MoCo

County Executive Recommends 10-Cent Increase in County’s Property Tax Rate to be Used Exclusively to Fully Fund MCPS Budget Request

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich today released his recommended Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Operating Budget of $6.8 billion, which is an increase of 7.7 percent from the FY23 approved all funds budget (County Government plus outside agencies.) The recommended FY24 budget reflects record level and significant investments for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Montgomery College, affordable housing, economic development, public safety, and efforts to combat climate change.

To access the entire recommended FY24 budget, click here. To watch the County Executive’s FY24 recommended budget presentation, click here.

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Results of 2022 County ‘Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign’ Document That Extreme Heat Has Greater Impact on Areas with Less Green Infrastructure

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: The results of the 2022 Montgomery County “Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign” document that neighborhoods with less green infrastructure and more concrete experienced temperatures up to 10 degrees higher than nearby cooler areas. The County’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) released the results of the campaign in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Climate Adaptation Planning and Analyst (CAPA).

A StoryMap created by DEP provides a comprehensive overview of the campaign. Among its findings were that areas with low-income households and people of color have higher temperatures than other areas in Montgomery County due to a lack of green spaces and trees, indicating that extreme heat is a social justice issue.

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WSSC Water’s Watershed Recreation Areas Now Open from Sunrise to Sundown

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: WSSC Water’s Patuxent Watershed recreation areas are now open from sunrise to sundown for all permitted activities, including boating, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and picnicking. The recreational areas span more than 4,000 acres along its two reservoirs, Triadelphia and T. Howard Duckett, in Montgomery, Prince George’s and Howard counties.  The reservoirs serve as drinking water sources for WSSC Water.

Visitors of the watershed who are 16 years or older must have a valid permit, which can be purchased online at wsscwater.com/watershed or in person at the Brighton Dam Visitor Center, which is located at 2 Brighton Dam Road in Brookville.  Complimentary permits are available for visitors 65 or older, active military and disabled veterans.

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Healthy Drink Option for Kids Now Required in Montgomery County Restaurants

By MCS Staff

Last March, Healthy Meals for Children, which requires restaurants in Montgomery County that offer a children’s meal to provide a healthy option (meal and drink) for their youngest customers, was passed. The requirements are phased in with a default healthy beverage being the first (now  in effect) followed by a healthy meal option six months later.

Councilmember Craig Rice spearheaded the legislation, and Council President Gabe Albornoz and Councilmembers Will Jawando, Nancy Navarro and Tom Hucker are cosponsors. The bill was enacted by a vote of 8-1, with Councilmember Friedson voting against the legislation. “Childhood obesity remains a longstanding problem in our nation and the rate continues to climb impacting our children’s health and quality of life. Especially in a time when our busy lifestyles have more families eating out, it is imperative that as a County we encourage  healthy options in our children’s meals,” said Councilmember Rice, who serves as chair of the Council’s Education Committee and as a member of the Health and Human Services Committee. “I applaud the many restaurants, large and small, in our community that are already providing healthier selections. This bill lays out a minimum threshold over an extended period to ensure that our children have a healthier beverage and meal option available to them, all in order to promote more healthful eating habits throughout their lives.”

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New 227 Area Code Coming to Maryland in June

By MCS Staff

To ensure a continuing supply of new telephone numbers, the Maryland Public Service Commission has approved an all-services area code overlay for the 240/301 area code region which serves all or portions of Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Bowie, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Hagerstown, Potomac, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Wheaton, and many other small communities. The new 227 area code will serve the same geographic area currently served by the existing 240/301 area codes.

What is an Area Code Overlay? An overlay is the addition of another area code (227) to the same geographic region as an existing area code region (240/301). The overlay does not require you to change your existing area code or phone number, or how you dial your calls. You will continue to dial the area code and phone number for all local calls, as you do today, within and between the 240, 301, and new 227 area codes.

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Self-Defense Courses for Women Will Be Offered in March and April Through the Montgomery County Commission for Women

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: Four in-person seminars on “Introduction to Women’s Self-Defense” will be offered this spring by the Montgomery County Commission for Women. Each S.A.F.E. (Self-defense Awareness and Familiarization Exchange) seminar is a two-hour “sampler” session for women of all ages and abilities taught by Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.)-certified instructors. The seminars, which cost $12 per participant, are exclusively for women and require pre-registration to participate. Women ages 13-17 are welcome to participate, but they must be accompanied by an adult woman who is also registered for the class.

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MCPD: Traffic Stop in Germantown Leads to Seizure of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County Police issued a press release today announcing that a traffic stop in Germantown on March 8 led to the discovery of 20 suspected Fentanyl pills, approximately 21 grams of suspected Crystal Methamphetamine, Crack Cocaine and drug paraphernalia. This is the third press release regarding traffic stops that MCPD has released since Councilmember Will Jawando introduced Bill 12-23, the Safety and Traffic Equity in Policing (STEP) Act, on February 28, which will limit traffic stops that he says have resulted in racial disparities.

Per MCPD: “Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Community Action Team have arrested 38-year-old Harry Perkins of Germantown for Possessing Fentanyl and Crystal Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute, on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.  At approximately 11:35 p.m., officers observed a Chevrolet Equinox commit a moving violation in the area of Circle Gate Dr. and Wisteria Dr. Officers initiated a traffic stop of the Chevrolet in the area of Great Seneca Hwy. and Wisteria Dr.

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Montgomery County Council and Committees Meet on March 14 for Briefings on Fire Inspections and Fire and Housing Code Enforcement

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: The Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP), Public Safety (PS) and Economic Development (ECON) Committees will meet on Tuesday, March 14 at 9:30 a.m. to receive a briefing from the Department of Permitting Services (DPS) to discuss fire inspections and fire code compliance. The PHP Committee will meet at 11 a.m. to receive a briefing on housing code enforcement and troubled properties from the Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA). The members of the PHP Committee include Chair Andrew Friedson and Councilmembers Natali Fani-González and Will Jawando. The members of the PS Committee include Chair Sidney Katz and Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke and Kristin Mink. The members of the ECON Committee include Chair Fani-González, Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe, Council President Evan Glass and Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles. More detail on each agenda item is provided below.

There are 80 buildings in Montgomery County that currently are not yet retrofitted with sprinklers. DPS serves as the regulatory body for fire codes that are adopted from the national and state level. According to County Code, a building permit cannot be issued for the construction or reconstruction of a residential building without a fire sprinkler system. The County Code also provides a property tax credit for any residential building where a fire sprinkler system was not legally required, if installed on or after July 1, 2000.

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Sardi’s Announces Scholarship in Memory of Co-Founder Philip G. Sardelis

By MCS Staff

Sardi’s, the local restaurant chain founded by two Montgomery County natives (Walter Johnson and Wheaton graduates), has announced the Sardi’s Scholarship in memory of co-owner Philip G. Sardelis. Additional information below:

“As a company we have always been proud to give back. Due to the passing of our beloved co-owner Philip G. Sardelis we have decided to create the Sardi’s Scholarship in Memorial of Philip G Sardelis. We hope this continues to impact our community as this was always an important priority for Phil. He was always involved in donating time, money and food to all of the local schools, hospitals, churches, firehouses and police stations. We hope to honor his legacy and continue the good work with this fund. If you would like to contribute please go to the below link. Give Back – PayPal.

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RespectFest to Take Place This April Discussing Dating Violence & Prevention, Healthy Relationships, and Consent

By MCS Staff

Choose Respect Montgomery’s annual event, RespectFest, will host a week of virtual activities, culminating in an in-person event from 1–4 p.m. on Sunday, April 16, at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center. Students aged 12–18 and their parents are invited to learn about dating violence and prevention, healthy relationships and consent. The virtual week runs from April 10–14. There will be workshops and activities for middle and high school students, parents and youth-service providers. Students can earn up to five Student Service Learning (SSL) hours for participating.

The in-person festival will include activities to learn about dating violence, consent, how to help a friend and warning signs of an abusive relationship. There will also be performances, yoga and self-defense demonstrations and a resource fair with community organizations. Students can earn up to three SSL hours by participating in the education activities. The Wheaton Community Recreation Center is located at 11701 Georgia Avenue. RespectFest

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