Good afternoon. Welcome to the Education and Culture Committee. Today is Thursday, March 20th. This session is one I've been looking forward to because we've got our great friends from Montgomery College to discuss their FY26 the FI25 through 30 CIP. As I'll start, as I always do, when I talk about Montgomery College, the number 10 ranked community college in the country or higher. You know, that's the baseline out of a thousand. And we're just so proud of everything that you all have done and continue to do for students. The mission remains mission critical, especially as we head into the choppy waters that we're in right now and I know one of the things that helps me sleep better at night is knowing that we've got Montgomery College and so really, really appreciate you all. Dr. Williams, thank you. I just want to say for joining our budget forums. I know we have one more coming up and looking forward to that. So I'll turn it over to Mr. Proudi for any opening comments. And then we'll go and come to you, Dr. Williams. I just wanted to let the committee know that I have prepared some slides so we can work through the packet in that way. So I will take over as soon as folks from MC have finished. Sounds good. There you go. Dr. Williams, do you have anything you want to say at the beginning? I would and thank you very much for the opportunity to share a few words, Councilor Vice President. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, Councilor Vice President. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, Council Vice President. Good afternoon, Council Member Albinant. Council Member Mankh, it's great to be here with you. Thank you for letting us share some words. And thank you for your continued support of Montgomery College. And moving forward, our awesome county, everything you do day in and day out. So just start off by saying, thank you, Montgomery College, as you shared, Council Vice President is strong. We are strong and we are committed and wanted to express that at this time in place to reiterate what you shared even during this tumult that we see your community's college remain dedicated to its mission right to its tradition of diversity and equity and inclusion and to its trajectory that very much and inclusion. So, and strong, we're serving more than 45,000 students. Which is something we haven't done in a few years, based on our transmittal at the time. We were 7% up in enrollment, which is on top of an 11% increase from last year. So when we think about that that and we think about that return on investment all in your community's college provides a 1.4 billion dollar economic impact every year. 1.4 billion dollars based on our last economic impact study and and we know where it happens. It happens in the places and spaces that create Monk and Recallage, right? From our auto-based to our biotech and cyber security labs to our mock hospital rooms, these facilities provide the equitable learning environments to deliver post-compliance success. And now East County Education Center, right? By the turn one year old, right? It's tautdling. So however, our feasibility study indicated 1,000, we serve a thousand students in phase one and less than a year into East County Education Center. We have served more than four 1500 residents, more than 1500 students. So just as a point of pride in here, our residents can look at careers in healthcare and early and challenge education, IT, and it gains hands on training. And it's just these individuals when they leave, regardless of whether they are at, to come in Park Silver Spring, Rockville, Germantown, East County Education Center, they're becoming the biotech workers, right, a GSK and AstraZeneca, They're becoming nurses at Holy Cross. They're becoming financial and policy analysts. That's what I'm saying. Right in front of us, right? Montgomery? Is that Al Shante or H. H. Shante? I was like, hi, hi. Even one would have been a president. Hi, then hello. Yes, yes. I haven't mentioned my boyfriend. So yes, so yes, hello, more formalish than I say. So we are the community's college. And you know this. I'll close out by sharing some of the things that we have been doing and just to highlight them again so that you are even more security investment that you continue to make and that we are so appreciative. And we look at labor data, which we do via lightcast, which we have and we continue to do, we're able to analyze what is happening in the current economic situation and workforce situation. And we're able to foreshadow what is going to occur. We have deep relationships with our business and industry leaders to identify what their needs are and they help us build our curricula. We're consistently surveying and engaging in labor market data and our surroundings to really create these educational opportunities. And that leads us to in the last 30 or so seconds our Fiscaly-Protent Budget, right? It is, these are our needs are what we need. We always come with what we need. And that's our theater arts building. It's a space where emerging artists can develop their new skills and then join in the robust workforce right here in our area. The Germantown Student Services Center will give students easy access to the services they need to obtain meaningful credentials. Our Rockville Library needs serious attention. Libraries provide access to textbooks, to precious study spaces that are often lacking for some of our students among many other resources that the library provides. And of course, addressing deferred maintenance. and we all agree that we need a full service campus in East County. And you'll see that this budget really keeps that driving forward. So in closing, just saying thank you, thank you so very much. It was great to see all of you at the Legit Building, room and cutting. Buildings like those show what facilities can do and how facilities can impact our community, right, and how facilities can illustrate that regardless of your zip code, you are able to access high quality, equitable educational experiences that will lead to post-conpletion success in helping our county thrive. So again, Council Vice President, Council members, thank you for the opportunity to be here. Thank you for all of your support. Thank you so much, Dr. Williams and team. And, Shantay, if you want to, there's a seat if you want to come up. Okay. Okay. I know you got both. I know you got dynamic duo here. Mr. Proudi, turn it to you. Thank you. I neglected earlier to introduce myself and Doug Proudi, senior legislative analyst of the council. I want to thank all the folks from MC for being here today in Bratilla, Mischram, who is immensely helpful in helping me prepare the packet. So thank you so much for your good work. So the first thing I want to just highlight for the council, there we go, for the committee I should say, is the overall ask in terms of the CIP, MC has submitted a amended CIP adding $12.4 million over the six year period. So we'll go through the details of that in a moment. Here is a chart which lists each year and the allocations asked for. The county executive has concurred with MC's request. And so we're gonna go through each individual item that is amended, but this gives you an overview where we are in terms of the next six years and then beyond those six years as well. And this is included on page one of the packet. So the first item we have, oops, wrong way. There we go. The capital renewal, the capital renewal is a request of a three million dollar increase for FY26. The capital renewal program includes improvements of modifications in terms of replacing building systems, HVAC, electricity, plumbing, and updating buildings to codes and regulations. The council executive has approved this edition for FY26 and council staff. have concurres. Comments from you all? No? Okay. With any comments from colleagues? Without objection. Thank you. The next item is College Library of Innovations. There's an addition here of $864,000 for FY26. This is to fund the renovations for the Rockville and Tacoma Park Silver Spring Libraries. The renovations include improvements to modernize the spaces, to provide collaborative and innovative space for students to work together in the library on the second floor, and then also private study spaces with resources available based on their area of study on the third floor. So again, this is an increase for FY 26 of $864,000, kind of executive recommends approval, council staff, concurred. That objection. Thank you. The, oops, wrong way again. There we go.. Next item is the East County campus. The East County campus. There is an ask of a deferral of $5 million from FY26 to FY27. This is funding for the planning, studying programming, and master planning updates for the East County campus. A note here is that land acquisition design and construction will be funded after this initial plan. And that is not included in this budget, but is in the forecast for the next six years. So the request is to defer $5 million from FY 2627, kind of executive recommends approval. Council staff concur. Yeah, no. Councilor Miko, I have a question or comment on this. My only question would just be obviously no decrease in funding here just sliding a little bit how that will impact. We are all committed to making sure that campus happens especially given we're already serving 1500 students at the center so. Yes. Already serving 1500 students and we already requested and received approval from middle states to offer full degrees at East County Education Center so another point of pride for that and this does not affect overall timeline. Just shifts in projects is really what it represents. But does keep us on track, Mr. Clare, is there something more you want to add about that? I would just add, thank you Dr. Williams. I would just say that the work around side identification working with the executive staff and thanks to the team there working with Ken and others is continuing. We are working also in monitoring how the developer at the Viva White Oak is progressing knowing that that's a really big lift. And at the same time the college is also doing its due diligence steps as we are identifying, as we're required to do alternative sites to see how they would fit. Clearly there is great energy around the Viva White Oak, but certainly the economics of all of those pieces need to come together. The Board of Trustees at two meetings ago did approve funding for us to engage a master planner. And it's coincidentally the same firm, Canon Design, with whom we worked on the facilities master plan. So at one of the top architectural design firm in the nation and so we'll be beginning that work as you think about the planning and design and all of the funding here is shifted. There is sufficient work and for us to continue and move without interruption and a big part of that is certainly from a master planning perspective doing a lot of the heavy lifting to look at based on sites how we would program roads and all the things that would go into the campus, and then how it intersects based on where the location lands. So good progress there, and more to come, we've certainly been engaged with the finance department as they've been working on trying to figure out bond structures for big, you know, the bigger projects and the work will continue with the executive's team as we engage further around looking at what are those public benefits that we need to be coordinating and aligning to use the county's dollars wisely and then certainly based on the planning efforts be able to then identify the best mechanisms for funding the various elements of the campus. Well very exciting I'm not going to try to speak for my whole committee and I'll turn to Councilmember Mac but that no matter where I am in the world I will be back for when this campus opens. You know, it's just this exciting, exciting time. Council member, make. I'm so excited. The community is so excited. And I think we're obviously seeing that excitement and that interest, as you noted at the ECEC, which is, you know, I'm here all the time now, which is wonderful. And so are so many of our community members, because it's not just for classes. It's young families and kids who that's going to be their future site of classes. It's people of all ages for all different purposes. And the work that's being done there, Dr. Tessfoot, everything that's happening there to really make that location a place that the community feels as theirs and where they belong and where they can see themselves, they can see their kids coming there to take classes. It's all the things that we had really hoped for in the visioning of this. And I think those who came before me, like it's happening and it's so exciting, which just makes me all the more excited about the campus that is coming. So very, very, very excited about that. And I appreciate the background about the work that you're doing to get there. Is there anything else that I get these questions a lot, as you can imagine, when are we to have the campus, right? Is there anything else that you can say about what timeline is looking like, about, understand there's both the state and a county regulatory process about where we are with the state. I'm looking for answers that I can pass on, obviously, and I know that there's things that you can't say, but is there anything else that you can say? So I think the, I mean, and we certainly appreciate the exuberance and excitement about it, what we've been trying to temper a bit is that, you know, a lot of the work right now is the behind the scenes that is really trying to align, really significant structures and funding to make things happen. And I think what you can reassure the residents in the East County is the college's commitment for engagement remains strong. Meaning in the same way you spoke to the East County Education Center as a place where the community can feel that they can use its theirs. Our aspirations for the campus there are the same, right? So in order to be that, make that real, we have to actively engage and deeply engage the community in not only what we're thinking, but what they're looking for, we're looking at alignments with workforce and all of those items. So I think one that at the appropriate time coming soon, we will engage deeply. You say coming soon? Well, I can. Yes, I see. I mean, again, the places where we have to spend the time right now is really ensuring the governmental entities are aligned. So we don't want to get ahead of and frustrate anyone by merely saying, coming into meeting spaces and saying, we can't really say that. We don't know this just yet, right? So we're just trying to get those pieces together, you know, the pending on sites and certainly in place where we have there's a lot of energy around, you know, there's just really kind of boring but really important work to be done around getting funding aligned and getting, you know, incentives and programming done, you know. So those are the things that aren't sort of like the big public pieces, but certainly the sequencing of that as we engage the master planner and as we start that work, we are committed to engaging the community in their feedback. And I think I would say in the same way as we would developing the facilities master plan and we actually came out to the East County, we were just up the street from the education center then fight the community for those who could be there in person or not those who could participate. If you assume we'll do those things, I think, including elements of what we've seen work in the East County haven't participated some of the advice reason. I know you use and engage those entities around door knocking and getting out and really thinking about different ways to ensure that we listen to all voices. That is a commitment. So I think at this point that's the biggest reassurance I think I could offer. We just need some time to get the things that need to align across moving sums of money and getting those plans in place from a state perspective, right? The immediate steps for us around completing those alternative site assessments and looking at those that due diligence as soon as next week will be out there looking at a site and will have another one teed up shortly thereafter. Those sites we can't really publicize because we don't people then looking at ways to jack the cost of those things up and skew how we might then be a bit of a assess and report out what that looks like. But certainly that is that is rework. Yes well that's great that's helpful I think it's it is it makes it very tangible to know that you all are out there and you're looking you're looking at the sites and you know it is behind the scenes work right now and we want to make sure that you have the time to get that right and wherever this campus is located it's going to be a tremendous benefit you know to the folks there and to the to the businesses there as well. And we are going to need partnership on the government side and others as well. And so making sure that you have time to get that right and we're able to finance this properly is obviously critical and people are very, very excited. So thank you. So thank you for that. Ditto. Council Member Halvanoff. Thanks so much. So it's good seeing everybody. Good afternoon. So a couple of thoughts. One really appreciated you leading off with the economic benefit that has been quantified. That Montgomery College and the universities of Shady Grove have provided to our community and the billions. It's extraordinary. And I think this East County campus will significantly add to that in a part of the county that is really hungry for that level of economic development. And I just want to go on record continuing to encourage you all to be bold and innovative in your approach for this campus. I have shared publicly many times my personal passion of having an arena or something to that degree, which could host high school graduations, provide different conference room space and availability that could bring in revenue for the college in a myriad of ways and would also be a huge economic driver in that community bringing thousands of people for entertainment and then staying to go to restaurants and just adding to the quality of life of all of us. So I really want to continue to thank all of you. I'm excited about hearing more what the community engagement plans will be because I've seen lots of projects in this county for many years, but one of the things that I know the college among the many things you all do well is community engagement. You've got a rock star team and we stand ready to support you all in that effort and please never hesitate to leverage our contacts and the relationships that we have which could be helpful, especially as you continue to envision and actually execute this bold plan. So thank you. So if I may come up with a couple. I would say that we've heard all of those things you just said and I don't think you'll be disappointed as we contemplate being bold and engaging the community and I'll just say while it seems less specific now, know that we're committed to soon coming back to share that project timeline with you so that you could see those key touch points about when we're out in those next pieces. So, we'll do that. And let's make sure once you're ready we come back and do it here. We have a committee session, after the budget, probably I would assume. So, summer fall, ish, whenever you're ready. If you're ready that soon. Yeah. And thank you for that plug, Councillor Rowernaz. I was just thinking, I just got my daughter's graduated from eighth grade from MCPS, and they're having the promotion ceremony at a private school because there's no space, and everyone only gets two tickets. And it's just one of the many things that every parent is gonna, I could multiply that story times. Tens of, this where people just literally won't be able to see their loved ones graduate or be promoted in addition to the youth sports and they, there's just, there's just a ton of reasons and we don't get to do something like this doesn't happen that often. Like we don't build a brand new, huge thing that often, I don't, you know, so I just want to double tap what Councilmember Ravana said and excited to hear you guys are thinking boldly and bigly. And bigly, yeah, that's not a word. But in this context, it's appropriate. There we go. So without objection, we will enthusiastically move forward this adjustment to the CIP for the East County campus. Thank you. The next item is to go to this catches up. There we go. Is the Durban Town Student Affairs Building and Renovation Edition? This is phase two. The college is requesting an additional $166,000 in funding for FY 30. And then you can see that beyond the six years, there's a request for an additional $1,284,000. This is to fund the development of the Student Affairs and Science Building. I'll be building it from two to three stories, which would net again, of 18,000 growth square feet. And it will incorporate not only student affairs building, but also Department of Physics and a math physics engineering learning center. So their request is $166,000 for FY 30. And this is to reflect state allowable escalation of 4% kind executive recommends council staff concurres. No comments without objection. Thank you. There we go. The Durantan Student Services Center, the next item, this is an addition for the new Student Services Center, which would be about 150,000 square feet. It will house all of the proless office, media academic computing support functions, library and a bookstore. The college is requesting an increase of $5 million to include the cost state allowable cost escalation of 4%. It is spread out through FY26 through FY29 and the kind executive recommends approval council staff concur. Without objection. Okay. Thank you. Last two here, planned life cycle, asset replacement. Request here is for an additional $3 million, for FY26. This includes life cycle renewal and replacement program. It is targeted to improve and fix deteriorating facilities and take care of deferred maintenance. So that they've requested $3 million for FY26, county executive recommends and council staff concurres. Without objection, we'd like to take care of our facilities. There you go. And finally, the Rockville Theater Arts Building renovation. There is a note here, if you know please at the bottom, that there is an adjustment to this chart. So this is to expand, fund the renovation expansion of the theater arts building of the Rockville campus. The request actually is $166,000, $167,000. This project, this chart will be amended. The ask for the local funding will be moved from FY26 to FY27. The million dollars at the bottom of the note there is incorrect unless the council wants to know. Didn't think so. Just wanted to make a note that that note is incorrect. It's $167,000. That was my error, my apologies. The Cal Executive recommends and council staff concur. Said we were going to be bold, but there you go. Might be a little bit too bold. Not that bold. There you go. Exactly. Is there anything I know we, this was a big topic last year and we were happy that this made it in and that any update on this and how to so impact the effort to get this renovation done. Thank you for recalling that last year and touring the budget. So since we definitely had some students that share their deep interest in seeing this building really kind of repurposed. And just to share again, the appreciation for the support and just the fiscal way in which we're going about, really addressing the issues in this building, right? This is a repurposing. It's not a tear down and a rebuild. It does remain. Still remains important for our students and obviously our educational programs as well as endeavors with the community. And we love the 50-50 split too, so that's good. Okay, without objection, improve that as well. And that is the last item. Okay. Any comments from you guys? All right. Anything you'd like to add? Yes. Yes, Mr. Vice President. I do believe that you and Council members know Mr. Collet and Miss Shran. However, we have a new member of the MC team with us. Let's call the poll and if you could just take them up with the interdiscipline. Yes, please. Thank you, sir. Good afternoon, everyone. Carla Poland. I'm the Vice President for Facilities Management, Capital Planning, and Sustainability. Thank you. It's great to be here with you today, and we greatly appreciate your consideration of our requests. Welcome. Thank you. and it's the first time. Yes. And another addition to my awesome team and part of the test is if she can say her lengthy titles. Thank you. You had a good one at first time. Yes. And another addition to my awesome team and part of the test is if she can say her lengthy titles. Absolutely. Well, thank you all. I always like starting with Montgomery College. It's always fun and very, usually not very difficult. So thank you. With that, we are adjourned. Thanks everybody.