Takoma Park Residents and Businesses Can Now Switch to 100% Clean Power

Takoma Park, MD, May 18, 2018 –CleanChoice Energy, a renewable energy company providing 100% clean electricity to customers, has been chosen by the City of Takoma Park to supply residents and businesses with renewable energy on an opt-in basis. The new partnership reflects Takoma Park’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions citywide. Through the partnership, residents and businesses have the opportunity to support 100% Maryland-based clean energy furthering the regional benefits of clean air, water and jobs.

The City has long purchased 100% wind electricity through renewable energy credits for its own operations. In 2014 the City adopted a Sustainable Energy Action Plan with seventeen key strategies to reduce emissions. In 2016 the Mayor signed the Global Covenant of Mayors, and in 2017 pledged to uphold the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Now, the City is helping local residents and businesses to reduce their own carbon footprint by making the switch to clean energy. Electricity use is responsible for approximately a third of the typical American household’s carbon footprint.

“CleanChoice Energy can help Takoma Park residents and businesses make the switch to clean energy simply and affordably,” said Kate Stewart, Takoma Park Mayor. “We’re proud of the efforts Takoma Park has taken to reduce our carbon pollution and be a national leader in sustainability. Helping our residents and businesses reduce their own footprint by choosing clean energy is the next logical step.”

“CleanChoice Energy’s goal is to make it easy and convenient to switch to clean energy,” said Tom Matzzie, Founder and CEO of CleanChoice Energy. “It will take Takoma Park residents and businesses only five minutes to get off dirty energy, but the impact they will be making is huge. The average family will be reducing their carbon pollution by thousands of pounds a year.”

The City of Takoma Park chose CleanChoice Energy based on an open RFP and by conducting research on rates, business reliability, and contract terms.

CleanChoice Energy offers only 100 percent renewable energy products to American homes and businesses. The company has made it easy for people to choose clean energy as-a-service instead of as a home construction project. CleanChoice customers have avoided more than 3 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions—the equivalent of not burning more than 1.6 billion pounds of coal.

CleanChoice has made social responsibility a core value and has provided over $1.5 million in support to more than 50 nonprofit environmental and social impact organizations. CleanChoice Energy’s giving has powered it to the highest level of B Corp certification, with a company score 50 percent higher than the required score for B Corp certified companies.

Takoma Park residents and businesses interested in making the switch to clean energy can sign up at CleanChoiceEnergy.com/go/Takoma or by calling 1-800-218-0113.

About CleanChoice Energy

CleanChoice Energy is a renewable energy company empowering utility customers to cut emissions and support clean energy. The company provides renewable electricity to customers by supporting regional wind and solar farms in markets where customers have an energy supply choice, and selling that clean power to homes and businesses. CleanChoice Energy makes it easy for customers to support local solar development by enabling them to participate in community solar markets. CleanChoice Energy is a Certified B Corporation, a member of the American Sustainable Business Council and the U.S. Green Building Council, and is certified with the highest available rating by Green America’s Green Business Network, the first and largest network of socially and environmentally responsible business. For more information or to become a customer, visit www.cleanchoiceenergy.com

Join Lori Hill Saturday, May 12, as she discusses tips for living a low waste life in Takoma Park! This FREE event takes place at 10:00 am in the Takoma Park Community Center Auditorium.

This workshop will include:

• door prizes
• easy tips for living low waste
• discounts from Earth-friendly companies
• details about Takoma Park’s Adopt-A-Spot program
• a FREE copy of The Sister Eden e-Book

For more information, visit: http://www.sistereden.com/lowwaste/. 

The City Council will hold two public hearings on Wednesday, April 25, at 6:30 PM in the Community Center Auditorium. The first will be a hearing on the FY 2019 proposed property tax rate. The second will be a hearing on the FY 2019 proposed budget.

All interested residents should attend the hearings and sign up to speak. Written comments may be submitted to the City Clerk for distribution to the City Council. Email clerk@takomaparkmd.gov.

Note the early start time for the public hearings. They will begin at 6:30 PM. The proposed budget is available for review online.

CITY OF TAKOMA PARK NOTICE OF A PROPOSED
REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE AND PUBLIC HEARING

The City Council of the City of Takoma Park proposes to increase real property taxes.

1. For the tax year beginning July 1, 2018, the estimated real property assessable base will increase by 5.38%, from $2,269,258,527 to $2,391,297,820.
2. If the City of Takoma Park maintains the current tax rate of $0.5348 per $100 of assessment, real property tax revenues will increase by 5.38% resulting in $652,666 of new real property tax revenues.
3. In order to fully offset the effect of increasing assessments, the real property tax rate should be reduced to $0.5075, the constant yield tax rate.
4. The City of Takoma Park is considering not reducing its real property tax rate enough to fully offset increasing assessments. The City of Takoma Park proposes to adopt a real property tax rate of $0.545 per $100 of assessment. This tax rate is 7.39% higher than the constant yield tax rate and will generate $896,578 in additional property tax revenues.
A public hearing on the proposed real property tax rate increase will be held at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, April 25 in the Takoma Park Community Center Auditorium, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland.
The hearing is open to the public, and public testimony is encouraged.
Persons with questions regarding this hearing may call 301-891-7267 for further information.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FY 2019 PROPOSED BUDGET

Immediately after the public hearing on the real property tax rate, the City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the FY 2019 Proposed Budget.  The proposed budget may be viewed online.

Learn how to make your lawn beautiful without harmful herbicides & pesticides!

Learn from the nation’s expert on the essentials of pesticide-free lawn care, including caring for your living soil,  proper techniques to keep weeds down, and use of natural, organic products. Also get your lawn care questions answered at this workshop.

This free public event is part of the City of Takoma Park’s Safe Grow initiative to protect public health from exposure to harmful herbicides & pesticides, and forward community efforts in environmental sustainability.

Join us at the Takoma Park Community Center (7500 Maple Ave) on Saturday, April 28 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.

This event is open to all – to RSVP, go online: bit.ly/myorganiclawn

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed FY 2019 Budget on Wednesday, April 11, at 7:30 PM in the Auditorium of the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue. Interested persons should attend the public hearing and sign up to speak.

Comments may also be submitted online:

Comment Form for FY 2019 Budget

Link to Proposed FY 2019 Budget and City Manager’s Budget Presentation

The FY19 Proposed Budget is now available for review online.

Please take time to look over the Proposed Budget as we prepare to engage in the budget process over the coming weeks.

See you at the Budget Open House on Saturday, April 7 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm in the Azalea Room of the Takoma Park Community Center!

Notice of Proposed Administrative Regulation for the Implementation and Enforcement of Takoma Park Code, Chapter 8.16, Sale of Food and Drink, Section 8.16.090 Outdoor Cafes on Public Sidewalks

An Administrative Regulation is being proposed for the implementation and enforcement of Chapter 8.16, Section 8.16.090 Outdoor Cafes on Public Sidewalks (see Ordinance 2018-8). The regulation addresses permit modifications, renewal and revocation procedures, application fees, annual permit fees, calculation of annual fee increases, right-of-way lease terms and conditions, insurance and indemnification requirements, City approval of alcohol sales, City- imposed limitations on the hours, additional permit criteria and standards, and prohibited activities.

Pursuant to the requirements of the “Administrative Regulations Ordinance” (Authority: Chapter 2.12 “Administrative Regulations,” of the Takoma Park Code), notice of the City’s intention to adopt an administrative regulation must be publicly noted, allowing for the opportunity to comment on the proposal.

Review the Proposed Regulation

CLICK HERE TO COMMENT

Ordinance 2018-8 Amending the City Code Chapter 8.16, Sale of Food and Drink, to Allow for Outdoor Cafe Seating in the Public Right-of-Way

To obtain further information about the proposed regulation, contact Sara Anne Daines, Director, Housing and Community Development Department, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912, 301-891-7224, SaraD@takomaparkmd.gov.

It’s tax season and there are several resources that Takoma Park residents may find beneficial when filing their taxes: The Maryland Homestead Tax Credit, Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit, and Renters’ Tax Credit.

The Maryland Homestead Tax Credit was designed to help homeowners deal with large assessment increases on their principal residence. The Homestead Credit limits the increase in taxable assessments each year to a fixed percentage. Every county and municipality in Maryland is required to limit taxable assessment increases to 10% or less each year. Click here to view a listing of homestead caps.

The State of Maryland has developed a Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit Program which allows credits against the homeowner’s property tax bill if the property taxes exceed a fixed percentage of the person’s gross income. In other words, it sets a limit on the amount of property taxes any homeowner must pay based upon his or her income.

The Renters’ Tax Credit Program provides property tax credits for renters who meet certain requirements. The plan was modeled after and designed to be similar in principle to the Homeowners’ Tax Credit Program, which is known to many as the Circuit Breaker Program. The concept rests on the reasoning that renters indirectly pay property taxes as part of their rent and thus should have some protection, as do homeowners.

The plan is based upon the relationship between rent and income. If the portion of rent attributable to the assumed property taxes exceeds a fixed amount in relation to income, the renter can, under specified conditions, receive a credit of as much as $1,000. The credit is paid as a direct check from the State of Maryland.

Montgomery County also offers specialized tax credits for individuals over 65 and military retirees. To learn more about this credit please visit their website.

For questions and to learn more about Maryland tax credits, please visit the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.