Good evening everyone. Welcome to our meeting. Today is March 4th and we will begin meeting number 5-24. We will now convene the Pledge of Allegiance. Please stand and sing as you say the Pledge of Allegiance as you are able. No singing. So I'll just go out of order to say we're celebrating one thing we're thinking about seeing what we won't do today on a live, but we have a council member who's celebrating a birthday today, and I just wanted to take a point of privilege to say happy birthday to councilman Bershaw. Thank you, Madam Mayor. The thinking will be after the meeting. You're welcome. Ended. You go to the kids. All right. So now we're moving to agenda review. Ms. Taylor-Ferrell, do we have any changes to agenda? Madam Mayor and councilmembers, we have no changes to the agenda for this evening. Great, thank you. We did share a note among us that there may be a little bit more time on the proposed budget, but we'll see how that goes. And thank you for adding some in our list here. All right, we'll be moving to the City of Managing Report. Welcome to the City of Managing. Good evening Madam Mayor and Council members. Wish we wish to thank all of our community members who have completed the city's community budget priority survey for fiscal year, 2025 budget. The survey remains open until Friday, April 12th. The proposed budget was posted to the city's website last Friday, and we hope that additional community members will review the document and share their comments and suggestions through the survey and other means available. We are working towards an anticipated budget adoption date of May 6th, and I want to thank the many dedicated staff who have put a great deal of effort into this ongoing process. The budget survey can be accessed through the city's website. The Rockville Swim and Fitness Center is hosting a walk-in open-house hiring event on Friday, March 22nd, from 4 to 7 p.m. for summer positions. Interested candidates can speak with staff about available positions, submit an application, and participate in a preliminary interview and skills assessment all at the event, all at the event. For more information, visit the city's website and search swim center. The Recreation's in Parks Department recently completed construction of accessible parking in an accessible path from the parking area to the ball fields in playground at Room Athletic Park as part of their ongoing accessibility improvements project. Their access team also participated in the Maryland Recreation in Parks Association, ADA and Inclusion Summit on February 28th in Columbia, Maryland. The training was focused on the ADA for programers and administrators. We encourage community members to go check it out in person and to stay tuned for future improvements to make recreation parks programs and facilities more accessible for all. Our Department of Public Works we conducting Spring Leaf Collection in April. As warmer days lead to Spring Yard cleanups, residents should check the map on the city's website to make sure of the day steeper W will be in their area. As it is now tax season, the City of Rockville is hosting volunteers from the Montgomery County Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, Ovidah at the Senior Center on Carnation Drive. Ovidah is available to all Montgomery County residents of low and moderate income, as well as seniors of any income level. Volunteer hours are also scheduled at various county-owned sites, such as the Montgomery County Public Library and Town Center, in Montgomery County's Community Action Agency office at 1401 Rockville Pike. Appointments are required and can be scheduled by visiting Montgomery County MD.gov and searching cashback, or by calling 240-777-1123. City of Rockville staff continue to improve their service to the community by attending new professional credentials. Parks and facility manager Robbie Beedler and Recreation Park's maintenance worker Ken Bailey graduated from a national recreation in Parks Association's Parks Maintenance Management School this year. Congratulations to both gentlemen and your managers and co-workers who helped support their efforts. And finally, don't forget to set your clocks forward one hour next Sunday morning at 2 a.m. for Daylight Savings Time. We also encourage you to check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are in working order. Thank you and this concludes my report for this evening. Thank you, Mrs. Simano. I just wanted to put a plug on two things. One is a statement that we swore in Officer Tamika Boyd this afternoon and we are excited to see our police department attract additional police members. Ms. Boyd comes to us from Howard County, I believe, and she will be joining on the 15th. So welcome to Officer Boyd. And then you've mentioned this in the past, but March 8th since it's coming up very soon as International Night. I believe it's 6 p.m. at the Fitzgerald Theater. So just make sure you go online and take a look. It's free and it's a wonderful event for our community. We hope that you'll join us. Any other comments or questions on the City Manager's report? Great. Thank you all. We'll be moving to proclamations and recognitions. We have one for today to Good evening everyone. I am very honored to do the Proclamation for Harriet Tubman Day today. I was just told I'm wearing green, which is the color of liberation that wasn't on purpose, but I'm very excited to hear it. I will start. Whereas Harriet Tubman, born, Arminita Ross, was born around 1820 on a plantation in Dorchester County, Maryland, and she had eight brothers and sisters, but the realities of slavery eventually forced the family apart. And whereas, while enslaved in Dorchester County, Maryland, Harriet was beaten and whipped, and as a child suffered emotional and physical scars and carried the effects throughout her life. And whereas in 1849 Harriet Tumman Tumman escaped to Philadelphia and then returned to Maryland to rescue her family soon after. Slowly one group at a time she brought relatives out of the state and eventually guided other enslaved people to freedom, utilizing the Underground Railroad. And, whereas traveling by night and an extreme secrecy, Tubman, or Moses, as she was called, never lost a passenger. And after the fugitive slave act of 1850 was passed, she helped guide fugitives further north into Canada, and helped newly freed enslaved people to find work. Harriet Tubman met John Brown in 1858, and helped him plan and recruit supporters for his 1859 raid on Harper's Ferry. And, whereas when the Civil War began, Harriet Tubman worked for the Union Army as a cook and as a nurse, and then as an armed scout in spy, as well as being the first woman to lead an armed expedition in war. And whereas, after the Civil War, Harriet Tubman retired to the family home on properties she had purchased in 1859 in Auburn, New York, where she cared for her aging parents. And whereas Harriet Tubman was active in the women's suffrage movement until illness overtook her and she moved to a home for elderly African Americans that she had helped establish years earlier. And whereas Harriet Tubman became an icon of courage, resilience, determination, and freedom. And on March 9th, 1990, President George Bush Sr. proclaimed March 10th as a national holiday to honor her on her birthday. Now therefore, the mayor and council of the city of Rockville, Maryland, do hereby proclaim March 10th, 2024 as Harriet Tubman Day. And call upon the people of Rockville to observe this day and help our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and leaders to understand the value of Harriet Tubman's service and life to America and to Maryland. I move the proclamation. That is such an impressive list of things for one human to have done. We have Ms. Anita Neal Powell, President of the Historic District Commission, to come receive the proclamation. I'm coming. Come up here with me. Come on. Come and get me over to Mary. See how you can just move things. Good evening, Mary Council. My name is Anita Neal Powell and CEO of the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation and the Lee Roy E. Neal African American Research Center. Here with me tonight is Miss Sherling Lucas and Little Molly. Tonight I want to thank you for recognizing Mrs. Harriet Tubman Ross, also known as Moses and Conduct of the Underground Railroad for her work in Maryland and across the globe, doing unfortunate times in our history in as a woman. Excepting its proclamation is especially important to our city and because it is the city's first time presenting the proclamation, I am excited to be a part of it. As you may know, I have been promoting Mrs. Ross for decades as a woman warrior and for her bravery, courageous spirit, and moreover her spoken words that lets us know that the voices of women do matter. In 2020, the foundation created a petition to place Harriet Tubman Portrait on the $20 bill December 2024. We are hopeful that she will be placed on the $20 bill. We are asking if you're interested in joining and would like to sign the petition, contact us and we will share the link with you. In my final words of accepting the first Harriet Tubman Proclamation, as a little known fact, I am a member of the Harriet Tubman Statute Commission for the State of Maryland. So this is an awesome time for women during women history month to be recognized for our work, our dedication, to continue moving forward. And with many thanks to the Marion Council for this proclamation signed by all. And as a part of the history of the city of Rockville we salute you for taking the first step and recognizing Mrs. Harriet Tubman the conductor for this 2024 women's history month. I also would like to thank you for supporting our 47th anniversary of the Lincoln Park Historical Foundation featuring the gospel train ride to freedom. The train is still moving. I encourage you to sign the petition to place Harriet Submit on the $20 bill as the train continues to move forward. Thank you. Yeah, let's come to see we have a little bit too long. Oh, we can't wear it just there. Some more for the reason. Oh, for the reason. Oh, for the reason. One more. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Oh, do I get... Oh, she's back. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Thank you very much. Appreciate that opportunity to pause and celebrate and remember our history. We'll now move on to agenda item 6, boards and commissions appointments and reappointments. Council, will you please consider the commission appointments and make motions this way? Councilmember Jackson. Yes, Mayor. I would like to point, Michael Patrick to the Financial Advisory Board for a new appointment to serve a three-year term until March 1st, 2027. Do we have a second? Second. Thank you, Council Member Fulton. All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye. It is unanimous. Thank you. Council Member Lary. Madam Mayor, I nominate Eric M. Schneider for a new appointment to serve a two-year term until March 1, 2026 and Robert Ross to reappoint to the serve a three-year term until February 1, 2027 on the Community Policing Advisory Board. Second. Council Mojangston, second. All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye. Aye. It is unanimous. Thank you. All right. We now will be turning to community forum. I see that there is one written comment. Do we have any other submissions? Ms. Taylor Farrell. Ms. Moore should be be attending virtual she has written in virtual wonderful thank you Miss Moore the floor is yours I don't see her on. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Sorry. It was a call made to her. She didn't pick up and she's not logged in. Thank you very much. I believe she was speaking on the As a member of the Human Services Advisory Commission and we appreciate her sending her written remarks. We'll review those. Thank you. There will also be part of the budget public record. Thank you. All right. We part of the budget public record. Thank you. All right. We'll move on to our budget presentation. We are kicking off the year to plan for what we will fund and the programs we will leave. Did I hear someone sign on just that? Yes, this is Danny. She just logged in. Okay. We'll do a pause. We'll be flexible. All right. Miss Moe, the floor is yours. Good evening. Thank you. I finally made it good to be here. All right. Good evening to everyone. My name is Deb Amor. And I'm here representing human services advisory commission concerning the upcoming projects. I'm on the service one of two consumer representatives on the commission as part of our efforts to collaborate with other city commissions. I'm also honored to serve as our commission's liaison with the Education Commission. Housing, food security, and health care affect not only students, but also the families of students, as well as those who work with our students. Strong funding to care, giving organizations and agencies that provide these services essential. And here are three examples. Rockville Emergency Assistance Program, REAP, which helps Rockville residents of Hawaii addiction or utility termination. Manifood center which provides access to nutritious food to those experiencing hunger and food insecurity and man's real case and clinic and mobile, man which provide health care and health education to underserved, uninsured, insured low income, and Medicare and Medicaid residents. If I can have a personal note, as a retired teacher, and one who has and does benefit from these services. The importance of robust funding to organizations and agencies who serve those who are often referred to as vulnerable cannot be overstated. This body has always seen the importance of this and we are on the commission of confidence that you will continue to demonstrate that importance for generous funding for our caregiving community members. Thank you for your time, the attention and thank you for your patience. Technology is a beautiful thing. Have a wonderful evening. Thank you, Ms. Moore. We appreciate your comments, and we have the written comments as well. All right, we'll move to agenda item eight, presentation of the FY 2025 proposed budget. This is one of many sessions that we'll be having to go through our budget planning process. I'll also echo the comments of the Acting City Manager to thank everyone who's filled out This is one of many sessions that we'll be having to go through our budget planning process. I'll also echo the comments of the Acting City Manager to thank everyone who's filled out the Community Budget Survey. We're still taking responses, and we appreciate all of your input. Welcome. Madam Mayor, members of the council, I'm here this evening to introduce the FY25 proposed budget. The City of Rockville continues to demonstrate growth throughout all parts of the community and established a plan for sustainable growth and a responsible stewardship to ensure the continuation of excellent services and programs. A strong property tax base with significant growth has provided increased general fund capacity and a positive financial outlook for the provided increased general fund capacity and a positive financial outlook for the city's general fund. External forces continue to place pressure on budgets across the nation. Rockville has been largely successful in navigating these periods of record inflation, labor cost increases, and supply chain challenges. The city's general fund continues to maintain healthy reserve balances and conservative budgeting practices have helped mitigate the impacts of these pressures. The proposed FY25 budget reflects the city's commitment to the ongoing implementation of adopted plans, community safety and policing and economic development. The city also continues to look for opportunities to improve equity and inclusion in the Rockville community and strategically allocates resources to promote improved outcome for city residents. The FY25 operating budget totals $168.9 million, which represents an increase of 7.4% over the FY2024 adopted budget. While there is revenue growth in FY2025, it remains imperative that the city continue to allocate resources strategically in alignment with the Marin Council priorities in an manner that will be the most impactful to the Rockville community. There are some notable projects underway in FY 2025 which include the outdoor recreation pool renovation, Lincoln Park Community Center improvements, the FSCOT Fisald Theater ADA improvements and David Skull Park improvements. The FY 2025 budget also includes enhanced funding for sidewalk projects and reflects a restoration of funds for projects that had funding cuts majoring the FY 2024 budget process. The FY 2025 budget maintains a flat, property tax rate and incorporates a number of important service level enhancements. The budget restores positions that were previously unfunded incorporates an additional six police officer positions to address community safety needs, following service reductions for Montgomery County and proposes several new positions. The new positions proposed will provide the needed capacity to advance transportation and pedestrian safety initiatives, promote timely and consistent program access for community members with disabilities and enhance plan review and permitting services amongst other things. Beyond staffing levels, the FY 2025 budget introduces a new pilot code assistance program which is designed to assist eligible residents who may face difficulties in bringing their property into compliance with city codes and provides increased funding for Rockville Economic Development Inc. to further their economic development initiatives within the city. Finally, staff is still working with Montgomery County on tax duplication revenues that came in lower than the city anticipated. We may have to propose adjustments to the proposed budget to compensate if additional tax duplication funds are not provided The development of the budget is a complex and time-consuming endeavor I would like to thank the city's department director as appointed officials and their staffs for working as a team to prepare this year's budget I also wish to express my appreciation to the budget team in the finance department I also wish to express my appreciation to the budget team in the Finance Department. To strive to ensure that all financial and budget information is transparent, understandable and accessible to the public. I am particularly grateful for the leadership and guidance provided by the City's Marin Council. For members of the public, the proposed budget can be found at www.rockvillemd.gov-budget. Now I'll turn the formal presentation over to Ms. Francisco. Thank you. Good evening Madam Mayor and members of the council. We have prepared a presentation on the FY 2025 proposed budget. The budget document is 390 pages long and this presentation is intended to provide an overview and highlights of its contents. While it's not possible to cover every funded element in the budget, we do hope that this information is helpful as we prepare to hold public hearings and work sessions over the next two months. This presentation this evening will cover highlights on the citywide budget, budget priority areas, highlights in the general fund, personnel and staffing levels, proposed utility rates, highlights of the capital improvements program also called the CIP, plan debt issuance, and community engagement. Let's dive in and take a look at the citywide budget proposed for FY 2025. The FY 2025 proposed operating budget totals 168.9 million dollars across all funds. The pie chart display shows how the budget is allocated by fund. The general fund makes up 65% of the budget. The city's utility funds, water, sewer, refuse, and storm water make up 27% of the budget. The remaining 8% is attributable to the other funds. This chart provides a 10-year view of the city's adopted operating budgets. Over the last 10 years, the budget has grown 36.9%. The FY 2025 budget reflects a 7.4% growth citywide, which is significant. The overall budget priorities that resulted from the mayor and council's FY 2025 budget priority discussions include the ongoing implementation of adopted plans, community safety and policing and economic development. The city also continues to look for opportunities to improve equity and inclusion in the Rockville community. The FY 2025 proposed budget includes funding for a new program access supervisor position. This position will establish a new program access office within recreation and parks, and will centralize recreation program modification requests. This will provide continuity and consistency for participants with disabilities across all programs. The FY 2025 proposed budget also includes funding for a new pilot code assistance program. As Mr. Seminoe mentioned, this program will provide assistance to eligible residents who may face difficulties in bringing their property into compliance with City Code. In addition, the budget reflects new grant funding that will support the acceleration of a water main rehabilitation project in a disadvantaged community census tract. Projects underway which promote that city's equity efforts include improvements at the Davis-Gall Park, the F-Scott Fitzgerald ADA improvements, and improvements to the Lincoln Park Community Center. The first priority area that we will cover is the ongoing implementation of adopted plans. The city's climate action plan is funded in the FY 25 budget in a number of ways, including 3.7 million in new appropriations for capital projects that address storm water management, EV infrastructure and LED street lights. The budget also includes ongoing funding for the storm water incentive program, annual facility energy efficiency audits, and the composting program. The city will continue converting more of its fleet to electric vehicles in fiscal year 2025 and anticipates the installations of the city's first solar canopies. The city's Vision Zero and Pedestria Master plans also have funding in the FY 25 budget. The budget includes 10.7 million in new appropriations for capital projects that address asphalt, concrete, bridges, sidewalks, shared use paths, and LED streetlights. The budget also includes funding for a new senior transportation engineer position which will provide the capacity to implement and accelerate transportation related initiatives including seeking and executing grants. There is also additional funding in the FY25 budget for pavement marking and sign shop supplies, which will be essential in advancing these pedestrian safety efforts. The second priority we'd like to highlight is community safety and policing. The proposed budget includes six new police officer positions, which are funded by Montgomery County and response to their service reductions within Rockville City limits. These added positions will help Rockville take on the primary response roles and calls for service within the city, a responsibility that was previously shared with Montgomery County. The FY25 budget includes a new police specialty paid differential, which provides compensation to officers with specialized skills and certifications. Rockville officers can anticipate the implementation of the police deferred retirement option program, also called Drop, and implementation of the new final average earnings calculation in FY25. These initiatives enhance the pension benefits for Rockwell officers and will assist in officer retention efforts. The FY25 budget includes funding for new internal investigation software, a new cloud-based interview room camera, and continued funding for the Police Mental Health Specialists contract. A $1.5 million replacement of the mobile and carried police radios is also planned for FY 2025 and you will see this item in a budget amendment brought before you on March 18. The third priority area to highlight is economic development. Rockville Economic Development Inc. is a public-private partnership formed by the City of Rockville to strengthen and broaden the city's economic base through entrepreneurship, expansion, retention, and recruitment programs. The FY25 proposed budget provides a total of 1.4 million to ready, which includes $175,000 for the move and business expansion fund and $150,000 for the Move and Business Expansion Fund, and $150,000 for the Small Business Impact Fund, which has historically seen the majority of its applicants come from underrepresented communities. The $1.4 million allocation to ready also includes increased funding for operating expenses and additional $50,000 for a life sciences branding project, which will help enhance the business attraction of Rockville as a destination in the life sciences business sector. In addition to the allocation to ready, the FY25 budget includes the addition of a senior building plans examiner position. This new position will improve economic development by promoting a timely and dependable building permitting program. There are several economic development by promoting a timely and dependable building permitting program. There are several economic development initiatives underway with milestones in FY25 that we'd like to highlight. The updated town center master plan has been underway and is anticipated for introduction and adoption in fiscal year 2025. In addition, the Rockville Metro station visioning and concept design is also underway in partnership with Womata and Montgomery County. This initiative seeks to identify opportunities to increase transit ridership by improving site access and incorporating mixed use development on metro owned property at the station. This will continue into FY 2025 with public workshops and a final recommendation for Mayor and Council consideration. Now I'll transition into general fund highlights. As I shared earlier, the general fund is the principal operating fund for the city and represents 65% of the total operating budget. The general fund has a proposed operating budget of 109.7 million. This is a 7.9% increase from the FY2024 adopted budget. Much of this budgetary growth comes from increased revenues. This pie chart shows general fund revenues by type and as we can see property taxes are the single largest general fund revenue. The next largest category is revenue from other governments. Within revenue from other governments there is income tax, tax duplication, admission and amusement tax, highway user revenue, and a police protection grant. The City of Rockville's real property tax rate remains flat at $29.2 for every $100 of assessed value, and the city has not increased the property tax rate since 1995. Estat reassesses real property every three years and tax bills are based on those assessments. One part of the city was recently reassessed and these updated assessed values demonstrate growth in the real property assessable basis across commercial, residential, and mixed use properties in Rockville. For homeowners, any increase to assess value is phased in equally over a three year period. This provides budgetary stability and predictability for this major revenue source. The chart shown is a 10 year history of assessed values in the city. The real taxable assess value increase 4.8% from FY 24 to FY 25. The largest drivers of revenue increases in the FY25 proposed budget are property tax, tax duplication, highway user revenues, and red light camera citation revenues. We anticipate some adjustments to the tax duplication revenues in the proposed budget and we plan to share an update at the March 18 budget work session. This chart shows general fund expenditures by type. We can see that personnel costs are the largest expenditure for the general fund followed by operating costs and transfers. The FY25 personnel costs reflect a 9% increase over FY2024 while contractual services are increasing 13.7% commodities are decreasing 12.8% and capital outlay is proposed to increase by 1.7%. The other expenditures category includes payments to caregiver agencies, outside organizations, and ready. The overall growth in expenditures is driven by 14.6 additional positions in the general fund, employee benefits costs, and increases in software subscriptions and contractual services. Now let's take a look at the person on staffing levels reflected in the FY25 proposed budget. The FY25 budget proposes an additional 15.1 regular full-time positions over the 2024 adopted budget, and a reduction of 3.1 temporary positions. 14.6 of the added positions are funded in the general fund, with 1.5 position in the water fund. All in all, this reflects a 1.9 increase in staffing levels from the 24 budget. The chart provides a five year history of city-wide staffing levels for your review. The proposed budget restores three positions that were previously unfunded due to budget constraints. An additional six police officers are also added to address the service reductions from Montgomery County. The 6.1 new positions specifically provide capacity to better support city boards commissions and task forces to enhance plan review services and support of more streamlined economic development and provide added resources to manage the growth in the city for disbursement volume and IT help desk support needs. The new positions also provide capacity that will advance vision zero and pedestrian master plan initiatives and short compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and promote equitable access to city programs and expand the services at Rockville's Montrose Discovery preschool. Several of the additions are increases to existing positions in the city, and those are noted with an asterisk on this slide. The FY 2025 budget provides resources that promote employee retention and engagement. This includes a 2% cost of living adjustment, funding for steps and performance based increments, continuation of the Montgomery County minimum wage for temporary employees, which is set to be $17.20 per hour, beginning July 1, 2024. Reinstated funding for the annual employee awards ceremony and a budgeted employee lead by back benefit. Now let's take a quick look at the proposed utility rates for FY 2025. The city provides water and sewer service to approximately 70% of the city. The water and sewer rates are adopted on the three year schedule and are accompanied by a full study of the city's cost of service using a 10 year spending plan. The FY25 rates are proposed to increase 4.1%, which amounts to $13.14 per quarter, or $52.56 per year for an average household. All residential properties in the city are proposed to pay an annual refuse and recycling fee of $535 in FY25. This fee appears on the property tax bill that comes from Montgomery County and is a $32 increase from the FY2024 rate. The proposed FY25 budget uses reserves and the refuse fund to support operations which mitigates additional rate increases. All residential and commercial properties in the city are proposed to pay a storm water management fee of $152 per equivalent residential unit. This is a $6 increase over the FY2024 rate. Customers pay the storm water management fee on their annual real property tax bill from Montgomery County as well. will real property tax bill from Montgomery County as well. The FY 2025 CIP includes 31.4 million of new appropriations. The budget also includes 87.7 million in Carole or funding for total appropriations of 119.1 million. This funding supports 47 projects across five program areas. The chart show shows the CIP funding by program area in FY 2025. Utilities, transportation, and recreation in parts program areas make up the largest parts of the FY 25 capital budget, though this varies by year depending on what activities and initiatives are underway. The proposed budget includes increased funding, sorry, the proposed budget includes increased funding levels for sidewalks, playground structure replacements, and LED street light conversions. New grant funding is also supporting Rockville's capital projects, particularly for the Reggae Master Plan implementation and for water main rehabilitation and improvements. This, what we also see here on this slide is an interactive map that shows where all of the discrete projects are located across the city. And these, and this slide discusses the projects with the increased funding levels in FY 2025 and those with the grants that I just referenced. As mentioned earlier by Mr. Seminoe, there are some major projects that will be under construction in FY 2025. These include the outdoor recreation pool renovation, Lincoln Park Community Center improvements, the FSCOT Fitzgerald Theatre ADA improvements, and Davis-Call Park improvements. Of course, there are other projects that will continue to address ongoing maintenance and improvements to the city's paths, roadways, sidewalks, stormwater facilities, and water and sewer infrastructure. The CIP is funded by various sources including Pego, Grants, and Proceeds from the issuance of loans and general obligation bonds. For FY 2025, staff anticipates the issuance of $12.9 million in taxpayer supported general obligation bonds. For the FSCOT Fitzgerald Theater ADA improvements, Lincoln Park Community Center improvements, and outdoor recreation pool renovations projects. In addition, staff anticipates the issuance of 14 million enterprise bonds to support infrastructure projects in the water and sewer funds. An additional $5.1 million loan from MDE, drinking water, safe revolving, safe revolving fund will support the water main and Improvements in FY 2025. We would like to remind the public of some opportunities to provide feedback with the budget process. And that includes the Community Budget Priority Survey. This will be available until April 12th. This is available in five languages. You can access the survey by using the QR code on the screen or by visiting rockvillemd.gov slash budget. In addition we will also hold two more budget public hearings on March 18th and April 8th. You can sign up to speak or send in written testimony to the City Clerk's office. This concludes my presentation on the proposed fiscal year 2025 budget. I would like to sincerely thank the many members of staff who contributed to the preparation of the budget and to my budget team who's worked tirelessly to bring together this document for your consideration. We look forward to the three budget work sessions that will follow and want to encourage the Mayor and Council to send us any questions that you have as you go through the document we know it's big there's a lot there but please send us any questions that you have we will have we will also have the full budget priority survey report attached with the March 18th agenda for your review ahead of that meeting. Thank you, Ms. Francesco. I really appreciate your work and the work of the entire finance team. I also know that the departments go through a very deliberate process working with the city manager's office. So it's everyone at the leadership and senior team level and many folks in each department have been working on this. So I want to thank you. I know it takes a lot of time and energy and thoughtful planning. So we appreciate all the hard work that you pull together. I will say I think the budget is very well done. I know that we have had years when we've had to redo the budget, whether it's COVID or planning for supply chain increases. So I know this is not always easy. And you try to look very closely across the ball to try to predict things out. So thank you for all the work there. And I wanted to acknowledge it. I am going – I have a few questions myself. I know all of my colleagues have been reviewing the budget over the weekend when it was at least in the first and have been talking to the Acting City Manager about questions or have even sent in questions. So I wanted to note that we won't ask them all this evening, but there are some high-level things that I know we wanted to just start out about the process and general understanding on the budget. So I see Council Member Fulton, I see Council Member Van Grack. Thank you, and then Council Member Vellieri. Thank you very much. First of all, again, I really do appreciate how well put together it is. It's easy to understand. It's easy to follow. And it's aligned to the priorities we told you. So I'm really grateful for that. A couple of high-level things to just let you know what I'll be looking at in the work sessions and maybe some theme-related things. In general, it's difficult to evaluate like a proposal or any funding request without knowing what's not there. Everything looks good. Everything looks like it should be funded. So I know a lot of my colleagues have said, well, you know, is there enough here? Is there enough there? What about this? So it will be helpful to know what the trade-off is we're making as we make these decisions. Some examples that I just saw what I looked through. I know we're maintaining the compost program. I've heard a lot of requests for expanding the composting program. We've talked a lot about expanding youth programming. They would achieve a lot of our goals. I'm not suggesting that, like, I'm just giving examples of things that I want to know what's not there so we can make sure we're making the right decisions. Two other points. One of the other things we've talked about quite a bit that is a priority for this body is community outreach engagement. I was surprised to not see some funding for whether it's personnel there or software there or tracking there or something to help us with that. And also I look forward to seeing the full community survey and seeing how this budget is influenced by what the community has already told us. That's not there yet, that'll be useful. The last thing is pretty particular to me. I'm a good government person, it's one of my priorities. So I'll be interested to know there were some modernization efforts I saw in there, particularly for the police department. If there's anything else the city needs to modernize our programs, our services to be good for the community, that's another area that I'd be interested in as well. But overall, thank you very much. I think it's a great presentation and I really look forward to digging in in the work sessions and hearing from the community on what they want. Thanks. Thank you, Councillor Fulton. Team, did you have anything to respond to at this moment? I would just like to respond to Councillor Marra Fulton's comment about the outreach engagement. We are prepared after the mayor and council retreat if it's the will of the body to fund an outside consultant to engage in a plan we are prepared and we do have enough funds to move that into that area and we are anticipating that. Really glad to hear that. Thank you, Sue. Thank you. And I'm going to hold my questions to the NF to all of my colleagues go. With that, Council Member Van Grack. Thank you. First, Ms. Fersesco in the whole department. I just want to echo with the mayor and Council Member Fulton said, a fantastic job. I know how much work goes into this. I know that you've been, this is not just a couple of month thing for you. This is a year long endeavor. So excellent job. The detail is there. I know that we've gone back and forth a bunch this weekend. I know I've already been submitting kind of some questions, but I just have a couple of things I just wanted to address. One of which was I know there was one kind of point and question that I submitted to you and went back and I want to make sure that we understand kind of where I'm looking at, because I know that myself and just about all of my colleagues, as you noted in your presentation, prioritize this public safety, and that includes the police department. And I want to make sure that we're making our decisions with kind of the right understanding of where we're going with our funds. So as you aptly put, and directly, there's six full-time employees that we are being funded because of the reduction of services from Montgomery County. And I know that we're adding, and we're noting those addition. And so the question that I had, and I know you're probably going to get back with some figures, is if those are full-time employees that really had a place in Rockville before because of Montgomery County was providing the funding for those full time employees that are being replaced now is the funding levels that we're seeing in this budget for fiscal year 2025, 2025, including the funds that were receiving from Montgomery County in those editions or have that not been inputted yet? Inputted yet? The proposed budget includes the revenues for those positions and the associated expenditures for those positions. That's how I understood it and so that goes to my question. I'm sure when you'll get back to me in the details, I'd like to see what those figures and percentage differential is between Fiske Year 2024 and 2025 subtracting that out. Because I kind of view that as kind of a zero-sum game because we had that before. So it's not really a true increase in our services. It's more replacement for Montgomery County. So glad we understand that. I know you're going to get back me with this data. But I just want to make sure, because I know you were, we were going back and forth to make sure. And now that I understand that, and you understand that we should be in the right place. The other issue that I think in my comments to you this weekend, and I wanted to follow up is dealing with the community organization grants. And some of my concerns came from the different entities that are there. Again, because I know that this body, myself included, had a priority as you probably noted of public safety and security. I know for example the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department is included in that. And I'm kind of wondering whether that, and I know that in the past the mayor and council has had that in that same location within the budget. Whether that's really kind of a community organization as opposed to providing public service to the city. And I know that's not a time but I'm just kind of noting that it's I think something that during the work sessions we might be discussing. Similarly, and I didn't know, and I know that's not a time, but I'm just kind of noting that's I think something that during the work sessions we might be discussing. Similarly, and I didn't know, and I know you were probably getting back to me with the Rockville Sister Cities Corporation. There, I noted with the Charter of View Commission as a commission of the city, and whether we're funding that as part of the community organization grants, because they're also, as my understanding, their own entity as well. So, I know that you probably don't have an answer now as to where, but I think during the budget work sessions, it's something that I at least want to explore whether all of the community organization grants that we're looking at are truly placed in the budget of the proper location compared to what we're attempting to do with supporting. Because I know we also support a lot of wonderful nonprofits that are doing wonderful things in the city that I think I had followed up with some of my questions But I think we heard from the city manager that we are going to be receiving the application grants from those Community organizations grants so we understand what we're potentially funding as opposed to just the entity and I don't know if That's a question for you and city manager, but just to make sure that that is something that we're going to see That is correct. And also you will see who put in grants and who did not put in grants when you see that also because occasionally we do have some requests from outside agencies asking for money, but they did not necessarily participate in the process. Excellent. That's, obviously I've got a lot more things to talk about in the budget which we'll get to in the work stations but from an overall perspective that addresses what I need to. So thank you so much. And again, fantastic job. Thanks so much. Thank you, Councillor Overlay. I'm going to just co-sign everything both Council members, Fulton and Van Grack said having read through the city budgets for way too long. I'm always impressed, but I think that probably this year is one of the best, most clear laid out versions of the budget that I've had the honor to read. I have two points. I too have a lot of questions. I'm going to reserve a lot of them for email, per your request. I definitely will have some more that come up during the work session, but I also want to acknowledge that I agree with a lot of what my colleague said as well. I do want to note a couple of things. One that we need to also consider that vision zero falls under not only the implementation of our plans, but also public safety. So it can almost be like a double dip as I were. So I just wanted to note that. So I just wanted to note that. I have not seen in a pointed way or a comprehensive way rather the CIP ideas from the community. That would be helpful to know going forward. I think that they were in an dendom in a previous agenda, but not knowing what the community has asked of us to inform our decisions. I'm struggling a little bit with I'm looking at our overall budget and foring my own thought process. It would be helpful to see those submissions. And I know as a former community association leader, many of us go through a lot of a process to pull those ideas together. So that would just be, you know, and don't need them right this second, just down you know as soon as we can get them before probably are the next hearing if that's possible. So all of those submissions are considered part of the budget public record and what we did was attach those with the first budget public hearing that was November 20th and they will continue to be attached with the next budget public hearings as part of the budget public record as well as any other written testimony we receive as well as the survey response report all of those things will accompany the budget public hearing items and that makes that makes total sense and I thank you for that if I guess I'll organize it differently in my brain, I was literally just looking for like neighborhood idea, neighborhood idea because for me, if I'm going to look at, and thank you, by the way, for the link to the map, how much I love maps. But for me, as a visual learner, too, the CIP map helps me to determine where there are geographic disparities and deficiencies and where we're investing in communities. So for instance, I carve out around Episcopal's Gerald and Glenn view because although that is on the East side of the city, that is a, those are city wide spaces and not necessarily a neighborhood space per se. But for me in order to be thoughtful about it, I need to know what has been proposed, what has already been funded. And so kind of seeing all that is kind of my thought process on that note. And I think was I mistaken that you said that the latest update of the community budget survey was at the end of this agenda? Because I didn't see it in the agenda book. No, you'll see it with the next one. On Friday. OK, cool. All right. Because I was like, am I missing something? I'm like scrolling, seriously. Because that's another point too. If the data, if we have the data, and I'm really glad to hear that looking at staffing up, community engagement and outreach, then there needs to be a response to the data. We can't just be like, oh well, we're just not adhering from this part of the city. You know, we have to do something with that data to make sure, again, that equity is achieved. But thank you, and I'll look forward to seeing that and maybe coming up with a good game plan to address the deficiencies in the budget survey because I suspect the budget still are. Thank you. Any other comments from staff? There's one item that I do just want to clarify from Councilmember Fulton asking about youth programming. So while it doesn't maybe fit neatly into one of those big priority buckets, there is expanded youth programming in the FY 2025 budget. And those are things that we can dive into a little bit more as we work through our work sessions and we can try to highlight some of those items. Some of those do come through in the operating sections of the budget document, even though they may not necessarily rise to the level of falling squarely into one of our big priority areas. Thanks so much for getting back me on that. So we appreciate it. Thank you. Council Member Jackson and then Council Member Shaw. All right. Thank you, Madam Mayor. First, I echo all the comments of my colleagues. This is a really intensive process, and you guys have done a really great job both in terms of the briefings that we got, and that we continue to get the presentation that it was done tonight. You know, staff work has been just fantastic in terms of getting it out, getting it together. You guys really do a good job of helping me. I can't speak for anybody else up here, but helping me understand these numbers and what it means to the city. So thank you very much and please be patient with me as I struggle through it. I want to ask a little bit, or first I want to say that I really think that the 1FTE, the program act as a specialist with the recreation of parks, That is a great idea. It's something that I really think is needed in the city, working with people with disabilities and necessary accommodations. So I'm looking forward to finding out exactly what needs are identified through the work that this specialist does. I know I've asked a lot of questions over the weekend, and so I won't get into those. But I just wanted to ask real quick, the guidance or decision making process for making grants to community organizations, how, or how does as decisions get made. I will try that one. We received the applications from the outside agencies and this year on New Grant's Manager Abe took charge of them. He went up to the departments and found out their input as to what they might need, what they were. And that input in concert with what they received in previous years were factors in trying to figure out what level we should provide grants at. I think there was some acknowledgement that not all outside agencies are equal. So there's a thought that for example, if sister city went away, the city would probably be doing much of what sister city is doing ourselves because we would be maintaining our sister city relationships. And that means we have to do something if they work doing something. So there is an acknowledgement that some of those agencies are more inherent in the governmental function than others might be and so that is considered in there. And then finally decisions are made as to and ultimately I guess it's my decision that went into that process to make that decision. I am the one who took all that, took the recommendations and made a final decision. Oh, thank you. So my next question is on the CIP and the carryover. So we're talking about fiscal year 2025. I was just curious, is the carryover in the CIP greater this fiscal year than previous cycles or how does that work? So once we provide a project with an appropriation and that project gets underway, those appropriations don't, those appropriations don't last at the end of the year, like they do on the operating budget. So they carry over. That's why they're in the CIP, the CIP is set up intentionally to be multi-year with the understanding that it takes sometimes years to go through design and construction and that can take a while. So the carryover funds are just a reflection of what hasn't yet been spent, appropriations that were provided in previous years and he just haven't been spent down yet. Is this year's carryover larger than previous years? I can't tell you that off the top of my head, but it's not unusual that there are large carryover amounts. And sometimes this is just a factor of having a lot of things going on at one time. And projects are in different phases. And oftentimes this is another major factor. Oftentimes procurement requires that there be a certain level of funding appropriated before a project can be bid out. Because they don't want to bid out a project when there's not any funding or sufficient funding. So sometimes that means we're providing projects like outdoor pool renovation for instance, $10 million up front and it's not being spent right away but you have to demonstrate that the funding is there before you can go out and bid it. So, you know, it depends on how many projects are happening at any given time and how large they are. Thank you. Thank you for your indulgence in that manner. It's a couple more questions. And that leads actually to my next question. And it's just kind of a specific one, but it just brought up. So I figured I would ask it. So the senior center entrance. It's funded, the design is funded but there is no construction funding is that correct and so what happens then what will the mayor and council have to do to actually get that funded. We are anticipating that construction funding could not be used in FY25. It will be FY26 that we're going to need construction funding. And one of the things that is to that project, we have not yet received a good construction estimate based upon a good first design, a 35% design or so. So we're going to be looking for that milestone so that we can get a good cost estimate and then we can program that into the FY26 likely budget for possible construction funding. All right, and it's just fun, all the things. I reiterate the comments that were meant from my colleagues about community engagement and neighborhood engagement. I was a little bit surprised that there wasn't more emphasis on that in the budget. I realized that, you know, it's hard to make those decisions, but I really, really encourage that whether it's this budget or future budgets, because I think that's really important to get out and engage with the community and have that back and forth, that dialogue. So thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you. Council Member Shaw. I also want to echo my colleagues and thank the budget team for excellent work. Just a couple of questions. I know that the Jedi team is developing a plan and I do appreciate the first equity inclusion slide that we have here. Do you anticipate any additional costs from that plan, the Jedi plan that they're creating? There's an anticipation of perhaps a consultant to help complete the plan, but that's all at this time. Okay, and then my second question is I saw that there was an increase in the minimum wage, and I was just curious, what percentage of the temporary employees are going to be impacted by that increase? Or what, I'm sorry, what percentage of the personnel are the temporary employees that are going to be impacted by that increase? impacted by that increase. Most of our temporary employees reside within the Reckon Park Department. Whenever the minimum wage increases, it does oftentimes create compression within that temporary pay scale. The FY25 proposed budget not only provides funding to address the new and higher minimum wage, it also includes funding to address the compression. You don't want a recreation program supervisor making 25 cents more than the person that they're supervising because of those changes and adjustments. So that has already been factored into the budget. In terms of what I want to make sure I understand your question. What percentage of, what percentage of the personnel costs are temporary employees? Was that the question? Yes. Okay. I would be impacted. The people who will be most impacted are the rec and parks temps. In terms of a percentage, I could have probably have to do some math on the paper and get to an extra percentage of the paper and get to it. I don't know if it's going to break out. All right, thank you. Again, excellent work. Thank you. Thank you. Dr. Miles. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thanks, staff. Echo thanks of my colleagues, both for the review sessions and tonight's session. Thanks also for all the hard work that you all played into this. As I mentioned in our previous budget discussions, both this term and previous, I think I was kind of the doom and gloom person thinking about what's come around the corner, but because of very conservative estimates, conservative meaning, you know, being very fiscally mindful. You all left the city in a good position where, as you all outlined, no current predicted out-year property tax increases are look to be in the cards at this point, but again, hats off. I'm like a few other quick comments. And while, you know, property tax rates aren't increasing, we all know that anybody who owns property that are assessed values are increasing hits, you know, we're paying more anyway, but it's good to know that the tax rate itself is not going up. And then as you all appropriately know, we're still having to pay for services and keep up with the needed changes to make sure that our water, storm water, sewer, everything is maintained up to stuff. And we're working to do the various preventive measures to keep things from falling apart in the future. And for that, hence the increases as you all outlined. I am super excited that in the context of our public safety discussions, which have been discussed by previous colleagues, I'm glad that we're retaining the mental health specialist and thinking more broadly about how we fund budgets, you know, the biggest chunk that we get from our revenues is property tax, but I'm glad to see that you all have increased funding for business recruitment and retention. Businesses occupy a small share of city land about 13%, but contribute over 31 or 30% to our tax base of hats off our funding efforts to improve and retain business. I also want to note from a sort of employee standpoint, this is really good news from employees. So we're increasing, but some we're increasing the proportion of full-time equivalents as opposed to temporary workers. And that's significant for a number of reasons, at least in my estimation, the benefits that I associate with being a full-time worker. And it's just good for workers. It does mean that we have to be even more mindful in the out years because there are-less and people's salary generally increase that we continue to fund this. But I'm very happy about that. And I also happy that we're doing the, at least as it stands now, the elite buyback is part of the budget this year. I think that's all I have. It's just a lot of kudos, thanks, and I'm excited to see what's going to come. I will say as liaison to both the bike advisory committee and educational committee, I look forward to getting through the budget itself by my line to see what things are being proposed, CIP and otherwise for those. And that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you. I was just going to note that it was a little bit difficult. I heard every word but it was a little bit low so I'm wondering if there's a way as we're talking in the discussion because I would do want Dr. Miles to be able to be heard. It may be just us in the room versus who is online but if you could help us just make sure that his volume is up. Councillor Fulton. I just wanted to make one comment following up on what Council Member Miles said about, I'm also encouraged to see that we're doing right by the people that make this city run. I think that's critically important, just for the people that make the city run, but the residents, I will also want as we get into conversations to make sure we're doing right by the people that used to make this city run. And I'm talking about the pension plan. I noticed that there was no increase in the cola for the pension this year when there has been in the past. I think we have an obligation to do right by the people that have served this city for a long time. So I would look forward to more conversations about that and whether we can make room for that as well. Thank you. I will go for another round. I have a couple of quick comments. I will not go through all of my list. But I did want to know deeply appreciate where we are in the budget in terms of what we're able to do for all of our residents or what we're able to do for our employees as well as what we need to be doing right to bring more investment into the city. So I wanted to just note that I feel like this budget is very well balanced and speaks to what we need to do for each of our stakeholders and those who serve our stakeholders. Overall, I was very pleased and impressed. I did want to ask and make some comments about public safety. So we have all said that public safety is a priority. I wanted to just share an update that we are having negotiations comments about public safety. So we have all said that public safety is a priority. I wanted to just share an update that we are having negotiations with the county on the six additional officers in the rate of pay that we should be getting to make sure that we're not just getting their actual minus overtime but actually what it's going to cost to make sure that we can fully fund the police officers and be made whole on that. We had conversations with finance and Mr. Simano, I participate in my role as mayor, but also as president of the Maryland Municipal League of Montgomery, chapter. We're fighting very hard to make sure that we can get some increase there. So I just note that there is about a 500, 1600,000 differential between where we think the number should be and where the county is right now. So I'm just sharing a heads up to my colleagues that if the, where that, depending on where that stands, we have to come back and revisit. And we're not, that is not something that the financing has not done before successfully. So I just, a heads up that we may have to revisit. The second key area that we're having discussion about is the traffic light reimbursement level. So those are two key things that we're trying to fix in FY25 and hopefully we can get those done shortly. But it is a negotiation point. In terms of public safety I also just wanted to note in the community organization grants I know that there was a need from the Rockwell Volunteer Fire Department to support some of the vehicles that they need to make sure our city is safe. The department does so much work on a volunteer basis, many of our residents of volunteers. I do think it's important to try to see how we can support them. We have in the past help to make sure they have new trucks and have spaced out that funding over time. But that's something I am interested in us discussing when we have more opportunity during the work session. I have a general trends question. I know Mr. Simona knows that I've been kind of really watching this. But there's a lot of change happening on our commercial real estate market. It just so happens that this year we're very fortunate to make up some of those gains in terms of property value taxes. We have not increased them, but the value of properties has gone up and has been able to save us as well as we get about 17% of income taxes that gets transferred to us from the county. So that has helped to balance the budget, but we all know that the commercial real estate market is going through a state of transition. And I just think that is something that will need to continue to watch to make sure that as we look at not this fiscal year but 2627, are we on track and how can we make sure that we're getting the revenues we anticipate. So I just wanted to note that is a trend issue. I don't know if you want to say anything about how you are watching that. I know that's a percentage of revenue from our budget. Sure. We do obtain assessed values by property type. So we're able to look at commercial industrial mixed use residential. We're able to see, as I mentioned, when we went through the presentation, that we see growth across all segments. We were actually surprised to see commercial growing because we thought it might remain flat. And we were not previously forecasting increases as strong as they actually came in. So it is an area that we will need to continue to track and monitor and to your point Madam Mayor observe those trends. Thank you. If I could add additionally we know there's a correction out there. The office market is there's more office space out there than it's needed, than will be needed due to the post-pandemic not showing up, etc. And so correction needs to happen and that correction in our area looks like either bioscience or residential. And so it's incumbent upon us to keep our eyes and ears open whenever there's a good opportunity for a property to go residential. It's not bad, it's actually good because that's the sooner we'll make that correction happen. And so we're also going to our eyes and open for that phenomena, which we've already had some inquiries to that effect lately. So it's encouraging to see that we might not languish as long as others may, but there's a correction needed and we need to be prepared to allow that to happen. Thank you. And I'll just add, you know, the impact is if a commercial property stays vacant and they can write down what they believe their taxable assessment is, where we can convert to lab space or to housing or to something else that helps to then ensure that not only do we not have vacant properties sitting around but that we're serving the needs of our residents either through jobs or housing. So I know that I've been working with Ready and Mrs. Simino to make sure we're being proactive on that front, but I do think it's an important thing to turn wise for us to watch. I was also curious and I don't need an answer now, but we helped Rockville Housing Enterprise with a loan to support affordable housing in the city and it notes that there's going to be a payback. I would hope that some of that funds goes back into housing opportunity fund, but I wasn't clear reading the budget where that's and it notes that there's going to be a payback. I would hope that some of that funds goes back into housing opportunity fund, but I wasn't clear reading the budget where that's going back because we do want to have funding available to support housing in the future. The Housing Opportunities Fund is a restricted special activities fund. All 1.2 million is slated to go back into the Housing Opportunities Fund to be reused in the future to support affordable housing initiatives. Fantastic. Thank you. I really appreciate that clarification. Wonderful. And then in terms of, I won't get into every specific detail now, but how would you like us to weigh in on commentary on some of the KPIs or the performance measures? For example, there's some places where we should be measuring not just the number of applications that are appearing within a four-week period, but like percent of applications and permits a reviewing on time. It's that way in one department, but not in the other, but they both have permit reviewing processes. So I think they should be some level of consistency. Would you like us to just give you a list of them and then you can organize by department? Sure. I think if they're comments on performance measures, you can send them to us and we can disseminate those to the departments for their review and evaluation. Okay. One of them, it stuck out to me as, like maybe we could increase our goals for MFTV, for example, a state stagnant, but I know that's something we're trying to do more on. So I will be sending those over. In terms of looking at what has not been accomplished yet in FY 24 either through delays or supply chain, do you all tracking a list like that so that perhaps we could see? There's nothing that I'm currently aware of that is not going to make it through procurement because oftentimes that's what it is. The procurement has deadlines and if you're too late then maybe it doesn't go. Right now we're not aware of anything, but there's still some time left. I think as we get closer into April, we'll probably have a better sense of any items that might have missed the mark. And we can share those and we can reappropriate funding for any large initiatives if that's the will of the body. Thank you. And there was, I think at least maybe I can't remember which council member, one of my colleagues mentioned what is not happening. So one example is we had a lot of discussions about movies in the parks and small things like that. You can't really see in a big budget but like that. But how do we know if you're making cuts and areas like that? We have no plain cuts and those areas, but I would suggest if you have questions like that, that we either send them to us or we can get into each department by department, you can say, are we doing anything with movies in the park and things like that? But there was no cuts that we generated throughout there. So I think it's a program by program question if you would. Thank you. I just didn't want to have a situation where we don't know what to ask. So we don't know what's being cut. Is that what you come up with? No, I just want to, that was my point too. Like many of us are new. A lot of people have done their research and their homework, some than me. But like, if it's left us to ask, is there enough here? Where's this? We might miss something. So it might help to be proactive and flip that to what was asked and not granted, what was cut this year from last year. So it's more transparent. We will ask the departments when they come forward to try to summarize anything that they would are curtailing that they've done in the current year, just it may not be because of funding, just to make sure we can bring those to your attention. I was just going to, I agree with that and there may be instances where just public interest shifts, right? And so maybe it's, everyone loves pickleball and no one wants to play tennis anymore So we've converted some tennis courts to pickleball courts and that's actually happened That's actually a really good example or you know kids aren't into baseball as much as they are into the soccer now And so maybe you know reducing one and expanding the other and and those kinds of things do happen and you won't see that as a line item in a budget document, but our departments are definitely responsive to the needs and requests and changing appetites of the Rockbook community. Just to note that is not necessarily a factual example, it's an exemplary example, right? I'm just going to imagine the baseball folks saying wait a minute. Okay, just a few more. My colleague mentioned things about plans, right? And how we fund the plans like we're going to have a DEI plan. I know that we're talking about whether we're going to do a strategic plan. There's also the outreach plan. This also supposed to be the emergency plan that comes forward. So I'm interested to see making sure that those plans are listed in the performance metrics as coming forward. Because I know that I know that we're supposed to be doing some of them, but I couldn't see them specifically called out as that's something we're going to be delivering in FY 25. So that was one of the piece and if this funding needed that we are anticipating, want to make sure that we are planning ahead with at least some seed money. Perhaps the city manager's office has some contingency funds that can start some early activities. But I just didn't want to have plans that we couldn't do for another year, for example. Did you want to make a comment on that, Mr. Simino? I just want to, we spoke about this earlier today, but I just wanted to clarify that as a matter of fact, tomorrow at senior staff meeting, we're getting a report out on the COOP plan, continuity of operations plan, which is getting nearing the end and the emergency operations plan is getting ready for a kickoff, if you would. So I think what's happening is we may have to just report back to you a little more on some of these plans that are moving swimmingly along. So there's no bad news to give you, but sometimes we probably need to let you know that things are going well so you get that feedback if you would. But your point about some of those plans showing up in the milestones and the performance measures objectives, if you would, we'll go back through and take another look to make sure we're showing all the ones there. Fantastic. Thank you. We are undertaking every branding initiative. I know I spoke to Mr. Simino. I said that perhaps some of the items may not show up at that level in the budget. I just also note that we wanted to ensure that there's some signage and visibility about a round-off full town center that's not like a two or three thing year away that we can accomplish that in FY25. I'm seeing a shaking head. Is that an affirmative? Yes, okay. Okay. And then just to prepare so we can know what's going on during the budget process, will you be sharing with us by department things like the sidewalk list, HR, for example, the vacancy report? I know that we're not necessarily presenting some of those documents, but we're supposed to receive periodic updates. To the vacancy report, I have a vacancy report that I should be sending you probably tomorrow. So we plan on sending that to you a revamped report. We've taken out the positions that are funded in multiple funds. We're no longer listing them three and four times. We're listing them once and putting a note saying they're funded by a different department So it's a little cleaner for you and we will send you that that out be email. We'll send that to you monthly via email Fantastic in relation to Understanding what's happening and shifting or we get money. Highway user revenue what's happening and shifting where we get money. Highway user revenue, we know that there was a fix issued by the governor this year to go back to what we were expecting. It is anticipated that that fix will not be here next year. When you forecasted down the line, did you use the lower number or the higher number? I just think that's a number that we also have to watch as we think about forecasting not just for this year, but thinking five years ahead. So my understanding is that there would have been a change in legislation to overturn the higher funding levels that were established and put in place. And that did not happen. But my understanding is that that wasn't necessarily a one year fix and that it would take, it would take the general assembly to turn over the current legislation to bring those amounts down to lower levels. If it's something that we, regardless, will continue to track and monitor the current forecast anticipates reductions in highway user revenues. I believe beginning in fiscal year 28, which is consistent with the current legislation in place. If we start to see that that's going to change, or if that change does occur, then we will adjust the forecast accordingly. Thank you. Again, I think that's something to watch, because we're doing very well in terms of our revenues and managing a budget, but I didn't want any surprises, and I always want to plan for a worse case scenario so that we don't have to make any major adjustments in the future. So thank you for watching that, and I do, I have heard that this is of one year fix. So hopefully that won't be the case, but better to be safe than sorry. And then, small thing, but like last budget season, there was a lot of discussion about a lab rent happening. Is that still happening in the city? And we provided funding for the lab rent. And I believe that Reckon Parks is managing that process. And I do recall someone telling me I believe that record parks is managing that process. And I do recall someone telling me that some components had come in. I don't, I can't speak to the exact exact process. Okay, we'll get more feedback. But I just, that was on the order of what hasn't been done yet and I'll wait on track. It's definitely fully funded. And my understanding is that it's gone through procurement. It's been awarded. It's just a matter of working through and getting it all installed. Wonderful. Sponsorship is something we've talked about in the past. I believe there's going to be a sponsorship policy coming forward. And that's just an idea. We have to, in addition to increasing economic development to find additional revenues, we have to look at grants, we have to look at how do we get other sources of funding to do all the things we want to do because it doesn't all get covered by tax revenue. So I look forward to seeing that. And then I know my colleague mentioned this, but in general, I am also interested in getting more deeply involved. More deep information about some of the green climate action planning efforts that we are supporting to understand what is moving forward on the climate action plan based on that schedule, because there's an actual timeline provided in the plan. If we're not going to be on schedule or not funding something, then I would like to understand what we're not doing for that. For example, previously we pushed to add the composting as an element. It was in that year, but was not in the printed budget. So if there's something in the Climate Action Plan that is scheduled, that we're not doing, and that shit, what we were thinking about funding on that timeline, I would like to have that called out to us. I definitely want to see how we can expand the composting program, like that, especially down to the southern part of Rockville. We have two sort of northern locations, but none thing in the south. So that is something. We'll talk to when we get to the apartment level presentations, but I just want to give you a heads up. Councilor Valerie. So I had two more. I didn't realize that Madame Mayer was going to have so many, so now I feel like I have to keep up with you. No, we can't. I'm like, I have a bigger one. So, and again, if you don't have the answer right away, I'm not going to be upset about any of the following questions. What percentage of the personnel expenses are health insurance related? And if you don't have the answer, totally okay. But seeing the increase in the budget book for health insurance costs for employees and for actually for retirees as well, I want to put a firm support for a real tangible option, whether it's re-negotiations of existing plans, whether it is crafting a solution with surrounding jurisdictions, the more creative the better, but these increases, unfortunately, and I'm looking at Dr. Miles too, Council Member Miles, we know what the health insurance market looks like and we know what the market in Maryland looks like. So a certain level of increase is going to be, you know, that makes sense. However, this is at least the second budget in a row where the increase is so prohibitive. So knowing the percentage of the personnel costs will help me at least kind of gauge, you know, what is reasonable versus, you know, what is, which is not, right? But also, too, like I think it's just a matter of getting a little creative around the solution for how you can essentially get a better health insurance for employees. I know that the plans right now are not the plans with the largest networks in the state. And that's just a fact that I know for my own background. And so that then creates an additional burden on employees. If you can't find a physician or provider in the networks that the city provides, then you might be going out of network and it's got a spiling effect rather. So I want to put a very strong urgent plug in for some good solutions on the health insurance conundrum. The other percentage number total just for my own edification, maybe others. I would like to see and you mentioned it earlier around the youth programming. I was kind of trying to do it on my own, and then I got probably distracted by something else knowing me. The amount of funding, the city programming in dollar amount, for youth programming, and I want to compare it to the city investment and senior programming. We know demographic data. We know vulnerable population data. I'd like to see a comparison of that, because I think getting closer to parity, and especially given what we're seeing, that mental health struggles of both populations, but in particular, the juvenile justice issues that we're seeing in the city, I would like to see that for my own benefit, maybe others as well. And then finally, again, I'm just gonna throw this out there. No need to answer this. I'd like to know, looking at the existing CIP list, how has the community around Davis Skull been engaged around what will be happening at the park and to see where some intentionality behind the outreach there to be inclusive and have the surrounding community be part of the discussion, whatever happens at the park. So that's just it for me. I'll just make a comment that the health and since you raised the health insurance was the topic I talked a lot about last year because I think we had a 20% plus increase in one of the plans, not both. At that time, staff said that they were going to be doing some homework to look at other plans, we negotiate this year that increases 13.2% for one of the plans again. So just the heads, it sounds like they will be interested in just understanding where we are in that review process. We have an outside consultant. We are going through a very deliberate process. The process this year to explore alternatives and compare ourselves to other municipalities etc. So we will keep the marine council informed as that progresses. Thank you very much. And I will also just echo the comments on just the youth programming. I know that Dr. Miles and I talked a lot about this last term. I know this body really supports that. I think it relates very closely to what we're seeing in terms of juvenile engagement. I'm happy that we are celebrating some of the accomplishments of our young people. I'm happy that we are celebrating, you know, some of the accomplishments of our young people. I'm happy that we have leadership and training programs through Reckham Parks. There may be something that we need to do more in terms of at-risk youth because we know that Maryland Department of Dubin-Eyes Justice System is completely underfunded and there is a need to support children at risk as well. So I did see increases in wrecking parks, but I wasn't sure if that was targeting that audience or if I didn't see that related increase in HCD, which is our housing and community development that specializes in that kind of work. So just a heads up that something that would be helpful to understand. Council move and crack Just really briefly. I'm not gonna go through As I said before all of my issues, but I just want to echo a few things That my colleague said number one You probably will see from my comments one of my Issues is concerned and make sure that we're fully funding the climate action plan I know there's some wonderful additions and some wonderful following throughs, but I want to make sure that we're doing everything we can in that endeavor. Number two, echoing what the mayor said, some of my comments that I talked about before and in my comments that I've sent over, deal with the Rock of Olmde Fire Department. They've put together some significant expenditure needs and I'm concerned that we're not necessarily addressing those needs the way that is necessary. So I want to echo what the mayor said and I also want to echo what Councilman Revolten said. And if some of my comments will be addressing that as well but making sure that our employees and those past employees are seeing the proper COLA increases with regard to their retirement I think is also something that we need to make sure. So I know my comments address that, but with regard to those advocacy positions, I just want to echo what my colleagues have said. Thank you for introducing the budget. Again, very well done, very balanced, and I hope that we've been able to give a little bit of a signal of, you know, discussions we will have so staff feels prepared with what we're gonna ask and we'll also follow up with some written questions as well well done thank you we are going to take a quick break let's be back in about five minutes thank you City Mander to release and extinguish an existing water-mitted easement on lot 25 block A wheel of fortune at 1151 fortune in terrace. I'll entertain a motion. Councillor Mervangrack. I would move that the Mayor and Council authorize the city manager to release an extinguisher and exist a water meter easement on lot 25 block A will a fortune at 1151. Thank you. Do you have a second? Second. Councillor Mufalton has seconded. All those in favour? Please raise your hand and say aye. Aye. It is unanimous. Thank you very much Next we'll be hearing on a presentation regarding the FY 25 proposed federal earmarks Good evening Madam Mayor members of the council. Thank you for this opportunity Tonight the mayor council will discuss the proposed 2025 federal earmark requests and approved projects that they would like to submit to the federal delegation. The staff suggested projects which are ranked in suggested priority order are included in the attachments to your briefing materials. Through engagement with the federal delegation staff and city staff participation in webinars held by Senator Cardin's, Senator Van Hollins and Congressman Raskin's offices, staff cleaned and important information. We've applied it to develop the proposed suite of competitive projects that would position the City well to potentially receive an FY25 earmark reward. City staff has suggested four earmark projects that are focused on public works department, core services relating to water and sewer service provision with an emphasis on equity focus areas. There is follows. One led service line inventory investigation project that requested $500,000. One disadvantaged community Orangeburg lateral replacement project that requested $ 2,520,000. One disadvantaged community wastewater collection system rehabilitation project at a request at 2.416 million. And one disadvantaged community water may rehab improvement project at a request of 2,576,000. There are key points that staff learned from the delegation staff that we want to highlight to the mayor and council. The earmark projects must be shovel ready, which means that design must be complete and it needs to be ready to bid. Projects must be implemented within approximately a year after the award of funding. Earmark are meant to help a project get to the cross the finish line, but not to cover the full cost of a project. Projects will be delayed until the city knows whether any have been selected for consideration. If a project is selected for consideration for an award, work cannot resume until federal funds are received, which is about 12 to 14 months after seminal. At Attachment B is a detailed listing of public works and recreation and parks projects that may be of interest to the mayor and council and answers to questions about why these projects may not be suitable and don't meet the eligibility requirements for an FY25 earmarked Seminole. Staff very recently learned that the Senate Seminoal earmark date has been moved to March 15th. The House earmark's submittal date has not been set yet. The later due date might be related to the new FY24 continuing resolutions that will now expire on March 8th and March 22nd. Staff is requesting that the mayor and council discuss, select and approve, and set the order of priority for the Rockville projects that will be submitted to the federal delegation. The submittles will require two letters of support for the project, a letter for the mayor and council, and the Environment Commission will qualify. Public staff work staff is in the process of crafting letters and has been coordinating with the Environment Commission. Staff will be asking for approval for a member of the body to work with staff to get the letters finalized and submitted to the delegation. And per an email sent by staff at 5 p.m. this afternoon the Public Works Department received a request from Montgomery County for a letter of support from the City of Rockville for one of their earmark projects. And Ms. Erick and excuse me, Ericka Schingera is online virtually and she'll be providing an overview to the mayor and council if they would like to hear more about this request. And if interested, staff is recommending if the mayor and council wanted to support it. They could consider voting to approve it under only business. Ms. Shingara? Thank you very much. Members of the council, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection requested a letter of support for federal funding to expand their new healthy, efficient, electrified, climate-adapted pilot project, also known as HEAP. It's a new grant program that funds one to five nonprofits that can repair and retrofit homes of income eligible community members to make them safe, efficient and resilient to climate change and help preserve and protect housing for vulnerable communities. Eligible projects include electrification of heating and cooling in domestic water systems, asbestos testing and removal, window repair replacement, roof replacement electrical, panical upgrades, radon mitigation system, flood insurance, and other measures. This is important because some of the weatherization, solar, and energy efficiency programs. A lot of times the projects can't move forward without these important health and safety related improvements. So it fits a need and fills a gap so that these houses can take advantage of other programs. It's for the targeted population is a grant program for low to moderate income residents, which our households with an income below 85% of the area median income from Montgomery County. And it supports both our Jedi and climate action plan initiatives. If you have any questions, please let me know. Thank you. So staff is available to answer any questions we have acting director Jim Woods from Public Works and director Chess Nutt from Recreation and Parks is available online and we look forward to the mayor council's discussion. Thank you. Thank you. Can I, before I take a couple questions, can I just discuss, I know you listed in their eligibility. In the past, we've worked on or submitted like hardcore physical projects, right? The Montgomery County program, which I very much like and support, and I know we're gonna talk about it under old and business and folks are gonna raise motion to move forward in supporting that. But that is more like serving under sort of communities and it's sort of a grant program if you will is that right? So how is it that we have not been able to submit projects like that in the past and focus more on Physical funds finds they're existing they have 1.5 million dollars for this new program and it's for their nonprofits to do that We didn't get the details today of what they're applying for for these federal funds, but they're exploring different options. I think it's fantastic. I'm just wondering, you know, it seems like we have a lot of areas of need in terms of equity and supporting underserved communities. And, you know, we have, we're putting forth physical, so to CIP projects. So I was just curious as to why we would not have something like that. Good evening, members, Mayor of Council. Can you be okay? Just having an area. Good to have you in person. Yes, thank you. So the way we understand the programs. Sorry, is your mic on? Yes, I believe so. Okay, perfect. I can hear you fine. All right. The way we understood the eligibility requirements and the way we structured our proposals was that the primary focus is not ongoing operating expenses. If this is one time funding, so if the funding were appropriated, it would support the current fiscal year, but there would be no obligation for a continued funding source. So that's why we have focused more on capital projects that are shovel ready and that we all the other eligibility requirements to not have a big spike in a program that then will go away in the future years. Thank you. And Jess, since you mentioned eligibility, the projects we'll pose have to already have design done, correct? So there's a limited number of projects that you can pull from for that if we're going the CIP route. So I'm seeing shaking heads for those who are in the audience. Okay, thank you. Council Member Valeriy, I see your hand up. Please proceed. Great. So this is actually really helpful. And again, it's going to be the refrain up from me during budget season. I love maps. Maps are, I'm a visual learner. So that is really terrific. My first question is, in looking at the highest percentile of disadvantaged community members, it says that there is an earmarks application. What is that application for? earmarks application. What is that application for? Right, so the proposed programs that are in your in your brief book are structured to align with this geographic area. So the sewer line replacement program, the lateral replacement program, and the water may rehabilitation program would all be focused within this geographic area that meets the eligibility requirements for a disadvantaged community. So all of those essentially note the, I'm looking at the map, the purple-shaded census tract as a justification, but the funding would go toward this area and beyond in the city. Is that my understanding? No, the funding would only be this area and beyond in the city. Is that my understanding? No, the funding would only be spent in this area. Okay, all right, cool. That's what I was like a little unclear because it was very clear on the other side of a 355, the water rehabilitation project. So that makes sense. So thank you for that. This is going to be probably not surprising anyone here but my greatest disappointment so far in this entire discussion is the status of the Twin Brook pedestrian bridge. The last update prior to the election was that a site would be proposed to Marin Council in July of 2023. And I'm doing this because I know it wasn't just you. Mr. Woods, but I'm also looking at our acting city manager as well because you were in your role at DPW. Nothing was proposed to that mayor and council, no site selection, even though you've got direct community input on it. Perhaps you were not in agreement with what the community proposed. That's neither here nor there. If you're soliciting an input and not doing anything with it, which is March 4th of 2024. That is to me completely unacceptable, completely unacceptable because now you see what, and this is what at the time, before I was elected, this is what I kept saying. We're not good, if this is not pushed forward, we're not going to have it ready in time for bond bills. We're not going to have it ready for things like airmarks and low and behold, now we're not because of the lakes. And I understand that it's been put forward for other federal grants. Completely understand that. However, in this document, you note, a crossing location has not yet been selected. Well, because you didn't put it forward. So how are we going to get positive now? How are we going to fix this? How are we going to move this forward? And how can I tell my neighbors back in Twinbrug that this, the folks in City Hall do care about this because people are continually asking me about this. Unbidden, I wish this kind of surprising, because I always talk about the bridge, right? I just find this completely infuriating and frustrating. And I am very hopeful that in the future, in the future that we'll get to a better spot. In the future, that will get to a better spot. This project, the Twin Brook pedestrian bridge that you refer to is not in the airmark list that you suggested is in our CIP. It is awaiting news of a federal grant. The project to be blunt is too large for a bond bill, way too large for a bond bill, and perhaps not competitive for an earmark. It is competitive for federal grants, and that's what we're focusing on. Right now we're focusing on money to do the planning and design of the bridge. So we can get to that point where we have a project recommendation. We have going back and forth with BF Sol, we've going back and forth with community on several options to do this. And we're waiting that result from the grant process now to go forward. Can I ask, I know that we've talked in a lot of us care deeply about the Tuumburg pedestrian bridge. I know that we submitted I think at least two federal grants. Is that right? Two? Is it one or two? It's one planning grant proposal that applies to two separate federal programs. Correct. Okay. One grant application for Correct. Okay. So that is just for the planning side. So what about the design work that's been done so far? Right, so when we started the design work and we met with the Tumber community, we talked to Omaada, we talked to B.F. Saul, a lot of different stakeholders. What we really realize is that the project is very, very complex as you all know. And the only way that we feel it could be accomplished is through a very competitive federal grant application that will seek out and appropriate a large amount of money under these federal programs. And in order for us to be competitive in those construction and implementation grants, we felt it necessary to first do a very thorough planning analysis of four different options that would evaluate not just the construction feasibility and the construction cost, but also develop a benefit cost ratio, which is a requirement when we go seek out federal implementation grants. So in October of 2023 we did apply for a planning grant through that program and we're expecting to hear whether or not we have received that planning funding any day now. Originally told us that they would announce the awardees in February 2024, obviously, where in March now we have not yet heard. But we are still hopeful to get some funding to do a very thorough planning and preliminary design initiative. So some of the prior design initiatives that we have already completed really proved to us that this is going to require a much more in depth and thorough planning analysis and one of the pieces of the scope of work that we're seeking through this analysis is also the preparation of a competitive implementation grant operation. So that's what we're looking forward to. And upon notice of whether we're awarded the grant or not, we will proceed either one direction or come back to the mayor and council for further direction on how to proceed if we are not successful at that federal planning grant. Thank you. And you have a sense of one that coming back, did you say that? I know that you were anticipating it already, but do we have an update on when we're supposed to know? We were supposed to hear it very right but no update yet okay I'm asking because I know that several projects only allow for shovel ready and so the more we delay design then that means we won't be able to apply for shovel ready opportunities. Yeah we did not expect to have obviously we don't be able to apply for shovel ready-out opportunities. Yeah, we do not expect to have, obviously we don't expect to have it ready to award or seek the award of our construction implementation grant for next federal fiscal year, but when we complete the planning analysis and again it's a bit more thorough direct thorough planning initiative we will have. We will have a thorough planning initiative. We will have. Sorry, I'm not going to call out the person, but you can see online Ms. Taylor-Farrell, who is not muted. If we could just make sure everyone is muted, who's not speaking at this point. Thank you. OK. Sorry. So we had we had planted to. It is a co-host within the beginning name as I believe that was. We still get in the feedback. We're good. Now I lost the journey. We still get in the feedback. We're good. Okay. Now I lost the journey at time, sorry. We talked about planning and that design needed to be able to even apply for future. Oh, sure. Right. Of course, if we don't begin this thorough planning initiative until after we hear word on the federal grant, we are not going to be positioned to apply for a construction implementation grant this next cycle of the program. The program last several years, we are positioning ourselves to apply for a federal grant in the next cycle, which at that point we will have a very competitive application. If we saw an implementation grant at this juncture, it simply would not be successful. Thank you. I just would note that this is a topic that we'd like to just maybe get periodic updates on given its interest. And then back to the federal earmarks and I'll go, I see Councilman Van Grack, I see Council and Vellieri. You have a cook valve on this topic. So just from a budgetary perspective, this project had been appropriated through design, correct? So where does this additional planning that's needed as far as budgeting for that? Where does that fall? So the prior appropriations for the budget funded both the planning and design elements. So obviously when we apply for a federal grant it has a local share. A portion of that funding will go towards the local share to conduct the planning analysis. There will still be funds available to continue into the final design and bring that project all the way forward through design. And just note, on attachment B, there are a number of topics that the City of Rockville staff as well as mayor and council members have shared interest in supporting on page it's on 64. Very, very worthy projects but for one reason or another is deemed currently ineligible so I just wanted that listening public to know where to look at that list and see that there were things we wanted to try to put on but we're not ready yet. With that said just so that we can have a discussion up here and the past we've submitted about three ish. Are you looking for us to pick the top three, or can we submit all four? We can submit all four. There's no limit. And this applicants are encouraged to submit a number of projects. Okay. Of the ones, I know that there's, it's not the highest dollar amount, but I do like the lead detection program that will help to identify, not that the city water is in good shape, but just making sure that our residents, what the attachments to their home, don't expose themselves to lead because of the age of their property. So that is something I just wanted to call out is a nice project and needed project, and I hope we get support for it. Council move, Ren Gregg. Thank you. and I hope we get support for it. Council member Rengrack. Thank you. First, the project we've selected are excellent. I know we've talked about some of them Mayor and I with the Environment Commission and dealing with the disadvantaged communities. I think they're spot on. I think they do a great job. Two things I didn't wanna add, and I think it's for two of us that you're here now, similar to what council member Valerii was talking about on attachment B, because believe it or not, the twin brick pedestrian bridge and the Hurley Avenue bridge replacement were two issues that I actually have a series of questions to the finance department with regard to the budget. And so I think they're important things, and I know that you really can't answer everything with regard to why we're going, but there's no doubt as perfect as the enemy of the good. These are two specific bridges that won a creation of a bridge and won the repair of a bridge that are very important. And I understand the need, I mean, if you look at the budget right now with regard to the twin brick pedestrian bridge, there's already been $43,000 expanded by the city of Rockville, which regard to some planning implementation. And we've got an estimated 356,000 that we're talking about in the future with regard to planning before we get to that federal grant stage. If we get to the point, and I think it's coming real soon, where we might not be able to get some federal dollars with regard to that planning, we've got to make action. This is something that I think is necessary. So I think you probably heard from numerous people up here, numerous members of this body that really are saying, listen, I understand there's an opportunity for us to get funding with regard to the planning. But if we start waiting with that, we're just going, as you can see, we've missed just a couple of months, we're going to miss in this simply because we're not shovel ready. And so to the extent that there's an avenue to push forward, we'd like to see that. Secondly, with regard to the early avenue, I know that we've got 2013 bridge assessment that we've got a concern here. And I don't know whether you all are the right people to ask because I know I asked of the staff with regard to the finance. My understanding is we've got the NEPA issues, the National Environmental Policy Act, and we've got my understanding because either we have or haven't done yet an EIS or an EA, and with regard to funding, I know that my understanding is we've got the federal dollars. We just need to do the NEPA analysis to move forward. Is my understanding of that correct? Not completely. Yes, it is subject to the NEPA requirements, but this project has actually already gone through the initial phase of that process. And it's been deemed what's called a categorical exclusion, which means that it doesn't have to go through the full process. And so that initiative has already taken place, and we're about to approach the final design stage of the project. Okay, so basically because of that exception, we're able to move forward and with regard to the money that is already deemed appropriate and gotten from the federal government with regard to the brisjor placement. That's correct. All right. Thanks for that clarification, because that actually addresses my questions that I had with regard to the budget. So thank you. Thank you. Does anyone have any other questions? If not, then we should give staff direction to move forward with this list. May I have Madam Mayor? Dr. Mouse. Thank you Madam Mayor. Sorry, I know I'm virtual. I just see me. I only have a recommendation in terms of priority, but I'm supportive of all for I think a lot of keeping the lead service pipe service requests first. I think in my opinion, waste work collections is a higher priority, so I make that to what are made we have three and then the Orangeburg lateral placement four. That's all. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Miles. Do we need to give you a prioritization or is the list okay? Do you like us to rank? Yes. Do we need to give you a prioritization or is the list okay? Do you like us to rank? Yes, of course. Perfect. So is everyone okay with all four? Let's start there. Perfect. Yes. So I'm just going to go down the line and let's give our list. Dr. Mous, you've started and so come to a full tin D1 go next If not I'll start on the other side. No, I think I can go and I think it's what doctor my I would go 1324 Waste water collection number three moving up to number two in order prioritization Does that track? You all got me on that? Staff will. It's making the list. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Council member Vellere. Okay. Council member Jackson. Yeah, I'm just gonna trust staff. So one, two, three, four. Council member Michelle. I also trust staff 1 2 3 4. Thank you. Council move and Greg. I apparently trust Dr. Miles. I'm going 1 3 4 2. I think I've also shared that I would like the lead one to be pushed up on the list and I'm fine with the rest. I think that's a really critical one for the safety of our residents. Just a point. Let is number one on the staff party list as well. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember Valeri. I'm most likely outvoted on this one, but I would push to up only because the environmental impact in addition, we know the environmental impact and the health impact of lead, no doubt, but the pipes, the Orangeburg lateral replacement, the risk berk lateral replacement, the risk to not only groundwater, but in addition, our creeks in that part of the city would be immeasurable, and we've seen some bad outcomes. So that would be my only change. I am not, you know, I'm definitely movable on it, but I have literally seen that one in action, and I know it's pretty bad. So you're putting number two as number one? Yeah. OK. Thanks. Team, do you have what you need? I think you have a fantastic fine order here. I do support Councilman Valerary as well. I think the lead is critically important. So those that would be my top to you anyway. So do you need us to make a motion to approve these? Yes. Okay. All right. I'll entertain the motion. Council move, Larry. I move that we directs. Are we directing staff on this move? Direct staff to submit. Okay. The proposals. Gotcha. I move that we direct staff to move forward with these earmarks as discussed. Council, Ms. Shaw seconds. Hallows in favour, please raise your hand and say aye. I want a point to see if staff has any clarification requests. Just one other point we are asking for a member of the body to work with staff to prepare the mayor and council and the Environment Commission Letters. If the mayor and council would do that approval. We appreciate it. I'm happy to. I think you've already, we, January 22nd, I'm, I'm sorry to be able to work with you all in letters for this matter, so I'm happy to do that. Thank you very much. Thank you. In give the comments or questions related to this agenda item. Thank you very much. I'm just seeing what spring so I want to make sure there is anything else that we need to do to support you. Okay, we're good on this one. All right, we are now moving to agenda item 11, introduction, discussion and instruction. For the purposes of items 11A through E, we will just be doing introduction of each of these. So no need to second or make motions. So I'll just move and to obtain introductions at this point. So let's start off with 11a. Who would like to introduce? Council member Fulton. I'll move to introduce the ordinance to appropriate funds and levy taxes for fiscal year 2025, or I just simply introduce it. Introduce it. Thank you. All right. 11B is introduction of a resolution to establish the equivalent residential unit rate to be used in calculating the stormwater management utility fee pursuant to chapter 11 entitled sediment control and stormwater management of the Rockville City Code and to establish a fee for application for credit against the stormwater management utility fee for private stormwater management fees. I just see Ms. Finchisco took the seat at the, do you want to say anything about these items are just available to us in case we have questions? I'm just here. If there's any questions. OK, perfect. Team, does anyone have any other questions before we move to introduction? Perfect. Looks like you're off the hot seat tonight. I will entertain an introduction of item 11b. Council move and crack. I would like to introduce a resolution to establish the equivalent residential unit rate to be used in calculating the storm water management utility fee pursuant to chapter 19 entitled sediment control and storm water management of the Rockville City Code and to establish a fee for application for accredited against the storm water management utility fee for private storm water management facilities. Thank you very much. We'll now move to item 11-C, Introduction of Resolution to Establish the Service Chargerate for Municipal Refuse Collection and to Establish a Charge for Unreturn Refusing Recycling Cards, Presuit into Section 20-6 of the Rockville City Code. Councilor Jackson. Thank you, Mayor. I would like to introduce the resolution to establish the service charge rate for municipal reference collection into establish a charge for unvertured refuse and recycling carts pursuant to second 20-6 of the Rockville City Code. Thank you. Next we have item 11D, introduction of an ordinance to amend chapter 24 of the Rockful City Code entitled Water, Suez and Suez Disposal by amending Article 3 entitled rates and charges to establish new water and sewer charges and water and sewer ready to serve charge for fiscal year 2025 through fiscal year 2027 and to establish a fee for the after-pissed hours water connections. Councillor Moussa, did you want to do this one? Introduce. Okay. I had a question about that. Yes, please do. And so, could you kind of share the scenario where a resident would need to pay the $100 fee? Would this be if the water is shut off? Could you share that scenario of the after-hour? So just just want to make sure I understand your question. Are you saying what type of scenario would this occur on? Yeah, because I'm wondering if a family is not able to pay and they do need water and it's after hours, would that scenario happen and they would have to pay the $100 fee? So for clarification, the resolution, I'm sorry, the ordinance, chapter 24 does include shut on and shut off fees. Are you specifically talking about the establishing the fee for after business hours water connections. Yes. Okay, so that is a new fee that's being proposed to be added to chapters 24. And I'll let Jim take it because this does sit with the public works, but it's not just, it's not about a residential family that would be cut off for nonpayment. It's a little bit different and I'll let Mr. Woods explain. Yes, thank you. So the intent of this fee is that if there were an event that required the city to come to your property and shut the water off after hours, many times this happens when a commercial business is doing some maintenance on their fire protection system or some other type of maintenance and they require the city to come and shut the water off and then come back and turn the water back on. There is a cost to the city to do that. We have to send staff out to be present while that occurs. And so this is an attempt to recoup some of that expense that the city pays. Okay, thank you. Do you have any other questions? Can I ask wish us? Okay, all right. So comes from Van Grack, would you like to introduce? I would like to end, as noted on page 86 of the agenda packet, I would like to, as noted on page 86 of the agenda packet, I would like to introduce an ordinance to amend chapter 24 of the Rockville City Code entitled Water, Sewers and Sewer Disposal by amending Article 3 entitled Rates and Charges to establish a new water and sewer uses charges and water and sewer ready to serve charges for fiscal year 2025 through fiscal year 2027 and to establish a fee for after business hours water connections. Thank you. Next we have item 11e, introduction of resolution, amending master fees for community planning and development services, Council of Mavillary. I would like to introduce a resolution, amending master fees for community planning and development services. Thank you. And I see Councillor Mishaw has a question. I also have a question on this one. Go ahead. So I know under this item there is an increase in rental fees and I was just curious are there any provisions to prevent these increases to be pushed to the tenant and this is under chapter 18. I don't believe there are currently any provisions from what I understand that this is an annual license fee that hasn't been updated in some time, but I can certainly understand you're concerned with that. And I'm not certain if there are provisions elsewhere in the city code, but it's certainly something that staff could look into. in the city code but it's certainly something that staff could look into. All right, thank you. Thank you. Last year the Mayor and Council approved the 10% automation fee. So since we're just getting this now, this is mean for the first half of the fiscal year we haven't been charging that 10% fee. No, the fee has been charged for the first half of the fiscal year. The reason that you're seeing that in some of these subsections is for transparency and clarity, really. The automation fee was intended to be applied to all permanent and application fees, and in review of the resolution, staff felt that it was potentially unclear that that was across the board. MS. MS. Thank you. And I will – when this comes under for a follow-up discussion later, but I want to give you a heads-up on it. The Department of Energy introduced an app called Solar app, and it's supposed to really expedite solar permitting. And it seems like you know about it because you're shaking your head. But I was just wondering if the app is free to the government. And it works with our permitting systems. Why would be charging an extra $30 for that? So the $30 charge charge there are two ways that municipality can utilize the solar app plus program. One is to essentially use it as a standalone program and then allow users to upload the documents that they received through that back to our program. The other is to integrate it with our program. And in that scenario, the municipality could collect the fees and essentially pay NREL, you know, proprietor that fee because there is a $25 fee currently for that service for the applicant through Solar App Plus and we are anticipating if there are any processing charges as well for that. Okay, that's very helpful so we're proceeding on the use of Solar App. It sounds like. That we, so we have that listed as an additional fee so that implementation of that will be easier when we are ready to launch with that. We're still working on it but it is something we've been exploring for some time and we're excited to hopefully move forward with. And are you anticipating an FY24 we can move forward with us? In FY 24 or I'm not certain that we will be able to implement it before the end of this fiscal year but we will be able to implement it next fiscal year. Okay, the earlier in the fiscal year the better. Yes, that's our goal as well. I have heard from some residents that the solar panels are sitting on their roofs but they're not quite getting energy from it yet but it's just kind of pretty indicative so anything we can do to exploit the process so that we're saving energy and meeting our climate action goals fully support. So that would be great if you could just let us know what you're targeting for FY25. Hopefully not Q4. Absolutely. All right. Any other questions from my colleagues? Okay. Thank you for allowing me to get out on that a little bit. I appreciate it. All right. So we are now done with all of the introductions will move to Mac agenda agenda item 13. And I did want to know a couple things under this. One is we have a large number of consent agenda items. I know I've mentioned this to the city manager, but in the event that we don't have so many today, but then we have 19 and next week, even though it's quick to approve, we do like to read what we're approving. So just if we can smooth out one possible some of these so that we're not running out of the alphabet letters to name these agenda items. You will not have 18 consent agenda items at that meeting. Some have already been moved. Okay. Thank you. That's very, very helpful. We do want city business to continue moving. We just want to smooth it out if that's possible. Okay. Any other, and then the other thing for this section is, this section used to be called future agendas. Now it's called mock agenda which really focuses on the very next agenda. So just to give some flexibility to my colleagues, can we change the name of these in the future to future agendas? Who needs to respond to that, Ms. Farrell or Taylor Farrell or Mrs. Simitant? So you want it to say mock and future agenda's again because that's how it was in the past. Yeah, it gives us some flexibility if we want to bring up agenda and the mock if you're including the prior meeting. Okay, thanks. That would be helpful. Thank you. Councilor Van Grag. With regard to the mock agenda, just thought I know we definitely have some consent agenda items. We've got five proclamations and we've got a public hearing on the budget and the budget work session. We've talked about doing this in the past. Is it worth it to have our proclamations started? 630 to potentially give a 30 minute window to move things up. Knowing I'm not making any concrete predictions, it's probably going to be a lot of discussions going on there, both from the public and from this body. And having an extra 30 minutes to do the proclamations, which there are five, might be valuable to the body and the timeliness of staff who's going to be with us as well. I don't know if the body is any thoughts or staff is any thoughts, but just a minus review. Well, one is I just want to check in with staff to see if we have any briefings scheduled that day, but I also think that we have to add an agenda item to this meeting, which is the operating guidelines. So we would need to start earlier, because right now we're slated to end at 10.45. But I wanted to hear from my colleagues to use support changing that. Consumable Dr. Miles and then Consumable Larry. Thank you Madam Mayor. I think I'm certainly open more broadly to making needed changes to schedule on Monday's meeting so that we're in at a reasonable time. I don't want to, I don't I guess, mansplain but I think customer defaulting sent an email to a list with regard to a plan and I think Madam Mayor you opined on how to deal with proclamations in such more prospectively moving forward. So happy to have that discussion either tonight or at the retreat or in any other format, you all deemed appropriate. That's all. Thank you, Dr. Miles. I appreciate that. Just for the listening public, we're going to be discussing what goes on for proclamations and recognitions versus not. Do we consider the time of when we do them? Do we consider sharing some publicly or just posting some online? That's something that we had planned to talk about during a strategic planning session. And we need to just figure out whether we put that on a future agenda or schedule on a Monday meeting. But I just – that is something we still have to address if we could at least after strategic planning meeting discuss when we're going to address it if we don't have time. Councillor Valerie. Senator, I appreciate what Councillor Member Van Grack brought up and it's something that I think has been known that I've been struggling with since our first retreat and actually, even before that, that we have a lot of work to do. And if we want to do it in a thoughtful, measured, informed way, we need to either, either and or start the meetings earlier so that we do not give short shrift to anybody until we get to a point where we made a decision about proclamations. Right? But, you know, I know that there was initiative to consider, you know, more time between meetings. And as a body, we really talked about not having late night meetings. I will say in order for us to be measured and thoughtful, we've had to go late the last two meetings. And even then I know, at least for myself, I kind of cut myself off from speaking, because I was like, oh, you know, it's getting late. And Madam Mayor, you've always been good about like, you know, it's 10.30. But the reality is, we don't have less to do to ensure the city is functioning, to ensure that, you know, programs are getting, you know, the attention that they deserve, and now that with budget season, I really think that the initial schedule that we discussed, which at the time I said, these are quite frankly not enough meetings. That really needs to be reviewed. And I, like Councilmember Dr. Miles, said, I don't know if this needs to be the discussion now. I don't if you we want to take time at the strategic planning meeting to talk about this because there's really no strategy It's kind of more of an administrative thing, but again, I think the the core reality is that there is more work to do Then the number of of meetings that we have slated right now So I just want to flag that I think that that will alleviate some of these issues. Thank you. I know that's a larger discussion. And this particular agenda item is focused until we change it on future agendas is focused on this mock agenda. So I do want to just note, see if everyone is open to meeting earlier given that the city manager has mentioned that there is not briefing scheduled or anticipated for that date we also don't have a drop in date so sometimes we also have to deal with drop in and make sure that we allow space and time for that so if you could just let us know sorry okay so let me just double check no that's April 8th. Droppin does April 8th. Droppin's the first meeting in every month, okay? Yes, sir. March 18th, we do not have droppin, the next droppin is April 8th. But given that we don't have those two things, our folks able to make 630 work, I'm just gonna do a straw poll. You know, you know. Okay, so you need to stay at seven. Okay, so we will be missing one person and cannot, and we'll like to keep it at seven. Is that the preference? Okay, yeah, so we'll keep it at seven. Um, we still do need to figure out the operating guidelines discussion, so that means we'll go later that day. Staff, do you have any commentary? I see some reactions there. I'm just wondering if anyone has any other comments before we move on. You're good. Okay. Are you okay to add operating guidelines? Or would you like to schedule a different meeting on a different day for that? Okay. This side of the room says yes. I'm fine with whichever is more economical with our time. If we've got space in the next meeting to do it, I'm fine doing it here knowing that this is going to be a long meeting. That being said, I'll yield to staff with regard to what is the most economical use of time knowing that they're going to be staying late with us. Councilmember Fulton. I wanted to offer along the lines of what Councilmember Ben Graks said. We do have two items we need to discuss that are you might call administrative and nature. One is the operating guidelines and the other is how we're going to appropriately, equitably recognize events and activities in our community. If there's an appetite for an ad hoc meeting to handle the administrative matters separately such that we can conduct, dedicate most of the time next to the next meeting to the budget, I would welcome discussion of that idea. Okay, so why don't we, if you all okay, I will work with the City Manager to look at the schedule and to see what's possible for either looking at what Monday we don't have a meeting or seeing how we can fit this in agenda. Are you okay with that? The only other note as a possibility, I mean, we've got the, the guard training on March 11th. I don't know to the extent either. It takes a full block. It takes a full block. Okay. It's a full block. Yeah, we don't have space there. Okay, last just super quickly. I think the only thing I'm waiting to is that we do need to have a discussion and a agreement on the procedure and operating guidelines before next meeting or during next meeting because I don't want to have any sort of scenarios with confusion and I think it's beyond time we should have them in place. Oh great. Thank you, colleagues. Council members, shall. I am shifting gears a little bit So is it what is it related to this agenda? I this again, okay So council member miles and I are directing staff to add a rent stabilization discussion to a future June or July meeting a 90-day period And this request follows our current rules and procedures. And so I just want to thank staff for doing that. And I just want to also share with my colleagues that I am excited about discussing affordable housing at the retreat. And typically, we oftentimes don't have time to fully discuss things in a lot of detail. And it is common for us to have separate meetings to discuss desired topics that fall under retreat topics like we did with Ready and our economic development retreat topic, the crime statistics like we did with our public safety retreat topic and even community engagement which we will discuss further. And so this is just extra time to talk about this issue, what it is, what it's not, get the facts, and the sub-bullets that I put in my February 20th email, which includes getting data and continuing to hear from the community. Thank you. Council Member Valerary. Well then on that note, myself and Council Member Van Grack would like to please on the agenda a introductory agenda item to be handled prior to the discussion on rent stabilization, which would be an overview of what affordable, attainable housing, what it is, what it isn't, and the panoply of related issues, and that would be our proposal to push forward. Any other comments on my colleagues? Okay. So I think that additional agenda item will then be an alignment with what the majority of the body voted on is that the conversation is had in context on housing affordability and will happen on that day that we have that discussion or before. The staff have any questions about this and I know that that does contribute to staff research and time so we will look to your guidance as to dates and scheduling and then I know that you'll want to get more specifics from us which is what we discuss at the strategic planning meeting. Correct. Correct. And those two agenda items will take time on the agenda. So we'll have to clear so much. Ender a find a meeting or two when we can do that. So we will do that. We're going through another future agenda review as we speak. So this is timely. Okay. And I have a related matter that doesn't quite fit under agenda. I'm about as under on the business. Councilor Roushaw. I fully support council member Beleri and council member Vangreks. Agenda item, I'm just confirming. So these are two separate dates like happening on this. It's two separate agenda items happening on the very same day or one or the housing affordability happening before so it will be either or depending on staff's time. Okay. I think that definitely that the meeting around affordable and attainable housing and hopefully stable housing could be added on a day on another day or a day before. Yeah, so it'll either happen on another day or a day before. Yeah, so it'll either happen on that day to have a preview discussion or before and that's kind of what the body was trying to have a conversation in context. Okay, thank you very much. We are now moving to Old New Business. Council Member Vellieri. I have a couple items but I will give one and then allow my colleagues to say other things. I know that and I cannot remember the date off the top of my head that the body had agreed on submitting a letter to the county executive on the requested security enhancements to the crisis center on Picard Drive. And I haven't seen a draft of it, I had shared a draft of what the employees and folks had utilized the crisis center, what they were circulating. Of course, it would be a different tone, but the facts remain the facts. And so I would be, I'd like to note the status on that letter because I think we should Submit that as soon as possible and actually knowing that when the police chief said that the crisis center is the number one location in the city where they are Dispatched to I think that this Actually has a little bit more urgency to it given our police staffing issues urgency to it given our police staffing issues. Thank you, Council Member Valarie. So I believe, if I remember the number correctly, it's around 130 calls for some risk to the crisis center. I did hear through the great fine that they're adding some security, but I do think that it's worth noting in the letter that I think we all approved to move forward whether we can support additional security and get an update on where they are related to that. So I'm seeing a shaking head by Mrs. Simano. So if staff can follow up on that and then work with Ms. Moran, then I think you volunteered to help support the letter. Yep letter Councilor Valerary. Me too. Thank you. All right. I also know my colleague mentioned Councilor Van Graek and others of us have opined on the desire to have the justice complex meeting coming up. I know there's community interest on this topic. There was a promise during the previous mayor council that they would do an additional community meeting and that they would come back to mayor and council. Do we have an update on that? We do. We've contacted Montgomery County there. They have said they would come back to the mayor and council and give a briefing as you requested and we have a date that we're working with them to try to accommodate right now. Thank you. Council move on, Greg? Yeah, and I'm just going to add, you know, because of the updates that are happening on the county's website that are far and above more than when they last gave the briefing, I just want to make sure that we stress to Montgomery County if this is important. And in addition to which, I know that the body would like to potentially talk with staff about updating our website with regard to the information we have to reflect the current status of the project as we know from the last briefing as well as what the current body feels is important to communicate to the public with regard to the project. And maybe that can happen at the same time that we're doing this briefing. And then a second update after the briefing just so nothing's out of date in our communication to the public with regard to what's going on. Because I think there's been, as this body's expressed, some concern about the communication coming from the county. And we want to make sure that we're not part of any communication difficulties with regard to the public. I concur that the update to the website is probably best in conjunction with this briefing and there's really no need to emphasize anything more with county because they've concurred with coming to the Mayor's Council. Thank you. I just to clarify, I do think the website needs to be updated at least to show the latest. I had included in the body of my email some of the new links and information that could be added to our site and we can deemphasize the statement and focus on the current facts as we have them and then once the body has had the briefing we can update it once more. I'm my interpreting great. Exactly. We're on the same page. We're on the same page or so I do think there is a need for an update sooner before the briefing and then we can do one after. And I did include some ideas on that in my email. Councilor Valerie. On this topic, I would like to give the county a heads up that it would also be helpful to hear from them about how Department of Corrections will open a dialogue and continue a dialogue about some of the community's concerns. I got a feeling during the process that sometimes a lot of things could have been made smoother if Department of Corrections that had a coordinated outreach regular meetings however you want to frame it with the surrounding community and I think that's a very reasonable request of the community so just kind of put in a bug in the county's ear that that would also be a nice thing for them to address. Thank you. I wanted to thank my colleagues over the past few weeks. We have been going to the state legislator to advocate on behalf of our city and our state priorities of this Mayor and Council. I know it's an extra trip. Some of us have been some enablers multiple weeks in a row, but I want to thank you all for taking time out of your schedule as well as to have opportunities to meet with delegation. I know it's important to them and it helps us. So I just wanted to call you out and say thank you. I did want to also note an update last term I had worked on the right-of-first refusal process, which is what we leveraged to be able to work with RHE, Rockville Housing Enterprise, to secure Scarborough as an affordable complex, if you will. And the county signed a bill on Friday doing just what we asked for to add Rockville and RHE as a qualified entity. So that was a very positive step. That was the rofer of right-of-first refusal as an qualified entity. So that was a very positive step. That was the rofer. Right-of-versive use was an important tool. One of the tools in our toolbox to address affordable housing. And in the past, Rockville had to wait many days after the county had found out. And it would lead to a very rushed decision. So this process that was approved by law with the county is going to really be helpful to us to have more time to make informed decisions and to support affordable housing. So I want to acknowledge the county and extend our appreciation for supporting Rockwells. Bequest on that, they also added Gathasburg into Cohn Park. Council Member Brangrack, I know you had one other thing to raise. But yeah, I do, but if you do, I don't know if you would. Go ahead. OK. All right. Similar is Ms. Miranda. Yes. I want to follow up with what was described during her allegedly report with regard to earmarks as noted in the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection has requested a letter of support from the city of Rockville with regard to what they are asking for an expansion of their healthy, efficient, electrified, climate-adapted pilot the HEAP for the home's grant program. I've reviewed and we heard the presentation previously when Miss Maren was up here and I would like to move that this body does exactly that. That we provided and I know we're in a short time frame because it correct me, Ms. Moran, we need to get that letter out by tomorrow. Yes, and public work staff has already been working on the letter and should the mayor and council vote to approve this, a letter will be routed to the mayor and council tomorrow. Okay, so I would move that the mayor and council does provide a letter support with regard to the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection's Support or request for federal funding to expand their healthy efficient electrified climate adapted pilot homes grant program and I'm happy to To the extent that any other party. I'm happy to work with staff with regard to the letter. I know it's time sensitive, but I'm happy to do so if needed. Thank you. So I have a motion and a second by Dr. Miles. Others in favor, please raise your hands. Wonderful. Thank you. And just to add, I know that we work very quickly over the past few days under the authority to move forward. I want to thank Ms. Moran with regard to the endangered species bill that's going forward, at least being proposed in the Maryland legislature with regard to getting a letter of support, with regard to concern. I know that a lot of members of this body have expressed support with regard to endangered species, and I'm injured, invasive species in the city and making sure that we address that. And I think what the state's doing will help rock fill. So I want to thank Ms. Moran and the legislative staff for trying to get that out quickly. Thank you. And just to note, we wait in on five letters that went to state legislative or W. Mata today. So thank you to you and the firm for helping us to weigh in on those. Okay. Councilman Valerary. Last one I promise. At the end of November 2023, the Transportation and Mobility Commission sent a letter to Madam Mayor actually to all of us recommending that the Department of Public Works update the comprehensive transportation review. Madam Mayor, I would like to make a motion to direct staff to do that as part of our Vision Zero work as part of the pedestrian master plan, the 2040 comprehensive plan, Vision Zero action plan, it overlaps with the climate action plan, it's something that we need to update sooner rather than later and would like to do so. Thank you. Can you just for the listening public describe what this is? Sorry. The comprehensive transportation review is actually, I'm going to defer to Mr. Woods. You are much more adapt to that. Sure. Thank you. So the comprehensive transportation review is the transportation analysis that's conducted during the development review process. And essentially, it's the city's ability to evaluate that development's impact on the transportation infrastructure and the CTR as it's known has been updated periodically. The recommendation from the pedestrian master plan is to consider certain factors that otherwise aren't included in the CTR evaluation criteria right now, mainly focused on pedestrian and bicycle safety in both private property and in the adjacent right away. So that is an initiative that we are committed to doing. It is a recommendation from the pedestrian master plan. We are seeking to align the update to the CTR with the zoning ordinance rewrite as many of the development review processes and the triggers that trigger these associated processes are embedded in the zoning ordinance. So that's something that we're trying to align both of those initiatives with. We also have several other policies and policy documents that are also recommended for a fresh look through the pedestrian master plan. And so we do want to manage our capacity to update all those different elements at the same time. So as we discussed at Division Zero, update we do have a implementation schedule proposed for the pedestrian master plan recommended actions. And this is one of those. Is there a proposed time frame for and I know that we have the timeline for the pedestrian master plan? Is there within that a proposed timeline of when this will get update because I also know that some issues around accessibility would be or not in the CTR in a way that the pedestrian master plan and even the vision zero plan addresses them. Yes, so it's an understanding question. Just particularly on the timeline. Yeah. I'll have to get back to you on the specific timeline that we recommended in the pedestrian master plan implementation plan. But it is something that we are committed to doing. Just need to understand the relationship to the other policies and procedures that we're seeking to update. That's terrific. I can touch base since I'm the Council liaison to transportation and mobility. Or if there's an opportunity for someone from Public Works to come to the next commission meeting and kind of talk through that, I think that would be terrific. I, um, they asked me to raise this. I thought it was a great issue, so I appreciate it. Thank you for supporting that. I understood that is a motion. Correct? Yes. Just moving us along here. Okay. Councilmember Fulton. Do you want a second? I second the motion. Thank you. Just moving us along. All right, colleagues. Now we're going to vote. All in favor, please raise your hand and say aye. All right. Thank you very, very much. Councilmember Jackson. Thanks, Mayor. So this is an issue that came up today and the Mayor and I were talking about it. And maybe the Mayor can give a little bit of background before I make the motion just so we understand exactly what the letter of support is for. Perfect, yes. So Sunflower Bakery is a community organization grantee of the City of Rockville. They provide workforce training to people with different abilities, different neurodivergent, physical, and really help to place people around, not only trained, but help them get places to jobs, and they're looking for additional funding to support that work. They are going to be applying to the Maryland Earn Program and we're advised that they should get a lot of support from the city of Rockville. Yes, thank you. So you said it better than I could. So perfect. So what we're doing is we're asking for a letter of support from the council and mayor for some flower bakery. So if I could, I make a motion that we provide a letter of support for some flower bakery for a Maryland urn program. Thank you. So I have a motion. I am seeing a second from Council Member Vellieri. I'll second it. All right. All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye. All right. Okay. I have one very short topic. I'm not happy to say this, but apparently some of our schools have been really struggling with some of the financial challenges at MCPS. I was out visiting a school. I won't name the elementary school, but they didn't have paper for a month. It's something I'm concerned about but on the CIP side, capital improvement side, we're hearing that Wooten High School is being pushed out several years and I know that staff is also checking to see what the timing is for Crown and make sure that's not pushed out. What I'd like to do is to see if staff, if this council would be open to us as a body sending a letter, sharing our concerns with any delays on the redevelopment of Wooten to revitalize that high school as well as ensuring that Crown stays on track. We have approved language for this. We've also advocated for Twinbrook, Just to kind of restate our priorities to the Board of Education and to share concern about multi-year push out. So I can't make a motion but I would entertain a motion by my colleagues if you support this idea. So moved. Councilor Miles makes the motion second by Councilman Fulton. Any request for discussion? Okay. All those for discussion? Okay. All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye. Aye. And I'm happy to work on this. And there may or may not be an opportunity to testify, where I know Ms. Moran is working on that. But we will make sure that we advocate for our schools. With that, any other old new business items. If not, I will entertain a motion to adjourn. Councillor Mourjaxon. Motion to adjourn. Second. It's been made in double-seconded. Thank you all very much. Let's just take a quick vote. I think I'm pretty sure it's going to be unanimous. Thank you All right, it is unanimous. Have a wonderful evening. Please come out to international day And we look forward to seeing at the budget public testimony opportunity