Neighbors:

As summer is coming to a close (sheds a tear), we at the Council are gearing up for a very busy and productive autumn. Read on!

Wheaton Public Safety Town Hall

On September 25 at 6pm, I am hosting a town hall meeting on our collective efforts to improve public safety in Wheaton and the surrounding areas. Joining me will be the Police Department, the State’s Attorney, the District 18 and 19 State Delegations, and vital community organizations. We will provide light refreshments.

Specific topics include:

Public safety legislation updates from Annapolis
County efforts on opioid treatment centers for youth and its work with the nonprofit Identity
Updates on the recruitment of police officers and 9-1-1 operators/dispatchers

I hope you will be able to join me. RSVP Here »

Attainable Housing Listening Sessions

The Planning Board recently released the Attainable Housing Strategies. Specifically, they are proposing a series of zoning modifications that would give single-family homeowners more choices and opportunities for what they can do on their properties, including duplexes, triplexes, and other missing middle housing types. If you want to dive deeper, the Planning Department has put together a good FAQ as well.

Following up on the council committee briefings on the proposal, the Council and the Planning Department have organized a series of public listening sessions. The Planning Department will give a brief overview of the proposal, but the real goal is to solicit feedback from the residents and genuinely engage with the comments/concerns/plaudits of the proposal. These listening sessions will be instrumental in helping the Council chart a path forward on attainable housing. Indeed, I strongly believe that we need to create more housing for families at all income levels, and attainable housing is a key strategy to do just that. The details, however, are very important, and I very much look forward to your ideas. I’ll be at the Sept 12th listening session in Wheaton.

Wednesday, Sept. 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center (1319 Apple Ave., Silver Spring, MD)
Thursday, Sept. 12, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center (11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton, MD)
Tuesday, Sept. 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the White Oak Community Recreation Center (1700 April Lane, Silver Spring, MD)
Monday, Sept. 23, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Germantown Community Center (18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown, MD)
Wednesday, Sept. 25, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda, MD – Wisconsin Room)
Wednesday, Oct. 2, virtual on Zoom 12-1:30 p.m.

Virtual Meeting on Veterans Legislation

I will be hosting a virtual meeting on Monday, September 9th, at 1 p.m. to discuss the next steps on my Veterans Bill 6-24, which passed with full Council support in July. We are looking to go to the General Assembly and request an amendment to the income threshold in the enabling legislation. Please email my office at councilmember.fani-gonzalez@montgomerycountymd.gov if you would like to attend.

Touring local business incubators

Montgomery County has a robust business/innovation incubator network, home to exciting young companies finding cures to diseases, bringing new technology to the market, and providing good jobs. But, we must continue to evolve and learn from other jurisdictions on how to position our incubator network for the future.

That is why I have teamed up with the County Executive to organize a tour on September 12 of cutting-edge innovation networks in Frederick County and Baltimore City. The Economic Development Committee will follow up on what we learned in the coming months, with an eye towards incorporating improvements into next year’s budget.

Wheaton Urban District Community Conversation on October 10

Please join me and the Wheaton Urban District Advisory for a conversation on the Urban District’s future and its funding sources.

October 10, 2024, 6-8pm
M-NCPPC Wheaton Headquarters, 2nd Floor
2425 Reedie Dr
Wheaton, MD 20902

RSVP Here

Hybrid Public Meeting on the Martin Street Shared-Use Path Project in Silver Spring

On Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 6:30 p.m., the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a hybrid (in-person and online) public information meeting to discuss the proposed Martin Street Shared Use Path project in Silver Spring. The public will have an opportunity to provide comments and ask questions.

The meeting will be held in the Art Room of the Wheaton Community Recreation Center located at 11701 Georgia Avenue in Wheaton.

To attend virtually, you must register online. The day before the hearing, an email with a Zoom link will be sent to registrants. Written testimony carries the same weight as oral testimony.

At the public workshop, MCDOT will present project details, costs and schedules as well as obtain public comments and answer questions. Public input is encouraged and may influence the final design of the project.

ECON and PHP schedules

I’m highlighting the schedules of the two committees I serve on (Economic Development Committee, Chair, and the Planning, Housing, and Parks Committee, Member).

September 16, PHP/ECON
Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) Memorandum Report 2024-10: Housing Units Authorized for Construction by Permit in Montgomery County

September 16, PHP
Worksession – 2024-2028 Growth and Infrastructure Policy (Schools)

September 19, ECON
Overview of Business Requirements and Regulations

September 23, PHP
Worksession – 2024-2028 Growth and Infrastructure Policy (Transportation)

September 23, ECON
Department of Permitting Services (DPS) Updates: Recipes for Success

Is your internet fast?

Internet is essential for everyone. If you do not have access to internet service or only have access to slow internet service, please submit information to the County by Monday September 9. Federal grant funds may be available to bring better internet service to your address, but addresses must be included on federal maps to be eligible for funding. Go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/internetchallenge to submit information or contact montgomeryconnects@montgomerycountymd.gov if you have questions.

Public Safety Town Hall and Attainable Housing Listening Sessions