Friends –
Last week, the County Council received the County Executive’s proposed FY25 Capital Budget and 2025-2030 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). We are excited to point out our collective efforts by sharing some of the items we have passionately advocated for together that made it into this budget. Our dedicated collaboration must persist as the Council reviews these projects.
Some exciting highlights:
Safe Neighborhoods to Walk, Bike, Roll, Take Transit and Drive!
BUS RAPID TRANSIT ON VEIRS MILL RD – $169.04M
This project on Veirs Mill Road is about saving lifes as people walk, bike, roll and take transit in this neighborhood. It builds sidewalks and crossings as it creates a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on Veirs Mill Road to be completed in FY27, connecting with MD 355 BRT at Montgomery College Rockville. Together, they will achieve an unprecedented expansion of the County’s transit network to provide rapid transit service from Wheaton to Germantown. Learn more ».
TWINBROOK CONNECTION TRAIL – $1.5M
This project will design and construct the relocation of the existing Parklawn North ConnectorTrail from the roadway shoulder to facilitate the BRT line on Veirs Mill Road between Rock Creek and Aspen Hill Road in Rockville. The long-term BRT alternative for Veirs Mill Road includes curbside dedicated lanes, which will conflict with the existing trail location. The project will be managed by Montgomery Parks with the intention of relocating the trail prior to BRT construction in this vicinity. Learn more ».
Unfortunately, there is one important project that is facing a setback: the Forest Glen Passway is getting delayed by two years. I need your help to bring it back on schedule!
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
GLENMONT SHOPPING CENTER – $450K
I am personally very involved in ensuring the realization of a vibrant community at the current area occupied by the Glenmont Shopping Center. In fact, it has been my number one priority since getting elected to the Council a year ago. The proposed funding supports the acquisition of property at the Glenmont Shopping Center. The funding is needed to acquire surplus property from the Maryland Department of Transportation that will be aggregated with the shopping center parcels for the purpose of realizing the Glenmont Sector Plan. Stay tuned for more exciting news on the future of the Glenmont Shopping Center! Learn more ».
WHEATON ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTER – $40.33M
The funding is to provide for planning, site feasibility, design and construction for the new arts and cultural facility. This center is proposed to be co-located with a housing project to be developed by Montgomery Housing Partnership (MHP) at 11507 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton. MHP proposes to develop a mixed-income, affordable, multi-family development containing up to 320 multi-family units in two buildings, 39 townhomes, 15,000 square feet of office space, and the arts and cultural center. The Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center will be located on the ground floor of the first multi-family building fronting on Georgia Avenue. The arts center will be approximately 40,000 square feet. Learn more ».
WHEATON M-NCPPC HEADQUARTERS RETAIL SPACE – $4M
This project is key to revitalizing the Wheaton Urban District and fulfilling the commitment made to residents and local businesses when the M-NCPPC was built. The goal is to fund the design and construction of the currently empty retail space within this facility. The intention is to either attract a retail tenant to occupy the space, bringing commercial activity to the area, or alternatively, to build out the area for community use. Learn more ».
NORTH BETHESDA METRO STATION REDEVELOPMENT – $16M
The North Bethesda Metro Station Area Redevelopment Infrastructure project is key for District 6 residents living in the North Bethesda and Rockville area. This project will start construction within months and it utilizes State aid to build additional road and pedestrian infrastructure in support of the County’s plan to spur further development in the entire North Bethesda area. That infrastructure project, along with the opening of the new Institute for Health Computing (IHC) in North Bethesda as an anchor for further life science development, is expected to trigger the issuance of a Request for Qualifications by WMATA for a master developer for a life science-oriented, mixed-use development on the Metro Station site. Learn more ».
PUBLIC SAFETY
WHEATON PARKING SECURITY CAMERA SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM – $339K
To meet changing safety and security surveillance needs, we need to install additional cameras to include coverage of all stairwells, lobbies, decks, rooftops and all pedestrian and vehicular entrances/exits to the garage. This will require the use of additional camera types such as 360-degree field of view cameras for parking deck coverage, 180-degree field of view cameras for rooftop coverage and License Plate Recognition cameras at entrances and exits. There will be a security audit through the County’s contracted parking consultation service to ensure that phasing is in line with best industry and safety/security practices, with installation and upgrades focusing on high-incident, high-traffic areas and to deter criminal and behavioral issues. Learn more ».
WHITE FLINT FIRE STATION – $41.8M
Design and construction of the White Flint Fire Station to support growth in the North Bethesda area that includes District 6 is funded in this recommended budget, with construction expected to be completed in FY27. In addition, the County is partnering with Victory Housing to develop a 104-unit senior multi-family affordable housing project co-located on a site adjacent to the White Flint Fire Station. Learn more ».
DIVERSION CENTER – $22.4M
Although this center won’t be located within District 6 limits, it is significant for the work I have been doing on the Fentanyl crisis, particularly among youth. The Diversion Center will provide an option to Police, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, and community members and reduce the use of emergency rooms, hospitals, and jail detention. The Diversion Center will be staffed by a multidisciplinary team to include nursing staff, licensed mental health and addiction professionals, peer specialists, and resource navigators.Funds design and construction of a facility to provide an alternative to emergency departments or the criminal justice system for those experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Completion expected in FY27. Learn more ».
FLOODING MANAGEMENT – $153M
For a long time, I have been meeting with different government entities regarding urban flooding incidents in District 6, emphasizing that our stormwater facilities are not equipped to handle the severe floods we are getting. I’m happy to see that the proposed budget is allocating an initial $153M to construct flood mitigation improvements as we continue waiting for the Executive to release the county-wide flood study, which is unfortunately behind by at least 9 months.
COME TESTIFY!
The Council Public Hearings on the FY25 Capital Budget and FY25-30 Capital Improvements Program are scheduled for February 6, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Feb. 7, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. Deadline to sign up to speak is Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. To testify in-person or remotely during a live public hearing at the Council Office Building, you need to preregister on the Council’s web page. You may also choose to provide pre-recorded testimony in written, audio or video formats or submit testimony by mail.
ECON COMMITTEE SCHEDULE FOR THE WINTER
Feb 1, ECON/HHS
Bill 42-33 – Menstrual Products in Public Restrooms.
Feb 8, ECON/EC
Briefing on Sports Industry
Feb 12, ECON
Quarterly Economic Indicators for the County
Feb 26, ECON
Capital Budget Projects for Economic Development
Mar 11, ECON
Office Market and Streamlining Permitting for Restaurant Follow-Ups
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Great news, last week, my Council colleagues and I passed legislation to expand tree canopy conservation. A thriving tree canopy reduces air, water and noise pollution, alleviates heat stress and reduces heat islands, and positively impacts human health, among other benefits. With that in mind, we passed legislation that sets the fee payable to the Street Tree Planting Fund at $450 per tree and the fee payable to the Tree Canopy Conservation Account at $470 per tree, both with biannual increases based on inflation. Right now, the fee in place until the effective date of Bill 40-23 was established in 2013 at $250 per tree and no longer sufficiently reflects the cost of acquiring, planting and maintaining a tree and did not rise with inflation.
As the wife of a former U.S. Marine, I’m a proud co-sponsor of Bill 45-23, “Property Tax Credit – Individuals 65 and Above, Retired Military Service Members and Disabled Military Service Members.” This bill would expand and extend a county property tax credit, while implementing a progressive income scale for eligibility. The bill would allow individuals to qualify for the credit if the assessed value of their home is $899,900 or less for the 2023 tax year, and this amount would be increased annually based on inflation. Currently, the maximum assessed value associated with the credit is $700,000 for individuals 65 and older and less than $550,000 for retired military members and their surviving spouses.
Additionally, the bill would increase the number of years an individual may qualify for the credit from seven to 10 years and reduce the amount of time an individual aged 65 or older must reside in their home to qualify for the credit from 40 to 25 years.
The bill also implements a progressive income scale for residents to qualify for the property tax credit. Those with an annual income of $90,000 or less would receive a 20 percent property tax credit; residents with an income of $75,000 or less would receive a 35 percent credit, and those with an income of $50,000 or less would receive a 50 percent property tax break. Under current law, the amount of the credit is 20 percent of the County property tax imposed on the home.
I am right now in the process of strengthening this bill by presenting amendments targeting military families. I’ll formally introduce them ahead of the worksession on February 22nd. More information on Bill 45-23 can be found here. The public hearing for this bill is scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
Update on my overnight-stays ZTA 23-09, we had a great public hearing last week with a wide range of views. In the spirit of getting more input, I requested the Council President to have the committee worksession in the summer instead of March. Over the next months, I look forward to earnestly engaging with stakeholders towards a great ZTA that embraces agritourism!!
Lastly, we had to postpone our Kemp Mill Elementary Urban Garden clean up due to the snow. We are hoping to have the event on Presidents’ Day, February 19th, if the weather allows! Stay tuned for more information.
Natali Fani-González
Councilmember, District 6
Chair, Economic Development Committee
