MoCo Government

From the Offices of Council Vice President Friedson and Council President Glass: “Council Vice President Andrew Friedson and Council President Evan Glass introduced legislation today that would update the laws regarding the tree canopy and roadside tree work to encourage the conservation of trees in Montgomery County. Bill 40-23, Tree Canopy and Roadside Tree Requirements – Fee Revisions, adjusts the fee structure for trees removed in the County’s right of way to ensure the fees are commensurate with the costs, including the environmental cost of removing the tree and the cost of tree replacements.

“Improving our tree canopy is essential to meeting our environmental goals and ensuring healthy and livable communities in Montgomery County,” said Council Vice President Friedson. “This legislation will help us plant more trees in our neighborhoods to improve air quality, reduce heat islands and enhance quality of life.”

Per Montgomery County: “The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is soliciting applications for the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Enhanced Mobility Grants Program from qualified organizations to provide direct transportation services in the County. This program aims to increase access to transportation services for County residents who are disabled, individuals with limited incomes, older adults and other vulnerable populations (specifically in underserved communities). A total of $800,000 in funding is available for FY24.

County Executive Marc Elrich proposed, and the County Council approved, $800,000 for a joint capital and operating grant program. Of that amount, $640,000 was allocated to capital expenses and $160,000 to operating expenses.  At present, the funding is available for one year, so all funded activities must be implemented within 12 months.

Like much of the world, we join in condemning the outrageous attack by Hamas in Israel. Our hearts go out to the innocent children and families caught in the midst of this horrendous conflict. We also reject the notion that any act of violence can ever justify the heinous practice of terror currently unleashed by Israel in Gaza, including on refugee camps, medical and UN aid workers, and more. As we dedicate ourselves to building a world where our community can live free from discrimination and fear, we deeply acknowledge the interconnectedness of the struggle for the liberation of the Palestinian people and Black and brown communities in the United States. Our shared and unwavering commitment is to foster humanity, safety, and lasting peace throughout the entire region while confronting the historical oppression that demands urgent redress.

Finally, we strongly support the struggle for decolonization, affirming the rights of Indigenous peoples and historically colonized nations to reclaim their land. The Palestinian struggle mirrors our own; with many CASA members fleeing governments and countries wrecked by the damage of US economic and political intervention. We firmly assert: free Palestine NOW!”

Per Montgomery County: “Montgomery County announces the publication of the draft Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) Executive Regulations in the November 2023 County Register, a necessary component of BEPS implementation.  Built on benchmarking data collected under the Benchmarking Law, BEPS sets a minimum energy performance threshold for existing covered buildings and is a tool that addresses energy performance and drives existing buildings to improve their energy efficiency over a set period, thus reducing carbon emissions.

The public is invited to comment on the draft Executive Regulations during the 30-day comment period ending on November 30, 2023. Pursuant to the BEPS legislation, the County Executive must transmit regulations to implement the law to the County Council by December 31, 2023. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of BEPS.

Per Montgomery County: “The Montgomery County Anti-Hate Task Force’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and LGBTQ+ cohorts will present their policy recommendations to the task force at a virtual meeting on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. The Anti-Hate Task Force was formally adopted through a resolution with unanimous support in June. The task force is made up of community and faith leaders working to engage the community and develop recommendations to inform policies that promote safety and combat hate crimes in Montgomery County.

Cohort groups representing the Jewish, Black/African American, LGBTQ+, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Latino/Hispanic and Muslim communities will present their policy recommendations at meetings throughout the fall. Each of the six cohort groups may also hold listening sessions to provide an opportunity for the public to engage and provide input.