Good evening, Rockville. Today is April 7, 2025, and we are beginning meeting 10-25. Please join as you're able in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the government for which it stands. One nation under God, in the visible liberty't list them all. But I'm going to ask my colleagues to please join me at the podium and let's start celebrating different observances and recognitions in our community. I'm going to have to get this through. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. I'm going to go to the library. Hello, everyone. I am so excited to present the certificate of recognition. Well, Tulin, please come up and join me. This is Tulin, a student at Richard Montgomery, and I just happened to come across an email stating that they had won the heads-up phone-stown teen video contest in support of pedestrian safety. You were very modest. You didn't tell me about it. But I'm so glad and so grateful that not only do we have a local student who used their creativity and their artistic abilities to talk about pedestrian safety, but you know put it all together and actually submitted and did something with it. So I'm going to read the certificate of recognition for you. On behalf of the residents of Rockville, the Mayor and Council are pleased to present this certificate to Tulan, individual a grand prize winner, heads up, phones down, teen video contest. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation, Pedestrian Safety Team sponsored a team video contest. High school students across Montgomery County have a message for their peers. Put those phones away when driving or walking. Two-lin of Richard Montgomery High School created a video entitled No Message More Important than Making It Back, that won the grand prize for an individual. The City of Rockville celebrates and congratulates this amazing achievement. Thank you so much to congratulations. We're going to show the video or maybe we'll do that at another point. I know that had been discussed. We're ready for that. Okay, we do have the video. So let's go ahead and watch the winning video. I'd be home to the he wash the signs one second too long and now we're running out of time look up Take a breath on move too fast, you know, message more important than just making it back Let's try this again. This time with some sense Phone in the pocket keep yourself tense made it home Mom's calling my name could have been a different story, but we played it the same look up Take a breath on move it too fast, you you know matches more important than make it a bad Hello, um, I just want to thank city of Rockville for you know recognizing my word Honestly, I was just in it for the SSL hours. I'm really surprised. We're out of setting, we're out of setting now. But nobody has to know that. I mean, the whole world knows that now, but it's okay. Yeah, it means a lot, like, you know, someone like me, I just thought of something small, but I may recognize I'm standing here in the city chambers and everything means a lot. I want to thank everyone here all the council members and the mayor Rockville. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. recognize I'm standing here in the city chambers and everything means a lot. I want to thank everyone here all the council members and Amir Rockville. Thank you. I love honestly. Okay, Matt Amir. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you. I'm unable to see the Mayor Council chamber, but I'll do my best to listen closely. I have the privilege of reading the proclamation, dedicating April as National American Heritage It's not that as follows, whereas April is National American Heritage Month. In 2025, the theme is Arab American Heritage, honoring the past, inspiring the future, and whereas Congresswoman Debbie Dengal of Michigan, with the help of several Arab-American organizing groups issued a resolution in 2017 recognizing April as National Arab-American Heritage Month. And whereas there are more than 3.5 million Arab-Americans that live in the United States who trace their ancestry to over 22 countries from North Africa to the Arabian Gulf in places including Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, and others. And whereas, the number of Marylanders of Arab ancestry has more than doubled since the census first measured at 20 in 1908 and is among the fastest growing Arab populations in the country and whereas Arab Americans take an active role within the rock-bilt community in April helps to spotlight and allow them to celebrate this connection in a way that brings together that represents home, heritage, and community. And whereas the people of Maryland share with other states including California, Michigan, and Virginia, and the rich culture and diversity of all Arab-American communities. Now, therefore, the mayor and council of Rockville, Maryland, do hereby proclaim April 25th as National Arab American Heritage Month, and encourage all residents to acknowledge, embrace and celebrate Arab Americans. With that, Madam Mayor, I move the proclamation. Do you have a second? Council Member Shaw seconds. All those in favor, please raise your hands and say aye. Welcome. Wonderful. Thank you, Francis. You know how to explain it. So we have Luna Ganyem or Dana Sharif. Welcome. David, represent the Arab American Foundation. Would you like to say a few words? Hi, everyone. Thank you very much, City of Rockwell, for this recognition. We really appreciate you all. And we are happy that everyone is celebrating the Arabic, the Arab American Heritage Month with all the richness that we have in our countries. And we will come you to join us in all our events that we are doing during this month. do like see. Yeah, I mean, as Lobna saying, we have an event coming up on the ninth that we would definitely love to extend an invitation to all of the city of Rockville and of course council members. It's going to be at the Amazon headquarters in Arlington and you guys can also find it on our website. But again, I think as part of the younger generation of Arab Americans. This is a really great opportunity and honestly something that is helping the growth of the US overall to recognize a big portion of the population. That plays a big role in our everyday lives. Thank you. Thank you. Take a quick moment. Yes. Yeah. Have this one. You take a quick photo. Thank you. Yeah. Have a nice one. You're doing that too. Yeah. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You're doing that too. You're doing that too. Thank you. Thank you. Take a quick photo. Yeah. Have a nice one. You're doing that too. I just want to also note that the county is having their American Health Degenerate tonight I believe at Bor at Borough Park. So Council Member Shaw, you're at the next. Good evening, everyone. I'm honored to present our Arbor Day Proclamation, which underscores Rockville's commitment to environmental stewardship, trees play a vital role in combating climate change. And here in Rockville, we're taking concrete actions with our Climate Action Plan, our environmental commission and our fearless weed warriors and our excellent environmental management staff. And I also invite all residents to join us for a community tree planting ceremony on April 10th at 10 a.m. at Twin Brook Elementary School. Whereas in 1872, Nebraska Board of Agriculture set aside a special day called Arbor Day for the planting of trees to provide shade, shelter, fruit, and beauty for the residents living within the plains. Now, therefore, the Mayor and Council of Rockville, Maryland, do hereby proclaim April 10th, 2025, as Arbor Day, and urge the Rockville community to encourage efforts to care for our trees and woodlands and to support our city's community forestry program. I move the proclamation. Jackson, second. All the committee's names are in the comments. Hi. Thank you. And to be held. Yes. And I invite you to say a few words. Thank'd like to thank the Mayor and Council members for continuing their support for the Urban Forestry Program that we have. And recently we've put all the street trees on a five-year pruning schedule. And I'm happy to say that I was looking over our records. And in the past three to four years, calls have definitely decreased for the amount of calls we're getting after storms and things like that. So the pruning schedule's working and we thank you. And we hope to see anybody who can attend the Arbide celebration at Twembroke on Thursday morning. Thanks. All right. All right. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Thank you. You're very great. Yes. I'm so embarrassed. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. See you on the 10th. Well done. Good. Oh. I was wondering whether we're three, but now I know. I am very happy and honored to give the Proclamation for autism acceptance month. I will say that, you know, both for my own experience and through the community, I will say neurodivergency is a beautiful thing and is a beautiful part of our community here in Rockville. Whereas April 2025 is Autism Acceptance Month, and this year's theme is celebrate differences, and the City of Rockville is honored to take part in the annual observance to help raise awareness, to promote Autism Acceptance, to celebrate each individual's unique differences, and to foster inclusivity and confectiveness. And whereas autism spectrum disorder is estimated to be the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. And whereas there are multiple organizations dedicated to empowering the community and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families and help to promote awareness and acceptance, including the Arc Montgomery County Main Street, Mecom, Madison House Autism Foundation, and Sunflower Bakery. Now, therefore, the mayor and council of the City of Rockville, Maryland, do hereby proclaim April 2025 as Autism Acceptance Month in the City of Rockville. And we urge everyone to increase their knowledge of the condition and specific programs that have been and are being developed to support individuals with autism and their families. Madam Mayor, I move the proclamation. Hi. And we have one of the co-chairs from the Human Rights Commission, Rebecca Murphy. And we have someone here from Main Street as well as from Sunflower Bakery. If you want to come on up, I almost forgot to introduce you to you, buddy. And does anybody want to say a few words? You guys can flip a coin too. So I'm struggling with my paper. Autism acceptance is more than just awareness. It is about recognizing the inherent value and contribution of autistic individuals ensuring they're supported,, included and celebrated for who they are. I am so heartened to see so many organizations that assist people in the spectrum represented here today. It demonstrates an understanding that we, as nerd of urgent people, are a valued part of our community. On behalf of the Human Rights Commission of the City of Rockville, and as a proudly autistic community member, I graciously accept this proclamation from the mayor and council. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. I'm Jody Tekken with some flower bakery, and I just want to reiterate those really thoughtful words and thank the council and Mayor Ashton for the very good work of inclusion and it's such an honor to be part of an organization that is not only included, but supported in the community. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And this is my son, Kate Owens, from Main Street, accepting on our behalf. Thank you, City of Rockvilleville for allowing Main Street to accept this proclamation. Autism is a broad spectrum. It can encompass everything from social anxieties to behavioral changes and swings. And now, as the council members already iterated, the number of people with autism is increasing. I remember back in my first high school year of seeing a poster that stated that one in 64 people had autism. Today, that number is now one in 45 for adults and one in 36 for children. That is why it is so important to not only be aware of autism, but to accept the people who have it for who they are. The people here at Main Street and the various other organizations here today, in my experience, have done an amazing job of not only helping those with these sorts of disabilities, but also treating and accepting them as equals. And now I feel proud to be standing alongside the excellent people here at Main Street. I'm sorry. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Yeah. Oh, good. So, as the council is on to the Environmental Commission, it's my honor to bring out the proclamation for Earth Month and Earth Hour. Now I know it's very easy for a city government or to an organization to simply celebrate Earth Month, Earth Hour, Earth Day. Rockwell does it differently. And I want to commend both the commission and the staff of the city of Rockville for putting together in events every week and in many cases almost every day this month and coming into next month for events to celebrate and help protect our Earth. I know I saw a number of people just this past Saturday where we joined in the Potomac River watershed cleanup and had cleanups throughout the city and if you look on our calendar, if you look actually on our website, there's a calendar of events for Earth Month. If you just Google Earth Month, Rockville, you can see events in just as an example, because I can't list them all. We've got on Saturday, April 26th, a city nature challenge at the Croydon Creek Nature Center. On April 2nd, we have the Montgomery County Montgomery County Energy Summit and we have people here from the Rockville Science Center because on April 27th is Rockville Science Day at Montgomery County. So that's just a sampling of the events that staff in the Environmental Commission have put together and it's an honor to be here to read this proclamation. Whereas the first Earth Day was proclaimed in 1970 to foster public environmental awareness. And whereas Earth Hour, an annual global event organized by the World Wildlife Fund calls on individuals, governments, and businesses around the world to turn off all non-essential lighting for one hour between 8.30 PM and 9.30 pm on Saturday, March 22, 2025 to call attention to climate change and loss of biodiversity. And whereas the city of Rockville supports global and local environmental stewardship and education and will host events, as I just described, and outdoor volunteer opportunities throughout March, April and May, that promote actions to protect our climate, water, air, forests, and wildlife. And now therefore, the Mayor and Council do hear Bride Proclaim the month of April 2025 as Earth month in the City of Rockville. And further Proclaim Tuesday Tuesday April 22nd as Earth Day and Saturday March 22nd 2025 between 8.30 pm and 9.30 pm. I hope you all do it. As Earth Hour and urge all members of the community to take actions to promote a healthy and sustainable environment. Madam Mayor, I move the proclamation. Thank you, Councilor Jackson. Seconds, all of them. Favorite, please raise your hand and say aye. Aye. And I believe we have a wonderful member of our Environment Commission. You want to come up and say a few words? Thank you, Councillor Member Van Grack. Madam Mayor and the council. I am honored and pleased to accept this proclamation on behalf of the Rock Film Environment Commission. It volunteer committees, the city's environment and sustainability staff, the business community, and all of Rockville's residents. We appreciate your support for the environmental programs throughout the year, and we are especially thankful for the city's climate action plan and the recently adopted electric vehicle readiness plan. Thank you. To celebrate Earth month, Rockville has many events and I have even more to tell you about. So for a list of all of them, it's at www.rockvillemd.gov slash Earth month and here's a few we will highlight as well. Green permit fees are waived for certain environmentally friendly home improvements. These include solar-vultech panel installations, EV charging stations, and electric energy efficient heating and cooling systems such as heat pumps. Applications must be submitted in the month of April to be eligible. Pull for the planet. A garlic mous-mustered invasive plant removal event will be held at several parks in Rockville during the weekend of April 26 and 27. Rockville's wonderful weed warriors are hosting several invasive species plant removal work days, including one on-er-t day, April 22 at Farm Park. Crayden Creek Nature Center has many family-friendly nature programs and events. Among them is the annual Native Plant Sale happening on Saturday, May 3rd at Elmwood Smith Community Center. And the center will be hosting a spring festival in kids to park stay on Saturday, May 17th. There's another solar co-op that's just been launched. Learn more about installing solar for your home or business on May 1st for an information session with Switch Together and Solar United Neighbors. For more information, it's on the website and the Rockville Reports and through the environment and sustainability email newsletter. If you're interested in the Environment Commission or activities, you can visit the Rockville website or contact the city's environmental management division to learn more and thank you again for the proclamation. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. as t-shirt says every day is Earth Day, right? Currency of the city of Rockwell, but do take advantage of the permit free, right? Who doesn't want to save money and with electricity costs going up might as well also join the solar co-op. I am pleased to present and recognize Parkinson's awareness month. I do work in the have worked in the area of public health in my life and I have witnessed many people who have you know experienced quality of life challenges and a lot of related factors with Parkinson's and so many other neurological diseases that steal life away from people. I want to recognize all those who are dealing with them. It is very chronic and progressive. With that, I will read the proclamation. Whereas Parkinson's disease is a chronic progressive neurological disease and is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the United States. Whereas Parkinson's disease is estimated to affect approximately one million people in the United States and that prevalence will rise to 1.2 million by 2030. disease is the 14th leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it is estimated that the economic burden of Parkinson's disease is approximately 52 billion annually, including direct and indirect cost, treatment, social security payments, loss income to patients and family members. Now therefore, the mayor and council of Rockville, Maryland do hereby proclaim April 2025 as Parkinson's Awareness Month in Rockville. We call upon all of our residents to join all communities and across the region to understand this disease and support research and efforts to find a cure. Will someone please move the proclamation? and then we'll go on to the lower left side. And then we'll go on to the lower right side. And then we'll go on to the lower right side. And then we'll go on to the lower right side. And then we'll go on to the lower right side. And then we'll go on to the lower right side. And then we'll go on to the lower right side. And then we'll go on to the lower right side. And then we'll go on to the lower right side. across the region to understand this disease and support research and efforts to find a cure. Will someone please move the proclamation? Council Member Larry, move the proclamation. Do we have a second? Council Member Fulton seconds, all those in favor? Please raise your hand and say aye. Thank you. And I believe we have city of Rockville finest, Mary Grace able to accept. I'm Mary Grace Sobel and I work in the City Manager's Office for the City of Rockville. I'm also a Rockville resident. Brett Farve, Michael J. Fox, my friend Will. You might have guessed what they have in common by this point, but I just want to say a few words about him. Relatively late in life, he and his partner added two siblings to their family, including a newborn who went through and I see you detox before coming home. They had been approved for foster care for two weeks. So this was quite a shock and quite a quick turnaround. They had three days before the toddler moved in. It was amazing how quickly they assembled furniture and equipment to welcome him. It was a very good day at Target. Fast forward to 18 months ago. Everybody knows about the tremors. Not many people know about the sleep disturbances, some of which can cause injury. Not many people know about the loss of taste. Not many know about the loss of voice volume modulation. Also curiously, one symptom is smaller handwriting. Isn't that interesting, especially in these days where we're mostly using keyboards. These are all symptoms that he noticed even before he got the diagnosis, and he was very concerned. There was shock, there was grief, there was repriotorization of life, and now his goal is to be here for as long as he can, but at least until that baby turns 30. So he has just gotten on a mission since he got this diagnosis. I'm very grateful for him. And now after his diagnosis, my priority in our friendship is how can I be most supportive of him? Sometimes that's hard because he's in Texas, so I can't keep an eye on him. They've learned a lot since 1997, especially due to genetics, but much more research is needed. And as we know, the research dollars have gone away in some cases. So I hope all of you will be supportive. And I want you to know that I'm thankful for this opportunity to say something about my friend Will. And I hope we're all well past 30 with that baby. And he's still around to enjoy grandchildren. Thank you very much. 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. So it's very fitting following that proclamation and the reference to public health and how so many things are affected by our work in public health that I'm honored to do the proclamation for National Public Health Week. Whereas the week of April 7th through 13th 2025 is the 30th anniversary of National Public Health Week, and this year's theme is, it starts here. And whereas six in 10 US adults have chronic diseases, and four in 10 have two or more, and health risks such which isism, obesity, and tobacco use are the primary reason for seven out of every 10 deaths annually in the United States. And 90% of all intoxication deaths that occurred in Maryland were opioid related. And whereas priority areas are, it starts here. Your health is our mission. Climate action starts here, championing resilience for health. Health equity starts here. Optimizing health for all. Advocacy starts here. Amplifying voices for public health. And the future of public health starts here strengthening the public health workforce. Now therefore, the mayor and council of the city of Rockville, Maryland do hereby proclaim the week of April 7th through 13th, 2025 as National Public Health Week in Rockville, Maryland. And we call upon the residents of Rockville to observe this week by helping our families, our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and leaders to better understand the value of public health and supporting great opportunities to adopt preventative lifestyle habits year around. Madam Mayor, I move the proclamation. And I believe I move the proclamation. I moved and seconded by Council Member Wary. I'll be to the favor of the Vaganandans. I agree. Thank you. And I believe we have a resident, Cindy Luriano, here to accept. Cindy works for the state of Maryland in a public health role related to the very important Medicaid processing. Thank you for being here. Would you like to say a few words? Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. I do live in the city of Rockville. I'm very happy. I do. I also work under the state, under the health department, under Medicaid. I love what I do because I see when families come and they want to get insurance and they think they're unable to afford the insurance or how much the appeals can cost. When they apply and they know that they qualify for the insurance, they're so relieved because they don't have that debt of medical bills. It's very important for us to advocate for health. Not only Medicaid is good for treatment, but is good for the health care, your dignity and security of your habit and insurance, just in case anything comes up. Thank you very much. So it's my honor to recognize a group that really doesn't get enough recognition. We think about firefighters, we think about police officers, but the first contact that that somebody has with the police or with firefighters is usually this passer. So those people really are on the front lines. And so I'm pleased to read this proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Whereas the week of April 13th through April 19th 2025 has been designated as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and whereas the police communication operators of the Rockville City Police Department Communications Center is an essential link between our law enforcement professionals and the residents of Rockville and the Community Education Center handled 64,796 calls in 2024. And now therefore the Mayor and Council of Rockville, Maryland, Do you hear we proclaim able to 13th, through the 19th, 2025, as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week in the city of Rockville, Maryland, and call upon the residents to commemorate this observance by thanking our police, communications operators for the great work they do to assist in the protection and safety of our communities. And believe we have somebody from the police know we're being recognized in this way. So it's very heartwarming just to know that, you know, we're being recognized in this way. So thank you, Council Member, Madame Mayor. And yeah, that's what it is. So it's so fun. So it's so fun. So it's so fun. Oh. Oh. Uh, PS. Apply. Jobs are available as well. If you're interested. Dr. Miles, I read the next proclamation. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I have the honor of reading the Science State Proclamation and the reading portion, the full version, is available for your viewing online. Whereas on April 22, 1990, the Rockville Science Center held its first Rockville Science Day, and its continued Science Day as an annual event in the city of Rockville. And whereas this year marks the 34th anniversary of Rockville Science Day. And whereas the Science Day is a local family-oriented event designed to point youth with the world of science and to help both children and grownups alike understand how science is used in our daily lives. And whereas science lies at the heart of technological progress, space exploration, human and ecological health, environmental concerns, and the science they provides informative and entertaining exhibits about everything from environment, science, nature, to reptiles, and birds, space exploration biotechnology robotics and rockets. And now, therefore, the Mayor, Council of Rockville, Maryland, do here by proclaimed April 27th, 2025 as Rockville Science Day, and urge all members of the community to participate in this opportunity and connect with science in the real world. With that, Madam Mayor, I'll move the proclamation. I can report some seconds. All those in favor, please use your hands and say aye. Okay. Excellent. Thank you, Ms. And we have some members of the Rockville Science Center here. Welcome Howard Lickman. I believe you'll say a few words. All right. Okay. While they're getting up here, it's the most interactive day in Rockville but it's okay. We'll make it work, we'll make it work. So, Mayor Council, thank you. We are very proud to do our 34th year of Rockville Science Day. Rockville Science Day is now, we can say confidently, the largest STEM event in Montgomery County now, we're very proud of that. We feature over, yeah, round of applause for that. We feature over a hundred exhibitors and we have about three to four thousand members of the general public here in Rockville that come and visit us now on a yearly basis. And, you know, for us we are incredibly grateful for the support. We can't do this without you all coming to show off for us and without the city and their generous support year over year. So with that being said, the date April 27th from 12 to 5. I hope I hope to see you all there. I'm Yolisee's on the President of the Science Center and we hope you'll get to see the rest of us that day as well. Here we have our wonderful t-shirts for the year. And no, thank you all seriously. No matter what happens in DC, we have a lot to be proud of here for the sciences and technology. And this is our way of just showcasing all the great things that happen in the sciences throughout the world hand. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Can I hold it back? Yes. Can I hold it back? Yes. Can I hold it back? Yes. Can I hold it back? Yes. Can I hold it back? Yes. Can I hold it back? Yes. Can I hold it back? Yes. Can I hold it back? Yes. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Please tell us what you're about to think that's what. Thank you for my you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So when councilmember Shaw was tasked to read the proclamation for a Yom Hoshowa, she actually called me because she remembered something that I've talked about. For those who don't know Yom Hoshoa is a recognition and a remembrance for those who we lost during the Holocaust. And it's very fitting for me because I lost a number of family members in the Holocaust. On my mother's side, my grandmother, her family was one of only one sister that made it out of Europe on time. And the rest of our family was designated through the Holocaust. So it's very meaningful for me, and also meaningful that Councilmember Shaw was selected to read this proclamation because of her leadership on the county and city for a diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice. And it's important for us to remember, not just to remember those who we lost, but also understand how we lost them and to never forget. And to never forget why. And I think it's important, I'd like to read a poem that some of you may have heard before, but it's actually written at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as an understanding of how we've gotten here. It's from Martin Neumiller. First, they came for the communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists. I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me. It's an important reminder to remember those who we cannot be silent and if we see injustice, we see wrongs happening, we see some people or groups who are treated unfairly, we must speak out. We must never forget what has happened in the past. Whereas Yom Hoshoa, day of remembrance, is a day set aside for the Jewish people to remember the Holocaust, and is Israel's official commemoration for the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. And whereas the name comes from the Hebrew word, Shoah, which means catastrophe. And whereas this year marks the 36th anniversary of the global Shoah Memorial Initiative, unto every person there is a name. As time moves on, we are liable to lose sight of the fact that each life that was brutally and a belong to an individual. A human being, in doubt with feelings, thoughts, ideas, dreams whose entire world was destroyed and whose future erased. Now, therefore, the mayor and council of the city of Rafael Maryland do hereby proclaim sundown on April 23rd, 2025 through nightfall on April 24th, 2025 as young Hachoa, day of remembrance, and urge all residents to remember the victims of the Holocaust and reflect on the need for grace, dignity and respect of all people. I Move the proclamation And I believe we have Josh Bender from the Bender Jewish Community Center in Rockville to come say a few words. Thank you for sharing that. It's a great honor and with deep appreciation we accept this proclamation. We really mean so much to us to know that the city of Rockville and Mayor Ashton and City Council are really acknowledging this important day which in Jewish history but really in human history and I really appreciate I'm sorry for your losses and more than ever, when hate is on the rise for many groups, and anti-Semitism is on the rise, it's so important as a community for us to come together. On April 27, the JCC, the Jewish Community Center has a community commemoration where we're going to have survivors who are telling their firsthand stories of the Shoah, the Holocaust. So thank you again very much. Appreciate it. 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. Thank you. That concludes our proclamations and recognitions for today. But I hope that you can see how the City of Rockville are really values justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. This is what it looks like. The City of Rockville values public health and science and safety, no matter what happens anywhere in the world in our nation. This will be a safe place for all those things. And I also want to acknowledge a thousands of scientists and public health workers who have lost their jobs over the past few months. It's really hit our community very hard, and so please be kind to your neighbor. We have resources available. Work so smoke, we have some flyers out in our foyer, if anyone needs help. You can also visit a city of Rockville, what page for federal workers, and I'll also note contractors and grantees. Thank you all. We'll be taking a brief break and reconvening at 6.30. you you I'm going to get a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a I'm going to put it on the table. I'm going to put it on the table. I'm going to put it on the table. I'm going to put it on the table. I'm going to put it on the table. I'm going to put it on the table. I'm going to put it on the table. I'm going to put it on the table. I'm going to put it on the table. I'm going to put it on the table. Good evening, Rockville. Today is still April 7th, 2025. We are reconvening a meeting 10-25. We'll now move to a gender review. Madam Mayor and Council members, there are no changes to the agenda this evening. We did revise it online for the reading assignments of the proclamations earlier and the title to include the grants for the work session on item 12. Thank you very much. And now we have the City Manager's report. Welcome. Mayor Ashton, members of City Council, good evening. Another long meeting tonight anticipated so I'll be super brief. Obviously, we've been busy with budget. Should be no surprise to anybody. Also very carefully monitoring the last few days of the state legislative session which ends in about four hours or so, five hours. And I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge Eagle Scout, candidate Jack Zinke, who helped revitalize the fire pit area at the Coeurysen Creek Nature Center. So everybody can enjoy it in the future. It's all I have, Mayor. Thank you. Thank you very much. Just also want to flag again, the City of Rockville has a number of resources and links to resources on our city page for people who are affected by last week's federal worker transition. So please take a look and share with your friends. There is a job for coming up on April 16th and there's entrepreneurship training and other resources. Okay. Okay. All right. We'll now move to community forum. This. entrepreneurship training and other resources. Okay. All right. We'll now move to community form. This is a time to hear from our community on any issues, concerns or suggestions. All persons should address the mayor and council, speak in a civil and courteous manner, and be respectful of other audience members. Each person will be allowed three minutes. We ask that you stick to that time allowed and you'll see that there's a time clock in front of you. You will hear an audible beep at the end of you three minutes. Please state your name and whether you live in the city of Rockville for the record. All right, so I have some folks who have signed up in advance and I'll ask if anyone else would like to speak from the floor. Welcome, Fran Thompson. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good Thompson. Good evening, Marin Council. I am making a statement on behalf of my neighbor, Kristen Kunopka-Pazan. I am writing, and here's what she says, I am writing as a resident of Woodley Gardens to advocate for a noise abatement study on Goody Drive. I am a mother of three young children, eight, five, and two, whose home backs up directly to Goody Drive. The noise created by high speed cars and trucks on Goody Drive is a constant aggravation and detriment to our daily lives. The noise from vehicles can be heard in our home at all hours of the day, and is nearly deafening when in the backyard. The rattling of large trucks in the sound of drag racing down the long stretch of Goody Drive is disruptive and terrifying to our children. We take pride in being active members of our community and love to host friends and neighbors throughout door moving nights and potluck dinners in her backyard. However, the noise pollution from Goody Drive negatively impacts use of our outdoor space as a terrible representation of our community. I am begging the Marin Council to fund a study to develop a recommendation for a baiting noise on Goody Drive. At least in the stretches along residential neighborhoods, the segment east of Goody and Picard intersection. Some solutions could include enhancements of existing berms to provide natural noise abatement, specifically position speed cameras near the residential areas, deployment of sound cameras, and other traffic calming measures to enforce compliance with speed limits. My husband and I decided to move our growing family to Woodley Gardens back in 2019. The neighborhood I actually grew up in. We have loved our community and being residents of Rockville. We believe in investing in the future of the community, and that means protecting residents negatively impacted by Goody noise pollution, and ultimately protecting the lives of those drivers along Goody who are practicing unsafe driving habits. Thank you. Thank you very much. Welcome Jim Rysovsky. Good evening. I too will talk about the proposed noise abutement study along Goodie Drive. My wife who you just heard and I moved to 105 after Boulevard in 1991. At that time, traffic long goody was not that great. Noise was not an issue. In the 34 years since then, however, traffic has, traffic volumes have increased multiple multiple times. I didn't realize how much until I did my own little informal study last week. When I happened to be in my kitchen, I would look out the window where I have a direct site to the traffic on Goody, take on my phone and count the number of cars during a minute. I would repeat this over and over again. So during rush hours, there are between 30 and 40 vehicles per minute. That's a vehicle every one and a half to two seconds. Off peak times, and even on the weekends, it's a little lower, but not that much lower. There's a car every two or three seconds on average. Volumes go down in the evening but it's overnight when the motorcyclists and the drag racers come out and make tremendous amounts of noise waking my neighbors and me up. Now, one reason that the noise is so bad along the stretch of of Goody Drive is that on the west side of this point three, point two, point three mile segment, there's no noise abatement. On the east side, there's no noise abatement. In between, there's a small but very inadequate berm with no effective vegetation. Now, we appreciate the fact that speed limits were reduced on Goody Drive recently to 35 miles an hour. But I haven't drive on West Goody recently. I noticed there were three speed cameras, but all near the entrance to King Farm, a place where there's no residents terribly close to the highway. on the other side, very high berms on the college garden side. But on the woodedly garden side, I don't think any of us have ever seen a speed camera nearby. I don't understand the logic there. Let me close with a mention of the new entrance to the senior center from Goody. The new entrance, Goody entrance, would become the center's main entrance. This will further increase traffic volume and noise from Goody. Please wrap up. Okay. I will. Other members and myself on the Citizens Advisory Committee repeatedly express concerns about noise impacts from the project, from the get go, but the city repeatedly just shut us down every time this was raised. Thank you for your time. Just want to wear over by 30 seconds. Okay. So thank you. Thank you. We have your comments in writing and I know we'll all be rewritten. Okay. Thank you. Welcome, Jeanine Goldkatska. Hi, my name is Jeanine Goldkatska. I'm a Woodley Gardens resident. Same neighborhood as the previous two speakers. I'm here in support of the Woodley Gardens Civic Association proposed addition of a Goody Drive noise abatement study for the FY26 budget. Goody Drive is approximately 115, 120 feet straight behind my kitchen window and. And my house, because of the way the divot is, my house is at the same level as the street. We have no effect of barrier. There's no sound protection at all at the house. When we moved in in 1999 into the home, the earth berm was covered with lovely pine trees, and there was very little traffic at that time. So it was hard to imagine what was going to be coming 20, 25 years down the pike. Now I sent you a letter on the 31st, and I put two pictures on it, which I don't know how effective they were, but it should show you all of the remainders of those trees that are just dead laying all over the ground. We don't have protected any sound protection. The speeding, you know, I've had this ongoing conversation with the police over many, many years as I outlined in the letter I sent on the 31st. And they've been very receptive. I think their hands are tied oftentimes because it's an odd road. I think it's a state road and it makes for enforcement issues. But the neighbors have not noticed any significant impact and noise reduction with moving the speed limit from 40 miles per hour, down to 35 miles per hour. Frankly, I think people just blow it through there. There's heavy industrial trucks that are on that road. It started to become more of an issue when the ICC was going in many years ago. Sometimes we'd have upwards of 90 dump trucks per hour going through. And the dump trucks, I understand, they're in a hurry. They're getting getting paid per truckload they speed and as they're going westbound they'll hit when they see there's a red light at Picard they hit a Jake break and it rattles your house and we've been dealing with that for ages so just like the comments from Kristen earlier it's very very loud then there's the car racing groups so there are here, I don't know where they're from and I've had this conversation with the city police. They enjoy going up and down up and down and it could go for four or five hours of racing each other back and forth. Up till now the city has been relatively unresponsive. Although today I will say I got a lovely message from council member Vangrack and from the mayor. Thank you very much. It has been 25 years of not being heard. If you don't mind, I would love to just play. This is kind of the best sound I can get for you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Welcome Anita Niel Powell. So good evening, Mary Council. My name is Anita Niel Powell. I'm the president of Lincoln Park Historical Foundation and the Lee Roy E. Neal African-American Research Center. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak at tonight's community forum. My focus is on the proposed budget which includes federal dollars. The question is if federal dollars are cut and or frozen, will the city be prepared to follow through with city dollars. For example bulletproof vests partnership, Homeland Security Grant, Maryland Highway, Safety, Motor Carrier, Safety Assistant Program and others. I am concerned about the vast amount of cuts and our frozen dollars that are proposed across the country, particularly with our police and safety program as proposed in our fiscal year 2026 proposed budget. I just want to make sure that as a city we can continue to move forward just in case federal dollars may or may not be available. Lastly, I notice a peerless rock field funding has been increased this year. I am hopeful that the projects they presented to you in their grant proposal will benefit the city as a whole historically and not just segments and or select the communities in the city. Thank you for your attention. Thank you. Welcome Mary Grace, double. I'll be very grateful to you for the opportunity to be here. Thank you. I'll be brief, too, because I know how long the meeting is. It's been an historic hockey week in our region. I suggest that the city do all in its power to provide Alex Ovechkin, the best hockey player of all time, and his family and all the descendants that come from them. Lifetime passes to the seasonal ice rink on the square. I have a feeling that the merchants and the tenants will be in support of this measure. Thank you. Thank you. I love that. Thank you. That exhaustive list of those who have signed up to speak in person before we go to our virtual speakers. Is there anyone else in the audience who would like to speak? Welcome Margaret Magner. Hi, good evening. I'm Margaret Magner. And I was really surprised at some of the things I've read on the city's budget survey about peerless Rockville. And I had to come up and speak because it appeared that some people were commenting without knowledge of their real programming. So I'm speaking as an individual tonight, not for an organization. For the record, I'm not a peerless employee or on their board. I'm a Rockville resident who has benefited from their programming about times and actions in Rockville's past that some would like to keep quiet, but perilous helps to bring into the light. These are a few of their public programming exhibitions that I've attended over the last few years, which were free and accessible to all. Forging freedom, Rockville's Underground Railroad. At this exhibition, I learned about the lengths that enslaved people in Rockville needed to go to to escape their localists in slavers and the tragedy of separated families that happened when local slaveholders died and their possessions, including people, were sold off outside the Rockville courthouse. Thurgood Marshall and a civil rights milestone in Rockville. At this talk, I learned about this milestone 1930's court case argued by Thurgood Marshall representing Rockville teacher William Gibbs's request for equal pay from Montgomery County's Black and White School teachers. It was really thrilling to hear about the impact of this case in the very room in our hometown where it was originally argued. Rockfield's colored troops. At this program I learned about the bravery of free and enslaved African-American men from Rockfield who joined what was then called the US color troops in the 1860s and fought to end slavery in this country. Three lynchings in Montgomery County. I grew up here, but I was never taught, and never had an understanding that there were lynchings in Rockefell. And facing this and taking part in the local movement to publicly recognize events in our history, and memorialize these victims has been extremely important to me and my family. I'm grateful to peerless for not shrinking from painful aspects of Rockville's history. So this is just a small list of programming I've attended and it's really important that inclusive elements of our city's history are brought to the light. Spearless does this work well into a high standard of professionalism and they're the only organization, public or private doing this work with an inclusive lens focused on rockville history. Madame Mayor and council members, we are sadly in a period of American history where diversity, equity and inclusion have become dirty words to many in government. I'm proud that the leaders of the state of Maryland, the county, and I believe the city of Rockville do not subscribe to this rhetoric and believe that Rockville really is rising together. Peerless prevents their programming. Peerless provides their programming in a very high standard, and I call on you to recognize the important role Peerless plays in our city and fully fund their application for the budget of $120,000. Thank you. Thank you very much. Is there anyone else in the room who would like to speak? Okay. We'll now move on to our virtual speaker, Miss Penny. Do you have someone else? Okay. All right. when I move on to our virtual speaker, Ms. Penny. Do you have someone else? Okay, all right. We'll now move on to our virtual speaker, Emily Steltzer. Good evening, and thank you to Madam Mayor and the council members for the opportunity to speak tonight. My name is Emily Steltzer. I'm a 20 year resident of Rockville, but I'm here tonight to represent the Woodley Gardens Civic Association leadership team. The Woodley Gardens Civic Association would like to request, in addition to the city's FY26 budget, to fund a study that will explore options and make recommendations for abating noise from the traffic along Goody Drive, particularly for the quarter mile stretch east of the Goody Drive intersection with Picard Drive. Woodley Gardens residents, you as you've heard the seeding living on the thousand blocks of both aster and carnation are affected by high levels of traffic noise. Specifically the Woodley Garden Civic Association leadership on behalf of our residents is seeking the study and mitigations for the following reasons. First as you've heard tonight car and truck traffic volumes on Goody Drive have increased by orders of magnitude over the past three decades. Well, Illinois study was conducted in 2005. It's no longer relevant given the enormous increases in traffic volumes since it was constructed. And we expect the traffic on this specific portion of the road may be worsened with increased traffic to the senior center from the new Goody Drive entrance. Second, unlike most of West Goody Drive adjacent to Woodley Gardens and College Gardens, the stretch of Goody Drive adjacent to homes on the Astor Boulevard called a sack, black noise, abatement, or have smaller inadequate burns. Burns, as you've heard from residents, the vegetation that was originally planted on the berm or the embankment or no berm exists has either died or is an effective. Because the trees have grown so large that only tree shrunks and branches, not foliage, are available to lessen road noise. Third, homeowners living along the stretch of Goody have not noticed any reduction in noise since the speed limit on Goody Drive was lowered to 35 miles per hour. While're appreciative of the reduced speed. Speeding remains common and the speed camera along West Goody Drive is not located near the stretch of Goody that lacks the noise abatement. And finally, as you've heard from our residents, Goody Drive continues to be used for drag racing, typically in the middle of the night, which often creates extremely loud noises from exhaust systems waking residents up. So because of these reasons, the Woodley Gardens Civic Association and our residents of Woodley Gardens appreciate your consideration of our proposal. Thank you. Thank you very much. Our last call if anyone else would like to speak. Okay. We will now close community forum. And I would like to note that we received a significant number of written comments, some of which that will also apply to budget and will include as part of the public record for the budget hearing. We'll now move on to consent agenda. We have several items. A, authorization for the City Manager to release an extinguished and existing water easement, and to approve four easements and two license and maintenance agreements. This is associated with the public improvements water as sewer and water meter and parcel A of Rockshire Village Center. Be approve and authorize the City-Mandor to execute the project agreement with the State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources to proceed with a $1.5 million grant to fund grading excavation as well as build pathways, a playground metals restoration and community gardens, picnic tables, signage and trash cans, ad red gate park and arboretum, see authorization for the City Manager to sign two, amendment two to the memorandum of understanding for the north stone street avenue sidewalk improvements. D, an authorization for the City Manager to execute the Maryland State Arts Council, Public Art Conservation Grant. E, approve the Rockville City-owned building located at Taf Court to be named the City of Rockville Taf Center and F approval of minutes. Colleagues, would you like to pull any of these or move forward with some motions for approval? Councilor Jackson. Yes, thank you. Sorry. Thank you, Mayor. Actually, I would like to pull item B just to have a little more discussion on it. Thank you. The colleague, item B is the $1.5 million agreement with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. It's not the actual grant, but a step that's necessary to make the application. Councilmember Van Grack. I'd also like to pull on consent item 9a just for a question for staff in the city manager. Excellent and a is the our easements related to Rockshire Village Center. Any other comments from my colleagues on those? All right. With that, I'll entertain a motion for 9c, D-E-N-F. Councilmember Shaw. So moved. Do we have a second? Councilmember Valarie seconds, all those in favor? Please raise your hand and say aye. Okay, it is unanimous. Thank you. Let's move to a rock shire village center easements. So I guess this question for staff and the city manager. I know that there's a lot of charts and colors and notations that accompany the easement documents. And I just want to clarify that, because I know there's a number of easements that we've already, there's one easement that we've already approved, and there's a number of different diagrams that none of the easements or license and maintenance agreements that we're referring to here have any either affect or direct overlap with any property that's operated or owned by the Rocksire Association, Incorporated, which is the Home Owners Association that surrounds some of the areas for this development. That's correct. Madam Mayor. Do you have any other questions? I have no further questions. Okay. Thank you. I just wanted to also ask, I know that people in the community have been awaiting this project, particularly the community amenities. I'm hearing that this may take two and a half years or more. Is there any way to expedite that work? I mean, that's really the developer's decision on how to move a little faster. If they apply for an expedited review will certainly provide that as we can. Thank you Mayor. Thank you. If we could just follow up with them just because I know the community has been waiting for some of the community and many of these that were planned as part of this product development. Councilman Vangrack. Madam Mayor I move for the approval of consent agenda item 9A. Thank you. Do we have a second? Council Member Lary seconds. All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye. Excellent. Thank you. Now we move on to B, which is related to the project agreement with the State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources to proceed with an application for 1.5 million grant to fund grading excavation, playgrounds, and many parts of our master plan. Mr. Mahela, can you just give us an overview on what this is so the public is aware of what we're doing? Happy to, Mayor. I'll be very brief. A while ago, the city adopted a master plan for the Redgate Park. That included a number of different improvements since that time, like we always do. We are looking for funding opportunities. As part of that, we applied for a grant through the State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources for $1.5 million. So it's a very generous grant. If we received that grant, we would do grading, excavation, pathways, playground, meta-restoration, community gardens, and speckling tables, et cetera, pathways, playground, matter restoration, community guards, and specling tables, et cetera, as part of that park. Mayor's, you know, this is really important, you know, that it's just as simply directing the city manager to apply for the grant. It's all really, it's not even a grant agreement at this time. There are some restrictions, and I think that's why Council Member Jackson pulled it off. If we accept the grant grant and we have to fall a future grant agreement Which does place some restrictions on the property for redevelopment of it if we accept those dollars. That's really a quick summary there Thank you councilman Jackson Thanks, Marin and thank you city manager for that explanation. I guess I'm just want to dive into that Restrictions a little bit more so would it be for the entire property? Would it is there some stipulation that we could trade off, the parts of the property? How does it work? And when you say those restrictions, how long is it restricted for? Let me throw up a map really quick. It kind of just shows two things. There's a, that one would be really good. So there are the blue outline of the park shows the full boundaries of Redgate Park. And you'll see outlined in red, a couple of an exclusion areas. One further south. Thank you so much for using the hand. That's super helpful. That's right next to our goody drive complex. So that would be excluded out. And the part in right in the middle is the red outlined area is also an area where there would be a little bit more larger welcome center that would also be excluded. Everything else in the blue area would be restricted to those uses that I mentioned earlier before which again, it still includes quite a bit pathways, playground, not a restoration, community guards, etc. There really is no opportunity as we know it right now to trade out properties. This is what we're applying for. We would get $1.5 million and we developed the rest of the property consistent with the master plan with the amenity package that I rattled off earlier. No, thank you. So I guess what I'm really rolling down to is we're asked to make a decision on whether or not Reggate could be developed in the future. Is that am I understanding this correctly? So I wouldn't go that far into it yet and the timing on this is really important. All we're really saying again right now is you guys are giving the City Manager the authority to apply for a grant. With the many package I rattled off within that blue area with the right areas excluded. That's really all there is to it right now. If we get the opportunity to move forward with the grant then we'll do a formal grant application. And then if we accepted the money we'd go forward with those park improvements. At that time, we would have the obligation to keep those improvements on the property and perpetuity. I think that's the point that you're trying to make. But we're not quite there yet. I would just say that's a distinction with other difference. I think, I mean, if we move forward with this grant application, we're basically, you're saying we can kick the can down the road, but we would have to make the decision then or now, whether it was going to be a restriction in perpetuity. So I don't really see the difference, but I understand what you're point. Thank you, Council Member Van Grack. I guess this is a question to the city attorney. I just wanted to clarify with regard to kind of restrictions. My understanding in reading the documentation that we're going forward along with the Code of Federal Regulations and the US Code that applies here is that if we go forward and the grants accepted and we receive the money, the restrictions on further development are in perpetuity and while there is a process for a conversion request later on that is not even if we meet them that is discretionary meaning that it is possible that upon acceptance of this grant, we could not be able to do any further development on this area forever. That's correct. So it's my understanding that if the Mayor and Council authorizes the City Manager to execute this project agreement, what the mayor and council is doing is they're essentially authorizing the state to apply to the federal government on behalf of the city for the grant. So the grant would be coming from the federal government, not from the state. If the federal government gives the grant to the state on behalf of the city, then you're correct. The restrictions would be on Red Gate Park forever. And less and less, we go through a conversion process that's laid out in federal regulations. And it would be up to the federal government, the state and the federal government to approve the conversion process. And that even if we meet all of the conversion correct requirements they could still say no because it's discretionary correct. Okay thank you. Councilmember Fulton I just have a question on to get back to the decision we are making today. I understand that it's a decision to apply for a grant and then later we would decide whether we accepted grant. But particularly because I just heard the number of parties involved. What's like the level of effort involved in the applying? And I asked the question because I'm happy to kick the can and make a decision but I don't want a whole lot of people to put a whole lot of effort into something if at the end we're not going to want it. Help me understand the level of effort there. The master planning work is done. If we develop a master plan to apply for the grant, that would be a significant effort, but the master plan is done. We already know the grant amount we're applying for $1.5 million. We also know the improvement. So I'll subscribe, but it's not being a super heavy lift. To at least go through the application process. Just one follow up. Is there a reputational or optics concern about going through the process and then saying never mind? I would say that there's always that concern. That's true. If we went through all the way of process and then said, no, thank you. But it's not a huge concern because I think that's why they do these in pieces, right? You apply, we get it back, we learn more about the project. We hear from the elected by we hear from the community at some point, we might just say, you know what? It's a big project. It's multi-million dollars. $1.5 may not be worth it. So I'm not as worried about that. Okay. Great. Thank you. Thank you I have a few quick questions and I want to thank staff for responding to many of our questions in advance. There was a limitation on user fees and on this agreement it's my understanding that the city, if we're gonna rent out sort of the community space, or if there's an event that that is allowable, is that correct, Mr. Mahillic? As far as we know right now, that is correct. Okay, and we would cross check that before we sign anything, obviously. We've got it exactly right. Okay, because I know that's part of the cost recovery for the long term use of this. Okay. The other thing is on the document itself, it knows notes 700k range for the grant, but it's actually 1.5 million that we would be able to apply for. That's correct. Okay. And how essential is that amount to being able to carry out the plan? I know the significant funds that are needed. I think we have about 1.0 million parks and open space but you may be needing more. Can you please describe? Yeah, we'll need a lot more mayor. This is a multi-million dollar project, multi phases. The 1.5 million dollars would be great if we received it. It's significant dollars but there's a lot, there's another several million to go. And if we don't get this grant, then that would delay the work theoretically. I wouldn't say that. It wouldn't delay the work. It just makes it a lot easier and a little bit faster. Okay. And I noted that you talked about exception areas. Can you confirm that if we were to accept this grant that we could still go forward with the full Redgate Master Plan, which includes some of the things we discuss, Communic Garden, a community center. There's arboretum. There is amphitheatre potentially, dog park, et cetera, all those pieces and they're about at least over a dozen would be allowable with this grant. That's correct. We've been very careful to make sure that the Red Gate Park master plan is consistent with this grant application. Okay. And then who decided what the exception areas are? Like, for example, instead of 1.8 could be 3 on that edge, I'm just curious as to how that was decided upon and if it's adjustable. That's based on the master plan itself, where those really active improvement areas are, which would take it out of consideration with the grant. That's why we had to make them exclusionary. In other words, if we included the development as planned in those areas, as far as the grant, we would likely would not receive those grant funds. I would say that those red outline areas are pretty set in stone, must we want to start over from scratch. So you would not be able to adjust, for example, that 1.8 to 2 or 3. Not without starting over, Mayor. Not without starting over the whole plan. So we'd probably lose the fact I know we'd lose this grant funding cycle. You would lose this grant funding cycle. Okay, thank you. And if the grant is not one, then we would not be restricted to the limitations. Correct. With the state. Okay. Thank you. That exhaustive questions. I have Councilman Valeri. I have a few. Because I'm sitting here and I couldn't look it up fast enough. Do you recall when the master plan was passed? Sending anybody? I'm sorry Billy. It's 2023, but I was at 2023. Around that time, 2023. So, I'm hearing the very voices. Let me say 2022. I'm 17, 22, 22. Okay, thank you. I was like 2023, okay. So that was in 2022. So that was previous. The grant and trees that we received from the Chesapeake Bay Trust. Because I believe that they're being planted or have been planted. Where were those. Where were those planted if we're looking at at this map? Is it throughout the project boundary? Was it in particular area? Help me to kind of understand it in relation to these exclusion areas. I did not prepare to answer that question. I was not prepared to ask it. It. It's throughout and it's not within the exclusion areas that I know. Okay. That's that was kind of my question because that was that was something, you know, that's another grant to then consider this grant and how they're complimentary or how, you know, we want to ensure that both goals of both grants are being honored. So, and we do have more space for my trees. So, but yeah, sorry to put you on the spot there, but I was just trying to think through your right. It was previous mayor and council that talked about that. So, met a mayor, I would like to make the motion to approve and authorize the city manager to execute the project agreement with the State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources, DNR, to proceed with an application for a $1.5 million grant to and the city of San Francisco and the city of San Francisco and the city of San Francisco and the city of San Francisco and the city of San Francisco and the city of San Francisco and the city'm fine with us voting on it right now with this stipulation that we should be transparent and we should have a discussion on whether it this parcel of land will be restricted for perpetuity. That's just a big decision and it definitely demands that we have a little bit of transparency there. So with that said, yeah, I will support this motion to move it ahead, but just put it on there that, you know, we should actually have a lot of discussion before we vote yes or no on this underlying grant. Thank Thank you Council Member Lary. Actually that's that is a point that I missed in my speaking. This would come back for discussion before anything what I just wanted to confirm that. That's correct. Okay. All right there's been a motion in in the second. All those in favor. Please face your hand and say aye. Aye. All those opposed? All right. I think that covers it. Ms. Taylor-Farrell, do you need any—you have to track the votes? Okay, thank you very much. Thank you, colleagues. We're now moving on to agenda item 11, which is a briefing on a project plan amendment and applications to amend the plan development for Rockville Center to permit a residential conversion of 13,000 plus square feet of previously approved street level commercial retail space into 13 dwelling units at 198 East Montgomery in the PDRCI Comstock 33 Monroe as applicants. Welcome and we have Christopher Davis who will be presenting to us today. Thank you. Good evening, Madam Mayor and members of the Council for the record Christopher Davis with Community Planning and Development Services Department. The item before you this evening is a briefing for the project planned amendment PJT 2025 0020 for the site located at 198 East Montgomery Avenue for the Boulevard loss. So just to recall from Bering Council and members of the public, the purpose of this briefing is to introduce the proposal to the Bering Council and members of the public, the purpose of this briefing is to introduce the proposal to the Bering Council and provide an opportunity for preliminary feedback to the applicant and staff. The project is the project site is outlined and read on the screen. It's 198 East Montgomery Avenue located in planning area one corresponding with the town center. The site is approximately 1.41 acres and land use designation is commercial and residential mix. The zoning for the property is plan development, rockville center incorporated and also has an equivalent zone of mixed useuse transit district. As you can see, the project is bounded in a block to the north as east middle lane, to the west Helen Henniganway, to the south east Montgomery Avenue, and to the east one row street. The project contemplates 13,000 square feet, a street level commercial space, which is currently vacant, and the applicant proposes to convert that space into 13 residential loft units. As you can see from the plan on the screen, the proposed residential areas are outlined in yellow and are bounded by East Middle Lane, Helen Hnegenway, and on Monroe Street. Approximately 6,500 square feet of commercial space for over a main on East Montgomery Avenue, and the project plan proposed to amend the plant development for the proposed change in use. So to detail the process so far, the applicant has fulfilled their pre-application area meeting requirement, which was held on December 9, 2021. The applicant has then subsequently filed their project plan amendment application, and their post area meeting on February 25th, 2025, followed by a DRC meeting on February 27th as well as a briefing before the Planning Commission on March 12th. So the next steps for the process include finalizing review of the project plan amendment, including the comments received by the Marion Council and planning commission. The project will then go back to the planning commission for its public meeting, comment and final recommendation to the Marion Council. Before returning back to the Marion Council for both the public hearing and also possible adoption. Should the application be approved, the applicant would then be able to proceed with a site plan application before the Planning Commission? And with that, that concludes staff's presentation. Thank you very much. Is the applicant going to present as well? Yes, the applicant has a short presentation as well. Thank you. All right, I'll get started while the presentation comes up. So good evening. My name's Nancy Reglin. I'm an attorney with the law firm of Shulman Rogers. I'm here on behalf of the applicant, Comstock 33 Monroe. And with me tonight is Rick Beerbauer. He's vice president of Comstock for asset management. You've been provided a lot of background information in your briefing books, and you've gotten an overview. So what we wanted to use a very short time tonight is just to give you some color and context for this application. So next slide, please. So obviously, the blue is the site that the staff told you in outlined in red is The original five block plan development for RCI and I'm very excited that at the same time that we're finishing block two Which is this application that you've gotten an application for 41 Maryland, which is block four and and also for 255. So despite this starting in the 90s, I think maybe it'll all wrap up around the same time. So next slide, please. So in recent years, the mayor and council has done a lot of work on town center with the 2040 plan in the 2025 town center plan. You've also implemented a lot of the recommendations of the urban land institutes, tap program recommendations. And you've also adopted your own strategic plans, which was to create more housing and economic development. And so in the master plan, the language that's used around town center has these words. High quality of life, sense of place, a neighborhood at its core, a hub within the region, walkable, transit-oriented living. And our own project architect said it this way, it says, the most vibrant and livable streets in great cities blend residential and retail spaces reflecting urban evolution over time. And the way I say that in my own words is the changes in characters from street to street within a town which reflects the street life of the people that live there and work there and their visitors is what gives a city authenticity. So you want differences within a city. So the applicant's proposing a solution with some new housing options, which are cool, interesting and very desirable. And these units will attract a broad range of generations, as well as household sizes to town center and they'll be able to find urban loft here in Rockville and it'll create a finished streetscape that's uniquely Rockville. Next slide please. So this is the issue. There are very few views into Rockville Town Center. From 355, this is the one that you've been seeing since 2022 when the building was built. Retail that's been boarded up and would like to change it to this next slide, please. A completed building with ground floor entry units that enhance the pedestrian experience and also the vehicular perspective along the three frontages. And as you can see, these retail frontages are not large single-plane pain glass frontages like you would see in a storefront, but there are sets of residential scale windows with detailed millions. And this provides a perception of separation from the street while providing a lot of light to come into the units. And these individual windows are of the same scale, if you look up the building, they're of the same scale of the upper levels. Next slide, please. So many pedestrians come across the bridge from the metro and they look down Monroe Street and this is what they say. And we'd like to change it to this which is the next slide please. A view of Monroe Street with a completed ground floor, this will be complimentary to what we've seen proposed for the future of 255 Rockville Pike. And we expect that this segment of Minerostreet will end up being really a lovely residential urban street. Next slide, please. And many business travelers and family visitors stay at the Cambria Suites Hotel. And this their current arrival view across the Cambria Suites Lobby entrance. And next slide please, this is what we'd like to change it to. This is Helen Henneganway with a completed ground floor with three new units and as you can see that due to the slope of the street, one of the units has a stair and stoop. What's unique about this side of the building is that the building is not built to the property line and has a five foot private amenity zone so the stair and stoop do not encroach on the eight foot wide pedestrian path for the sidewalk adjacent. And you're looking at the illustriatives for the project plan. And these are only conceptual. And as part of the site plan process, the design is evolving because the site plan is being considered concurrent with the project plan to add the details that will identify these units as private residences. And that means landscaping, lighting, canopies, and individual residential address signage. Since the three frontages, Helen Hennington Way, Middle, and Monroe, all have very different existing conditions, those exterior enhancements are going to be tailored for each of those frontages. So when we bring this back to you after we've gone through the concurrent site plan, you'll see the concept, you'll see the final concepts at the time you're making the approvals. Next slide, please. So the only thing that I would point out on the floor plan is there is a lobby for these boulevard lofts. It happens to be linear here. It's behind the middle lane units. Next slide please. And I'd just like to take one last moment to show you a typical loft unit along middle lane. As you can see on the floor plan on the bottom left, that's the first floor plan. And it has a front entry from middle lane on the bottom. And at the top of that plan, you can see that there is a secondary entrance to the, yeah, secondary entrance to the lobby. The floor plan is open over the living room. And that allows what's called borrowed light to go into the two bedrooms that are on the second floor. And if you really look at the floor plan on the right, you'll see that the front bedroom has two windows. And the back bedroom has a window and a glass door into that bedroom. And they borrow light from the window wall to get the light to those bedrooms in the back. And these lost units were designed to optimize livability. So next slide please. And I always love to show this. This is the concept floor plan for the three bedroom unit along the Nostria. And it's not too story because it's only 14 foot ceiling height but wow, a 14 foot ceiling height loft in Rockville. It should be great. Next slide please. So this is the before and after and the only point I want to make on this one is 17 of the parking spaces that exist in the building. We'll be reallocated from commercial to residential. And so this leaves a significant number of commercial spaces available for the new, and I, it's hard to say this, Korean Irish fusion restaurant that is coming to the building along East Montgomery Avenue. And also, there'll be sufficient commercial spaces left to give them flexibility to add outdoor seating as well. Next slide, please. So here we are on April 7th. We hope to be back before you this summer. Get to the Planning Commission. File permits, do construction. And one year from now, We hope that you all be at the cutting of the ribbon, and we hope to be open and occupied. So if there's any questions, we're happy to answer them. I know there were a couple of staff indicated to me that had been provided in advance. Thank you very much to staff and to you all for providing an overview of, I know that in our comprehensive plan did change things as well as a rock with tons of massive plan which is body just approved of not requiring our retail at every floor level. So thank you for coming forward the project that would help to bring that plan to life. I just have one set of questions that relate to the future resident experience and then I have some questions related to the current resident experience that I will hold and seldom my colleagues speak. But in terms of the future residents, this is going to be a busy place. We're going to have hometown holidays and Rockville Town Center, for example. So there will be noise at the ground, particularly at the ground level. During the comprehensive plan we talked about potentially looking at some sort of, you can't fully soundproof But improving the kind of material that's used with the windows so that there isn't the you know Standard window that would just allow sound to travel right through so it's just curious as to whether you all have Discussed that in addition to that what related to the windows. It is ground level So would people be able to see right into that unit and or is there a way to make sure that we can let people see out but not necessarily see in. So let me answer those two questions. The first one is that there is county noise standards, which require the interior noise to be at a certain level. This building already has roads on four sides. And so the lower levels of the upper part of the building already have enhanced windows to reduce the noise transmission from the street, which is 355, as well as middle lane, into those units. So these units at grade level will have to have the same kind of level of design to make sure that the glass in these windows transmit only the amount of noise to allow the interior noise level not to exceed what's required, you know, the cap that's allowed by the county. Yeah, I just want it and want to say people are saying we can't do events in town center because it's too loud. No, in fact, I talked to Mr. Beardbrow about that today and he said it would be very clear when they go to lease these, the amount of activities because we know that there are activities all the time in town center and there are road closures that we know, like we're gonna see it at hometown holidays. So those will all be identified to future tennis. And his response to me was, the people who want these units are gonna be ones who really want urban living. So. Excellent, thank you. And there is nothing else that you can do to increase the soundproofing beyond the standard. It is an engineering question, so it's going to be designed. Okay, I'll just say you could bring that back so next time it comes before me or I'll absolutely. And your second question was, this is a rental and so just like the other units, they will have their privacy blinds, you know, as part of the rental unit. So that there will be some consistency on the outside and they'll also be able to control some of their privacy. So it's just a blind. If someone wants to be able to allow sunlight to come in or to open. They'll be able to open it up. And then they'll be able to, people can see right into their units. Yes. All right. And last question related to the feature residents. I saw that one of the models we had people can get in. There are two entrances and exits so people can actually access the amenities of the building. Is that applied to all the units that you're building that there will be an entrance to be able to access. No, so all of the units except for the three bedroom and Monroe, have a rear private entrance. All right. That one, just because the building actually has multiple floor levels, and so that third three bedroom unit doesn't have a rear entrance. But the ones on Helen Hennegenway have a rear private entrance, and the ones on middle lane all have a rear private entrance but these units will also have access to all of the amenities that the Boulevard Ansel provides so these tenants will also have those same amenities. Thank you. So if someone wants to take their trash out for example they have to go bring their trash all the way around. So the ones on middle lane go out their back door because that trash room is right there in that linear lobby and the other two sides will have to bring them down to that linear lobby. Okay thank you. I will pause for now but I do hope that you all think about that experience for people who may want to open their blinds, but don't want people looking right into their units at that ground level. I think that's really important. Okay, so noted. Colleagues, Councilman Van Greck. I'm first, thank you to you and the applicant for the detailed work that you're doing and putting this in. I have one question you talked about in the presentation, and it has that setback from the right of way that gives way whether it's a stair step or other. One, is that something that exists now that your incorporation? from the right of way that gives way to whether it's a stair step or other. One, is that something that exists now that you're incorporating or something that you're building into with the renovations? So when these buildings were originally designed, we obviously thought that they were all going to be retail on this level. So there was a two foot. So the building was not built to the property line. It was actually built back five feet so that there could be a two foot storefront zone. So individual storefronts could be articulated. And then a five foot amenity zone so that any particular retailer could have some little amenity out there, whatever it might be. It functions well for converting this to residential, because it gives us the opportunity to do this stare and step, as well as potentially some landscaping or seating area, whatever it might be, that the architect finally comes comes up with and we work out with staff of what's the optimum. But that five foot amenity area exists. However, every frontage is slightly different because that's clear on Helen Hennington Way. I'm in Roe Street, that's where all the transformers are underground and those grates have to be lifted up. So we don't have, we have the five foot amenity space, but we actually can't put anything on top of the transformers. So for the Monroe Street unit, the architect is really looking for what can we do right around the door? So that's what you're going gonna see, probably, is some residential character around that door. And then on middle lane, there's only 12 to 14 inches. So, cause, you know, you know that middle lane sidewalk is very narrow there. And so that's all we have to work with. So we'll be working with that. Gotcha. So basically, you're taking the building and the setbacks as they have and incorporating into the residential units as best you can for the side that it's on. To enhance them as private residences. Gotcha. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Miles. Thank you, Madam Mayor. One question was already addressed with regard to privacy concerns for the new ground level residential units. That one follow a question to that in a second. The first question is for the three bedroom unit you mentioned there's only one entrance exit. Is that correct? That is correct. I know in some cities like Chicago I think you have to have two like a point of egress in the case of fire does it I don't I guess I have to speak with staff to ask if this is consistent with our code or not. We're just thinking from a safety perspective for the you know the you know in the worst case scenario of fire. How would somebody escape if if one answer was blocked. So all I can answer, I know you direct. in the worst case scenario of fire, how would somebody escape if one as it was blocked? So all I can answer, I know you directed that to staff, but we are about to go through our review because at the same time we found this project plan, we've now found site plan which more detailed, so that we'll have a more detailed review as we're moving forward from this point. Thanks so much. The second question is bit out of left field but I'm just curious if at some point in the future market conditions change whereby having ground level store fine, proper bull hand or desired, could these units be converted back to retail? Yeah, so there's no structural change, happening to the building. So the floor and the ceiling of these units are staying the same, the front facade is staying the same, we're changing the storefront to a residential front. And inside of these units, we're building the lofts. I didn't know if some of them were equipped, for example, if they could have been like restaurants at just certain stacks and hookups, electric. They're cold dark shells right now, meaning there's nothing in these units right now. I guess I'm saying if they, I don't know if they were built to potentially house something like a restaurant, and I don't know what restaurants would require from, you know, water stacks electric hookup stuff. That's way above my pay grade, but I think I can't see the general. Just a little bit, right now, none of these spaces are built out at all. The building has two water coming in, one's commercial water and one's residential. These first floor units were intended to be fed off of the commercial water meter, but that will change with this design. The water for these units will come from the residential meter. And if in the future, however many, whether it's decades in the future, if that needs to change, that's an engineering change to connect any water to the commercial meter. Thanks so much. Thank you. Councilmember Shaw. I also want to echo thanks to the presentation. It was excellent. I just have a few questions. Could you clarify the number of the 13 units, the number of units that have more than two or more bedrooms? Correct. So at the time of the filing of the project plan, we gave two alternatives in the statement of justification, but after it evolved with more engineering, we ended up with one three bedroom, one studio and 11 two bedroom. It's great to see that you're building for families. Larger units, correct. Also with the parking, you said that there's going to be 19 additional spaces that were originally retail, is that correct? So if we go back and we look, there's like a 100 and, I'll tell you exactly by looking at the chart. There were supposed to be 139 spaces that were allocated to commercial. In the Boulevard Ensel building, there is no gate between the residential and the commercial parking. So it's freely available to all, but we take those 139 spaces. We take 17 of them when we allocate them to residential, which allows that the last commercial space, which is on East Montgomery, could have up to 124 spaces. I know on most of the floors for the Ansel, there are these premium spaces. Sometimes they're not being used. If this is constructed, would it be considered to remove some of those premium spaces just so there's more overall parking for the building? You know, I don't know the answer to that and I'm not sure Rick will know, so, but we'll take note of that so that we can see if we can get you some answer. Okay, and my last question. Good work. Can you explain how you're managing the MPD use overall throughout the building? Yeah, one of the innovations that occurred at the time this building was built was that the MPD use were divided up and that allowed that this project to deliver 28% MPDUs instead of the 15% that was required. So the residences on the lane provide 28%, 112 affordable units, and then the Boulevard Ansel has no MPDUs in it. They're all provided within the residences, but it was one project and it allowed it instead of providing 15% like a normal project to provide 28%. And this is just a comment and I do understand that structure does allow for more MPD use, but also it separates a lot of the income levels throughout the building. And I know inclusion is one of our values. And so I just wanted to make that point. Absolutely, we understand that. You know, every building, we're sort of looking at the most innovative ways to deliver MPD use. And that case for this building it was to put them all in the HSC residents on the lane. Thank you. I was just going to give some additional context. I believe there were residents living in another building where they were having quality of housing issues and so there was some agreement to create this new section which allowed many of those residents to move over and so the residents of the lane is that correct correct so that the one on Monroe Street, which is now Monroe courts. I think it was the same James or something like some of those residents moved over here and then you know they HSE agreed to certain MPDU agreements and certain long-term agreements for their affordable senior. And then, you know, they, H.O.C. agreed to certain MPDU agreements and certain long-term agreements for their affordable seniors. And then there are market seniors still, because there's 150 units in the residences on the lane, but 112 are affordable. And how long, so H.O.C. essentially moved a bunch of the residents who were supported at the other property to this one. How long will those stay affordable? So, I'd have to go and look at the numbers to see what HOC finally signed with the city because I was not their council, so I don't know what their MPDU agreement was. Okay, And I believe when that deal was struck, were there tax breaks and incentives to support this? So at the time, Montgomery County actually gave a credit for their impact taxes. If you had more than a 25% MPDU building. Right. Okay. could get could get that in writing as well, just so that we have some response. Yeah. That would be very helpful. Thank you. Councilman Valerie. I think my colleagues hit a couple of my thoughts. But and I, so I look forward to the written answers in particular on this. I'm trying to figure out the words so you would say the figure now. What the innovation is in particular because I don't see, you know, frankly, I don't see anything that would preclude doing more than the bare minimum of MPD use. I'm trying to kind of figure out, like, I think you use very specifically said, it was an innovative way to get more MPD use, which I'm always a big fan of. But I'm also kind of not of a fan of economic segregation, frankly. So, and that's what I see as being the issue, I think that we're all kind of struggling with here because by adding those units it's not really changing the calculus because you've taken all the the MPDU you you unit residents you put them all in their own building whereas I've seen some really beautiful buildings where the MPDU units are seamless and you cannot tell the difference from one unit to another. So I think that's where some of my concerns are. But if you could share a little bit about in particular the innovation that we're we're looking at here. Okay, so back in 1994 when this project all, and then as it got amended from time to time, one of the key critical factors that the city actually asked to be included in the PD, RCI was that there would be priority offering to seniors for all of the MPDUs. So in reacting to that, when this project was being built, HFC had a project in town center that was failing. It needed so much physical improvements. And we had a priority market to seniors. And so Du DuBall at the time got together with HOC and came up with a plan to create a new St. James or whatever it was called. Town center apartments, whatever it was called. That's the part. I don't, James Monroe Park, I don't know. To come up with a plan where they could build new as part of the DuBall project and provide all of the seniors who do want to live together and provide their own space and have their own community spaces and their own community, per se, in one segment of the building. So the building is one building, but it's a condo and the seniors are in one condo and the rest of Boulevard Ancels and another condo. So that was the innovation, was instead of doing 400 units and doing 15% MPDs, which is what Dubal would have done. Instead, you got 28% focused on the seniors and then the building had 28% MPDs in it. Gotcha. And I appreciate it. But there would be no age restriction on these new lots, or there would... 28% MPD use in it. Gotcha. No, I appreciate it. And there would be no age restriction on these new lots or there would be. No, these are market. These would be all market with no preference. Correct. Gotcha. Thank you. Colleagues, any other questions? All right. Thank you very much. We'll be back soon. Thank you. Okay. Mr. City Manager, Jeff Mejelik. Is there anything else that you need from us? I know this will go to the Planning Commission and there'll be a public hearing in the future and hopefully in a year we'll see something on the ground level and all the questions we got tonight that we need additional answers on we'll get those. Okay thank you very much. That's all we need thank you. All right we're now going to move on to our work session FY 2026 budget. This is our third work session and tonight we're going to be focusing on operating expenditures, CIP grants, debt review and final balancing. I do want to note just briefly that will move through the remaining operating from our previous meeting. We did not get to the CMO's office, to the CAO's office, as well as the city clerk's office. There are a couple straw poles and I know that Mr. Mejilik would like some additional clarification on and then we'll move to grants. And then CIP, at which point we'll take a brief break and come back and do final balancing. All right, welcome. Kim Francesco and Stacey Webster. Good evening, Madam Mayor, members of the council. We'll start this evening with the materials that continue work session two from our last meeting. Once we hear any needed direction, we'll pick up with the CIP presentation and discussion ahead of our final balancing. There was a healthy discussion on March 24 around planned operating expenditures in FY 2026. We had just three departments that carried over since tonight's meeting. I'll try to go through these quickly since we did share them in the past. This page summarizes the proposed operating budget and staffing levels for the mayor and council department. The outlook for FY 2026 includes rewriting the city's election code, updating and coordinating changes, revisions and codification of the Rockville City Code, facilitating training for board's commissions, task forces, and volunteers, and scheduling retreats for strategic planning priorities and other mayor and council initiatives. Major budgetary changes include funding for new boards and commission software, and funding for more frequent electronic updates to the city code. This page summarizes the proposed operating budget and staffing levels for the office of the city attorney. That will look for FY 2026 includes providing legal advice and support for the city's election code, MPDU program, the zoning ordinance rewrite, various executions of contracts and agreements and continue to support for pending opioid litigation cases. Major budgetary changes include increases for travel training and professional resources. This page summarizes a proposed operating budget and staffing levels for the city manager's office. The bulk of the reductions you see here are the direct result of the reorganization and creation of the procurement department and the communication and community engagement department. The outlook for FY 2026 includes advocating for the mayor and council's 2026 legislative priorities, finalizing the city's art and public places implementation plan and cataloging public artworks and implementing a new customer relationship management system. Major budgetary changes include funding for the biennial community survey, funding for the development of a jet-eye strategic plan, increase funding to support ready, and decreases for personnel and operating costs associated with the newly established departments and the reorganization. I'll share a brief summary of the community service and enrichment grants included in the proposed budget. So the FY2026 budget emerges the former caregiver grant program and community organizations grant program. Consolidating these two programs provided alignment and the timing of the grant process and due dates and also provided consistency in the panel application review and scoring process as part of this change and in recognition of community needs the FY 2026 budget took a fresh look at the funding levels for these grant programs. This chart compares the FY 2026 proposed grant funding levels to the amounts provided over the last nine years. The FY 2026 budget proposes an increase of more than a quarter million dollars for the grants program, a 22.3% increase over FY 2025. The 1.5 million dollars does not include the recommended use of unassigned fund balance for the emergency response vehicle for the Rockville volunteer fire department. So when you include that in, it's even higher. The proposed grant awards fall under eight categories as shown here and use the line with the intended impact for the Rockville community. And that's all I have. I'll turn it over to you Madam Mayor. Thank you. So we'll start out with some of the offices that we didn't cover previously. If you could have the city attorney's office slides up, and I'll just give you a minute to pull it up, and then we'll do city clerk. And since we did a lot of departments covered by the city manager, we'll get to you last. Mr. City Manager, give you a little bit of a break. While us being pulled up, Robert Dawson is our city attorney. We appreciate all that you do for our office, for our city. I had a couple quick questions that related to what is planned for FY26. So I believe in March, we looked at or talked about maybe updating the ethics code. And I didn't see that in there. I wanted to understand is that a plan for FY26 or FY27, because I did see some of the other, if you can go to the slide, it talks about the outlook perfect that I said see some of the other city code items in there. So I just wanted to check and see where we stand on ethics. So what's listed in the budget is what we anticipate working on. So my office, which is a staff of seven, we mostly react to. Because we support we provide support for. Marin council and for the staff. So we anticipate working on these items and including. The ethics code. But depending on what comes through the door on any given day But depending on what comes through the door on any given day, that's sort of where we're often running to. So I guess the short answer to your question is yes, we anticipate working on the ethics code. But we'll see how the year goes. Thank you. And this may go to a Miss Sarah Taylor-Farrell, as well as you, has the Ethics Commission been engaged, or will they be engaged? This year, Tilly's asked questions on whether there should be. I just make a note it because we put several people on the Ethics Commission who have very substantial expertise in this area. So I just wanted to see maybe we could at least start getting some input from the commission. I'll have our volunteer coordinator reach out to their staff liaison and see what they're anticipating next annual review, what they anticipate on doing. Thank you. I appreciate that. And I know we made some updates to align with the state, but we during that time I talked about some of my colleagues at questions about one would be updating the rest of it. So I appreciate that background. The last question I have is I know that you've been looking at potentially having the city attorneys together for collaboration and coordination. Is there anything needed for FY26 or that be handled through FY25 existing funding? So yes, our hope is to finally have a legal suite where all of the attorneys are sitting on the same floor in the same suite. So yes, our hope is to finally have a legal suite where all of the attorneys are sitting on the same floor and in the same suite. But in terms of the financing for that, that would go through facilities and the manager would coordinate that. So it wouldn't be it wouldn't appear in my budget. Thank you. And I'll miss it. I know I was going to give you a break, but are we covered on that or do we need anything for our point 26? That's okay, Mayor. We're actually doing a space study right now for this building, including the city attorney's suite. I committed to my friend Robert that we find a suite a way to do a suite for all his attorneys and we'll do that. And we don't need any additional budget allocation to do that work at this time. Thank you. Thank you. And I just also want to say thank you. I know there's some substantive work here. Your team is working heavily on the zoning ordinance rewrite, the MPDU attendance, landlord tenant and elections. So it's going to be a busy year and I appreciate all the work that you're doing in advance and addition to supporting all the departments. Colleagues, any questions? Do you want to ask three? Any questions for city attorney? Dr. Miles, are you good? Okay, great. Now if we can move to the city clerk. Okay. Colleagues, do you have any questions on the city clerk's office? Okay. have a couple of questions. One is I believe that there is a rock full sister city of planned for activity for September with our sister cities in Germany. Do we have that covered in this budget? Yes, that would come out of this budget because we're now funding for it. It's only to travel part. So that would come out of this budget. Okay, and we have enough for that. We think. Yes. Okay, perfect. And then you've met with some of us about potentially looking at a new way to store our historical archives and being compliance with state law that's currently outside of this county and that you've expressed desire to bring it in. I just wanted to know, I don't think that's planned for FY26. Using this year, it's a planning year to get feedback back to the mayor and council and city manager, or is there anything that is moving forward in FY26 for that? That is a request to the city manager and I think it's on this radar for an outlook. Okay, so maybe FY27 or the future. Yes. Okay. Thank you, colleagues. Are there any questions for our city clerk? Councillor Jackson. Thank you, Mayor. Just a clarification. I think I know the answer, but on the performance measures, you have FY 2025, efforts time to fill boards on commission vacancies, posting to appointment as 30 days. And then they proposed FY 2026 performance are 60 days. So can you explain why you had that time double? Yes. Right now since we got a new volunteer coordinator, we're now streamlining the boards and commissions. So that on board docs software, excuse me, on board docs software where was string line that and we're getting on board with it. This FY 26. So we're giving ourselves a little more time to get all the 36 boards and commission members and everything on board and then we'll reduce that back once there were everybody's trained in the system. Just allowing more time. Council Member Vellieri. I thought I didn't have any comments or questions, but I do. Also going to performance measures. I think that there is one of your offices, performance measures that I think does not truly encapsulate everything that you do, nor should it be on your office. And that is the average length of time for mayor and council meetings. There are so many external factors to that, including how long or short, 84-amago. So I just want to flag like, I think it's always awesome to have goals, but there's so many external things that none of us have control over that I wouldn't want to. Yeah, I just, I, this is not the first time I've seen that one and I'm like, man, that's just not fair. It depends on how long I talk and I talk a lot. So yeah, no, I just wanted to flag that also for my colleagues as well. That's a performance measure, but maybe we can help with the new one. We can. I agree. Thank you. I wanted to ask a question about the process for updating ordinances because I know that this was a potential budget impact, but maybe you haven't covered. But we were only allowed a set number of ordinance updates that happen at periodic cycles. And so it made it look like it was not updated and there was a lot of outstanding items to implement into our code, which makes it hard for anyone working with us to understand what is a complete body because they have to crash checklist. So I appreciate that the office really got those updated. But just going forward, do we have the budget needed so that we have timely updates to the ordinance? Yes, that's the additional money for the code updates online. So when we've been doing it twice a year, this time we'll do at least three to four times a year. And that way we'll do it more often. And the online version will be updated with those ordinances. Thank you. So we're looking for quarterly updates. Correct. And is there a keep a funds measure related to that? We'll work with our Munich code online and see what that looks like, because we've been only used to updating twice a year. So we're going to see what that quarterly update will look like. Okay. I just think that that is actually an important metric more than the other, some of the others. So I would encourage that to actually be included in the charts and the budget book on I think it's 104 page 104 so you could look at adding that. Colleagues any other questions for a city clerk? Well I will also say thank you I know we you know ask a lot of questions and you your team supports us in helping you know us to stay updated and to get things not only to us but to the public and online. So I want to thank you for that and then again to your office the election code is going to be huge this year so I will thank you in advance for that. You're welcome. Thank you. All right Mr. City Manager back to you on City Manager's update. So we have here the 2026 Outlook and Major Changes. We already went through the department. So this is specifically the budget allocated for the City Manager's office. Colleagues, do you have any questions? Council Member Valeriy. I don't know if we talked about this previously, but I know that the city manager and I have had this conversation around the Judd I of strategic plan. Is it still your intent to outsource us as opposed to having the new position develop it and have that be part of the skill set that they kind of come on board with? It's actually a combination of both. So the project manager would be our Jedi director who should be on board working for the city within the next 60 days Then you're right, we'll do an RFP to have an outside consultant come in and work with us and the community to develop the strategic plan, which is best practice, but the lead in terms of hiring the consultant and then going and moving forward with implementation would be our Jedi director. Gotcha. And only because I don't have it like right in front of me how much of an increase in funding are what I'm sorry what was the funding for specifically the consultant portion of that $80,000. $80,000. Thank you. Council and Bashar. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. Council Member Chau. the best way that I know to have an outside consultant. Thank you. And just to clarify, this plan will be done in FY26. I know we've been wanting this for a very long time. Correct. A couple of years. So thank you. And I know that the new person who is hired, they will be charged. They know that this is one of their primary responsibilities. They knew it during the interview process, Mayor. So they know coming in for sure. Thank you. Thank you. I just want to make sure that we're setting our people up for success. So I appreciate that. And the other questions, colleagues. Council Member Jackson. Just one question. Thank you. So the, what's the called the committee impact grants? Is that under the city managers office or is that moved to housing and community development? It's only $6,000. I just curious where it is. Yeah, we, that isn't within the city manager's office. That's correct. Thank you. Do you want to make a clarification? Yes, we do. Sorry. Councillor Member Jackson, this is that $6,000 pot of money that is allocated during the fiscal year for community groups that's in the CCE the communications and community engagement budget for FY26 Okay, thank you. I had a couple quick questions that relate to the expected outlook for the City Manager's Office that is listed on page 112 and I note here as well. Continue refining performance measures and reporting systems for all city priorities. So FY26 is our anticipation that all the major initiatives will be on Envisio. Is that right? That's correct. Okay. And then for the customer relationship management system to handle information requests from the public and internal customers, can you clarify, I know we asked a little bit about this last in a previous meeting. Is that going to be just your internal tracking or is it going to be something that will also be public facing in terms of like the report of concern or it will be that be separate? The report of concern would be separate. We have systems related to that. This is more just the comments that we come in with general questions either by the agenda items or about policies, procedures, etc. We're also going to track questions that we receive from council, from advisory boards, etc., because it's identify trends in areas where we see challenges and what also lead likely to some initiative for a to budget. Thank you. And when are you planning to look at reporter concern? I know that was something that the body has talked about in the past because right now it's just an email that goes to departments, but it does not necessarily allow you to be able to track trends on issues that we may be seeing. And if you need to dial a friend, please feel free. I see Mr. Goddard. So we are going to take a look at that as part of this whole system. So it's gonna be customer relationship management, reporter concern, and also asset management, all part of this new system. Okay, perfect. So thank you for updating. So we will be doing that in FY26. Correct. We're looking at a better process for that. Yes, ma'am. Okay, thank you very much. Gold star. Thank you, Mr. Goddard. As well. Colleagues, any other questions for the City Manager? Dr. Miles? Okay. All right. Before we go to the grants and I see Council Member Vellary. What's that? Council Member Vary left, and I know she had some questions about this as well. But there were some operating questions from last time. I'll start with the ones that I know that she, sort of the greens. Last time we've spoken a couple of things, and some of the ideas we raised are just informational, and you'll be looking at things in the future and considering. And I just wanted to flag some of those that you and I had a chance to kind of went through the list of all of what I heard my colleagues say to try to make sure that we were clear I won't go through all those tonight. But just a few the recycling pilot program in parks you're already looking at a pilot on that you don't need anything from us. Correct. And I know there was things about doggy stations in parks. You're already looking at a pilot on that. You don't need anything from us. Correct. Okay. And I know there was things about doggy stations in parks. You're already looking at that. I just want to acknowledge that, you know, my colleagues raised some of these things. The additional composting site, you will have one additional this year. So we don't have to do anything on that. But maybe look at the KPIs. The implementation on staffing for rental transparency and see initiative. I know several of my colleagues have also asked about that. That will be done this year. So we clarify that just a little bit. I believe we have existing staffing in place, but we want to see if there's a more efficient way, a more efficient and more effective way to do it. I'll be meeting internally with staff about some of those options, and I'll report that back to the council, but it does not have an impact on the budget. colleagues colleagues you have any follow-up I know this was an area of interest for many of you do you have any questions about that? Comes with Mangrack. I mean what you're saying is we're going to be doing it we're just not sure what the funding is going to be for it yet but we're looking to do it within this fiscal year. Correct okay good. Thank you. So the other quick items that we discussed last week that and if there's anything that you don't feel like you have clarity on any short polls please let me know. I will get to what I believe those are. Implementation and staffing for increased multi-family inspections you noted that you'll be doing that programmatically and coming up with an approach to make sure our residents have access to quality housing. Correct. Okay. Um, the, we've got a lot of questions about dog parks. You're looking at that. You're going to try to bring the one from Redgate at least to open at some point. Correct. Okay. Uh, Council Member Vellieri, I'm just going through some of the list that I know some people had questions on. I just wanted to know what's already planning and is not necessarily budget so that we are clear. Um, so he's not going to. questions on I just wanted to know what's already planning and is not necessarily budget so that we're clear. So he's not going to do 10 dog parks in one year but they're going to be looking at opening the dog park dog park at red gate and then looking at where they're considering doing in the future. Mr. May hella is there anything you wanted to add to that? I don't. Just to clarify, I mean, the dog park that right here is actually open, maybe not as robust use as it is, but it's open right now. OK, so you're no longer chaining and locking it. Not that I'm aware of. It was locked before. Not that I'm aware of. OK, great. Yep, so all right. And then the community, there was a discussion about an uber pass to help seniors access others. All right. And then the community, there was a discussion about an uber pass to help seniors access other community centers who are members of the senior center. You're gonna be looking at what that is, but we don't need to make any decisions on that tonight. Correct. Okay. And I already know that we talked about internships and apprenticeship and just considering that, not necessarily doing budget on that this is here. Correct. Okay. All right. things that we talked about internships and apprenticeship and just considering that not necessarily doing budget on that. This is correct. Okay. All right. Now there are a couple things that we talked about that I understand you wanted to get and lastly on that list solar. There were there was some information in the budget book that was different than what is the updated plan but then we got the recent public works report that said there's some delays. So are we on track with the KPIs to have Two in the fall and potentially more in FY26 correct Okay, all right, and that will be updated in the KPIs because it's not in the budget book So just to be clear we're not talking about potentially open operating in the fall all four but we plan on making progress on four solar installations on city facilities over the next year. If we can get things worked out to have them in the fall, that's the goal. I couldn't say we have specific month right now. Okay, so we'll look for an update in the fall and hopefully at least two of those are open. Correct. Okay. All right. So some of the things that I believe we need potentially straw polls on, but just to clarify, I thought there was majority support for looking at the park pavilions and enjoying this equity in this particular one specifically for feasibility study at Wootenville Park, which has been asked for several years. I'm seeing some head shaking from my colleagues and supporting. But do you need a job hole on that? I'm just if we can put thumbs up in case, because I know this is one he won a clarity. That works. Thank you. So we'll take a break when you do the budget balance and you just need to tell us where we are because I know you're working with a pot of money. You got it. Okay. The other piece was, oh, I'll point to my colleagues because we've been having nice discussions about noise abatement. So Councillor Jackson. Thank you Mayor. As we heard tonight from people in Willie Gardens and throughout this discussion on the senior center entrance there has been some under-intercurrent about noise and noise abatement. So it's separate from the senior center entrance, but I do think it's important, especially because there hasn't been a study done for about 20 years to kind of fund a little study and look at Goody Drive and the area east to find out if budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the budget for the. But let me go after Councilman Van Gregg. I just want to thank the Mayor and Councilman Rajax and because I know that I actually at one point lived not too far from Goody. And so even as much as 25 years ago, I know that there was an issue with regard to noise. And if we've been losing that berm area that could shelter some folks, I think it's important for us to take a look at. I know as an example, and I'm not suggesting this as an addendum, but along Wooten Parkway, we're having the same issues, where certain storms have knocked down trees that have been noise abatements for some of the communities just outside of Wooten Parkway. It sounds to me like what's happening along Goody Drive is more significant than what we're seeing along Wooten Parkway in the neighborhood close to me. So something like this is something that we should be looking at. I don't know whether, you know, you'd be the best determined the way to do that, whether in this area, or even in other areas, whether we're having these issues, but it's definitely something that we need to address in some way shape or format. So I thank the mayor and cousin of Jackson for bringing that up. Thank you and thank you for speaking out for other residents in the city. I'll just make two comments and then I'll turn to my colleagues. One is I would like to see us do a noise abatement as noted by my colleagues in FY26 to do a study on that as who we can do. I do know that I go by there regularly and I do see that there is erosion and some hopeful that we can figure out a way at least study on what is the impact on the noise and how we can find a creative solutions to help address it. However, I also want to add in yes and there are other residents on Goody who I think we should be thinking about from an equity perspective. So our David Skull community, also a France Goody, they have even less berm, there is no berm, there's like four skinny trees. And so I'm just asking, and maybe we can find some financial efficiencies if we're going out to do a noise study to see if we can also consider those residents who are in a predominantly low income community to provide them some support and consideration on the noise as well. So that would cover that woolly gardens near college gardens area as well as the David's goal community. And I hope my colleagues will be amenable to that. We'll be we'll do a straw poll after we hear a couple more comments. Councilman Vellieri. I'm in strong agreement with that as well. I'll telegraph my straw poll with like two thumbs up on that. I'm curious because it does sound like it has been a concern that this community has raised for a while. I would be curious if there have been noise abatement studies done maybe around the same time in different areas. Have we have we looked across the city for any concerns and see where there might be feasibility studies coming down the road that may need to be updated. I don't know. I'm just throwing that out there because I have been thinking through this issue. As I joked with a couple of people, there are definitely some areas in the city where it is extremely noisy all day and all night. And I think I'd probably lose count of county and how many cars are on that road. But to the extent by which things may have shifted or changed over time due to traffic patterns, I think it's completely valid. My second quick point is that and and Council Member Jackson knows, because I brought this up during the discussion of the second entrance to the senior center, and it was raised by some member to the public. I know that our traffic and transportation department was looking at West Goody, as far as the speeds and making it more of a safer road from that instance. And what I heard from the community was a lot of, you know, the two are intertwined. We have speeding issues and the noise issues and, you know, drag racing, which sometimes I don't know if that's what it is, just loud cars, but at any rate, we do know that there are general traffic safety issues on that stretch of the road. So however we proceed forward with the feasibility study, I just want to put like an asterisk that we are also concurrently looking at the safety of it as well. Thank you. Councilmember Fulton. So I just, I really appreciate the comments about the equity as we look at these things. So I'm in favor of the noise maintenance study on Goody for the Woodley Gardens neighborhood. Caviar interested in the balancing to make sure we have the funds as we do this because I think it is an important point that we should look everywhere and that then also increases the cost. So I'm in favor of it. I'm in favor of doing it equitably, which then I think might increase the cost, which then might actually be a balancing problem. So I just wanted to make those comments in advance, but I am in favor of doing so in an equitable way if we can afford it. Thank you Dr. Miles. Do you have any questions or comments on this one? No questions. I'm in favor. Okay thank you. I'm just curious just as a thought. So if we were to to straw poll both sides of Goody East and the West side of what we just talked about. But I'm also curious to the comments. I know I've heard a lot of noise issues and unfortunately a lot of it has to do where with state roads. And so you know if we've heard from Rose Hill Falls a long time we've you you know, I know, uh, Wooten is an area that we've heard from, uh, and Louis Avenue. I'm just wondering if So, you know, if we've heard from Rose Hill falls a long time, you know, I know, O'rutan is an area that we've heard from and Lewis Avenue. I'm just wondering if staff could get back to us generally speaking as to when the last time these communities have been studied so that maybe for the FY27, we can think more holistically about a whole city approach and be able to plan for that. Councilman Van Grat. I would just get to say because I think there's two different issues. There's issues where there either have been different developments and we've not put forward the measures with trees, fences or blockage where I think we need to have studies. I think there's other areas that if staff even just drove by, they see that there were gaping holes. And so, like for example, Wooten Parkway, I would not suggest that we need a noise-abatement study. I don't want to suggest that we need $20,30 or $40,000. If staff drives by Wooten Parkway between 28, all the way through to Falls Road, they would see that because of storms and knockdown trees, there is all of a sudden 20 to 30 foot gaping holes in these significant lines of trees. That I don't think we need to have a study, but it could be someone checking to see, oh, we should probably replace trees because it's creating a noise nuisance. Thank you. Yeah, I talked to the city manager about that last week of like, can't we just add more trees in Bermond some places? But I know he had a comments about that and that and I just you know I think it makes sense to at least in the short term you know see what we can do in terms of reforist areas but Mrs. Citi Mandra I welcome your questions or your comments on the approach on this because maybe it's the rest of approach but we'll straw poll at least in the short term for the studies that we talked about in the two communities. Please go ahead. Thank you. That was a lot of good information from the council. I mean, maybe work backwards. You know, past 27, I do think asking the team just to be on the lookout, if you will, throughout the community for areas where we might need a noise study or some additional improvements is good direction to us. So that doesn't impact this budget, but that's good. We will be on look off for that. And then there's really what do we need to do with West Goody noise study, which seems to be imminent related to the senior center entrance and also the David Skull community. I think in terms of community engagement, it's important to keep those projects separate from one another. You don't want to create a noise study and get different neighborhoods coming to different things. I would recommend that you actually straw poll two different studies, one is Westgoody noise study, and the second is the David Skull community noise study as well. Just to really quickly say, the noise study is important to do on the front end because it's going to help determine what improvements are most effective. It is true that depending on the level of noise that adding to a berm, adding landscaping can be effective, right? But there's certain noise levels and distance to where people are living where you may want to put in sound walls instead. So it's really important to get that noise data first before we start thinking about actual applications to pull the noise back. So I would recommend straw pulling two things, West Scoody Drive, noise study, David Skull Community Noise Study, and then we'll be on the lookout for future applications for noise studies in the future. If that works, should everybody? Thank you. Thank you, Councilerri. I'm seeing her struggling a little bit with the efficacy of that because really, I mean, we can vote, you know, in support of both, but I don't understand why we wouldn't just vote on supporting a study for residential areas along Goody Drive, whether it's West or East. Because also, if not only is it David Skull, there's another community down at the intersection as well, leading to the intersection with Norbeck. So I'm not a big fan of like ironic, pitting East versus West necessarily, but let's just do I want to put forward a noise abatement study of all the residential areas along Goody Drive period because I think that that brings a city together as opposed to separating us. Mr. City manager, do you have any concerns about that? I wouldn't say I have any concerns. It's just that's going to take a while to get all that work done before we can actually do some implementable actions in the field, but we're happy to do that. What I mean by that is constructing noise abatement measures. Thank you, Dr. Nguyen. Council Member Larry. How would that add any additional time to what your proposing, which is too separate? What I'm saying is start the Westwood Annoy study do the community engagement find out what the levels are do construction build it then come right after that and then do the David Sculler community. That's exactly what my my concern is is that you are prioritizing one residential community over another that may be dealing and I don't think it's your intent. Don't get me wrong but even just the way that you phrased it well let's do this for the Woodley Gardens community and then let's get it all done and then we'll think about the other community is a long-guty drive. I could not support that. Thank you I don't want to believe with this point too much but but I think the intent is that we want to vote on that vote, but straw poll on these two communities. I'm hearing from my colleagues just in the comment that people are supportive of providing an equitable approach on Goody. I will also note that there may be efficiencies in being able to go out with an RFP that might cover those areas so that we can maybe study them around the same time so that we're not treating them as one complete project and finish and then one complete project and finish. At least on the study part, I know the CIP part with any building of walls as well as berms is a lot more extensive and we'll have to have a discussion about that. But at least in terms of the study, I would like to make sure the East and West communities are going out around the same time in the city, works to get any efficiencies and budget discounts that we can by doing them together. Councilman Van Graen. Everything is set with regard to equity. I completely agree. Like, I don't think we need to pose one section or the other. The only thing I would take issue with, I don't think we should be studying every residential section along East or West Goody. I know there's a significant difference. For example, that Red Gate Farm community, that's right on the edge of Norbeck. I actually used to live there, and I can tell you that on those neighborhood townhouses, There actually is not only a line of trees, there's a driveway and a second line of trees. I am less concerned about that than when we're talking about the David Skull. I'm also less concerned about that compared to the other area that we're talking about near the proposed Goody Drive Senior Center area. So I think to keep costs down, we've got a couple of very narrow areas that I think we want to see noise evaporation studies there might be other ones along Goody that later in other fiscal years we can address but I want to be a kind of direct to these communities at this point. Thank you. I agree with that and that's where I was headed as well. I think also because you need to show us some balancing this evening so that you have some clarity on what you're doing, but that you're looking forward on other parts of the city as well as you come across this issue for maybe 2027. Okay. Colleagues, we are now going to, like I said, we can, do Do you have anything else to? Okay. All right. We are taking a straw poll on support for noise studies around the David Skull East community in Rockville as well as the West by Wiggly Gardens where there is noise concern. Can all of my colleagues who are interested in this particular study these particular two studies raise your hand. Two studies, one thumb bridge. Okay, we'll do it. All right, Dr. Malzio, good as well, I saw, right? Perfect. Do you have any questions about that? I do not. Thank you. Okay, so comes one of the Larry. Just a point of clarification for myself. So I know that this was an a new feasibility study where we were reflecting back community feedback. Are we going more in depth on similar? Do you want us to hold on to those things that may or may not qualify to be SDIP? Like because we there are other things that the community has brought forward that we have not gonna start pulling on. Thank you. I would suggest that we hold, this is because he said studies are officially in the operating from, in the Chicago, from last week, so I'm going through the lesson last week. And then we will go to community grants and then CIP. Are we good? That's right. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. The other item that Mr. Mahalik asked that we draw a poll on, I know last time we talked about a short-term emergency assistance program to help support federal workers, contractors and grantees during this very unusual time, people would not necessarily qualify for a standard program. We are not going to debate the criteria for application here. I know that that's something that Mr. Mahalek has asked, allow his team to come back to figure out how it would be administered as well as how it would be, you know, people would be eligible. But that you need us to straw poll to just be able to put some funds aside. And I know you said you were going to come up with a recommended amount. Are you wanting us to discuss that here? Yes, please. you want us to discuss it. Okay, Councilmember Shaw. I just wanted to ask for clarity. So it would be for federal employees, former federal employees, federal contractors, those impacted by what it did. Yes. So the team would come up with the criteria, but the, they, and talking with the Department of Lee were at the state level. They have talked about there are unique times when municipalities and local jurisdictions will rise to the moment to help meet an emergency, which is, this is a little bit of an emergency. Just last week we heard about nearly 1,000 federal workers in and around the city. So this is to really support people have been impacted by their recent transitions. And we would be looking at federal workers, contractors, and grantees. And Mr. Mahillic's team would put some thought into how that would be stood up and who qualifies. count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. Count them as a reference. would put some thought into how that would be stood up and who qualifies. Council member Felton. So I had a couple thoughts on this. And clearly, like I have, I understand the impact on federal workers, my family is impacted. I wanna do everything we can. That being said, I'm wondering whether the most efficient and effective way to go about providing the support is, is it by standing up in like a direct city program out of wholesale whole cloth or is it to boost our grant funding to those nonprofits that already do provide the support where there's already the infrastructure that already in place. So as I think about how we can the best way to administer funding or if we wanted to help in that way, I would be more inclined to do it that way than the city to sort of set up a whole new program on its own. Thank you, Councilmember Fulton. I have raised that exact question with Mr. Mejellik. I agree with you. I want to do the path of least resistance that is effective. So I would support either. And I honestly would leave it up to our city manager to help figure that out. But I do think that there are several nonprofits who have systems in place. So my opinion is I support both. I leave it to you. But I would love the feedback of my colleagues. or if you feel strongly about one way or the other, can't remember fulton. You're going to be a little bit more. My opinion is I support both. I leave it to you, but you know, I would love the feedback of my colleagues or if you feel strongly about one way or the other Councilor Fulton I have a lean towards the grant funding because I but everyone all the reasons I said It do we need I feel like you need direction on which route to go through if you don't I'm happy to say like Please explore all and come back, but can we do that? I think what he needs now is is what I'm hearing, what I've heard from him in discussions is just what is a base starter amount so that he can play around for the budget discussion and he can come back to us with suggestions on the criteria and how that program looks like and who runs it. Council Member Larry, then Council Member Van Graf. I just have a quick question because I do actually like this approach because we do have non-profit partners that are assisting in the actual implementation of some of our assistance programs. I guess, do you see a concern on expanding or reimagining the eligibility if we work with our non-profit partners? So that's like the only thing that I could see possibly being a hitch in, you know, increasing, you know, just saying, hey, we're going to increase this much here, here and here would be that they have their own criteria for the community that they're assisting. So that's, that's my only, I don't know what the best approach is, but I do think our nonprofit partners are doing this very, very well. Councilman Van Grack. So this initiative is the right type of initiative we should be doing. It's the city, they are clearly people in need and there is a potential for us to be able to system. The problem here is I think, because I'm a consultant, was talking about the devil's in the detail, because how this could be implemented, because I've heard about federal employees, I know there's federal contractors, both owners and employees in our area that are also being effective because of complete shutdowns across the area. And we even have potentially other areas of impact of people based on recent events. So the degree to which we can help, we should, but I don't want to create more bureaucracy on our part to make it difficult as to what we're picking and choosing. To the extent a nonprofit could be able to assist us with that parameter so that we're not creating a criteria itself, I think is much more effective. But there's clearly a need for help. To the extent we can, I want to be able to do it, but I want to be able to do so so that we're not creating a heavier burden on us or creating an unfair criteria that haven't looked at the entire breadth of this problem, which is gigantic. Thank you. I just wanted to note, we do have a lot that the Department of Housing and Community Development is working on with two major code updates, the Home ownership program, et cetera, transparency initiative. So I don't want to delay those other initiatives by this. So that is part of what I'm looking to you to say, hey, this is the most effective way to get it done and not push back our other initiatives. So I guess that's a lean in the direction of nonprofit, but I do want to allow you Mr. Mejellik sometime to think that through, or if you have any feedback for us, and then I'll call on Councilman Basha. So I'm very supportive of this effort. I think I would like to just have more information. I know you're going to dive into that. But two things that I am concerned with, just making sure that there's not a duplication of efforts, like with the county, like we could better align and work with the county that has a lot of resources already. For example, I know our website, we have a number of resources, but I think it's based on like the government entity kind of, that's there, not necessarily the resources that are listed. And so I always question if someone is not familiar with what the state provides or what the county provides or what the city provides, how do they know where to where to click on. So I just I think that we should do some type of analysis to figure out some of the needs and then figure out that we don't want to we don't want to duplicate some services and we can work more efficiently. Thank you. Councilmember Jackson. Thank you, Mayor. This is a tough one, but I mean, I tend to agree with my colleague Councilmember Fulton. I mean, the non-profits already have the infrastructure. They already know the people and they they're almost like several ready if you forgive my mixing mentors. So I mean I like that model. Now you Mr. Helik can go back and look at the structure that we have and figure out if there's gaps that we should fill that maybe we don't have nonprofits doing X or Y. And maybe we do have a city program. But I'm curious, what were you thinking in terms of like how much money it would take to do, I guess some of the help that we're talking about. I mean really that is the question. That's the policy question. Minimum, I would do $40,000. Of course, it's really not worth it to be perfectly honest with you from an administrative standpoint. But I would, if you guys are gonna use that money to push it out into the community through existing, not profit organizations. I'd go as high as $100,000 because to everybody's point, that infrastructure is already in place. So we're just really expanding the existing programs. I would also say that if you're pushing the money out to other existing programs, I think you have to let them determine what the program design components are. If we're having an internal, then we'll come up with a program design and come back and just share that with you. Hopefully that's helpful. No, it actually is very helpful. And I mean, it goes to my point earlier when we were meeting to have these nonprofits in one room to talk about what they're offering and if there are areas overlap or if there's that they have specialty, specialty's in. So yeah, I actually like the higher amount, but to my colleagues point, I mean, at the same time, we should actually be kind of conservative with laying out the budget, because we don't really know what it's going to look like in four months or six months or a year. So it's kind of, it's a dicey situation, but we do want to help, but at the same time, we want to be cautious because we don't want to over-stend ourselves. Thank you. I'm going to call on Councilman Fulton. I just want to ask a question. We were between a range of 40 and 100k. If we're giving this to a nonprofit, which I think is a great idea, we have to factor in a little bit of their administrative costs as well, because we can't just ask them to take on everything for free. So I just want to make sure we're building in some additional funding for that. That's why I kicked it out there. OK. All right. Just want to make sure we're considering them. Councilmember Fulton. I'm just trying to think this through particularly given the timeline we're on. Not speaking for anyone else, but I think everyone wants to try to beat this need the best way possible. What is our flexibility if any to spend more time figuring out the right way to do this and allocate the funding through a budget amendment or earmark and like make the call later. So we don't have to, I mean, we can all throw around numbers, but like we don't even know what it's for. So is there a way for us to preserve the optionality and not make that call right now? Mr. Mejellik. Thank you. Yes, we could do it through a bunch of amendment. It will give us an opportunity to flesh out what an internal program would look like in that number and what would be like to push that money out into existing agencies and what that number would look like. Yeah, thank you. I I do think that I also want to just consider that we're at least holding some money so that we don't have to tap reserves. So I was trying to think about that from this evening as well with the idea that you may come back to us with a more firm number through a budget amendment. But I do want to at least put a placeholder that we might be putting somewhere between 50 to 100,000 aside just so that we're not putting ourselves in the position, so then have to dip into reserves. Because we also, as a city, have to make sure that we're managing our budget well and maintaining our reserves in a way that we don't know, you know, to help us prepare for what, the unknown, right? We don't know what is gonna happen in terms of federal funding for ourselves, but at least gives us an opportunity to say, We value this, we want to help people, and we're planning for at least putting some money aside now that we're not going to need to tap reserves later. Yeah, what I'd recommend is when we get to the balancing portion if we start getting way down into close to $100,000 will make a note of it. Maybe just put a placeholder so that it helps us to and then we can deal with it more technically later. Is everyone okay with that approach? Generally for discussion? Okay. All right. No, no, I am generally supportive of this as the council liaison to the Human Services Advisory Commission. I do hear from many of the nonprofits who are looking at showing up the safety net. So that's what's kind of missing in this conversation too. Like, what are they already doing? What are they preparing for? And was there, you know, grant requests? Was that coming from that place? My gut tells me yes that some of the totals that they were applied for, and I don't know directly, but from the tone, excuse me, of the HStack meetings that have been at, this is also a concern to them because they already have an existing population of people that need their services and are in need emergency assistance. So they're trying to figure out, okay, what if our need doubles quadruples? So I just wanted to flag that because again, we can all talk about the numbers, but if we are going to empower non-profit partners to kind of implement this, then we need to have them in the room to kind of share like where they see the gaps too. I totally agree with that. I'm just wondering, and I'm open to the discussion with my colleagues on this. If we might just straw poll an initial, this concept and then give the city manager time to meet with some potential nonprofits that you have in mind to administer the program and firm up a number, but we might put at least a placeholder for tonight so that we are not dipping into reserves later. I say that in the spirit also is that nonprofits have to plan ahead. And so if we wait until June, which is when the next budget amendment comes, the near ability to stand something up and think it through will be delayed and then someone may be evicted or foreclosed by them. So I just at least gives an ability to start strategically planning and thinking now. Yeah. Councilman Van Graek. I just want to clarify because and echoing and expanding as some of my colleagues points, we as a city also have to be cautious about federal government funding because there could be a concern with regard to us and with the funding that we receive and the income that we receive for our revenues as a result of federal government actions. I mean, I know that even in the CIP, there is well over $67 million that we're counting on federal funds if not more just in the next fiscal year or two. So, this idea about taking potentially a pause, looking to see what might happen in balancing and taking a pause I think is important because I don't want to be committing too much money when the city itself could be severely impacted by federal government issues. Thank you. So I'm going to come to my workshop. Also, I think a part of an important part of this process is also hearing from federal employees directly to figure out needs just in general. I know there's been some very recently off, but I do think there should be some space to hear directly from those impacted. Thank you very much. Dr. Miles, did you want to add anything here? That moment. Okay, thank you. All right, so if we can, oh, Councilmember Fulton, sorry, I'm struggling on this one. Because in addition to the concerns about federal funding, there's also uncertainty about impacts on all sorts of potential populations that people might be in need in the coming months that haven't been impacted yet and maybe. So I worry about sort of earmarking funds for this particular population, which is impacted today, but still without an ability to actually get it out and help when we're limited in our funds and we don't, we can't see around corners on other populations. So part of me, like worries that we're going to spend a lot of time on this initiative, and by the time we get there, it's going to be another thing or we won't have the money. So that's not a clear question or answer, but I am struggling with the right way to address this need in a physically responsible way that's still forward looking and future focused. Thank you. I think we've done some straw polls on like park pavilions and we've done straw polls on noise studies. And so we're moving forward with that. This just gives staff direction to at least start having conversations with nonprofit providers to help stand up some kind of emergency program, which they will then come back to us on what does that actually look like. But at least gives them the direction to start exploring in this way so that we can be nimble and responsive in these of our community. So that it is a very basic level of some sort of emergency assistant program to try to meet the need of what we're seeing rapidly changing in our community and then at least you know thinking about plugging something so that we don't have to dip into reserves and that either you may figure that out now or through a budget amendment but at least gives you the opportunity to move forward and planning so we have something ready for the next fiscal year which starts in July Councilor Jackson, do you have any comments? Not really, I'll comment but I'm just curious Jeff the the nonprofit summit that we've talked about Not a nauseam. Can you tell me when is the schedule for I can't remember exactly May 22nd and it's okay to your point one component of that symposium is to be asking attendees and roundtable discussions to discuss how we can help with the challenges with federal layoffs. That was my point. Thank you. Sorry. Thank you. Okay. So we're giving some, this is a straw poll to give some direction for the city manager to explore some sort of emergency assistance program in conversation with nonprofits and the Department of Housing Community Development. Who is in favor of supporting that direction? Okay. You have any questions, Mr. McKellick? So many questions, but we'll figure it out. Thank you, Mary. All right, So those are the key items. I just wanted to note there was one other item that came up, which was way finding and branding and talent center. You're going to cover that in FI25. So we don't need to do anything there. Correct. Okay. So that covers my friends and colleagues. The operating holdover from last week. So we, yes. Okay, do you want to raise another question? No, no, no, I thought maybe I missed it. But we can go for it, go ahead. Yeah, why not? I'm peeling bold. And I thought maybe I missed it when I stepped out. We didn't talk about grants and outside funding yet, but go ahead. No, no, no, no, I wasn't talking about grants. I was talking we were still on the operating. Sure. Because I raised this in the city manager and I was I raised this. But the emotion, that motion, straw poll, whatever occurred regarding ready at our last meeting, I just want to clarification and to be clear on what exactly folks were thumbs up and thumbs downing. It was not clear to me. I said it at the last meeting. Nothing was made clear to me. So I just want to put that back out there. I understand there was tension, whatever, but in the interest of transparency, what are we doing? And there's still is the issue of Reddy's request for an FTE, which again, got conflated with the motion that was not clear. So I would like clarity on that and whether or not we are doing or we are not doing. Okay. So last time we agreed to a work session, which will be scheduled at another time. And we agreed to supporting all of the other budget items that the city manager included. So you're asking just to clarify on the one position. That was requested. Councilmember McGrack, are you looking to speak? All right. Okay. Go ahead. I saw you noodle links. No, I was just going to say, I mean, I know my position was I'm all for supporting economic development and ready. And with regard to a potential full-time employee, I think that's great. At this point, considering we're talking about a work session, and potentially evaluating where we can best put our economic development dollars and clarifying what that FTE might look like, or even if it's two FTEs. I'd like to wait for the work session to determine how we can best utilize those dollars, and if it needs to be multiple FTEs, great. But at this point, take a pause until we're doing that full evaluation. Thank you. I'll just, I appreciate the comments. Let's just hold for a second. So I've been clear that I do support it. And the reason why is because I do see that with some of the federal transitions that have been happening, we're gonna to have, and I mentioned this last time, 150,000 potentially square feet that might be available. The county has millions. And so I think it's imperative that our economic development team get busy and ready, pun intended, to be doing proactive, net, new business engagement and ramping that up to fill those spaces. So I do support a position now. I don't know if we have Councilman Verlary just clarify the votes to make that happen, but we can just draw a poll on who supports a position. And I'm also open to it being a contract short term position so that we can just see this as an emergency. And they're going to do some follow up, but it's not an ongoing commitment. So I just wanted to throw that out there as well. I just wanted the clarity. I wasn't trying to, um, no offense to lawyerly friends. I was not trying to relitigate this, but it was just not clear. So I just want, yes, no, yes, work session, no FTE, however, we want to do it. I just wanted the clarity of what we're doing going forward. Okay, on the question of the employee, you know, potentially contract to see how it goes to help with a short term need, we'll just see who supports that employee. So support is the hands up. Hands up. Dr. Miles, are you? Yes or no? Thumbs up. OK, so there are three. So no. OK, OK. We'll revisit during the work session and next steps. Thank you to our ready colleagues who have been supporting and listening. I thought, was Cindy also online? I think so. All right. IRL. All right. All right. Well, thank you very, very much. And I would encourage all of us to join the Sushejik Planning Meeting that will be happening this month. OK. All right. So I'm sorry, man. Just be clear, this is to say that this is coming back to us for a session or the work session we've already agreed to. So that is how that's going to be scheduled at some point. I know the city manager needs time to figure that out. He asked us for that. But that that was just just on the employee position that is needed to do additional net new outreach to bring businesses to Rockville. Got some of the claims. What are they? Thank you. I am as well. Okay. So I think we're done now. Yes. With operating. Okay. Let's go to the committee's service and enrichment grants and then we'll take a break. And if any of my colleagues need to move before then please feel free. I'm going to say what you're probably in first. Okay. Colleagues, I know that some of us have questions on this. I will just say thank you to the City Manager for convening the team. I think they were 22 panelists perhaps who have been, who went through a very detailed and criteria process. Now I will note I try not to get heavily involved in grants because I don't want to make this political. So I say that in the spirit of that is why we have an outside panel of people to review these grants so that we're not meddling too much. I want to honor that process. With that said, I know some of us have questions. So I'm going to open the floor for questions and see where we go from there. I have some myself and I will office. Councilmember Vellieri. Councilmember Van Gray. Go ahead. This is just a clarification. I don't know if this is the right place or balancing. I know there was an issue that we've heard about from sunflower bakery with regard to a $5,000 prior grant that was never put forward. Is that going to be addressed in the balancing? Or do we need to address that here? Okay. Okay. sent an email. Thank you. Okay. Council Member Leary. We need to adjust that here. Okay, okay, so that'll be taken care of. Thank you. Thank you for post that imbalancing. He sent an email. Thank you. Okay. Council Member Larry. Let's start with one. And then I had those love guys start with one. I'm sorry, I love the community grants. I think there's a lot of opportunities. So it's very interesting the conversation we just had because I was already looking at the grant funding through that lens already and just trying to do my my guest summit based on okay we could see a need here here and here. But I'd like to start with community reach there under adult education, the language outreach program. I would like to increase that one to 50k. I think that the original ask of a 53 was with pretty modest. And that does a lot to support a community that will be very much targeted in the coming weeks and months ahead. Thank you. And Mrs. City Manager, I'm thinking that there may be potential of reductions, additions. How do you want us to handle as we propose higher amounts? Do you want us to just put all the ones out there and then get to the balancing perspective. Yes. All right. So there was a discussion on language outreach program. They requested $53,281. $45,000 was approved or recommended. Mr. City Manager, can you explain the rationale for that reduction? I mean, can you, the committee just thought that the funding was a little bit rich for the services provided so they recommended a slight reduction? Okay. And I should say not necessarily reduction to what was the last year. It was just a reduction on what they asked. So last year they got 40,000 and the city managers office included a $5,000 increase. Correct. Okay. Colleagues, any comments or questions on this one? Does anyone support an increase here? Didn't you say that we were going to take a pause and look at everything before we? He's going to do it in balancing, but just give direction as to whether you generally support things and then we'll get to balancing later. That's what he requested. So I, I, I, in general, believe that they serve, you know, very vulnerable populations. I, I do think in general I want to support more social needs services. I support the language outreach program and potentially, you know, providing more support, but I would also balance that one, the social needs side of things. So related to this specific grantee in the grants book, there was something that was related to the rental and emergency assistance program, which it said, opaquely, will be covered by other part of the budget. Can you just clarify whether you mean that that is being brought? There was a sheet at the back on the brief book in the May on Council chambers that looks at, it was behind, let me just, do you have that page that I printed? No, that's okay. Sorry, not this one. The one I printed today, sorry. I don't think I have. Let me see. All right. It's coming. Can I see this one? No, let's see. I found the note. This is just. I found it. This is just referring to an administrative fee that the city will be paying community reach to administer the city's emergency assistance program. And so that funding is not really a grant. It's really an operating expense associated with the city's reprogram. And so that was budgeted in the HCD operating budget. It's not considered a grant. Okay, perfect. So we are still working with nonprofits like this one to do the emergency program. Absolutely. And we're not planning to pull that out. Okay, because I know there's discussion about that. But for FY26, we are committed to working with them on that. Okay, that helps to clarify. Thank you. I'm sorry, I'm like musing out loud too. If I'm not mistaken, as part of the language outreach program, they also help residents prepare and go through the process of citizenship. I believe that they do. So I just wanted to note that and flag that for my colleagues who may be rediscent on increasing that. Help us move along. I'm just going to say I'm going to Strupple this really quick so that we can move on to the next item. Okay. I support an increase here with the caveat that I reserve the right to rebalance and other social needs later. So, but who supports the additional $5,000 for language outreach program, potentially citizenship resources, Councilmember Fulton? I just have a question. Based on kind of on what you just said, like if we go through these, I'm gonna say the exact same thing you just said for every single one. Like I support it all contingent on the rebalancing. So I feel like what's gonna end up happening here is like we're gonna push this all to a conversation that happens in the balancing. But I'm happy to go through it all. So it's generally the city manager would like to know who generally supports it. And if for some reason we need to move things around in other places then in the balancing section we'll do that. Mr. Michelek, do you have anything else you want to add here? No, I mean what were the straw pulling helps us because then at the break we're probably going to stack the balancing and show you where you're at. Excellent. So, straw poll for additional $5,000 to support this program, who is for it? I mean, again, for it. Oh my goodness, just in general. For it, we may revisit as we get to balancing. Okay, you don't have to sign your life. Council member Shaugh. I'm just to clarify, this, well actually, could you share a little bit more why you a lot of the amount that you did originally? Councilmember Shaw, there was a panel of outside volunteers who reviewed all of these applications. They put together funding recommendations. They shared comments and ideas. And in some instances, concerns with one another, what we see across the board with the recommended funding this year is that for most organizations, the funding levels are increasing. There's a 22.3% increase in the grant program overall. In some cases, there are increases, but not all the way up to the request level, and that was purely at the discretion of that evaluation committee. And those aren't details that we're privy to because we weren't part of that committee, frankly. Right. I understand that I was wondering just Mr. Mahal, like back to your comment in terms of, you thought it was a bit much. I just wanted to have a little bit more detail with that. Okay, can we, I'm just paraphrasing what I thought we heard from the committee more than anything else. Yep. So we don't have the details. Okay, thank you. Councilional, did you want to talk about your questions on? Yes. I had another would this program, um, just to confirm, what council member Vellieri shared, like, would this also be, uh, citizenship, support assistance, or just language, just to confirm? We have to look that up. I believe this both, and I think that we can direct them to say the additional money should support these so. Yeah, okay. I would be okay with that. Yeah, I know that it's intertwined in their programming because oftentimes, you know, if you're able to assist with language, you're then able to assist with other things such as this and ship. So we can direct them to both. Yes. OK. Yep. I do. OK. So I'll just help. There's a conversation that's that I know a lot of us are interested in concern with homelessness. And so I just want to start that conversation and allow some of my colleagues to share input. I know some of us have had discussions. Is anyone who will talk about homelessness? Come on, someone for sure. So I know that in the past we have funded Rainbow Play Shelter. I didn't see them here, and so Mr. Mahalla, could you reach out to them just to get some more information on needs? How did you do that? I know in the past they've provided excellent services for women in terms of emergency housing as well as meals. So I would appreciate that. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you. So we will stop hold that one after we have some additional comments from my colleagues. I will just note that the situation with a growing number of unhoused community members is exponential across DC and Montgomery County and other places in Maryland. I deeply think that we need to support those who are working within the city as well. And I, that was the one homeless shelter for unhoused people that I didn't see as funding. So I fully support that. And I also know that many of these shelters are dealing with increased needs, but also decreased funding because they're now dealing with a cliff on the ARPA funds. I just wanted to note that I know that there were at least 12 families from Rainbow Place because they had to shut down for the season who are still looking for places to live. And I've checked in with the shelters within Rockville and all are at capacity right now what the funding they have. So this is a very deep issue of concern. I'm also concerned that the impacts of what DC is doing in terms of, you know, what they're looking at in terms of their shelters and how they're handling the unhoused population, there may be some migration. So I just, I definitely think this is an area of deep concern. We also had, you know, with this 60% AMI lowering to 30% AMI people who were evicted between July and December, and then they lost their housing vouchers. So, it's a lot to think about, and this particular community, and I generally want to see us support those shelters who are standing up and doing work in Rockville. So I do want to see if you can reach out to Rainbow Place and see what we can do through a budget amendment. Councilman Van Graek, then Councilman Schaugh. Just echoing what the mayor said, to the extent that there can be something looking at them, because I think there should be an application. But Rainbow Place Shelter is a fantastic organization in the city of Rockville. And I know that there was also some funding which I do support for at least one shelter that's outside the city limits. That's an increase in their funding they've received previously. But to the extent there can be a needed support for Rainbow Play Shelter through a future application, it's something that I think would be good. Madam Mayor, I just wanted to add to your point, just hearing from folks that have been recently evicted, that many of them are not even able to find shelters within Rockville, never mind Mount Garry County, and have to actually reside in DC, which has a lot of impact on their kids and education. So I just wanted to add that point. Thank you. And unfortunately, I learned that summer sleeping in the lobby of the crisis center, it's increased number. So this is a very big concerning problem for the city and for our community. Councilman Vellieri. Okay, to that end. And I caveat all of the following comments with the fact that I feel this issue in particular, extremely deeply. And what I say in no indicates the good work of the organization but we are funding under housing services specifically housing for people in need and in need of shelter. We are funding the Nebuls Street Emergence Use Shelter which is is actually outside of city limits, higher than any of these shelters that are located in city limits, which, you know, that cannot mean a whole lot, but I went back and looked at their application. So what they were asking money for of the 750 projected unhoused individuals that they're going to support in the upcoming fiscal year, they predict that only 30 will have a connection to Rockville in some way shape or form. So knowing a little bit about Jefferson house and Rockland House and Stepping and Stones and Interfaith Works, I would like to put forward that we make an adjustment to do a decrease to the Neville Street emergency shelter not to cut off completely, but to decrease that and to increase maybe proportionately for the shelters and affordable housing in the city. Because again, the county, as we talked about, when we were talking about helping federal workers, they have much deeper pockets than we do. Thank you. I want to, maybe we can start with the straw poll on the direction to Mr. Mahalak to follow up with the one shelter that has not received support in Rockville. So let's just do that first. That is for Rainbow Place. Who supports this direction? All right. I'm seeing all thumbs. Is that clear? And just to be clear, they did not apply for a grant, but we'll reach out to them. Yeah, so you're going to reach out. Yep. They would have to apply for a grant, and this might be tackled through a budget amendment. Correct. Yep. Okay. Crystal clear. Yep. All right. So the next comment I'm hearing from my colleague is seeing how we can prioritize more spending on rockville, shelters within rockville, that are serving people within our community. And we know that people come from all places and by nature being on house, you may not have an address. But I just wanted to note that. But seeing if there might be a reduction to move some of that funding to other shelters. But still, I'm assuming you're saying to still share. Did you have a number in mind that you wanted to shift around? Yeah, no, and thank you for that. I was looking to shift somewhere around 30K to be distributed amongst the shelters located in the city of Rockville, city limits. So can I just note that we at least funded them at the 70 K level last year? Correct. So you're saying to go down from what we funded last year? Again, in no way, shape or form, negating the good work that they're doing, I just also, you know, am balancing that out against the increase that we have seen and are most likely going to see in unhoused individuals, especially given where we don't know that we're headed with these uncertain times. Okay. Madam Mayor, come some number of a little area. I just wanted to point out that for all of the other shelters that are in the housing services section, in all except one case, the amount of funding proposed aligns with the amount that was requested. So for the Interfaith Works Women Center, there's a $5,000 difference. They requested $60,000 and the proposed amount is $55. The Mayor and Council could recommend that additional $5,000 be allocated to them. I would be a little bit cautious of assigning or allocating more funding than was requested because there may be a chance that that organization can't operationalize those funds. And that's a very valid point and I appreciate that. To the extent that, again, I want to make sure that we are completely and fully investing in the spaces here in Rockville. We used to have, you know, more emergency shelters in Rockville proper. But to me, again, it's the intent. And for that, the amount of money that we're looking at to be serving in such a small segment of the RECO population to me. Something is unsettled with me on that. I wanted to ask, just as a clean way, we could provide the five so that, so we shift the five around around from I think we funded Neville Street 70,000 last year and we did not give in a faith works the full amount requested so we could cleanly move around $5,000. I just want to point that out and and I will also note that we don't know what rainbow place amount would be, and if you had a number in mind, but reserving some funds for that. But we could clearly talk about 5K right now, I would say, but we don't know what the rainbow place need might be. So you could, like, take their product doing 5K or we could say, put some money aside for rainbow place. I just wanted to offer those two alternatives to my colleagues. Any comments or feedback on those two approaches before we start pull? Which direction do you want to go in? I think moving the 5K is very clean and I support it. Council Member Fulton. I think we should do both. We should move the 5K and hold some for rainbow. Oh, yeah, yeah. Okay. I mean, do you have a mount? No, because I have no, I might how much did they request last year? Not even last year? They haven't requested. They didn't request an FY 24 25 or 26. So an FY 23 their grand amount was 16,050. That was the last time. FY23. I will just note that they just to clarify background and knowledge, they did not apply because they were concerned that all had to be from the city and people maybe from other places flowing in and out. And we know within the house community People flow and they go to different shelters and because they are a shelter that is not year round They have more of that than other places so that they felt it put them at a disadvantage to be able to apply so I would be supportive of trying to give them at least around 20 we don't know what else they need. I'm open to that, but at least saving 20. So your point, Councillor Mourpholton. Councillor Pasha. I would also agree around the 20, but I definitely do want to confirm through the conversation the city manager will have with them. And also, I think in the future, we may need to look at that requirement around Rockville residents when it comes to shelters because essentially, I know within the eviction process folks go to the crisis center as like a central hub and then they are directed to go to whatever shelter is available based on their needs. Some shelters have different needs like for example Rainbow Play Shelter is a woman shelter. There may go to a different shelter for other reasons. So it's a little challenging to have that type of requirement when you're not sure how many people you anticipate serving. Thank you. Any other comments from my colleagues before we do straw pulling? So I hear two different things. I'm hearing potentially shift 5K. And I'm also hearing shift another whole 20K. So that would be a total 25. Do you want to take those separately or together colleagues? I'm going to put together. OK. So I'm hearing from my colleagues that they want to do both. We're going to stop all both. So I mean withholding the 25 shifting five to interface and then holding 20 for our other nonprofit. Okay. All right. From the level. Two. Ms. Francesco, do you want to, you okay? I just wanted to clarify. We're reserving 20,000 or 25,000. So we're reserving 20, but we're shifting an additional 5 so that we're giving. Got it to innovate. Okay. So the only shift from Nebel is the 5 just to be clear. 25. It is. Okay. That's why I asked a clarifying question. Councilmember Fulton raised the comments of doing both of So maybe we can clarify that. Councilmember Fulton, go ahead. So let me see if I can try. This is what I thought we were doing. Take five from Neville and give it to interface. Take 20 from Neville and hold it, reducing Neville's entire to 50. I heard that as well. So everybody, I just want to see thumbs to me. Councilmember Shaw, let's let her ask a clarifying question. So I understood it in a different way. I thought that we were just taking five from Neville and giving it to interfaith and then adding 20 to rainbow place. I would say this is an area in terms of housing services that I want to be very careful personally just taking a lot of money away from our shelters just in general because I think this is a place that has the greatest need in my my opinion of all of these areas. Thank you. Councilor Valerade, do you want to clarify? Yes, no. I wanted to clarify that I think I can't speak for everybody, but I don't think there's anyone on this day as that doesn't believe that shelters are more important now than ever. And I am not in any way a shape or form negating that. I am simply prioritizing the shelters closest and frankly closest to the crisis center. Because you're right, people get referred, are evicted, they go to the crisis center. It would be very easy for them to then be assigned if there is an open bed and us funding them will me provide more open beds we don't know again it's not that we are the intent is not to say this particular emergency shelter is not important all we're saying is we we're going to prioritize for now and they do have access to a much deeper pocket in the county's budget. We're not saying zero in them. All I'm saying is just the prioritization. Councilmember Fulton and then Councilmember Van Grack. I just wanted to hope clarify one thing. I think it's what you just said but just as a matter of fact, it's not taking any money away at all from housing services is shifting it. So we wouldn't be reducing the total grant funding. We would actually be spreading it to more institutions to include Rainbow Place, just to be clear. Councilmember Van Grant. I would just go say that I do support this, but I also wanna make it note, and it's important to note that the city manager and staff, an independent guy, they put a quarter million dollars more into these grants this year than last year, which was an incredible step when we're also potentially at the city looking at financial constraints that I know we've all talked about. So I don't wanna second guess the fact that what has been put here for these grants has been a significant step That staff and I know that an independent review and a city manager put together Thank you come some brisha of hand. Do we know how many How many beds or units? Interfaith has in comparison to Nebel So That's the women's shut. I don't have that number handy. I do know that there are very few women shelters and speaking even with Rainbow Place, they're looking to provide, you know, they shut down for this season and in a faith currently what their resources doesn't have any more bets either. So there is a need for women shelters. They are, I think, there's a need for more on-house support in general all across the board, but I did want to note that it's one of the unique places where women shelters can get support. Did you have a follow-up question, Councilmember Shaw? Which is why I think that we should actually add more the additional 20, in addition to what Nubble is receiving minus the five. Thank you. Councilmember Jackson. Thank you, Mayor. So actually I support basically council member Shaw. I mean, shifting the 5,000 is fine. I think that if we're in a situation that I think we all say we're in, that every dollar counts for all these shelters. But I guess I'm about bothered by one thing, which is we keep talking about Remewable Place. And it's a great institution. I mean, they do good work. But if they haven't asked for a grant in three years, then we're just assuming that they are going to ask for a grant when we reach out, which really is kind of strange to me, that we're going to be asking them to actually put in a grant application, which they haven't ever done, except for four years ago or three years ago or whatever. But in the meantime, Neville has given an application, this been heard by staff and by volunteers, and been awarded based on the criteria. So I don't really, it doesn't make sense to me to reduce them by $20,000. Reduce them by five and give it to interface works. But, and put aside $20,000 in case rain per place does actually have a grant. But don't penalize NEMBO a street just because you're wondering that maybe they will put in a grant. It just doesn't make you sensitive to me. Thank you. I will note that they did want to grant but the city's criteria to councilman brichard's comments and mine earlier has been a challenge right because of the nature of them being a seasonal shelter. So I did want to note that I do know they have been interested and supported and I think they came to a couple of events in the city saying they're actually trying to expand their services. So they have a whole I know I believe they're going to submit this once the city manager follows up with giving him direction to follow up. I do have concern about such a drastic cut to Nebel because we they may be relying at least on flat funding. But so I will note that. I'm wondering if we might look at, I know it passed for 25, but in the balancing, if we see that there's additional 20, we can add back in just to help move us along on this conversation. Okay. Thank you. We Oh, we can't even the balancing. Okay, thank you. We'll get to it in the balancing. Is that okay, colleagues? Okay, thank you. But in general, I appreciate the comment, Council Member Lary, that we need to look at supporting shelters in Rockville as well, because the outside shelter, which does amazing work and I will say my family has volunteered for, has the highest at this point. Okay. Other grant questions, comments? Councilmember Lary? I'm just going to start with this one because why not? Given that we're already in the point of looking at the allocation and prioritization of services and to Councilmember Jackson's point of, you know, where every dollar counts, I would like to talk about the funding, sorry, the funding amount for Peralace Rockville and something that struck me was that in their grant application, they are looking at the grant for maintaining programs, totally get that, but they asked for significantly more money yet for maintaining programs. So what they asked for and what they got last year was different. So they're actually asking more for simply maintaining. I will stop there. I definitely have some concerns over how the money is utilized. I have concerns with having the city directly fund an advocacy arm of a particular viewpoint when it comes to housing and development. So I would like to see a reduction, especially given what we just talked about. To housing services, I'd like to see at a minimum of a reduction to 60K, which then could be rebalanced to housing services. And we haven't even gotten to it yet. Food services, which are going to be an immense need. And unfortunately, I saw some some lower amounts there and health care. So for people playing along at home, that is peerless, Rockville, the CM recommended more than we gave last year. And I would like to see a reduction there as well. And I'm happy to share more of my rationale of folks are interested. Thank you, Council Member Rallieri. I appreciate your comments on that. I will just note that they got 80, just try to give the history on all these. They got 85 last year. They requested an upper range of 120 plus and the city managers team to the review went to 95. I will just note that I was I am supportive of that because I would like to see them do the 250th anniversary activities that we are not necessarily have anyone on point on that internally unless the city manager says we do. He says no we do not. But that is an FY 26 and direct them to make sure that they're coordinating that on behalf of the city. Councilmember Van Greck. So on this point I actually look very closely and here this is a dollar figure and I know there was a discussion of previous years going back a while of them having $60,000. If you look at the first year that they had $60,000 and you put it into current value dollars in inflation calculation, you actually get just over $87,000. In addition to that, I actually see what the mayor was talking about. And my understanding from Peerless and talking with them, that they are actually looking to support some of the 250th anniversary programming that the city is not of the capacity to do. With both of those factors, I actually support the city manager's recommendation of $95,000 similar to what the mayor was talking about. Thank you. Council Member Jackson. Yeah, I don't want to believe at the point. So I'll just say that I support the 95,000 that the city manager recommends. Thank you. Dr. Miles, do you have any comments on this one? I just want to make sure we're including as well. I'm so seeing myself with your comments I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. point of order but I'd like to make the council member Van Grack is that they did not mention in their grant application doing anything for the 250th anniversary. So nothing has been allocated. Their proposal was simply for maintenance of existing programs. So I don't know how directive we can be, but what they applied for is not that on that point. On the other point, and actually it was something that Councilmember Jackson and I were at, there's some large chunks of missing history. For as long as peerless has been getting funding from the city, there's a big chunk of missing history, and that was we were at the Rockville baseball Hall of Fame. There is no location in the city where it is a virtual hall of fame. There is no plaque, there are no names anywhere. And frankly, the majority of the Rockville baseball hall of fame are black rock villains. So I think there's gaps. I think they can do better. I think there's always room for improvement, but to the extent that we're relying on them to do programming next year, that is not at all what was included in their grant application. Thank you. I was just caution us to be careful about just being clear on what we're directing and have questions on, but the organizations are not here to represent themselves and to provide feedback. So I just don't want to unintentionally impact the reputation of any organization that we're talking about here. But I appreciate your point on that Councilmember Follady. Councilmember Fulton. Thank you. So my thoughts are that the point that the anniversary celebration wasn't in the application. I think two things about that. One, we've been sitting here for hours tonight and for three more meetings, making trade-off decisions. We have limited funds, so we have to decide how we're going to spend them. So we can't just keep incrementally adding to things. That being said, I know we're, where we're gonna land, but we had an earlier conversation about, I think it was community reach, and that we could direct some of the funding that we give specifically to go to, I think, citizenship. If we are increasing, peerless is good idea. I think that's a good idea. I think that's a good idea. I think that's a good idea. I think that's a good idea. I think that's a good idea. I think that's a good idea. I think that's a good idea. not. So I would like to sure that it's clear that we, if we go forward in this direction that we direct the city manager to direct them to update their grants to cover this. Mr. Mahalek. We can make sure it is covered in our grant agreement with clarity. Thank you. All right, straw poll on supporting the 95 and directing them to focus the effort towards the additional funds towards the 200th anniversary of our country. Okay. All right. Nays. Do you want to – are you an A or an extension? Oh, no, I guess I would begin there. Okay, thank you. I do have a question though. Do we have on the upcoming, and I can bring it up under old new business, but it may be helpful to have a work session on historic preservation and all that entails because I know sometimes there's a little lack of clarity and sometimes might be working off of assumptions. So I just put a pin in that and happy to bring it up at old new business. Thank you. I think that will be the appropriate place and I believe the HTC while we have some some updates coming to us on historic plan. So let's just put a pin in that and you can bring it up later. Okay. I have one question about a grantee that's not on here that was noted for not recommended for funding. The Rockville Bike Hub which provides free bikes to many children across the city and I know that they're working in some Title I schools to do bike education and programming for them. They never charge the city for the work that they've been doing for us for many, many years. I think they applied for grants and did not succeed. So I just wanted to flag that and try to get more information from the city manager on that and see what my colleagues think about that. Mr. Mejellik. Yeah their their request is really limited. They simply said they wanted $18,000 towards costs that they have to use the lease property. I don't think that scored very well with the committee. Simply put. But I agree they do good work in the city. I should know about it. Thank you, Councilman Rillie. So you're saying on there, in particular, because that was one of the ones I did not read all the way through. The main purpose of their grant application was for the leasing the rent you know, the space that they're currently in or because I know that their lease is also up in their current space. I think that they knew they were going to be leaving and they wanted the extra money to see if that would open up more doors for them to lease additional space or different space. Gotcha. I also know that there was a thought to because of the role that they have in the terrific kids programs and things like that that we were going to look for ways that we could assist them in maybe finding affordable space. They've been asking for a while for not only a space for storage of the bikes that they give out for the terrific kid among others, but also essentially that open space to help people fix their bicycles and so forth. So I would, I'll be really supportive of their request. I understand it's not, I don't know, maybe the most interesting use of it, but if we can't assist them in a different way to find that space, it would be kind of heartbreaking to not have the Rockville bike hub in Rockville. Thank you. I just have one quick update that they found a space within Rockville. You did? Yes. I really don't know this. Just new. It's hot off the press, but they are in Twinbrox. I'm sure you love that too. I I think you actually Council member Larry of a follow up Yeah, so So then is this for them to be able to afford that space for like a set amount of time now I'm really confused and maybe just requires maybe coming back to to everything but if the grant was for this space, then I definitely want to support it. So they were applying for the grant for space, but it also offsets the cost of everything else they do. They provide free, so they basically do all the work to intake bikes that are donated across the city. They fix them up, they repair them, they host a terrific kids bike program, they, we do give them the space to, you know, store those bikes on the day of so that they give them out to to residents, they also provide helmets, they buy helmets as well. So just to expedite the conversation, I'm going to say that I wonder if we could help them with five K to support terrific kids in particular. Because it is an amazing program and so many, I think about 100 kids benefited last year. So Councilmember Jackson. Thank you, Mayor. No, I associate myself with your comments. I think Rockville Visal Hub does a really fantastic job. And if we can give them $5,000, I think that will go a long way to his own mission. And really, I mean, I've seen firsthand the Toreptic Bike Program in action. And it's really, really spectacular thing. And so, yeah, I really support this 100%. Okay. I'm not seeing any comments or questions. So I'm going to call the straw poll 5K. Okay. All right. All support. Okay. So I'm going to call the time. It is 940 and we still have to get to CIP and then balancing. So are there any other comments on? I know. Councilman Valerius. I met a mayor. I have a broad, um, oops, I always do that. No one's ever talked with their hands before from this day. I can't say that. So we were talking before about empowering the nonprofits and part of the idea was looking at the food and clothing and services. In particular, the food services, because we already know there was a strain prior to this administration. now it's going to get that much worse So I wanted to kind of look through and and understand From mr. City manager Two things one The reduction in emergency hunger relief, so what else? They're asking for 30. It's not a reduction from how much we gave them but a reduction from what they asked, from 30 to 17.5. And then only because I couldn't quite tell, maybe it's on the notes page. What the little note was on the Interfaith Clothing Center, all I see is subsequent to security camera, something. And I would be, yeah, that's what I would be interested in. Because everything else is pretty, you know, level for the most part, just not quite understanding why actually vendor JCC and so what else under food and clothing and services were recommended at a lower rate. So regarding the emergency hunger relief. They were requesting a higher amount. Took it down to 17.5 again, The committee just scored all of these and they had only so much to provide. And that's what they've recommended. I don't want to put any more words in their mouth regarding the Interfaith. After they submitted the grant, they realized they also wanted to do some security improvements. They wanted to do that independent. We thought it would be better as an addition to interfaith work. So that's what the note is about that. It's just adding that additional amount of money for the security enhancements of their facility. So a quick question about that specifically. If I recall correctly, the security cameras were not for their food or clothing services. That was for their women's shelter. Okay. All right. I just wanted to make sure that. Yeah. Okay. So and especially given that previous conversation we had, I'm going to ask my colleagues to see if while we're looking at the rebalancing, et cetera, et cetera, that we really look at how much some of these organizations asked for what the final tally was. I completely understand I'm not trying to undermine the process that they went through. I'm also trying to think like 50 steps ahead on what we might need down the road. And like I said, we were already dealing with the struggle with a food pantry is not making it during the week. I'm afraid that that's now especially with inflation that may get a whole whole hours. But I'd also say the same generally about the casement health clinic as well as one of the few free clinics that will also have a higher utilization in the coming weeks a month ahead. But I don't know how we want to do it given the previous conversation. These would be the service providers that would implement the additional safety net measures that we need. So not quite sure how to draw the point here, but that's again, how I looked at this list was like, okay, we're going to most likely need to, you know, add some money here, add some money here, if we see the trends going where we think they will. Thank you. Councillor Jackson. Thank you, Mayor. No, I think Councillor Remembermember Valeri has some really good points, especially when the city and the volunteers made these decisions much of what we are now was not known. And I feel especially that food is going to be a really a great need. And I don't know exactly what the answer is. But I mean, I look at where they were requesting versus where they fell in terms of the money that was given. And I just note that I mean, of the three nonprofits that do food relief, I mean, they were either level funded or funded as less than they were asking for. And I'm not really sure where my colleagues would land. I think I know where Council Member Valerie is, but I think with her I would actually like to fund fully the grant requests for the three non-profits that do food relief. I just feel like food relief is really critical and getting me even more so going on to the climate that we're going to be in. Thank you. Most of them got higher amounts. Then last year except. Well, I think most of them did get higher amounts in last year in terms of what was recommended. However, I do know that the needs are also increasing. So I just wanted to at least clarify that because I'm looking at the comparison charts. is not, you're not recommended. However, I do know that the needs are also increasing. So I just wanted to at least clarify that because I'm looking at the comparison charts. There's not, you're not recommending any reductions. The one that you were flat on, which is delivering good, others were at least And that was kind of flat. I know Manifood Center is just $1,000 off. So I was curious about that. But I do think that so-what else has been increasing their activity in Rockville. I think that they're doing more to provide food and security support for some of our schools, as well as the faith-based institutions. So that's one in particular that I have concern about. I do support the increases that you gave to other organizations. Councilman Vangrat. I just want to note, there's a lot of different areas where we can help folks. I mean, we've got homeless issues. We've talked about a significant expenditure for federal employees who are out of the job, and I know that we're in a serious situation where we've got a lot of people in need. It could be that we need to evaluate at a certain time in the near future where we can best do the help to societies as opposed to second guessing now as to where there's going to be a need. there's almost certainly going to be a need across the board, but I just want to make sure that every dollar that we have within our budget to be able to help can be maximized as opposed to second guessing in the future because there's clearly going to be a need. And to the extent that we've got budget room to be able to do so, I don't want to sit here and projecting where our dollars can best help through every little bit. I just want to make sure that because we're talking about, I know, I mean, we've got housing needs, we've got food needs, we've got federal employees who are out of jobs needs. There's a lot of needs, and I want to make sure that we're maximizing the dollars that we have for those purposes. Thank you. I think that we continue to look at the human needs assessment. I know that some of us have asked questions about the recommendations on that, and then we're gonna get more feedback after the nonprofit roundtable. So I do think there's gonna be recommendations that come out of that on what we need to be doing more of. So I wanted to at least point to that. I know some of my colleagues have already said we want to hear the outputs of that discussion as a result of the human needs research that's happening on what the organizations who are actually doing the work. So that will be coming as I understand it from you all, Mr. City Manager, right? Is that correct? All right. All right. Well, with that said, I did want to just note that I do think that we should get closer to 20 or 25 for so what else given what we know about what they're doing in the city. But they requested 30, 30. You gave them 17, 5. Last year, they got 10. I mean, I already know that I think college gardens, Richard Montgomery, I mean, there's a bunch of organizations, Twin Brook, who are relying on these entities to deal with food insecurity. And I believe they also help RHE, as well as Mount Calvary. So I just wanted to flag that. I will say this, I know that we have an additional $440,000 that we got through tax duplication services. So I think that we could consider the room of that to be able to support a higher amount for so what else. So I just wanted to leave with that and see if I might get support for my colleagues. And I also will note that we are 9.50. Can I just say, drop poll on 25? Okay. So what else? Councilman Fulton, do you have any comments? All right. Can we? Councilman Basha? Just a quick question around visit arts in the community. I see that they requested for 52,000 and it was proposed 68, 500. And some of the note I think is like cut off a bit, but could you just explain. Why there was that additional. Sure. Thank you for your asked for, especially in this area. Thank you for your question, Council Member Shaw. Subsequent to the submission of the grant application, there was an internal discussion with staff. Every year, Vizards puts on a festival that requires staff time. And so what we tried to do was more transparently reflect the full cost of both direct financial services and staff time that is allocated to this particular event. So that is the reason for that increase. Just to fold in those inconse services coming from city staff. Okay, thank you. So that's not actually money we're giving, it's incined. A portion of that. The 16,500 is inconse services. So how are we calculating that as a grant? It is, it's overtime costs that are associated with those funds. That's what I want to know. not that they're using their workday, it's overtime cost. Correct. Okay, that is super helpful. Thank you for clarifying that. Okay. I'm going to say I think we're unless anyone has any other comments, we can close out community grants for now. Okay. Colleagues, we had initially agreed to take a break after CIP, but I want to understand whether people need to take a break beforehand given the time. Do you want to keep rolling or get to CIP and then do a break? You have a level of doubt. Break? I just need to. I can have a break. What do you, you where you? Okay, it's take a break five minutes please it is almost 10 o'clock and I want to make sure staff can get home. Good evening Rockville today is still April 7th 2025 and we are reconvening meeting 10-25. We just covered our operating budget and community grants, and we're now moving to the capital improvement program. With that, I'll turn it back to Kim Francisco and Stacey Webster. So can we put up the CIP slides when I have a chance? Okay, just this. Yes, this is it. All right, colleagues. So we have the budget book of listed CIP projects. I will just note that we have some good news to share that we did get the the Talbot funding of $200,000 to support a park, decommissioning a water tower, and supporting a new creation of a park. So that is not currently in the budget until FY28. And now that we have the LBI for that, I just want to propose that we find ways to accelerate that work. That is a community that has multifamily residents does not have access to a park. Many of us have gone there and visited that site. I would like to get started in FY26 given that we have the LBI. I think there was 250,000 allocated for bond money. So just wanted to open the floor with that one major project. And I believe that we're also getting funding for Elwood Smith staff. I mean, more time on that one. But we want to thank our delegates who probably are still working like us right now in Annapolis for helping us to get that funding. Anyone have any thoughts on Talbot Park and seeing if we can accelerate that work? Dr. Miles I Think we have majority but Dr. Miles is not quite showing his camera just yet Mr. Mahalek do you have any questions about our direction on that? I do not okay, so we'll find ways to Note that we'll get started on that in FY26 and update the CIP. Thank you. Colleagues, anything else on the CIP? Council Member Vellieri. Thank you, Madam Mayor. So I have three things. I'll start with the first one then I'll, if my other colleagues want to chime in or have their own things to add. But I brought this up in my budget questions and would like to hear more about the status of the Twimburg pedestrian bicycle bridge, T.C. 2022. I am curious because the estimated end, what was the current start time was fiscal year 2022. We are now entering into FY 26 and there seems to be a difference in what was shared the last time with the community versus what is actually in process right now. I also am very curious about this because given the new tenor on federal funding, I am concerned about this project, but more so, the Tumber community is wondering what is going on with this one. So, would love to hear Mr Mr. City Manager, we'd love to hear from our Director of Public Works on this. So you're just asking why there's, why it's being delayed or moved. Yeah. Yes, the last thing that I recall, because I have been following this this pretty closely was that there would be three options for us to look at last summer. So as the next summer, fast approaches and the update that we received, that I received to my question that we all received, seems to push that out even further. So we'd like some clarity on that. And is there anything that we can do now to move this project along? Mayor, the answer is pretty straightforward. As the council may recall, we applied for and did success to receive a grant to do a feasibility study on the best options to do the crossing. We're waiting for the results of that study and then we can move the project forward. So that's if there's a delay that's wise not under construction now. Is this as a study underway right now? Or is it right? The study was completed. I'm better here. the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . on the federal highway did tell us they were afraid that when new administration coming in that they needed to get that signed, the city manager did execute the agreement, came back to you and asked for a ratification of it. We have asked about that grant, they said it's still funded, still go, so we're proceeding with getting approval and finding a firm to undergo that study. Has the RFP gone out yet? The RFP has not gone out yet. Is there a reason why the RAP is delayed? I would say, what can we do to get this expedited so that the RAP goes out quickly? I'm afraid there's nothing you can do. This is a bit of a bill you pay when you get a federal grant. It slows things down in our normal fashion. So we heard that we got the grant last spring, I believe, right? The grant agreement was signed right before December and the December of 2024. Right. But how long does that have? Just the point is we want to try to get to moving it as quickly as possible. And so if's any delay is for any of the CID projects I mean delays for any CUP projects between when we find out and being able to sign a grant agreement We'd like to make sure we're moving things as expeditially as possible. We are trying to move it as expeditiate possible We share your concern with moving it So I guess I'm really sorry. I always do that the later it gets so I guess I'm I'm sorry. I always do that the later it gets. So I guess my confusion then is I know I am not misremembering that we were going to be talking about options less summer. Again that would have been you know pushing things forward. I know that there were different ideas for how to navigate this federal grant process. Again I am bringing this forward because the community is concerned that this project in particular may be being slow-rolled. I don't want to think that that's the case, but I do want to be able to point to some very concrete next steps, a path forward. This is how we're going to get to x, y, and z understanding that, of course, you got to be nimble. But again, my last understanding was last summer. We were options are going to be brought forward. I remember this because I was like, oh, this is great. This is the first framework bridge thing that we can talk about from the day is. I have a suggestion to help with this. I'm wondering if we can move forward with a briefing for members who are interested in getting more deeply on this topic so that we can say we are going to find ways to get this RFP out the door quickly, then also to just understand what we can do to help move the process along faster. I know DOT is looking at things. So we want to make sure that we are really moving things along and using those funds in a proper and effective way. Happy to do that. Okay, thank you. Councilman Van Graek. Similar question, but just hopefully can be a little bit more briefing briefly. I know that there are three projects that I know have been on the radar and in the CIP booklet to push off. And I just want to make sure that I understand what staff is conveying with regard to those, the funding and the projections. The first is with regard to the repair of the Horizon Hill Park Bridge. It's RB22. My understanding is with the funding, we're looking at construction beginning in FY, early and dissipating, that construction can begin in FY FY 2026. Is that right? I probably should have gotten page numbers. Council Member Frank Graf, while you're looking for the pages, you said they were three. Can you just know? Okay, sure. No. repair of the Hurley Avenue Bridge. the . . . . . . . at repairs to begin in FY 2027. Just going back to horizon hill park. Instruction is recommended for funding in 2026. And the other one was the early avenue bridge, T E 16, also anticipating funding to begin in 2026. to begin in 2026. Sorry, funding for the project's initiation to begin in 2026. That's correct. And that bridge replacement is being done in conjunction with the federal government. We're getting federal aid to support the reconstruction of that bridge. So there's some alignment and some work that's done there. And we're not anticipating any reason for difficulty with that funding. No. Perfect. And then the final one would be the Wooten Mills Bridge RD-23 and I understand we're looking at to begin that actually in FY 2027, correct? I believe that one is designed in FY 2026 with construction in FY 2027. Perfect. Yes. Excellent. Thanks for those clarifications. Thank you to the point of carryover on multiple items. I'm not going to list every project, but I'm wondering if there's a way that mayor and council can be alerted. It's about $90 million in carryover projects. There may be very good reasons for all of it, but I'm wondering how can we be alerted that things we anticipate to get started and moving and that fiscal year actually moving and making significant process in the fiscal year for which we budget them? We know some things will be over multiple years we get that. But when you see a large carryover like that, we just wonder, is there anything that we could be doing to make things happen more effectively and within the years that we plan them? I just make one clarification. Sometimes when you see carryover funding It's not because something is not getting done on the timeline because the capital budget is a multi-year So we have to do the appropriation upfront. It might be for a three-year project So some of that carryover might be consistent with the schedule that was originally set out. One place that you can see any delay would be in the timeline that are on, that's shown on each project sheet. So you see the, the estimated start, the original and the current, the estimated completion, the original and current. And you can see there from year to year, or even from the original to the current, if something is starting to slip multiple years. Right. And that's kind of what I'm referring to. There are several projects that I've asked questions about that have slipped. For some very good reasons, right? But I'm just wondering, is there a midpoint before we have to wait till the next budget period to say something's amiss here? We need more time. It could be that the funding source is a challenge, it could be supply chain, it could be any number of reasons. But just so that there's not a surprise where you open the budget book and it's like, oh, wait a minute, I thought that was already happening. So it's just a system discussion. So as we go forward with FY26, if we can just have sort of a midpoint check to say, what's tracking or not tracking, I think in Vizio we'll help with that, but I'm not sure if you're gonna put CIP products in in Vizio, so that's my broader question. So I agree with that yes and Vizio can be used as a tool for that and I think I'll need your check-in but really just for those projects that might be slipping I'm fine with that. Thank you. One of the CIP projects I know a lot of us were were interested in accelerating vision zero and the Mayor and Council had started allocating more funding to sidewalks. The number you're allocating this year is back down to the base funding of where it was of 200K. And it looks like you're proposing to just finish out projects that are carry over it because they weren't completed in FY25 and some of them weren't completed in FY24. I'm just wondering since we're only putting 200K in there, does that then create a vacuum where in FY26 and 27, we won't have feasibility studies or target lists for where the next set needs to be if you could help explain whether we should be looking to increase that 200K so that we can plan ahead for the future once you're done with the project that was supposed to be done in FY25 or whether you're suggesting that we just keep 200K because you have some other master plan of how that's going to get done. But I know that vision zero is a high priority for our city and and the mayor and council. Thank you for your question, Madam Mayor. As part of the FY 2025 adopted budget, if you look to the sidewalks project, you'll find that there is an annual increase year over year through that project to help the city get to higher annual funding levels. And that you'll find that in the FY25 budget and the FY26 budget is consistent with that plan. So that means in FY26, yes, there's a $200,000 allocation, but that increases every year up to FY2029 where the city starts providing $600,000 annual allocations. That's consistent with the plan that we put in place for the FY 2025 budget. We've worked closely with the Department of Public Works to help make sure that this will be adequate in terms of doing the feasibility studies and providing them with the resources they need to make some improvements and some strides in this area. So how many years will it take to get to the feasible missing segments then? I know two budgets ago we were kind of not joking but commenting that I could take 100 years. So with this pace of the 200K for FY 26, where does that leave us? I would defer to the city manager or where? And I'm going to defer to Craig on that one. Sorry, buddy. We have been executing about half a mile a year. We're ramping up to do better than that in construction. And you'll see it's only in FY26, which is the third year where three-year cycle. Now we take them in three-year feasibility design construction. We ramped up and started doing them in groups. The first group is coming in 26. And then you'll see years later, you'll see the ramp up start going through. And so we do not need more than $200,000 right now, because we're not ready to execute it. We have a backlog of money that we're waiting to execute those first group of projects. To answer your question about how long before we get the rest of the sidewalks done, I can't tell you and if somebody behind me tells you they can, they can't. So we're gonna have to figure out what is a reasonable pace after we get to a good number with full staff and then we have to figure out whether 50 miles is really what we're going to do because we haven't done feasibility studies on all of that 50 miles to see if we're really going to do that. So we're going to have to work on both ends of this to get to how long it's going to take us and how much money it's going to take. OK. I'll just note that I know that tax duplication funds goes into general. However, we know that we're getting reimbursed for public safety, which crosses police and crosses transportation. And so when we first got the tax duplication money, we said, wow, this is great. And we put some additional money into both of those categories. And I just got concerned that we went back to baseline on the 200K. So I just wanted to make that comment. Council Member Lary. I think I see one of the potential issues with this CIP in general. So the new CIP is TE26, which is for four fiscal years, but sidewalks are on a three-year schedule. So we just heard from Mr. Simmonow. So there's a weird lag between the two. I'm wondering, I don't, yeah, I'm not trying to upend the system, but it just kind of struck me that that is kind of what may be affecting that ramp up. The other thing is we don't know, we know that the 2026 work includes the feasibility study for group three sidewalks. We won't know beyond that. Those numbers may be adjusted if there's additional feasibility studies that need to be funded. So it just kind of struck me. The Lincoln Park Community Center is another one that we've been waiting on. I know we signed something recently, but it's been discussed for the last two years. How are we feeling about that project in the timeline? Mr. Mejellik? Yes. Okay. All right. And you can come back to me on that if you need more time. Yeah. Okay. All right. Colleagues, any more comments or questions on CIP? Council Member Valari? You knew I would and shocking no one these are vision zero related so we saw in the for Proza project and in some of the budget comments that people would really like to see a solution to the red Gate pedestrian slash bicyclist in excess the current inaccessibility. We also saw in one of the proposal projects the middles the possibility of a bridge connecting croiting Creek Trail to Rock Creek Trail, which would ease somewhat the fact that there is a sidewalk only on one side of Norback in part. I would like to see if I don't think it's necessarily emelliting those two specifically, but I have been bringing up and some of my colleagues have as well that as part of the the Redgate master plan it there really needed to be intentionality from a vision zero perspective and and and frankly there was not and maybe that wasn't the time to talk about these things but if we are going to cultivate Redgate as a destination to do x, y, and z. And we keep kicking the can down the road of the fact that it is a barrier to people walking from south of Norback. It's not ideal for anyone coming from the west of 355 either, frankly. I think that even looking at a feasibility study that would create options for safer pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure to facilitate residents getting to red gate to do all these awesome things. That might be the solution to kind of hand-to-pun intended to kind of bridge that gap because I am truly afraid that we're gonna be doing some great things at Redgate, but we're gonna just keep ignoring the fact that it is an extremely unsafe state road. Can we pause? I think Mr. Mejell, like you meant, I asked you this question Friday. You mentioned that there's an overarching study that's going to happen on that. And that also there's a lot of work to get done at red gate. Can you just help to clarify that for the for the body? Mayor if it's okay. Can I go back to Lincoln Park real quick? Yes. Okay. I'm very good news on that contract. We'll be on site next month. It's like 10 month construction project. There'll be some closures, but it's very much on schedule. No. I'm very good news on that. Contract will be on site next month. It's a 10 month construction project. There'll be some closures, but it's very much on schedule. Now, yes. OK, it will be on schedule. Thank you so much. We're super excited to get that update. And then do you want to speak to the Redgate? I know there's a lot to get done with the whole Master Plan. And then also that you're looking at accessibility studies. So. So, Redgate Master Plan Implementation, I'll just talk about it that way. Final design is underway for the infrastructure, which is the water, the sewer, and the electric. And then to move forward with the Phase 1 and Manus, which will be complete the dog park, which is adding the shade structure, trail and pathway improvements, plugins, Williams playground and community garden, accessibility improvements. That's a big project that's $16 million and that's requested in FY 26. So obviously making really good progress in that RFP expected to go out to bid in April. Design and permitting will be the next 12 months. So again, they can really good progress over the next year on redgate master plan implementation. So was that in regards to my question or something that the mayor asked just overall overall. Overall councilman of the Larry the city was awarded an active transportation infrastructure investment program grant. Okay, that's they got we got that last year. That's evaluating feasibility and preparing some preliminary design for a pedestrian by facility from Maryville Park over to Reggate Park. So that's something this currently underway and with traffic and transportation. And I also just wonder if we could I know that there's a lot of questions on where are we with this. I think it speaks to the earlier conversation of just understanding where we are with the major CIP projects so that it's not a surprise in budget season. So I'm wondering they might be an opportunity to have that kind of briefing in other topics. I do want to ask my colleagues, is there a new project or a project that we don't want to happen just to help us focus on where the team might need to start balancing budgeting? I know we talked about the new, accelerating of tablet park, for example, that has a financial implication, right? Are there any other projects that we can just flag as moving from different years or it's a new project that you want to get the city's feedback on that we'll have to potentially be balanced. Just want to zero in on that in particular with my colleagues. So that was kind of what I was trying to get at which was so we got the grant for feasibility for what are we actually looking at? Are we looking at exterior to redgate? Are we looking at ways to get from one side of Norback to the other? It's not really clear to me because if we're not looking at that then yes, I would want to explore that as an option. But it's very hard for me to even determine what is something that we could explore if I'm not quite sure Where the moving pieces are here. So this great in particular looks at putting together a pedestrian bicycle pathway that would connect the Maryville area over to Regate once that's completed. I think we would be in a position to look at what that might cost, what that might look like, and consider a CIP if it rises to that level in terms of cost and scope. So then that would be an addition and that would be something I'd like to see if my colleagues would be supportive of. is one section, that is just one connection between Maryvale Park and Redgate. The bigger question is the actual connection between the Carl Henman Millennium Trail or South of Norback to Redgate Park. So whether or not that becomes a feasibility study that we start exploring the possibility of grants, but we have a real connectedness issue as far as getting people from any of the community south or west of Redgate. And if we solve the issue in Maryvale and in East Rockville and Lincoln Park, I think that's awesome. But if Adam, if Adam wants to bicycle over to Twin Brook and then we meet up and go to Redgate, how are we doing that? And that's where residents, I think, are struggling with Redgate as becoming this destination. And if we're not looking at that feasibility, I really wanna put that forward as something to invest our capital in. Thank you. Does anyone else have any questions or does staff have any comments? I think that there could be a broader update on Redgate because there's a lot to get done in the park and you're studying what's around the park. Maybe you can get back to us on like, what is your proposal to study the different accessibility things that we've heard in outer years so that we can, everything has a timeline, right? We can't do everything in one year. But if you're looking at what you need to get done inside of edgate and around to get to it if that could be also looked at as a phase in because I know we have phases proposed for the park itself but maybe not on the transportation accessibility part of it. We do. We're happy to put together just let's just say the state of everything's right gate. Okay. And we'll put back to the council. Thank you. Excellent. Thank you. Okay. I guess my question was there was a whole grant process for just one corner of connectivity. All that I'm asking for would be a feasibility study on different points of access. We narrowed in on just like, and I'm not saying it's not important, right? But like, it's not equitable. If we're only looking at the connection for one community to redgate. Council Member, I totally agree. I just some trying to space out and get let staff get back to us because there is a number of access points from all parts of the city. And so that is a phasing as well, right? I would love Red Gate to be open tomorrow with all the things that we have on the plan. I know we don't have the money to do that and know it's staff does not have the capacity to do that. But if you could just get back to us with and they can get back to us with, how do we get that done over time and how do we space that out over the years? So they will come back to you with that recommendation and then look at the major accessibility points and what they might be doing feasibility studies for through the years while also thinking about. They will come back to you with that recommendation and then look at the major accessibility points and what they might be doing feasibility studies for through the years while also thinking about what they're gonna do to get done with the big plan that we're still trying to move forward on. So fair. That's fair. Okay, thank you. Okay, I'm asking my colleagues and the other major CIP things that might have budget implications. Okay. Is there anything you need clarification from us on? No mayor. Okay. Thank you. We are now at 1036 or we've added the balance. I will pull up the magic spreadsheet in just a moment. Is there a magic sprinting of mine? It's very magical. It's a magic soul spreadsheet. I love it. I'm going to go ahead and move to the next slide. I'm going to go ahead and move to the next slide. I'm going to go ahead and move to the next slide. I'm going to go ahead and move to the next slide. I'm going to go ahead and move to the next slide. I'm going to go ahead and move to the next slide. I'm going to go ahead and move to the next slide. I'm going to go ahead and move to the next slide. You're pulling that up. I just have one comment that I forgot to mention. I apologize. King Farm Farm said you're planning to move the horse bond project and not defund that, but remove that as a project. I just wanted to make sure that we're set up for success, that when we have the task force, that we can start doing something. So I just want to make that comment that I do have concern about pulling that out more broadly and not having some seed money to start with to implement what we discuss. What are you thinking in terms of that process? Would you do a budget amendment or just to reallocate that funding CIP money back to the farmstead if you could just tell us what you're thinking? So in its previous form, that project showed all of the budgetary allocations as unfunded. Okay. Previous to that, it was scheduled to receive bond funding. So to the extent that the mayor and council is comfortable with the master plan for the farmstead and how those projects will be prioritized, we will look at how those can be folded in to the future budgets. If it means that we need to put something on a budget amendment in response to the wishes of the mayor council we certainly will. Okay, thank you. I say this with all respect and all thankfulness to our community. We have a meeting on April 22nd coming up as another visioning ceremony. Exercise, but I want to make sure that people don't think we're going through a third round and then nothing happens. So I make that comment in the spirit of this will not happen this time. Okay. that people don't think we're going through a third round and then nothing happens. So I make that comment in the spirit of, this will not happen this time. Okay, Councilman for Jackson. I would just say third round is, it's not like a fifth or sixth round. So you agree that we're not gonna let that happen this time? Yes, I do. Okay. All right. So we have the magic spreadsheetsheet and the Money Printing Machine in the back. I think I unplug the Magic Printing Machine. But we do have a Magic Spreadsheet. I'll walk through this with you guys just very quickly. At the very top of this table, I can zoom in a little if that's helpful. We show the increase in tax duplication revenue, that's $473,400, so that's gonna be a revenue increase. We, as part of the proposed budget, we put placeholders and non-departmental as budgeted capacity for the compensation and classification study implementation. This is the general fund and the general fund that came out to 925,000. So a little less than that million that we estimated for the general fund. In addition, there are a couple of contractual increases that we've learned about subsequent to the publishing of the proposed budget. That's 9,000. We acknowledge the direction of the mayor and council. We show a ready allocation reduction of $100,000. That's associated with that FTE that was also discussed earlier this evening. Sister cities came and requested a $7,000 reduction because of some changes in travel programmatically. So we're acknowledging that request and then the increase for sunflower bakery is also reflected here that's that $5,000 administrative increase because of some overlap from a previous year. So those are the changes to the expenditures. As we go down to the bottom we want to maintain the $650,000 addition to reserves that was in the proposed budget. That addition to reserves is really operating budget capacity that's set aside in the event that the Mayor and Council wishes to proceed immediately with the annexation of the shady grow metro property. So it's important that we keep that there because there would be future operating and ongoing costs associated with that undertaking. Things that I heard tonight, and'll be looking for consensus from the group of feasibility study for the Wooten's Milk Park shelter with restrooms. That's included here. Noise abatement studies for East Goody and West Goody. That's folded in here. Addition to reserves as a place holder for emergency assistance. So this will allow the city manager to come back to you and say whether we think we should put this money into rep or provide that to our nonprofit partners that's going to take a little bit of dialogue and planning internally but we can certainly include that in one of the early budget amendments for FY 2026. That would provide the capacity to do that. Then what I heard was an increase of $5,000 for the Language Outreach Program, a decrease in $5,000 for the Neville Street emergency shelter with a reallocation to the Interfaith Works Women Shelter. I think I'm also hearing an additional $20,000 set aside for Rainbow House that will be pending communication with them. So I'm showing this as an addition to reserves. It's really just holding some capacity. If they come back to us in a firm that they would be able to utilize those resources. Then I also heard an additional $7,500 for so what else ink that would take them up to $25,000 in annual funding and then a $5,000 allocation to the Rockville by CUB. If all of those things are correct as I have shown them here, that provides an additional amount of general fund capacity of just a little north of $470,000. You don't have to program all of those funds. You can let those funds go to reserves. Those can be resources that are used through the year if there are other needs that emerge. But that is where we are right now. I will just note you did an excellent summary. I want to say thank you. I love the Magic spreadsheet. I wish there was Magic Money. But we're still in the green. I did want to note that there are other discussions that we're going to be having that may impact things in the future, whether it's fall up on our housing discussions, fall up on the MFDV locality preference for procurement. Those may be required studies that we no cost 200,000. I also know that we're going to be talking about homeownership programs in the future. And then I want to flag that we committed to looking at the police competitiveness and the August timeframe, or July August timeframe. So I just wanted to know that we don't have to allocate everything now because we know things are going to come up and we can do budget amendments. But I appreciate that you took down very methodically the feedback we've giving you tonight and previous sessions. Council Member Vellieri. Yeah, I always appreciate the magic spreadsheet. I am a huge fan of Excel, but the magic ones in particular are pretty awesome. And I'm glad thank you, Madam Mayor, for noting that flexibility in regards to remaining competitive around police pay and kind of watching and seeing what happens on the county level. Don't want to get to a deficit there and have to kind of play catch up. I am really appreciative of, you know, it's never, these discussions are never easy, but to the extent that we do have a little bit of general fund capacity remaining, I would like to hear from my colleagues if they would be open to increasing slightly the Rockville bycub allocation. Thank you. I think that I'm open to that and folks wanna talk through that. I do wanna know the city manager does need to go back and talk to them because we're not doing a least situation now. We're trying to support the programmatic activities in terms of education as well as, you know, services with terrific kids. That's right. So let's maybe I'm wondering if we can give them some time to have that discussion with them. That's right. Does everyone okay with that Okay. And then I should have also mentioned we're going to have a non-profit roundtable. So there may be situations that programs that come out of that and listening to all the needs that we have in the community and the recommendations that staff has. Councilor Van Grech. I wish you say there's a lot of things that we're potentially looking to do. I mean, aside from the fact that just as you both mentioned, we're going to be assessing if there's a need for additional police salaries. We've got a work session where we're going to be looking at economic development and we're going to be looking at potential issues with ready that we might need funds for. And we've got the reserve edition of 650,000 for shady Grove. We're not sure exactly where we could be doing a shady growth. There might be additional boundaries that in additional costs associated with this. I don't know I wouldn't advise touching any more of the general fund. I like the flexibility because I think we've got a lot of things on our potential plate to utilize. Thank you. Colleys, how are we feeling? Are we good? Can we give a thumbs up to staff for their hard work? We get a applause. Yeah, we have a lot of fun. Thumbs up applause all the above. But thank you sincerely for, I know this is a very hard process for all of you and so many people, not even in this room, I've worked on this. So we really appreciate your work. But I also just want to say, I am following the budgets of many jurisdictions in Virginia and Maryland across the country, and they are not in this position. And I want to thank our colleagues, financial leads, for keeping us in the green so that we are not in the red. But that we're also giving ourselves some cushion because we don't not know what's going to happen in the future and we need to be prepared. So a huge thank you. You did an excellent job and we are really thankful and lucky to have you all. More applause. All right. So with that, we are moving to Agenda Item 13, Mach Agenda. I know that we looked at the future agendas on our LPT leadership planning team meeting. Does anyone else have any changes here? Okay, thank you. We're now moving on to old new business. There's one item listed on the request for a proclamation. Asian-American and Pacific Islander Day against bullying and hate. We do have 15 proclamations coming forward. I think Mr. Wendborn shared with us. We will be celebrating Asian Pacific Heritage Month. And so there are a couple of options that we could deal with this one. It's a national organization, I think Danny mentioned. It didn't come from a local group. We could add a notation about supporting Asian Pacific Islander, you know, in dealing with being against bullying and hate in that proclamation that we already have. We could do this proclamation and just post it. Those are some things that we could not do it, but I just wanted to put those options out for my colleagues to weigh in. Councilmember Fulton. Oh, goodness. I know you love proclamation. The option where we incorporated into an existing proclamation in some way is whatever for. Excellent, thank you. Come from Van Greck. I was just going to say as president to it because we did Earth Day, Earth Month, and Earth Hour all together on proclamation. So there's a precedent in us doing similar things previously. And it would give the recognition. Thank you. All right. Colleagues all in favor of this approach. Please raise your hand or give it thumbs up. All right. Great. We are all set Sarah and team. Are you good with this next steps? All right council member Van Grack. I apologize for the late notice, but I just received information about this late before our meeting Last year we did I don't think it was a proclamation, but it's just a recognition of education and sharing day in the United States. It wasn't something that we did in here. We just issued a notation of it or a congratulations of it to the extent we could do it. It turns out it's this upcoming Wednesday. I was alerted to that. I'd ask the clerk's office, is it possible just a print a certificate and have it available by Wednesday? Well, I see that the clerk is taking her to the extent. We might be able to just do it. Colleagues, are you okay with we're just following the same approaches last year? I think we're good. I'm just going to say I'm seeing shake-ins of heads. Please proceed. Okay. All right. Council move, Larry. Okay, all right. Council move, Larry. Yes. All right. I have two things. One hopefully might be quick and that would be a sense of my colleagues on the idea that I stated earlier about having a work session on history on the historic District Commission, maybe an opportunity to learn more. And maybe there's a better way that we could capture things and wanted to get a sense from folks what they thought of that idea. Thank you. I wanted to ask, do we have the HTC coming before us in the near future? I don't think so. I think it's after some late September. Yeah. Would you be okay with moving a discussion around that time? Yeah, no. I mean, that's definitely a consideration. I'm especially in light of the importance people have put on the, what is this, this contential? I'm never remembering this. We may want to have that sooner, especially if there's any sort of planned activities. So the grant funding does not officially start until July. So I just want to flag that. So that planning would be between July and September theoretically. I'm just going to note that people need organizations need time to plan. So are you okay with that? Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Now, now I'm trying to give the benefit of the doubt to how long a nonprofit may need to get ready for an event. I know how that rolls. Then the other thing that I had was an exchange that we had via email. And that was with regards to my colleague's favorite topics, which is proclamations. But in particular, there was a sense that we were no longer doing recognitions of genocide or the Holocaust, but as we know this evening, we absolutely did one. So I wondering asking my colleagues if we can proceed then with what was done last year, which was the recognition of the Greek genocide. Okay, so just noting in fairness, we did a recognition of Yamashawa, which is a major genocide and our nation and that nation, but the world's history. So, you know, I just want to be equitable on this discussion since we did one genocide and a council member has requested this one as it is pressed on to the community here in Rockville if we would be supportive of that councilman I'm not unsupportive, but I'm, and I know somebody asked this question. But didn't we make a decision here? I don't remember what it was but I really feel like we debated and made a decision. Whatever it is that we did and I don't remember that's what I think we should do. I agree. I agree. I honestly think we're going to have to revisit this list real soon and go back through but that is one that she did request last year and so it should have remained on the list and otherwise. I think that there was confusion as to whether genocides would be included. We removed one and kept one. Right. So I just wanted we have to be consistent. Right. So we have to be consistent if we're right. So we have to go back and re-score that. Okay, so you will check the tape for out of yours. We're gonna do the Greek genocide this year. Okay. Okay, thank you. Okay, Councilor Vangrath. How did you say my recollection was that for international independence days, an international country of it. Be careful, be careful. Oh, Lord. I'm supporting. I'm supporting. Okay guys guys. It's almost 11. Let's check the tape and okay make sure that it's captured in writing. But is there anything else under old new business that folks would like to discuss? No, there's my only thing. Nothing. we will be out of here before 11 as we were trying to do. All right. I will entertain a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Fulton. Motion to adjourn. Councilmember Valeria. Second. All of us in favor, please raise your hand and say aye. Aye. Excellent. Thank you so much, everyone. We appreciate all who are watching. Take care.