Category Archives: News

Category for general news items.

News

Message to the Community from Chief DeVaul

 

Chief Antonio DeVaul

I feel it is important to continue reaching out to the community to address the incidents occurring across the country and clarify what we are doing here in Takoma Park. The negative national incidents involving police across our country have affected the way all police are viewed by some. We are not immune to the concerns and effects here in Takoma Park. I wanted to share some of the things we are doing here in Takoma Park so the public would have a better understanding of our police services in Takoma Park.

Over the past three years, we have refocused the culture of the police department from a warrior mentality to a guardian approach.

  • This involved changing the evaluation/reward system to emphasize community engagement and problem-solving, rather than arrests and citations.
  • We have moved away from focusing on low-level drug offenses and other non-quality-of-life offenses and now are focused on serious crime and quality of life issues.
  • We have also refocused our community outreach programs and engagement with our youth. Programs such as our Homework Club, Youth Explorer program, Community Academy, Coffee with a Cop, National Night Out and other community engagement programs have helped strengthen the bond between our staff and the community.

This outreach has been a struggle during the global pandemic. However, we are doing our best to stay engaged via zoom and other social network platforms.

We have adjusted our operational policies to reflect best practices. For example, our use of force policies are in line with recommended best practices. See my message on #8CANTWAIT. Just as important as having good policies is the need to ensure those policies are followed and holding those accountable for violating policy.

  • All of our officers wear body-worn cameras as well as have video recording devices in their vehicles. This allows encounters with the public to be recorded and reviewed should an issue arise and for training purposes.
  • We are also reinforcing the duty to intervene for all of our staff. We are committed to holding officers accountable for actions that are inconsistent with the values of our police department and community.

Besides the extensive training our officers receive, all of our officers will be going through the Active Bystander for Law Enforcement Training sponsored by the Georgetown University Law/Shepard Mullin ABLE Project.

We have expanded our recruiting efforts to be more effective in attracting people of color, and women. We now have a diverse workforce that mirrors the demographics of the city as a whole. Staff in our police department speak six different languages, with twelve fluent in Spanish. Not only do we have a diverse workforce, but we also have staff that wants to be here for the right reasons.

We welcome the upcoming review by the public safety task force created by the City Council. It is long overdue that we take a holistic review of our public safety model. This involves more than police; it involves mental health professionals, housing, education, employment, courts, and our incarceration system. Police alone cannot solve this issue. We welcome having mental health professionals on staff or under contract to help respond to the mental health crisis, as well as follow up with victims. We will soon be putting together a request for a pilot program that involves having mental health professionals on staff to address mental health issues.

We have a progressive police department. That being said, we are always open to finding ways that we can better serve our community. As we move forward with the review of what the best public safety model is for Takoma Park, I ask that you not judge our police department by the actions of others but by our actions. I can assure you we are doing all we can to instill a culture that is inclusive, transparent, respectful, and responsive. We want to work with you on this because this our community and we are all in this 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

Planning and Community Development Wants Your Input on Public Space

 

The purpose of this project is to develop a Public Space Management Plan to provide a vision, goals, and guidance on how public space will be used and maintained in Takoma Park. This plan will be an update to the City’s 1994 Open Space Plan (amended in 1999).

Public space includes:

  • parks, playgrounds and playing fields
  • plazas and places to gather like the Gazebo
  • natural spaces and wooded areas like Sligo Creek and Long Branch stream valley parks
  • streets that may be used for alternative activities like outdoor cafe seating or bike lanes

We would really like your feedback. Tell the City your thoughts on public space in Takoma Park by responding to this short survey.

Learn more about the City’s Public Space Management Plan.

News

Learn about your Neighborhood with Interactive Maps

 

Planning and Community Development staff have created a series of interactive maps as a way to visualize the community through different lenses. These tools will inform decision-making about access to and improvements in public space.

Interactive Demographic Map created by City Planning Department

Layers in the Demographic Map allow one to view concentrations of residents based on data from the 2014-2018 American Community Survey such as minority populations, the elderly or youth,  households below the poverty level and more.

The Park Inventory Map shows the location of both City and County parks within Takoma Park, what amenities can be found at each location, and a quality rating.  Choose among the available layers to find the nearest picnic table, basketball hoop, or public art.

The Park Quality and Proximity Map overlays the location and quality and types of parks with racial demographics provided by census data.  This map displays the average walking time to all parks in the City from each census block group.

For more information on this and other ongoing programs visit: Planning and Community Development section.

News

Adopted FY21 City of Takoma Park Budget Document Now Available

 

You can view or download the Adopted Fiscal 2021 budget document here.  We recognize the collective effort of Director Susan Cheung, Human Resources Director Tracy Smith, and Budget & Accounting Manager Ronnel Kawaley to finalize the Fiscal 2021 Adopted Budget during this unusual budget year.

What sets this Budget Book apart from previous books, you might ask? First, it highlights how the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic shaped the City’s budget decisions. City Council’s budget consideration process occurred during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic amidst the nationwide shutdown. Many adjustments were made to the City Manager’s Proposed Budget to estimate the potential impacts of the pandemic and to adapt City services to the new public health landscape. You will notice blue boxes throughout the Budget Book Department summaries that identify major COVID-19 related impacts on Departments or services.  For instance, hiring for many vacant positions was put on hold to increase funds in the City’s unassigned reserves.  COVID-19 related budget actions are explained in each section.

Second, City staff added new features to provide greater transparency and to make the Budget Book more user-friendly and easier to understand.  To start, if you flip to page 30, there is a new Reader’s Guide to the Budget Book that explains what the various sections of the budget document include, defines the budget table column headings, outlines spending categories, and summarizes changes to the budget book from previous years.  The Reader’s Guide will help you navigate the rest of the book.

In addition, the Fiscal 2021 Adopted Budget Book contains more detail on personnel costs and historical financial information than ever before.  Each department now has an organizational chart and expanded personnel schedules showing full-time salaries by pay grade and position.  There are new data visuals in the introductory sections showing personnel diversity and the types of personnel expenditures Citywide. In each budget chart, we added a change column showing the numerical difference between the previous year amount and the Adopted Fiscal 2021 Budget amount.  In addition, we added ten-year tracking information for many revenue categories and other explanatory information, such as new program descriptions in the Non-Departmental section.

Thanks to these new features, we hope you find this year’s Budget Book to be an improved document that more clearly communicates financial information for residents and for City Council.

Comments on what works well and any additional improvements that may be considered for future budget documents are welcome. Please submit your comments to Deputy City Manager Jessica Clarke at JessicaC@takomaparkmd.gov.

News, Takoma Park Newsletter

Cleaning Cloth masks

 

Machine washing

  • You can include your mask with your regular laundry.
  • Use regular laundry detergent and the warmest appropriate water setting for the cloth used to make the mask.

Washing by hand

  • Prepare a bleach solution by mixing:
    • tablespoons (1/3rd cup) household bleach per gallon of room temperature water or
    • 4 teaspoons household bleach per quart of room temperature water
  • Soak the mask in the bleach solution for 5 minutes.
  • Rinse thoroughly with cool or room temperature water.

Important Note: Check the label to see if your bleach is intended for disinfection. Some bleach products, such as those designed for safe use on colored clothing, may not be suitable for disinfection. Ensure the bleach product is not past its expiration date. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser.

Using Dryer

  • Use the highest heat setting and leave in the dryer until completely dry.

Air Drying

  • Lay flat and allow to completely dry.
  • If possible, place the mask in direct sunlight.

For more information on cloth masks, visit the CDC site.

—Ron Hardy, Emergency Preparedness Manager/Police Planning, City of Takoma Park

This article originally appeared in the September 2020 Takoma Park Newsletter.

News, Takoma Park Newsletter

Rolling with the Changes

 

So far, our youth have had to bear a much tougher year than what they’re typically accustomed to. With the curfew, the quarantine, the closing of businesses, parks and schools, the switch to online learning, not seeing or hanging out with friends, they’ve had to get used to many sudden changes. All this was done to slow the spread of COVID-19 with hopes that things would return to normal before summer.

Unfortunately, the spread of COVID-19 continued to increase, causing nationwide cancellations for summer programming and bringing more changes to an already confusing time for many children. Thankfully, the Takoma Park Recreation Department was able to bring a little bit of sunshine back to summer with Takoma REConnect, a virtual youth summer program.

The program consisted of two, forty-five-minute sessions (Ages 6–9 & Ages 10–12), twice a week, for a total of five weeks. With different weekly themes, such as Chef Cooking week and Dinosaur Week, staff and registered participants played games, created wonderful crafts, got moving with some exercise and even had special guests. It was a great and fun filled experience, allowing youth to safely REConnect with others in the community. A parent of one of our kids said, “My deepest gratitude to the team who is leading the REConnect program. My child loves to connect with you every call. Thanks for creating such a great and thoughtful program!”

While it seemed things were possibly returning to normal, with some businesses slowly phasing open, many were hoping to have children return to school. Montgomery County Public Schools decided to continue online learning until January 29, 2021 or until state and local health officials determine conditions in our county allow for students to return safely.

This means that children are still not yet able to return to the TP Community Center after school. So the year of change continues! Changes and adjustments are still consistently being made to properly follow health guidelines. We are happy to announce that starting October 2020, Takoma REConnect will continue as a monthly, virtual afterschool program.

Registration is required for each session. There will be similar elements of the summer Takoma REConnect with tons of new, fun and engaging activities. We’ll have special guests, make crafts, and play games, such as bingo and charades. We will use our creativity and imagination to create the best experience possible. Registration has already opened, and space is limited. If you have any questions regarding programs and classes, please contact us at recreation@takomparkmd.gov or 301- 891-7290.

This article originally appeared in the September 2020 Takoma Park Newsletter.

News, Takoma Park Newsletter

What about my neighbor’s trees?

 

Maryland has adopted the “Massachusetts Self-Help Rule” that says you must assume responsibility for the care and preservation of your own property:

  • This means that you can cut branches from a tree on your neighbor’s property that extends into your property.
  • Always notify the tree owner first. However, you may not destroy the tree in the process, nor can you cut the tree down.
  • Also, you must stop at the property line unless the neighbor has given you permission. It is best to have that permission in writing.

 

When a tree or its branches fall, it is considered an “Act of God,” unless the tree was known to be dead or hazardous:

  • This means the portion of the tree and the damage from it that is on your property is your responsibility to clean up.
  • The portion of the tree that ends up on a neighbor’s property and any damage to the neighbor’s properties is their responsibility.

 

Such accidents are normally covered by the affected owner’s home owner’s insurance and are usually resolved by reporting a claim. The exception to this general rule is that the owner of the property where the tree originated may be responsible for damage to a neighbor’s property if the owner knew, or had good reason to know, that the tree presented a danger.

The City of Takoma Park encourages neighbors to discuss tree issues long before tree failure becomes a problem and responsibility for any damage becomes part of the discussion. If your neighbor’s tree is hazardous, you have communicated that to your neighbor and your neighbor is not addressing the issue, then the City may step in and require the neighbor to have the hazard mitigated.

A tree whose trunk (even a small portion of the trunk) straddles the property line may be a shared tree, a shared responsibility, and therefore any cost for pruning, maintenance or removal would be a shared cost.

The City Code allows for the issuance of a notice of violation to the property owner requiring the hazardoustree issue to be addressed within a certain time frame. For those property owners who have limited income, the city has established an Emergency Tree Fund to assist with the costs of removal of a hazardous tree. Residents can apply for those funds by contacting urbanforestmanager@takomaparkmd.gov.

Reporting Problems

  • If your tree is posing a threat to electrical lines or your house connection, contact PEPCO to get the issue addressed: https://bit.ly/3lQNe6j.
  • If you want to report an unsafe tree condition on City property, contact the City’s Urban Forest Manager at urbanforestmanager@takomaparkmd.gov or 301-891-7612.
  • After hours, contact the Takoma Park Police Department at 301-270-1100.
  • To report tree issues on State roads such as Carroll, Ethan Allen, New Hampshire Philadelphia Ave, Piney Branch Rd, and University Blvd, contact the State Highway Administration at 410-582-5650 (District 3).

This article originally appeared in the September 2020 Takoma Park Newsletter.

News, Takoma Park Newsletter

7 Myths and a Truth about Licensing Your Unlicensed Rental Property

 

  1. The City will never know. The Housing Department gets calls all the time from tenants living in unlicensed basement apartments, whole houses, or even a few rooms within a larger unit. We also hear from City and County officials and other residents. These calls and complaints come to the City when your neighbors begin to see new people at your home, your tenants are noisy or disruptive, and/or there are maintenance issues at the property. The landlord doesn’t make repairs on time, doesn’t return the security deposit, or doesn’t provide proper notice for entry.
  2. I’m a great landlord; that will never happen. Demonstrate that you are a great landlord by licensing your rental property. Completing the licensing program protects you and the health and safety of the tenant. Often, tenants do not know that they are renting an unlicensed property until they contact the housing department with a problem or a question. What starts as a good landlord and tenant relationship could end poorly. Landlords without rental licenses have no standing in court to proceed with an eviction and may unnecessarily expose themselves to liability because they have not had the rental property inspected before a tenant takes possession. Protect yourself and get a license.
  3. The rental licensing process is way too complicated. The requirements for a rental housing license are completing an application, paying a licensing fee (this year it is $110 per unit), passing a lead risk inspection, a code-compliance inspection to make sure the property is up to health and safety standards, and a one-hour online course to acquaint you with local, County, and State laws regarding rental property. That’s it.
  4. But the County permit process is the hard part, right? If you are licensing an apartment inside your residence or an addition to your residence, you do need to also apply to the County for permission for this Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). The application process has been streamlined and the regulations eased to allow for many more ADUs than in the past.
  5. The City or County will be at my property all the time. Renewal of a rental license requires a new code-compliance inspection. County inspectors conduct these inspections on behalf of the City. If your property is in good shape, this happens once every two years; otherwise it is an annual inspection. If you maintain your property and conduct your rental business properly, that’s it.
  6. I’ll get hit with a big fine if I admit to having an unlicensed rental. Not if you get it licensed. If the City contacts you because the existence of the unlicensed rental has been flagged, you are given two weeks to submit the initial license application without penalty. If you voluntarily come forward and start the process, there is no penalty.
  7. The City won’t let me charge what I want for rent. Takoma Park’s rent stabilization law does not apply to single family homes or ADUs. It does apply to individual condominium units and multiunit properties (two or more rental units), but you set the initial rent.

The truth: The Housing Department is here to help. If you want to learn more about licensing your rental property, start with our Rental Licensing web page. Go to www.takomaparkmd.gov and search on Rental Housing Licensing. Still have questions? Email Licensing Specialist Patti Mallin at pattim@takomaparkmd.gov or call 240-315-6721.

This article originally appeared in the September 2020 Takoma Park Newsletter.

News, Takoma Park Newsletter

Two Vacancies on Chief’s Advisory Board for Individuals Aged 16-21

 

Chief Antonio DeVaul of the Takoma Park Police Department announces that there are two vacancies on the Police Chief’s Advisory Board for individuals aged 16 to 21.

The board meets on the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Currently, the meetings take place over Zoom. In the future, they would take place at the Takoma Park Community Center. For information about the Board and its current members, visit takomaparkmd.gov/government/police/community-policing/chiefs-advisoryboard-members

If you are between the ages of 16 and 21, please submit a letter of interest to Cathy Plevy at cathyp@takomaparkmd.gov or mail to Chief Antonio DeVaul, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912.

The board is briefed on all activities of the police department and brings issues and concerns to the chief’s attention. The board will be actively involved in the design and implementation of the future public safety model in Takoma Park. All applicants will be interviewed by the Chief of Police.

The City of Takoma Park is committed to serving all members of the Takoma Park community, irrespective of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or citizenship status. Chief DeVaul’s intent for the Advisory Board is that its members represent the diversity that makes our city a welcoming place to live and work.

We look forward to listening to and discussing youth concerns in our community.

This article originally appeared in the September 2020 Takoma Park Newsletter.

News, Takoma Park Newsletter

Equity Walk Takes Shape

 

 

What are these fun activities popping up around town? It’s the Equity Walk!

Funded by a Community Change Grant from America Walks, Takoma Park’s Equity Walk is beginning to take shape.

With social distancing protocols in place, volunteers, like Diana McCown (pictured here), have started installing the stencils for the walk.

Soon TP residents will be able to walk the walk, talk the talk, while playing and learning about equity. For more information or to volunteer, contact Roz Grisy at planning@takomaparkmd.gov.

This article originally appeared in the September 2020 Takoma Park Newsletter.