Category Archives: Public Notices

Public Notices are primarily generated by the City Clerk and are mostly compromised of messages notifying residents and other stakeholders of public hearings.

News, Public Notices, Takoma Park Newsletter

Celebrate 10 Years of Safe Grow: Yard Signs Available!

by Rick Baravechia, Code Enforcement Manager

Avoid the Chemical Romance

Harmful chemicals are not necessary to beautify our surroundings. This is the reasoning behind the creation of the Safe Grow Act that the City enacted in 2014. This law was created to protect ourselves and our environment from harmful pesticides and herbicides.

The Safe Grow Act places restrictions on the use of cosmetic pesticides for lawn care on public and private property. The list of restricted pesticides includes products that are known to cause cancer, endocrine disruption, and are identifi ed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as having other toxicity characteristics.

Of the 30 most commonly used lawn pesticides, 17 are possible and/or known carcinogens, 18 have the potential to disrupt the endocrine (hormonal) system, 19 are linked to reproductive effects and sexual dysfunction, 11 have been linked to birth defects, 14 are neurotoxic, 24 can cause kidney or liver damage, and 25 are sensitizers and/or irritants.

Children are especially sensitive to pesticide exposure, as they take in more pesticides relative to their body weight than adults and have developing organ systems that are more vulnerable and less able to detoxify toxic chemicals.

In 2019, Montgomery County enacted the Healthy Lawns Act, which mirrors our Safe Grow legislation, so that all Montgom-ery County residents can reduce their ex-posure to the unhealthy effects of harmful lawn care pesticides.

Organic lawn care isn’t diffi cult— in fact, it can save time and money, while protecting you, your family, your pets and the environment. Find a list of restricted chemicals at takomaparkmd.gov/safegrow. On that page, you will fi nd other resourc-es about maintaining a healthy lawn and yard, including a series of videos about natural landscape management.

Here are some tips for maintaining a healthy lawn, as we transition to spring: remove winter debris, test soils, dethatch your lawn, overseed thin areas, and apply corn gluten for inhibiting germinating weeds. Also, consider aerating your lawn and applying lime, if needed, for pH ad-justment. Overwhelmed? Don’t be. Reach out with any questions to Rick Baravechia, Takoma Park code enforcement manager, at Duaneb@takomaparkmd.gov or 301-891-7113

Let the World Know that Your Yard Is Safe

Is your lawn, apartment, and/or patio garden free of synthetic pesticides (including herbicides and fungicides) and safe for wildlife, pets, and people? If so, let us and your neighbors know! Free yard signs are available. Celebrate 10 years of Safe Grow today!

Safe Grow

News, Public Notices

Congressman Raskin Hosts Virtual 2024 Tax Season Information Session

 

It’s tax season! This year, the deadline to file taxes is Monday, April 15, 2024. While tax season can often be stressful and intimidating, there are plenty of resources to assist in simplifying the process. We encourage you to take advantage of the following resources as you prepare to file your taxes!

Update: March 13, 2024
Congressman Jamie Raskin IRS Virtual Information Session
Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Join Congressman Jamie Raskin and special guests from the IRS and the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service as they answer some common tax questions, including questions about the filing process, tax credits and rebates, and more.

Congressman Raskin  2024 Tax Season FAQ guide

From Congressman Jamie Raskin

  • How can I get my tax return processed as soon as possible?
    The IRS encourages you to file electronically as early as you can and to opt for direct deposit if you anticipate receiving a refund. This is the best way to ensure you receive your tax refund in a timely fashion. Taxpayers with Adjusted Gross Income less than $79,000 can file electronically for free using IRS Free File.
  • Do I qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Child Tax Credit?
    Low- to moderate-income Americans may qualify for the EITC, which can reduce the taxes you owe and potentially increase your refund. You can find out if you are eligible with this tool on the IRS website. If you have children, you may qualify for the Child Tax Credit. Visit Credits and Deductions for more details.
  • What improvements has the IRS made for the 2024 tax filing season?
    Congress and President Biden worked together to pass the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August of 2022, which provided historic investments in the IRS, allowing the agency to make much-needed improvements to its customer service, modernize its technology and operations, and more. Prior to the IRA’s investments in the agency, the IRS saw an 18% cut to its budget over last 20 years and saw dramatic staffing reductions of over 20,000 employees—even as its responsibilities continued to increase. It processed millions more tax returns each year and implemented new legislative mandates from Congress, even as its resources were dwindling due to partisan attacks. With the investments from the IRA, the IRS has made the following improvements:
    1. Expanded in-person service by opening or reopening Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs), including eight additional centers since the first anniversary of the law’s enactment. The IRS will offer extended hours at many TACs nationwide for the 2024 tax season.
    2. Increased help available on the toll-free line and expanded customer call back.
    3. Answered over 7.7 million calls during the 2023 tax filing season, an increase of over 65% compared to the previous year.
    4. Reduced the average call wait time from 28 to 3 minutes.
    5. Enhanced paperless processing that allows taxpayers to submit correspondence, non-tax forms and responses to notices digitally.
    6. Enhanced the IRS Individual Online Account which includes chat, the option to schedule or cancel payments, revise payments and validate bank accounts.
    7. Eliminated nearly all of its processing backlog of individual tax returns.With the IRA’s historic investments, the IRS will continue improving taxpayer services for the 2024 filing season. Sustaining this investment beyond 2031 will yield over $851 billion in revenue over the next decade. On the other hand, slashing IRS funding—as some of my conservative colleagues have proposed—would worsen the IRS’s customer service and widen our country’s $688 billion tax gap in which wealthy corporations and individuals choose to evade the taxes they owe.
  • Where can I find more detailed information about the 2024 filing season?
    The IRS website is a great resource for all things taxes. In particular, its Interactive Tax Assistant can answer more of your questions, help you find out how much your standard deduction is, determine whether or not you can claim dependents, discover what tax credits you may qualify for and more.My district office stands ready to help you communicate with the IRS, should any problems with your return arise. For example, if your return is not processed within five months from the date of filing, please feel free to contact my district office for assistance.To get our help with the IRS or any other federal agency you may be interacting with, please fill out my online request form.
Public Notices

Proposed Administrative Regulation for Sidewalks

 

Notice of Proposed Administrative Regulation to Provide Guidance for Compliance with Article X, Section 1003 Powers as to Sidewalks of the Takoma Park Charter.

An Administrative Regulation is being proposed to provide guidance for the interpretation of Article X, Section 1003 Powers as to Public Ways and Sidewalks of the Takoma Park Charter. The regulation replaces City Council Resolution 2015-32, pending the formal rescinding of the City Council Resolution. It addresses the process to request, evaluate, and advance new sidewalk installation by members of the public, elected offi cials, and City staff. Pursuant to the requirements of the “Administrative Regulations Ordinance” (Authority: Chapter 2.12 “Administrative Regulations,” of the Takoma Park Code), a notice of the City’s intention to adopt an administrative regulation must be publicly noted, allowing residents the opportunity to comment on the proposal.

The proposed regulation is available for review at:
Sidewalk blog link:

To obtain further information about the proposed regulation, contact :

Written comments on the proposed regulation may be emailed to:

 

Public Notices

Proposed Administrative Regulation for Traffic Calming

 

Notice of Proposed Administrative Regulation to Provide Guidance for Compliance with Chapter 13.28 Traffic Calming Devices of the Takoma Park Code.

An Administrative Regulation is being proposed to provide guidance for the interpretation of Chapter 13.28, Traffic Calming Devices of the Takoma Park Code. The regulation replaces Administrative Regulation No. 96-1. It addresses the process of requesting, evaluating, and advancing new traffic calming measures by members of the public, elected officials, and City staff. Pursuant to the requirements of the “Administrative Regulations Ordinance” (Authority: Chapter 2.12 “Administrative Regulations,” of the Takoma Park Code), a notice of the City’s intention to adopt an administrative regulation must be publicly noted, allowing residents the opportunity to comment on the proposal.

The proposed regulation is available for review at :
Traffic calming blog link:

To obtain further information about the proposed regulation, contact :

Written comments on the proposed regulation may be emailed to:

News Alert, Public Notices

HCD: Housing Division Launches New Tenant Survey

 

Are you a renter in the City of Takoma Park? If so, the City is looking to hear from you! The City’s tenant survey will occur between March 1- April 30. We encourage you to complete the short, 5-minute survey if you rent in the City.

Survey Details:
  • Survey length: 5-10 minutes
  • Access the survey online here: https://arcg.is/jb85W0
  • Survey Deadline: May 1, 2024
  • You should receive a survey mailed to your home with a QR code to access the survey online, or a paper version you can fill out and mail back (there is a pre-paid envelope you can use included!).

By answering the survey, you will help the City enforce housing laws and develop new programs and policies. We thank you for your time and consideration!

News Alert, Public Notices

City Manager DiSpirito Promotes Ira Kowler to the Role of Permanent Director of Housing & Community Development

 

From City Manager DiSpirito

I want to announce that I have promoted Ira Kowler to the permanent Director of Housing and Community Development.

Ira has performed very well this past year in the acting HCD Director role while still covering his economic development duties.  He has the enthusiastic support of his department staff, works quite well with the Senior Leadership Team, and has earned this opportunity.  His knowledge of planning, housing, and economic development, coupled with his productivity, will continue to serve us well.  He will report to Deputy City Manager Eubanks.

Please join me in congratulating Ira on his permanent role.

News Alert, Public Notices

City Manager DiSpirito Appoints Andrew Bolduc and David Eubanks as Deputy City Managers of TKPK

 

A Message from Robert DiSpirito, City Manager:

In the weeks since I started, I have, among many other things, observed and assessed what I believe would be the most productive executive administrative structure that will most effectively serve the Mayor and Council, this organization, and our residents. Therefore, I have appointed a two-deputy city manager structure. I am pleased to announce Andrew Bolduc (internal operations) and David Eubanks (external operations) as Deputy City Managers for the City of Takoma Park.

Please join me in congratulating Andrew and David on their new positions!

News Alert, Public Notices

Housing and Community Development (HCD) Announces RFP #HCD-2024-03-05: Houston Avenue Stormwater Treatment

Purpose:

The City of Takoma Park (“City”) invites qualified firms (“Firms”) to submit responses (“Proposals”) to this Request for Proposals for the Houston Avenue Stormwater Treatment Project.

Registration Information
  • All prospective responders must register with the City of Takoma Park to submit a responsive Proposal and receive future RFP communications, including any Request for Information updates.
  • To register for the RFP, complete the Registration Form
  • Once completed, a registration confirmation email will be shared with the prospective Respondent.
  • Responders registered before Monday, March 18, 2024, will receive a link to participate in the Information Virtual Meeting at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2024. An email will be sent out separately.
Publication Date:

Request for Proposals (RFP) documents were made available on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Bid packages may be obtained from the City’s website:  https://takomaparkmd.gov/services/bids-contracts/

Deadline:

Proposals are due no later than 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2024

Contacts:

Daryl Braithwaite, Director
Public Works
Email: darylb@takomaparkmd.gov

Patti Mallin, Grants Coordinator
Housing and Community Development
Email: grants@takomaparkmd.gov

News, Public Notices

Join the Upcoming Go Solar TKPK Event on Tuesday, March 12, 2024!

Event Details

This info session will educate all residents—both renters and homeowners, about obtaining solar energy for your home.

It will feature details on the upcoming solar co-op campaign with Solar United Neighbors, offer information on community solar from Neighborhood Sun, and information on clean energy options overall.

This will be an interactive event for anyone interested in, thinking about, or planning for solar.

* If you require language interpretation, please email dorothye@takomaparkmd.gov in advance.

 

Learn more about going solar in Takoma Park on the Sustainability webpage.

News Alert, Public Notices

Governor Moore Announces $10 Million for Small Business Grants to Strengthen Local Economies Across Maryland

 

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore today announced $10 million for small business and community development grants through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Project Restore 2.0 and Business Boost grant programs. The funding will activate vacant spaces in business corridors, support small businesses with start up or expansion funds, create jobs, and increase local economic activity—all to make Maryland more competitive.

“When storefronts close down, our entire state feels it. Now is the time to work in partnership with the private sector to revitalize our business districts, and that’s what this grant funding is about,” said Gov. Moore. Together, we will continue to make Maryland more competitive by moving in concert with entrepreneurs and small businesses – not in conflict with them.”

Project Restore 2.0 will provide $8 million to designated Main Streets, Arts and Entertainment Districts and other economic development organizations in a designated Sustainable Community. Grants of up to $300,000 per applicant will go to organizations that have identified priority vacant storefronts or buildings in local business districts. Those organizations would then sub-grant the funding to businesses for rental assistance, renovation and equipment to activate those vacant spaces. Businesses that receive sub-granted funds will have until December 2025 to open and be operational.

Business Boost is launching its first round of grant funding with $2 million that will be awarded directly to eligible small business owners in amounts between $20,000 and $50,000. The businesses must be new or expanding and located in designated Sustainable Communities. Preference will be given to businesses that are home-based and seeking their first commercial location, are designated as a Minority Business Enterprise, that are innovative, focused on regional strengths to grow local economies, or leverage partnerships between school districts or other education institutions in Maryland.

“By strengthening the successful Project Restore grants to fill storefronts on Maryland main streets and launching Business Boost, we are building on what we know to be the best way to help grow Maryland communities’ economies: from the center out, empowering locally-owned businesses, and bringing life back to vacant storefronts,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “These grants are just the beginning of the department’s renewed efforts to double down on the hearts of our cities and towns, maximizing the positive impact of our funding to create lovable places and help businesses choose to set up shop in Maryland.”

Applications will open on March 13 for small business owners to apply through Business Boost and for economic development organizations to apply through Project Restore 2.0. For more information on either grant opportunity, go to https://dhcd.maryland.gov/Business/Pages/Small-Business-Grants.aspx.