[0:05] 7:00 p.m. allow us to call the meeting

[0:08] of the town of Chevy Chase Town Council

[0:10] to order.

[0:13] Please rise for the Pledge of

[0:14] Allegiance.

[0:38] We have a fairly straightforward program

[0:40] for everyone this evening. As usual, we

[0:42] will begin with general business. That

[0:45] includes a financial report, the town

[0:47] manager's report, and public comments.

[0:50] And may I remind everyone that those

[0:52] public comments should not regard either

[0:55] of the public hearings that we're

[0:56] holding today that follow the public

[0:59] comments. And those hearings are about a

[1:01] variance request from the residents of

[1:04] 7011 Hillcrest Place, as well as an

[1:07] ordinance to amend the ADU regulations

[1:11] in the town.

[1:12] And finally, we will conclude the

[1:15] evening with council discussions and

[1:16] actions regarding a grant request from

[1:19] Rosemary Hills Elementary School, as

[1:22] well as

[1:23] a discussion of an ordinance to amend

[1:25] front yard hedge regulations. So, let's

[1:28] begin. I'd like to turn it over to the

[1:30] treasurer for our June financial report.

[1:33] >> Thank you very much.

[1:35] So, [clears throat] June is the end of

[1:37] the fiscal year. So,

[1:39] we finished the year in very good shape.

[1:42] Um,

[1:43] we received 110%

[1:46] of the budgeted revenue for the fiscal

[1:48] year. So, that's

[1:50] 5.5 [clears throat] million.

[1:52] We had budgeted 5 million, so we

[1:54] overachieved there.

[1:56] On the operating side, we spent 96% of

[2:00] our budgeted operating expenditures.

[2:03] So, that's 3.8 out of about $4 million.

[2:06] So,

[2:08] um

[2:09] it underspent, which is a good thing.

[2:11] And then on the capital side,

[2:13] >> [clears throat]

[2:13] >> we spent 78% of what we had budgeted for

[2:16] the year.

[2:17] So, that's expenditures of 665,000

[2:21] against a budget of about 853,000.

[2:25] So, as we had been reporting for many

[2:27] months now, we completed the fiscal year

[2:29] comfortably within our budget.

[2:32] A lot of details are available in the

[2:34] packets that were sent around, but glad

[2:36] to address questions if there are any.

[2:39] I want

[2:41] >> [clears throat]

[2:42] >> Um I'm curious either

[2:44] Carlo or Todd answer, how come we

[2:45] underspent on our capital expenditures?

[2:48] It looks like we did on street and

[2:49] roads.

[2:50] What happened there to cause us to spend

[2:51] less than we anticipated?

[2:54] >> We actually This doesn't represent a

[2:56] full

[2:57] This This is just a snapshot. We we

[2:59] still have a lots of invoices coming in

[3:01] specifically for capital improvements.

[3:03] >> Okay.

[3:04] >> Um so, this doesn't by any means

[3:06] represent final. That won't be obviously

[3:08] until the audit's performed. There are a

[3:10] lot of expenses that will need to be

[3:11] accrued that we're getting invoices for

[3:13] and after after July 1st that will be

[3:17] accrued to the prior fiscal year. We

[3:19] have some outstanding invoices for

[3:21] capital work, street and road repair,

[3:23] concrete and and asphalt. Um so, this is

[3:26] a snapshot of where we were as of the

[3:28] end of June, but it doesn't account for

[3:30] invoices that we're receiving for

[3:32] expenses incurred in FY '26 that will

[3:35] need to be accrued back to that fiscal

[3:37] year.

[3:38] >> So, do you think at the end we'll

[3:39] probably be closer to our budget number?

[3:41] >> I do.

[3:43] >> Yeah, we just got invoices today for the

[3:45] work we did on 27 and some springtime.

[3:48] >> Okay.

[3:48] >> All right.

[3:49] 8,000 plus year.

[3:52] >> So, that brings Okay. But, we'll still

[3:53] have a very healthy surplus for the year

[3:55] then even if we do spend as we debate.

[3:57] I'm always a little concerned if we

[3:59] grossly underspend our capital budget

[4:00] cuz [clears throat] you guys are careful

[4:01] in estimating what needs to be done.

[4:04] And I'm concerned whether something that

[4:05] should have been done wasn't done. So,

[4:07] >> I brought it to your [laughter]

[4:08] attention cuz they bill us on time and

[4:11] for the uh

[4:13] >> You mean you call them up and say,

[4:14] "Please, pretty please, will you bill us

[4:16] as fast as possible?"

[4:17] >> I do.

[4:18] And [laughter] then you wait months

[4:22] » Okay.

[4:23] >> All right.

[4:23] >> We have until the end of August. Yeah,

[4:24] you you usually the end of August is

[4:26] this is the uh

[4:28] cut off for accruing expenses to the

[4:31] prior fiscal. So, we have a long way to

[4:33] go to make sure that all appropriate

[4:35] expenses are accrued to the prior fiscal

[4:37] year.

[4:39] >> Okay. Thank you. That was my question.

[4:42] >> [clears throat]

[4:45] » But, that concludes uh

[4:48] the financial report. Let's move over to

[4:50] the town manager's report. Todd?

[4:52] >> Thanks, Joy. I'll report on some uh

[4:54] highlights, some initiatives undertaken

[4:56] by town staff over the last month. Um

[5:00] The I'll try to be brief and uh I'll let

[5:02] you ask questions if you want more

[5:03] information on any of these. The staff

[5:05] communicated with Purple Line and

[5:07] Montgomery County Department of

[5:08] Transportation officials

[5:10] about the shielding of of several lights

[5:12] on the Capital Crescent Trail adjacent

[5:14] to the town. Specifically, two lights uh

[5:17] that are on the ramp from Elm Street

[5:19] Park up to the bridge that crosses the

[5:21] Purple Line tracks.

[5:23] Um [clears throat] these are not

[5:24] currently shielded. They're not They are

[5:26] currently energized, but not

[5:27] illuminated. And we feel they're going

[5:29] to be disruptive to the adjacent uh

[5:31] residents. Um we've been dealing with

[5:34] this matter for quite some time.

[5:36] We heard recently and dispositively

[5:39] from MTA

[5:41] uh that shielding will need to be done

[5:44] in conjunction with the the

[5:45] once the county takes ownership of the

[5:47] Capital Crescent Trail.

[5:49] Um

[5:50] the county in turn

[5:52] uh has said that they want to wait until

[5:55] the lights are illuminated um to

[5:58] determine how disruptive they may be,

[6:00] what the impact may be, and what what

[6:03] solutions there may might be effective

[6:06] um once they take ownership of the

[6:08] Capital Crescent Trail.

[6:10] We understood that that might happen

[6:12] simultaneous to the trail opening, but

[6:14] that is still not certain. And there's

[6:17] And then there's a process we have to

[6:18] follow about submitting a permit to be

[6:20] reviewed. And understanding that might

[6:23] that process might take a long time,

[6:25] we've reached out to our contacts at the

[6:28] Department of Transportation

[6:30] asking for their cooperation in in

[6:34] determining a solution now uh that can

[6:36] be implemented immediately after the

[6:38] county takes ownership and the lights

[6:40] are illuminated. Uh and our county

[6:42] contacts said that they would review the

[6:43] matter and the plans and specifications

[6:47] and get back to us about the process and

[6:49] options. And so we are waiting to hear

[6:52] from them as to whether they're willing

[6:53] to work with us now to find some viable

[6:55] solutions that can be implemented

[6:58] immediately after they take ownership

[6:59] and the lights are illuminated.

[7:02] Uh the staff also continued planning for

[7:05] our automated speed camera program.

[7:09] Automated speed enforcement program.

[7:11] Uh we're continuing to look into options

[7:13] and alternatives for uh

[7:16] the town's access to this national

[7:18] database of driver and vehicle records

[7:20] so that citations can be issued to the

[7:24] owner of record uh for a violation of

[7:27] our speed camera that's to be uh

[7:29] installed on Bradley Lane.

[7:31] We're also looking into the review

[7:33] process on our end and who that must be

[7:36] done by and how that process will work.

[7:39] Um and I will give you updates as that

[7:41] proceeds through the summer as we

[7:43] develop those plans and find out what

[7:45] logistics and protocols we need to

[7:46] follow.

[7:48] Staff also met with Corso officials to

[7:50] discuss and coordinate uh mobilization

[7:53] efforts, tree removal, and construction

[7:56] activities on the site.

[7:58] The construction management firm is um

[8:01] now moving forward going to provide

[8:02] weekly updates um on their website and

[8:05] directly to the town in the format that

[8:08] I provided to the council this week. Um

[8:11] we have we're distributing those

[8:13] notifications to neighboring residents

[8:17] uh or residents adjacent to the Corso

[8:19] site and we're also posting them on our

[8:22] Town Crier.

[8:24] Staff, Dave in particular, oversaw the

[8:26] completion of the CCST, the Capital

[8:29] Crescent Surface Trail phase two work,

[8:32] which is

[8:33] done for all intents and purposes except

[8:35] a few minor details that need to be

[8:37] adjusted. Um

[8:39] Uh we have been informed and that also

[8:42] included the phase two work also

[8:43] included some of the additional

[8:45] improvements Dave wanted to make to

[8:47] sidewalks and concrete over there. So,

[8:50] uh we're happy that we were able to

[8:51] coordinate with the county to make that

[8:52] happen while they were doing these

[8:54] improvements.

[8:55] Uh we've been informed by the county

[8:56] that phase three will begin this summer

[8:59] and phase three consists of constructing

[9:03] the connection from the improvements

[9:05] they've done on 47th Street uh and Elm

[9:08] Street Park to the actual Capital

[9:10] Crescent Trail um under um

[9:14] at the at the mouth of the park.

[9:17] It also includes all the park

[9:19] improvements that are going to take

[9:20] place, which include multi-generational

[9:22] playgrounds,

[9:24] um retaining walls, berms, um and those

[9:28] plans were reviewed and uh by by

[9:33] residents and the community and the town

[9:35] council uh number of years ago.

[9:38] Uh the staff communicated with the State

[9:40] Highway Administration about the

[9:42] maintenance of the medians on

[9:43] Connecticut Avenue, which are looking a

[9:45] bit messy.

[9:46] Um but also, and more importantly, uh

[9:50] the status of Bradley Lane striping or

[9:52] restriping to effectively shift the

[9:54] lanes farther away from the sidewalk and

[9:56] to the south.

[9:58] We were told that work would be done in

[9:59] June, uh which it wasn't.

[10:02] Um and the response I received from the

[10:05] District 3 engineer

[10:08] was a bit arcane,

[10:10] um but he said that he's trying to work

[10:13] with the department doing the work to

[10:15] stripe or restripe without having to

[10:18] eradicate any lines at this time.

[10:21] And he said he said he'll update me as

[10:22] soon as he's able.

[10:24] I I'm not sure what he means by that. Uh

[10:27] I don't know how they can restripe and

[10:28] effectively shift the lanes away from

[10:31] the sidewalk with without restriping

[10:33] or without at least re- eradicating the

[10:35] existing lines. So, I'm going to need

[10:37] more information and get more info from

[10:39] him [clears throat] about what their

[10:40] plans are, and he said he would provide

[10:41] me details when he has them.

[10:44] Um the town awarded uh we rebid our tree

[10:47] maintenance and

[10:49] landscape services contracts this past

[10:51] spring, and we've just awarded those uh

[10:53] those contracts to uh the most

[10:55] responsible and responsive bidders,

[10:57] which happen to be the ones we currently

[10:59] have.

[11:01] We've also increased stop sign

[11:02] enforcement throughout the town

[11:04] um based on resident uh complaints and

[11:07] comments.

[11:08] We've completed our inventory of street

[11:11] signs for our town-wide replacement

[11:13] project, and that might

[11:16] bear pausing here for a second. We Dave

[11:18] sent out an email to the council this

[11:20] week asking for your feedback on the

[11:23] design of these signs. At a previous

[11:25] meeting, I think it was two meetings

[11:26] ago, we had indicated um that we wanted

[11:29] to use the new signs at Easton Leland

[11:32] that were fabricated there to as a

[11:34] template as the model for all the street

[11:37] signs for this this town wide street

[11:39] replacement project. Uh, but they then

[11:41] sent out an email to the council this

[11:43] week asking for concurrence on the

[11:46] design whether it should include the

[11:48] logo, uh, all caps,

[11:51] sans serif fonts,

[11:53] um, borders and colors and things like

[11:55] that. Um, I think the majority if I'm

[11:57] not mistaken Dave and you can correct me

[11:59] came back and said

[12:01] they liked the

[12:04] lettering and the fonts and everything.

[12:05] I think the issue and they I believe the

[12:07] majority also wanted the logo, um,

[12:10] put on the new street signs.

[12:14] And

[12:16] one of the reasons why we're using the

[12:18] font we're using the sans serif font is

[12:20] because it is the standard, um, of the

[12:24] manual on uniform traffic control

[12:25] devices.

[12:27] Uh, that's the national bible if you

[12:30] will for, uh, street signs and

[12:32] everything related to traffic control.

[12:34] So we're using what the standard bearer

[12:36] is there as a sans serif font. It's more

[12:38] legible, it's easier to read. It's, um,

[12:41] and we're using all caps which we

[12:43] currently have except on the serif font.

[12:45] Um, we're using the border, um, and the

[12:49] only issue I wanted to raise with the

[12:50] council is the logo.

[12:52] Um,

[12:53] our recommendation is not to include the

[12:55] logo even though a majority of you have

[12:58] indicated that you'd like to use it and

[13:01] my my reasons are, uh,

[13:04] mult I have multiple reasons for, uh,

[13:06] first of all I if the logo is currently

[13:08] allowed illegible. You can't read it.

[13:11] You don't know what it is or what it

[13:13] says. The font is about as big as a

[13:16] refrigerator magnet and the font I think

[13:19] there's a 12 point font and a 10 point

[13:21] font. No driver is ever going to be able

[13:24] to see what that is or recognize what it

[13:26] is when they're driving 20 miles per

[13:28] hour throughout town. It's also a bit

[13:30] distracting to the primary purpose of

[13:32] street signs, which is for navigation.

[13:35] We [clears throat] don't really have a

[13:36] branding need in the town other than for

[13:39] goodwill purposes. We don't have an

[13:41] economic development component. But I

[13:44] think I go back to the fact that

[13:47] even if you can't read it, I wouldn't

[13:48] make it any bigger because I still think

[13:49] that logo is a bit distracting to the

[13:51] primary purpose of of the signs, which

[13:53] is for navigation.

[13:55] And so our recommendation was to go with

[13:57] the exact sign that's located at this

[13:59] intersection of East and Leland, but

[14:01] it's completely up to the council to

[14:03] make that decision. And so I'll leave it

[14:04] at that unless you want to have a larger a longer conversation about

[14:09] that and to see in which direction we'd

[14:11] like to go.

[14:14] The town continued our overgrown

[14:16] vegetation management program. We are

[14:18] definitely seeing progress and

[14:20] compliance

[14:21] based on the letters we sent out the

[14:23] original batch of letters we sent out.

[14:25] We are addressing one issue in

[14:27] particular, but all the rest have have complied, which we're happy to see.

[14:33] Another very small batch of letters

[14:34] recently went out

[14:36] about some minor encroachments,

[14:39] primarily overhead encroachments, and so

[14:41] that program is actually going very

[14:43] well.

[14:45] The town submitted our closeout report

[14:47] for our ARPA grant, so that's done.

[14:50] And we've completed our application for

[14:52] the balance of program open space funds

[14:54] for for open space improvements, and

[14:56] we're hoping to use those for the

[14:58] improvements we're currently making to

[14:59] the Thornapple Path.

[15:01] Speaking of which, we've completed

[15:04] hardscape modifications to the path

[15:07] to address ADA accessibility issues, and

[15:09] we've ordered a new ADA compliant gate.

[15:13] The existing gate's there to prevent

[15:18] bicycles and skateboards and things from

[15:20] uh blowing through there for the time

[15:22] being, but that gate should be installed

[15:24] hopefully in the next month or so.

[15:27] Uh we've continued to research

[15:28] relocation of Bradley Lane fire

[15:29] hydrants, and we've authorized a

[15:31] topographic survey to be completed on

[15:33] that to identify the locations of all

[15:35] the existing improvements and the

[15:37] boundaries of properties.

[15:39] We procured a sprinkler system for

[15:40] Zimmerman Park. We haven't had to use it

[15:42] yet because we've had pretty good rain,

[15:44] and the turf looks pretty good, but we

[15:45] have that ready to deploy as needed. We

[15:49] also procured a new sound system for

[15:50] town events, which I understand went uh

[15:52] was was

[15:54] uh um

[15:55] well received at the July 4th event. And

[15:58] we provided project support to town

[16:00] committees.

[16:02] There's one other issue I want to raise

[16:04] with you tonight that's sort of last

[16:05] minute. It's an issue that Chevy Chase

[16:07] Village has has approached us about. Uh

[16:10] they are looking uh apparently a number

[16:13] of their residents have

[16:15] um [clears throat] have commented on how

[16:17] successful and our our entry restriction

[16:20] signs are how effective our entry

[16:23] restriction signs are along Connecticut

[16:25] Avenue um along all the intersecting

[16:28] streets of Connecticut Avenue. All of

[16:30] them have a do not enter 7:00 to 9:00

[16:32] a.m. restriction on them.

[16:34] And [snorts]

[16:35] many [clears throat] residents comment

[16:36] uh in the village commented on how well

[16:38] ours worked, and they wanted the village

[16:40] to consider the same entry restrictions

[16:42] there.

[16:43] Um

[16:45] and the data that we collected in our

[16:46] 2020 study that was collected in 2019

[16:49] pre-pandemic did suggest that they

[16:51] worked pretty well. Um things have

[16:54] changed obviously since that time, and

[16:57] the village wanted to know if we would

[16:58] be interested in a small cost sharing

[17:00] arrangement since this study would

[17:02] benefit not only them but us in so far

[17:05] as we could determine where we would

[17:08] want to uh deploy police or focus police

[17:12] attention on those streets where um

[17:15] violations of the entry restriction were

[17:17] worse or are were

[17:20] greater than others.

[17:22] Um

[17:22] I told Shayna that I would address this

[17:24] with the council tonight. They're

[17:25] looking at likely

[17:28] undertaking the study

[17:30] as soon as school

[17:32] re- begins and they, you know, want to

[17:36] move forward with awarding a contract to

[17:38] get the contractor prepared to start

[17:39] work as soon as as soon as school

[17:42] reconvenes.

[17:44] I do think it would be beneficial for

[17:45] the town. The cost of the study is

[17:47] $12,500.

[17:49] Um so if we split it 50/50, it would be

[17:52] 60-6250

[17:54] max the town would contribute but there

[17:56] could be any cost split that we we'd

[17:57] like to entertain.

[17:59] But I do think it would be beneficial

[18:01] for the town in so far as we could

[18:02] target enforcement. It wouldn't be for

[18:05] the purposes of making spot changes to

[18:08] our traffic control

[18:10] and entry restriction

[18:12] signs because that's not what we want to

[18:15] do any longer is to make spot

[18:17] improvements. We want to do it

[18:18] holistically.

[18:19] » [snorts]

[18:19] >> But it would be primary primarily for

[18:21] the purpose of

[18:23] targeted enforcement of those areas

[18:25] where the violations are the worst.

[18:28] And I think it would be helpful. It

[18:29] would also be a very helpful to have

[18:31] additional data.

[18:32] You know, there are some claims often

[18:34] that we don't have enough data and so

[18:36] having that data

[18:38] updated from 2019 would be very helpful

[18:41] to refer to when a new study or any new

[18:44] studies are done. And so I would

[18:46] recommend that we the council approve a

[18:48] 50/50 split of that amount up to a up to

[18:51] a maximum of 6250. And if you'd like to

[18:54] do that tonight, you can entertain a

[18:56] motion to do so as a supplemental

[18:58] appropriation.

[19:00] Um but that concludes the staff report.

[19:04] » Thank you, Todd. Um I'd like to get some

[19:07] input from my colleagues on that last

[19:09] proposal regarding the conduction of a

[19:12] traffic study.

[19:15] Rich, do you have anything to say about

[19:16] that, Mr. Transportation?

[19:19] >> No, I I actually support it. I think it's for

[19:23] the

[19:24] 6,000 little and change,

[19:28] we get data to show how effective those

[19:30] turning those uh

[19:33] do not turn signs are. Um

[19:36] And and and we have received complaints

[19:38] that it's not working. So, I I I I think

[19:41] just having data would be useful for us.

[19:44] Um

[19:45] and as Todd said that

[19:47] anything else in the future, we could

[19:49] always use that that could be a part of

[19:51] something that's already been done and

[19:53] we wouldn't have to pay for it again.

[19:54] So, uh

[19:56] I think that, you know, for $6,000, I

[19:58] think

[20:00] compared to what we paid for the last

[20:02] traffic study is it's a it's quite a

[20:04] deal. So,

[20:06] I would [clears throat] I would endorse

[20:08] we go ahead and

[20:09] do, you know, let the

[20:12] village go ahead and do the data

[20:13] collection.

[20:17] » Anyone else?

[20:18] >> No, I think it makes sense.

[20:19] >> Sure.

[20:20] >> [clears throat]

[20:20] >> Okay.

[20:21] Tamar?

[20:21] >> Is Rich offering a motion?

[20:23] >> Uh well, we didn't hear from Tamar.

[20:26] >> I I support it, too, but I do wonder

[20:28] what is the nature of the data

[20:30] collection? Does it compare to what was

[20:31] done before? I mean, what would explain

[20:33] the difference in cost?

[20:36] >> Uh we we did a town Am I on mute? No,

[20:38] I'm not. We did a town-wide study

[20:40] before, Tamar. It was it was all about

[20:41] cut-through traffic and and and and

[20:44] traffic calming, but it was uh it was

[20:46] town-wide. Uh it wasn't just about the

[20:49] entry restrictions off Connecticut

[20:50] Avenue.

[20:52] And [snorts] um on second thought, we

[20:53] don't need a supplemental appropriation.

[20:55] This ma- nominal amount of money can be

[20:57] taken up our out of our consultants and

[20:58] engineers accounts under streets and

[21:00] roads. So, there's no need for a

[21:01] supplemental.

[21:03] >> So, we don't need a motion, either?

[21:06] >> You don't. If you could just approve the

[21:07] work of uh uh um

[21:10] >> [clears throat]

[21:10] >> But I do think we all agree that this is

[21:12] worth doing.

[21:14] Thank you, Todd. We will accept your

[21:15] recommendation. So, please proceed with

[21:18] the cost-sharing arrangement with the

[21:19] village uh to conduct a traffic study

[21:21] along Connecticut Avenue.

[21:23] >> Will do. Thanks.

[21:25] Do you Would you like to discuss the

[21:26] town street signs? I think probably

[21:29] Dave, would you Can you inform the

[21:30] council as to when that project will be

[21:32] underway and when we need a decision

[21:34] about the design of these signs?

[21:41] » Yeah, I mean, uh there isn't really a

[21:42] timetable for it. Um I was hoping to get

[21:44] it started probably in the fall um and

[21:47] finish it in the spring.

[21:48] Um but we can certainly do all the prep

[21:50] work and then it's just a matter of

[21:52] ordering the signs and having them

[21:53] installed. So,

[21:55] um I'd like to keep it moving just cuz

[21:57] I've got a little momentum on it, but

[21:59] there's no

[21:59] >> [clears throat]

[21:59] >> deadline.

[22:01] >> Maybe we can have some email back and

[22:02] forth to resolve this question of the

[22:04] logo.

[22:05] >> Yeah, why don't we do that? Um and then

[22:06] we can move on with this. But yeah, our goal then is to have this ready for

[22:11] you, Dave, so that by the fall you can

[22:13] move ahead.

[22:14] >> Yep. Sounds great.

[22:15] >> Okay.

[22:18] Oh. Please, go ahead.

[22:20] >> Todd, thank you for the report. And

[22:22] couple questions, the um

[22:25] trail-related. So, the phase two work

[22:28] that is almost done,

[22:30] when will that be put in service? Do you

[22:32] have a a date for when that

[22:34] is going to be available for public use?

[22:38] >> The

[22:39] uh yes, I the the plan now is to put it

[22:43] in service this fall.

[22:46] Whether the county takes ownership of it

[22:48] simultaneously is uh

[22:51] not an answer I have.

[22:54] Um but it is to be put in service, a

[22:56] portion of it is to be put in service

[22:58] this fall.

[23:00] Specifically, the portion between Elm

[23:01] Street Park and

[23:03] Barney, do you recall where it ends,

[23:05] that portion where it will stop?

[23:08] >> I don't. I don't. But I want to make

[23:09] sure you're addressing

[23:11] >> No, that was going to be my second

[23:12] question.

[23:13] >> I think he was asking specifically about

[23:14] that little stretch on 47th Street

[23:17] because there's still a a fence around

[23:20] >> site.

[23:20] >> Yeah.

[23:21] >> Oh, I see what you mean. I still think

[23:22] it's this

[23:23] >> has been done. It all looks fine, but

[23:24] you can't access the trail there.

[23:26] >> I I believe it's still Yeah, this fall.

[23:29] It will that that entire stretch along

[23:30] 47th and the connection they're building

[23:32] this summer likely will all open in

[23:34] order to connect to the CCT and the ramp

[23:37] and the bridge this fall.

[23:40] >> But the section between Willow and

[23:44] Elm.

[23:45] >> Yeah.

[23:46] >> That work is done.

[23:48] >> Why not take out

[23:49] >> Why why are they leaving the fences

[23:51] there so you can't use it? I just

[23:53] >> Dave may know. Dave's overseeing the

[23:55] work. Dave, do you know why the fences

[23:57] are still there or what they're

[23:59] continuing to do? Do you know? We can

[24:01] ask, certainly, but

[24:02] >> I I assume the parks department wanted

[24:04] to wait till the grass got was growing,

[24:07] but it's still in that. So I I have the

[24:09] same question Carl has. Why not take up

[24:10] the fence and allow people to,

[24:12] you know, it's it's unsightly for one

[24:15] thing, but it's also inconvenient.

[24:17] >> Right.

[24:17] >> I think they did the road striping. Um

[24:19] they probably want to get all of those

[24:20] in before they actually open it up to

[24:22] make sure the crosswalks are safe.

[24:24] Um which should be done probably the

[24:27] beginning of next week. Uh but I'll find

[24:29] >> Find out and I'll check on it.

[24:30] >> out

[24:31] all the details and

[24:32] >> Okay.

[24:33] Yeah, and then to the um question

[24:35] that you were answering just that so I

[24:37] can be clear.

[24:40] Uh what I recall Let me

[24:42] give some context. What I recall from

[24:44] the

[24:46] uh county announcement about the phase

[24:49] three is the work, as you said, would

[24:52] start this summer, but I think it was

[24:53] scheduled to be finished next summer.

[24:57] So that's when the connection to the

[24:59] bridge would be complete.

[25:01] And then I was wondering whether they

[25:03] would open

[25:04] the trail on the other side of the

[25:06] bridge

[25:07] ahead of the bridge being having a place

[25:10] to land.

[25:12] That's

[25:14] if I'm being clear. I'm not sure that I

[25:15] am.

[25:19] » Uh

[25:21] DBC, I'm opening the season I'm opening

[25:23] a CCST phase reconstruction notice right

[25:26] now.

[25:27] And it says it's

[25:29] the project will connect the existing

[25:30] bike lane network in the intersection of

[25:32] Bethesda Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue to

[25:34] the northbound portion of the CCST,

[25:36] which is part of the proposed Purple

[25:37] Line project.

[25:39] Phase three includes the project includes construction of

[25:43] phase three A, a surface trail

[25:44] connection at Elm Street Park to the

[25:46] future Capital Crescent surface trail

[25:48] near near the Air Rights building. In

[25:49] phase three B, the construction of the

[25:51] recreational improvements to Elm Street

[25:53] Park.

[25:54] Uh this includes but is not limited to a

[25:56] playground, fitness equipment, and

[25:57] playground resurfacing.

[26:00] Um

[26:03] My Sorry, this is only work.

[26:05] Construction to begin summer 2026.

[26:09] It doesn't give a time frame for

[26:12] completion

[26:14] on this notice.

[26:16] Um

[26:17] but I'm not sure Can you rephrase the

[26:19] question or re

[26:20] >> Yeah, so I I

[26:22] My recollection is the announcement I

[26:24] received in the mail

[26:25] >> Right.

[26:26] >> said that that work would start this

[26:28] summer and finish next summer.

[26:32] And as I understand it physically, until

[26:34] that work is finished,

[26:37] you can't get across You can't use the

[26:38] bridge.

[26:40] So, I'm wondering if if the trail is

[26:42] going to be open

[26:45] on the north side of the bridge ahead of

[26:49] it

[26:50] being able to connect to the bridge in

[26:52] the phase three work that we're

[26:53] discussing.

[26:54] >> I don't know the answer to your

[26:55] question, but I can find out.

[27:00] » Follow up. Let me ask a follow-up

[27:01] question to that.

[27:02] I had not seen that notice you just

[27:04] referred to, Carlos, so thank you for

[27:05] mentioning it. Um, what separates 3A

[27:09] from 3B?

[27:11] Um,

[27:13] I would be really surprised if 3A,

[27:15] meaning just that

[27:17] 100-yard connection

[27:19] from the corner of Willow and Elm to the

[27:22] portal

[27:23] would take 12 months to do.

[27:26] That would really be pretty surprising.

[27:28] It's not impossible this county could

[27:30] take that long, but I'd be surprised.

[27:32] And if that were to be the case,

[27:35] then that

[27:36] completely blows away

[27:39] all of our efforts to try to get that

[27:41] bridge open this fall

[27:43] uh, because that's what we wanted for

[27:45] the kid our kids to be able to walk to

[27:46] BCC

[27:48] more on a more more on a more direct

[27:50] path and without without going out to

[27:52] Wisconsin. Um, so I think trying to get

[27:56] clarity on whether that 12-month

[28:00] period is for

[28:02] just 3A, or does that really also

[28:04] include 3B, meaning the development and

[28:07] the construction of the three different

[28:09] recreation areas, uh, playground areas.

[28:12] I 12 months for all of that is plausible

[28:15] to me, but I would like to think that

[28:17] they could do 3A

[28:21] within a couple of months. I mean, it

[28:22] didn't take them very long, well, longer

[28:24] than it should have, but they're still

[28:25] within a couple months they built the

[28:27] link along 47th Street and

[28:30] 3A is a shorter distance.

[28:32] So, is that something you could track

[28:34] down, Todd, and try to hone in on that

[28:36] or just what they wrote? Because

[28:37] otherwise there's a huge disconnect

[28:39] in all of our discussions about trying

[28:41] to get that bridge open this fall, and

[28:43] now having an announcement that they

[28:45] won't finish it till next summer.

[28:46] >> Yeah, happy to.

[28:48] >> Okay, thank you.

[28:53] » [laughter]

[28:57] » Never a dull moment.

[28:59] Okay, let's move on to public comments.

[29:01] Um, we're happy to take comments from

[29:03] anyone here in the room or online. Uh,

[29:06] but

[29:08] please hold your comments if they regard

[29:10] either the variance request for 7011

[29:13] Hillcrest Place or the ordinance on ADU

[29:17] regulations. Do we have any public

[29:19] comments?

[29:24] Going once.

[29:27] Going twice.

[29:29] No public comments this evening.

[29:32] Okay, let's move on to the second part

[29:34] of our program. And the first item on

[29:37] the agenda is a public hearing for the

[29:39] variance request of 7011 Hillcrest

[29:43] Place.

[29:44] Um, I'm going to turn this over to the

[29:46] town attorney, Ron Bolt, to introduce

[29:49] this for us. Thank you.

[29:51] >> Thank you. Yes, this is the application

[29:53] of Kevin and Mary Love for a FAR, floor

[29:57] area ratio, variance of 100 square feet

[30:01] to accommodate a second story addition

[30:04] in a

[30:05] rear screen porch to be built on an

[30:07] existing deck.

[30:10] The hearing will begin with the

[30:11] applicant's case, and the applicant can

[30:13] please note that the council has had the

[30:16] opportunity to review your materials in

[30:18] advance, so you don't need to restate

[30:20] everything in there, but please feel

[30:22] free to address what you'd like.

[30:25] After that,

[30:27] the council members will ask their

[30:29] questions of staff and/or the applicant.

[30:32] Following that, if there's anyone else

[30:34] attending the hearing tonight that wants

[30:35] to make a comment or ask a question,

[30:37] you'll have the opportunity to do so.

[30:39] Then the applicant will be be given a

[30:41] rebuttal period if necessary.

[30:45] The record will then close and the

[30:46] council will deliberate and entertain a

[30:49] motion directing me to prepare a written

[30:51] decision either approving or denying the

[30:54] request. Please note that if the request

[30:56] is approved, it's not final until it's

[30:59] been written up and that's usually a

[31:02] process that takes about a week or two

[31:04] and you can't get your permit till

[31:07] that variance decision has been issued.

[31:11] Before anyone speaks, we ask that you

[31:14] please wait until you're identified by

[31:17] the mayor for purposes of the recording

[31:20] so that we don't have multiple people

[31:21] speaking at once.

[31:23] Please identify yourself by name and

[31:25] address

[31:27] and I'll note for the record that we've

[31:29] received two letters in support of the

[31:31] request.

[31:32] One from Beth Tomasello and David Keto

[31:35] who are confronting neighbors across the

[31:37] street and another letter from Ashley

[31:40] McIntosh. I do not know where she

[31:43] resides but perhaps Miss Love can let us

[31:46] know if she knows. And then we also got

[31:48] a call in support from Stephen Canter on

[31:51] Sycamore.

[31:53] And those are in the record. So with

[31:55] that, turn to the applicant. Now please

[31:57] come up to the the microphone stand if

[31:59] you would.

[32:01] Yes, thank you.

[32:08] » [clears throat]

[32:09] >> All right. So Mary Love, I'm the uh

[32:13] the the the one of the two people for

[32:15] the application and essentially what we

[32:18] are trying to do is create a master

[32:21] bath. I see Carlos a tall man over

[32:24] there. My husband is a tall man and our

[32:26] current master bath is under a gambrel

[32:28] roof so he cannot stand upright in our

[32:31] shower. So we felt like after

[32:34] two or three years in in house, we're

[32:35] going to uh

[32:37] give us more than a 5 by 5 ft shower

[32:39] that he might be able to stand upright

[32:41] in. And so, what we're planning on doing

[32:44] for our

[32:45] hopefully our construction,

[32:47] and it's okay that we won't get this for

[32:49] a week because we have paused on

[32:51] engineering until we get your blessing,

[32:53] is our first floor has a bathroom that

[32:56] was added, I think, in the '70s. So,

[32:59] essentially what we want to do on the

[33:00] second floor is build a bathroom

[33:02] directly above that. I wouldn't call it

[33:05] extravagant or large.

[33:07] You know, it'll be a shower, a toilet, a

[33:09] vanity for both of us. And then, we have

[33:11] an existing porch in the back of our

[33:14] house. And so, our goal was always to

[33:18] screen it in. Just I'm sure you guys

[33:20] have been outside today. I think the

[33:21] mosquitoes have come out with a

[33:23] vengeance.

[33:24] My poor children are covered in bites.

[33:26] Our thought is, you know, we want some

[33:29] sort of outdoor living space that we can

[33:30] actually enjoy during the summer. And

[33:33] then, the last thing we're going to do

[33:35] with this project, I I don't know if it

[33:37] even needs to be addressed, but our

[33:39] front stoop is failing after a mere 100

[33:42] years. So, we're going to give that a

[33:43] bit of a face-lift.

[33:48] » Thank you.

[33:49] Does anyone have any questions for Mrs.

[33:51] Love?

[33:55] Do we have any comments from anyone here

[33:58] in the room or anyone online regarding

[34:00] this variance request?

[34:04] » Guys, I have a microphone. I want to

[34:06] talk a little longer. Now, I'm just

[34:08] kidding.

[34:10] >> [laughter]

[34:10] >> I I just unmuted, but I don't know if

[34:13] it's my turn to speak.

[34:15] >> It It is. Could you please identify

[34:17] yourself and your address?

[34:19] >> Yeah, hi. My name is Brian Steel. My

[34:22] wife, Jessica, and I recently purchased

[34:25] 4104

[34:27] Sycamore Street, which is immediately

[34:30] adjacent to the north of the Love's

[34:33] property. So, we're at the corner of

[34:35] Hillcrest and Sycamore.

[34:37] And

[34:38] we're So, we're familiar with the layout

[34:40] of that end of the street. And I think

[34:43] that this modification would

[34:45] be a meaningful enhancement to the

[34:48] Love's home and entirely in keeping with

[34:53] what else has happened and is happening

[34:55] in that area.

[34:56] Um in in all respects. Um so, we are

[34:59] supportive of their plans and

[35:02] look forward to Mr. Love being able to

[35:04] stand up straight in the shower.

[35:07] >> Thank you, Brian.

[35:10] Thank you for that comment. Do we have

[35:12] any other comments or questions about

[35:14] this variance request?

[35:25] Do we have any comments from staff?

[35:30] Would the council like to deliberate

[35:32] about this variance?

[35:34] >> I'll make a motion to approve the

[35:35] variance.

[35:36] >> Second. [clears throat]

[35:38] >> All in favor.

[35:39] >> I.

[35:42] >> [clears throat]

[35:42] >> Wonderful.

[35:43] >> Thank you.

[35:45] >> Were you expecting a more more drama?

[35:47] I'm sorry to disappoint you.

[35:49] >> [laughter]

[35:55] » Brian, would you please the app Please

[35:58] advise the applicant of what comes next.

[36:01] >> Yes, so now I'll draft the decision and

[36:03] I'll circulate it to the council for

[36:06] approval. And once that's been signed by

[36:08] the mayor, you can get your permit and

[36:11] usually about a week or two to to get

[36:13] that decision written and approved.

[36:18] And then Dave will let you know once the

[36:20] decision's ready and you can get your

[36:22] permit.

[36:25] » Right. All right. On to the discussion

[36:28] of and the public hearing.

[36:29] >> Excuse me, may I make a quick comment?

[36:31] >> Yes.

[36:31] >> Um

[36:32] as a liaison to the land use committee

[36:33] this coming year, um

[36:35] there are a number of issues in our code

[36:37] that uh like to have taken up and I'm

[36:39] talking to Dave about. And I'd like to

[36:41] add this to one as to sort of the

[36:43] question of whether a screened-in porch

[36:45] should be counted as part you know,

[36:46] inside the FAR. Uh and I think that's a

[36:49] legitimate question for us to ask and

[36:51] I'd like deliberation because uh

[36:53] I and I many, many years ago I pushed

[36:56] hard to change our code so people could

[36:58] build by right a front uh

[37:02] a front porch out 9 ft instead of only 3

[37:06] ft. I felt that was reasonable.

[37:09] Uh and and uh we also learned that that

[37:11] only applied to the porch floor but not

[37:13] the porch roof seal the ceiling for the

[37:15] porch. So, anyway, there are going to be

[37:17] a number of issues that we want to take

[37:19] up. Uh I might add also the one that we

[37:22] dealt with last time dealing with the

[37:24] restriction on

[37:26] um retaining walls having to be 2 ft

[37:28] back and whether that should be scaled

[37:30] so that a low wall doesn't have the same

[37:32] requirement as a high wall would. So,

[37:34] anyway, we'll be taking up a lot of

[37:36] these issues over the course of this

[37:37] coming year and hopefully coming back to

[37:39] the council for the discussion.

[37:41] >> Terrific. Timbrook.

[37:43] >> With there also um was there also the

[37:46] issue of the roof over the the stairway

[37:49] to the basement, the outdoor stairway to

[37:51] the basement?

[37:51] >> was another one. Thank you for

[37:52] mentioning that. Is that on the on your

[37:54] list? It's on the list. Okay.

[37:57] >> [laughter]

[37:58] >> Great.

[37:59] You sound like the character from the

[38:00] Mikado. What's the you know, the has the

[38:03] list of all the people in

[38:06] >> He's got a little list.

[38:08] Um okay, ordinance to amend the ADU

[38:12] regulation. Um this is a open public

[38:15] hearing. Um Ron, I'm going to turn to

[38:18] you again to

[38:20] start us off on that.

[38:21] >> Yes. So, as everybody is aware

[38:25] in the General Assembly regular session

[38:27] for 2025, a law was passed

[38:31] providing that local jurisdictions,

[38:35] including the town,

[38:36] have to promote accessory dwelling units

[38:40] by affording them the same setbacks as

[38:44] other accessory buildings. So, that law

[38:46] provides you cannot impose on an

[38:48] accessory dwelling unit like a you know,

[38:51] granny pod or the like, a setback that's

[38:54] larger than what you require for sheds,

[38:57] detached garages, and other accessory

[38:59] buildings. The town code currently has

[39:02] different setbacks for different types

[39:05] of accessory buildings.

[39:07] And so, this ordinance would eliminate

[39:10] the stricter setback for detached

[39:12] accessory dwelling units, and it'll

[39:14] apply the same setback to all accessory

[39:17] buildings.

[39:18] There is currently in the code the

[39:20] setback modifier that is similar to the

[39:23] county's. So, where an accessory

[39:25] building is taller than 12 ft or longer

[39:29] than 24 ft,

[39:31] an additional setback applies for each

[39:34] additional foot over those thresholds.

[39:37] So, the proposal is to rely on that existing setback modifier to uh

[39:44] prevent the looming of accessory

[39:46] buildings over the neighbors.

[39:48] Uh the state law provides that we have

[39:51] to adopt the law before October of 2026.

[39:56] Uh this is why we are doing it now. And

[39:59] the ordinance has already been

[40:01] introduced, and as the mayor noted, it's

[40:03] on the docket tonight for a public

[40:05] hearing. And following the public

[40:07] hearing, if the council so wishes, there

[40:10] can be a motion to adopt that ordinance.

[40:18] » Do we have any discussion of this

[40:20] particular ordinance?

[40:26] Do we have any comments from the public

[40:28] either online or here in the room

[40:30] regarding the ADU regulation?

[40:37] » Hi, this is D. Harris.

[40:40] Is this time for

[40:42] >> Yes, yes, we

[40:43] >> speak briefly?

[40:45] >> Thank you. You can comment about this.

[40:46] D, what is your address, please?

[40:48] >> Yeah, 4428 Ridge Street.

[40:53] » Go ahead.

[40:54] >> Yeah, I just

[40:56] the adjustments to the regulations look

[40:58] eminently reasonable to me and I'm glad

[41:01] that the town is taking care of this on

[41:03] a timely basis. My only request is to

[41:08] I don't know whether this can happen in

[41:10] tonight's discussion or not, but I think

[41:13] it would help to

[41:15] um

[41:16] clarify somehow

[41:18] uh

[41:21] when I read through the proposed um

[41:24] ordinance, there was discussion of the

[41:27] ability to

[41:29] um

[41:31] maintain,

[41:33] uh modify, and I can't remember the

[41:35] exact words, but maintain, modify, and

[41:39] um

[41:40] >> repair there you go,

[41:42] existing buildings. Um and I was

[41:45] interested out whether there's any

[41:48] adjustment or where one can find out

[41:51] information about what kind of

[41:54] permitting is necessary in order to

[41:56] repair, modify, or

[41:59] uh you know, all of those things. That's

[42:02] just more more of a question than a

[42:04] comment, but it seemed relevant to

[42:08] um

[42:09] make sure that people know.

[42:17] Just yes.

[42:20] Yeah, Dave can correct me if I'm wrong,

[42:22] but I believe no permit is needed for

[42:25] ordinary repairs either at the town or

[42:29] the county level.

[42:32] Um, but if you are

[42:35] and let's say ripping off the siding and

[42:37] putting on new siding, then a permit is

[42:39] required in order to confirm compliance

[42:42] with with setbacks, but yeah, Dave can

[42:44] correct me if I'm wrong there.

[42:47] » Yeah, the yeah, the short answer is

[42:49] there's

[42:50] you know, some discretion or that needs

[42:52] to be applied as to when a repair turns

[42:54] into a replacement. Um, so, you know, I

[42:57] can certainly meet you out there to take

[42:59] a look at it. Um,

[43:00] if you have a specific question and

[43:02] generally as long as the

[43:03] three-dimensional shape of the building

[43:05] is not changed and it's maintained

[43:07] during the course of the construction,

[43:10] um, we consider that to be a repair

[43:12] and does not require a permit.

[43:14] >> And new doors for example on on a

[43:17] dilapidated building is not a is is just

[43:19] a repair, yes?

[43:20] >> That is just a repair, yeah. Yeah, new

[43:22] siding can go up. Um, you know, if the

[43:24] roof rafters are are rotten, as long as

[43:26] the structure itself is maintained and

[43:29] they're replaced in the same dimension,

[43:31] that's a repair, so so we're pretty

[43:33] flexible.

[43:34] >> Okay, great. Thank you thank you very

[43:35] much.

[43:40] Do we have other comments or questions

[43:42] regarding this ordinance?

[43:54] I think it's a worthy effort. We need to

[43:56] be in compliance with county law.

[43:59] Um,

[44:00] this probably doesn't materially change

[44:02] the existence of any other dwellings in

[44:04] the town.

[44:06] So, Ron, at this point, is it up to us

[44:09] to make a motion to approve this

[44:10] >> Yes.

[44:11] >> ordinance?

[44:11] >> That's right. Yeah, and then the

[44:12] ordinance will take effect on

[44:14] August 7th, 2026.

[44:18] Uh we were required to give the County

[44:20] Council notice, which we did.

[44:23] Under state law, the county has the

[44:25] opportunity to provide comments

[44:27] on our building regulations. They did

[44:28] not provide any comments.

[44:32] » Very good. Do we have a motion?

[44:35] >> I'll move [clears throat] approval of

[44:37] the ordinance to amend the front yard

[44:39] hedge regulations.

[44:42] >> [laughter]

[44:43] >> This is for the accessory dwelling units

[44:46] ordinance.

[44:49] Sorry. I I was still I'll move approval

[44:52] for the accessory dwelling unit

[44:53] regulations.

[44:57] » All in favor.

[44:58] >> I.

[45:02] » Thank you very much. Now, we're moving

[45:04] on to the third part of our program this

[45:06] evening, and that is council discussions

[45:09] and actions.

[45:10] And we're going to start now with a

[45:12] discussion of

[45:14] the ordinance to amend front yard hedge

[45:17] regulations.

[45:19] Over to you, Ron.

[45:21] >> Okay.

[45:23] So,

[45:25] the council will recall that

[45:28] there's a strange result from application of our front yard hedge requirement, which

[45:35] prohibits

[45:37] hedges in a front yard exceeding 3 ft.

[45:40] And it was noted that with respect to a

[45:43] particular property,

[45:45] that resulted in an overly restrictive

[45:48] situation because the grade of that

[45:50] property is lower than the street, and

[45:52] so you can and you could have a 5-ft

[45:55] hedge that's completely not visible from

[45:57] street level, but because we say they

[45:59] can be no taller than 3 ft,

[46:01] uh those hedges would be prohibited. So,

[46:04] this ordinance would amend the

[46:05] regulations to provide that we're going

[46:07] to measure the height of the hedge from

[46:09] the surface of the grade of adjoining

[46:11] ground or the grade of the nearest

[46:14] public sidewalk

[46:16] or the curb or edge of the street you

[46:19] know when in circumstances where that is

[46:23] uh

[46:24] higher

[46:25] than the uh actual elevation of the

[46:27] yard.

[46:31] And so, this has has

[46:36] Let's see.

[46:40] » Was that the tool public hearing in May?

[46:43] >> Okay, thank you. Yeah, I couldn't

[46:45] remember why we're in discussions

[46:46] instead of public hearings. Thank you,

[46:47] Todd. Yeah, so we've already had the

[46:49] public hearing on this one. This one is

[46:51] ready for

[46:52] a motion to adopt unless there are

[46:55] discussions or amendments.

[46:57] >> I gave this to [clears throat] the

[46:58] council, so.

[47:01] >> Notice was also given

[47:03] >> I'm sorry, Todd.

[47:04] >> Notice was also given to the county and

[47:06] they had no comments.

[47:07] >> Yes, thank you.

[47:09] >> Okay, so

[47:11] do we have a motion?

[47:14] Do Are we Is there any more discussion

[47:16] on this matter?

[47:19] >> I just wondered, are we supposed to open

[47:20] it up for discussion from the public? Is

[47:23] this a public hearing?

[47:25] >> We had the public hearing. We had the

[47:27] public hearing already and we didn't

[47:29] have the appropriate notice period to

[47:31] the county, which is why we

[47:34] this time are you know why we shifted

[47:36] the vote to this meeting.

[47:38] >> Right.

[47:39] >> So, if there are no other discussions

[47:42] or comments from the council regarding

[47:44] this ordinance, do we have a motion?

[47:49] » I'll start.

[47:50] All in favor?

[47:51] >> Aye.

[47:55] » Very good. Um

[47:57] Finally, uh

[48:00] Katie,

[48:01] we are ready to hear

[48:03] a presentation from the PTA the Rosemary

[48:06] Hills Elementary School PTA regarding a

[48:08] grant request that they made last year

[48:10] for

[48:12] the Rosemary Hills Elementary School

[48:14] outdoor classroom project.

[48:16] >> Hi everyone.

[48:19] Hello south.

[48:22] So I don't want to be repetitive, but I

[48:26] can give a brief summary of where we

[48:28] started and where we are if that's

[48:30] helpful. I'm Katie Bale.

[48:33] I'm the executive vice president now at

[48:36] the Rosemary Hills PTA

[48:39] and I'm still stewarding this along

[48:42] after a long year of discussion with the

[48:45] county and waiting. Um

[48:47] and I'm grateful for

[48:50] the interest and support here. So the

[48:53] where we started was with a proposal

[48:55] that I did

[48:58] researching and talking to companies

[49:00] about costs and um what we thought as an

[49:04] estimate would be of the work and at the

[49:07] time the main consideration was increased

[49:12] shade for the space which I know you

[49:14] went and I think you went and saw

[49:16] recently. Rebecca told me that you made

[49:18] a quick little visit. Thank you for

[49:20] doing that. Um

[49:23] and to reduce maintenance. So up front

[49:26] it cost a little bit more in order to

[49:28] put some pavers in and get rid of some

[49:31] of the mulch and so our original idea

[49:34] was to get some sort of shade sail back

[49:37] there to allow for children to be out

[49:40] there without being roasting cuz there

[49:42] really isn't shade back there and then

[49:45] to kind of get rid of these big beds

[49:47] that required a lot of mulching where

[49:49] the PTA was spending thousands of

[49:51] dollars just to get it weeded.

[49:55] And so

[49:56] we brought this to the principal. She

[49:58] brought it to the district. We finally

[50:00] got up in the queue for uh discussion

[50:03] and um

[50:05] met with them in the spring and they had

[50:08] some really great suggestions about how

[50:10] to modify the project to both make it

[50:12] more cost-effective and also just easier

[50:16] to

[50:17] um maintain long-term. Like for example,

[50:20] a shade sail is lovely, but

[50:22] if it were to rip or break, it's just

[50:25] it's a onerous both financially um

[50:29] and just uh

[50:31] for the county to deal with. So, having

[50:34] the umbrellas with the tables and

[50:37] getting a tree installed that's going to

[50:40] grow into a big shade tree would be more

[50:42] cost-effective and just easier to

[50:45] maintain, which really is aligns well.

[50:48] And we've had really great discussions

[50:50] with the county on this. They've been a

[50:53] great partner in seeing what we wanted

[50:55] to do, providing us input on what other

[50:57] schools have done.

[50:59] Um and so that's brought the cost down,

[51:02] which [clears throat] is great. So,

[51:03] we're kind of closer to about 50,000 as

[51:06] opposed to 65,000,

[51:08] which uh is on account of

[51:11] the shade sail not being in there and um

[51:14] the tree that will go in. They have a um

[51:18] partnership with a local nursery where

[51:21] we can get free trees and they've

[51:23] already done that up

[51:24] on the um

[51:26] the playground side, which is lovely cuz

[51:28] we also don't really have shade on the

[51:31] playground. So, at recess, even when

[51:33] it's only like 75 out, it can feel quite

[51:35] warm. So, they've planted a bunch of

[51:37] river birch trees along the perimeter

[51:40] there

[51:42] um that will grow fast and provide more

[51:44] shade for the kids when they're out

[51:46] there for recess.

[51:48] Um

[51:49] So, that

[51:50] Now, we have approval from uh the

[51:52] district. We have a approved contract um

[51:57] and they've started clearing the space.

[52:00] We received our $10,000

[52:02] um commitment uh from Section 5 this

[52:06] week that came in the mail. Uh Section 3

[52:09] is having their meeting tonight and

[52:11] she's going to get the signatures on

[52:13] that check.

[52:14] Um and so, we're very We're in very good

[52:18] shape to make this happen and be

[52:20] completed um by the time school starts,

[52:22] which is really exciting. So, right now

[52:25] the main project is um

[52:28] clearing the space and getting it ready

[52:30] uh and that will be done in the coming

[52:33] weeks and they'll be out there watering

[52:35] the sod and uh taking care of that. And

[52:37] then the second part uh will be

[52:40] purchasing some of the educational

[52:42] items. So,

[52:43] um that's kind of where we are. I can

[52:46] talk more specific if you like, but um

[52:50] you know, just again incredibly

[52:51] grateful. And I also just want to say

[52:53] thank you again uh for that opportunity

[52:57] to come because when I spoke last year,

[52:59] it resulted in a in a different donation

[53:02] cuz I also talked to you about our food

[53:04] pantry and we got a $2,000 donation from

[53:09] um a resident who has a family

[53:11] foundation and has supported the BCC

[53:13] food pantry. And so, this year we were

[53:16] able to have

[53:18] I think six or seven um market days and

[53:21] had about 15 families each time and the

[53:24] money that we received from them

[53:26] enabled us to replenish it throughout

[53:29] the year and really had a lot of

[53:30] community buy-in. And so, now we have a

[53:33] plan next year to do more and um engage

[53:38] our families on participating in um

[53:42] contributing toward it. So, it's really

[53:45] exciting and we have a teacher who's um

[53:48] son is going to start there next year.

[53:49] She lives over in section five and she's

[53:51] going to be sort of like our in-house

[53:54] liaison to enable people to sort of go

[53:56] more on demand. Um so, I just I really

[53:59] thank

[54:01] the opportunity not just to talk about

[54:02] the outdoor classroom, but other ways

[54:04] that we ended up helping the community.

[54:06] So, thank you so much. I really

[54:08] appreciate it. Um I'm happy to answer

[54:11] question.

[54:13] >> Certainly, go right ahead, Bonnie.

[54:14] >> Yeah, thank you. Um

[54:16] when we made [clears throat] this

[54:17] appropriation, we gave 10,000 outright

[54:20] and we'd give another 10,000 if matched.

[54:22] >> Yep.

[54:22] >> We made it clear that we the match would

[54:25] not apply to governmental sources of

[54:27] fund funding.

[54:28] >> Yep.

[54:28] >> But, we also made clear that the match

[54:30] would apply for donations otherwise from

[54:33] anywhere. It didn't have to be from

[54:34] within the town.

[54:35] Um and so, I really like a little bit of

[54:38] clarification here regarding your your

[54:41] comment in your memo that the PTA can

[54:43] complete the match.

[54:45] >> We would

[54:46] >> Is that effectively from other donations

[54:47] from families and individuals?

[54:50] >> We have enough money in hand to do that.

[54:52] We wanted to contribute a part

[54:55] to it as well and I

[54:58] I'm been the treasurer and we've had a

[55:00] really strong year of

[55:03] fundraising again, probably more than I

[55:05] thought and part of that is we had an

[55:07] incredible

[55:09] uh response to our food drive in the

[55:12] fall and we received

[55:15] $12,000

[55:17] from the community to provide food that

[55:20] I thought we were otherwise going to

[55:21] have to do out of our own PTA budget.

[55:23] So, we both provide food and uh gift

[55:27] cards. So, we um we didn't have to pull

[55:30] into our money as much. So, we

[55:32] >> Wait, wait, wait, wait. I'm sorry. Let

[55:33] me Let me clarify. So, uh when you're

[55:35] suggesting if we could use the PTA

[55:38] contribution as part of the matching

[55:40] that would draw the additional money

[55:41] from our office.

[55:43] >> If you were amenable to

[55:44] >> is that where does that where does that

[55:46] PTA money coming from?

[55:48] >> That comes from just our donations.

[55:50] >> Donations from families to the PTA.

[55:53] >> right. That's right.

[55:54] >> okay. So that not from

[55:56] >> the auction or no, no, no. It's not from

[55:59] It's not a match from the I'm sorry. No, no. It This is because

[56:04] like I said, I thought we would be more

[56:06] encumbered and helping cuz we had 30

[56:08] families that we were planning for and

[56:10] then we had 60 and I thought, okay,

[56:12] well, then we're really going to have a

[56:14] lot more to spend there, but between

[56:19] community donations and um

[56:21] other things, we were able to cover

[56:23] that. So we have a little bit more than

[56:25] I expected in funds that came

[56:28] from our annual fund, spirit wear sales,

[56:31] rhino run, all things that are

[56:32] contributed from the community.

[56:34] >> I need to know. Okay. Um so the other

[56:36] question is this. In terms of the

[56:38] budget, you are still looking to get

[56:40] um

[56:42] your base I'll round it up to 50,000,

[56:44] right? Okay. And

[56:47] to get to the 50

[56:49] what I see here is 13 from section 3, 10

[56:52] from section 5

[56:53] are committed 10. So that's 33,000.

[56:58] Another if you count if you're only at

[57:00] the 2788 and only count of that, that

[57:03] would yield

[57:04] and then we would match that. Okay. So

[57:06] that's another 5,500 or thereabouts. So

[57:09] you're only at around 38,000.

[57:11] On the other hand, if we permitted the

[57:13] PTA match to be included then the town

[57:16] would put in a full additional 10, you'd

[57:18] have that other 10.

[57:20] So then you would have

[57:21] 13 plus 10

[57:24] plus 20 from us plus another 10.

[57:27] So 13 23 Um

[57:31] uh

[57:32] 53. you're much closer to actually what

[57:35] you need. Is that I

[57:36] >> That's right.

[57:37] >> Am I correct in those numbers?

[57:38] >> That's That's right. That's right. We

[57:40] We're coming in where we're in a very

[57:42] strong position and any overage, I have

[57:45] a commitment from section three to

[57:48] um

[57:49] provide that if something were to come

[57:51] up unexpected. Um and so I feel very

[57:54] confident that we can

[57:57] um put it all together. I mean, the the

[57:59] money that we have

[58:00] >> Sorry to interrupt, but I just want to

[58:01] be clear. It seems to me that

[58:03] if my colleagues are comf- comfortable

[58:04] with this, permitting the PTA donation

[58:07] to count against as as matching funds,

[58:10] which therefore would allow us to raise

[58:12] our contribution to the full 20,000,

[58:15] actually is really important in terms of

[58:17] you being able to get the budget.

[58:19] >> No, it it it is, but we

[58:22] also

[58:24] have a plan where with what we have now

[58:26] and what we contribute, we can get the

[58:30] maintenance done and then if we needed

[58:33] to

[58:34] piece out, you know, buying the

[58:36] educational board, we could do that um

[58:39] in the year as we're fundraising,

[58:43] uh

[58:44] whether it's like I said through the

[58:45] annual fund or

[58:47] whatever it is that we get. Um my family

[58:50] typically does a $10,000 match. So maybe

[58:54] instead of that, we would

[58:55] give to this. So it's it's um it is

[58:58] fluid, but I mean, we're close.

[59:05] » Um I was also a little confused. I'm

[59:07] going to play back what I think I

[59:08] understand from this and tell me if I've

[59:10] got it right.

[59:11] So your original estimate was 65,000.

[59:14] >> Yep.

[59:14] >> You've trimmed that down to 49,400.

[59:19] Plus 3,000 for the umbrellas or does

[59:21] that include 3,000 for the umbrellas?

[59:23] >> So

[59:24] >> It's just a yes or no. We I know

[59:26] >> I'm just waiting cuz I have to use um

[59:29] district-approved

[59:31] contractors. So, you know, they ballpark

[59:35] things for me, but then I need to go to

[59:37] it.

[59:37] >> Is the total project now 49,400 or is it

[59:41] 52,400?

[59:42] >> It's 52,400.

[59:43] >> Okay, so 52,400.

[59:45] >> That's what I would say is what I'm

[59:46] looking at.

[59:47] >> you hope to get.

[59:48] >> Yep.

[59:48] >> You already have

[59:51] 33 in

[59:52] hand including our 10,000.

[59:55] If the PTA

[59:57] comes up with 10, we come up with 10,

[1:00:00] you've got all the money you need.

[1:00:02] >> Yeah.

[1:00:02] >> Very close.

[1:00:03] >> Yeah.

[1:00:04] >> [laughter]

[1:00:04] >> Right.

[1:00:04] >> Yeah. Thank you.

[1:00:05] >> Yeah.

[1:00:07] >> And most immediately

[1:00:09] you need this 39 to cover the work

[1:00:12] that's already begun, right?

[1:00:13] >> And I have 23 of it. Like I've got the 10

[1:00:18] from

[1:00:19] um

[1:00:21] from section five and like as of tonight

[1:00:23] I'll have the 13 from from section

[1:00:26] three. So, I we're good to start. I

[1:00:28] mean, we wouldn't have started if we

[1:00:29] didn't think

[1:00:31] we knew you know, didn't think we had

[1:00:33] the funds

[1:00:34] to cover that.

[1:00:35] >> Is there a Is there a special account

[1:00:37] that's been set up

[1:00:38] for this project, a dedicated account?

[1:00:41] >> It's not a dedicated account. It's a

[1:00:42] line item

[1:00:44] uh but

[1:00:45] >> Line item in what in whose budget?

[1:00:46] >> In our budget. Yeah, I mean but

[1:00:48] >> It meaning the PTA's budget?

[1:00:50] >> PTA budget. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean,

[1:00:51] there's a line for it, but it's not if

[1:00:54] you mean like did we set up a separate

[1:00:56] bank account? No, but

[1:00:58] >> Okay. I just want to make sure I

[1:00:59] understood.

[1:01:00] >> Yeah, yeah.

[1:01:01] >> Just in terms of tracking our donation.

[1:01:03] >> Yeah, no, I

[1:01:05] So, everything that came in with that

[1:01:07] gets tracked to

[1:01:09] a specific number in QuickBooks. So, all

[1:01:13] of that is tracked. So, when I sent that

[1:01:15] from Todd, you know, that was everything

[1:01:19] that came from from

[1:01:22] that request, the 2788, and that's

[1:01:26] marked when we run the report on that, that's

[1:01:31] everything marked to that specific link.

[1:01:33] It's

[1:01:35] the 7,000 is from our general fund

[1:01:38] though. Like if we were to do the

[1:01:40] remaining match, that's just PTA general

[1:01:43] fund.

[1:01:44] >> Right. Okay.

[1:01:44] >> Does that make sense?

[1:01:47] » Okay, so I have um so thank you, Katie.

[1:01:50] Um I have some questions for for you all

[1:01:52] and and for Todd in terms of how we

[1:01:54] would do this. So, in the past when

[1:01:57] we've given other grants and and we have

[1:01:59] done other grants to nonprofit

[1:02:01] organizations that serve town residents,

[1:02:04] um

[1:02:05] we

[1:02:06] write the check to the organization. So,

[1:02:09] let's just start with the 10 grand that

[1:02:11] we

[1:02:12] committed. Um and then how have we ever

[1:02:16] done matching funds? And if so, how

[1:02:19] would we verify that those matching

[1:02:21] funds were actually collected for this

[1:02:23] purpose?

[1:02:27] » Oh gosh.

[1:02:27] >> Well, I Oh, sorry.

[1:02:29] >> Yeah.

[1:02:29] >> Todd. Go ahead.

[1:02:31] Todd.

[1:02:32] >> Off the top of my head, I don't know if

[1:02:33] we've done any done anything like this

[1:02:35] in in a matching way, but I don't have

[1:02:38] total recall right now over the past

[1:02:41] 20-some years to know if we've ever done

[1:02:43] this, but not that I can recollect.

[1:02:47] » Yeah, I haven't either.

[1:02:48] >> [clears throat]

[1:02:49] >> This was an

[1:02:50] off-the-cuff idea and how to try to

[1:02:52] >> I have I mean, I have from because it

[1:02:55] was um primarily people giving through

[1:02:59] um online donation. Like I the list that

[1:03:03] I produce comes from Stripe, and I can

[1:03:05] produce more evidence of it being a real

[1:03:10] transaction if you need, but that that

[1:03:13] comes from people clicking on a specific

[1:03:15] link that only goes to the outdoor

[1:03:18] classroom funding. So, I was really

[1:03:22] intentional about tracking it

[1:03:24] >> Correct.

[1:03:24] >> that way.

[1:03:25] Um

[1:03:26] so,

[1:03:27] I feel really and I'd be happy to open

[1:03:29] up the books to Todd, to anyone to to

[1:03:32] see the back end of Stripe of, you know,

[1:03:35] the verified transactions

[1:03:37] that have happened, you know, um

[1:03:40] if that would make you feel comfortable.

[1:03:42] >> Yes.

[1:03:43] >> And then um for us, I mean,

[1:03:46] we would probably if you allow the PTA

[1:03:50] to do it, we would probably give a check

[1:03:53] or I don't know what we would have to

[1:03:55] show, a check or something set aside.

[1:03:57] Maybe I would

[1:03:58] pay to that link

[1:04:01] from our bank account, you know, to show

[1:04:04] the money from the PTA went or

[1:04:06] something. I'm trying to think of how we

[1:04:08] would maybe pay ourselves on that link

[1:04:11] so that you could see

[1:04:13] that. And so, we have the address and

[1:04:15] name and contact information of

[1:04:18] everybody. Yeah, yeah. And then they would be us.

[1:04:21] >> Okay, so I think we can work out with

[1:04:23] the town manager an appropriate way

[1:04:25] >> I can definitely get with you the

[1:04:27] nitty-gritty of it. Um

[1:04:29] but that those are that's how we went

[1:04:32] about it and part of the reason we did

[1:04:34] that specific link through Stripe, which

[1:04:37] is our payment processor, was

[1:04:39] to keep all of that separate from,

[1:04:42] you know, spirit wear, whatever, you

[1:04:44] know, all the other little things that

[1:04:45] we do. So, that was only for that.

[1:04:48] >> Okay. Okay.

[1:04:50] >> And we may we could also ask for a

[1:04:51] post-project report how the funds were

[1:04:53] used uh to ensure that our auditor has

[1:04:57] everything that they need to

[1:04:59] >> [clears throat]

[1:04:59] >> ensure that

[1:05:00] >> Okay.

[1:05:00] >> So, absolutely they're kidding me if

[1:05:02] they can't be provided a report on

[1:05:05] >> you need.

[1:05:07] All right. Very good.

[1:05:11] And that I've been the treasurer, so

[1:05:12] I've been the one also like I'm

[1:05:15] going into a different role, but I've

[1:05:17] been the one handling all the

[1:05:19] transactions, so I feel really

[1:05:21] comfortable like that everything is in

[1:05:23] good order.

[1:05:25] >> I was going to suggest that

[1:05:27] in addition to whatever detail Todd

[1:05:29] thinks is necessary,

[1:05:32] just a letter that is a certification,

[1:05:35] you know, we have an approval that we

[1:05:36] took a few months ago.

[1:05:39] And you know, something from the PTA

[1:05:41] that certifies that they've raised money

[1:05:44] in accordance with

[1:05:46] how we approved it, so we can match. So,

[1:05:49] just have that as a

[1:05:50] single document and then

[1:05:52] I'd leave it to Todd as to how much

[1:05:54] verification beyond that he feels is

[1:05:56] necessary.

[1:05:57] >> No, that makes sense. We can do

[1:05:59] something that um is similar to the

[1:06:01] acknowledgement from the district and

[1:06:03] sort of

[1:06:05] puts all of that in a piece and you can

[1:06:07] have exhibits that show both, you know,

[1:06:10] the district approval, the approved

[1:06:12] contract, and the maintenance

[1:06:14] contract that we have with the you know,

[1:06:17] with the district.

[1:06:19] But we're very excited cuz it's going to

[1:06:21] make the space more usable. So, we're we really do appreciate it.

[1:06:27] » Very good.

[1:06:28] So, Todd, what is the next step for us?

[1:06:31] Do we need to make a motion to approve

[1:06:34] the grant? Um

[1:06:35] from what I understand though, the the

[1:06:37] $10,000 grant was that already approved

[1:06:39] last year?

[1:06:39] >> Yes.

[1:06:40] >> Okay. So, that grant was approved.

[1:06:42] >> There were conditions to it though.

[1:06:44] >> Yeah.

[1:06:44] >> Which have to be met including the

[1:06:46] contract and some other items. Todd, you

[1:06:48] may recall the specifics of it.

[1:06:49] But yes, there were some conditions. It

[1:06:51] was It was an outright grant of 10,000.

[1:06:53] >> Right. Okay. And so then the contract

[1:06:55] has at least for the for the phase one

[1:06:57] work of the outdoor classroom has been

[1:06:59] presented with Katie's materials. And so

[1:07:02] then the only thing that needs to be

[1:07:03] done is as Carlos suggested a

[1:07:05] certification that other funds have been

[1:07:07] raised.

[1:07:08] >> do we I think the the question is what

[1:07:10] is the size of the matching grant?

[1:07:12] >> Right.

[1:07:12] >> Uh and are we comfortable that the PTA

[1:07:15] contribution could count against the

[1:07:17] match? If we are,

[1:07:19] then if I understand Katie's point, we

[1:07:22] would then be providing an additional

[1:07:23] $10,000

[1:07:26] rather than only the additional 20 788.

[1:07:30] Um and

[1:07:31] >> And if you're if you decide that you're

[1:07:33] not

[1:07:35] >> We would need a motion for that.

[1:07:37] >> Yeah.

[1:07:38] >> Um but we have a plan still even if you

[1:07:42] were to not approve that. We will still

[1:07:44] put up money from the PTA and we just

[1:07:47] didn't have, you know,

[1:07:50] 50,000 to do on our own, but we always

[1:07:52] plan to commit money and um if you don't

[1:07:57] think that that's an appropriate way cuz

[1:07:59] I really wasn't sure. I asked Todd. I

[1:08:01] was like, I don't even know if that is

[1:08:04] allowed to say, you know, the PTA would

[1:08:06] get the match from their funds, but I'm

[1:08:09] prepared to go back to section three and

[1:08:11] they will assist me. I I'm confident of

[1:08:14] that.

[1:08:15] >> Okay, so then

[1:08:16] >> By the way, I think

[1:08:18] >> Todd, go ahead.

[1:08:19] >> Yeah. Uh a PTA is a non-governmental

[1:08:21] source. It's it's a 501c3. So I I that

[1:08:25] would be eligible for a match from the

[1:08:26] town.

[1:08:27] Yeah, in in

[1:08:30] um

[1:08:31] June of 2025, uh there was a resolution

[1:08:34] that was submitted to a public hearing

[1:08:36] for this support. Um obviously the

[1:08:39] contribution was subject to conditions

[1:08:41] being met.

[1:08:42] Uh they have been met according to your

[1:08:45] discussion this evening. Um and there

[1:08:48] was a commitment to provide that support

[1:08:50] on those conditions. So tonight would

[1:08:52] just be a motion for a supplemental

[1:08:55] appropriation for the entire amount of

[1:08:57] what you decide to contribute.

[1:09:00] >> I see. So we're voting on or we're

[1:09:03] proposing a resolution to approve the

[1:09:05] match.

[1:09:06] >> Yes.

[1:09:07] >> Because the council's already approved

[1:09:09] the grant that was $10,000.

[1:09:10] >> not not exactly. They didn't approve it

[1:09:13] was a resolution to support it with

[1:09:15] certain funding levels if conditions

[1:09:17] were met. So, it was a conditional

[1:09:19] support or commit conditional

[1:09:21] commitment. Tonight you would do a

[1:09:23] supplemental for the entire amount of

[1:09:25] the contribution.

[1:09:27] >> I see. Okay. So, we're comfortable that

[1:09:31] following the resolution that was made

[1:09:33] last year for the $10,000 commitment

[1:09:35] that we would approve that

[1:09:37] payment to the Rosemary Hills PTA.

[1:09:41] >> I mean, I suggest the wording as follows

[1:09:43] that we

[1:09:45] make an appropriation tonight of

[1:09:48] uh

[1:09:51] 20,000 Well, let me let me say it in two

[1:09:54] pieces. Appropriation of 10,000

[1:09:57] plus another 10,000 upon evidence

[1:10:01] acceptable to our town manager of a

[1:10:04] matching amount of 10,000.

[1:10:06] And that we accept that the PTA

[1:10:08] contribution will count as part of that

[1:10:10] match.

[1:10:12] With what we know tonight, that

[1:10:13] effectively means that we'll be

[1:10:14] appropriating $20,000.

[1:10:17] >> Thank you.

[1:10:19] Well said. [clears throat]

[1:10:20] >> Okay.

[1:10:21] >> I'll second.

[1:10:24] » All in favor.

[1:10:25] >> I.

[1:10:27] >> Thank you again. Maybe if you have time

[1:10:29] when we're finished, we'd love to have

[1:10:31] you come see the space. We would really

[1:10:33] appreciate that.

[1:10:33] >> before the beginning of the school year?

[1:10:35] >> It should be the the um maintenance part

[1:10:39] is definitely the ordering of some of

[1:10:41] the um

[1:10:43] of the educational materials is sort of

[1:10:46] like dependent, but they'll still be

[1:10:48] able to use it and enjoy it um right

[1:10:52] away in in the fall, which is really

[1:10:55] nice.

[1:10:55] >> Right.

[1:10:56] >> Thank you so much.

[1:10:57] >> Okay.

[1:10:59] >> Thank you.

[1:11:01] Do we have any other items for

[1:11:02] discussion this evening?

[1:11:04] >> Uh I think the only other one if I can

[1:11:06] offer one which Rich and join an absent

[1:11:08] conversation about because of dealing

[1:11:10] with traffic but obviously we've all

[1:11:12] seen the not large number of notes in

[1:11:13] the list serve

[1:11:15] regarding the parking policy. And um

[1:11:19] the uh

[1:11:22] I I've I think that the

[1:11:25] what's happened in the past in this and

[1:11:27] I've I'm not just speaking about Rich

[1:11:28] has been the most recent liaison to the

[1:11:30] public services committee but I was the

[1:11:32] liaison when we last really took up this

[1:11:34] issue with a deep dive a couple of years

[1:11:35] ago.

[1:11:36] And the PSC does really great work but

[1:11:40] inevitably only the people who are

[1:11:42] directly involved in the issue in hand

[1:11:44] end up knowing much about it. So I think

[1:11:47] one of the things that's really starkly

[1:11:49] evident from reading these list serve

[1:11:51] posts is how little people know about

[1:11:54] the policy. Uh I you you would come to

[1:11:57] think that somehow we we we grant

[1:12:00] certain streets a privilege of having

[1:12:02] permitted parking

[1:12:03] uh for the purpose of being able to park

[1:12:06] as close as possible. That's the

[1:12:08] which obviously is not the way the

[1:12:10] policy works

[1:12:12] uh and nor obviously the intent.

[1:12:15] Uh so uh my thought was that we ought to

[1:12:18] put out some kind of

[1:12:20] notice um

[1:12:22] to really in allow people to understand

[1:12:26] not only what our policy is but why it

[1:12:28] we have policy we have and get into some

[1:12:31] of the issues that in fact have been

[1:12:33] grappled with in the past. Um and and um

[1:12:38] and

[1:12:38] one way I was thinking of doing this was

[1:12:40] through a Q&A

[1:12:41] that we could eventually put out as a

[1:12:43] town crier which we know it then be

[1:12:45] picked up on the list serve as at least

[1:12:47] a first effort to on on mass address

[1:12:51] the questions. Uh and to give one

[1:12:53] example that we drilled down on before,

[1:12:56] but is pertinent, uh

[1:12:58] clearly there are residents who feel

[1:13:00] that some number of of residents who

[1:13:02] have parking permits abuse the privilege

[1:13:05] and not only park on the street they

[1:13:07] live, but when they want to go to Trader

[1:13:09] Joe's or somewhere over near Bethesda,

[1:13:11] they park over on the eastern edge of

[1:13:13] the town. Uh and the western edge of the

[1:13:15] town. Um and I sure there is some of

[1:13:18] that. I don't know how much, but

[1:13:20] let's grant that it happens. Um the PSC

[1:13:24] considered that issue very carefully

[1:13:26] with the view that the only way you

[1:13:28] could really solve it would be actually

[1:13:30] to go to kind of zonal parking. And and

[1:13:32] the streets closest to the west edge of

[1:13:34] the town would have their own zone.

[1:13:37] Um but, you know, on reflection, the

[1:13:39] committee felt and the council that I

[1:13:41] was on at the time agreed

[1:13:44] that that's becomes problematic. First

[1:13:46] of all, it just means people who want to

[1:13:47] get close to Bethesda park on the edge

[1:13:50] of whatever zone they're allowed to be

[1:13:51] in. So, the situation moves back from

[1:13:54] 46th Street to 45th Street or whatever,

[1:13:56] you know, wherever you put it. And then

[1:13:58] you also get caught up with families

[1:14:01] that live right at the border

[1:14:03] and who may be seeking to park and now

[1:14:05] find that they're parking in the wrong

[1:14:07] zone and are you know, liable for for a

[1:14:10] citation

[1:14:12] because they strayed across the line and

[1:14:14] they're parking in the wrong zone. So,

[1:14:16] at the end, the the committee and

[1:14:19] ultimately the council said, look,

[1:14:21] for all those reasons, leave things the

[1:14:23] way they are, but let's again try some

[1:14:25] moral suasion.

[1:14:27] And we did have some more

[1:14:30] you know, town criers and other messages

[1:14:32] saying, please, essentially, don't abuse

[1:14:34] this. This is still allow you to park

[1:14:36] near your homes conveniently

[1:14:39] and [clears throat] to hold back the

[1:14:40] number of other people who'd be parking

[1:14:42] near your home so you can. Uh but don't

[1:14:45] take this as a license to park, you

[1:14:47] know, on 46th Street. So, anyway, that was what we did and obviously all

[1:14:52] that has been either wasn't fully

[1:14:54] understood, appreciated, or communicated

[1:14:56] well. Could be our fault, but I think

[1:14:59] given the spate of these listserv

[1:15:01] notices, it's worthwhile our making an

[1:15:03] effort to, as I you've often heard me

[1:15:05] say, rerun the commercial and at least

[1:15:07] lay it out and and then obviously there

[1:15:10] could still be more commentary and we

[1:15:12] may have to grapple with it again, but

[1:15:13] at least people should go into the

[1:15:15] discussion with more information than

[1:15:17] thinking that that we set up a permit

[1:15:19] system and arbitrarily

[1:15:21] we and the council make decisions about

[1:15:23] this and that somehow it's a privilege

[1:15:25] to have a permit.

[1:15:27] >> Thanks for the background on that,

[1:15:28] Bernie. It is really

[1:15:31] it's a fraught issue. I remember last

[1:15:33] time I was on the council we talked

[1:15:35] about parking many times, but it it does

[1:15:38] bear repeating. So, thanks

[1:15:41] and thanks for your input on working on

[1:15:43] that FAQ document.

[1:15:45] >> And I'll I'll I'll engage Rich as well.

[1:15:48] >> [laughter]

[1:15:49] >> Claude does pretty good work, Joy. Thank

[1:15:52] you.

[1:15:52] >> [laughter]

[1:15:53] >> I'm sorry.

[1:15:55] Oh, Claude does pretty good work, yeah.

[1:15:56] Whoever Claude is.

[1:15:58] >> Whoever Claude is, indeed.

[1:16:01] All right, if we don't have any other

[1:16:02] issues, we will adjourn this meeting.

[1:16:05] >> Okay.

Town of Chevy Chase Town Council Meeting- July 8, 2026

Agenda

Transcript