MoCo Government

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich signed the newly-passed rent stabilization bill into law on Monday. Last week the Montgomery County Council voted (7-4) today to enact Bill 15-23, Rent Stabilization, which establishes maximum allowable rent increases to the lesser of the local annual Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) plus three percent or six percent of the base rent.

Per Montgomery County: The legislation, sponsored by Councilmembers Natali Fani-González and Sidney Katz, takes a balanced approach by stabilizing rents in Montgomery County while also ensuring landlords can earn a fair return on their investment. Keeping in mind the County’s need to build 31,000 housing units by 2030, the legislation exempts newly built units for 23 years.

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council have announced that $1 million in grants is available through the new Community Projects Fund to assist small, emerging and volunteer-led nonprofits in implementing community focused projects, initiatives and events. The first round of grants, totaling $250,000, is open now. The opportunity will be reopened later in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) with at least $250,000 available in each quarter to support new community needs and opportunities.

Awards will be prioritized to nonprofit organizations with fewer than three employees and annual budgets of $250,000 or less. Nonprofits do not need to be based in Montgomery County to apply, but all projects must occur within the County or be exclusively focused on County residents.

“A very serious incident occurred today in Aspen Hill that resulted in four victims being stabbed and the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) utilizing lethal force to prevent a knife-wielding suspect from harming more people, including officers. I want to thank the MCPD officers for their rapid response to the incidents and their dogged pursuit of the suspect. Their efforts very likely prevented further assaults and may well have saved lives.

As with any police-involved shooting, a thorough investigation will be conducted by the Maryland Attorney General’s office. It is essential that we uphold the principles of transparency and accountability in every case including this one. The Attorney General’s office will be responsible for determining when to release the names of those involved as well as any video associated with the incident. I encourage them to do so in a timely manner.

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council will receive a briefing and hold a public hearing on the Planning Board Draft of the Pedestrian Master Plan on Tuesday, July 25. The briefing will begin at 11 a.m. and the public hearing will be held at 1:30 p.m. The plan is Montgomery Planning’s first comprehensive vision to create safer, more comfortable experiences walking or rolling around the county and to make getting around more convenient and accessible for every pedestrian. The Council is seeking public input from all residents on the draft plan and will schedule a committee worksession to review and propose changes to the Planning Board Draft Plan this fall.

“As chair of the Transportation and Environment Committee, pedestrian and bicyclist safety are at the top of my priority list,” said Council President Evan Glass. “Montgomery County had 541 motor vehicle crashes leading to bodily injuries and 48 traffic fatalities last year, which is why the comprehensive approach to pedestrian and bicyclist safety provided by the Montgomery County Planning Board is critical. The Pedestrian Safety Master Plan will go hand in hand with the Council’s legislative efforts including The Safe Streets Act, which I introduced to make roads near our schools and downtown areas safer. The new plan will also help us reach our Vision Zero goals.”

Per Montgomery County: “RainScapes” projects are landscape or design techniques that help reduce stormwater runoff from individual properties. At times, the Montgomery County Department of environmental Protection offers rebates for projects to help defray their costs. The portal to apply for the RainScapes Rebate Program will reopen on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

RainScapes can be installed on any kind of property, but those on private, residential, institutional and/ or commercial properties may be eligible for financial assistance.

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery County Council voted (7-4) today to enact Bill 15-23, Rent Stabilization, which establishes maximum allowable rent increases to the lesser of the local annual Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) plus three percent or six percent of the base rent.

“Rent stabilization is a complex and emotionally charged issue, balancing the needs of our tenants in providing stable housing protection while allowing landlords the flexibility to invest and enhance in their properties within the County,” said Councilmember Katz. “I am pleased the Council found the right compromise and path forward to enact this bill.”

Councilmember Jawando stressed the importance of advancing rent stabilization and its impact on residents, particularly the nearly 40 percent of Montgomery County residents who rent who are disproportionately people of color. “Stability and predictability are essential for our community. When families are evicted or are forced to move because the rent is unsustainable, it destabilizes our schools and uproots communities. This amended bill will protect our most vulnerable renters but it will also help all residents seeking affordable rental housing.”

The compromise bill, 15-23 Rent Stabilization, prevents rent gouging, reduces displacement and creates cost predictability for tenants and landlords by: