MoCo Government

Residential customers above 150 percent of area median income and commercial and multi-unit residential accounts with master meters are eligible for the 100 percent waiver of late payment charges and turn-on fees. As of mid-July, more than 79,000 accounts were past due, accounting for $51.6 million in total revenue. The vast majority of overdue accounts reflected residential customers.  WSSC Water resumed residential water service turnoffs on past-due accounts on July 5. Turnoffs were temporarily suspended in June to encourage program participation.

Only after extensive customer notification and all other reasonable alternatives have been exhausted, including efforts to connect every income-constrained customer with available financial assistance, will WSSC Water disconnect water service. WSSC Water offers several financial assistance programs to help customers get current with their bills. More information on other customer assistance programs is available at wsscwater.com/assistance.

Per Montgomery County: The Emmy award-winning campaign “La Abuelina” is joining the Vision Zero Initiative’s pedestrian safety team to educate residents throughout July and August about how to safely navigate the newly installed pedestrian hybrid beacons (PHBs) located across the Montgomery County. After the animated character “La Abuelina” was used to urge Spanish speaking residents to get COVID-19 vaccinations, she will now be featured in English and Spanish social media posts and pop-up events located at PHBs to help explain how the traffic control devices offer extra protection to drivers and people walking, biking and rolling across the street.

“La Abuelina’ was created during COVID-19 and was a great way to communicate with our Spanish speaking communities about prevention, testing and vaccinations,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “The campaign helped achieve high testing and vaccination rates and earned national and international media recognition. Due to this success, I requested her character be copyrighted by the County and used in other important public health and safety messaging. I am glad that she will now be a part of our Vision Zero efforts to promote pedestrian safety on our roads. With this new campaign, Abuelina is helping spread the word about new pedestrian hybrid beacons, so our

Per Montgomery County: Today the Montgomery County Council approved the Rustic Roads Functional Master Plan Update, which is the first comprehensive update to the plan since its creation in 1996. The Council also enacted Bill 30-23 that changes the composition and duties of the Rustic Roads Advisory Committee.

Rustic roads are low-traffic, narrow roadways in historic and scenic locations around the County. They are primarily found in agricultural and rural regions with a large number running through the Agricultural Reserve as well as historic and heritage sites. The Rustic Roads are primarily found in Council Districts 2, 7 and 1.

Per Montgomery County: Councilmember Dawn Luedtke introduced a bill today that would improve emergency response by enabling the public to provide personal and medical information to assist emergency responders through a voluntary 9-1-1 registry program.  The voluntary registry established through Bill 33-23, Police – Voluntary Registry for Emergency 911 Calls – Established, would allow individuals or their caregivers to notify first responders that someone at their address has differing abilities or health challenges, such as being non-verbal, sensitive to loud noises or bright lights, prone to avoid eye contact, or exhibits other traits. This information would be included in the County’s emergency dispatch system and regularly updated.

“Voluntary 9-1-1 registry is a proven option to help our public safety professionals better support individuals during an emergency call,” Councilmember Luedtke said. “When our first responders arrive on scene, we want them to have as much information as possible so they can provide the most effective and appropriate care.”

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.”