of the work.

My husband and I soon rented a place near the TPSS Food Co-op on Sligo Avenue. While I had known of Sammie Abbott for years, I learned more about Takoma Park’s history with the Seventh Day Adventist Church, it’s declining reputation as “Tacky Park,” how large divided houses were made to “phase back” to single family homes. I learned that more folks from Central America lived in Ward 6, from Vietnam in Ward 5, long-time African American residents tended to live in Wards 4 and 2, and a growing number of folks from Ethiopia and West Africa were moving into apartments in the heart of town.

Each time a resident called for service, I learned to ask if they lived in Montgomery or Prince George’s County because different regulations applied and different grants were available. The County line that separated the city went through people’s homes and sent kids from the same neighborhood to different schools. State and County officials tended to overlook Takoma Park because the whole city wasn’t in their jurisdiction, so advocacy on behalf of residents was very difficult.

While much was special about City services, including the recreation programs, recycling, tree protection and individual attention to resident needs, I saw problems within the City operations. Our rudimentary computers were maintained by a code enforcement employee who worked on them in his spare time, personnel policies were inconsistent, and, most concerning, financial practices were questionable.

From 1995-1997, I oversaw the logistics of “Unification” which was the moving of the county line so that all of Takoma Park was in Montgomery County. It was an intense education in the intricacies of the services of both counties. In 1995, the Pinecrest neighborhood applied for annexation into Takoma Park so that it would not be an unincorporated outpost of Prince George’s County west of New Hampshire Avenue after Unification took place. That neighborhood had little stormwater infrastructure, terrible roads, and the residents were mostly older people in modest homes.

As Unification became effective in 1997, I was appalled to learn that many residents on the Prince George’s County side of the City had their insurance rates lowered simply by “moving” to Montgomery County – insurance red-lining continues to exist.

Before coming to Takoma Park I was a city planner in Greensboro, NC and Rochester, NY. That training was helpful in coordinating the City’s response to proposals to develop at the Takoma Metro property and Washington Adventist Hospital. The biggest project, however, was revealed to me at a Maryland Alternatives to the Beltway Open House. It turns out that road engineers had determined that only a light rail line through Silver Spring and Takoma Park would be able to accommodate the number of east-west travelers predicted to travel through the area. As the only Takoma Park representative at the meeting, all of the engineers wanted to talk to me. Would Takoma Park oppose the project? After a good amount of study and Council consideration, the City of Takoma Park pushed for the Purple Line, recognizing the long-term environmental and economic benefits for the City.

For years, part of my job was to be a lobbyist for the City, and the City was successful in protecting many of its values – as a Sanctuary City, supporting same sex couples, having rent stabilization – from State legislation that would undermine them and in gaining funds for expanding City Hall into the Community Center of today.

Before information was available on line, I found out when to testify in Annapolis from schedules received in the mail or by concerned staff in Senator Ida Ruben’s office giving me a hurried phone call.

As City Managers changed, City financial management, construction oversight and personnel policies were greatly improved. I learned more and more about best practices in city operations, emergency management, labor law and budgeting and became the Deputy City Manager. After two stints as Acting City Manager, I was appointed City Manager in April 2015.

As I look back, there are many things that are the same: the hours are long, resident engagement is high and the issues of affordable housing, transportation, and protecting community values remain. Some of the changes are remarkable: City staff are more professional, the City’s financial management is excellent, the Pinecrest neighborhood is full of young families, the Vietnamese families have all moved away, and the Purple Line is being constructed. Plus, cell phones! It all blends together in my mind until I remember that I attended that first Purple Line meeting with my four year old son and now he is out of college.

There are a number of City staff that were here when I started – Daryl Braithwaite and Ellen Robbins are among them. But, there are more staff now that weren’t even born when I was hired in 1993! No matter the age, though, I appreciate the comradery. Whether it’s a friendly honk from a Public Works guy passing me on the street, Rec staff helping me close the buildings during a snow storm, or creative brainstorming with folks from several departments trying to address a problem, I thoroughly enjoy working with the great staff of the City of Takoma Park.

I’ve also enjoyed working with the Councilmembers, as well as elected officials and staff from other governmental bodies. Residents should feel truly proud of the dedicated public servants who work on their behalf.

Some of my most valued connections, though, are with the Takoma Park residents that I’ve worked with on projects, as well as those who know me better as Langston’s mom, Vince’s wife or Anne’s daughter.

In the next few years, large changes will come to Takoma Park. With the skills and strong will of the Council, community and staff, I believe most of the changes will be positive. The biggest threats to Takoma Park are climate change and the cost of housing in the DC area. What Takoma Park has going for it, though, are the young leaders already making their mark. They are really something!

Wonder what Takoma Park will be like in 2043?

Revised statement from the budget work session on Council Priorities, by Suzanne Ludlow, City Manager.

Last year, the primary focus of the FY 18 budget was to finalize how we would utilize bond funding for the Library and the two major street projects. Those projects are proceeding and will have a strong positive impact on the City of Takoma Park in the future.

Last year, I did not propose an increase in staff in the FY 18 budget.

As an extremely fiscally conservative person, I hesitate to add staff. As a small staff, we pride ourselves on wearing multiple hats, finding savings where we can, and working our butts off. We reorganize when possible, we shift staff to address new priorities, and we take advantage of new technologies that can add efficiencies to our work. In the budget, there are examples of each of these. For example:

• In the Recreation Department, the organizational structure changes from year to year to meet Council Priorities, and staff moves away from less popular programs and towards programs that meet new needs or interests;
• The Housing and Community Development Department is making technology improvements that will allow housing staff to spend less time on administrative duties and more time meeting with tenants and landlords on site;
• The Public Works Department is taking advantage of the retirement of the City Gardener to combine two small divisions to promote more cooperative attention to vegetation management and to provide some additional support to the Urban Forest Manager.

As the preparation for FY 19 was being done, and as departments assessed their needs and resources, it became clear to me that we would need to add staff in order to manage our ongoing workload, upcoming projects, and address Council Priorities. While I believe adding staff is necessary, it is also concerning to me because staff is an ongoing commitment and personnel costs tend to rise each year.

In the budget public hearing and at the budget open house, we received recommendations to do cross-training and desk audits before adding staff. We have. We do cross-training where we can and we assess our positions and work flow periodically, particularly before the proposed budget is prepared. This is how we have been able to keep our City staff at a small size for the work we do. I have never seen another municipality that does as much as we do with as few employees.

When it comes to professional positions, however, cross-training has its limits. A planner can’t answer health insurance questions, the IT manager doesn’t develop economic development strategies, etc. For most of our professional positions, we have only one or two people – often a higher level position and a person newer to the field. Each of them has a full load of responsibilities and projects they are balancing. When one must be out of the office, much work must be put on hold.

The main reason I feel we need to add positions this year is that the base workload has increased substantially in a couple of areas and will remain at a high level for the foreseeable future.

This isn’t a case of the Council Priorities calling for a particular project where a consultant or contractor could be hired just in FY 19 to do the project. Instead, the Council Priorities are more in the nature of how the Council wishes to see us address the new economic and community environment we are facing.

So, we aim to: Steer, rather than React, to development

And: to Build Public Safety with the community, rather than just Respond to crimes

We absolutely need the two economic development positions and Chief DeVaul needs additional staff to change the structure of the police department over time, beginning especially with the Community Policing position.

Regarding the proposed economic development positions, the Purple Line is under construction and small business outreach and assistance will be needed for those along University Boulevard and New Hampshire Avenue during this time. This is the area of our largest commercial tax base. We will be beginning to implement the recommendations of the Housing and Economic Development Strategic Plans; these actions will help strengthen the City’s economic health and will, over time, reduce the tax burden on residential property owners. I have resisted adding economic development staff for several years, but now is the time. The pressure is there. If we don’t help steer, the private sector will do as it pleases. We cannot rely on the private sector to craft and maintain the special character and diversity of Takoma Park – it will take work on our part.

Regarding the Police Department positions, Chief DeVaul has been assessing the organization and operation of the Department since he began with the City on January 2. In reviewing the structure, he felt there was a need for four new positions. In working with his staff and reassigning responsibilities, he was able to reduce the need to two new positions: one that would coordinate Community Policing activities and a new Lieutenant position that would oversee the patrol unit of four sergeants and 24 officers. These two new positions would be promotional opportunities from within the Department and so two new officer positions would be needed to fill those vacated positions. The two new positions would allow the Department to help assume added administrative duties if the Department pursued accreditation and will provide flexibility to meet the new State law requirements for police officers in schools.

Finally, from a management perspective, we cannot function well as an organization without added depth in the Human Resources division. HR has been understaffed for a long time, and I am looking to them to help in our efforts of staff training, coordination of evaluations, police promotion processes, internal racial equity training, and other areas of staff support. Over the past few years, we have been shifting some responsibilities from departments to HR to allow managers to focus on their areas of professional expertise and to ensure consistency in how personnel matters are handled. Recruitment, training, and police promotional processes used to be primarily handled by departments. HR is better suited to handle these activities, but there are just two permanent employees, and that is not sufficient for the heavy workload.

I would not propose new positions for the City of Takoma Park if I felt the City could not afford them in the coming years. I looked at the ongoing costs and the ongoing expected revenue, and I believe the expenses to be manageable. It is, however, why I proposed a small increase in the tax rate for FY 19.

I was reluctant to propose a tax increase as I am very sympathetic to Takoma Park taxpayers, and recognize that property values have continued to increase and there are new rules concerning tax deductions. Nevertheless, I feel that the proposed budget protects the City and advances the Council Priorities. I also feel that not adding staff or postponing adding staff will have a negative impact on the ability for us to provide the services the Council and residents expect.

Last year, the Council cut the tax rate to below the Constant Yield amount, meaning that expected revenue was less than the year before. The tax rate increase that I am proposing will cost the average homeowner of a $400,000 house that increased in assessment value by 10% $259 for FY 19. That’s about $22 per month additional in an escrow payment for Takoma Park taxes. That amount, however, also helps fund the City’s tax credit programs, program scholarships and rent stabilization programs that allow lower-income residents to remain in Takoma Park and participate in community activities as equals.

As we go forward and make progress in economic development activities and, we hope, are successful in increasing the tax duplication payments from Montgomery County, the burden on residential property owners should lessen while we keep the community we are proud of. If we roll back taxes and the programs they fund now, we may lose the community we deeply value.

There is much to do and much at stake. The Council now must make the decisions about how to move Takoma Park forward.

The next Public Hearing on the proposed budget is Wednesday, April 25 at 6:30 pm. Child care will be provided by the Recreation Department. Written comments can be emailed to Clerk@takomaparkmd.gov.

We look forward to hearing from you about your vision for Takoma Park and the appropriate budget to make that vision a reality.

From Suzanne Ludlow, City Manager of Takoma Park

Dear Residents of Takoma Park,

I am writing today on two major topics – the Proposed FY 19 City Budget and the Takoma Junction redevelopment project.

At last Wednesday’s City Council meeting, both the Proposed Budget and the draft site plan for the City’s project in Takoma Junction were presented. It is worth it to watch the recorded Council meeting to see these presentations. Over the next six weeks, the Council and public will be learning about and commenting on the proposals. The Council will take final action on the Budget in May; the complete review process for the Takoma Junction project will take much longer, but this is a time of Council and community focus on the draft site plan. (For more information on the process, see Mayor’s Blog.)

An Open House on both the Proposed Budget and the Takoma Junction Project will be held tomorrow, Saturday, April 7, from 2 to 5 pm in the Community Center. Please come! Our Recreation Department will have activities for children during that time so that you are able to come, learn and share your thoughts.

Budget

Preparing a proposed budget is the most important duty of the City Manager. For more details, please read my Transmittal Letter in the Proposed Budget document or view Wednesday’s presentation. We are at an exciting – but challenging – point in the history of our City. The Council has clear Priorities and high expectations for the direction for Takoma Park and we are organizing ourselves to get this done in a fiscally responsible way. Your comments are important as the Council considers the Proposed Budget and determines what changes to make which will result in a Final Budget that best meets their goals.

Takoma Junction

The proposal to redevelop the City-owned vacant asphalt lot on Carroll Avenue in Takoma Junction is taking shape. The plans presented on Wednesday are truly exciting and are appropriately sized for a historic neighborhood commercial area.

Takoma Junction Traffic

A major issue is a pre-existing one: the poor configuration of the intersection of Ethan Allen Avenue (MD 410) and Carroll Avenue (MD 195), and the resulting traffic (most of it passing through from outside Takoma Park) and pedestrian-safety issues in the Junction area. For years, City leaders have advocated for improvements to the intersection. In response, Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) has made some band-aid pedestrian safety improvements, but not addressed the underlying issues with the intersection’s configuration.

Most development projects like ours at Takoma Junction are required to do a traffic study. A typical study looks at the number of additional vehicular trips that would be generated by the development and evaluates options to address traffic and safety impacts. The City’s development partner for this project, Neighborhood Development Company (NDC), hired a traffic consultant firm to do traffic counts and do the assessment required by Montgomery County for the project.

The NDC traffic analysis is not yet complete but we have asked NDC to share traffic counts and other elements that are completed or nearly completed. (Completing the analysis was slowed by some unexpected delays in getting information from SHA as part of the work done to date.) As we get the elements, we will post them on the Takoma Junction Project Page.  We will post them to be as transparent as possible, but please recognize that they are not complete and more updates will be provided until they are marked as “final.”

Because the City knew about the pre-existing problems with traffic in the Takoma Junction area, the City is funding an independent traffic study that overlaps with the NDC study but also looks at a larger area of traffic issues. The traffic counts that our consultant has done are completed, but their analysis is also not yet done. Again, we will be posting the information as we can, noting that it is not complete and will be updated.

Many residents have expressed concern that the City Council may vote on a site plan for the Takoma Junction development project without having complete traffic information. The Council will not do that. The Council’s vote on the site plan is marked as “tentative” on its Rolling Agenda to let the public know of the earliest date on which the Council could vote on the plan. However, traffic impact, pedestrian safety and circulation on and off of the site are key elements to a site plan. The Council will not vote until it has studied the issues, heard from the public, and feels comfortable that it has adequate information for a vote.

State and County Roles and Responsibilities

As I have said from the beginning about the proposed Takoma Junction development project, having a real project in the development review process may be the only way to have the Maryland State Highway Administration do what is needed to address the Takoma Junction intersection.

As the County reviews development traffic studies, they consider location, distance to transit facilities and the nature of the development. Takoma Park has long advocated that Montgomery County should consider the distance to the Takoma Metro in reviewing traffic studies and parking requirements for development applications even though the Metro station is outside of Montgomery County. The County does look at existing traffic conditions near a development site as part of its development review process.

Part of the traffic study that is underway by the City’s traffic consultant is a review of options for the Takoma Junction intersection. We have been waiting to see the traffic analysis of several possible configurations and, if any are technically feasible, these options will be shared for consideration by the public and by the State Highway Administration.

The Next Few Weeks

As the public looks at the Takoma Junction plans over the next few weeks, I ask that you let us know what you think about the design of the building, public space, and the sustainability features. As soon as we have the traffic studies and recommendations, we will share them with the public and take the time we need to consider those. Again, the Council will not vote on the proposed site plan until it feels it has adequate information, including traffic information.

The Budget

Back to the FY 19 Proposed Budget. A review of the Proposed Budget and the Council’s Priorities will show that the Takoma Junction Project is just one of many major projects that staff will be working on in the coming year under the Priority of Community Development for an Improved and Equitable Quality of Life. I have wonderful staff, but the workload is heavy.

Besides advancing economic development initiatives that help build long-lasting fiscal health while crafting and maintaining the special character and diversity of Takoma Park, our planners have the following projects to work on or respond to: Washington Adventist Hospital leaving; protecting businesses during Purple Line construction; Takoma Junction redevelopment; Montgomery College development; future plans for the New Hampshire Avenue Recreation Center; Washington McLaughlin site; MCPS school facility needs; Open Space Plan; bus rapid transit and bikeway planning; advancing redevelopment along New Hampshire Avenue, including expanding affordable housing options; and reviewing development applications, large and small.

We also have major projects such as renovation and expansion of the Takoma Park Library, the Ethan Allen Gateway street project and the Flower Avenue Green Street project. And, we have Community Policing efforts and our cutting edge work on environmental sustainability. In all, the FY 19 Proposed Budget advances the Council’s Priorities for a wonderful and fiscally-conscious Takoma Park. The Councilmembers and I welcome your thoughts on the Proposed Budget.

From Chief Antonio DeVaul, Takoma Park Police Department

It is a tremendous honor to be selected as the Chief of Police for the City of Takoma Park. This is a homecoming for me. As many of you know, I grew up in Takoma Park. I have fond memories of my childhood in Takoma Park. Some of my fondness memories involve mentors from the Takoma Park Recreation Department and the Takoma Park Police Department. Gentleman like former Chief Tony Fisher, Recreation Director Mr. Lee Jordan and Sergeant Tony Langley were our role models growing up and kept us on track. I hope to have that same impact on the youth in our community.

I want to thank Suzanne Ludlow and staff from the city for selecting me as the next Chief of Police. I also want to thank members from my former agency the Park Police, who are out in force tonight; Chair Anderson, Director Riley, retired Director Mary Bradford, Chief Johnson, Acting Chief Coleman, my former and other staff. As always, I appreciate your support. To all my law enforcement colleagues, thank you for coming this evening. I see several of you here tonight; Chief Manger, Chief Scott, Chief Nesky and many others. To members of the Takoma Park Police Department, thank you for coming tonight. I look forward to a lasting partnership with you all.

Most importantly, I want to thank my family, my wife Queennie and my three youngest children Brayden, Layla and Jayde. Thank you for all your support.

I am fortunate to take the helm of an exceptional police department. The Takoma Park police department is well respected in the region and nationally. I have met with several staff members and they are all passionate about the wonderful work that they do. They all are committed to making a difference and bettering Takoma Park.

We are at a defining moment in our profession. There is mistrust for the police among some in our community. It is imperative that we acknowledge this mistrust and find ways to build relationships with all of our residents both documented and non-documented.

The Takoma Park Police is dedicated to a guardian approach to policing. We are the protectors of the community. There is a great foundation of community policing already in place here with the Takoma Park Police. I am fully committed to community policing and implementing the six pillars of the 21st Century Report on Policing. We are much stronger as a community when we are united.

I look forward to listening to the staff within the police department, city employees and community members to hear their ideas about how we can better operate as a department. The officers, staff and community members I met with thus far were not lacking in great ideas. The city council has set out clear expectations for the police department and I support their expectations. We are united as a city and what we expect from our police department.

Once again, thank you to you all for coming out tonight. I look forward to continuing the great tradition of the Takoma Park Police Department and finding innovative ideas to improve our operations and relationships. Thank you.