City Offices and Facilities Closed on Thursday, November 28, through Sunday, December 1 for Thanksgiving Holiday
Thursday, November 28, trash, food waste, and recycling routes will be collected on Wednesday, November 27. Friday, November 29, trash, food waste and recycling routes will be collected on Saturday, November 30.
Takoma Park Recreation Department launched it’s Virtual Community Center in mid-April. It has been continually growing since it opened.
Come one come all to our newest state of the art facility offering a mixture of virtual F.U.N. (Fantastic Unbelievable Nontraditional) classes on ZOOM to our very own Takoma Park residents. In addition to virtual classes it also houses a running list of our R.A.R.’s (Rec Approved Resources) so you can refer back to all the great activity suggestions.
Come on by and check us out!! We have 13 classes weekly and growing and over 40 great websites to check out.
This is the perfect opportunity to break up the monotony of the coronavirus while practicing social distancing.
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
The City Clerk issued this public notice in the April 24 issue of the Takoma Insider:
Notice Of Order Temporarily Suspending Legal Time Requirements Regarding MD Public Information Act Timeline: The legal time requirements for the City’s response to requests under the Maryland Public Information Act are temporarily suspended until thirty (30) days have elapsed from the expiration of the State of Emergency and public health catastrophe, as determined by Governor Hogan. Maryland’s Public Information Act ordinarily requires the City to respond to requests for public records within ten (10) days, if there are no responsive records, or thirty (30) days, if responsive records exist. These time requirements are suspended. Link to signed notice.
Publication of the notice has caused concerns that the City will no longer be responding to questions or requests for information. This is not the case. The information below is being provided to clarify the City’s intentions.
What is the Public Information Act? Maryland’s Public Information Act (“PIA”) gives the public the right to access government records without unnecessary cost and delay.
The PIA grants you the right to review the available records that are disclosable and to obtain copies of those records. It does not require an agency to answer informational questions or to create a record to satisfy your request.
What is a public record? A public record is defined as the original or copy of any documentary material in any form created or received by an agency in connection with the transaction of public business. Included in this definition are written materials, books, photographs, photocopies, firms, microfilms, records, tapes, computerized records, maps, drawings and other materials.
City of Takoma Park staff members routinely respond to questions and requests for information. This has not changed during the pandemic. Additionally, if requests for records are received, staff continues to provide records that are accessible under the circumstances.
Please be assured that PIA requests will be responded to during the current health crisis. The notice that was published is regarding the normal 30 day requirement within which governments are required to respond to such requests. Given the current crisis, meeting the 30 days will not always be feasible. This course of action has been recommended by the Maryland Municipal Attorneys Association which took the lead on addressing the issue with the Governor’s Office. The City’s notice was submitted to the Governor’s Office of Legal Counsel and approved by it before it was signed and posted. Please email the City Clerk with any questions.
It’s tough for all of us going stir crazy at home so the Takoma Park Arts cultural series has gone online! You can watch dozens of our former events on our Youtube channel, including concerts, theater and dance performances, art exhibitions, poetry readings, lectures, and more.
We’re all in this together so let’s stay connected through the arts, which are more important now than ever. City staff are organizing new online events, including a Vintage Movie Night film screening featuring propaganda cartoons and a second film screening that is in the works. We also are planning more online events so stay tuned!
You can keep up with all of our cultural activities in our weekly Takoma Park Arts e-newsletter, and you can sign up here.
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 atNo Plan Press online to purchase an exclusive “Takoma Park Together” poster.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
Takoma Park Recreation Department is proud to announce the grand opening of its newest facility… The Virtual Community Center!!
Come one come all to our newest state of the art facility offering a mixture of virtual F.U.N. (Fantastic Unbelievable Nontraditional) classes on ZOOM to our very own Takoma Park residents. In addition to virtual classes it will also house a running list of our R.A.R.’s (Rec Approved Resources) so you can refer back to all the great activity suggestions.
Come on by and check us out!!
This is the perfect opportunity to break up the monotony of the coronavirus while practicing social distancing.
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.
On Monday night, I presented a draft budget for FY2021. Over the next four weeks, the City Council will be holding Work Sessions to consider the FY21 Budget. Work Sessions are key opportunities for Councilmembers to hear from and question staff regarding the proposed budget numbers and work program.
City Manager Suzanne Ludlow
Obviously, we are in a challenging time, and we are in the process of scrutinizing every aspect of the budget to see what effect the COVID-19 pandemic will have, what will be needed during recovery and how to position the City for the coming years.
Since Monday night, I have received a number of questions about potential cuts and other measures given the current crisis. Some have expressed concerns that we are treating this like any other budget year. I assure residents that this is not the case.
As I noted in the Newsletter article about the proposed budget and in my presentation to the Council last Monday, I have already taken significant steps in consideration of the health emergency and its possible financial repercussions:
Union negotiations with the City’s two unions have been put on hold as have the normal wage increases that occur on July 1 for both union and non-union employees. We will then be able to go into negotiations with more knowledge of the economic situation.
A number of sidewalk projects and a building project in the Community Center (totaling $1.6 million) were postponed to the FY22 year of the proposed Capital Improvement Program as were some smaller improvements and projects, totaling about $100,000.
Public art projects were postponed; funds may get shifted into assistance programs.
We have also shifted some unused conference and office expense funds to the mini-grants program to provide immediate support to local businesses.
Staff have been evaluating programs and expenses to determine those that will not occur or could be cut or postponed as well as identifying revenue sources that may be affected by the pandemic and the associated economic disruption.
As the current crisis is still unfolding, some of these numbers were not available last week. It may be a few more weeks before we are able to project the levels of federal support we may receive from recently adopted legislation and we are following efforts for an additional federal aid package. Staff was also unable to compile some data last week because they were providing and are continuing to provide direct service to many businesses and residents affected by the pandemic. It is anything but business as usual for the Takoma Park city staff.
As the Council deliberates, items that are likely to be affected or those that the Council may wish to handle differently will be highlighted so that those elements will be part of the Council’s Reconciliation List. The Reconciliation List is the list of possible adjustments to the Proposed Budget that the Council will consider as it moves to the adoption of the final budget.
I encourage members of the public to watch the Council’s Work Sessions and follow along as the Reconciliation List is populated with possible adjustments. Your comments about priorities, the tax rate, and programs that you value or would prefer to see ended are all important to the Council as they go through the budget consideration process.
The City of Takoma Park has a well-deserved reputation for fiscal responsibility and transparency, and that will not change. During the Great Recession, we took the steps needed to maintain the essential services and character of Takoma Park, even as significant and painful cuts were made. The cuts happened at the appropriate time, when the extent of the impact was clear so that our actions would be effective. We will continue to be fiscally responsible and follow best practices in dealing with the economic changes ahead of us.
Uncertainty is challenging. Health uncertainty and financial uncertainty are both stressful and they are occurring at the same time during this COVID-19 pandemic. I know we will get through it together as a community, but it will be hard, particularly in the coming weeks. A constructive way through this is to plan for different situations, both near term and long term so that we know our options. The FY21 Budget is that plan for the City, and we will work on it together beginning Monday.
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.
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 
on an antique 19th-century printing press right here in Takoma Park. 
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.
