Good evening and welcome to the Council's April Legislative Public Hearing in which we will hear testimony for legislation introduced on April 7th 2025. This evening is a hybrid meeting which is being conducted in person and via WebEx teleconference. It is also available to the public through live stream on the report. The report is on the report. The report is on the report. The report is on the report. The report is on the report. The report is on the report. The report is on the report. The report is on the report. The report is on the report. The report is on the report. The report is on the report. The report is on the report. The report is on the report. The report is on the report. on Monday, April 28th at 9.30am in the Sea Vernon Grey Room. Council members, please provide agenda items for the work session to our Council administration no later than 9am Tuesday, tomorrow, April 22nd. A legislative session for final consideration of certain legislation that is the subject of this public hearing will be held on Monday, May 5th beginning at 7pm in this Bannerker room. Public participation for these meetings will be available in person, Virtually via WebEx and Viewed livestream through the County Council website. At this time, I will do a roll call for our council members, Dr. Jones. Good evening, everyone. Miss Young. Here. Miss Rigbyby, President and Mr. Youngman. We will now recite the pledge of allegiance. before we proceed with our agenda this evening. We have an honorary resolution recognizing the Mount Hebron High School Model UN. And I will read that resolution for you and then I would ask that those honored would join us up at the front and we'll take some photos and post them on our website proudly. But for now, I'll read the honorary resolution to the Mount Hebron High School Model United Nations Club. Whereas the Mount Hebron High School Model United Nations Club, led by Secretary General Eli Woodruff and advisor Van Prime, brought 16 of its best student delegates to compete in the 27th annual Washington area Model United Nations Conference hosted by the George Washington International Affairs Association and the International Affairs Society at George Washington University. Whereas, of the 16 students, the following six won best delegate or first place awards in their respective committees. Remesa... Whereas of the 16 students, the following six won best delegate or first place awards in their respective committees. Ramesha Ahmad, 11th grade. Where's Ramesha? Yay. Eli Woodworth, 12th grade. Isha Ande, 11th grade. Brey Foster, 12th grade, Sravika Bola 10th grade, and Rikis Chang and Leisha 11th grade. Congratulations and yay! And whereas as a whole the Mount Hebron delegation won first place overall in the best large delegation demonstrating their academic prowess and teamwork. And whereas the Mount Hebron model, United Nations Club's impressive efforts at the Washington Area Model, United Nations Conference has earned them well-deserved international recognition and has fostered civic pride for our Howard County community. Now therefore be it resolved on this 21st day of April 2024 that the County Council of Howard County Maryland congratulates Mount Hebrons Model United Nations Club on the recognition at the Washington area Model United Nations Conference and wishes them continued success and all their future endeavors. Congratulations. I can try and be taller than you if you're standing in front of that mic. think you're good at it? You think you're good because you're sitting on the set. I'm just here. Maybe Mount Evans acts as good on that? So I'll be here to be able to back. Yeah, I'm hanging on right there. You look wonderful. OK. Thank you, Ash. I sure wish you a good day. Please, that sounded really awesome. I know, but I'll be. I know, but I'll be. I know, but I'll be. I know, but I'll be. I know, but I'll be. I know, but I'll be. I know, but I'll be. I know, but I'll be. I know, but I'll be. I know, but I'll be. I know, but I'll be. I know, but I'll be. Oh, yeah. That's a big deal. Okay, I'll try. You are. Just a big deal, thank you. Oh, yeah. That's a big deal. That's a big deal. There you go. There you go. I thought a window. There you go. There you go. There you go. I thought a window. There you go. That's a good job. That's a good job. That's a good job. That's a good job. That's a good job. That's a good job. That's a good job. That's a good job. That's a good job. That's a good job. That's a good job. That's a good job. That's a good job. That's a good job. That's a good job. That's a good job. Congratulations, everyone. We will now proceed with our regular April legislative public hearing. If there are any students who will be testifying this evening, for those in person please come up to the front row so we can call you to testify in those virtually please contact Isaiah Anderson by raising your hand on the WebEx or sending him an email to ianderson, iand.edu, our SON at howercountynd.gov. We will allow students to testify first so they may get home at a reasonable time. Spring break is over. Not that anyone here is happy about that. Please note that while we are receiving testimony this evening we continue to receive written comments which will be fully considered by the council prior to our taking action. Anyone who signed up to testify at this hearing will be called to testify. When you are called upon to testify please state your name and the city or town of your home address. Representatives from nonprofit organizations will have up to five minutes to speak. Individuals and other organizations have up to three minutes. Individuals who have indicated that they are testifying through an interpreter may be allowed a total of five minutes with interpreter translation. You may not yield your time to another speaker. You will be notified at the 30 second mark to please begin wrapping up by the administrator and then you will be notified when your time to speak is up. You must please conclude when your time is up. If you have written testimony you may also email it to Council Mail at Howard County MD.gov. Did we get any takers on our students. Okay. Are they both virtually? Oh, I see them. Okay. Okay. So Maria I know I'm like, why? Okay, and this is for the Act adopting the International Building Code. I get a sense of where you may be going on this. Is your mic on? As the first witness to testify, you bear the onerous responsibility of pressing the buttons to your lightest screen. Good evening. My name is Maria Ibrahim and I'm located in Cragsville, Maryland. I'm a student at River Hill High School. I'm in my third year of high school, so I'm a junior and I'm supposed to think about the future. What college I want to go to, what major I want to do, what job do I want to have. But how can I pin for the future when the structures that we make today are putting our future at risk? Sheik Ahamadzeqi Amani was a former minister of petroleum and mineral resources in Saudi Arabia, and he once said, the Stone Age came to an end not for lack of stones. Essentially, the stonage ended because something better came along. Tools that improved daily life metal. So, Saddi progressed, not because they had to, but because they could, because better was possible. We have the same chance to do that today. We have the resources, technology, and knowledge to build healthier, safer, and more sustainable homes. So why aren't we? Aren't we often taught in school that a smart person learns in themselves while a wise person learns from others? Over 125 meter cities across the US have redone things like this including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston have been done building code amendments or performance standards to direct the well-being of their citizens. New York City for example has set local law 154. This requires only building speed all electric. Aiming to reduce the emissions from the city's large buildings by 40% in the 2030. New York City has population of 8.5 million people. Maryland as a whole has roughly 6.2 million and Howard County has 236,000. If a single city larger than our entire state can enact this change, why can't we? Data has shown that 81% of Howard County residents support healthy building standards, and over the past two decades, 45% of heat-bladed deaths occur at home. I'm not shared by any of you in this room, but personally, I don't want to walk home one day and find someone on the floor. Dead. Because we had the chance to do better, we didn't that. Because we just missed the possibility of a better future for us. Thank you. Thank you very much. So do we have Henry Yarmus? OK. I thought it was Andre Lane with other other students. Okay. Number 47. Okay. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Thank you. Good evening, Chair Walsh and Distinguished Members of the Council. My name is Henry Armas, a junior at Riverville High School here today because CB-24, 2025 directly impacts my future and the future of everyone, my age, who hopes to live, raise a family, and build a life in Howard County. Adopting the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code moves us in the right direction. But I urge the council to pass it with amendments that require, we're strongly encouraged, full electrification for new buildings and major renovations. We only get one chance to build something new. And every gas furnace or water heater installed today locks in fossil fuel pollution for decades. Why would we build homes in 2025 that aren't prepared for the clean energy future we all know is coming? Recently I was talking with someone in my neighborhood about how homes are built today and the conversation turned to energy. They were surprised to hear that many electric systems not only better for the environment but are also safer and cheaper in the long run. It struck me how these everyday conversations reveal a gap. People want to do the right things, but they don't always know the options exist. That's why policy is so important. It sets direction and helps make us make clean choices. Local polls show that nearly 80% of marinators already support healthy energy efficient buildings that reduce pollution. This isn't a controversial ask, it's common sense. Electrification helps family save money, reduce harmful indoor air pollution, and protects our most vulnerable communities from extreme weather. The science is clear, I scientists have warned. Maryland is on track to experience triple the number of extreme heat days by mid- mid-century. That's a serious public health risk. But buildings that have built all electric and well-insulated reduce utility bills year-round. In those savings matter, according to RMI, Marylanders can save over a thousand dollars a year by switching to electric heat pumps and water heaters. That money goes back into family's pockets, not onto outdated gas infrastructure. This bill has to pass in a way that prepares us for the world we are actually facing. Not the one we lived 50 years ago. Let's lead with a vision. Let's build for the future. As a young person who will live with the consequences of this decision for decades to come, I respectfully urge you to pass CB-24, 2025, with amendments that require or strongly encourage full building elect recreation. Thank you so much. Thank you. Applause All right, and next up we have Andrea Lane testifying on CB 30 2025. Hi, good evening. Andrea, you know I've been elevated. Feel free to unmute yourself and begin your testimony when you're ready. Good evening. Good evening, council members. My name is Andrea Lane. I'm a student in Howard Community College and I live in Ellicott City. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I'm here in support of CB 30 2025, but I want to emphasize the importance of strengthening this bill with key amendments that would make the Human Rights Commission more effective, more representative and more accountable to the community it serves. Right now the appointment process for commissioners is to heavily influence by political connections. Many commissioners are selected not for their expertise in human rights, but based on who they know. That kind of system does not build public trust, and it certainly doesn't reflect the diverse communities the commission is meant to serve. This bill begins to address that, but I believe it should go further. Commissioners should be required to have relevant experience in areas like civil rights, conflict resolution, or human rights law. These are ceremonial roles. They're responsibilities that require specific knowledge and a real commitment to justice. Additionally, training should be mandatory for all commissioners, not optional. If someone is appointed without a strong background in these areas, they should be expected to build that knowledge right away. It's essential to ensure they are equipped to make fair informed decision not issues that deeply affect people's lives. We've already seen the cost of a commission that isn't prepared or empowered to act. When community members raised serious concerns about conditions that the local detention center connected to the ICE contract, the commission failed to respond promptly. Furthermore, when students at Howard County Schools reported censorship, anti-Palestinian racism and violations of First Amendment rights, there was again no public response. That silence is harmful and it signals to the community that the commission may not be functioning independently or effectively. That's why, along with supporting CB 30, 20, 25, I urge the council to consider deeper forms. Make the appointment process independent and transparent. Limit political appointments. including student and youth perspectives that are often left out of decision making even though we are directly impacted. As a student and a resident of Howard County, I want to see a human rights commission that reflects the people, listens to concerns and responds with real action. CB30 2025 is a good foundation. Now let's make sure it has a strength to create lasting change. Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you. All right we think we've exhausted our student list. Okay will the administrator yes please read the legislation for the hearing. Council members unless unless there is an objection, Mrs. Herod will read Council Resolutions 24 or 25 and 26, 20, 25 together, those are the building property maintenance and plumbing codes. Hearing no objections, Mrs. Herod, please proceed beginning with the resolutions for appointments. The following legislation is introduced by the chairperson at the request of the County Executive and less otherwise noted. Council resolution 20 2025, the appointment of Margaret R. Gold to the Housing and Community Development Board. Do we have Margaret Gold with us? 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 to the committee. I'm going to go to the committee. I'm going to go to the committee. I'm going to go to the committee. Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Okay. My name is Margaret Gold. And I'm here to explain why I would like to serve the housing and community development board of Howard County. I have been a resident of Howard County since 1984. My husband and I raised our two children here and have always believed this was the place to be because of the quality education system, the excellent resources and values that generally correlated with our own. Prior to my retirement, I was the Education Director at Templizaya in Fulton, Maryland for 16 years. I also served as the President of the Ark of Howard and later the Ark of Maryland. These positions gave me an opportunity to learn about residential funding for people with disabilities at the state and national level. Part of why I have a desire to serve is because we have a son who is a cognitively disabled adult and lives in the Owen Brown community. David lives with a friend and has a rich life. He is very comfortable in his community where he walks to the Owen Brown Village Center and frequently strolls around the lake or sits on a bench near his home. David thrives in Columbia because of the availability of many resources and the fact that he is lived here for almost 45 years. This is why when I was asked to serve on the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund Advisory Committee, I jumped at the chance. This experience allowed me to learn about proposed projects that would make housing available to people in Howard County who have challenges and have found it hard to find homes that they could afford and could meet their needs. It is exciting to drive through the county and see the number of projects proceeding through construction that we talked about in the committee. It is my hope that if I serve on the housing and community development board, my long history in Howard County, as well as my professional and volunteer experiences, aid me in being a valuable asset to this wonderful county. Thank you very much, Ms. Gold. Council Resolution 65, 2025, appointment of Gabriel Moreno to the Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission. I could even Gabriel, you've now been elevated. Feel free to unmute yourself and we can get your testimony when you're ready. Thank you. Good evening, Chair Walsh and Council members. For those that may not know, I am Gabel Brenna, the current CEO of Lumaise Network. An immigration nonprofit rooted in Howard County with over 40-year history of empowering immigrants and refugees from all walks of life, including many from the AAPI communities. While I'm not Asian-American myself, I lead an an organization that stands alongside the AAPI community and families every day, ensuring they have access to legal services and pathways to thrive. Luminous respectfully requests an appointment to the commission because we work in partnership with our diverse community and I believe my perspective as an ally, advocate, and organizational leader constricts in the work of this commission. It would be an honor to serve and help amplify the needs, stories, and strengths the API communities in Howard County. Thank you for your consideration. Thank you, Mr. Moreno. Council Resolution 66, 2025, appointment of Dr. Brittany Francine Birch to the commission on aging. Dr. Birch? Can you hear me well? Yes, we can. Thank you. All right. Evening everyone. Thanks for having me. So I'm here today asking for my consideration for the commission on aging. My name is Brittany Birch. Most people call me Britt. My wife and I bought a house in Columbia about a year ago. We spend a lot of time enjoying the local trails with our dog nutmeg, and I'm excited to have laid down roots here in Howard County. My interest in working with and four older adults actually began with my first job as a teenager. So I was a waitress in a nursing home. And that job helped me realize two things. First, how much I value connecting with older adults, learning from older adults. And number two, that many older adults experience unmet needs, so both in terms of daily care and broader advocacy. This job ultimately influenced my decision to become a nurse. For years, I worked clinically as a med surgeon at a hospital, and then later as a visiting nurse for older adults with cancer. Today I work as an assistant professor at the University of Maryland in the School of Nursing where I teach and I conduct research. As a researcher I've often found it frustrating that evidence-based insights don't always make it to policy. I'm drawn to this opportunity to serve on the commission on aging because I want to help bridge that gap. So ensuring that research informs real meaningful outcomes for older adults in our community. Before moving here, I was involved in community initiatives in Delaware where I volunteered alongside then lieutenant governor Bethany Hallong, who's also a nurse. And since moving to Columbia, I volunteered locally through the village of Howard and the Baltimore County Department of Aging's home team program. I'm seeking appointments to the commission on aging because I deeply value community and mutual support. I don't come to this work as an older adult myself, but with a deep respect for the voices of those who are. I see my role as a listener, a learner, and a partner ready to lend my skills when they're needed. In particular, I bring expertise in aging research, critical policy analysis, data analysis and interpretation, and I believe these skills can help support the commission's work in making thoughtful, evidence-based recommendations. While I'm new to Howard County, I'm eager to learn from the people who have shaped this community. Thank you again for considering me for this role and for helping me become more involved in my new community. Thank you. Thank you Dr. Wirtch. Council Resolution 67 2025 appointment I should say. My name is Valerie Etzien. I live here in Ellicott City, relatively new to Ellicott City, been living here in Howard County for the past three years, but in Maryland for the past 20. I, in this time, the living in Ellicott City, I can tell you that I absolutely love this community. Becoming an active part of this county has been my goal since moving here. So it is with great excitement that I can present my testimony tonight. Community service is a major aspect of my life, from volunteering at my son's school when he was younger, conducting community service events, participating in mission trip projects, and serving on various boards at my church and nonprofit organizations. Community service is simply what I love and enjoy doing. Professionally, I am a nursing home administrator. I have worked with the senior population for over 20 years. In my role as an administrator, I have worked with patients and families to help them feel welcomed, safe, and cared for in their transition. Nursing home life is difficult, both for the residents who called the home, their home, the family members, and of course, the staff. I too experience the difficulty of the transition after watching my own aunt enter a nursing home and eventually pass away after six, eight months of living there. It's not easy. I have also worked with seniors at national nonprofit organizations and hospital systems. with the senior community is both a passion of mine and also a priority. I am currently pursuing my doctorate in health administration to gain further insight and to better support our aging community. There's a lot of needs within that particular population. Statistics predict that by 2030, 20% of Howard County's population will be seniors. Today, 16% of this population are considered older adults, meaning 50 and older. I too belong to this wonderful group. The older adult population represent a very diverse, diverse cultural group, 30 seconds, with very specific and very unique needs for the group. I am honored to contribute to our county and I thank you for your consideration tonight. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Etienne. How lucky we are to have such new neighbors both willing to serve on the Commission for Aging. Thank you. Council Resolution 68, 2025, appointment of Madison Borson as choir to the advisory board on consumer protection. Hello. Good evening. My name is Madison. I go by Maddie Borson. And I want to thank you all for having me here tonight to allow to testify tonight to support my appointment to advisory board on consumer protection. I grew up just down 70 in Frederick County and then attended college, graduate school, and law school out of state. And throughout college and law school, I was active in student government and elected positions, and even in law school, I was the student bar association president. After law school, I moved back to Frederick to clerk for a judge in the Frederick County Circuit Court. After my clerkship, I began practicing as a consumer protection attorney. I regularly litigate credit reporting, debt collection, and landlord tenant I'm an active member of NACA, which is the National Association of Consumer Advocates, and I'm currently on their Emerging Leaders Council. So I am regularly in conversation with consumer advocates nationwide about nationwide issues and consumer advocacy. Just in October of last year, I moved to Howard County and my family and I are loving it. We could not be happier in Howard County. And since moving to Howard County I have been active in the Women's Bar Association. Back in March I attended their Girls Outreach program as an attorney mentor to high school students in Howard County. And then I also judged at National History Day, which if you haven't had the opportunity, it's a wonderful, wonderful time. And as a consumer protection attorney, the protections offered to Howard County residents were impressive. It's one of the many draws that drew us here. My parents have been practicing consumer protection law for the last 35 years, and that was just an added bonus to get them to join us in Howard County To now have the opportunity to help provide advice as a member of the advisory board on consumer protection Which by the way is a mouthful and that will be my first request to change to shorten it Is an honor. I hope to contribute by balancing between the businesses that thrive here and the consumers who love to live here. Thank you. Thank you. Council Resolution 69, 2025, appointment of Matthew and McWay to the Advisory Board on Consumer Protection. Good evening, Council members. Thank you for supporting me to be on the advisory board of consumer protection. My name is Matthew and Nekwe. I'm a proud resident of Howard County. I've been residing in the county for 12 years. I'm married to Dr. Bless and the Neckway. And we have two amazing children, Zina Chidi, who is 11 years old, and Chijioca and Neckway, who is seven years old. But of my children, I attend Waterloo Elementary School. My wife, who is right here with me, is on the school PTA board and also serving as our school's delegate to the PTA Council of Howard County for almost six years. I believe in contributing to our community because these are the values my parents instilled in me and my six sisters. This advisory board position resonates with me as I believe that it takes a village to govern, implement and plan to to stay away and current in new innovative ideas. Further, my professional background is in financial management with a concentration in accounting. I earned my bachelor's degree in accounting from Old Dominion University, Go Monax, and two master's degree, an MBA and a master's in accounting at University of Maryland, University College, now known as University of Maryland, Global Campus. Additionally, I'm a certified management accountant. I credit it by the Institute of Management Accountant. This has been helpful to grow my career and expand my network of professional accountants globally. Through my engagement with the association, I was one of the members selected by the chairman of the IMA Americans Accounting and Finance Conference to be a part of the IMA 2025 American Accounting and Finance Conference Program planning committee. I volunteered in various capacity. One of my major highlights was my service in East Timor. In 2003, I was opportune to work with the Catholic Relief Services and USAID on an assignment in East Timor, a small island outside of Bali. I was recruited by CRS based on my professional background. They believe I would be a great candidate to assist them in the Obama to Obama Global Initiative. I volunteer to provide basic accounting training on principles of accounting, implement document retention processes, educate the host organization on the importance of implementing tight internal control systems and set up and install quickbooks. This was my first international volunteer trip. With this call values and passion to contribute to my Howard County community, I believe I am well suited to contribute my financial knowledge, professional experience, leadership, and critical decision-making abilities to support Howard County's mission, goals goals and financial operational objectives on the advisory board on consumer protection. Thank you all. Thank you, Mr. Nickwey. Thank you. Council Resolution 70, 2025 appointment of Ashlyn M. Hood to the advisory board on consumer protection. We do not have our listed as signed up, correct? Council Resolution 71, 2025 appointment of Dr. Dana E. Edwards, DOL to the commission for women. I get evening Dr. Edwards. You've now been elevated. Feel free to unmute yourself and begin your testimony when you're ready. Good evening Council President and members of the council. My name is Dr. Dana Edwards and I want to thank you for the opportunity for being here tonight and being considered for the membership on Howard County's Commission of Women. At the end of May, we'll mark my family's sixth year in Howard County and we live in Columbia and we have loved every single minute of the time that we have been here. My son is in his final quarter of kindergarten and he has done extremely well and I do want to thank everything that has been provided to be able to support that. I submitted my application to be considered for the commission or a women because I love Howard County, my family love Howard County, and we want to be active in contributing members of the community. And really, I really want to be a part of the growth and the stability of this county from years to come. I'm a firm believer in access for underrepresented populations and being able to provide opportunity. And overall, thinking about women and the role that they play, their needs and their celebrations play their needs and their celebrations and really looking at systematic ways throughout the county to be able to look at those contributions, elevate those contributions and continue to be a champion, but also to be able to recommend areas for stability and needs for the future. this evening I'm not with you because I was sharing at a research symposium at Hood College around my research focused on black women in education. I do have a deep-seated love in terms of the needs of women and making sure that they have organizational supports to be able to support them, especially within the work culture. And my research focus on ensuring that black women feel seen, safe, valued, and heard, especially in the educational realm. As an education administrator, I've spent time creating equitable opportunities for children and staff and giving parents ease to know that their children are going to places that take pride in who the children are and providing them a sound learning environment. I am also a 28 year member of Alpha Cat Power Sorority Incorporated and I've served in several leadership capacities there. It would be really an honor for me to be able to support and elevate and continue to innovate with everyone who's on the commission. I'm passionate and I'm ready to work with the team as well as to learn and do what's best for the women of Howard County. Thank you for the consideration and the opportunity to speak with you this evening. Thank you Dr. Edwards. Council Resolution 72 2025. Appointment of she wang to the design advisory panel. Okay, hear me okay? Yes. All right good evening council and also everyone in attendance. My name is Z. I'm a registered landscape architect and a senior project manager with more than a decade of experiencing planning landscape architecture and also public realm design. Over the years I've worked on resource community developments, parks,scapes, and civic space across the states and also abroad. Always with the focus on creating inclusive, functional, and inspiring places. Since moving to Howard County in 2017, this community has become home for me and also my family. I have a five-year-old daughter and become a parent has given me my work a deeper meaning. It's made me to think more intentionally about the environment we are creating, not just for today, but also for the next generation. I want her to grow up in a place where design supports well-being, safety, connection, and opportunity. That's what inspired me to get more involved at the local level. I recently served as a panelist for URI DC's Technical Assistance Panel for the Marble Rope High Corridor. A near-refacing economic experience challenges, but feel with potential. That experience was a powerful reminder of how design planning and also civic engagement can come together to spark positive changes. I'm applying to serve the Howard Counties design Advisive Panel because I want to bring the same energy and also perspective to my own community with my professional background and also my personal commitment to Howard County's future. I hope to contribute meaningfully to the conversations and also decisions that will shape our built environment for years to come. Thank you for your time and the consideration. It will be my honor to serve. Thank you. Council Resolution 73, 2025. Appointment of Brian Lee Thompson to the Howard County Agricultural Preservation Board. Good evening members of the Howard County Council. My name is Brian Thompson. I reside on Tridolfio Road in Oliquid City. I'm here to state why I believe I'd be a good selection to be on the Aglan Preservation Board. I've been a resident in Howard County for over 15 years. I've worked in Howard County for over 20. There's 15 or 20 years. I've had the opportunity to to live and work on a farm that produces hay, board torches, raises beef cattle, as well as start and grow a landscape business that also performs various farm services. Since living on the farm I now have a wife and we are raising two children. During my time in this county, I've come to know the importance of continuing to preserve any current farm land for our future. The reason I feel I would be a good fit to serve on the Egg Preservation Board is that while running my landscaping and farm service business, I have had the opportunity to work with many local farmers and residents within the community. That being said, I can see the struggles and limitations of having your land and agglant preservation as well as the great benefits to it. I feel I could be a valuable member and offer a younger person's perspective to current issues or ways to improve current practices. I would be honored to be able to make fair decisions for our farmers and neighbors within the community. Thank you for your time and considering me as a member of the Ag Preservation Board. Thank you. Thanks. The reappointments, Council Resolution 74, 2025, Reappointment of Barbara Allen to the local behavioral health advisory board, Council Resolution 75, 2025, Reappointment of Barbara Ellen to the local behavioral health advisory board, council resolution 75, 2025, reappointment of Aisha Holmes to the local behavioral health advisory board, council resolution 76, 2025, reappointment of David B. Vest to the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission, council resolution 77, 2025, reappointment of Chuck Chandler to the Human Traff Prevention Coordination Council. Councilor resolution 78, 2025, reappointment of Sarah Cochran to the Human Traffic and Prevention Councilor resolution 79, 2025, reappointment of the NETA, NADAM, to the Human Traffic Prevention Coordination Council. Resolution 80, 2025, endorsing and authorizing application for the Maryland Transit Administration. Council chair Walsh and other members of the council. My name is Clarence Dickerson, also known as Trade Dickerson. I'm an administrator for the Office of Transportation. Sorry, business changes. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to discuss, excuse me to share our FY 26 and your transportation plan. Each physical year, the Office of Transportation prepares the annual transportation plan to be submitted to MTA. As part of this application, we make a request for grant funding for both our operating and capital funds. This allows us to use federal and state funds to subsidize how accountants portion of the expenses for RTA, which is basically our bus and paratransit services. These forms certify that the county is following all state and federal rules regarding the expenditures for grant funds. And our requirement as part of our FY26 grant application for to the MTA. I thank you and let's do it. Any questions for Mr. Pearson? Is your colleague also testifying Carianne or Carianne Anderson? She is on line virtually to answer supporting any questions that may come up. All right, it seems like we do not have any. Thank you. Council Bill 22, 2025 adopting the Howard County flag First up for the administration we have Brian Shepter He wasn't kidding about the seat being low here, okay? And trace told Okay, let me see if I can try that. Okay. That's a little better. Good evening. My name is Brian Shepter. I serve as Deputy Chief of Staff to County Executive Calvin Ball. The Howard County flag was adopted more than 50 years ago in 1968. The same year that Howard County became a charter county with an elected executive and county council and about a year after Columbia was founded. The county flag is one of the few official symbols of our county and our community. It should reflect our county's vibrancy and diversity. In January of 2024 County Executive Ball appointed a 19-member commission to develop a public process and recommend three designs for a new flag. The commission included a representative of each council district and was chaired by Executive Director of the Howard County Arts Council, Colleen West. I want to thank Colleen for her leadership on this important public process. For 13 months, 13 public meetings, a public hearing, a 90-day open call for designs in a 60-day public vote. This citizen commission recommended three flag designs to the county executive. The commission received 209 flag designs from 102 individuals. After an eligibility review the body determined 184 designs from 89 individuals to be eligible based on its rules and procedures. The commission reviewed over 100 and excuse me all 184 eligible designs and after a public hearing and two work sessions approved 10 designs for a public vote. Over two months the commission received 1248 individual ballots and the commission used these vote results to recommend the top three vote getters to the executive. The executive reviewed the commission's final report and recommended designs and selected design number 1-15 for its beauty and symbolism on March 18th of this year. The designer of this vibrant flag is Essen Paradiso. She is here tonight to speak to her flag design. Before I conclude I'd like to correct my written testimony which should have indicated that the administration is seeking $20,000 in FY 26 funding to procure and replace the county flags. Subject to the Council's approval of this legislation. Thank you to the Howard County Flag Commission, the designers, and the public for being a part of this once in a generation process. I respectfully request the Council's approval of this important bill and hope with your support that this incredible flag Will inspire Howard County residents for another 50 plus years. Thank you very much Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening. And thank you to the council for the opportunity to speak in support of adopting the new Howard County flag. Again, my name is Jonathan Alexander. I'm a lifetime resident in Howard County going on 36 years and I currently serve at my local church as a deacon. And again, I'm thankful to have been a part of this process to choose new Howard County flag. Since from the beginning of the process to the end, the commission was incredibly inclusive, thoughtful, and thorough in its work, from choosing the marketing materials so that the county would feel how inclusive it was. We wanted to be mindful of gender and race to make everyone feel included. In addition, we work to get the support and rather the consultation of the North American Vexology Association, that's a mouthful, who came to give us recommendations on how to choose a flag and on further follow up. Let's see, even in the commission's work to build criteria for flag submissions with residents or, excuse me, with people who live, work and play in the county, we wanted a flag to feel representative of the county by the county. In addition I'm very appreciative of the loudly discussions that we've had. For the flag commission we gave thoughtful consideration to the entirety of the county. A lot of times we hear about Elixiria and Columbia. However it's also western Howard County and southern Howard County as well. We were mindful of that representation. In addition, the commission was incredibly thoughtful in its work with categorizing the flags and weeding the flags down from the over 200 submissions that we received to a group of about 10. And then in the final voting, the commission was again very thoughtful in the cumulative voting method that we chose because we wanted the public to speak rather than the commission to over speak the public on the work being done. Let's see. Yep. And then again, I just want to point out that, um, we received, um, over six times the amount of votes, uh, per flag submissions that we got in, we got in about, uh, over 200 submissions for flags. And then there were over, uh, 1200 votes in. I thought that was good. And last but not least, the Bexology Association was mindful to stress the importance of flag symbolism. And the symbolism of the flag chose and I believe represent Tower County history and its future. Thank you. Oh, sir Alexander, we have a question for you. Oh, yeah. What is a good evening? Yeah. What is the name of the organization that you've got? Yes, the North American, Vexology Association, and basically the organization is devoted to the historic... Lexology. Is that what? Vex V. Yes. Okay. Oh, OK. Vex logical, I'm sorry. Vex logical, yep. I just never heard that term before. Go ahead and you were, I interrupt you, I'm sorry. Yeah, I'm sorry. That was the name of the organization and they came and gave you advice on symbolism. They came and gave us advice on the methods to or rather what to be mindful of when choosing a flag. There were five key standards given to us. I don't have those on front of me, but if we have five major considerations to be mindful of, and then he also gave a third presentation of good flags and bad flags to our entire commission. And Maryland's flag was chosen as a popular flag. He noted, yep. Yes. Yes. OK, that's good to know. All right. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other questions? Good. Thank you. Thank you. Next up we have Barb Glen. Good evening, Chair Walsh and members of the Howard County Council. My name is Dr. Barb Glenn and along with the other Scott Glenn we've lived in Highland since 1982. I was a member of the Howard County Flag Commission representing Howard County Farm Bureau and District 5. Notwithstanding this my remarks today reflect my own. I'm a 4-H small farm mom, vice president of Howard County Farm Bureau, a longtime member of Maryland Farm Bureau, and retired from decades of work in agricultural science, policy, and leadership. I believe in the unity, patriotism, and authenticity that a flag provides to a community. I support the flag design number 115 selected by County Executive Doctor Ball for two reasons. Number one, this flag represents the hopes and aspirations of the people of Howard County. So why is that? The input and the passion of the members of our community were the guide to bringing 184 amazing submissions down to the final three submitted to Dr. Ball. The Appointed Commission represented our community and executed a rigorous process under the leadership of Chairperson Colleen West. From my experience as a farmer, a scientist, and a former CEO, the process was grounded in research toward expert standards, as we mentioned earlier, for evaluation, a strong rubric and an unquestionable democratic process. Secondly, the flag design is a strong reflection of our agrarian history, while depicting today's Howard counties of farms and fields. The dynamic symbols and colors represent the future of farming. They represent sustainable agriculture, and importantly, they represent our thriving food system. The flag design emboldens the official county seal, which is hanging behind you, by providing a modern collection of our farmers, our diverse agricultural economy, and indeed our new office of agriculture. Farming is a lifelong dedication to our families, land and livestock, and the hope to provide sustenance to all. Farming is indeed a profession of hope. This design displays hope and promise by integrating agriculture with the entire county, including our culture, our businesses, and our other economic drivers, and our natural environment. So in conclusion, I urge the county council to adopt flag 115 because it represents Howard County's hope, optimism, strengths, and unity for a future. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Glen. Yeah. Ellen Flynn-Jiles is next. I, on the other hand, should have to lower the chair. I'm Ellen Flynn-Giles. I reside in Ellicott City. It was a privilege to serve as a member of the Flag Commission, along with representatives of a variety of organizations, experiences, and perspectives to develop a process for soliciting strong community participation in the design consideration and selection of a new county flag that was consistent with basic, vexological design principles. Our current flag, which finished first in a similar, but much smaller contest in 1968, was chosen from 40 public submissions by the county's three commissioners, the superintendent of schools, the two district judges, and the representations from the Maryland General Assembly. And it marked the time of our conversion from a commission to a charter county. Now, nearly 60 years later, as our population has increased tenfold in both number and diversity and our economy has expanded beyond our agricultural base into strong commercial and industrial sectors. A new broad-based community source flag was sought. This time over 200 designs were submitted and more than 1500 community members participated in asking questions, submitting comments, testifying at public meetings and public hearings, and the online ranking of their favorites. Symbolism, historical references and images are important elements of flag design if they are to resonate with and inspire people. In the design chosen from the top three identified by community opinion, artist designer, Asen and Paradiso chose to showcase Howard County's curves, which she saw as reflective of the county's farmland rivers and rural byways along with the iconic arches of the Thomas Viaduct and Maryweather Park's Crystalist Amphitheatre. I believe that the public responded to her stated intent that the arching white and gold mines overfield of green and blue reflect the diversity and inclusion of Howard County's natural and diverse human resources and a historically proud yet future oriented community. The golden circle rising over the landscape was to symbolize the optimism of hope in the blues of Indus skies and the abundance of natural resources waterways. And the green represents the preservation of our critically important environment. In not of respect to both the county's significant agricultural roots and the promise inherent in growing a culturally appreciative community. My thanks go out to Chairperson Colleen West, all my fellow commissioners and the stellar support from Brian Shepter and the county staff. And I urge you to support this design. Thank you. Next up is Colleen West. Good evening, Chairman Walsh and members of the Kennedy Council. I am Colleen West, Executive Director of the Howard County Arts Council located here in Ellicott City. It has been an honor serving as Chair of the Flag Commission and working with an exceptional and thoughtful group of community leaders on this initiative and represented just by a few people here this evening. You can see how stellar they were. Our charge was to design and implement a process to solicit and collect flag designs from the public, encourage public input and engagement, recommend three options for a new flag design to the County Executive Calvin Ball, and submit a final report. The commission took its work very seriously. We considered other flag design competitions, consulted flag ex-design experts, developed a work plan and guidelines for an inclusive process and incorporated public participation in every aspect of our work. Commissioners were also asked to promote the initiative through their own social media and other outputs. A flag commission website was created, a webpage was created to keep the public engaged and to conduct our work in a transparent manner. Our meetings were open to the public and made recorded and made available on the website for public viewing. We employed a collaborative consensus building approach to determine the final 10 designs that we presented to the public for comment and ranking. And the commission's final report, which is posted on the website, provides a detailed account of our work, images of the final 10 flag design, along with their descriptions of their symbols and elements and the public's voting results. I would like to take this opportunity to give a shout out to my colleagues on the commission and thank them for our lively discussions for being considerate and open-minded and for showing up and doing the work. I can't fully express how much I have appreciated their support and guidance throughout this process. On behalf of the commission, I would also like to recognize Deputy Chief of Staff, Brian Shepter, administrative aide Monica Perez. They kept us on track and organized throughout the process. And the county's marketing and IT teams for getting the word out, developing the online submission and voting platform and making our hybrid meetings run smoothly. We couldn't have done our work as efficiently and effectively without them. The commission also greatly acknowledges the people of Howard County who submitted flag designs and who participated in the process by voting and sharing their comments. The final three designs presented to County Executive Ball were the public's top three choices. In closing, I respectfully ask the County Council to support CB-22, 2025 and move forward with the adoption of Flag Entry 115 designed by Elecate City resident, Essin Peradiseal, as the new Howard County flag. Thank you for this opportunity to speak this evening and for all that you do for the citizens of Howard County. Thanks, Ms. West. Next up, we have Aison Puradisso. Ms. Puradisso, you are listed as undeclared. And I have a feeling that may not be right. Good evening, Council members. Thank you for inviting me to discuss my flag design, which was really beautifully explained by someone else earlier. So thank you. I also want to thank Dr. Ball, the Howard County Arts Council, the Howard County Flag Commission and the people of Howard County who joined this year long selection process. This is a huge honor. This flag represents everything Howard County means to me and my family. We moved here during the by Centennial year. Next year will be our family's 50th anniversary living in Howard County first in Columbia and later in Ellicott City. It was the cultural diversity, the excellent school system and the proximity to the two metropolitan centers of Baltimore and DC that attracted us at first. There was also the natural beauty of the farmlands and woodlands that we drove through on weekends. Over the years, my mother came to live with us and our four generations have lived, worked and shared a rewarding community and civic life. Our daughter and grandson were raised here and went to school at Athelton and Wildlife High Schools and ACC before attending University of Maryland and UMBC. I was art director at Putux and Publishing Company for 20 years and business owner of Columbia Creative Services in the following 30 years, designing identity packages, advertising and marketing materials for Howard County businesses and nonprofits. We were welcomed into a close community that continues to grow and flourish. It was my intention that the flag represent the landscape and the natural human vitality of Howard County. hours is a bold and progressive community with a solid foundation with a solid foundation in history and the land. The arch represents both the historical past of Howard County, Thomas Viaduct and its dynamic future, the chrysalis, a new hub of culture, the arts, education and commercial enterprise. The stripes represent Howard County's historical and contemporary abundance of agricultural and natural resources, farms, fields, fairways. The circle represents the boundless energy of the sun, empowering a diverse community with a view toward the horizon, a bright and optimistic future. I think I only have 25 seconds left so I just want to say winning this flag competition is a recognition I will always treasure. Thank you. Thank you. So we have Phyllis Greenbaum. Good evening. My name is Silas Greenbaum and I've lived in Columbia for 52 years. And thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on behalf of my friend Asen Paradee Soh who designed our new Howard County flag. Asen Paradee Soh and I started working together at the Columbia Fliar in 1976 Just a few months apart, we immediately became close, very close, literally close. We shared a closet together while we were waiting for the new Columbia Flier building to be completed. Our friendship grew over the years, even after we moved to separate offices, and way beyond the 20 years we spent at the Column at Patuxham Publishing. A Senate and I were co-managers of the Design and Production Department. She supervised the design services, photography, page design, and advertising design. For the two decades that Ascend was art director at Patuxen Publishing, our community newspapers consistently won awards for their design excellence in numerous media competitions. Among them, the Maryland Delaware DC Press Association and the National Society of Newspaper Designers. Ascend was recognized nationally as a groundbreaking newspaper designer whose work was distinguished for its beauty and clarity of purpose. These are the same qualities that distinguished Ascend's design for Howard County's new flag. It is representational without being cliché. It is colorful without being garish, and it captures the history and diversity of our community. It's physical attributes and its values, and it will fly proudly for Howard County for many years to come. Thank you. Thank you, the resolution to approve the new flag design for Howard County. I'm here tonight to personally testify in favor of CB22, the resolution to approve the new flag design for Howard County. I'm not a professional designer, but I'm speaking to you as a person who employs designers and is responsible for visual communications for an organization that depends upon people's perception of its stature, longevity, and integrity. Since 2005, the Community Foundation of Howard County has been using the same logo to represent its value of collaboration, cooperation, and synergy with nonprofits, businesses, and government. The Foundation's logo is a symbol of interlocking hand-like shapes weaving through a circle. It's simple, clean, and memorable. As San Paradezo designed that logo as part of a complete rebranding of visual identity for what was then the Columbia Foundation. And the logo has endured through the decades, including changes in executive leadership and a change in the organization's name. Yes, even a rebranding and name change from Columbia Foundation to Community Foundation of Howard County, the foundation kept the timeless design of SNPARAD-DISO's logo. SNS design of Howard County's new flag is another example of her work that will withstand the test of time. Congratulations on this selection. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Anderson, for displaying Ms. Perdyshire's design. Absolutely. Next up we have Pamela Simmonsin. Good evening. My name is Pamela Simonson. I live in Columbia, Maryland, and I have been a resident of Howard County for over 30 years. So I'm very delighted to be here to congratulate S.N. Paradezo for her award. I am the former managing director of the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society, lovingly known as Hogo Palizzo. And I am here to testify in honor of CB22, the adoption of a new flag for Howard County. I am, as I said earlier, I am here primarily to congratulate the county upon the selection of this outstanding design by a very talented graphic arts professional. For the past quarter century, SN Paradizo has worked with our small nonprofit, producing handsome annual reports, promotional postcards, and other materials. SN has captured and amplified the heart of our literary organization through the distinctive documents and publications that she has created for us. The new flag designed as much the same for Howard County. It brands us as a positive, forward-thinking community that respects its past and appreciates its assets, those of its natural surroundings, and of the built environment with its distinctive architectural features. The new flag is a symbol of our community and speaks volumes. Thank you very much for this opportunity. Thank you, Ms. Simonson. All right, and last we have Mr. Joel Horwitz. Do we skip ever Mr. Phil Dodge? I understand he's submitting written tax money. Hi, good evening, Joel. You've now been elevated. Feel free to unmute yourself and begin your testimony when you're ready. Good evening, Council Members. You hear me? Yes, we can. Joel Hurwitz from Columbia. Let's recall how we got into this flag to start with. It was Council Young Bill to designate September 19th as flag As calling west and other members of board tell you I testified multiple times that Whatever date they chose we should pick an effective date that meaning Not the random date of 61 days that if you pass this is going to be this second week into why. I beg the cap the the administration I asked that executive could amend his executive order I asked the commission to suggest in their and their report that they had effective date be applied. They all declined to take that opportunity. So I'll beg you to take, make an effective date for this flag. A year from now, July 4th is 175th anniversary of the county, growing signing with the two and the University of the country. That's one idea. We could do September 19th. But please pick someday so we can celebrate it and fill what Council Youngman's hope as well as to start with. So just because when you passed flag in 1968, the news paper article, no reason you have to reference the banner article which behind a paywall and why the administration couldn't put the exhibit with the actual flag in the bill. So please do that. Also, I like to have symbolism from the design as we heard earlier. That should also be put so that people can find it in the future. And finally, I'll add that though my artistic skills was unable to come up with a flag design, I did connect the symbolism between the Thomas Viaduct and the Chrysalis that's it should be in there for future people to read. Please. All right. Thank you, Mr. Herwoods. Go ahead, Deb. Actually, I wanted to ask Mr. Youngman. I can't recall what September 19th was symbolizing other than my daughter's birthday. So I'm perfectly happy to have that be our effective day. But what was it that I don't remember? You don't remember either was your bill, Mr. Youngman? No, but I was probably the day that the old flag was adopted. Yeah, I mean, people who are familiar with flags now here in Erad County is that Ellen says yes. It was the day that the old flag was adopted. OK. And my daughter's perfect. All right, great. And but now, I mean, his point's not lost. That might not make sense anymore as far as the old flag, but if that was also the day that we became a charter county, maybe that day still will like that. And July 4th will be our 175th anniversary? How's that anniversary of life? What? No, dear. I think we became a county in 1851, but I don't know what day. Well, I sat on the Cessque Centennial Commission, and Cessque Centennial was 150 years. And I was in my early 40s. So yeah, I think we are, I can see there are people who have to do this same kind of, yes, math in order to get to where we're going on a particular day or year. But yeah, I think it's 175. Now, we didn't make it on the county until 1851. July 4th. July 4th? She's on July 4th, 1851. So it could be, so we could do July 4th, or we could do July 4th, or we could do July 4th, or July 5th, or July 5th, or July 5th, or July 5th, or July 5th, or July 5th, or July 4th, or July 5th, or July 5th, or July 5th, or July 5th, or July 5th, or July 5th, 1851. Okay. I've been here. Who would have heard that? So it could be, so we could do July 4th, or we could do September 19th. Sounds like those would be- You should have a commission to do it. No. No, we should not. I think the five of us could make that decision. I don't know that July 4th makes a lot of sense. I do have a Howard Kent County. I do think that it makes sense to have a date that we would and getting back to your original my birthday is March 21st. Okay. We could do the part which had very good recommendations that we will all take into account. All right. Ms. Herred would you read our next bill for us? Council Bill 2025 adopt in the Howard County Fire Prevention Code. All right I have three names of my list Robert Ferguson Vincent Baker and Jonathan Shimm. Yeah good evening Madam Chair members the council I'll be the sole speaker on behalf of the Department of Fire and Rescue Services. Chief Baker is available to help with any questions. Captain Shem unfortunately, had a family situation as unable to be here this evening. Good evening, my name is Robert Ferguson. I'm Betai and Chief with the Department of Fire and Rescue Services, Office of the Fire Marshal. And I'm here to speak on behalf of Council Bill 23- 2025. Every three years, the National Fire Protection Association updates as standards, which are a comprehensive regulatory guideline developed through industry research and consensus. These standards cover a wide range of areas including building construction, safety features, inspections, maintenance, hazardous materials, and fire department access. The primary objective of these guidelines is to provide fire and life safety protection for the public, property and first responders. Maryland is one of the many states that adopt NFPA1 as its fire code with local amendments made in most jurisdictions to address specific local needs. In Howard County, these local amendments are detailed in title 17 section 104, the Howard County Code, also known as the Howard County Fire Prevention Code. This essential legislation underpin numerous initiatives managed by the Office of the Fire Marshal, contributing to a safer community for all who live, work, or visit Howard County. Beginning in early 2024, members of the Office of the Fire Marshal engage with stakeholders throughout the state to participate in the 2024 Code Amendment cycle. Their contributions foster consensus and the Maryland State Fire Prevention Commission is currently adopting a revised state fire code marking the first update at the state level since 2018. The Department of Inspections, Licenses, and Permits also collaborated in the state-wide process, as well as provided input and support for the local amendments included in this 2024 edition. After engaging in the state consensus process, the Department of Fire and Rescue Services dedicated extensive hours hours reviewing every line of the fire code, ensuring that it meets the highest standards to public safety. Although no issues arose in this latest addition of NFPA1, there are fewer than those addressed in 2021, given the significant refinements that were already made in previous editions. This allowed fire and rescue to ensure that each section aligns with our overarching public safety mission. Consequently, while over 300 lines of locally emitted code were revised, most of these amendments focus on enhancing clarity or updating numerical code references to align with the changes made in 2024 edition of NFPA 1. So we'll propose local amendments and to bolster the mission of protecting life and property in Howard County. First is a collaboration with the private sector. We proposed new language to acknowledge that fire and rescue fire investigators may collaborate with private sector counterparts during fire and explosive investigations. Additionally, in response to the rising use of e-bikes and e-scuters,, which pose potential fire risks due to lithium ion battery malfunctions, this new fire code will require new multi-family dwellings to provide fire protected charging areas for these devices to isolate them from living spaces. Please note that this language is unintended to prohibit people from charging their devices in their apartments, but rather to give them an option to do so safely and securely. Current fire code necessitates the submission of certificates of annual fire protection system inspections and maintenance. However, there is no requirement for these companies to document off-cycle repairs, which complicates our enforcement for habitual, chronic or nuisance out of service systems. This new language will mandate that contractors will submit off-cycle repair documentation when requested by the Office of the Fire Marshal. Since 2018, the Office of the Fire Marshal has administered an inspection program for buildings on reconstruction, renovation, or demolition. Proposed local amendments will maintain these existing changes and also maintain consistency with the updated version of NFPA1. This is the end of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of the state of to require that any changes for fire apparatus roads or gates blocking fire apparatus roads be reviewed and approved by the fire department. Additionally, we're making changes to ensure that language for fire lanes is consistent with the information that provide to the general public. Finally, given the potential fire risk associated with lithium ion batteries and electric vehicles, which can be leap rope to pro-loguish efforts. Fire and rescue is proposing that parking garages with EV chargers may be equipped with early smoke detection systems. Aside from the fees collected from fire protection contractors to many repair certifications, these amendments will not oppose the fiscal impact on the county or and assess at eight additional positions. We appreciate your support for this final legislative initiative. I'll take any questions. Thank you, Chair Ferguson. Do we have any questions? We do not. Okay, thank you. Councillor Bill 24, 2025 adopting the Howard County Building Code, Councillor Bill 25, 2025 adopting the Howard County Property Maintenance Code for rental housing and Council Bill 26, 2025, adopting the plumbing and gas fitting code. Good evening. Good evening. My name is Bob Francis. I'm the Director of the Howard County Department of Inspection the health care and the health care and the health care and the health care and the health care and the health care and the health care and the health care and the health care and the health care and the health care and the health care and the health care and the health care and the health care and the health care and the health. Council Bill 25 is the International Property Maintenance Code. Excuse me, and Council Bill 26 is the International Plumbing Code and National Fuel Gas Code, also known as NFPA 54. My intent is and has always been to adopt the codes with as few local amendments as possible. This makes it easy for anyone from across the state country or world to know what to expect when building in Howard County. The ICC codes are developed via an ANSI-approved balanced and consensus process. We believe the process, we trust the process, and we are closely involved in the ICC code development and standards making processes. All of us are smarter than any of us. Any one of us. We think this code is the best, is in the best interest of all of Howard County. The codes represent the latest up-to-date technologies, methods, and materials used in the built environment. Specifically, the international swimming, swimming pool and spa code. We've never adopted it before, but it's now mandated by the state, so that's why that is there. The International Property Maintenance Code is used primarily for rental housing, but we've included some specific and narrow language to the scoping adoption text to be able to address existing structural concerns as a result of the Champlain Tower collapse in Surfside, Florida. Specific to the International Energy Conservation Code, this will increase the energy efficiency by 7.8% as compared to the 2021 code. It will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and despite what Montgomery County and District of Columbia have already passed, this bill will put Howard County at the forefront of energy efficiency in the state. Those two jurisdictions have passed the regulations or passed laws rather, but have not promulgated any regulations that will take effect, that will make us see anything for any buildings probably before 2027. Although not mandated by the International Energy Conservation Code, it does contain guidance for electric ready construction, which we already have some provisions in our code for. It has provisions for all electric construction and net zero construction for anyone who wants to build in accordance with those guidelines. We urge your thoughtful consideration and passage of these bills. Thank you, Mr. Francis. Are there any questions? Well, are we going to put this on a work session, I guess? Yes, I have. Mr. G's. There's lots of questions. Mr. Shepter's not here. Did he leave? Mr. Shepter? Yeah, he's not in the room still. He must have left. All right, I had a conversation with him before this meeting about the timing of this. You were on the call weren't you, Mr. Fischer? Yes. Because I thought when we last discussed this in a public forum, the indication was that this would come to us after budget. And I think it is a big deal to some of us, many of us. And we wanted to be able to spend time on not just that, but also the budget and we thought that was a conflict. And it kind of, at least for me, caught me off guard in this cycle. So, Mr. Shepter subsequent to that conversation that we had and hopefully you heard the same Mr. Francis agreed, I guess on behalf of the administration to table it. So, if that agreement is in place, I think there's some merit to holding off a work session until after budget season. But we already talked about that. I believe the administration's neutralness, but if the council wishes to table it, we don't have any objection to that. You can't cancel it. I'm sorry. Yeah, I have no idea. How do I not know that we canceled the work session? We, it is on the cap, the may work's legislative work session is on the calendar. But it is also scheduled at the same time as a budget work session. We historically don't have a legislative work session during the month of May. Oh yeah, no, I'm talking to June. I don't want to do anything but budget. Yeah, this day at 10 o'clock this morning, this part-time body. So yeah, you want to get me rolled up. Let's talk. No. June is what we were told the last time we got in a room about this very subject matter. And given the, as you admitted, Mr. Francis, the delays that we've already seen in getting to a discussion about electrification. I made the very displeased request that we hold off until June, which is when we were told that it would happen. So no, I'm not even talking about a work session in May. I'm talking about a work session in June and actually spending time on this and figuring out where to go. So give us more time to amend it. Yes, because that's my next question, Mr. Francis. And I didn't want to ask you. I wanted to ask Mr. Sheptern if there's another representative from the administration online who can talk to this. This issue has been floating around these five council members since what year three. I put in amendment two building codes ago to say. 21 code, the previous seven. All new buildings. We had this bill that caused us to study it. We studied it. The public support is here. We've received a broad range of constituents asking for us to have stronger electrification language. Why is that not in the draft? Why do we have to amend this bill to achieve what so many of our constituents want to see there, which is a more rigorous requirement for electrification and at least new residential construction, which is so small, I can't believe we even have to have a fight about it. But that's apparently where we are because it's not in this proposed code, right? That is correct. So why? Why is my question? Well, again, as I stated, we believe this is in the best interest of all of the county. Which county? Who? Howard County. But can you elaborate on that? Or can you be prepared to elaborate that when we meet a work session? Absolutely. This, I mean, what it ends up doing is voicing the work back on the council. And again, I'm willing to do it. And I just want a reasonable timeline in which to do it. And I'm really serious about getting it done this time for real. But I don't understand why I don't have more of a partnership with the administration, given the long, long runway we've had on this very issue. And again, me shaking my head at really how negligible, honestly, like the impact of this is versus the other 97% or whatever it is that wouldn't even be affected by making that requirement a new construction of residential only. But like, right, we already have like 10,000 exemptions in our head. It's a shame that we're there, but I do appreciate the administration's willingness to move it back in time so that we can again dedicate what we need to in order to hopefully reach some contestants among a majority of us to at least marginally improve it. Chair Walsh, may I ask a clarification question? It depends. Yes. It's specific to Council Bill 24, which is the building code or is that Council Bill 24, 25 and 25? I think it's just 24. It's all of them. Okay. I would love to have all of them on there because there's some things I'd like to follow with you about single staircase missing middle housing. Oh yeah, okay. But even this swimming pool one. But the swimming pool is full. You don't have a separate swimming pull one. The spa and the swimming pool is folded into one of the bigger categories. It's in Council Bill 24, yes. Okay. But maybe just for convenience and simplicity, we will just say hold off on all three. And can you Ms. Herod confirm that with Mr. Francis and some represented from the administration so that we're all agreeable on the timeline? which will be a June work session. Absolutely, and we would need to at the next legislative session extend the life as well as table. Yeah, okay. All right, thank you very much, Mr. Francis. Mr. Moch, we see you back there. Thanks for being here. Yes, and again, I would like to recognize for the record, Donald Moch. He's my right hand man and the chief for our plan review division who is you know Don and I are code geeks but Don does a lot of the heavy lifting when I need technical answers on things Don is my go-to guy so we know we're very good to recognize him. Okay thank you thank you mr. Francis, I don't know why my numbers are almost up. We're on number 29, right? You're correct. You're correct. So Betsy Singers are first person testifying. Good evening. I am very happy to be here tonight talking to you about CB-24. My name is Betsy Starran. I'm representing the Jewish Community Relations Council, the Outreach and Advocacy Committee of the Jewish Federation of Howard County. Tonight we're asking you to include an amendment to CB-24 to require or strongly incentivize building all electric buildings in Howard County. Our Jewish values tell us that we have the responsibility of Ticoon Alam or repair of the world, taking steps both small and large to lessen the amount of carbon emissions being pumped into the atmosphere is surely an effort to repair the world. We know that Howard County Council is aware of the real threat and imminent dangers of flooding Earth's atmosphere with carbon emissions. Climate change is already causing catastrophes around the world. We've had our own problems here in Howard County with it. Fires and floods and increased viciousness of tornadoes and hurricanes mean that no part of our country or the state of Maryland will escape these threats. We must continue our commitment to meet the goals set by the State of Maryland's Climate Solutions Act of 2022 and those found in the county's own climate action plan. Each required substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions for the public and private sectors to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. CB24 makes progress towards better energy efficiency, but it does not go far enough. The crisis we face demands that we stop using fossil fuels to the greatest possible degree. About 11% of greenhouse gas emissions in the county are produced by the direct combustion of fossil fuels in homes and other buildings mainly for heat to produce out water and for cooking. Getting rid of that direct combustion will not only be good for the planet but will be good for Howard County residents, health and also their wallets. This is why JCRC supports CB-24 with an amendment. Please find ways to amend this bill so that our new homes and buildings in Howard County are electric from the start. And finally, on a personal level, I have lived in an all electric home in Columbia and Howard County for the past 26 years. The air quality is cleaner, safer, and the electricity is quieter, less expensive, more comfortable, and more reliable than in any other home I've lived in, all of which were powered by oil and gas. So thank you so much for your consideration tonight. Thank you, Missing. Next up we have Ben Roush. Online, right? Okay. I could even Ben, you've now been elevated. Feel free to unmute yourself and begin your testimony when you're ready. All right. They tell me I've been elevated. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Perfect. Thank you. If I'm a mechanical engineer and a fire protection engineer, I work as a building consultant, designing new and major building retrofits. I am also the chair of the Maryland Green Building Council responsible for all state-funded major construction projects. I am to be clear, that here tough thing as a private citizen, not in my capacity as the chair. Heat pumps work now. I'm worried you're going to hear testimony that say heat pumps don't work. They're not efficient, that they are not cost effective. None of these are true things. Heat pumps work now in the vast majority of building types. There are already model codes that are built on top of the International Energy Conservation Code that you can adopt that are easy to put into the existing code structure that will allow you to electrify your code. There's already appendices that can be adopted that do this exact electrification for both residential and commercial codes. So it's an easy adoption to do. The buildings actually cost less to operate slightly. Running a heat pump is slightly less expensive than running a similar furnace for a whole winter of heating. Similarly, your heat pump water heaters are actually substantially cheaper to operate than your gas water heaters. So it's actually a cost savings now today. And if you look 20 years into the future, the Maryland Commission on Climate Change actually did that. And gas prices are expected to go up by a factor of 500 to 1,000% 5 to 10 10 times, while electricity prices double in that same 20-year period. So if it's cost-effective now, in 20 years, when gas prices are 5 to 10 times higher and an electric is only twice as high, you can imagine how many people will want to flee the gas system that they installed that's supposed to last 20 years. And only the only people who are going to have to keep them are the people who can't afford to replace them because they either rent or they bought a house that they can't then also afford another $15 or $20,000 to replace systems in. In our quality somebody already mentioned, it is substantial, substantial asthma risk for people with gastos in their homes. There's also So substantial fire risk that your fire department folks can speak to as well as I can as a fire protection engineer. So for all of those reasons I strongly encourage you adopt the most recent codes with all electric amendments. Thank you. Thank you. Either from the model code or you can go look at what the Green Building Council did. We also recently adopted an all-electric provision with only a few exceptions that electric doesn't work for things like commercial makeup for kitchen hoods, things like that. Anyways, thank you for your time and I look forward to an adoption with amendments. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Roush. Next up, we have Doug Siglin. Mr. Siglin, before you testify, notice missing or had a good sign that seemed to incorporate all of the different organizations testifying in support of amendments. So if you are one of those organizations as you want to testify and bring that up with you or not, but I'm sorry that we didn't have the benefit of that during JCRC's testimony. Thank you, good evening. The first thing I want to do is just acknowledge all these people that came out tonight. Stand up, will you? I think we had 42, 43 people who gave up their time to come out tonight just to be supportive of an electrification amendment to the code. So thanks everybody for coming out. Look, I know you've had a long day. I've prepared a statement. It's brilliant. It's, uh, I put in the record you can read it if you want to. I'm not going to read it. I just want to say this. I appreciate the fact that all of you are trying to do what the administration seems not willing to do. And that is to go beyond the base code. Now there's nothing wrong with the base code. The base code does make some of the energy gains. It's consistent across the country, all the things that Mr. Francis said. But for three years, this council has been talking about going beyond. And it's frankly a disappointment that the administration didn't come in with something more creative. One thing I want to tell you is that the process by which the model code was developed was highly political. And at the last minute, the board stripped out a whole bunch of green provisions, a whole bunch of energy provisions, a whole bunch of greenhouse gas provisions, that their own staff and the process of committees and all that kind of stuff put in the code was all stripped out at the last minute. So what you've been presented with by the administration is the stripped out code. And what I'm asking you for is to put the stuff back. Now, the report that you asked for and that they gave you said it's simple. If the council wants to do this, all you have to do is adopt amendment, I forget what they are right now, but CE and RE, I think it was, they've been renamed. That's one option you have. You could just adopt those. You could say, okay, we're gonna adopt the entire code, but it's amended that we're gonna adopt these resources too, and that would electrify. So you have that option. There's other options. you could say, okay, we're going to adopt the entire code, but it's amended that we're going to adopt these resources too. And that would electrify. So you have that option. There's other options too. There's incentive based options we've been talking about with RMI. There's a lot of different things you can do. But so I'm going to wrap up. I'm just going to tell you that Howard County is a special place. And it's a special place that lots of young families want to come to. When I had a young family, we wanted to come here because of the advantages of Howard County. If you do this, if you put into a place, a policy of requiring or strongly incentivizing electric buildings, that's going to make Howard County a more attractive place for young people. It's gonna make us more special than we are. And I think it's something that you should seriously consider doing. We're all happy to work with you on working out the details of what that looks like. But please, please go beyond the code that the administration has given you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I think next up we have Sherry Glenn. Am I doing that right? Okay. Okay. Then Larry Liebisman. For Hococum, climate action. Good evening. My name is Larry Liebisman. I have been a county resident for over 45 years and live in Mortars Edge Community in District 4. I've been practicing environmental law for over 45 years and I sit on the Howard County Environmental Sustainability Board but I'm testifying today on behalf of Hoco Climate Action. In my view, Council Bill 24 is not sufficient without amendments to ensure that the county will meet the 60% greenhouse gas reduction goals by 2030 and a net carbon neutrality by 2045. I want to focus specifically on the preemption concern. And preemption is a legal concept where Congress and acts a law that's very comprehensive and basically with the intent to preclude state and local laws that would be in conflict with federal standards. Here are the issues whether preemption would occur because of ECHPRA, which is the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. And there's been some litigation on various other codes such as Montgomery County, where the preemption argument has been made. Now, EPCA was enacted in response to the 1970s energy crisis with a focus on establishing nationwide conservation program for consumer appliances and requiring the Department of Energy to prescribe minimum energy efficiency standards for certain cover products, such as air conditioners, rangers, ovens, closed-rires, and furnaces. Manufacturers would then have to meet specific energy used to design standards for cover projects at the point of use when the product is actually in the hands of consumers. The preemption line which of the law says on the affected date of any energy conservation standard for any cover product knows their state regulation concerning energy efficiency, energy use of such product, shall be effective with respect to such project. So it focuses on the preemption for that product itself that comes out of the manufacturer to meet standards for the consumer. The act does reference building codes, but it was intended to ensure the local building codes do not require installation of a product with a different energy efficiency standard than established under federal law, unless certain exceptions are met. It was not intended, and this is really critical. It was not intended to preempt local building codes to meet public health and environmental goals such as greenhouse gas reduction. Now,'s been some litigation, I wouldn't just briefly cover those cases because I think they're very instructive. On March 18th in a decision by the New York Federal District Court and Association of Contracting Plummers versus City of New York, there the court affirmed the interpretation, the interpretation that no preemption occurred with respect to upholding the city's ordinance for newly constructed residential buildings that must meet certain carbon neutrality standards by capping fossil fuels, combustion of CO2 in those buildings. And so holding the court referenced the New York fuel limitation ordinance under the act and pointing specifically to the importance of that limitation as meeting the city's greenhouse gas reduction goals, critical clean energy goals with those buildings. In that case, the court did address another decision, a nine-circuit of appeals and, and where the Ninth Circuit unfortunately held that the Berkeley ordinance was preempted by federal law, and Berkeley had established guess piping preclusions for new buildings. In rejecting the ordinance though, the Court's reasoning, the New York Court agreed with a very strong dissent in that case by Judge Friedland of the Ninth Circuit as concurred by 11 judges in the Ninth Circuit. So I think when I looked at the law and analyzed it, my experience as an environmental lawyer, I think the argument that this is not preempted, the kind of additional amendment that we're asking for for green buildings would not be preempted by EPCRA. I think the legal arguments are very strong in that regard. So I went wrap up by saying it's critical that Howard County works aggressively to me, the climate goals of state law and county policy. I urge the council to adopt amendments for new residential commercial construction to meet these goals. I strongly, strongly believe that federal preemption law will not be a barrier. And thank you very much. Be happy to take any questions you might have. Oh, you have many questions. Dr. Jones? Yeah, it was just briefly on your, thank you for your testimony. Do you think on your last page, you crossed out, as concurred by eight judges in the ninth circuit, and there's something there I can't read it. It's 11. Yeah, it was my mistake. I apologize. I was going through it, and then I went back and counted the number of judges. I don't know if you familiar with the while, these courts work, but many of these courts of appeals have many judges, and usually panel of three judges will issue an opinion, but then a full court in and back can address the case. And in this case, they were, I guess I don't know how many judges, but 11 of those judges said, we disagree with the three judge panel. We think that it's not preempted. And so that I think was very persuasive to judge the judge in New York that went along with that reasoning of the dissenters. So that's it. Thank you. Sure. Well, thank you very much. Miss Dillon has a question for you too, Mr. Leibzmann. Oh. Sorry. Good evening. Try to get away too quickly. No, no, no, not yet. A couple of you have mentioned amendments and how much you all would like them. But nobody's actually mentioned sort of a general description of what an amendment like might look like. I know some of us sitting up here are familiar already with what an amendment might look like. But if you could just describe it in general terms, I think it might help us understand better what it is that our 42 members of the public are doing out here. I think Doug Sigland really hit some very important points. They are the supplemental amendments to the international standards that, I think we believe that they were adopted, would address, really provide electrification in the. And I mean, that's one option, one approach. Now, there are other approaches, I mean, you could possibly conserve fuel limitation so that there would be a cap like New York did, you know, to say how much combustion could not exceed. And that would essentially drive things away from natural gas and towards electrification. That is another potential option. And I know that we also have a Rocky Mountain Institute is doing an analysis on sort of, I guess the word is debiasing, which are create a level playing field, which might be a way to address this without perhaps an out and out amendment to say, you know, you must do this or that, but it would achieve the same result. Now the question is, the bottom line in my view is whatever amendment you adopt has to achieve that result. It can't be something that's not clear, that's not too ambiguous in terms of meeting these standards. So I think as you get into the work session, we can obviously work with you on it to explore how the various amendments could be put together to achieve these goals and perhaps give you the best defense if litigation would occur, because I know that is a concern. And so, and I know the Montgomery County case is ongoing right now as I understand the briefing will be done probably by the summer, so there may be a decision. That's now an electrification bar or requirement. So that, but what I'm saying is that there are options as long as you get to the final result, which is what we're trying to achieve here. Why it's really critical to meet the greenhouse gas reduction goals and provide public health. We've heard a lot today about the importance of public health and the impacts of natural gas and how detrimental it is as well as needing greenhouse gas reduction concerns. Thank you. Sure. Thank you. Oh, thank you. I have lost my place. I believe one 35. This is the first part. 35 Chris parts. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Herner. I could even Chris, you'd have been elevated. Feel free to begin your testimony when you're ready. Thank you. Thank you. And good evening, members of the council. I'm Chris parts and architect who lives in Towson and works in Baltimore, and I'm here representing AI Maryland, an organization over 2000 architects across the state of Maryland. I have nearly 40 years of work experience designing a variety of building types and one of note to you might be the relatively recent renovation of the hour County Conservancy. As architects, our professional responsibility is to focus on health, safety, and welfare of those who use the buildings we design. I'm here representing our members to request your support of CB2425 and adopting the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, but also to encourage you to amend this bill, to include IECC amendments, or other means that maximize energy efficiency and minimize the use of fossil fuels. I want to share our perspective on what we see and do in daily practice. In 2006, AIA initiated a program called the 2030 commitment, architect members working toward carbon neutral building solutions. We now have over 1400 firms aiming to build all projects to be carbon neutral by 2030, and targeting incremental improvements toward this goal. Collectively, we gather performance data from participating firms and measure our progress toward carbon neutral goal. Data compiled from 2023 recorded building performance of nearly 25,000 projects among our member firms. The number of all electric buildings across all building sectors tripled in just three years from 2020 to 2023 and that number continues to go up. My office here in Baltimore does work in multi-family housing that includes affordable market rate, mixed use projects, and senior living. We also work in primary education, higher education, medical office buildings, and hospitals. We have all electric project being built in commercial projects across all of these market sectors and a number of those include onside renewable energy. In our multi-family residential work, we've seen owners making the decision to use electric heat pumps in their projects for the past 10-plus years. Gas is almost only used for a minute uses such as fireplaces and grills, and only occasionally for emergency generators. What has changed in recent years has been, had mentioned earlier, is the systems for the common areas have almost entirely switched to electric, but the water heating has in many cases switched from electric water heaters to heat pump hot water heaters. In our commercial work, the incorporation of energy recovery and ventilation and advances in heat pump technology have moved commercial projects toward electrification. on technology uses new refrigerants, more energy-efficient compressors, and variable speed options that allow much greater efficiency and flexibility and greater ability to overcome cold temperatures. When owners are clearly making this choice to electrify in advance of code regulations, the economics of this makes sense for both construction and operation. We believe in the advancement of building codes and we encourage you to strive to make healthier environments and better performing buildings throughout the mending the codes to encourage electrification. We encourage you to adopt the 2024 IECC and amend this legislation focused on clean energy to enable Howard County to a clear path toward a lower carbon future. Thank you. Thank you. Next on our list we have Monica O'Connor. Hi, good evening. My name is Monica O'Connor. Thank you for considering my testimony today recommending adjustments to CB24 2025. I am the co-chair of the Maryland Legislative Coalition Climate Justice Wing, where a statewide coalition of nearly 30 grassroots and professional organizations that advocate for climate legislation in the state and local, locally. I'm also a Howard County resident. I urge you in both capacities to adopt the 24 IECC code with the caveat that it's amended to include building standards that maximize energy efficiency and minimizes the use of fossil fuels. This will improve energy costs and will improve air quality. I'm going to shorten my testimony because I know there's a lot of people here today. I just want to focus on the costs that many of us experience, the sticker shop, this winter with our BG&E bills. Those of us on gas have seen our gas delivery rates increase 50 percent since 2020. Since 2010, BG&E gas rates have increased nearly three times inflation rate. Fortunately, today's heat pumps are three to four times more efficient than fossil fuel heating equipment and remain two to three times more efficient even in the coldest winters. The Maryland Energy Administration states that heat pumps are essential tools to lowering monthly energy bills and keeping electricity demand low year-round. Across Maryland, 98% of households using high efficiency electric appliances in place of fossil fuel heating equipment can save money on their monthly energy bills. Under today's electric rates, Maryland households on average can save a thousand dollars annually by adopting heat pumps and heat pump water heaters. To hedge against untenable heating and cooling bills and to lessen my own climate impact, my husband and I are slowly swapping out inefficient appliances for efficient heat pump technologies. It's expensive and it's time consuming to retrofit our historic home in Ellicott City. But updating any building is a challenge. There's no good reason to build energy inefficient buildings today that need to be updated in the future. All electric buildings have been proven to reduce the cost of new construction by thousands of dollars for single-family homes, and importantly, cut lifetime energy consumption by 34% for single, multiamily, and commercial buildings. Electrifying new buildings is especially beneficial for low income residents who pay a higher share of their income on energy bills compared to residents in the county. That's why more than 100 states and local governments have enacted similar laws. It's a simple yet impactful way to address the climate crisis and also to ease the energy burden on your constituents. So I urge you to amend CB-24 to require or strongly encourage new building electrification. Thank you. Thank you. And last right on the our list for this bill. This is Mr. Joel Hurwitz. I could even Joel, you've now been elevated. Feel free to begin your testimony when you're ready. You may get in council members. Joel Hurwitz and that. I think it's a good idea to do that. I think it's a good idea to do that. I think it's a good idea to do that. I think it's a good idea to do that. I think it's a good idea to do that. I think it's a good idea to do that. I think it's a good idea to do that. I think it's a good idea to do that. who said new construction so small why we even having this debate. I did not understand director Fred's response to that if anybody wants to explain that in the future. I do recognize if you did extend it to additions or improvements on existing house to get kind of complicated, whether somebody was gas service wants to have it after pizza oven or whether they're renovating their kitchen. Did they move their gas appliances? Does that apply or do they just add dining space? versus somebody who has gas heat and do they need to put an electric heat in the new addition or can they extend the gas service. So that will get complicated and might have political problems. So yes, if you extended just to do construction, why are we having this problem of doing that? Thank you, Chair Walsh. Thank you. Council Bill, 27, 2025, introduced by Liz Walsh, open meetings, waiver, and variance requests. Before we call the two witnesses, I wanted to give you all some background on why I followed this bill. In my view, and I think it's a close call, what waiver process was established by the administration in our first term already should be subject to Open Public Meeting Act. In very simplified terms, it's a body, a government body making a decision on behalf of policy and government. That to me is what these waiver commission does. Every time they decide to issue a waiver or not, and it should have been since its inception subject to the Open Public Meeting Act. We've made inquiries into Office of Law to try and control that natural result with no success. Additional to that though, in the course of trying to track particularly sensitive projects and those namely in the Old Elicot City watershed where our code suggests that you're not allowed to get waivers anymore. You get waivers every time undeterred after two more fatal floods. All you have to do is exceed storm water management capacity by by 10%, which is some numbers on a piece of paper as far as I'm concerned. And then you can continue to clear and scrape whatever hillside you find vacant in old Ellicott City watershed, just like you did before we passed that so-called waiver improvement. When my staff in District 1 calls or emails the head of the Department of Planning and Zoning just to ask what waivers are an issue in the next meeting, what materials there might be that we could review, we are rebuffed. And in particular, I'm talking about a project that's right around the location of the Tyber 1 pond. That's part of the safe and sound thing. It's a piece of land that we've asked the administration to actually take into public inventory, but notwithstanding that it is proceeding through the development process. It looks as though it's being broken into different phases so that we can get exceptions in one application and maybe come back and get more exceptions later on. This should not be a secret. way that waivers are are doled out have been doled out is what brought me into public office and the fact that it hasn't changed in the six years that we've been here and after two fatal floods in Ellicott City in all manner of other environmental destruction across this county is astonishing to me. But I think it's really important that the public be aware of this process that in most part eviscerates every other part of the law that we have on the books. And these are state minimums that we just discard, now with three director signatures instead of one, but discard all the time. So that's why I have asked that we actually have some right to view those decisions as a public, as an elected representative of 55 to 60,000 people who live here, that we know how those decisions are being made. So we have two witnesses signed up. In the first is Alex Andalsman, virtually. Okay. Hi, good evening, Alex. You've. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank would add unintended consequences and unnecessary delays to what is already a time consuming and complex development process. Wavre and variance requests are typically submitted early in the approval process. There are critical tools for determining whether a project is even viable. More often than not, the outcome of that review dictates whether a project proceeds at all. These requests are meant technical review is handled by the professionals in the Department of Planning and Zoning, Public Works and others based on site-specific conditions. Adding public meetings at this stage slows that process without improving its integrity. The public already has a voice in the broader approval process and retains the right to appeal if the waiver or variance is granted. Involving the public in these early stage, often highly technical determinations creates unnecessary friction on certainty and cost. It opens the door of a politicizing which should be objective decisions and it adds another layer of delay for builders and property owners who are trying to bring more housing to Howard County. As you are all aware by now, Maryland currently faces a housing shortage of approximately 96,000 housing units. And if nothing changes, that number will increase by about 6,000 units per year. The National Association of Home Builders reports that the estimated red costs of Maryland housing units is more than 30% of household income statewide, the 25% of people spending more than 50% of their income on housing. In order to address this problem, we need a concerted effort to make housing available and affordable to the residents of this county. At this time, we should not be looking for ways to delay the development process even further. For these reasons, MBIA respectfully request the Council to vote again, CB27. Thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you, Mr. Andalsman. And secondly, and last we have Mr. Joel Hurwitz, tell online. Hi, Joel. You've been elevated again. Feel free to begin your testimony when you're ready. Even again, Council members, it's all hard to come. I decided to sign up to my support to Liz Walsh on this bill. I had a feeling, however, my end up as another two, three vote as we historically have done. I'll wanted somebody to testify in favor it. The previous testimony said people could appeal. I think only if the neighbors are grieved. And also as I testified earlier past months and the county executive was having a string of acting heads of these departments needed a dance card to know who the committee was. So having some transparency, that certainly would have been more helpful than that this week. It was a different head of DPC versus last week. And at one time, I think all three of these positions were in a acting flux two years ago. I see I'm unclear in the drafting that you have to have minutes. And I seem to be referencing each other. I think if I'm reading this, so I don't understand how you have a circular, the manner is required and receive five of this section and I think the other one reference back to 161116. So there's why are we referencing that rather than the general minutes section in the county code rather than having this circular. between the variants and the herb division. All right. Thank you, Mr. Herwitz. We'll take a look at that. Good. Thanks. Thank you for your support. All right. I think there's six more people signed up to testify. So we will hopefully get to you all right. Thank you for your patience this evening, but we have two more bills, Ms. Herred. Okay. Four more. What? One, two. There's only two that have signed up for testimony, but there's one more. Okay. So we can, that's fine. Council Bill 28, 2025, introduced by the chairperson at the request of the Howard County Council fiscal analysis council legislation. Okay. So I'm calling Ryan Powers speaking for the Howard County Citizens Association. Hi, good evening, Ryan. You've been elevated. Feel free to unmute yourself and begin your testimony when you're ready. Hi. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Good evening council members. The HCCA is unclear on the need and justification for moving fiscal analysis from the county auditor to the county council administrator as provided for in CB28 2025. We believe the quasi independent nature of the county auditor makes fiscal analysis done by this office and important check in both county executive and county council proposed bills. Most importantly, the county auditor is mandated to report any irregularities they discovered during the course of business while the county council and administrator is not. We believe this is an important feature when investigating county code, not a bug, keeping fiscal notes under the peer view of the county auditor ensures freedom from undue political influence. It preserves transparency and provides for governance efficiencies. Notwithstanding the Jack of all trades qualifications for our current county council administrator, the county auditor Auditors' job description states, the County Auditor shall be a public certified account license for the practice of his or her profession under the laws of the state. It shall be pointed on the basis of his or her knowledge of governmental accounting and auditing and his or her experience retaining to the duties of his or her office. And, currently, this makes County Auditors better qualified by mandated minimum standards. Legislative Auditors working for any office should maintain these professional qualifications, but we also believe having the fiscal note performed in the same office as those that audit the county's books is good governance. There are probably water cooler advantages in keeping fiscal analysis with the same type of experts, including greater contacts and nuance added to any fiscal note. This bill provides an opportunity for each CCA to make suggestions, which we will believe will improve resident understanding of the county council's legislative efforts. We believe that the county council should be given the opportunity to ask questions about the fiscal note and receive an answer writing before any any public hearing. We also suggest that the fiscal note should be available to residents more than one day ahead of a public hearing, section 5.400F1. We need the best informed citizens to offer their testimony before the council. Doing this is an easy change to improve civic engagement. The HECA is providing this testimony against CB-28, 2025, because we don't understand how this bill makes Howard County better. We continue to find the fiscal notes an important resource to break through the legalese and politics of county bills, and ask for guarantees that those standards will be maintained. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Mr. Powers. Does anyone here think that they have the ability to quickly describe why why we're making this change? Mr Youngman, please go ahead. We are simply separating off the Analysis of legislation whether it be the legislative analysis of the fiscal analysis from the charter responsibilities of the county auditor. The county auditor is gonna to go back to being what the charter describes, not what has been added over the last 15 years or so, which is we're basically creating the county's version of the Department of Legislative Services that you see at At the state level and it will be highly qualified financial people creating those analyses and Our county administrator is actually on the same level and appointed in the exact same way on your exact same authority with the exact same bosses and political influence, et cetera, et cetera, as the county auditor. It's just simply a reorganization. Did I get that right? I know what you're gonna say, Ms. Young. Well, I have the right to say it, because I totally agree with HCCA's testimony. I think that the fiscal analysis belongs under our auditor. I really couldn't say it any better than HCCA said it tonight. I am very disappointed that we are moving in this direction. I think that we should, there has been nothing wrong with what we've been doing for the last six and a half years. We've had the fiscal analysis in the auditor's office. And I can see obviously I'm in the minority, but I think that we should continue to do it exactly the way that we have been doing it. And for all the reasons that we heard tonight in this testimony. Okay, yes, please go ahead. Thank you. So Mr. Powers just to expand on that a little bit more during the process of interviewing and looking for our auditor candidates who we really want to have tight management of audits. This is something that has not been at the priority level that many on the council field that it should have been in previous years. And so healthy, strong audit team is really our top priority. And there are many other features that have been added in over the years. And I did have to have a giggle when you said Jack of all trades, because unfortunately, that's kind of what the auditor position here had morphed into. And that became very clear when we were interviewing candidates. And in those discussions with auditors, with local government experience, and from other jurisdictions and around the county, that we were the odd man out sort of squeezing these fiscal analysis into the auditors department. When many of them, they did not feel that that was the right place for it to be. So, you know, I hope that that does provide more context, but really it's in feedback from the professional auditors that we spoke with and heard from. And, you know, the desire and goal is for everyone to have a much stronger analysis coming out of this. So I think we're excited about the reorganization and look forward to a stronger array of skills being worked together. We think we have a great auditor and administrator and they'll continue to work together to deliver the best for the people of Howard County in this council. So thank you. Yeah, I'll conclude that by saying this bill was introduced by the chairperson at the request of the Howard County Council because a majority of us did agree on this. It's been a long time in the works and the theory is that we can have both is that we can have an independent auditor who's actually fulfilling the obligation set forth by charter, which if you look back in the past several years, that has not at all obtained. And additionally, so retain all of the services that were being done by the auditor office in lieu of charter mandates, including the fiscal analysis on our bills. So that is certainly the hope that we are pursuing. And new hires will be brought into assistance with that and and we'll see how it goes but I did hear some I thought good sounding amendments from mr. Powers but we'll check we'll check back in with HC and obviously feel free to call or email any of us if you want more details on that we probably could have have done a better job publishing out why why that bill was put forth like that. So I apologize for that. Are we moving on to Council Bill 29? Council Bill 29, 2025 introduced by Liz Walsh, subdivision and land development, regulation, and waivers and repeals. Do I continue since there's no? Okay. Council Bill 30, 2025 introduced by Liz Walsh, membership, human rights commission. Okay, thank you. I think this is the last bill that we have to hear from people tonight. And the genesis of this was really just even last month installing to new council council or commission members on that panel. And we went back to look at the qualifications. We were concerned that there weren't the criteria that we saw in other places or that we'd want to see in this one, especially in this day and age at the federal level. Human rights is so important that we pay close attention to and protect at the local level that I really would like this body to be stronger than it was. We heard from testimony earlier tonight about the commission's really just falling down on issues like human rights abuses at our detention center and more recently with student complaints in schools. So with that I will call the first witness on this who is Mr. Stucone representing the Howard County Association as its president. We are in favor of CB30 2025 and appreciate Council Member Liz Walsh providing specific qualifications required to be a member of the Human Rights Commission. We only wish qualifications would be much stricter regarding both the Planning and Appeals Board other than to be a resident of Howard County. We do have a suggestion to strengthen the bill as follows. Refer to page 1, line 20. Add the word Commission within three months from becoming a new member. Failure to comply will result in any member being removed from the Commission. When referring to the Human Rights Commission rules of Procedure 5, it states, quote, that on or before 28 February of each year, an annual report is to be issued to the county executive and council, unquote. Curious, have you received these reports during your tenure? Any possibility this report could be posted on the Human Rights Commission website to inform the public. The Human Rights Commission should be commended as there are minutes on the county website around only two months in a rears. We say this because of the 57 listed showing 17 or 30% have no minutes posted. Five have been updated for over have not been updated for over a year. And 14 have not been posted their minutes during the past three to eight months. For your information, HECA pointed out the woeful lack of attention to detail of minutes, not being posted in a timely matter during County Executive Kilaments Administration. They were very appreciative and took the necessary action to ensure all cooperated. We hope that Council and Administration will take the necessary action for all boards and commissions to update their minutes. We request our leadership takes responsibility to keep the public informed of their activities by mandating all board and commission's minutes are required to be updated in a timely matter. See the details on the next pages. What we've given you is the 57 boards and commissions of which as I said, 17 of them have no minutes posted at all. They're listed in alphabetical order. And you can read it. We hope that you pursue it as a homework assignment, as if you don't have enough to do, as a part-time job, which is ridiculous. Yes, that's it. So I hope you all pursued this. I mean, the minutes are just vastly so. At a date, 17%, 30% of them don't even have minutes. Here you people are, and I mean this a no sincerity. Here you all are tonight, for example, nominating or trying to approve nominations on the various boards and commissions. And yet, the good news is all of them tonight were pretty much up to date. But this is a bomb, it really is. And. And we hope that you look into it, because obviously the public's interested. So, and we're interested. Thank you, Mr. Cohen. Thank you. Councilor minister, do you know is the Human Rights Commission annual report something that we have historically received? It does not sound familiar in any way to me. We can double check that out. We can certainly look into that. Okay. All right. Can the public perhaps see that as well? Yes, because it will be posted on our website. Magnificent. Terrific. I'm glad I came today missing my washing cap, roll scheme. Thank you. Go, Caps. Okay. Andrew, are you testified? So next up, we have Hina Zubairi. Okay. Hello, everyone. Good evening. Thank you for being here every day. This late. Thank you so much for that your service. My name is Hannah Zubary, and I'm a human rights advocate and a researcher. I've been testifying today on behalf of Justice for All, a National Human Rights Organization. And I'm also an Ellicott City resident. I'm here just to testify on behalf of Justice for All. We're here in support of them with amendments of CB30 2025. This is a much needed bill that offers overdue reforms to the Howard County Human Rights Commission. We believe that this is not just a matter of local governments. It is a matter of moral and democratic urgency. Just a few days ago on April 18th, NPR reported that the US State Department is quietly stripping its annual human rights report of several key elements, sections that once helped expose violations, signal danger, and protect vulnerable populations globally and in the United States. At a time when human rights protections are eroding at the national level, local governments must stand as a firewall. Howard County has a pride, proud history of doing this. During the civil rights era when federal protections were too slow or too politicized, it was county commissions and local ordinances that first integrated schools, protected workers from racial discrimination and pushed back on exploitative policing. In the 80s, it was cities like Berkeley and Cambridge that stood against apartheid before the federal government would. And even more recently, counties across America took action to protect undocumented communities when ICE overreach went unchecked by Washington. But our local institutions can only serve justice if they're actually built to do so. And when people on the staff, the people who staff them are qualified, trained, and not political appointees. So we strongly support the bill's move to require relevant expertise in civil rights, conflict resolution, human rights law, for those serving on the commission. We also support the bill's mandatory training requirements. I myself have trained hundreds of advocates across the country and no firsthand how training can transform passivity into courage. It changes the mindset of people, how they look, the filters that they look at events through. And that's why we believe that this bill is critical. We do urge the council to add some amendments, including an independent and transparent appointment process. So future commissioners are selected based on merit and not insider access. And a formal mechanism to ensure the commission responds to credible community complaints, especially those concerning students, marginalized groups, and religious minorities. Our work globally to prevent genocide and to protect fundamental freedoms, we know the warning signs. and we also know that silence and inaction in the face of community, harm, however justified sometimes. We know the warning signs and we also know that silence and inaction in the face of Community harm however Justified sometimes because of bureaucracy lays the groundwork for deeper injustice. So please vote for this bill Thank you so much Thank you Next up we have Aisha Katibe. Hello. Can you hear me? Do I hit something? Good. My name is Aisha. I live in Elkridge, I graduated from Longridge in 2020. As someone who grew up in Howard County and remains active in the community, I carely deep about how our local institutions serve and protect us. I'm here in strong support of this bill because we need a Human Rights Commission that reflects the people it claims to represent. grounded in real experience, not political connections. Right now the commissioners are often appointed seemingly based on who they know and not what they know. This bill will change that by requiring relevant experience and mandatory trainings. Things that are essential if the commission is going to serve the public effectively and equitably. I want to share a personal story that shows why this reform matters. My younger brother participated in a peaceful Palestinian solidarity protest at Longreach. Unlike other student-led protests that year, there was not treated fairly. The administration suddenly banned signs to Palestinian flag and wouldn't let them announce the protest over the PA system. These changes came last minute and felt like an intentional effort to suppress their message. Earlier protests had been allowed all of those things. The message was clear, some voices were welcomed, and others were silenced. To make things worse, students were unfairly accused of anti-semitism for simply standing up for Palestinian lives and calling for an end to genocide. The accusation is not only false, it's dangerous. Advocating for human rights in peace is not anti-Semitic. Labeling it as such distorts the definition of anti-Semitism and that distortion itself can be anti-Semitic. It silences legitimate calls for justice and undermines efforts to fight real hate. My brother and I brought these concerns to the HRC along with community members of various faiths. We asked for accountability and protection of student rights, but there was no proper follow-up, no proper investigation, and no meaningful response, just disappointment. Sadly, this isn't an isolated case. The Commission has failed to act in other issues like a Somophobia, Anti-Semitism, and credible reports of abuse connected to the ICE contract. We can't have a human rights commission that stays quiet when human rights are being violated. As a Muslim, I'm called by my faith to stand firmly for justice. As the Quran says, O you who have believed be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for God, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. That's why I'm here because silence in the face of injustice is not an option. Please support this bill and the proposed amendments our community deserves a commission that listens acts and stands up for everyone's rights not just some the proper requirements and expertise in the field will give them the needed skill and tactic to do so. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you. All right, last we have, Hurry Hague Do, virtually. Hi, good evening, Harry. You have now been elevated. Feel free to unmute yourself and begin your testimony when you're ready. I could even hear you are our last testifying witness this evening so So we have no stoic mechanism to come back to. I could read Council Bill 31. That will take me a couple seconds. Council Bill 31, 2025, introduced by Deb Young, Inspector General Advisory Board Technical Correction. Oh, really. Good evening, Mr. Hadu. Are you still there? Well, let me just go ahead and say this so we as soon as Harry's done we can be done okay so that bill is just another babysitting bill as you can see we took two words out put two words in employer make sure that nobody will actually be on this commission ever who would somehow benefit from some aspect of being in the Howard County government. So I will continue, I guess, to babysit this bill. As long as I'm on this county council, so whenever something comes up, you might see me from time to time introducing a bill just to change whatever words need to be changed to ensure that we are being accurate. Okay, then complete. Thanks, Miss Young. Mr. Hagdo, have you joined us? Hello. Okay. You dropped it off the evening. Thank you. How can you do, Mr. Hagdo? We've now elevated you again again are you able to provide your testimony at this time? Mr. Hague do All right, I will say that as always this council is happy to and we'll read any submitted written testimony. Who? So Mr. Hague, please do follow up. I think it's a good thing to have a cover. All right. So, Mr. Hague, please do follow up if you can hear us with written testimony. We'll probably reach. Can you hear me? I, yeah, yeah. Okay, good. Yes, we can. Finally. Thank you. Please go ahead. He can't hear us. Oh, dear. All right. Can you hear me? Yes, you can. us. Oh, dear. All right. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Sorry. Okay. Good evening. Thank you for being patient with my technical difficulties here. Very happy to testifying and supportive this legislation to amend the qualifications for Howard County Human Rights Commission appointment. This bill is a necessary and long overdue step toward rebuilding the commission's credibility and ensuring it can fulfill its mandate. The human rights commission was created to defend human dignity and protect our civil and constitutional rights, but too often it has done the opposite rather than standing with communities facing injustice. The Commission has remained silent, failing to act on credible concerns of discrimination and censorship. One reason is the structural appointment process has allowed political loyalty to take precedence of our expertise and independence. HRC members are appointed to a process that lacks safeguards against political interference. The result is a commission composed not of qualified human rights advocates, but of individuals whose main function is to provide political power for those in cover, for those in power. We saw this in 2019 and 2020 when the Commission refused to take any action related to the county's ICE detention contract. Despite community testimony and national pandemic raging through the detention centers, the HRC did nothing. More recently, our community had asked the Commission to support a resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza, Investig censorship in our public schools, and examine our county's complicity in apartheid and genocide through taxpayer funded contracts and investments. These are not abstract demands, they are urgent human rights concerns, but instead of investigating the commission minimized the issue, falsely claiming that only one school was affected. This was a letter sent to community members, and it failed to engage with key student groups, ignore testimony, and deferred responsibility to other bodies. The HRC's refusal to conduct even a single public hearing shows how out of touch it has become. If the commission will not defend basic rights like free speech and peaceful protests, how can it claim to protect against other forms of discrimination? That's why this bill is important. It would begin to correct underlying problem by requiring that members have relevant expertise. But we must go further. Thank you. We need an independent and transparent appointment process, free from political interference. Quite frankly, for you know, all most of the county's commission some boards, I think this is important, but for this commission is very important. I urge you to pass this legislation as a first step with suggested amendments. Good night. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Hague do and thank you everyone who stuck it out with us amendments. Good night. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Hague. And thank you everyone who stuck it out with us tonight. It's been a long day for council staff. Thank you. And we'll see you tomorrow morning at nine o'clock for a monthly meeting. But this concludes our April legislative public hearing. I hope you all have a lovely evening.