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I guess we're, I'm assuming we're live at this point. So let's just pretend I bang the gavel and I am welcoming everybody to the April 2020 regular meeting of the mayor and city council.

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This is the first time we've ever had to or tried to do a virtual meeting so we're going to see how this goes, but we're going to start off tonight with a roll call.

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Um, and I'll call out Council, I'll count call out our participants names.

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You guys say here, we'll just make sure everybody's audio is working.

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Start off with Council member Sessma.

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I'm here.

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Council member Spiegel.

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Here.

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Council member sales.

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Here.

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Council member Harris.

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I'm here too.

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Thank you.

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Council member Wu.

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Here Mr. Mayor.

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City attorney board.

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I'm here.

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City manager Thomas Lowe here.

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City Cork Stokes.

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Here.

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And silently around us, we have our our tech team,

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we're here to help us with any issues and help facilitate this meeting.

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We're going to start off now with a pledge of allegiance,

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and Steve, we can sync this as well as we can.

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I guess I'll do it like a 3, 2, 1 and we'll say it.

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Okay, 3, 2, 1.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag.

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of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation

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nation, individual with liberty and justice for all. Okay, it was a mess but we did

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our best. So next on our agenda is reflection and I want to just make a quick statement

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that I hope this meeting, this virtual meeting finds everyone well, safe, hang in in there.

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We have missed everybody.

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We have missed being in the community.

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I want to take a quick opportunity to express our gratitude to our staff, particularly our

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essential staff, including our police and public works.

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In the broader community, the doctors, the nurses, the lab tech, the food service folks,

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delivery folks, waste management personnel, gas station attendants, the folks at the food banks,

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homeless shelters, pharmacists, and all the essential services and volunteers not to mention

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everybody at Netflix because where would we be? And I want to thank, I want to send a thanks

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to our community on behalf of the Council for doing such a good job with social distancing. It

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really seems to be making a difference, and we need to keep doing it, but we're making

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it a big difference for saving lives, so thank you for that.

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On a, even more somber note, I want to acknowledge the passing of Tim Clark, a former member

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of our Board of Supervisors of Elections and a person who was active for a lot of years

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in the Kentlands community as well, and I understand Councilmember Spiegel lost his stepfather yesterday, Rudy Fleischman.

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And so as we go into a moment of silence, I'd ask that we think of Tim Clark, Rudy Fleischman,

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and everyone who's been impacted by this COVID-19 crisis.

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I want to silence, please.

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Thank you.

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Again, this first time we're trying this virtually,

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there are bound to be some technical issues we're doing our best so we appreciate you

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bringing with us. The next item on our agenda is appointments and we have two sets of appointments

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tonight and I will say for the first one what is the pleasure of the council and I see Neil

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is raising his hand. Neil you're on mute take yourself off mute and go ahead and do you say thank

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you I wanted to take this one because I'm very familiar with the people that we're going to

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point today because when I had a pet, this was our veterinary office. So I'd like to move

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the resolution to confirm your appointments to the animal control board for three-year term

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for David Handell and for Natasha Chapman as the alternate term to expire April of 2023.

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Okay. Now for our votes, we're going to do a roll call just so we can be clearly get everyone.

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And so I'm just going to do it in the order I see the boxes on my screen, Council Member

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Sessma.

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Council Member Harris.

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Council Member Spiegel.

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Aye.

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Council Member Sails.

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Aye.

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Council Member Wu.

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All right, carries unanimously.

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Next we have appointments to the police advisory committee, economic and business development,

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multi-cultural affairs and transportation. What is the pleasure of the council?

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Councillor Mayer, I'd like to move the approval. Mayer, I'd like to move the approval

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for the resolution for the appointments and re-appointments to the multi-cultural affairs committee.

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Police advisory committee and transportation committee. The police advisory committee

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for a two-year term, the re-appointment for a three-year term for a delete step for the economic and business development committee, and a two-year term for the mayor and the same for the multicultural affairs committees, as well as Washington and Sago, a two-year term for the police advisory committee for Diane Cabinets and a two-year term for Carol

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Robert.

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Rob Wu. Okay. All those in favor. Now, do the roll call. Council member Sessma.

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Hi. Council member Eris. Hi. Council member Spiegel. Hi. Council member Sails.

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Hi. And Council member Wu. Hi. Thank you all very much, carries unanimously.

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Next, we have, we're going to go into

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public comments.

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And the way our web form worked is people were able to

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delay need if because we know we're going to have a number of comments about the

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Kelly Park MCPS issue. But we also had some that side up for general public

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comments. We have four who've signed up for that and I'm going to call on them

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first and then we'll get into the Kelly Park comments. So first one

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if you could bring up Nancy and then Nancy,

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if you want to unmute yourself,

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if you can stage your name after you stage your name,

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we'll start the timer and you can just start your test of money.

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Nancy, answer side.

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I live at 423 Sanders Lane and I'd like to make comments

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that have to do with both Kelly Park and the election plans.

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First, a park with a school would not be safe as a current park

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because of the majority of what remains for park

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is in the back of the acreage.

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And we're not be visible to passing motorists.

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Most of the children who use the park live

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in small condos are apartments or townhouses,

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which provide affordable housing.

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Kelly Park is their current equivalent of a backyard,

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and they need to be safe there.

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Additionally, losing the tennis courts

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would make the park less safe.

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It is a great place for adults to sit and talk

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while small children safely play and ride their tentacles

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and their two wheelers with training wheels in enclosed area.

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It also increases the responsible adult presence in the park.

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Second, I would like to address what appears to be a plan to stop allowing writing candidates.

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This massive attempt to protect incumbents probably in response to the anti-kelly park school vote.

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Almost 20% of the votes were two of the writing candidates and Robert will receive 15% more of the votes than the other two incumbents.

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This was almost certainly because of activists believed that the writing candidates in Robert

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Wu would oppose putting in school with Kelli Park.

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The activists talked to voters at three sites, Bill of Ridge, City Hall, and as very

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Methodist Village.

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The vote differences at these three sites are obvious.

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It suggests that Kelli Park activists were more organized, writing candidates would have had

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a real shot at winning the election largely because of its opposition to having a school

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in Kelli Park.

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Third, closing village as a voting site would, and moving the voters to City Hall would make the City Hall area voting location likely to have the most voters.

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This is a bad idea because community trains and traffic flow made by the City Hall make the area too difficult because of the commuter hours during commuter hours when many people are rushing to vote.

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Fourth, moving the village precinct to City Hall might serve to disenfranchise the voters in the affordable apartments and condos in the village area.

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Many of those village occupants have limited transportation occupants and use Route 61 bus to get out of the area.

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The Route 61 bus does not go near City Hall.

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Is this something that is planned is a retaliation for the large right in the road for village.

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Thank you for your consideration, I'm finished.

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Thank you very much.

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Next, we have Jackie Decarlo,

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Tech Team, if you could bring up Jackie,

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and Jackie, if you could just stage your name,

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and then we'll begin the timer in your testimony.

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My name is Jackie Decarlo,

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I'm the CEO of Manifood Center,

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and I appreciate the opportunity to greet you

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all the last time I saw you in person,

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most of you was Dr. King's birthday food drive and the world has changed a lot. I appreciate

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the ingenuity of the webinar so that Manic can present on behalf of the food and nutrition

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coalition in the city of Gatorsburg, our partners in that are nourished now and Gatorsburg

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help. I'll do my best to represent them all. We as a coalition want to thank you all for your

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steady, compassionate, and forward-looking leadership

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during these difficult times.

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We're all being tested as community leaders,

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and we appreciate your dedication to service.

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Before the public health emergency

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and the economic crisis that is in the making.

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Jackie, Jackie, can you pause the timer for a second?

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Jackie, is this testimony related to our budget?

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Yes, it is.

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Okay, I hate to do this to you

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because about our budget public hearing is coming up later in the meeting and I want to

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get you on the record in the right spot.

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Okay, sure.

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But, you know, it could be a little time before we get back to you because we're expecting

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a lot of testimony on Kelly Park.

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So, so bear with us.

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But I want to make sure you guys get in the record in the right place.

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So, just hold off for now.

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Understood.

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Okay.

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Thank you.

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I have a, I have a feeling, uh,

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tech team, the next speaker I have is Bob Honage, Tara,

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and I have a feeling he's also here to talk about the budget, too.

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Bob, are you there?

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Yes, I am, Air Ashman. Thank you very much.

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And Bob, were you, did you intend to sign up to speak about, about the city budget

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or was it about other general issues? No, it is indeed about the city budget.

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Okay, then, and how about, is, is it the same for Julian,

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because I haven't down as well? Yes, it is.

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Okay, we're going to have you guys sit tight, I apologize, you know, have a snack, it's going to be a little while before we get back to you.

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No worries.

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Okay.

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That concludes the general public comments that we had down signed up for thus far.

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So we're going to go to our Kelly Park MCPS testimonies, and we're going to start with Jim McNulty.

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tag team if you could bring up Jim and then Jim once you're on muted just state your name and we'll start the timer and we you can go ahead and give your test of money

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Jim is unfortunately on an older version of zoom and it is now allowing him to speak.

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It's possible that if he upgrades his version of zoom that you may be able to circle back around to a mayor.

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Okay, let's circle back. Okay, then we will go to Melissa McKenna.

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We have Melissa here.

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Yes, I'm here.

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Okay, stage your name, Melissa, and then go right ahead.

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Good evening, Mayor and Council.

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This is Melissa McKenna, a proud city resident for more than 16 years.

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Thank you for this opportunity for virtual testimony.

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After many years before you, on the topic of Gaythersburg Elementary Number 8,

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we need you to vote yesterday.

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So MCPK asks, can get on with building this desperately needed school.

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Having been the MCCPTA, capital improvements program committee chair for three years,

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And having served on the site selection advisory committee for this project, I'd like to provide some context, history and facts.

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While it seems that this story began in 2014, we really have to go back to 2012 and a feasibility study for an addition to strawberry nozzlementary.

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The addition would have added capacity of 150 to 640 students relocated the main office and created a security vestibule.

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Not unusually for MCPS, the feasibility study was the end of the road.

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Then came McGaithersburg cluster capacity study in 2014-15.

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With your help, thank you, parents succeeded in overruling the proposed remedy of

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buzzing Gathersburg Elementary students and others out to Latinsville.

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We've referred the consideration of a new elementary school.

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Next up, the Tri-Cluster Roundtable Considering Magruder and Wooten Clusters for Relief.

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Finding that on workable, in April 2016, the Board of Ad approved an addition to Gathersburg

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Elementary.

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On a feasibility study began that July for completion August 2020, but now a 1,000 student school, no matter how they did it, was not viable.

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Bringing us to the 2017 site selection, MCPS brought 14 possible sites to us. The good.

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The bad, the ugly, and the really bad. That victory farm park was not included on that list, means it didn't

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even pass preliminary possibility. Using part of Kelly Park is the best option. Proximity to the high

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density of children attending Gapersburg was a significant factor, as was the availability of the site,

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versus timing and cost of acquiring a private site. I'm disappointed that valuable time has been wasted

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on pursuing Victory Farm Park, whose environmental study confirmed its use is only justifiable

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if no other viable development options on or off-site exist.

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I've read the agreement. This is a great deal for the city.

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MPS is offering and the county is ready to fund a minimum $26 million investment in our city.

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Keep in mind, this is not the only school we will need.

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Summit Hall and Rosemont are far from this site and may need additions or preferably a new Summit Hall.

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We have already lost valuable time and MCPS wasted hundreds of not thousands of dollars.

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Schools in this past month have been crucial in responding to emergencies.

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Now is the time to show your support of our community and our children.

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Send the strong message that you hear them and they matter.

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Please vote yes to authorize GES number eight at Kelly Park.

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Thank you.

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Thank you, Melissa.

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Next speaker we have is Seth.

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Tech team can you bring Seth up.

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And then Seth wants you on mute.

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Just state your name and go ahead and start your testimony.

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Members are the board.

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My name is Seth came in and I live at 205.

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Fair Grove Circle in Sabre.

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My husband and I have a two and a half year old daughter.

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Who hopefully will be attending this new school.

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And we are encouraging you to vote for the new school this evening.

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My testimony today isn't about us alone, though, and I'd like to share some thoughts about who we, your silent supporters, are.

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Many of us are at home feeding our kids, giving them a bath, or putting them to sleep right now.

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We're working full time while taking care of our children, and we haven't had a second to think about this.

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And maybe some of us are even still working in the ER this evening, or delivering dinners, or doing some other idea that has taken us away from being able to be at this meeting.

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We are people who want a new school to alleviate overcrowding in five other elementary schools.

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Who are hoping to have a new facility that provides a local summer camp, art and cultural programming,

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and fields, reports and community gatherings.

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We are people who understand what a gift this is, a fully funded school commitment in the time of economic distress,

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in a time when there is such competition for new educational space.

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We are parents who want to know their kids can walk to a school via a safe, direct pathway from their homes.

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Who are willing to take 15 minutes of delayed exit from their neighborhoods to ensure our kids get to school safely.

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And we are the parents who will volunteer at this new school, enabling our students to make the Gathesburg cluster a more engaged supportive community.

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They, like me, don't understand why there is still a debate about opening a new school.

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We are willing to sacrifice 18 months of construction or the lack of overnight parking or a lost tennis court to gain so much more.

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We don't understand why we aren't working together to ensure that we have a community that will attract future home buyers, more businesses and lots of investment.

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We know we want this school.

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We want the opportunity to have our kids at a school that has built for them.

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And so on behalf of all of these, all of my community,

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all of my neighbors and all the parents just like me,

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please help us move forward with this school.

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Thank you.

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Thank you, Seth.

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The next speaker I have on my list is Carolyn.

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Tech team, can you bring up Carolyn?

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Carolyn, once you unmute yourself,

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just state your name and we'll start the timer.

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Hi, this is Carolyn Garvey.

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I live at 412 Sabreq View Drive and Gathersburg for 10 years.

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I appreciate this opportunity to speak to the council tonight.

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Although I am one of the Gathersburg cluster coordinators for MCCPTA,

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I'm speaking on behalf of myself today. I have spoken to the City Council numerous times regarding Kelly Park as a proposed site for the new elementary school, and I've gone back and forth on how I felt on this decision that you're going to make today.

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On one hand, you have multiple schools that have been overcrowded for years, and on the other hand, you have a neighborhood who feels scorned by MCPS's boundary decision, boundary decision for a middle school built in 1999.

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I can understand how my neighbors distressed this school system decision from 20 years ago,

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and I also understand that children need a green space to run around.

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But children also need a school school that are not stressed with having too many students.

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I have two children who attend Gatesburg Elementary School.

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My son, who is a fifth grader, has 149 fifth grade classmates who all eat lunch at the same time.

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He told me that the lunch line can be so long at times that when he gets his lunch when he

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finally gets his lunch, the lunch period is over and he does not sometimes is not having

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enough time to eat it. There are also currently 11 portables at the Gathersburg Elementary

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School which have taken up most of the black-top area that was formally a play area. The teachers

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and staff do a phenomenal job at managing the crowds, dismissals, lunch rams and playgrounds,

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but I prefer that they put that energy and focus on other things

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that are in which students engagement education.

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Back in 2015, I was on the Gaydenburg Capacity Committee,

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also known as the Tri-Closter Committee,

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that included representatives from Gaythageburg,

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Wu and Immigriger Clusters,

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and we were presented with options such as

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Boston Gaythageburg Kids to Other Clusters.

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I also represented the MCPTA

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MCCPTA during the site selection committee

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for the new school, and as much as I offer

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further to be another option, location for the school, it is more economical location for

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our county versus clear cutting the land, tearing down another building or building new roads,

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as a taxpayer for the city and the county and the preferred of this location for the

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up, over other options that prefer. Yes, the students need green space, but students are also

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at the school for six hours a day, five days a week out of nine months of the year. They spend

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majority of their day out of school. So if the concerns about what the children need, then shouldn't

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that choice support where they spend the majority of their time. I trust that the City Council

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will do the right thing by moving forward by allowing MCPS to have the land that is in the agreement.

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Thank you. Thank you, Carolyn. Texting the next person I have on our list is Dave Anderson. If you

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bring Dave up and then and Dave want to unmute yourself just state your name and go ahead and start.

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I'm Dave Anderson and I live at Wexton Run. I'm Dave Anderson, I live at Wexton Run.

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I just see the clock start. Yeah, go right ahead. Reading the conveyance document,

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I was just utterly amazed. If I read this conveyance correctly, the city of Gator's words

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going to pay for part of the construction caused by the school, and then the maintenance of

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those parts afterward. Then we're all going to then we're going to turn around and hand over

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to public schools authority to approve or just approve all city programs that want to use the

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park. They can say no to our city programs. That's not a great deal. I can only imagine what distance

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citizens of Gatorsburg will think when they learn that you are giving up control of what

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park is left and using the tax dollars for county responsibility all for school they cannot use.

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I was led to believe by members of the city council, some members of the city council that

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local student walking access was a key issue. Here we're having a vote before the boundary study

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is complete or included in the conveyance. Public schools will never allow walking students

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to this school. They have proved it time and again. None of your constituents concerns have been

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addressed in this conference. It's basically a giveaway to the public schools and a giveaway

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in which the local community was not included in the decision. Now I have observed city council

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administrative staff and the meetings in the past. You're all competent and knowledgeable

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and really smart. I have to hand it to you. Mr. Thomas Lowe, I think you got the best of you

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you could. I believe the public schools was in transcendent and refused to negotiate that being

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that case to me there's only one thing to do and that's the vote no in the school.

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We should have been included in the original decision and what we want is the park and the school

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and that is possible. You don't have to give up the park to have a school.

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City of Gatorsburg is not an extension of the Montgomery County Public School

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system. We are incorporated in our own right and the mayor, the city council, staff, and citizens

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of Gatorsburg deserve the respect of an independent governing body and should have the option

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of being included in the decision making and not having it shoved down our throat.

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And I respect Mr. Thomas

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Lowe for the effort he put into it. He obviously had it, but it wasn't going to work with the public

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school system the way it is. Thank you. Thank you Dave. Tech team next speaker I have his

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Oscar if you can bring Oscar up and Oscar once you're unmuted just stage your name and go ahead and

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Good evening. My name is Oscar Alvaranga. Thank you Mayor and city council members for this opportunity to speak.

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on gave us regulatory number eight and I will start with say in as a past PTA cluster coordinator

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serving a Gatorsburg schools, a past PTA president of Summit Hall of Mentory and be an involved

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for over nine years and be heavily involved in our public education, be in surrounded by many

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different types of people that have come together for common good.

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Those of us that have been studying and advocating for our community and our children for many years now,

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all have come to an agreement that saying yes to building this school is what makes sense.

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We don't have this opportunity often, and most of the time, given MCPS and history throughout the county,

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is that it takes forever to move along and to get anything done of this magnitude of building a new school.

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And while there is some kinks to be worked out and it's not everything is not perfect.

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I do agree that some things need to be ironed out.

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The fact is that the time is now to vote yes to build this school.

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We have been meeting and studying locations for this for years now.

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Many people that might not agree on a lot of things have all agreed on the fact that the time is now to build this school.

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Of course, as a past PT president of Summit Hall, I would advocate to the world that Summit Hall needs to be rebuilt.

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be in over capacity for over 10 years. School that was built for 471 students have over 700 currently.

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But in that advocacy, we came back to understanding that a new school in our cluster makes sense.

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It would not only take care of students at one school, it would take care of students throughout the county.

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and having an ability to have students like at Gatorsburg Elementary not have to wait forever to be fed makes sense.

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And most of us that are advocating will not take, will not be able to participate in having our kids in a new school,

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but we understand what our kids have gone through and feel that is important to fight for the future and our kids' kids.

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So, a new school in Gatorsburg is needed and has been needed and I'm asking for you to

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vote yes on building the new school for the city of Gatorsburg.

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Thank you.

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Thank you, Oscar.

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Next speaker, Tech Team, is Lynn.

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If you can bring Lynn up and Lynn, once you unmute yourself, just state your name and

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go right ahead.

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Thank you.

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My name is Lynn Nash and I live in St. Brooke.

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I represent over 3,000 people who have signed paper or electronic petitions to save Kelly Park.

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Our numbers are significant, more than the number of people who voted in last city election.

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Before I start though, I want to publicly thank Tony for all of his hard work as a

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city manager and specifically for his site selection vote against using Kelly Park for a new school.

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He knew we weren't represented. We are here to voice our opinions on the

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a conveyance document and whether the city council should accept it or not.

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While I sent each of you my review, I also posted it to next door for everyone to see.

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The conveyance document is poorly done. It's a bad deal for Gathersburg. The city gives up

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too much and gets too little in return. The biggest issue is that no decision has been made

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about the Montgomery County Public School Bound.

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And on until it's complete, and we know for sure what will happen to the kids who live in the five adjacent neighborhoods, 1454 homes, people who got no choice in this deal, we want to know will they be boundaryed in so they can attend both the new school and forest oak.

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So I'm asking you to vote no on the conveyance.

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The city is already 3.5 million short.

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You don't have the money to pay for the utility upgrades in the field building costs required by the county,

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as well as field maintenance repair and upkeep and replacement of the security cameras.

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MCPS should pay for these.

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This document violates city autonomy.

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It only gives a city a one-time courtesy review of the plan.

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It makes MCPS the final authority on permit applications and review as well as inspections

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including construction and the city has its own inspectors.

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It violates the county standard on wetland buffers, which if use could mean that the city

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could keep the current top-blood and it gives only five dedicated public parking spaces during

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school hours for a postage-sized hot lot that may or may not be accessible. The agreement

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missed several things. There's no compensation to taxpayers for the dollars that they

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expanded on improvements. There's no landswap and MCPS doesn't fund the city or the county for

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streambake and wetland repairs. Councilman Roo is right. This MCPS made an extraordinary ask.

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Make a good choice and vote no on the conveyance documents. It's a bad deal until the boundary study is done and our kids are guaranteed don't sign it and until city finances improve don't sign it tell mcps to collate collocate the new school behind forest oak or to build on their own land or go through site selection again. Let's save Kelly Park. Thank you.

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Thank you, Lynn. Next, I have Stephen on my list, Tech team. You could bring him up and then I'll just say Steve, just state your name and go right ahead.

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Okay, there we go.

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Good evening Mr. Mayor, city council members, Ryan, my condolences.

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Steve, Steve, just state your name.

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Steve Kaufman, Autobahn Square H.

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your way secretary, good evening everybody, again, my condolences, evening

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everyone at the council, welcome Billy, very important for school children and just

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is important for all people of all ages and these days of uncertainty.

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When you're driving to the park on the current state regulations and guidelines can get

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a thousand dollar fine or jail time. I find it absolutely unconscionable that during this

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pandemic crisis when we are mandated to stay at home when people are only allowed to

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die for essential reasons that MCPS would put forth a conveyance for the proposal for the city

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to vote on at a virtual meeting. We already know green spaces out of premium for a usage is

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known to be up 35 to 45 to 40% across the country and a people can't drive to a park

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than having a park that is walkable would be just as important as the school being walkable.

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It's absolutely essential to the health and well-being of our residents.

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We know as much as E-side of Gates's Burme needs a new elementary school, MCPS is not made to

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any of the concessions to the residents regard to the park other than as mentioned before a

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mid-treat hot lot and five park in spaces. While at the same time we'll be losing a dozen or

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spaces on Victory Park, basketball courts, tennis courts, and other amenities.

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There are no other concessions that have been made as suggested by the citizens previously

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and if for school were to be constructed to kill a park, one of the most important things

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is that the neighborhood children may guarantee to attend that school.

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That was not in the convenience document.

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This mistake was made 20 years ago when I'd hoped by now the City Council will not make

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the same mistake twice.

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the City Council should be no one to convey and send the process back to the

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site selection to include the pipes surrounding neighbourhoods and any future

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prepares will be inclusive of specific guarantees as those discussed the previous

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City Council meetings. Thank you all for the opportunity to speak this evening. Please

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stay safe. Thank you Steve. You say stay safe as well. The next speaker we have on

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list is Genie, if the team could bring up Genie and then Genie once you're unmuted, just

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state your name and go right ahead. Mr. Mayor Genie hasn't joined us this evening. Okay,

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well then we will move on to Doris. We have Doris

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and Doris once you're unmuted, just state

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your name and go right ahead.

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Give the event in my name is Doris Vanegas. I live in 24 Brian

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port. My window is facing Kelly Park. I have been here, I live in at the new port states for the

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last 12 years. I have a 12-year-old son. He has been on the park very much growing up on the

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work between the playground and now which is playing soccer on the fields with the

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Gales work group and I'm a runner and Walker and it is hard for me to even think we

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don't have a school there. When I see the community from Newport States that is the only

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part they go here and we go there. We see wildlife in the stream, we can enjoy walking through

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there. And even this evening, I went for my run in my walk. And I see a few people, you know,

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walking with the thank you right now keeping the distance, but I still saw people walking with

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the kids. And looking at trees too, we have a huge number of trees. I was saying, I can't close

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50 or more trees around there, and I know they're going to cut down the streets just in order to be.

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Uh, my question is this, well be the best way to have a school and to say teleport.

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My son got to force us old school, and when I walk through there, I see a last space.

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I don't know how a way they can have, maybe, for a so-called middle school, and then maybe right

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beside or a few blocks from there have a elementary school because I see a line behind there

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and that can be possible. What I'm concerned is I have three cars. In my two cars,

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only has space for two and for all my house.

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In my extra core, it's part of a long-carely part.

431
00:37:32,410 --> 00:37:34,150
My question is for my neighbors,

432
00:37:34,990 --> 00:37:38,650
what are we going to do if all that space is moving?

433
00:37:38,950 --> 00:37:40,050
Where are we going to park?

434
00:37:40,450 --> 00:37:42,090
We just have to move from the area.

435
00:37:43,950 --> 00:37:47,310
And we just said, I know the kids need education

436
00:37:48,150 --> 00:37:50,670
and it's important for us too.

437
00:37:50,670 --> 00:37:54,870
But we had to find a ways how we can save both.

438
00:37:55,090 --> 00:37:59,130
We can build schools on where and save Kelly Carter.

439
00:37:59,910 --> 00:38:05,570
Thank you very much for the concern for the mayor and for the support that you've given us

440
00:38:05,570 --> 00:38:06,770
always as a community.

441
00:38:07,470 --> 00:38:14,050
I'm a bilingual Spanish and I speak with a last Spanish in the neighborhood and they're concerned about it.

442
00:38:14,350 --> 00:38:15,290
Thank you.

443
00:38:15,290 --> 00:38:16,930
Thank you very much for your testimony.

444
00:38:16,930 --> 00:38:21,350
We will move on to next speaker who is Ian.

445
00:38:22,910 --> 00:38:28,310
Tech team if you can bring Ian up and Ian once, you're unmuted, just state your name and go right ahead.

446
00:38:29,570 --> 00:38:35,010
Yes, hi. My name is Ian Griffith and I live at 435 Stern Mueller Court in Gatorsburg.

447
00:38:35,170 --> 00:38:38,310
Good evening Mayor, council, and all in virtual attendance.

448
00:38:39,370 --> 00:38:44,050
I'm a member of the Old Town Advisory Committee, a realtor, and a former local E2A board member.

449
00:38:44,050 --> 00:38:48,150
Thank you for holding this virtual meeting and allowing for public comments.

450
00:38:48,910 --> 00:38:53,450
From reading the agenda packet, it seems that comments are futile at this juncture.

451
00:38:54,050 --> 00:38:58,550
I understand the council is voting on whether to approve negotiation, but it seems most

452
00:38:58,550 --> 00:39:01,310
of the negotiations are even done behind closed doors.

453
00:39:01,930 --> 00:39:04,530
The detailed agreement is proposed that even include the survey.

454
00:39:05,350 --> 00:39:08,610
I wonder who paid for the survey and whether assurance is forgiven that allowed them

455
00:39:08,610 --> 00:39:11,350
to feel pretty certain that the expenditures would not be wasted.

456
00:39:11,350 --> 00:39:17,750
We are giving away a town asset from the residents of this town that most need assets such as these.

457
00:39:18,350 --> 00:39:21,250
There is no payment by MCPS to the town for this property.

458
00:39:22,030 --> 00:39:30,830
The field that MCPS will pay up to $800,000 to help build will be scheduled for use by the town and video camera monitor.

459
00:39:31,530 --> 00:39:35,910
The people I see that use the park are not likely to be signing up to use the field,

460
00:39:36,090 --> 00:39:40,010
especially if there will be an accompanying fee to reserve the field.

461
00:39:40,010 --> 00:39:45,130
Just come to the time where the city has also been planning to fill the multi-million-dollar

462
00:39:45,130 --> 00:39:49,630
park that includes a bike park, work out stations, fancy playground, and community garden.

463
00:39:50,230 --> 00:39:53,010
All park improvements at this part of town desperately needs.

464
00:39:53,530 --> 00:39:57,310
Our community is mostly made up of high and medium-density residential.

465
00:39:57,950 --> 00:40:02,690
This community is the one without yards to grow gardens, get exercise and work out.

466
00:40:03,050 --> 00:40:07,470
Not only that, the incomes in this community lower than other local communities, making it less

467
00:40:07,470 --> 00:40:11,770
likely that local residents can afford memberships of pools, country clubs, and gyms.

468
00:40:12,070 --> 00:40:16,750
Recently, the countless community protested a cell tower breaking up their continuous

469
00:40:16,750 --> 00:40:17,670
untouched forest.

470
00:40:18,170 --> 00:40:21,710
That is great that they have that, and it is wonderful that the council listened and asked

471
00:40:21,710 --> 00:40:23,510
for other sites to possibly be found.

472
00:40:24,010 --> 00:40:27,130
We have a cell tower with the back of generators and Kelly Park.

473
00:40:27,430 --> 00:40:30,250
We don't have forests in parks near here that are part of Gaysburg.

474
00:40:30,990 --> 00:40:34,930
With our dense population, we need the parking on Victory Farm Drive, and it will be taken

475
00:40:34,930 --> 00:40:40,050
often by people visiting the school. We can accommodate the extra traffic of students, parents,

476
00:40:40,210 --> 00:40:44,650
deliveries, and staff for the school in the neighborhood. We need the green space to process and

477
00:40:44,650 --> 00:40:48,070
dilute the higher concentration carbon emissions from the people in close housing,

478
00:40:48,630 --> 00:40:53,230
higher number of cards and businesses close by. With driving sea levels, we also need the land area

479
00:40:53,230 --> 00:40:57,650
to help us form our population. We all know we need a school and we will get one,

480
00:40:57,830 --> 00:41:01,690
even if it's not a Kelly Park. If it has to be a Kelly Park, it should be at the back

481
00:41:01,690 --> 00:41:06,370
part so that the public has reasonable access to the part to make the part safe and will help

482
00:41:06,370 --> 00:41:11,070
with trafficking, queuing into the school for drop-up. Most of all, it is pretty rare these days

483
00:41:11,070 --> 00:41:15,250
for assistance to be organized, energized, passionate and have taken time in order to make the

484
00:41:15,250 --> 00:41:19,470
voice assert to those that govern our communities. Your constituents have stepped up repeatedly

485
00:41:19,470 --> 00:41:24,130
expressing their feelings about this decision. I have multiple ideas for other potential locations

486
00:41:24,130 --> 00:41:28,630
for new school. Please don't take away the little amount of outdoor recreation space that my neighbors

487
00:41:28,630 --> 00:41:34,890
and I need. Thank you for your time. It's a great. Thank you very much, Ian. Next speaker,

488
00:41:35,190 --> 00:41:39,930
tech team is Christine. If you can bring her up and Christine, once you unmute yourself,

489
00:41:40,210 --> 00:41:42,270
just state your name and go right ahead.

490
00:41:44,320 --> 00:41:48,500
Hello. Can you hear you? Okay, great. My name is Christine

491
00:41:48,500 --> 00:41:56,820
chairs and I live at 404 Bell Grove Road and in what's done run, which is directly across from

492
00:41:56,820 --> 00:42:03,680
future proposed site for the elementary school and Kelly Park. And I'm here tonight to ask you to

493
00:42:03,680 --> 00:42:13,700
vote now for the building of the school. I've heard several people tonight say that this school has

494
00:42:13,700 --> 00:42:22,020
been in planning and the process of site selection has been looked at for years. And I don't understand

495
00:42:22,020 --> 00:42:30,520
that because I sat on the my grader cluster, my grader high school PTA board for as Treasurer

496
00:42:30,520 --> 00:42:37,340
for several years and 14 and 15 and then also as Vice President in 16 and 17. So I've never

497
00:42:37,340 --> 00:42:43,600
heard of any site selection process taking place for a new school in the Gatoriceburg cluster.

498
00:42:44,540 --> 00:42:55,040
So it did come as quite a surprise when we found out through, you know, back doors that there's this whole fake selection thing going on.

499
00:42:55,640 --> 00:43:08,860
Also, Montgomery County schools publicly came out and announced on the media that they would not take away Beth says does parks to build schools and they totally agree with the media and that that was not an appropriate thing to do.

500
00:43:08,860 --> 00:43:18,480
but yet us and Gatorsburg are now subject to having our only part being taken away for a public school,

501
00:43:18,980 --> 00:43:24,260
which Montgomery County acknowledged the fact that they will not build schools on public parks

502
00:43:24,260 --> 00:43:28,320
in the thaza. So I guess because we're Gatorsburg, we don't get that special privilege.

503
00:43:29,820 --> 00:43:36,580
So I'm asking you guys to vote no on the school, especially because it is also

504
00:43:36,580 --> 00:43:42,880
There has been no boundary study completed, so we don't even know if our kids can go there.

505
00:43:43,220 --> 00:43:48,400
There's nothing that shows me anything about whether or not there's going to be a traffic

506
00:43:48,400 --> 00:43:53,360
late or how I'm even going to be able to derive out of my community while the school buses

507
00:43:53,360 --> 00:43:56,940
are unloading the kids, because it doesn't even seem like there's ample enough room

508
00:43:56,940 --> 00:43:59,780
in the parking lots for a lot of the kids to get off the school buses.

509
00:44:00,700 --> 00:44:06,560
And also, I would like to say that Kelly Park benefits all people of the community, adults

510
00:44:06,560 --> 00:44:17,400
children, teenagers, everybody. The new school only benefits elementary children. So I feel like

511
00:44:17,400 --> 00:44:24,840
Gethersburg money could be spent better on finding a more reasonable location to put the school in Gethersburg.

512
00:44:25,260 --> 00:44:34,080
Like for instance, like for a small property that we all know is going to be up for grabs and builder developed and put a school in there.

513
00:44:34,080 --> 00:44:39,880
don't see why that hasn't been explored. So there are other options and I think we need to do more

514
00:44:39,880 --> 00:44:44,740
looking at other options as to where the school should go. So thank you for listening.

515
00:44:45,720 --> 00:44:49,860
Thank you very much for the testimony. Next we have Deborah,

516
00:44:54,920 --> 00:44:55,120
if the

517
00:44:55,120 --> 00:44:57,120
Stay your name and go right ahead.

518
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:10,360
Hi, my name is Deborah Sarabia. Can you hear me? Yes, yes, go right ahead. My name is Deborah Sarabia. I live in Zeevook. I'm the President of

519
00:45:10,360 --> 00:45:16,280
Seneca Creek Watershed Partners. We're a volunteer non-profit and we work to protect and improve the health of the

520
00:45:16,280 --> 00:45:24,940
Seneca Creek Watershed. This includes the webstone run greenway tributaries that flow through Kelly Park and Victory Farm Park.

521
00:45:24,940 --> 00:45:33,980
Our group partners with the Muddy Branch Alliance, Senate Creek State Park, Isaac Walton League, Montgomery Village, Stormwater Partners, and others.

522
00:45:34,780 --> 00:45:40,120
Recently, we supported Gatorsburg in its ten-minute walk to a park grant application.

523
00:45:41,540 --> 00:45:49,900
And currently, we're working with city staff on park projects, such as a stream buffer habitat, stream crossing improvements, and a stormwater rectifier.

524
00:45:51,080 --> 00:45:57,580
So to protect stream health, especially in urban areas, streams should have a vegetative green

525
00:45:57,580 --> 00:45:57,920
way.

526
00:45:58,440 --> 00:46:04,520
These link natural environments for humans and wildlife alike and are often set aside as parks,

527
00:46:04,780 --> 00:46:06,840
such as Kelly Park and Pick Creek Farm.

528
00:46:07,900 --> 00:46:12,020
What it should help, as you may know, is greatly affected by land development.

529
00:46:13,260 --> 00:46:17,320
We have serious concerns about the impacts of the proposed school project.

530
00:46:18,760 --> 00:46:27,320
Gafersberg's streams are severely degraded due to impervious surfaces stormwater runoff and inadequate stream buffers.

531
00:46:27,900 --> 00:46:33,860
Urban water sheds with more than 25% impervious surface have fair to poor water quality.

532
00:46:34,720 --> 00:46:40,740
The middle-grade Seneca Creek water shed which contains Gafersberg is nearly 40% impervious.

533
00:46:40,740 --> 00:46:45,360
A quite a glyph in these streams is impaired by sediment, red salts,

534
00:46:45,740 --> 00:46:48,300
washing to the stream from parking lots, construction sites, roads,

535
00:46:48,600 --> 00:46:49,860
riffs, tops, et cetera.

536
00:46:51,460 --> 00:46:57,000
This proposed project is simply too large for the Kelly Park location.

537
00:46:57,700 --> 00:47:01,640
It will further damage water quality in the streams in wetlands,

538
00:47:02,040 --> 00:47:05,460
will increase erosion, will constrict the floodplain capacity

539
00:47:05,460 --> 00:47:09,240
and could cause more serious flooding and damage to infrastructure.

540
00:47:09,240 --> 00:47:18,880
As it is, during heavy rain, the floodplain and wetlands are saturated and the area behind the dam is flooded to capacity.

541
00:47:20,200 --> 00:47:31,720
In fact, the site selection committee ranked topography and environmental criteria the second lowest of all six sites considered in the report reflecting the poor suitability of the site.

542
00:47:31,720 --> 00:47:39,720
The Board of Education actually owns a suitable upland site, less than one mile away on Woodward's

543
00:47:39,720 --> 00:47:39,920
Road.

544
00:47:40,640 --> 00:47:45,260
There is no stream, no wetlands, no floodplain, no riparian forest.

545
00:47:46,240 --> 00:47:49,260
We request the Board of Education reconsider that site.

546
00:47:50,400 --> 00:47:55,080
I've showed the project go forward, of course, we will continue to collaborate with the city.

547
00:47:55,820 --> 00:48:00,760
However, it will become more difficult due to the multiple jurisdictions involved and more expensive

548
00:48:00,760 --> 00:48:07,800
because the development will have a greater impact than the current Parkland use. Therefore, we ask you to vote no.

549
00:48:08,380 --> 00:48:09,920
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

550
00:48:10,600 --> 00:48:11,080
Thank you, Deborah.

551
00:48:12,240 --> 00:48:15,740
Tech team. Next speaker I have is Beth, if you could bring Beth up.

552
00:48:16,060 --> 00:48:19,080
And Beth once you're unmuted, just state your name and go right ahead.

553
00:48:20,260 --> 00:48:20,880
Good evening.

554
00:48:22,640 --> 00:48:26,000
My name is Beth Junium. I live in the community of Saebrook.

555
00:48:29,040 --> 00:48:37,340
This park has been my backyard for 25 years and has fulfilled my love of nature and on each

556
00:48:37,340 --> 00:48:40,780
and every day, and I don't want to destroy it.

557
00:48:40,980 --> 00:48:46,900
However, what about your constituents that also found this open space park cathartic?

558
00:48:47,440 --> 00:48:52,720
They come from many reasons, their health, the play, exercise, or just walked along

559
00:48:52,720 --> 00:48:53,700
what's so run.

560
00:48:54,600 --> 00:49:01,240
The site selection. The process was convening with very few community representatives.

561
00:49:02,260 --> 00:49:07,520
Why would no representatives living in close proximity to Kelley Park included in the site selection?

562
00:49:08,280 --> 00:49:17,200
Three of the communities excluded either border or front Kelley communities, the border or front Kelley Park,

563
00:49:17,200 --> 00:49:20,960
and two are located across your yard, having walkability.

564
00:49:21,760 --> 00:49:25,000
All five says, would have voted no to Kelly Park.

565
00:49:25,560 --> 00:49:27,640
You should all ask what's the selection,

566
00:49:28,800 --> 00:49:30,780
predetermined, ricked, or just faulty.

567
00:49:31,480 --> 00:49:34,940
I believe this park was targeted long ago,

568
00:49:36,020 --> 00:49:41,600
as long as 2013, in all fairness, new site selection.

569
00:49:41,660 --> 00:49:45,160
G'd be conducted with a non-political boundary study

570
00:49:45,160 --> 00:49:49,800
that shows fairness to our youngsters, walkability.

571
00:49:50,920 --> 00:49:56,580
This was an enticement presented by MCPS, but it's not discussed anymore.

572
00:49:57,780 --> 00:49:58,580
Foundry study.

573
00:49:59,260 --> 00:50:04,220
Mayor and Council, we all know the history of poor silk, a sad chapter, and say broke

574
00:50:04,220 --> 00:50:07,320
history, and this area engaged their spur.

575
00:50:07,740 --> 00:50:12,620
And if they are greater failure on the part of the seat at Council at that time, you can't

576
00:50:12,620 --> 00:50:14,220
let history repeat itself.

577
00:50:14,220 --> 00:50:19,680
And if you do, it indeed will be your legacy for a very long time.

578
00:50:20,120 --> 00:50:22,980
This is not a threat just as a truth.

579
00:50:23,760 --> 00:50:29,420
I do find it rather curious you have decided to ignore or just don't care that many throughout

580
00:50:29,420 --> 00:50:35,240
the East Side have gave their spirit of well beyond a really mad that you would even consider

581
00:50:35,240 --> 00:50:37,260
giving this park in CPS.

582
00:50:37,760 --> 00:50:42,980
They total well over 3,000 petitions signature online and on paper.

583
00:50:42,980 --> 00:50:50,380
I'm puzzled why now, with the county frozen place due to COVID-19, you would hold this

584
00:50:50,380 --> 00:50:52,840
meeting today with such little notice.

585
00:50:52,900 --> 00:50:59,220
We all deserve better, and why the push, I can only imagine it's due to the city managers

586
00:50:59,220 --> 00:51:00,100
for retirement.

587
00:51:00,620 --> 00:51:07,180
And by the way, Tony, thank you for your service to the city, and voting against NCPF's building

588
00:51:07,180 --> 00:51:08,100
on Kelly Park.

589
00:51:08,480 --> 00:51:10,060
We needed that support.

590
00:51:10,740 --> 00:51:11,700
We were not represented.

591
00:51:11,700 --> 00:51:19,980
This park has been a saving grace for many in the surrounding community during the COVID-19 home

592
00:51:19,980 --> 00:51:26,480
confinement from early in the AM hours and throughout the day weather permitting this park is act.

593
00:51:26,880 --> 00:51:32,760
We're out of time. Thank you for your testimony. We have received that you're written testimony as well.

594
00:51:35,680 --> 00:51:43,000
We're going to move on to Dina and Dina once you're unmuted just state your name and go right ahead.

595
00:51:43,740 --> 00:51:45,200
Good evening, Council members.

596
00:51:45,520 --> 00:51:49,340
I'm Dina Saunders, President of Ottawa, natureway.

597
00:51:50,260 --> 00:51:54,520
Children of all types plus part equals children having fun.

598
00:51:55,100 --> 00:51:59,040
Now add the children with their dogs and the part equally good.

599
00:51:59,040 --> 00:52:06,740
If you add the parents, children, and a dog, that's having a really good time in the park.

600
00:52:07,420 --> 00:52:12,860
Kind of way, taking your way, these are the part, not a great idea.

601
00:52:13,580 --> 00:52:18,000
So you can pause the time.

602
00:52:18,780 --> 00:52:21,120
We're getting a little bit of feedback.

603
00:52:22,440 --> 00:52:25,800
You may have your volume on on your computer or your television,

604
00:52:25,800 --> 00:52:36,200
And it's causing some feedback and maybe making it a little bit weird to testify. If you want to turn down your TV or your computer and then start again, go right ahead.

605
00:52:36,200 --> 00:52:38,460
I should...

606
00:52:38,460 --> 00:52:39,280
Okay, I turn right.

607
00:52:41,650 --> 00:52:42,710
What was that?

608
00:52:43,850 --> 00:52:46,570
Oh, I think I turned around to low.

609
00:52:48,010 --> 00:52:48,990
We hear you.

610
00:52:49,090 --> 00:52:49,370
Okay.

611
00:52:50,070 --> 00:52:50,910
Go right ahead.

612
00:52:54,450 --> 00:52:57,790
So taking away these are the parts. It's not a great idea.

613
00:52:58,570 --> 00:53:01,950
So during the time, I mean, I could totally...

614
00:53:01,950 --> 00:53:02,390
I could totally...

615
00:53:02,390 --> 00:53:05,170
...pants and lower dancers to the wedding.

616
00:53:05,590 --> 00:53:06,710
So during that,

617
00:53:07,990 --> 00:53:11,770
There is a school there. Can I do the part?

618
00:53:12,050 --> 00:53:14,210
I don't need to do that.

619
00:53:14,790 --> 00:53:17,470
Tina, Tina, the texting police pause again.

620
00:53:18,690 --> 00:53:22,490
I don't know if you're, are you calling us, are you talking to us through a cell phone?

621
00:53:23,150 --> 00:53:24,430
No, I'm talking to the computer.

622
00:53:24,970 --> 00:53:31,950
Okay. It sounds good now. We were getting some sort of static over the last few seconds.

623
00:53:32,450 --> 00:53:33,770
Try it again. Go right ahead.

624
00:53:34,590 --> 00:53:34,890
Okay.

625
00:53:34,890 --> 00:53:36,850
So, is it better?

626
00:53:38,410 --> 00:53:39,550
So far, yes.

627
00:53:39,910 --> 00:53:42,490
We need Kelly Park.

628
00:53:43,050 --> 00:53:48,170
We know that we need a school, but not a Kelly Park.

629
00:53:48,590 --> 00:53:52,610
MCP has a plenty of property that they could choose a school on.

630
00:53:53,190 --> 00:53:54,970
So why don't they do that?

631
00:53:55,610 --> 00:53:59,710
Homeowners did not pay for their home to have the school in their backyard.

632
00:54:00,510 --> 00:54:05,430
I have family that come in from that town, they develop the park, my grandchildren are coming

633
00:54:05,430 --> 00:54:08,750
to the park, and there's a school there, they can't use the park.

634
00:54:09,930 --> 00:54:15,830
When a children come to play and watch the ball games and concerts, if the park is taken

635
00:54:15,830 --> 00:54:23,990
away, all they have, all they have there's a school, a school is nice, but having the

636
00:54:23,990 --> 00:54:31,650
outdoors is even better. And I was also reviewing the draft document and it

637
00:54:31,650 --> 00:54:35,690
mentions that there is a school at the school, it's don't fair. The city is

638
00:54:35,690 --> 00:54:41,230
to pay for the water and electric. Sorry, but if MCP wants it, they have to pay

639
00:54:41,230 --> 00:54:46,830
for it. Why should the city put the funds out? This is so typical of MCPS

640
00:54:47,630 --> 00:54:52,830
And then during this pandemic time, that was a horrible time for them to bring this up.

641
00:54:53,850 --> 00:55:03,550
If battery study doesn't really exist because you're taking away and they just stopped the family and they're daily lives.

642
00:55:04,910 --> 00:55:09,810
Basically what I'm trying to say is let's keep Kelly Park.

643
00:55:09,810 --> 00:55:16,510
And can't remember if this was your children having to decide if I went to the school

644
00:55:16,510 --> 00:55:18,930
or a park, please make sure they have a park.

645
00:55:19,310 --> 00:55:23,490
Schools we can come by, parks like this we can't come by very often.

646
00:55:24,770 --> 00:55:31,750
If you take away our park, you take the heart and the soul out of the park in this community.

647
00:55:32,730 --> 00:55:38,250
The police keep the heart in the park and the soul in the park, and they'll know to

648
00:55:38,250 --> 00:55:38,850
the school.

649
00:55:38,850 --> 00:55:41,190
Thank you so much for your time.

650
00:55:42,310 --> 00:55:42,690
Thank you, Dina.

651
00:55:42,870 --> 00:55:44,430
It's all right for the technical issues.

652
00:55:44,730 --> 00:55:46,170
Dr. Kaye.

653
00:55:46,170 --> 00:55:49,170
We're going to move on to a Bruce technique.

654
00:55:49,370 --> 00:55:51,630
If you can bring Bruce up and Bruce once you're unmuted.

655
00:55:51,950 --> 00:55:53,730
Just state your name and go right ahead.

656
00:55:54,470 --> 00:55:55,210
Hi. Good evening.

657
00:55:55,510 --> 00:55:56,710
This is Bruce Cohen.

658
00:55:57,290 --> 00:55:58,450
I've been quite stone run.

659
00:55:58,830 --> 00:56:01,690
I'm a 41 year resident of the city of Gatesburg.

660
00:56:02,230 --> 00:56:05,890
Please do not destroy what little green space we have left in Gatesburg.

661
00:56:06,350 --> 00:56:08,370
Too many animals will lose their home.

662
00:56:08,370 --> 00:56:15,870
Street parking and traffic will get worse is a huge safety issue and even if the school is built

663
00:56:15,870 --> 00:56:20,690
There's no guarantee that our neighborhood kids will be permitted to go there

664
00:56:21,090 --> 00:56:25,570
Please vote no and save Kelly Park. Thank you for your time

665
00:56:25,570 --> 00:56:27,010
Thank you Bruce

666
00:56:27,970 --> 00:56:30,350
Next speaker. I have on my list is Dorane

667
00:56:30,350 --> 00:56:36,430
Tech team if you can bring Dorane up and Dorane once you are unmuted just state your name and go right ahead

668
00:56:40,970 --> 00:56:43,450
I don't think we have during joining us tonight.

669
00:56:43,910 --> 00:56:44,030
Okay.

670
00:56:44,650 --> 00:56:44,790
Okay.

671
00:56:44,930 --> 00:56:47,150
Then we will move on to Kishore.

672
00:56:47,470 --> 00:56:52,750
If you can bring up Kishore and once Kishore is unmuted please just

673
00:56:52,750 --> 00:56:55,290
state your name and go ahead ahead.

674
00:56:58,050 --> 00:57:00,970
It also looks like Kishore is not joining us as well sir.

675
00:57:01,130 --> 00:57:01,350
Okay.

676
00:57:01,510 --> 00:57:02,730
Do we have Carolyn Donovan?

677
00:57:06,260 --> 00:57:06,560
All right.

678
00:57:06,920 --> 00:57:06,980
Carolyn.

679
00:57:07,380 --> 00:57:10,200
Once you're unmuted just state your name and go ahead ahead.

680
00:57:10,620 --> 00:57:10,720
Hi.

681
00:57:10,720 --> 00:57:13,700
My name is Carolyn Donovan and I'm a resident of the

682
00:57:13,700 --> 00:57:20,620
book neighborhood. I thought that I knew what I was going to say this evening. I was all prepared for it

683
00:57:20,620 --> 00:57:27,320
and I really, I think Ms. McKenna said it best when the site selection committee met. They

684
00:57:27,320 --> 00:57:32,920
explored the good, the bad, the very bad, the very ugly, the even uglier. As I've said throughout this

685
00:57:32,920 --> 00:57:38,580
process, I think that Kelly Park represents the best of all the bad options that are available. No one

686
00:57:38,580 --> 00:57:44,540
to see a portion of Parks-based taken, but to be used for a school, one of the things that I have

687
00:57:45,060 --> 00:57:50,600
noticed over the past few weeks during this incredibly difficult time for my children in particular

688
00:57:50,600 --> 00:57:57,220
is that while they have a deep tide to Kelly Park, they haven't even deeper tied to their school

689
00:57:57,220 --> 00:58:03,720
community. So yes, if given the choice between a park and a school, I will absolutely choose a

690
00:58:03,720 --> 00:58:10,060
school with all the flaws that this site represents any day of the week, particularly this

691
00:58:10,060 --> 00:58:15,580
week, because what children need is a sense of community that schools represent for them.

692
00:58:15,820 --> 00:58:21,560
In addition, I was very pleased to see in the draft land conveyance the specific hours

693
00:58:21,560 --> 00:58:27,160
of use that the space will be available to the community on the weekends on the week days

694
00:58:27,160 --> 00:58:28,720
outside of school hours.

695
00:58:28,720 --> 00:58:32,940
In addition, the field usage that's going to be available to the community.

696
00:58:33,640 --> 00:58:40,860
I am excited to see that the space will be enhanced with additional trails that are incorporated into what's already there for the community.

697
00:58:41,760 --> 00:58:45,440
And again, I think that there are absolutely trade-offs.

698
00:58:45,920 --> 00:58:48,120
No decision is ever perfect.

699
00:58:48,340 --> 00:58:51,760
I think that that's something all of us have seen over these recent weeks.

700
00:58:52,160 --> 00:58:58,700
This is not a perfect solution, but it is absolutely a solution that we owe to the children on the residents of the city of

701
00:58:58,700 --> 00:59:07,900
I hope you are all staying safe and healthy and I thank everyone for all of their work during this very difficult time.

702
00:59:08,680 --> 00:59:10,920
Thank you, Carolyn. Hope you're staying safe as well.

703
00:59:11,740 --> 00:59:21,040
We are going to circle back now to Jim McNulty if we have Jim then let's bring him up and Jim just state your name and go right ahead.

704
00:59:23,470 --> 00:59:28,350
Thank you Mr. Mayor, Jimick Nonti. I am the chair of the Old Town Advisory Committee

705
00:59:28,350 --> 00:59:32,290
on the former President of the Sailor of Canterway, and for the candidate for the

706
00:59:32,290 --> 00:59:35,970
candidate for the Council. Mr. Mayor, Mr. Council, thank you for the time receiving.

707
00:59:36,490 --> 00:59:40,830
I'm here tonight as a reminder that the loudest voices don't always speak for everyone.

708
00:59:41,510 --> 00:59:47,370
I'm asking you to vote in favor of the agreement, conveying 5.7 acres of Kelly Clark to build

709
00:59:47,370 --> 00:59:51,810
a new elementary school. I think it's important to step in the process to remember why we're

710
00:59:51,810 --> 00:59:57,150
in the first place. A new elementary school telepark will help ease significant overcrowding

711
00:59:57,150 --> 00:59:59,550
at 5 elementary schools in Gathesburg.

712
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:04,660
And bringing a state-of-the-art multi-million dollar facility to the east side of our city.

713
01:00:05,240 --> 01:00:07,280
Of a facility that has been needed for over a decade.

714
01:00:07,960 --> 01:00:12,020
My daughter attend a Gave his Berg Elementary. She had some great teachers at Gave his Berg Elementary.

715
01:00:12,540 --> 01:00:20,820
And the overcrowding in GES was a big factor in why we chose to send my son to and incur the cost of two tuition that, say, a modern Catholic school.

716
01:00:21,300 --> 01:00:27,040
It was also a major factor that among the five families in our social circle, they all sent their kids to different schools.

717
01:00:27,040 --> 01:00:30,860
Some got boundary exceptions, other public schools, some chose private.

718
01:00:31,500 --> 01:00:37,620
But that's the private our kids, the chance to go to school together and play with their neighborhood school friends after school.

719
01:00:38,260 --> 01:00:42,080
My children have aged out of directly benefiting from this new school,

720
01:00:42,580 --> 01:00:48,660
but when asked to choose between giving up a portion of a valued recreational space and the education of our city's children,

721
01:00:49,300 --> 01:00:51,840
I will choose the education of our children every time.

722
01:00:51,840 --> 01:00:54,780
Of course, we aren't losing a recreational space.

723
01:00:55,220 --> 01:00:58,340
We are transforming one into a multi-purpose multi-use space.

724
01:00:58,840 --> 01:01:01,500
The plans even include adding more basketball hoops

725
01:01:01,500 --> 01:01:03,600
than are currently available at Kelley Park.

726
01:01:04,180 --> 01:01:04,860
Are there concerns?

727
01:01:06,400 --> 01:01:08,640
I've testified here and to the Board of Education

728
01:01:08,640 --> 01:01:11,780
that the track record of trust of the past few decades

729
01:01:11,780 --> 01:01:12,740
is in great.

730
01:01:13,220 --> 01:01:15,500
There continues to be mistrust of the Board of Ed.

731
01:01:16,020 --> 01:01:19,800
When I testified, I asked for and got a gesture of good faith

732
01:01:20,580 --> 01:01:25,220
with the acceleration of the boundary study and inclusion of the middle schools and that process.

733
01:01:25,920 --> 01:01:30,020
This vote would be another gesture of good faith, this time from the city.

734
01:01:30,740 --> 01:01:36,920
Faith that the Board of Education will recognize to sacrifice being made by the neighbors and the adjoining communities

735
01:01:37,480 --> 01:01:42,900
and reward them by including those neighborhoods in the boundaries of the new school.

736
01:01:43,620 --> 01:01:47,780
And by allowing them to keep a seat of the table as these plans on furl.

737
01:01:47,780 --> 01:01:52,540
to address in the very family concerns raised about traffic and other issues.

738
01:01:53,200 --> 01:01:58,780
But at the end of the day, this comes down to what's best for the children of the city of Gatorsburg.

739
01:01:59,340 --> 01:02:01,840
And to that question, there can be no debate.

740
01:02:02,620 --> 01:02:06,040
Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the very good.

741
01:02:06,500 --> 01:02:10,000
I urge you to vote to approve the contract with the Board of Education.

742
01:02:10,600 --> 01:02:11,520
Thank you for your time.

743
01:02:12,260 --> 01:02:13,600
Jim, thanks for your testimony.

744
01:02:13,600 --> 01:02:22,800
and again thanks for bearing with us on the technical challenge. That concludes the list of people who

745
01:02:22,800 --> 01:02:29,120
signed up for public comments for this issues. So we will move on to the actual issue to

746
01:02:29,120 --> 01:02:31,720
ordinances resolutions and regulations.

747
01:02:34,740 --> 01:02:39,620
And this will be the discussion of an agreement with

748
01:02:40,720 --> 01:02:47,700
Montgomery County Public Schools to allow them to use part or to give them part of Kelley Park in

749
01:02:47,700 --> 01:02:53,400
order to build Gathesbury Elementary School number eight. And we are very pleased to be joined by

750
01:02:53,400 --> 01:02:59,820
MCPS representatives, Seth Adams, and Seth Ferriano for this discussion, and Tony is going to lead us.

751
01:03:00,080 --> 01:03:05,040
So Tony, go right ahead. Thank you, Mayor. Right. If I could get the power point,

752
01:03:05,040 --> 01:03:15,420
road up. It's packet page 19. We'll be going through the PowerPoint using the packet pages. It's just the title slides. So right Brian if we could go to slide 20.

753
01:03:20,030 --> 01:03:38,150
Just to just think so that everyone can get a sense of the scale. So when I read circle back to the actual site, which is a 28 year 28 acre site on by the city. The agreement proposed is to convey 5.7 acres for the new school. So just about exactly one fifth.

754
01:03:38,910 --> 01:03:40,870
of the site will be used.

755
01:03:41,850 --> 01:03:42,410
Next slide.

756
01:03:47,220 --> 01:03:49,680
Actually, I believe you've seen this overhead before.

757
01:03:50,380 --> 01:03:51,340
This is an overhead.

758
01:03:51,360 --> 01:03:53,700
This does not encompass the entire site from overhead.

759
01:03:53,700 --> 01:03:57,460
But this shows you the school building about 100,000 square feet,

760
01:03:57,560 --> 01:03:59,020
with the 740 capacity.

761
01:04:00,000 --> 01:04:03,740
It does have a pre-K and Head Start aspect to it.

762
01:04:04,000 --> 01:04:07,240
And us dedicated area for linkages to learning.

763
01:04:08,740 --> 01:04:09,640
Next slide, please.

764
01:04:13,640 --> 01:04:17,500
There's been a lot of discussion about the shared athletic field.

765
01:04:18,260 --> 01:04:20,000
This, again, is the concept plan.

766
01:04:20,760 --> 01:04:26,840
It would be a shared project between the two parties, the MCPS, which would be doing

767
01:04:26,840 --> 01:04:33,440
grading any way next door, would agree to do the stormwater work in the base under the field,

768
01:04:34,220 --> 01:04:40,160
which are quite expensive, and then we would be constructing the final surface above the

769
01:04:40,160 --> 01:04:42,820
and that would be maintained and operated by the city.

770
01:04:43,860 --> 01:04:47,440
We did not feel like we needed closure on whether it should be artificial turf or natural

771
01:04:47,440 --> 01:04:47,760
grass.

772
01:04:47,880 --> 01:04:51,440
We will need to get to that fairly quickly if you have the agreement.

773
01:04:52,640 --> 01:04:59,560
MCPS is providing the $800,000 cost if it comes in less that's fine.

774
01:05:00,940 --> 01:05:02,720
MCPS in the city would share use.

775
01:05:03,000 --> 01:05:07,620
We've learned a lot about shared use between the similar situation that we have at Lake

776
01:05:07,620 --> 01:05:15,760
of Spark, the field will not be on MCPS's field inventory list, which would just take some

777
01:05:15,760 --> 01:05:21,600
of the pressure off. Since it's our field, I mean we were able to exclude it. They could

778
01:05:21,600 --> 01:05:27,340
have programmed it, but we decided to get going in that direction. And then MCPS will

779
01:05:27,340 --> 01:05:31,200
contribute towards future replacement of the field, as you know, these fields last anywhere

780
01:05:31,200 --> 01:05:33,560
between 15 and 20 years.

781
01:05:34,620 --> 01:05:35,460
Next slide, please.

782
01:05:37,380 --> 01:05:40,260
There will be walking path connections that

783
01:05:40,260 --> 01:05:41,920
will be made so that the existing part

784
01:05:41,920 --> 01:05:44,760
of pathways remain continuous and that,

785
01:05:44,760 --> 01:05:48,640
importantly, the pathways remain accessible at all times.

786
01:05:49,440 --> 01:05:52,820
As we've explained in previous presentations,

787
01:05:54,300 --> 01:05:58,900
the actual perimeter of the school is off limits

788
01:05:58,900 --> 01:06:00,220
during the school day.

789
01:06:00,220 --> 01:06:05,800
So we thought it was important to have a kind of activity of the pathways available all the time

790
01:06:07,080 --> 01:06:08,580
Next slide please

791
01:06:09,780 --> 01:06:17,180
This is a top lot is the shown in the corner below the the artificial turf or grass turf field that gets constructed

792
01:06:17,180 --> 01:06:22,900
That is a day use top lot that will not it will be accessible and it will have its own dedicated

793
01:06:22,900 --> 01:06:24,140
parking spaces

794
01:06:25,560 --> 01:06:26,940
Next slide please

795
01:06:28,980 --> 01:06:33,360
There are some other additional agreement points that we were very happy to come to you.

796
01:06:33,360 --> 01:06:38,040
A agreement on the city is provided a preferential consideration for use of the school building.

797
01:06:38,880 --> 01:06:45,840
As a city summer camp location, we had some discussions with our own parts of the park, they are very excited about the prospect.

798
01:06:46,980 --> 01:06:53,160
A new summer camp on the east side, especially one with a brand new turf or grass field.

799
01:06:54,640 --> 01:06:57,720
In a little bit of a surprise move, there were no charges.

800
01:06:58,000 --> 01:07:03,080
We'll be assessed, except for staff salaries that are there, which are fairly minimal, that

801
01:07:03,080 --> 01:07:09,440
is much less expensive than other park campsites that we rent from MCPS, so we're very

802
01:07:09,440 --> 01:07:10,080
happy to get that.

803
01:07:10,120 --> 01:07:12,020
And long-term, it's quite a valuable proper.

804
01:07:13,460 --> 01:07:19,680
The exterior security cameras are intended to be able to monitor the grounds of Kelly Park

805
01:07:19,680 --> 01:07:27,960
And the Victory Farm Drive Street FunHDs would be our cameras that they would be providing the infrastructure to run.

806
01:07:29,120 --> 01:07:35,980
They only cannot conflict with MCPS student privacy policies, which are reasonable.

807
01:07:36,760 --> 01:07:41,940
But again, the cameras themselves are not our cameras are not aimed at the school grounds.

808
01:07:41,960 --> 01:07:44,260
They're aimed at a park.

809
01:07:45,920 --> 01:07:54,560
MCPS presumably has their own cameras, and if footage was ever needed, we would go through the normal channels to obtain of that footage.

810
01:07:55,520 --> 01:08:10,340
Also, new additional bleachers at Kelly Park Field number one, I believe, was mentioned a couple of years ago by the director of the Gibbs Regions, and MCPS will be providing those as well.

811
01:08:11,720 --> 01:08:13,260
Next slide please.

812
01:08:16,780 --> 01:08:22,780
So this is a very fast track project for a school and we've been working on it for a couple of years, but

813
01:08:22,780 --> 01:08:30,320
subject to your vote tonight. The Board of Education actually sees a presentation from staff tomorrow, at least that was the original schedule.

814
01:08:30,860 --> 01:08:40,800
I did not look at their agenda this week, but there has been interim staff work on the site plan and development. Nothing formal yet.

815
01:08:40,800 --> 01:08:51,200
But our planning staff and MCPS's planning staff will be getting together very quickly and they would be beginning construction in seven months and

816
01:08:51,200 --> 01:08:57,220
Opening the school in August of 2022. This is a remarkably fast track for a school.

817
01:08:58,200 --> 01:08:59,240
Next slide, please.

818
01:09:01,960 --> 01:09:07,040
So we go back and forth and we heard a lot of public testimony on both sides.

819
01:09:07,740 --> 01:09:10,880
We wanted to revisit the justification

820
01:09:12,720 --> 01:09:18,700
for justifications, plural. As has been set a couple of times, we feel that the benefits of

821
01:09:18,700 --> 01:09:23,020
school overcrowding relief simply outweigh the potential of drawbacks. And frankly, that the

822
01:09:23,020 --> 01:09:29,160
potential of drawbacks are fairly manageable. School funding and construction is a top priority

823
01:09:29,160 --> 01:09:42,640
of our own and has been for decades. It builds on our role as an active partner once again, just like

824
01:09:42,640 --> 01:09:49,260
have some, we have continued needs for school construction, renovation, and modernization, and

825
01:09:49,260 --> 01:09:54,620
overcrowding is an issue in all city areas. So we'd like to establish, you know, even better

826
01:09:54,620 --> 01:09:59,880
relationship than we already have with MCPS and keep that going. Next slide, please.

827
01:10:01,600 --> 01:10:11,860
The potential part disruption is to a limited area. There's three fields there now and there's

828
01:10:11,860 --> 01:10:16,740
going to be a much nicer feel. It's going to be improved from its current condition and it will be

829
01:10:16,740 --> 01:10:26,440
more useful to us as a rectangular feel. Shared use is an environmentally friendly method and it

830
01:10:26,440 --> 01:10:32,080
maximizes the utility of scare sites. It's a very difficult to find school sites in the county as you know

831
01:10:33,200 --> 01:10:38,340
and you know whoever ends up going to the school and you know we feel like the surrounding communities

832
01:10:38,340 --> 01:10:44,440
have an excellent chance of being in the attendants boundary. Either way, if your child goes to this

833
01:10:44,440 --> 01:10:49,920
school, or goes to one of the schools who's overcrowding is relieved by it. They all benefit

834
01:10:50,780 --> 01:10:56,970
from the new school or a less crowded school. Next slide, please.

835
01:10:59,300 --> 01:11:00,580
Or is that the last slide? That might be

836
01:11:00,580 --> 01:11:10,860
the last slide. So at that point, I'm opening up to comments, questions, and we also have Seth

837
01:11:11,360 --> 01:11:16,520
address your concern. Thank you, Tony. All right. So here's how this is, here's

838
01:11:16,520 --> 01:11:21,440
I'd like to see this work. I'm going to make a statement. I guess we're all going to

839
01:11:21,440 --> 01:11:24,640
take turns and we'll ask our questions and make whatever statements we're going to

840
01:11:24,640 --> 01:11:29,680
want to make and then we'll we'll take a vote. Again, thanks to both SES for being

841
01:11:29,680 --> 01:11:36,640
here. I'm, I just, I'm going to start with a statement, but then in terms of order, I'll

842
01:11:36,640 --> 01:11:43,340
to Neil, I'll go to Rob, I'll go to Ryan, I'll go to Florian, and then Mike. So you guys know when

843
01:11:43,340 --> 01:11:44,660
you're coming up and you can be ready.

844
01:11:48,650 --> 01:11:52,430
So look, I'm going to start off here and tell you about my

845
01:11:52,430 --> 01:11:58,430
thought process on this issue, and it's not going to be a surprise. I've made similar statements all

846
01:11:58,430 --> 01:12:06,370
along. I speak to students at our schools quite a bit, and during Q&A someone will often ask,

847
01:12:06,370 --> 01:12:08,790
What's the hardest part of being a mayor or a council member?

848
01:12:09,350 --> 01:12:12,910
And my answer is the hardest part is when we have to choose

849
01:12:12,910 --> 01:12:14,850
between competing priorities.

850
01:12:15,570 --> 01:12:17,470
Both choices have an upside and an downside

851
01:12:17,470 --> 01:12:19,630
and no matter which direction you take.

852
01:12:20,290 --> 01:12:22,850
You're gonna make some people happy and some people unhappy.

853
01:12:23,490 --> 01:12:25,270
And obviously this is one of those moments.

854
01:12:26,170 --> 01:12:28,090
The two competing priorities before us

855
01:12:28,090 --> 01:12:30,750
are our commitment to fostering education

856
01:12:31,210 --> 01:12:32,750
for our children and our commitment

857
01:12:32,750 --> 01:12:34,510
to providing outstanding parks

858
01:12:34,510 --> 01:12:39,990
and recreational opportunities for our residents, and there's not one of us here at City Leadership

859
01:12:39,990 --> 01:12:45,130
or on our city staff who isn't dedicated to both of these endeavors among many others.

860
01:12:46,230 --> 01:12:51,470
When MCPS came to us asking for a piece of Kelly Park in order to build an elementary school

861
01:12:51,470 --> 01:12:56,490
to relieve public routing in the Gatorsburg cluster, the stakes became immediately clear.

862
01:12:56,950 --> 01:13:03,310
We all love Kelly Park. It is a gem. None of us wants to give up any part of it, and none of us

863
01:13:03,310 --> 01:13:07,530
refers the precedent of seeding pieces of parks to build schools.

864
01:13:08,710 --> 01:13:13,130
On the other side of the ledger, we've been plagued by overcrowded elementary schools

865
01:13:13,130 --> 01:13:18,510
and the Gathersburg cluster for the better part of two decades, particularly at Summit

866
01:13:18,510 --> 01:13:22,350
Hall and Strawberry No, and the problem isn't getting better, it's getting worse.

867
01:13:22,890 --> 01:13:29,770
The numbers show that we're looking at four overcrowded schools currently, Rosemot, Gathersburg,

868
01:13:30,330 --> 01:13:31,630
Strawberry No and Summit Hall.

869
01:13:31,630 --> 01:13:38,190
And it's important to note that while Kelly Park is central to the neighborhoods of

870
01:13:38,190 --> 01:13:44,530
Sabreux-Watts don't run out of on square of village and new port of states, we have to look at this more broadly.

871
01:13:45,230 --> 01:13:51,310
The aforementioned overcrowded schools serve neighborhoods that cover nearly the entire east side of our city.

872
01:13:51,610 --> 01:13:55,890
From Shady Grove Road at the South End to Odinhal Road at the North.

873
01:13:55,890 --> 01:14:02,150
And for those of us who are viewing and don't know the terminology, when we refer to the Gafersburg

874
01:14:02,150 --> 01:14:06,370
cluster, that means all of the schools that feed into Gafersburg high school.

875
01:14:07,110 --> 01:14:15,170
The last time the Gafersburg cluster has gotten a new elementary school was 1988, 32 years ago.

876
01:14:15,630 --> 01:14:22,630
The last time in elementary school in this cluster was revitalized, meaning rebuilt for the modern era,

877
01:14:22,630 --> 01:14:31,770
was 1995 25 years ago. I bring up these dates to illustrate just how rare an opportunity

878
01:14:31,770 --> 01:14:37,850
like this is from MCPS. It did be fair to MCPS if there was more school construction funding

879
01:14:37,850 --> 01:14:42,410
available. They would surely be addressing needs here and all over the county more frequently.

880
01:14:43,990 --> 01:14:48,070
But anyway, it's been 25 years since we've even had one of these significant investments

881
01:14:48,070 --> 01:14:54,070
at the elementary level in the Gathersburg cluster and yet enrollment is on a continuous climb.

882
01:14:54,550 --> 01:14:59,970
Since 2007, total elementary school enrollment in the cluster is grown 21.

883
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:09,820
1% enough to more than fill a large elementary school. Which are the communities more or most in need here? The schools

884
01:15:09,820 --> 01:15:16,340
that have been most consistently overcrowded since 2007 are summit hall and strawberry null. They remain

885
01:15:16,340 --> 01:15:22,340
the most overcrowded elementary in this cluster. Next is Gathersburg Elementary. It's important

886
01:15:22,340 --> 01:15:27,540
to note Gathersburg and summit hall serve overwhelmingly minority populations. They have the highest

887
01:15:27,540 --> 01:15:31,320
farms right in the cluster, they have the highest e-sol rates in the cluster, they have

888
01:15:31,320 --> 01:15:36,060
two of the three highest mobility rates in the cluster, the meeting families who move in

889
01:15:36,060 --> 01:15:42,340
or out of the school during the year. The families being served at these overcrowded schools,

890
01:15:43,480 --> 01:15:49,480
IE, the families in need of relief, are overwhelmingly minority, and less affluent than many other

891
01:15:49,480 --> 01:15:54,000
residents of our city. They don't tend to be the ones we see at our American council meetings.

892
01:15:54,000 --> 01:15:57,340
they're not in regular contact with us.

893
01:15:58,000 --> 01:16:02,140
But the fact is we have a responsibility to serve them.

894
01:16:02,600 --> 01:16:06,160
So from the beginning, as everyone knows, I've said publicly and privately,

895
01:16:06,280 --> 01:16:10,080
then I'd like to find a way to get to, yes, on this question.

896
01:16:10,240 --> 01:16:11,460
And how do we do that?

897
01:16:11,580 --> 01:16:14,560
The way I see it is we minimize the school building footprint.

898
01:16:15,240 --> 01:16:19,560
We preserve and perhaps enhance recreational use of the park.

899
01:16:20,140 --> 01:16:26,260
And we identify opportunities for additional amenities that will work to the community's benefit.

900
01:16:27,480 --> 01:16:30,500
Looking at this deal, I feel confident that we have gotten there.

901
01:16:30,840 --> 01:16:32,460
What is the community get out of this?

902
01:16:32,820 --> 01:16:37,760
We get improved school capacity for communities in need all over the east side of our city.

903
01:16:38,220 --> 01:16:46,240
We get reconsideration of the middle school boundary that some of our residents have been upset about for the last 20 years and rightfully so.

904
01:16:47,220 --> 01:16:50,960
We get preservation of most uses of the park,

905
01:16:51,500 --> 01:16:56,560
and while adding a new use that will make the park enjoyable in a way that hasn't been before.

906
01:16:56,640 --> 01:16:59,360
I mean, baseball and softball are great, but our residents, I'm sure,

907
01:16:59,480 --> 01:17:02,480
will also enjoy playing soccer and other field sports.

908
01:17:03,340 --> 01:17:05,960
We get enhanced security opportunities with the cameras.

909
01:17:06,440 --> 01:17:10,280
We get opportunities to expand city programs using the field, the gym,

910
01:17:10,640 --> 01:17:11,800
and with our summer camps.

911
01:17:12,260 --> 01:17:15,240
We get additional parking during non-school hours.

912
01:17:15,240 --> 01:17:21,420
And yes, as I've said before, I think there's a good potential for increased property values.

913
01:17:21,620 --> 01:17:25,640
And I know there's been a lot of alternate speculation on this point.

914
01:17:26,100 --> 01:17:28,780
I have had conversations with real estate professionals,

915
01:17:30,160 --> 01:17:35,580
and the consensus is that a new elementary school in Montgomery County has a positive impact on home values.

916
01:17:36,360 --> 01:17:38,220
Of course, there are trade offs.

917
01:17:38,840 --> 01:17:40,660
We lose a portion of the front of the park.

918
01:17:41,160 --> 01:17:44,880
We lose the tennis court, although it's notable that there is a tennis court available

919
01:17:44,880 --> 01:17:53,100
at Griffith Park at City Hall that's not used a great deal so there's some opportunity there and we get some

920
01:17:53,960 --> 01:17:58,500
and yes we'll get some increased traffic congestion in mid-morning and mid-afternoon on school days.

921
01:17:59,860 --> 01:18:05,340
In terms of traffic and back I personally live less than half a mile away from a newly rebuilt large

922
01:18:05,340 --> 01:18:13,060
elementary school brown station. It's 0.4 miles away from my house which makes my house closer to that

923
01:18:13,060 --> 01:18:17,640
school, then the majority of the Sabro community would be to a school Kelly Park.

924
01:18:18,060 --> 01:18:22,800
Round station is the same size or larger than what's on the table here at Kelly Park.

925
01:18:22,860 --> 01:18:30,420
And it's situated on the collector street, Quinn's Orchard Boulevard, which is similar in classification and usage to victory farm.

926
01:18:31,280 --> 01:18:37,240
I'd expect traffic around Kelly Park, the Kelly Park School would have some impact on the neighborhood,

927
01:18:37,340 --> 01:18:41,820
but my experience is that minor adjustments can mitigate it.

928
01:18:41,820 --> 01:18:47,660
The big uncertainty here is how the boundaries will be drawn, while MCPS has made informal statements,

929
01:18:48,960 --> 01:18:54,200
Seth and Seth, I hope you're listening to this part. They've made informal statements

930
01:18:54,200 --> 01:18:59,620
to the community and to the city that their intent would be to maximize walkers. We all know

931
01:18:59,620 --> 01:19:05,320
it's not over until it's over. And at the very start of this process, I said publicly that if we

932
01:19:05,320 --> 01:19:09,820
should approve this deal, I would be at the forefront and lead the charge with the Board of Education

933
01:19:09,820 --> 01:19:12,940
and to get a boundary drawn that would maximize walkers,

934
01:19:13,180 --> 01:19:15,140
I remained committed to that end.

935
01:19:15,660 --> 01:19:20,120
Furthermore, as MCPS is reconsidering middle school boundaries,

936
01:19:20,440 --> 01:19:22,520
as well, I will advocate the same for those boundaries.

937
01:19:23,420 --> 01:19:25,400
Look, we represent one of the most

938
01:19:25,400 --> 01:19:26,800
diversities in this country.

939
01:19:27,320 --> 01:19:30,880
Everyone up here, well, I wouldn't stay up here.

940
01:19:30,980 --> 01:19:33,660
Everyone on this screen, virtually in front of you,

941
01:19:33,900 --> 01:19:37,700
regards that fact as an honor, but it's also a responsibility.

942
01:19:37,700 --> 01:19:43,760
It is our responsibility to represent those who come before us as well as those who don't.

943
01:19:44,040 --> 01:19:49,200
I believe that this is one of those times where we have to ask ourselves, as tough as this decision is,

944
01:19:49,560 --> 01:19:53,460
which of the two choices will better serve the needs of everyone in our community.

945
01:19:54,000 --> 01:19:57,820
On the one hand, we can say no, and we can keep the status quo.

946
01:19:58,220 --> 01:20:05,620
Our beautiful Kelly Park will stay as is, and our students and families on the east side will continue to be plagued by overcrowded schools.

947
01:20:05,620 --> 01:20:10,300
At some point, MCPS will start the process over and begin another site selection.

948
01:20:10,560 --> 01:20:15,300
But the question is when, the county is overflowing with neighborhoods that need more

949
01:20:15,300 --> 01:20:16,100
school capacity.

950
01:20:16,660 --> 01:20:18,840
There's a ton of need, but not a lot of resources.

951
01:20:19,800 --> 01:20:24,480
And we can expect reasonably that MCPS budgets are going to be seriously constrained for

952
01:20:24,480 --> 01:20:29,040
years as a result of our COVID plague economy, who knows when they'll come back.

953
01:20:29,620 --> 01:20:33,000
Even before COVID, it had been 32 years since the last time.

954
01:20:33,000 --> 01:20:42,320
On the other hand, we could say yes, and both preserve and enhance Kelly Park, we get a new elementary school, which families on the east side of our city desperately need.

955
01:20:42,700 --> 01:20:46,940
It doesn't alleviate all the overcrowding in the gates as per cluster, but it makes a big debt.

956
01:20:47,400 --> 01:20:53,560
I think our choice is clear, and I hope I see the best option for our council to approve this resolution.

957
01:20:54,040 --> 01:20:56,080
Now I'm going to turn it over to the council member Harris.

958
01:20:57,800 --> 01:20:58,740
Thank you, Mayor.

959
01:20:59,520 --> 01:21:00,100
I appreciate it.

960
01:21:00,660 --> 01:21:02,460
This is a tough one as everybody knows.

961
01:21:03,220 --> 01:21:04,540
So, first of all, I want to apologize.

962
01:21:04,960 --> 01:21:09,080
My makeup person can't come over because of COVID and my head is a little shiny.

963
01:21:09,520 --> 01:21:09,940
Thanks to that.

964
01:21:11,060 --> 01:21:16,100
Anyway, so what I first joined the council, one of the first commitments that I made,

965
01:21:16,340 --> 01:21:21,680
probably my very first council meeting, was to work on dealing with our overcrowded schools.

966
01:21:21,860 --> 01:21:25,400
There were several presentations of that meeting, including Oscar Alvaraga

967
01:21:25,400 --> 01:21:28,980
who's here, talking about the situation at Summit Hall,

968
01:21:29,560 --> 01:21:30,800
people talking about racial cars.

969
01:21:31,020 --> 01:21:32,740
And then as I looked into the issue,

970
01:21:33,320 --> 01:21:37,320
I saw that we had a really difficult situation here

971
01:21:37,320 --> 01:21:41,060
in Gathesburg, Oscar took me on a tour of Summit Hall

972
01:21:41,060 --> 01:21:45,260
and he introduced me to a portable that his son had classes in

973
01:21:45,260 --> 01:21:48,000
and that Oscar himself had classes in years earlier.

974
01:21:48,900 --> 01:21:51,080
So that was the condition of that school.

975
01:21:51,080 --> 01:22:14,080
Since that time, I've attended a number of meetings at MCPS along with our mayor, along with our city manager and other senior city staff and the results of many discussions of ways to alleviate the overcrowding situation in our schools was that we've had a number of breakthroughs.

976
01:22:14,080 --> 01:22:21,680
MCPS has put the high school that we've reserved ground for at Crown Farm on the budget,

977
01:22:22,060 --> 01:22:25,900
and it'll be coming six or seven years from now. Major new high school to alleviate

978
01:22:25,900 --> 01:22:32,980
that problem in the city. They've expanded. They're working on expanding Dufief Mill and

979
01:22:32,980 --> 01:22:41,000
going to take some of the overcrowding out of Rachel Carson. And this one coming to us with the idea of

980
01:22:41,000 --> 01:22:43,500
putting in a new elementary school on a fast track was

981
01:22:43,500 --> 01:22:45,240
seemed like a gift from the heavens.

982
01:22:46,020 --> 01:22:49,180
And of course, I wasn't aware of the history

983
01:22:49,180 --> 01:22:52,660
of the situation that led to a lot of these discussions

984
01:22:52,660 --> 01:22:54,720
from the last 20 years.

985
01:22:56,360 --> 01:22:58,400
So let's talk about fairness.

986
01:22:59,060 --> 01:23:02,480
First of all, I know that there are people that

987
01:23:02,480 --> 01:23:07,880
think it's unfair that your community was not well-represented

988
01:23:07,880 --> 01:23:15,340
in the discussions of where a new elementary school would go. Of course, we heard from Carolyn Garvey,

989
01:23:15,520 --> 01:23:22,600
who was a representative of your community, a PTA person, not an HOA person, who was actually

990
01:23:22,600 --> 01:23:29,460
part of that committee. The challenge is that when MCPS puts these projects together, they gather

991
01:23:29,460 --> 01:23:36,600
people from the PTAs and other school oriented groups, and not necessarily the HOA groups,

992
01:23:36,600 --> 01:23:40,020
and they had a large territory to recommend to work from.

993
01:23:40,560 --> 01:23:42,260
So I think at the end of the day,

994
01:23:42,640 --> 01:23:45,360
that's not the most fair criticism of this process.

995
01:23:45,400 --> 01:23:49,100
I think the process did what it always does throughout the county.

996
01:23:50,860 --> 01:23:54,640
And as was said earlier, there were a lot of choices.

997
01:23:54,740 --> 01:23:55,680
None of them were perfect.

998
01:23:55,780 --> 01:23:58,800
This was the best one that they came back with to us with.

999
01:23:58,920 --> 01:24:00,160
It wouldn't have been our first choice,

1000
01:24:00,500 --> 01:24:03,220
but looking at the process and looking at the ways

1001
01:24:03,220 --> 01:24:06,900
that they evaluated, the choices that they made,

1002
01:24:07,220 --> 01:24:09,580
it seemed like a reasonable choice to make.

1003
01:24:10,700 --> 01:24:13,700
Also, and what we've heard many times today,

1004
01:24:13,700 --> 01:24:17,960
and at previous meetings is that if the school

1005
01:24:17,960 --> 01:24:21,120
has built the park is lost, and as we've heard number wise,

1006
01:24:21,640 --> 01:24:24,320
we're losing, we would be losing 20% of the park

1007
01:24:24,320 --> 01:24:26,400
and giving that to a school building,

1008
01:24:26,900 --> 01:24:29,060
and the rest of the park would be greatly improved.

1009
01:24:29,060 --> 01:24:35,660
Now, there have been a number of people who have suggested using Victory Farm Park instead.

1010
01:24:36,500 --> 01:24:40,960
And, honestly, as a numbers person, I've looked at the proposal for that, and it's probably

1011
01:24:40,960 --> 01:24:46,020
an extra $10 million on top of the $30 million that MCPS would have to put in because of

1012
01:24:46,020 --> 01:24:50,340
the topography being uneven and the need for bridges and things like that.

1013
01:24:51,300 --> 01:24:55,020
Now, I'm going to throw something out of left field, which I know drives Judd and Tony

1014
01:24:55,020 --> 01:25:02,980
crazy but I'll do it anyway. If we're willing to consider citing things on victory farm park,

1015
01:25:03,480 --> 01:25:07,940
if we decide to go forward with the elementary school as proposed today, maybe we can take

1016
01:25:07,940 --> 01:25:12,820
some of victory farm park and repurpose it right now. It's a passive park that's just a bunch

1017
01:25:12,820 --> 01:25:17,800
of trees. I like trees, but maybe we can put some tennis courts or some other amenities there

1018
01:25:17,800 --> 01:25:21,100
as we go forward, so that we're really not losing anything.

1019
01:25:26,130 --> 01:25:33,490
So, so if I can take a few more minutes, I went back to my notes from actually June of 2018,

1020
01:25:33,770 --> 01:25:40,830
a little over almost two years ago. And we had a number of meetings up to that point,

1021
01:25:40,970 --> 01:25:46,630
and we had a decision to go back to MCPS with a list of things that we wanted.

1022
01:25:46,630 --> 01:25:51,510
And I'd like to read through that list and talk about what they've given us and what they haven't given us.

1023
01:25:51,610 --> 01:25:57,130
So first of all, we asked them to take a look at Victory Farm Park near Forest Oak Middle School.

1024
01:25:58,190 --> 01:26:04,530
The result of that was that, as I mentioned, topography, why is it would be very expensive to build a school there.

1025
01:26:05,430 --> 01:26:10,870
And MCPS doesn't have a lot of extra money to throw around. We're lucky where we'd be, we'd been offered what we'd been offered.

1026
01:26:11,410 --> 01:26:17,230
We asked for the earliest possible boundary study and we asked for a boundary study to also include

1027
01:26:17,230 --> 01:26:23,230
Forest Oak Middle School and strongly biased the discussion toward walkability.

1028
01:26:24,210 --> 01:26:25,310
We got that.

1029
01:26:25,450 --> 01:26:26,270
It hasn't happened yet.

1030
01:26:26,270 --> 01:26:29,730
It never happens before the decision is made because they don't do that unless they

1031
01:26:29,730 --> 01:26:34,470
know they're going to get a school but it's was supposed to have started already except

1032
01:26:34,470 --> 01:26:38,330
for the COVID issue and we all know that things are getting delayed.

1033
01:26:38,950 --> 01:26:44,350
We asked them to have a public process to continue the discussions over the last couple of years

1034
01:26:44,350 --> 01:26:48,910
with the Citizens and Residents of Gafersburg that's happened.

1035
01:26:49,650 --> 01:26:55,390
We asked them if they, indeed, decided to go forward with the proposal on Kelly Park that they minimize the physical footprint

1036
01:26:55,850 --> 01:26:59,990
to maximize public access to the park at all times, also during construction.

1037
01:27:01,310 --> 01:27:03,730
That is absolutely part of the proposal.

1038
01:27:04,350 --> 01:27:11,810
They, we asked them to examine multiple options for sighting the school to find the least disruptive site and improve sight lines for the surrounding communities.

1039
01:27:12,810 --> 01:27:17,810
That has actually happened. The current plan is much improved sight lines from the original plan.

1040
01:27:19,750 --> 01:27:26,090
We asked them to add a green spit, add more green space to a land spot so we could create new parks that hasn't happened.

1041
01:27:27,270 --> 01:27:32,670
I talked to Tony, Tom Aselo, and he said basically it just turned out to be way too complicated to achieve.

1042
01:27:32,670 --> 01:27:38,550
But we do have other space in the city that we could possibly have new Parklands, too, as I said earlier.

1043
01:27:39,890 --> 01:27:44,690
We asked them to increase the top lot of amenities and possibly relocate them during construction,

1044
01:27:44,830 --> 01:27:47,170
so that they're not lost during the construction period.

1045
01:27:47,870 --> 01:27:51,650
The top lot was relocated in the plan, and parking has been added.

1046
01:27:53,170 --> 01:27:56,990
We asked them if we could upgrade the field to organic turf.

1047
01:27:56,990 --> 01:28:01,690
if we want to, organic artificial turf like we use at Lakeland's Park, they're open to that.

1048
01:28:01,690 --> 01:28:05,510
It's our decision to make, but they're willing to fund it if we decide to go forward.

1049
01:28:07,810 --> 01:28:11,710
We asked them to share the maintenance costs for shared facilities and make indoor facilities

1050
01:28:11,710 --> 01:28:16,330
available at no cost to the city for camp and other civic uses. That was agreed to.

1051
01:28:16,330 --> 01:28:22,170
That's a huge win as Tony said. We asked them, if we, we asked them to look into improved

1052
01:28:22,170 --> 01:28:33,170
transportation and reducing congestion, that actually is something that we would have to do is the city that's not really part of MCPS, but we should commit to revisit that as part of this process.

1053
01:28:34,730 --> 01:28:41,690
We asked them there's two more points we asked them to make sure ball fields and other amenities are freely accessible from parking at all times.

1054
01:28:42,750 --> 01:28:49,850
That is the in fact the case and we asked them that the walking pass should be accessible at all times and perhaps enhanced with lighting.

1055
01:28:50,390 --> 01:28:57,370
They are maintained inaccessible and will be continuously available during school hours, as well as non-school hours.

1056
01:28:57,610 --> 01:29:02,890
So I haven't seen any discussion about lighting, so we should ask the city staff if that's what's going on.

1057
01:29:03,070 --> 01:29:07,990
But anyway, coming back to the point of fairness, we entered into this discussion.

1058
01:29:08,230 --> 01:29:15,310
We gave MCPS a list of our asks that we're discussed in a agreed to and publicized as part of this process.

1059
01:29:15,630 --> 01:29:18,170
They gave us the vast majority of those asks.

1060
01:29:18,170 --> 01:29:25,110
I think at this point, it would be unfair to go back and say, well, sorry, but we change our mind.

1061
01:29:26,590 --> 01:29:34,330
You know, in one last point, in terms of the points that MCPS is not paying for everything here,

1062
01:29:34,390 --> 01:29:37,050
they're asking for us to do some things.

1063
01:29:38,490 --> 01:29:44,190
They're giving us a 30 million dollar state-of-the-art elementary school with a lot of community facilities.

1064
01:29:44,190 --> 01:29:55,230
I don't think that should be under-emphasized, that's really important, not only school space for our kids, but community space for meetings, some are activities, all kinds of things.

1065
01:29:55,890 --> 01:29:59,970
And as Judd said, I think most real estate agents would say that having something like...

1066
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:15,800
I'd like that in your neighborhood as an enhancement. So I think repurposing 20% of the park to an elementary school, improving the other 80% of the park, and possibly adding some additional amenities is not a bad deal at all.

1067
01:30:15,800 --> 01:30:23,580
I think it's something that we really strongly should consider and doing it where it will be delivered in two years is unheard of.

1068
01:30:23,580 --> 01:30:29,420
So I think this is a sounds good to me and I'd love to hear from everyone else and see

1069
01:30:29,420 --> 01:30:30,940
what they think.

1070
01:30:31,160 --> 01:30:32,040
Thank you, Dale.

1071
01:30:32,080 --> 01:30:34,300
We'll move on to Council of Upper Wu.

1072
01:30:36,410 --> 01:30:38,910
Thank you, Mr. American, hear me.

1073
01:30:39,470 --> 01:30:39,710
Yes.

1074
01:30:40,070 --> 01:30:40,190
Good.

1075
01:30:41,110 --> 01:30:41,810
Thank you.

1076
01:30:42,330 --> 01:30:48,550
I'm not going to bore you with a soap off speech as I have in the past iterations we've had

1077
01:30:48,550 --> 01:30:49,250
on this.

1078
01:30:49,510 --> 01:30:54,530
Just to summarize, I think that this is an extraordinary ask for

1079
01:30:54,530 --> 01:31:03,770
MCPS. I appreciate the job and effort and consideration that we use put into this, that the

1080
01:31:03,770 --> 01:31:10,950
sets have put into this, and they've come to the table, putting forth the best position for

1081
01:31:10,950 --> 01:31:19,750
the for MCPS itself. However, here in the city, as I stated before, we have to balance the interests

1082
01:31:19,750 --> 01:31:28,010
of both indirectly responsibility for meeting the educational needs of our residents that's

1083
01:31:28,010 --> 01:31:28,810
a benefit for us.

1084
01:31:28,890 --> 01:31:34,610
We should be looking out for that, but MCPS is ultimately the organization, the political

1085
01:31:34,610 --> 01:31:39,090
subdivision that is responsible for funding and educating our students.

1086
01:31:40,930 --> 01:31:45,310
We have a separate interest as well, which is preservation of green space in fact it's

1087
01:31:45,310 --> 01:31:51,650
strategic plan. So, you know, I've kind of been trying to balance those interests, you know,

1088
01:31:51,810 --> 01:31:57,460
this is not my neighborhood. I live in the parklands. We used to have trees, now we don't.

1089
01:31:58,970 --> 01:32:04,910
But when I look at situations, I try to put myself in the position of those that would be

1090
01:32:04,910 --> 01:32:10,680
most impacted by this, either for and against having a school in neighborhood for, I think it's

1091
01:32:10,680 --> 01:32:11,400
It's beneficial.

1092
01:32:12,020 --> 01:32:14,420
Having a parking in the neighborhood is beneficial as well.

1093
01:32:14,800 --> 01:32:18,260
So really, the role we have is to balance those interests.

1094
01:32:19,700 --> 01:32:22,100
And two years ago, when this started,

1095
01:32:22,820 --> 01:32:24,600
I've been trying to push the process.

1096
01:32:24,640 --> 01:32:27,300
So it's not a school versus park choice.

1097
01:32:28,740 --> 01:32:30,160
We are where we are now.

1098
01:32:30,440 --> 01:32:32,860
Any kind of decision that would go forward

1099
01:32:33,300 --> 01:32:38,100
could impact the progress of whatever may come.

1100
01:32:39,220 --> 01:32:57,000
But it is what it is, and so rather than give a long speech, I've got questions, and I've got markups of the resolution itself, so Tony on future Mike, and get a piece of paper and pen.

1101
01:32:58,080 --> 01:33:04,640
So the question or in the presentation itself, it mentioned the stormwater infrastructure for the field itself.

1102
01:33:04,640 --> 01:33:11,320
was there any provision in the construction of the school itself for either stormwater infrastructure

1103
01:33:11,320 --> 01:33:17,080
that would completely mitigate its runoff into the surrounding area or in agreement with the

1104
01:33:17,080 --> 01:33:20,740
MCPS to pay for stormwater mitigation fees for this property?

1105
01:33:23,550 --> 01:33:31,190
I'll let Seth Adams or Seth Durian jump it on the on the fee issue, but the planning aspects

1106
01:33:31,190 --> 01:33:38,090
and the development aspects are not part of this agreement other than they need to comply with

1107
01:33:38,090 --> 01:33:44,830
the modern stormwater management practices. We did make an ask that they pay stormwater management

1108
01:33:44,830 --> 01:33:52,790
fees on this site. I do understand that MCPS was not willing to set the precedent that they would

1109
01:33:52,790 --> 01:34:01,170
pay for one site when they don't pay for any other site in the county. So we decided to leave it out

1110
01:34:01,170 --> 01:34:11,210
of the agreement in case statewide legislation is enacted that requires boards of education

1111
01:34:11,210 --> 01:34:16,050
to pay what we consider their fair share of stormwater management fees.

1112
01:34:16,450 --> 01:34:19,250
So the two sides agreed to simply be silent on the matter.

1113
01:34:20,090 --> 01:34:24,790
They would have preferred, I'm sure, that they would be guaranteed to never have to pay

1114
01:34:24,790 --> 01:34:26,470
stormwater fee on this site.

1115
01:34:27,130 --> 01:34:28,390
We could not get there.

1116
01:34:28,390 --> 01:34:35,390
So we thought the best way to do it was to decide if there's a broader legislation, then we would let that prevail.

1117
01:34:36,630 --> 01:34:36,750
Okay.

1118
01:34:37,090 --> 01:34:37,810
Thank you Tony.

1119
01:34:37,970 --> 01:34:45,590
I mean, I would think we would be in an atypical situation in the future if we were considering giving up another portion of a park for a school site.

1120
01:34:45,590 --> 01:34:47,530
So I would see this as a unique situation.

1121
01:34:48,530 --> 01:34:51,810
My preference would be for the resolution to also include language.

1122
01:34:53,370 --> 01:35:06,230
either requiring MCPS to pay criminal management fees for this site or to fully mitigate the stormwater runoff such that there is no runoff from the impervious services that they'll be adding to the site.

1123
01:35:07,350 --> 01:35:12,950
We had talked early on about a landswap. I didn't see anything about that.

1124
01:35:12,950 --> 01:35:24,670
I mean, Rob, could I stop you from saying, did you want to give MCPS staff a chance to, I'm sorry, Steve, but for anything that I say, please feel free Tony and the staff to jump in. I'm sorry.

1125
01:35:27,990 --> 01:35:45,390
So so again, this is set that on for the record. So just from a stormwater management perspective, I would just say one minor change. I think what we're talking about is stormwater maintenance fees for essentially after construction is completed.

1126
01:35:46,130 --> 01:35:55,310
The reason that we do not pay that is we partner with the county department of environmental protection who does maintenance at all school sites throughout the county.

1127
01:35:56,150 --> 01:36:05,050
What we would pay, however, though, is any fees associated with stormwater management that are part of the overall design and construction of the project.

1128
01:36:05,050 --> 01:36:09,150
As well as, you need to talk about mitigate runoff.

1129
01:36:09,690 --> 01:36:12,850
It's really important to understand the new state law.

1130
01:36:13,110 --> 01:36:19,970
So this is not essentially juristic and juristic in the state law that any project, such as this,

1131
01:36:20,790 --> 01:36:24,110
essentially makes existing conditions better than what they are today.

1132
01:36:25,370 --> 01:36:28,830
So, for instance, you know, tennis courts are parking that does not have some more management.

1133
01:36:29,590 --> 01:36:35,970
We have to take into that into account and correct it as part of the overall design of the building.

1134
01:36:37,230 --> 01:36:41,830
So, pretty much every school site, every major development in the county in the state

1135
01:36:42,670 --> 01:36:48,250
does move forward under the premise that stormwater mitigations are in place,

1136
01:36:48,510 --> 01:36:51,870
and it's a better place once it's done construction.

1137
01:36:52,630 --> 01:36:57,190
So, I think I just wanted to clarify that the fees that we're talking about are these maintenance fees

1138
01:36:57,190 --> 01:37:09,570
And the reality is we are not as a school system responsible for the maintenance, that's the department of environmental protection, that's why there's been some of the issues around us paying those maintenance fees.

1139
01:37:09,950 --> 01:37:10,970
Okay, thanks, Seth.

1140
01:37:12,570 --> 01:37:20,050
And so, you know, if there is binding law on that would govern the construction of this site for stormwater.

1141
01:37:20,050 --> 01:37:23,650
mitigation, either through infrastructure, or whatnot,

1142
01:37:24,550 --> 01:37:29,430
perhaps inclusion of a recital at the beginning of the agreement.

1143
01:37:30,310 --> 01:37:35,210
Now, if there is not a sufficient legal precedent to bind,

1144
01:37:36,890 --> 01:37:39,730
my concern is making sure that this project does not

1145
01:37:39,730 --> 01:37:45,090
add stormwater runoff into, as was mentioned by a caller before,

1146
01:37:45,810 --> 01:37:47,130
environmentally sensitive area.

1147
01:37:47,130 --> 01:37:55,290
And so if there's not sufficient protection, I would want some kind of agreement placed into the, um, the later portion of the agreement.

1148
01:37:55,730 --> 01:37:58,350
Rob, uh, laying water to jump in on this.

1149
01:37:58,490 --> 01:38:10,950
Yeah, I did an paragraph for the agreement. It does, um, require the board and all of their plans to conform with the city storm water, uh, concept and final storm water sediment control plans.

1150
01:38:10,950 --> 01:38:18,990
with folks state and city law. And again, that this city law based on state statute does follow

1151
01:38:18,990 --> 01:38:23,430
what the state law requires. So that's already building to the agreement that they would

1152
01:38:23,430 --> 01:38:28,110
comply with all both the state and city laws on stormwater and settlement control.

1153
01:38:28,730 --> 01:38:37,050
Okay, great. Thank you, Lynn. Second point is with regards to the earlier discussion of

1154
01:38:37,050 --> 01:38:40,610
either paying for the property or for a landswap.

1155
01:38:42,030 --> 01:38:43,530
I've moved on to a different topic, sorry.

1156
01:38:46,510 --> 01:38:48,510
And I see that's not the agreement.

1157
01:38:49,750 --> 01:38:52,170
It's not a red line for me.

1158
01:38:53,150 --> 01:38:58,750
Was there any discussion Tony on a commensurate landswap, for example,

1159
01:38:59,050 --> 01:39:00,070
at Forest Oath Middle School?

1160
01:39:00,210 --> 01:39:02,060
There's a lot of passive area up there,

1161
01:39:03,050 --> 01:39:05,430
not utilized by the school that is a property of the school.

1162
01:39:05,430 --> 01:39:09,010
It's also appears to me to be environmentally sensitive areas.

1163
01:39:09,370 --> 01:39:14,710
It might be a good opportunity to look at whether or not taking it under city control might

1164
01:39:14,710 --> 01:39:19,370
allow us to have more control over the environmental preservation of this entire watershed.

1165
01:39:19,970 --> 01:39:28,230
Just throwing that out there as a thought if there's going to be any future negotiation on the agreement itself.

1166
01:39:32,510 --> 01:39:36,270
And this is most relevant to, I think, paragraph two of the

1167
01:39:36,270 --> 01:39:42,090
therefore, I didn't see anything that covered damage or interference

1168
01:39:44,370 --> 01:39:47,610
with surrounding properties, construction interference.

1169
01:39:48,830 --> 01:39:52,870
You know, something happens on site where either a city,

1170
01:39:52,870 --> 01:39:58,210
Facility is damaged or it got for bid a neighboring house is damaged.

1171
01:40:00,130 --> 01:40:05,050
Are there provisions dealing with this and obviously my preference would be the the

1172
01:40:05,050 --> 01:40:12,270
Board of Education MCPS bear the burden of any of kinds of claims or anything that would occur as a result of that.

1173
01:40:13,330 --> 01:40:19,290
They have a defined construction easements outside of the 5171 acres which

1174
01:40:19,290 --> 01:40:33,730
Which, customarily, would encompass all of their construction activity, storage materials, those types of things, there really aren't that many residences that close to the school building itself.

1175
01:40:34,150 --> 01:40:38,930
They'd have to be pretty far afield to damage a house and they would be liable for that damage.

1176
01:40:38,930 --> 01:40:43,630
If they went outside the dedicated area and the construction easement.

1177
01:40:44,490 --> 01:40:51,550
Well, so, for example, here in the parklands when they were constructing, must have been more than a half mile away from us.

1178
01:40:51,550 --> 01:41:00,910
They were driving things into the ground, and there were at least allegations that the vibrations caused damage to the properties, not necessarily adjacent to a good distance away.

1179
01:41:01,850 --> 01:41:07,350
Just at a protective layer, I would like a whole harmless, I would like to see a whole

1180
01:41:07,350 --> 01:41:13,450
harmless clause in here that BOE, MCPS would bear the cost responsibility and damages

1181
01:41:13,450 --> 01:41:19,010
for any potential claims against the city resulting from construction on the site.

1182
01:41:21,020 --> 01:41:22,940
No response required just throwing it out there.

1183
01:41:26,980 --> 01:41:35,940
One of my red lines that I was talking about in my prior meeting was this concept of writing

1184
01:41:35,940 --> 01:41:39,920
the wrong from Forest Oak Middle School in the boundary study here and folks have mentioned

1185
01:41:39,920 --> 01:41:45,540
that here today. There's no recitals in the agreement itself dealing with the boundary study

1186
01:41:45,540 --> 01:41:53,320
itself and I have faith in MCPS that they will abide by their commitments and they hear us loud

1187
01:41:53,320 --> 01:41:57,740
clear, but faith is not concrete.

1188
01:41:58,300 --> 01:42:00,660
And so I would like to see, and this is where

1189
01:42:00,660 --> 01:42:04,080
Lin can come in at some point, to try to craft language

1190
01:42:04,080 --> 01:42:07,020
in the agreement itself that prior to closing

1191
01:42:08,240 --> 01:42:10,720
the boundary study must be complete,

1192
01:42:10,720 --> 01:42:14,020
and that we get to approve it for the transfer of the property

1193
01:42:14,020 --> 01:42:15,020
does not occur.

1194
01:42:16,160 --> 01:42:17,520
Again, don't need to comment.

1195
01:42:17,880 --> 01:42:19,140
I would like to throw that out there.

1196
01:42:21,960 --> 01:42:26,320
Let's see, we'll cost the funding transfer, if suit, suits born by MCPS.

1197
01:42:26,800 --> 01:42:34,000
Okay. There is the possibility that we could be wrapped up in litigation due to the transfer

1198
01:42:34,000 --> 01:42:39,520
of this property. I don't know one way or the other way that will occur. However, I would

1199
01:42:39,520 --> 01:42:46,600
like to see another whole harmless agreements in this resolution that MCPS would bear the

1200
01:42:46,600 --> 01:42:51,140
loss of defending the city and any damages that result from those kind of legal challenges,

1201
01:42:51,920 --> 01:42:56,600
resulting from this decision to transfer the property for the construction of the school.

1202
01:42:59,340 --> 01:43:02,360
Paragraph 4 dealing with the courtesy site plan review.

1203
01:43:02,620 --> 01:43:03,600
I'd mentioned this to Dennis.

1204
01:43:03,760 --> 01:43:05,900
I don't know if it filtered out to folks.

1205
01:43:07,240 --> 01:43:09,460
It talks about courtesy site plan review.

1206
01:43:09,540 --> 01:43:15,000
And I know there's an MOU between the county and CPS and

1207
01:43:15,000 --> 01:43:19,980
regarding the ordinary practice as it applies to the construction of schools within

1208
01:43:21,200 --> 01:43:25,940
Gathersburg, but this is extraordinary again because we are providing land

1209
01:43:25,940 --> 01:43:34,040
if this resolution is passed for this school. I think that all of the planning reviews,

1210
01:43:34,280 --> 01:43:39,620
all of the permitting, everything resulting from anything related to the site that would ordinary

1211
01:43:39,620 --> 01:43:54,720
we applied to a construction of a facility within the city of Gatorsburg should go through with planary authority, our processes, including approval by the city council.

1212
01:43:57,140 --> 01:44:06,640
Something that I couldn't tie to a paragraph, MCPS has indicated that they intend to fund this project with sounds like groundbreaking.

1213
01:44:07,540 --> 01:44:15,240
later this year construction by 2022. I don't know if that's set in stone. I'm not sure

1214
01:44:15,240 --> 01:44:19,680
anything is really set in stone until the contract is awarded for construction. So I would

1215
01:44:19,680 --> 01:44:27,920
like to see a provision in this resolution that states that if MCPS agrees to fund according

1216
01:44:27,920 --> 01:44:34,060
to the schedule they proposed and if this gets pushed as projects have been pushed in MCPS

1217
01:44:34,060 --> 01:44:36,280
but just in the past, the deal is off.

1218
01:44:36,540 --> 01:44:38,820
They cannot close on the property it reverts to us.

1219
01:44:42,140 --> 01:44:46,960
Paragraph six and paragraph eight relates

1220
01:44:46,960 --> 01:44:47,640
to the inspections.

1221
01:44:48,000 --> 01:44:51,000
Again, I don't, my preference would be

1222
01:44:51,000 --> 01:44:53,080
that we take authority.

1223
01:44:54,040 --> 01:44:56,800
Paragraph six, paragraph eight, this stuff that's discussed there.

1224
01:44:59,200 --> 01:44:59,980
Let's see.

1225
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:01,000
Okay,

1226
01:45:03,460 --> 01:45:11,740
paragraph 14. I see if this flip a few pages. And I'll give you the opportunity to flip those pages.

1227
01:45:22,260 --> 01:45:41,260
And let me know when you're there Tony. Okay, great. I was very uncomfortable with this notion that if the board sees us to use the elementary school site as an elementary school, that the property reverts to the county's disposition system for the property.

1228
01:45:41,260 --> 01:45:56,460
even the we get preference. I would like to see in the in the resolution a provision that if the school is no longer used actively as an elementary school by MCPS, there's an automatic reversion of the site and the building to the city.

1229
01:46:02,800 --> 01:46:10,240
And that was kind of what I had as far as flipping through the resolution my primary concerns.

1230
01:46:12,080 --> 01:46:17,860
I would ask that, you know, the process that we kind of outlined here.

1231
01:46:18,060 --> 01:46:20,060
No, it was kind of quick to getting this meeting together.

1232
01:46:20,220 --> 01:46:22,540
We provided notice last Thursday to the public.

1233
01:46:23,200 --> 01:46:28,740
We got some robust input here, but, you know, it seemed a little quick.

1234
01:46:28,740 --> 01:46:43,440
And so what I would suggest to my colleagues is instead of taking a vote here tonight to approve or disapprove of the resolution is to authorize or have the city manager go back and renegotiate these matters.

1235
01:46:44,100 --> 01:46:58,260
Have MCPS look at them and have the BOE vote on them and then ultimately at our next meeting perhaps come back and take another look one way or the other as to whether or not to approve the resolution.

1236
01:46:59,760 --> 01:47:10,720
I guess I'm putting that out there to my colleagues to see if there's a second or any individuals who think that might be a better course of action than simply taking a vote tonight.

1237
01:47:11,600 --> 01:47:21,020
Okay. Well, we'll move to if you're done with your initial marks Rob will move over to Ryan and if anybody wants to chime in during their remarks.

1238
01:47:21,020 --> 01:47:24,600
if they want to pick up on those ideas they can.

1239
01:47:25,080 --> 01:47:25,560
Thanks Mr. Mayor.

1240
01:47:25,920 --> 01:47:28,600
And again, Tony Seth, I appreciate your time and diligence.

1241
01:47:29,860 --> 01:47:30,560
Thank you, Rob.

1242
01:47:31,040 --> 01:47:33,040
Let's go with Ron and.

1243
01:47:33,560 --> 01:47:34,680
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1244
01:47:36,140 --> 01:47:39,300
First of all, I just want to mention that I also

1245
01:47:39,300 --> 01:47:42,540
was curious about paragraph 14 of the draft.

1246
01:47:43,120 --> 01:47:45,060
And I had a conversation a few days ago

1247
01:47:45,060 --> 01:47:46,960
with the city attorney about that.

1248
01:47:47,000 --> 01:47:49,160
It's my understanding from speaking with her

1249
01:47:49,160 --> 01:47:55,000
that that paragraph is reflection of requirements under state law and that's not something that's

1250
01:47:55,000 --> 01:48:00,680
negotiable. So as much as I would prefer to have paragraph 14 be a little bit stronger in

1251
01:48:00,680 --> 01:48:05,500
favor of the city's right to take back the property in the event that the school was

1252
01:48:05,500 --> 01:48:11,380
cease operating as a school that that's just not something that's negotiable under Maryland law.

1253
01:48:11,500 --> 01:48:17,400
So maybe before I make any further comments Mr. Mayor, would it be all right if Lynn just address

1254
01:48:17,400 --> 01:48:17,960
That question.

1255
01:48:19,160 --> 01:48:20,020
Go ahead.

1256
01:48:20,800 --> 01:48:20,940
Yeah.

1257
01:48:21,120 --> 01:48:22,000
That is correct.

1258
01:48:22,240 --> 01:48:28,780
And the paragraph 14 does cite the provision of state law that regulates the disposition

1259
01:48:28,780 --> 01:48:33,680
of property owned by the Board of Ed and I mean that's something that we cannot change.

1260
01:48:34,400 --> 01:48:39,500
We did include in there that it would also, that's disposition would be done not only in

1261
01:48:39,500 --> 01:48:43,880
accordance with state law that also the provisions of the deed and the annexation agreement.

1262
01:48:43,880 --> 01:48:49,420
And the annexation agreement does have limitations on what this property can be used for.

1263
01:48:49,880 --> 01:48:54,700
So it would need to be used for a public use, which includes a school of schools specifically,

1264
01:48:55,960 --> 01:48:58,680
delineated in the annexation agreement itself.

1265
01:48:59,900 --> 01:49:05,820
But if this were to dispose to someone other than the city, there would be a lot of limitations on the use.

1266
01:49:05,820 --> 01:49:17,400
The annexation agreement also does specifically give the authority to the city to designate what types of public uses could be used on the property.

1267
01:49:17,860 --> 01:49:24,660
So I think that that gives us a pretty broad range of authority should the the property no longer be used for a public school.

1268
01:49:28,640 --> 01:49:30,060
Thank you.

1269
01:49:30,720 --> 01:49:32,860
Mr. Mayor with your permission tonight I'll proceed.

1270
01:49:33,520 --> 01:49:34,080
Go right ahead.

1271
01:49:34,080 --> 01:49:39,600
I just want to first make some initial comments about the process here because a few folks

1272
01:49:39,600 --> 01:49:43,760
from the public have expressed some concern that we're debating and potentially deciding

1273
01:49:43,760 --> 01:49:49,640
this matter at a virtual meeting, of course, during the COVID-19 pandemic. And first of all,

1274
01:49:49,760 --> 01:49:55,020
I just want to say I hope everyone in Gatorsburg is staying safe and healthy and following the

1275
01:49:55,020 --> 01:49:59,740
direction in guidance from the governor on the CDC and state and county health officials.

1276
01:50:00,520 --> 01:50:17,260
But the fact is that the work of government at all levels, including our city, has to continue and just like businesses and families and nonprofits who are embracing new technologies and new ways of operating in this unprecedented time, government has to do so as well.

1277
01:50:17,260 --> 01:50:25,680
And I think that the extensive history of the debate on this issue in the city can't be ignored here.

1278
01:50:26,040 --> 01:50:32,040
With all the respect to the notion that, you know, somehow this was a quick from together decision

1279
01:50:32,780 --> 01:50:39,100
today. City residents have been testifying at council meetings, speaking up at community gatherings,

1280
01:50:40,680 --> 01:50:46,900
at MCPS open houses, writing emails to the city, in several cases multiple times, for

1281
01:50:46,900 --> 01:50:54,200
the last several months, really years. And many of us personally sat in living rooms. I know

1282
01:50:54,200 --> 01:51:01,700
I did more than once for many hours hearing the concerns of residents on these issues. And I have

1283
01:51:01,700 --> 01:51:04,380
walk the park property many times over the last several years,

1284
01:51:04,400 --> 01:51:06,340
at different times of day, days of the week,

1285
01:51:06,520 --> 01:51:09,220
once the year, I know my colleagues have as well.

1286
01:51:09,740 --> 01:51:12,040
And of course, the voters got the chance to weigh in

1287
01:51:12,040 --> 01:51:14,340
on these issues through a citywide election

1288
01:51:14,340 --> 01:51:15,660
in just last year.

1289
01:51:16,140 --> 01:51:18,160
And we posted the information about this meeting

1290
01:51:18,160 --> 01:51:21,020
and the draft agreement on multiple pages

1291
01:51:21,020 --> 01:51:22,180
of our city website.

1292
01:51:22,660 --> 01:51:24,480
We pushed out the notice by email.

1293
01:51:25,180 --> 01:51:27,400
We specifically reached out to interested residents,

1294
01:51:27,600 --> 01:51:29,820
including many of those who signed up to testify tonight.

1295
01:51:29,820 --> 01:51:35,320
And we've been barred in social media with notices about this meeting and how to participate.

1296
01:51:36,160 --> 01:51:42,360
And I think we've taken many extra steps to reach out and inform the public precisely because we're implementing this new format.

1297
01:51:43,280 --> 01:51:50,160
And we've gone to great lengths to ensure that our technological approach allows live testimony for those who signed up

1298
01:51:50,160 --> 01:51:54,400
and that our meeting is being broadcast on our TV stations and on YouTube.

1299
01:51:54,400 --> 01:52:00,560
So, I think you could even argue that never has a public meeting in the city been so well advertised before.

1300
01:52:01,380 --> 01:52:05,660
And of course, the fact that we received a large number of additional emails in recent days,

1301
01:52:06,060 --> 01:52:08,640
and the fact that many people signed up to testify live tonight,

1302
01:52:09,020 --> 01:52:16,140
are evidence that we have given sufficient notice in the people who have taken advantage of the multiple means of submitting their input.

1303
01:52:17,460 --> 01:52:24,380
Incidentally, this discussion in vote is not subject to the formal public hearing requirements of state and city law.

1304
01:52:24,380 --> 01:52:31,220
because the approval of an agreement actually falls under our resolution's power, not our ordinance authority,

1305
01:52:31,800 --> 01:52:33,960
but we took all of these aforementioned steps anyway.

1306
01:52:35,580 --> 01:52:39,380
So I would disagree with any suggestion that this agenda item was scheduled for today

1307
01:52:39,380 --> 01:52:43,000
and some sort of attempt to hide it or limit public input.

1308
01:52:43,540 --> 01:52:48,420
I think there's even an argument to be made which was reflected in the testimony of a few people tonight

1309
01:52:48,420 --> 01:52:53,140
that for some, it's actually easier not harder for them to follow along or participate

1310
01:52:53,140 --> 01:52:59,940
Since many folks are now stuck in home, able to watch us when they made otherwise be at work or driving their kids through activity.

1311
01:53:01,520 --> 01:53:03,400
We've been working on this issue for a long time.

1312
01:53:03,680 --> 01:53:10,900
We have heard repeatedly in many open forums, the questions and points of argument on all aspects of this debate.

1313
01:53:12,700 --> 01:53:18,760
City Manager Tony Thomas Sello has been our point person in the many months of negotiations with MCPS.

1314
01:53:18,760 --> 01:53:25,360
He knows the issues and the players and the process intimately, and Tony is going to be retiring in a few weeks.

1315
01:53:26,180 --> 01:53:32,880
And when he announced his retirement a few months ago, we asked him to try to complete these negotiations before his last day.

1316
01:53:33,360 --> 01:53:34,340
And so he did.

1317
01:53:34,860 --> 01:53:39,040
And I don't think he would make any sense to have to start over with new negotiators at this point.

1318
01:53:39,800 --> 01:53:42,420
And I think the matter is right for a decision by this body.

1319
01:53:42,420 --> 01:53:55,100
So the public can get some closure and so the school system knows whether or not to move forward with design and construction and planning for the operation of new school by August 2022, which is not that far away.

1320
01:53:55,840 --> 01:53:59,520
So I don't think there's a basis to delay this important decision any longer.

1321
01:54:00,180 --> 01:54:03,900
Certainly not just because we happen to be holding this meeting virtually due to the pandemic.

1322
01:54:04,580 --> 01:54:06,480
It's our regular Monday night meeting time.

1323
01:54:06,660 --> 01:54:08,980
We've provided all the usual methods to view it.

1324
01:54:08,980 --> 01:54:21,120
We did cancel several weeks of meetings to give us time to develop a more robust approach to virtual meetings and to ensure compliance with the open meetings laws before we proceeded with tonight's meeting.

1325
01:54:22,840 --> 01:54:34,920
And while not required by law, we had even set up this way to receive live public comment as I mentioned earlier, even though we already received many in-person public comments, at several prior council meetings.

1326
01:54:35,600 --> 01:54:50,540
The work of government can and should carry on even during the pandemic, and to anyone who says that scheduling the vote now was some sort of cynical ploy to use the coronavirus as a way to get this thing passed, it's not true. It was not.

1327
01:54:51,100 --> 01:55:04,840
The city's process has been and continues to be open and transparent with plenty of opportunities for the public to observe and weigh in, even if folks ultimately disagree with the decisions that are made.

1328
01:55:04,840 --> 01:55:09,540
So it's earnings of the merits of what's before us tonight.

1329
01:55:11,340 --> 01:55:14,840
I'm sorry if I sound like a broken record from what others have already said so well,

1330
01:55:15,060 --> 01:55:21,660
but this is a difficult decision that weighs competing priorities against each other as the mayor said well.

1331
01:55:22,220 --> 01:55:32,800
But that's often the case in governing, governing requires balance and compromise of competing values and priorities to try to get to the best imperfect result

1332
01:55:32,800 --> 01:55:34,940
that can reasonably be achieved.

1333
01:55:36,100 --> 01:55:38,120
This draft agreement is far from perfect.

1334
01:55:38,680 --> 01:55:41,620
It does not contain every guarantee and every protection

1335
01:55:42,000 --> 01:55:44,580
that the city would want to have in a perfect world.

1336
01:55:45,500 --> 01:55:48,780
But as Carolyn Donovan and Jim McNulty and others

1337
01:55:48,780 --> 01:55:52,260
said so well, we don't live in a perfect world.

1338
01:55:53,000 --> 01:55:54,580
And the council has to ask ourselves

1339
01:55:54,580 --> 01:55:56,840
a number of very difficult questions,

1340
01:55:57,800 --> 01:56:00,380
including not just whether it's possible,

1341
01:56:00,380 --> 01:56:16,100
But whether it's really likely that this part of our city will get the elementary school capacity that it desperately needs to serve communities that are largely underrepresented, underrepresented and under served, if we don't proceed with disagreement.

1342
01:56:17,940 --> 01:56:29,700
We have to ask ourselves whether we believe that the school system will truly make its best efforts to include surrounding neighborhoods in the new school boundary, which we will continue to strongly advocate for.

1343
01:56:29,700 --> 01:56:31,780
as that process moves forward.

1344
01:56:32,760 --> 01:56:37,500
And I note that the school board has already authorized the boundary study with the conditions we requested,

1345
01:56:38,160 --> 01:56:42,780
including prioritizing walkability and revisiting the forest of middle school boundary.

1346
01:56:43,340 --> 01:56:47,640
And although that process has been slowed by the pandemic, it will ultimately go forward.

1347
01:56:49,120 --> 01:56:56,460
We have to ask ourselves whether it's realistic to think that a massive and complex government institution like MCPS,

1348
01:56:56,460 --> 01:57:05,300
which is subject to a host of laws, policies, procedures, and regulations governing its school boundary processes,

1349
01:57:05,920 --> 01:57:10,040
and its land acquisition processes, and its construction processes.

1350
01:57:10,760 --> 01:57:16,340
Could simply negotiate or contract away that entire process for the sake of one school.

1351
01:57:17,300 --> 01:57:22,500
Or whether a boundary guarantee, or a veto authority over the closing of the land transfer,

1352
01:57:22,500 --> 01:57:26,680
is something that we just could not ever get into a written agreement.

1353
01:57:28,620 --> 01:57:34,180
We have to ask ourselves whether we believe based on the information and materials and history of this discussion,

1354
01:57:35,000 --> 01:57:42,420
that Kelli Park, although changed, will continue to be a vibrant public space for the adjacent neighborhoods

1355
01:57:42,420 --> 01:57:50,540
with significant active and passive parkland that is accessible, high quality, and respectful of the environment.

1356
01:57:51,320 --> 01:57:56,900
or whether the presence of a school will effectively eliminate the entire benefit of the park.

1357
01:57:58,420 --> 01:58:09,500
We have to ask ourselves if we believe the negative impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods are outweighed by the benefit that is likely to be achieved for the city and the communities in the long run.

1358
01:58:10,280 --> 01:58:20,200
Whether things like noise and light and temporary disruptions from construction activity and potential traffic impacts and the removal of certain assets like a tennis court

1359
01:58:20,200 --> 01:58:31,200
and a change to the walking paths are outweighed by the opening of a new school on a portion of the property with a linkages to learning resource center,

1360
01:58:32,560 --> 01:58:38,980
pre-K facilities, and a new soccer field, and a new top lot among other things.

1361
01:58:39,660 --> 01:58:49,900
We have to consider such things as public safety and property values, and to ask ourselves what we truly believe about how the introduction of such a school will impact.

1362
01:58:49,900 --> 01:58:56,180
those things. Will it make them worse? Will it make them better? We have to ask ourselves whether it's

1363
01:58:56,180 --> 01:59:02,640
really possible given all these other factors to persuade MCPS to place the school elsewhere.

1364
01:59:04,000 --> 01:59:09,740
Whether another site would really be workable, whether the costs of using another site outweigh

1365
01:59:09,740 --> 01:59:19,880
the benefits, and even if it were theoretically workable to use another site, whether we have the

1366
01:59:19,880 --> 01:59:27,240
authority or the will to make that happen. Or whether we risk losing the window of opportunity

1367
01:59:27,240 --> 01:59:34,060
for a new elementary school that we have fought for decades to get, as we compete with dozens

1368
01:59:34,060 --> 01:59:39,820
of communities throughout the county if we don't proceed with an imperfect plan now.

1369
01:59:41,840 --> 01:59:49,980
This is a decision that cannot and should not be purely political with legislators simply implementing

1370
01:59:49,980 --> 01:59:54,720
the will of only the loudest and most frequent and most well-organized voices.

1371
01:59:55,860 --> 01:59:58,960
Respectfully, that is not how good governing happens.

1372
02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:06,640
Home of Government, small or Republican. The council is elected to make the best decisions to

1373
02:00:06,640 --> 02:00:14,000
can, hopefully based on the merits, while still being accountable to the public. But we are not a direct

1374
02:00:14,000 --> 02:00:20,060
democracy in which council members are not permitted to exercise their own best judgment, even if it

1375
02:00:20,060 --> 02:00:26,200
conflicts with the will of certain groups. If we were, there would be no need for elected officials at

1376
02:00:26,200 --> 02:00:29,780
we would just put every decision to a popular vote.

1377
02:00:31,120 --> 02:00:34,260
And that's also the reason why I felt it was not appropriate last year

1378
02:00:34,260 --> 02:00:37,220
to commit to a position before we had all the information.

1379
02:00:38,200 --> 02:00:40,560
And then I thought such a move really would be pandering.

1380
02:00:41,340 --> 02:00:45,240
And I tried to be honest about that with those who opposed the school site.

1381
02:00:45,660 --> 02:00:49,040
Even as I tried to listen respectfully for countless hours

1382
02:00:49,660 --> 02:00:52,980
and read carefully the countless emails we received.

1383
02:00:53,980 --> 02:01:07,280
But this is also not a purely apolitical decision either, and we need to recognize the realities that there are residents who have voice strong opposition to a school year.

1384
02:01:08,560 --> 02:01:17,560
As I have said before, a vote in favor of the school site cannot fairly be characterized as ignoring or disparaging those residents.

1385
02:01:17,560 --> 02:01:24,500
I know tensions run high and emotions run high, but quite to the contrary of ignoring or

1386
02:01:24,500 --> 02:01:31,280
disparaging anyone, an elected official has no political self-interest in casting a vote

1387
02:01:31,280 --> 02:01:38,120
for something that he or she knows will incur the wrath of a vocal and well-organized opposition

1388
02:01:38,120 --> 02:01:45,260
that is actively engaged in city elections. So a vote for something that will incur such a cost

1389
02:01:45,260 --> 02:01:51,200
has to be motivated by something else. It has to be motivated by a genuine belief

1390
02:01:51,200 --> 02:01:57,180
that a course of action, while perhaps unpopular, is ultimately the right thing to do.

1391
02:01:58,600 --> 02:02:05,460
I hope that in time, those who disagree will see that my views are not in any way motivated by

1392
02:02:05,460 --> 02:02:10,760
spite, but by a particular perspective about trying to do what's best for our city.

1393
02:02:10,760 --> 02:02:17,080
Whether or not you agree with my vote, please know that I take seriously the obligation to

1394
02:02:17,080 --> 02:02:23,520
listen, that you were most certainly heard and that I think all my colleagues have reflected

1395
02:02:23,520 --> 02:02:25,660
carefully about your concerns.

1396
02:02:27,140 --> 02:02:30,880
And like the mayor, I'll do whatever I can to try to make sure that whatever the result of

1397
02:02:30,880 --> 02:02:36,520
this vote, the outcome is implemented in a manner that respects the community and serves the

1398
02:02:36,520 --> 02:02:37,140
city well.

1399
02:02:37,740 --> 02:02:38,720
So here's where I am.

1400
02:02:40,030 --> 02:03:00,190
We have an opportunity to substantially improve the lives and the educations of literally thousands of children, ages three to eleven, not just children those ages now but children of those ages in the future, many of whom come from underprivileged and underrepresented segments of our community.

1401
02:03:00,190 --> 02:03:07,930
So curing a new school has been a top-top priority for the city for many years, and improving

1402
02:03:07,930 --> 02:03:15,170
opportunities for underserved populations, advancing equity and social justice, and building

1403
02:03:15,170 --> 02:03:22,150
socio-economicly diverse communities anchored by shared resources and experiences have been

1404
02:03:22,150 --> 02:03:23,590
priorities as well.

1405
02:03:24,810 --> 02:03:29,970
It will probably be a generation or more before an opportunity for a new elementary school

1406
02:03:29,970 --> 02:03:36,470
in this area comes along again and there is no realistic path to moving the school site

1407
02:03:36,470 --> 02:03:42,770
to somewhere else in the vicinity. They're just isn't. I trust that our city manager,

1408
02:03:43,010 --> 02:03:47,510
who is highly experienced and professional and whom we have empowered to negotiate with

1409
02:03:47,510 --> 02:03:53,950
MCPS fully understands his role as an advocate for the best interests of the city and his

1410
02:03:53,950 --> 02:03:58,850
work hard to get as much as he reasonably can into the conditions of this agreement.

1411
02:03:58,850 --> 02:04:02,990
even people who opposed this school site testified to that tonight.

1412
02:04:04,510 --> 02:04:11,010
If he thought he could get more without losing the chance for this desperately needed school, he would have.

1413
02:04:11,990 --> 02:04:15,130
I am persuaded that the school board understands our position.

1414
02:04:15,970 --> 02:04:22,890
And like Rob, I believe they have taken serious concrete steps toward addressing our concerns about serving the neighborhoods,

1415
02:04:22,890 --> 02:04:24,810
adjacent to the site.

1416
02:04:24,810 --> 02:04:31,710
and about writing a 20-year-old wrong with respect to the boundaries of forest oak middle school.

1417
02:04:32,950 --> 02:04:37,970
Admittedly, it is not an outright promise to predetermined the outcome of the boundary analysis.

1418
02:04:39,390 --> 02:04:42,970
But they are legally and procedurally prohibited from doing that.

1419
02:04:43,910 --> 02:04:51,290
All indications, short of that, however, are that the school system will do the right thing in this pending boundary study.

1420
02:04:51,290 --> 02:04:59,430
I know it's difficult to trust and put faith in that notion when you come from a community that was burned 20 years ago.

1421
02:05:00,170 --> 02:05:05,330
But I would join the mayor in advocating strongly to make this happen and I believe it will happen.

1422
02:05:06,330 --> 02:05:10,710
I am persuaded by the conditions and concessions and preliminary designs under consideration.

1423
02:05:11,690 --> 02:05:18,470
We'll preserve the vast majority of Kelly Park as an open, accessible, high quality park for the public to enjoy.

1424
02:05:18,470 --> 02:05:32,250
and that aspects of the park will even be improved, and that the fair and legitimate concerns about traffic and use of public space and the view shed and environmental protection will be mitigated.

1425
02:05:33,270 --> 02:05:37,210
It will be perfect, but we can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

1426
02:05:38,630 --> 02:05:45,050
Because of the active participation of so many residents in this long and open process, we have a better result.

1427
02:05:45,050 --> 02:05:52,670
So I want to say thank you to everyone who participated respectfully in the process of civic engagement on this topic.

1428
02:05:53,750 --> 02:05:59,250
Some people will be very unhappy even angry about whatever decision we reach tonight.

1429
02:06:00,370 --> 02:06:04,410
But moving forward with the school site at this time,

1430
02:06:04,910 --> 02:06:11,270
even though it undeniably comes with costs and even though I understand that some of you will feel a loss,

1431
02:06:12,070 --> 02:06:17,090
Respectfully, I have concluded that those costs do not outweigh the benefits.

1432
02:06:18,290 --> 02:06:28,690
It is my sincere hope that in time the entire community will come to see this school as a shining asset that is a magnet for community engagement and coming together.

1433
02:06:29,450 --> 02:06:38,550
And as a compliment to the park that exists symbiotically with it and activates it even further rather than diminishing it.

1434
02:06:38,550 --> 02:06:47,470
That the school will be a central space for brightening the lives and opportunities of children and their families and not just those who attend the school.

1435
02:06:48,150 --> 02:06:51,350
But the neighborhoods around it will benefit from having it in their orbit.

1436
02:06:52,490 --> 02:06:58,050
So having weighed all the input and all the materials and all the questions raised over many months and even years.

1437
02:06:58,690 --> 02:07:04,950
I'm going to vote in favor of moving forward with this imperfect draft agreement. Thank you.

1438
02:07:04,950 --> 02:07:08,490
Thank you Ryan. We will move on to council member sales.

1439
02:07:18,080 --> 02:07:26,740
Hello. Okay. All right. Thank you, Mayor. So I just want to get started with a few

1440
02:07:26,740 --> 02:07:35,220
questions. Appreciate the power point that Tony went through. I had a few questions about the status

1441
02:07:35,220 --> 02:07:42,160
of the boundary study. I know has been moved up instead of a year before to 18 months.

1442
02:07:42,160 --> 02:07:49,240
I'm hearing from some people that it's been postponed because of COVID that it's not being postponed.

1443
02:07:50,160 --> 02:07:53,060
So can someone from NCPS elaborate on the status?

1444
02:07:55,470 --> 02:07:55,730
Sure.

1445
02:07:56,230 --> 02:07:57,890
So the process has started.

1446
02:07:58,470 --> 02:07:59,570
We had two meetings.

1447
02:08:00,450 --> 02:08:11,890
And unfortunately, the next four that were scheduled are pretty much right in the middle of our restrictions surrounding COVID-19 pandemic.

1448
02:08:11,890 --> 02:08:27,170
So, from our perspective, the next steps are, you know, really to, you know, either transition to more of an online-based process or to wait a few more months and reconvene those meetings.

1449
02:08:27,170 --> 02:08:33,250
the decision, however, though, is scheduled for March of 2021.

1450
02:08:34,810 --> 02:08:41,990
So, from a timeline perspective, while it was moved up early and we have started the process.

1451
02:08:42,650 --> 02:08:50,170
There is still time whether or not we reconvene the summer or early in the fall to be able to go through the process.

1452
02:08:50,170 --> 02:08:58,190
And it goes into the very robust process in order for the board to deliberate in the coming March of 2021.

1453
02:09:03,180 --> 02:09:08,660
And will the schedule be deleted all the fast tracking of the project?

1454
02:09:08,660 --> 02:09:14,900
Are we still on track to be completed to open August 2022?

1455
02:09:15,900 --> 02:09:16,100
Sure.

1456
02:09:16,100 --> 02:09:21,860
So one thing I would say is, and this is a misnomer by some, that Montgomery County Public

1457
02:09:21,860 --> 02:09:26,240
Schools is not a funding body. And what that means is we make a request to the County Council,

1458
02:09:26,620 --> 02:09:34,980
and we also make a request to the state for our funding. The funding request was part of our FY21 program,

1459
02:09:35,400 --> 02:09:41,900
was significantly reduced by the kind of executive. And we're actually ongoing and trying to work

1460
02:09:41,900 --> 02:09:51,080
through the County Council on what the capital and operating budgets, how the hearings work through

1461
02:09:51,080 --> 02:09:51,820
that process.

1462
02:09:52,300 --> 02:09:56,940
But one thing I would say is even with those funding cuts, the board has made Gathersburg

1463
02:09:56,940 --> 02:10:01,720
number eight of priority, where they've had to make some tough or staff.

1464
02:10:01,900 --> 02:10:06,040
We've had to make some tough recommendations to consider for cuts.

1465
02:10:06,840 --> 02:10:10,580
Gathersburg Elementary Number eight is not one of those schools.

1466
02:10:10,580 --> 02:10:35,780
So again, we're not funding bodies, so we have to rely on others to fund us, but where we are right now is that we feel confident that this project fits within the county executives budget and we're hopeful as we work through the county council that not only will they add funding, but obviously keep the priorities of the board and MCPS on schedule.

1467
02:10:37,180 --> 02:10:39,220
Okay, thank you.

1468
02:10:40,040 --> 02:10:43,900
Another question I have was about the traffic study.

1469
02:10:44,000 --> 02:10:47,820
I understand MCPS will be conducting the traffic study.

1470
02:10:48,140 --> 02:10:56,160
Will that be doing the courtesy review, the frequency review, or when would we be able to get that information?

1471
02:10:57,300 --> 02:11:02,300
I'm going to turn that over to Mr. Ferriano to fill in some of the details on that one.

1472
02:11:02,300 --> 02:11:09,180
Thanks, Seth. I'm Seth Ferriana for record. We've already performed the preliminary study,

1473
02:11:09,300 --> 02:11:15,600
and that is available on our project's webpage for download and review. We have submitted it to

1474
02:11:15,600 --> 02:11:20,460
the city for a preliminary look, and that's kind of where it stands now.

1475
02:11:22,850 --> 02:11:23,410
But you can download

1476
02:11:23,410 --> 02:11:29,890
everything that you haven't received any feedback from the city based on what you submitted to it.

1477
02:11:30,570 --> 02:11:36,190
Just just minor comments, I think it's sort of an holding pattern till we move forward.

1478
02:11:39,340 --> 02:11:40,660
So, do you want to say something?

1479
02:11:43,020 --> 02:11:51,440
No, I mean, it's my understanding that MCPS staff and public work staff have met on the preliminary traffic study.

1480
02:11:52,000 --> 02:11:54,480
And we'll move forward with the rest of the project.

1481
02:12:01,220 --> 02:12:07,600
Okay, and I know that we've evacuated that the middle school may be included in the boundary study.

1482
02:12:07,600 --> 02:12:08,840
Is that still the case?

1483
02:12:10,440 --> 02:12:16,060
Yes, post, post middle schools are included in the current boundary study scope from the board of education.

1484
02:12:17,080 --> 02:12:28,600
That there's a memo of the board of education from last November, ensuring that the board of school and a bunch of elementary schools are all in one consolidated boundary stuff.

1485
02:12:28,900 --> 02:12:30,020
So that has been passed on.

1486
02:12:35,660 --> 02:12:48,830
And then, lastly, I know that the Board of Education voted on a resolution that acknowledged

1487
02:12:48,830 --> 02:12:53,930
that this site would be pedestrian friendly to you or call that resolution?

1488
02:12:59,910 --> 02:13:05,850
I'm not sure of this specific resolution, but I know we have partnered with the county

1489
02:13:05,850 --> 02:13:12,130
as a whole around vision zero and and certainly that is a priority of our of our board is to make

1490
02:13:12,130 --> 02:13:18,590
every site not only existing sites but future sites are very pedestrian friendly moving forward.

1491
02:13:19,510 --> 02:13:24,270
So absolutely that would be a high priority of the board but I'm not familiar with the specific

1492
02:13:24,270 --> 02:13:29,050
resolution around this particular project but but I could be wrong on on the resolution side.

1493
02:13:29,050 --> 02:13:37,550
It was my understanding that board members from Drowsky added language during the discussion

1494
02:13:37,550 --> 02:13:39,910
of the resolution of proving the site.

1495
02:13:40,570 --> 02:13:42,630
But I'm just working from memory there.

1496
02:13:44,150 --> 02:13:48,870
But we are relying on that they're trying to make all their sites pedestrian friendly.

1497
02:13:50,690 --> 02:13:56,170
Is that something that anyone would be opposed to us including in the agreement?

1498
02:14:02,290 --> 02:14:02,850
That

1499
02:14:04,930 --> 02:14:11,190
would be up to the board, I mean, it could be aware as, you know, not a specific number

1500
02:14:11,830 --> 02:14:12,390
paragraph.

1501
02:14:13,190 --> 02:14:14,010
I'd be happy to.

1502
02:14:14,010 --> 02:14:14,290
Okay.

1503
02:14:14,470 --> 02:14:16,030
I'd be happy to approve the moment.

1504
02:14:16,530 --> 02:14:17,310
Craft on.

1505
02:14:19,190 --> 02:14:21,530
And then when I was looking at the design.

1506
02:14:21,710 --> 02:14:31,630
I know there were concerns about the loss of parking along victory's farm or that there's only going to be five dedicated parking spaces.

1507
02:14:31,630 --> 02:14:38,130
Are there any other parking alternatives for park dollars?

1508
02:14:43,390 --> 02:14:49,290
So, I think the parking differentiator was during school and after school.

1509
02:14:49,350 --> 02:14:55,310
I think when you look at after school, it's significantly much more parking than what is available now.

1510
02:14:56,190 --> 02:14:58,490
The during school options are the...

1511
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:08,660
We probably would would lose some general parking. We do try to minimize our parking lots.

1512
02:15:10,160 --> 02:15:21,560
So in terms of the number of parking counts, it would be really for staff. It would be for a few visitors and then like a just learning staff members and families as well.

1513
02:15:21,560 --> 02:15:24,980
But I think really that during the school time frame,

1514
02:15:25,700 --> 02:15:27,680
we did really try to explore a lot of opportunities,

1515
02:15:28,540 --> 02:15:33,100
but adding excessive parking isn't one that's typically

1516
02:15:33,820 --> 02:15:37,920
promoted because of the impervious surfaces that it creates.

1517
02:15:38,320 --> 02:15:40,520
So I think we feel like we're at a pretty good balance

1518
02:15:40,520 --> 02:15:43,920
point at this moment, but we can certainly explore other options

1519
02:15:43,920 --> 02:15:45,900
or continue to explore options on parking.

1520
02:15:47,660 --> 02:15:56,900
Would victory farm parking be an alternative to put some dedicated spaces along there during the full day?

1521
02:15:57,820 --> 02:15:59,380
Is the street wide enough?

1522
02:16:06,060 --> 02:16:13,180
So from our school from a design standpoint, there's not much we can do from street parking perspective.

1523
02:16:13,420 --> 02:16:19,500
I think the added curb cuts from a bus loop do limit to the number of street parking options.

1524
02:16:20,780 --> 02:16:41,880
But I don't foresee, and that would be more of a city determination, whether or not there are parking restrictions around timing of the school, school zones or those sorts of things, but I don't think from a school or design standpoint that street parking would really fall into the purview of this overall project set might be deferred back to Tony on that particular question.

1525
02:16:41,880 --> 02:16:50,680
We would be happy to re-look at the Austria party. It wasn't our intention other than the necessary cuts to remove any parking from victory farm.

1526
02:16:52,400 --> 02:16:57,920
Yeah. You'll only be losing a few spaces I would say maybe for due to the curb cuts.

1527
02:17:00,150 --> 02:17:00,670
Okay.

1528
02:17:03,760 --> 02:17:14,820
Okay. Well, I wanted to make sure that I had my thoughts together, so I prepared a statement that I just want to read before we hear from the rest of my colleague.

1529
02:17:15,580 --> 02:17:21,120
So, this has probably been one of the hardest votes I've had to make since being elected.

1530
02:17:21,900 --> 02:17:30,140
I was attracted to pilotics because of the opportunity I've served in the decision-making process to make a difference in the lives of others.

1531
02:17:30,960 --> 02:17:37,860
I ran for office because I thought I could make an impact on the educational outcomes of those impacted by the opportunity gap.

1532
02:17:37,860 --> 02:17:51,520
My daughter is now in college and I remember going to a napolis with the PTA year after year to advocate for school construction funds to ensure adequate facilities and resources for our students.

1533
02:17:52,460 --> 02:17:53,160
We're provided.

1534
02:17:54,840 --> 02:17:58,160
Now I joined my colleagues here in Gatisburg year after year.

1535
02:17:58,640 --> 02:18:03,760
We've had to ask school construction funding request to our list of legislative priorities.

1536
02:18:03,760 --> 02:18:14,940
Many have said you have no oversight over schools in how when or where they are built, but we do have a unique opportunity before this evening.

1537
02:18:15,920 --> 02:18:23,400
I want to be very clear while we're reminded daily of the decisions that resulted in forced open middle schools.

1538
02:18:24,680 --> 02:18:30,080
I will work tirelessly to ensure that it does not happen to this neighborhood again.

1539
02:18:30,080 --> 02:18:36,380
I was discussing with my husband the fact that I do not like the word compromise because

1540
02:18:36,380 --> 02:18:43,400
while both sides come to an agreement it implies the parties walk away with less than they could have or should have gotten.

1541
02:18:44,340 --> 02:18:52,200
I don't think we have a compromise in this instance because I feel like everyone gets what they want and need.

1542
02:18:52,200 --> 02:18:56,960
This agreement ensures we will be included throughout the project timeline.

1543
02:18:57,760 --> 02:19:03,700
But more specifically, the Mayor and City Council, in cooperation with the Planning Commission,

1544
02:19:04,280 --> 02:19:10,840
will have an opportunity to provide courtesy reviews prior to construction, as well as residents.

1545
02:19:12,040 --> 02:19:18,240
The board will also here, will also bear responsibility for keeping the construction site safe and secure.

1546
02:19:18,240 --> 02:19:29,160
The city bears limited cost while we receive a modern and environmentally friendly educational hub that will become the cornerstone of this community.

1547
02:19:30,620 --> 02:19:40,440
And last but certainly not least, this new school will ensure that our city students no longer have to learn in overcrowded schools.

1548
02:19:41,260 --> 02:19:46,000
And we'll receive a world class education and a new building closer to where they live.

1549
02:19:46,000 --> 02:19:48,460
Is this a perfect solution?

1550
02:19:49,540 --> 02:20:00,440
No, but it is an incredible opportunity to be an active partner in addressing barriers to achievement by alleviating school overcrowding.

1551
02:20:00,440 --> 02:20:15,420
So to this end, I support authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement with NCPA to locate Gakersburg Elementary School Number 8 on a portion of Kelly Park.

1552
02:20:15,880 --> 02:20:21,000
And I'd like to include not to exceed seven acres.

1553
02:20:21,000 --> 02:20:31,000
I believe it was 5.71, not to exceed six acres and I don't know how close we can get to ensure that

1554
02:20:32,200 --> 02:20:43,200
we maximize the area of the park that is still available to the public throughout the day regardless of the school hours.

1555
02:20:44,060 --> 02:20:45,900
And that's it.

1556
02:20:46,200 --> 02:20:46,740
Thank you.

1557
02:20:46,740 --> 02:20:56,900
Thank you, Lorian. We will move on to Mike. Thank you for your patience and for those who are holding and waiting for our budget hearing. Thank you for your patience too. We're going to get to you shortly. Go ahead, Mike.

1558
02:21:00,480 --> 02:21:02,620
Mike, you're muted. Take yourself off mute.

1559
02:21:05,760 --> 02:21:06,280
There you go.

1560
02:21:06,700 --> 02:21:16,640
All right. Thank you. Ready. I want to hope everyone is doing well and staying safe watching your hands regularly and keeping appropriate social distance.

1561
02:21:17,380 --> 02:21:22,680
And I want to thank you all for participating in our first virtual meetings kind of historic

1562
02:21:22,680 --> 02:21:23,260
night.

1563
02:21:24,520 --> 02:21:26,400
And, you know, this is one of the historic issues.

1564
02:21:26,560 --> 02:21:35,280
I want to express my gratitude to Tony and for carrying this ball for this to the one yard line.

1565
02:21:35,300 --> 02:21:38,060
I feel like we're first and goal here.

1566
02:21:38,540 --> 02:21:42,460
And it's always better to score on first and goal than it is to go to the fourth.

1567
02:21:42,460 --> 02:21:43,460
Anyway,

1568
02:21:45,640 --> 02:22:03,060
we've heard a lot of things over the last few years about this site and the need for school in this part of the city and also to relieve primarily to relieve overcrowding but to create a greater and better educational environment for our children.

1569
02:22:04,580 --> 02:22:11,400
When I first ran in 2005, one of the reasons I ran was the concern about educational infrastructure, in other words, our schools.

1570
02:22:12,480 --> 02:22:29,700
I was concerned about a lot of things, but that was one of the primary issues I had been involved in PTA, local PTA and both, and in two clusters, actually three clusters at the elementary middle school and high school levels.

1571
02:22:30,960 --> 02:22:37,950
So I've seen a lot of this happen this back and forth and I've seen the process go through

1572
02:22:39,080 --> 02:22:44,220
conspiracy theories to misinformation, to repeating misinformation and repeating

1573
02:22:44,220 --> 02:22:48,900
conspiracies and just the general mistrust of MCPS.

1574
02:22:48,900 --> 02:23:07,040
I think I have great empathy for the communities that were denied assignment to four-stroke middle school and I think that's a wrong that should be corrected here and hopefully it will be.

1575
02:23:07,320 --> 02:23:17,740
I think the other, but it's clear that that is still sticking in the prov many people and just a general mistrust and a disbelief that MCPS will do the right thing.

1576
02:23:17,740 --> 02:23:19,500
we're doing the fair thing for these neighborhoods.

1577
02:23:22,180 --> 02:23:26,560
So, heading back to my history on the council

1578
02:23:26,560 --> 02:23:28,900
and how we've worked with MCPS and our partnership

1579
02:23:28,900 --> 02:23:30,240
with MCPS.

1580
02:23:31,120 --> 02:23:35,340
When I started, we were looking at Brown Station,

1581
02:23:35,420 --> 02:23:36,740
a renovation of Brown Station.

1582
02:23:36,920 --> 02:23:40,540
We finally have a new school after that period of time.

1583
02:23:41,500 --> 02:23:44,580
And for a completely new Gator's Burger High School,

1584
02:23:45,000 --> 02:23:47,740
we worked very hard and very closely with MCPS

1585
02:23:47,740 --> 02:23:56,880
to get make sure both of those projects culminated in the fantastic new facilities that we have

1586
02:23:56,880 --> 02:23:57,280
now.

1587
02:23:57,500 --> 02:24:02,940
And I think those are both of those schools are benefits to the community and benefits to

1588
02:24:02,940 --> 02:24:07,340
the student, not just to the students who attend them, but to the communities that surround

1589
02:24:07,340 --> 02:24:09,320
them and to greater data spirit.

1590
02:24:09,820 --> 02:24:16,880
So I think we have another opportunity here to continue our strong collaboration and partnership

1591
02:24:16,880 --> 02:24:23,960
with MCPS and identify another school and create great the facilities that are going to benefit

1592
02:24:23,960 --> 02:24:29,740
our children, our residents and our neighborhoods and I think that's the plan that we have. I agree

1593
02:24:31,100 --> 02:24:37,500
I don't want to repeat everything that you've already said because my colleagues have been much more

1594
02:24:37,500 --> 02:24:43,800
eloquent than I am ever able to be but I would say that Ryan basically said everything I was going to say

1595
02:24:43,800 --> 02:24:46,360
so I want to thank him for that and saving me time, Ryan,

1596
02:24:50,340 --> 02:24:54,180
but I think, you know, I think we've

1597
02:24:54,180 --> 02:24:59,020
got as much out of this in terms of our assurances and guarantees, and we have to be confident in

1598
02:24:59,020 --> 02:25:05,140
our relationship with MCPS going forward. They're going to need us in the future. We always need them.

1599
02:25:06,160 --> 02:25:12,080
We always, we work successfully together to address both the needs of our children, but also the

1600
02:25:12,080 --> 02:25:18,480
of our communities and I think we have to remember that that school communities are important

1601
02:25:18,480 --> 02:25:24,500
building block of our neighborhoods and we have an opportunity here to create a new school

1602
02:25:24,500 --> 02:25:28,780
community, the diverse school community and innovative school community.

1603
02:25:31,180 --> 02:25:32,940
And that's I think largely

1604
02:25:32,940 --> 02:25:37,660
why I support this. I think for all of the reasons that have already been stated by my colleagues

1605
02:25:37,660 --> 02:25:44,100
that we're going to address capacity issues and facilities issues and the learning environment

1606
02:25:44,100 --> 02:25:52,960
issues that are all compromised by the type of over-capacity and over-crouting that we have

1607
02:25:52,960 --> 02:25:59,620
particularly in the Gatorsburg cluster. Gatorsburg elementary school number eight is going to help us

1608
02:25:59,620 --> 02:26:05,380
relieve that it's going to not just create a new school community at this school but it's also going to

1609
02:26:05,380 --> 02:26:10,380
change that and hopefully improve the school communities in the rest of the cluster.

1610
02:26:11,420 --> 02:26:15,950
And that's very important because I think part of the strength of our city is the

1611
02:26:17,180 --> 02:26:22,900
communities that helped build it and help maintain it. And a lot of that begins in the schools

1612
02:26:22,900 --> 02:26:28,600
because that's where children become activated parents become contributors to the community to

1613
02:26:28,600 --> 02:26:33,980
the school environment and to their neighborhood. So I guess it's no secret where I'm headed

1614
02:26:33,980 --> 02:26:39,680
is that I endorse this not so perfect agreement,

1615
02:26:40,040 --> 02:26:42,980
but I think the way I'm looking at it,

1616
02:26:43,100 --> 02:26:46,460
it's a win-win for everyone involved.

1617
02:26:46,560 --> 02:26:47,500
It's a win for the city.

1618
02:26:47,560 --> 02:26:49,560
I think it's a win for MCPS.

1619
02:26:49,980 --> 02:26:52,500
I think it's a win most importantly for our children,

1620
02:26:52,940 --> 02:26:55,040
not just the children who are going to be attending

1621
02:26:55,040 --> 02:26:57,200
in the short term, but the children will be attending

1622
02:26:57,200 --> 02:27:00,040
in the next 25 to 30 years at the school.

1623
02:27:00,040 --> 02:27:04,200
and in the other schools that we're relieving with this construction.

1624
02:27:05,700 --> 02:27:09,160
So while I, there are many things that I would like to see in this agreement,

1625
02:27:10,540 --> 02:27:13,640
I think Rob is a numerate son of those. Neil has,

1626
02:27:15,100 --> 02:27:22,600
Lorian and Ryan. Everyone has a numerated son of those issues. I think we've also looked at the

1627
02:27:22,600 --> 02:27:27,000
the strengths in this agreement too. And that's why I'm in support of it and that's why I'll

1628
02:27:27,000 --> 02:27:33,960
support of it. That doesn't mean that I don't have great respect for those who felt very strongly

1629
02:27:33,960 --> 02:27:38,500
of what we might be losing here and what we might be giving up but the way I look at it is

1630
02:27:38,500 --> 02:27:44,400
we're we're gaining a lot more than we're losing. We're not losing a park we're transforming a park.

1631
02:27:44,940 --> 02:27:50,340
We're transforming a park for the entire for the entire city but most importantly we're

1632
02:27:50,340 --> 02:27:56,060
transforming the neighborhoods that are going to be able to walk to it and continue to use it.

1633
02:27:56,060 --> 02:27:59,180
That's about it. Thank you.

1634
02:27:59,180 --> 02:28:02,240
Thank you, Mike. Okay, raise your hand if you'd like to move the resolution.

1635
02:28:04,900 --> 02:28:06,060
Mike, go ahead.

1636
02:28:07,020 --> 02:28:13,440
I will move the resolution to move forward with this agreement with MCPS.

1637
02:28:13,860 --> 02:28:16,800
Okay. I saw Neil raise this hand first. Go ahead. Neil.

1638
02:28:17,040 --> 02:28:21,680
The second, the motion. Okay. We'll call the roll. We're going to start with Mike. All those in favor please say,

1639
02:28:21,680 --> 02:28:36,140
Mike. Meal. Ryan. Lorian. Rob. You want an eye, Mr. Mayor, or? I or

1640
02:28:36,140 --> 02:28:41,520
Nay if you're voting against. Okay, so I'm not there yet tonight and because I'm

1641
02:28:41,520 --> 02:28:46,340
not there and the vote's being called I'm going to vote. Okay, all right, so the

1642
02:28:46,340 --> 02:28:52,860
The motion carries proving the resolution for one with Council Member Wu voting against.

1643
02:28:53,920 --> 02:28:57,320
Thank you very much, Seth and Seth.

1644
02:28:57,520 --> 02:29:02,000
We appreciate you being here and your patience for staying this long.

1645
02:29:03,360 --> 02:29:06,200
And stay safe and stay well and we will be in touch.

1646
02:29:07,960 --> 02:29:13,060
Next we'll move on to our public hearings and we're going to start with our budget public

1647
02:29:13,060 --> 02:29:23,120
hearing and we will bring in our finance staff. We have Rafael here and we have Nate and we want

1648
02:29:23,120 --> 02:29:27,960
to thank them for their patience as well. I believe Rafael's going to lead us to this discussion

1649
02:29:27,960 --> 02:29:30,760
on the budget and then we'll get to our testimonies.

1650
02:29:30,880 --> 02:29:32,520
I'll be doing this one too, Mayor.

1651
02:29:33,080 --> 02:29:34,140
Okay. Go ahead, Tony.

1652
02:29:34,860 --> 02:29:39,040
And Rafael and Nate, who I will thank in advance for doing almost all the behind-the-scenes

1653
02:29:39,040 --> 02:29:45,060
work. This is going to be a little bit of a different budget public hearing. As I've explained

1654
02:29:45,060 --> 02:29:53,660
a couple of times, many of the forecasts and assumptions that we made had to be made in January

1655
02:29:53,660 --> 02:29:58,500
February and then, frankly, the world changed and we are.

1656
02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:14,300
To get some fairly high-level feedback, and then we will be back next Monday on the work session to give you specifics about where we think we can, how we think we can balance the shortfall in the budget.

1657
02:30:15,080 --> 02:30:20,800
We'll get you that information just as early as we can, and put it out to the public as well.

1658
02:30:20,800 --> 02:30:30,560
So, Brian, if you could load the PowerPoint and I believe packet page 49,

1659
02:30:32,560 --> 02:30:42,840
so we can go to the agenda next slide, but Brian, we're going to give you the required overview, we still have to bring in what was legally required to be advertised.

1660
02:30:43,540 --> 02:30:49,720
So, we'll spend just a couple minutes on that, then we're going to discuss the FY21 proposed revenues and expenses.

1661
02:30:50,940 --> 02:30:57,000
Those are the originally proposed revenues and expenses, almost all of which will change.

1662
02:30:58,260 --> 02:31:04,040
We're going to talk about the effects of the current emergency on the process, and then discuss

1663
02:31:04,040 --> 02:31:11,200
some potential impacts on revenues and expenses, get your feedback on some of the vehicles

1664
02:31:11,200 --> 02:31:19,000
that we might be able to use, specifically relating to expenses, and then just really quickly

1665
02:31:19,000 --> 02:31:20,580
wrap up with some next steps.

1666
02:31:23,290 --> 02:31:24,190
It's too slides, please.

1667
02:31:27,160 --> 02:31:27,400
So,

1668
02:31:29,980 --> 02:31:33,720
not sure what that is, but Ryan is

1669
02:31:33,720 --> 02:31:42,830
something blocking the slide, is it? Okay. Back one, please. There we go. Back one, please.

1670
02:31:44,550 --> 02:31:51,990
So we do expect to conclude FY 2020 well given the circumstances relatively well. We believe

1671
02:31:51,990 --> 02:31:59,630
will be on budget. Most of the large revenue sources were nearly fully collected. It's April.

1672
02:32:00,330 --> 02:32:06,310
There's only two months, two and a half months left in the fiscal year. The large sources

1673
02:32:06,310 --> 02:32:13,150
like income tax and real property were met. We did have some additional expenses and we'll continue

1674
02:32:13,150 --> 02:32:19,430
to have some additional payroll expenses related to the emergency, but our calculations is that

1675
02:32:19,430 --> 02:32:25,190
of those were offset by closures and event cancellations and especially the mild winter.

1676
02:32:26,450 --> 02:32:31,810
We were not, we did not have to buy salt, we did not pay a lot of overtime for snow plowing.

1677
02:32:34,270 --> 02:32:41,250
Bullet four is unprecedented happiness, all reflected in this year's budget, not next year's,

1678
02:32:42,030 --> 02:32:49,130
But as you know, we're in a healthcare pool and we do, we go to Great Lakes to support

1679
02:32:49,710 --> 02:32:51,470
healthy lifestyles with our employees.

1680
02:32:53,790 --> 02:33:00,010
We do get a refund of unspend claims, or at least most of unspend claims, which is the

1681
02:33:01,190 --> 02:33:03,690
specific aspect of the pool that appeals to us.

1682
02:33:03,730 --> 02:33:08,990
And this year we received nearly $900,000, which is a record refund.

1683
02:33:08,990 --> 02:33:23,060
And more importantly, that moved into something that's never happened before in all of my years with the city, which is a zero percent increase in healthcare costs next year.

1684
02:33:25,370 --> 02:33:33,630
The legit and Benacon representatives were pointed out how remarkable that was, and that's going to be a big help to us.

1685
02:33:33,630 --> 02:33:38,410
This is the biggest single thing that we buy other than salaries.

1686
02:33:40,490 --> 02:33:44,810
The use of the Undasinated Fund Bounds was budgeted about $2 million,

1687
02:33:46,890 --> 02:33:47,930
but will actually

1688
02:33:47,930 --> 02:33:51,310
be we're projecting to only be about $250,000.

1689
02:33:52,710 --> 02:33:54,830
We have ceased onboarding.

1690
02:33:54,950 --> 02:34:00,190
We have canceled some advances I mentioned before, and this will provide us with a little

1691
02:34:00,190 --> 02:34:02,970
of a head start going into FY 2021.

1692
02:34:06,130 --> 02:34:09,770
I would point out that we had another record year in investment

1693
02:34:09,770 --> 02:34:19,710
income, but that obviously cannot be expected to continue with next year with race being as low

1694
02:34:19,710 --> 02:34:20,610
as they are.

1695
02:34:22,990 --> 02:34:29,610
Okay, right. Next slide. So this is what we advertised. This is the overview. We were

1696
02:34:29,610 --> 02:34:37,970
proposing about a $72 million budget, which was up $3.7 million, about 5.4% from the current

1697
02:34:37,970 --> 02:34:44,750
year that we're in. Obviously, mostly most of this is personnel cost, but we also had fairly

1698
02:34:44,750 --> 02:34:53,610
robust CIP plan for next year. And other normal functions of government, the open trust,

1699
02:34:53,610 --> 02:34:55,830
asset replacement in the housing program.

1700
02:34:57,050 --> 02:35:00,670
And we were assuming, as I communicated to you, previously

1701
02:35:01,670 --> 02:35:05,470
a reduction in reappropriation to about $1.9 million.

1702
02:35:06,670 --> 02:35:08,830
And that would be a trend that we eventually

1703
02:35:08,830 --> 02:35:11,570
would phase out reappropriation.

1704
02:35:12,130 --> 02:35:15,670
But then we have come across these new challenges.

1705
02:35:18,000 --> 02:35:20,120
OK, bye, next slide, and then next.

1706
02:35:23,720 --> 02:35:25,800
This was the proposed revenue budget.

1707
02:35:25,800 --> 02:35:37,300
See, mostly local taxes that would be property taxes, personal property taxes, licenses and permits, and then grants and shared taxes includes income tax.

1708
02:35:38,160 --> 02:35:45,280
Charges for service, fines, and then miscellaneous revenues that would include investment income.

1709
02:35:47,240 --> 02:35:54,700
Subtled was a little bit less than the proposed expenditure budget, so as I mentioned in the last slide, we had a reappropriation about $1.9 million.

1710
02:35:58,180 --> 02:36:25,320
five fees. This is just the basic break down of personnel costs. You see it's well above half of our expenses are personnel and then operating would would include obviously all of our equipment and maintenance and gas and those types of things and then we had transfers including the CIP but that would also include other transfers like asset replacement.

1711
02:36:27,950 --> 02:36:37,770
So that concludes the kind of a predictome of part of the presentation, and then we get into the situation that we currently have before us.

1712
02:36:37,770 --> 02:36:38,970
Next slide please, Brian.

1713
02:36:40,570 --> 02:36:46,270
So we're looking at expected revenue decreases between three and four million dollars from the original projections.

1714
02:36:46,270 --> 02:36:54,390
That is why we had to modify the approval process to address this situation.

1715
02:36:54,830 --> 02:37:03,950
It's unprecedented, even the 2008 recession coincidentally happened in the fall, which

1716
02:37:03,950 --> 02:37:08,550
gave us a lot more time to react to what was going on.

1717
02:37:09,690 --> 02:37:15,170
And we had a budget that didn't have to have these labor-cain changes.

1718
02:37:15,170 --> 02:37:22,250
So we had to completely re-evaluate all of our revenue categories, and we are continuing to

1719
02:37:22,250 --> 02:37:22,870
re-evaluate.

1720
02:37:22,930 --> 02:37:28,990
There are still a couple of wildcars out there, including Iowa user revenues, which we still

1721
02:37:28,990 --> 02:37:30,050
don't really know.

1722
02:37:30,430 --> 02:37:34,850
We have not been confirmed that the million dollars in bond funds for the police station

1723
02:37:34,850 --> 02:37:36,970
are actually going to be paid.

1724
02:37:37,010 --> 02:37:43,470
We know they're in the budget of the state government, but so was Iowa user in 2008, and

1725
02:37:43,470 --> 02:37:45,170
was completely reduced.

1726
02:37:47,790 --> 02:37:51,870
But so we don't really need a lot of policy guidance because revenue pretty

1727
02:37:51,870 --> 02:38:00,230
much is what it is. We really have to talk about expense reductions and whether you want things

1728
02:38:01,190 --> 02:38:07,750
reallocated and then specifically if you're comfortable with using increased amounts of reserve to

1729
02:38:07,750 --> 02:38:13,450
balance the budget. So we'll get to that later in the presentation but we have to we have to move

1730
02:38:13,450 --> 02:38:21,650
quickly here. Because we only have seven weeks before the budget actually needs to be adopted.

1731
02:38:23,670 --> 02:38:27,230
The budget you're going to talk about next Monday is still adraft.

1732
02:38:28,290 --> 02:38:35,110
So what gets adopted, they can be very different from what's discussed now. So you can expect

1733
02:38:35,110 --> 02:38:39,310
changes and we'll keep you in the loop or Dennis will keep you in the loop.

1734
02:38:39,310 --> 02:38:49,190
Right up to a few weeks before an option and the adopted budget has to be proposed budget for adoption becomes presented to the public.

1735
02:38:55,630 --> 02:38:56,310
One more please.

1736
02:39:00,460 --> 02:39:05,260
So we have the two general categories of budget short term long term.

1737
02:39:06,540 --> 02:39:16,700
The transactional budget requires us to make some fairly bold assumptions about really about consumer behavior.

1738
02:39:17,560 --> 02:39:21,740
of admissions at amusement tax using the analogy today.

1739
02:39:22,080 --> 02:39:26,440
If the theaters open tomorrow, if David Buster's reopened tomorrow,

1740
02:39:27,340 --> 02:39:28,800
great, would anyone go?

1741
02:39:29,440 --> 02:39:30,800
We're not really sure.

1742
02:39:31,620 --> 02:39:32,860
So we have to take,

1743
02:39:33,000 --> 02:39:36,840
I guess, when things might open and when they do open,

1744
02:39:37,440 --> 02:39:39,000
how they will be utilized.

1745
02:39:39,760 --> 02:39:40,900
Hotel motel tax,

1746
02:39:42,000 --> 02:39:44,200
we received a report this morning from Tom,

1747
02:39:44,200 --> 02:39:50,200
that I believe general oxygen hotels about 20%, which actually was surprisingly high,

1748
02:39:51,500 --> 02:39:57,960
and that long-term stay was somewhere around 40%, which was remarkably high. We have a lot of

1749
02:39:57,960 --> 02:40:05,520
hotels. Those are transactional things that come and go immediately. They're collected at the desk

1750
02:40:05,520 --> 02:40:10,600
and they're remitted to us almost immediately. And then rentals and missions of our own facilities,

1751
02:40:10,600 --> 02:40:15,440
Again, our kind of unhold at the moment, so we had to make some assumptions there.

1752
02:40:15,760 --> 02:40:21,880
Long term, income taxes, clearly you're going to take a hit.

1753
02:40:22,180 --> 02:40:25,880
Highway user revenues, we trim some, but we're not really sure.

1754
02:40:26,040 --> 02:40:26,800
We could get them all.

1755
02:40:26,940 --> 02:40:32,340
We can get not corporate personal properties based on the presciated value of equipment.

1756
02:40:32,340 --> 02:40:36,880
We're going to assume that people are not buying a lot of new equipment in the current.

1757
02:40:36,880 --> 02:40:44,160
have a economic conditions. So we had to cut that as well. And the real property, some of

1758
02:40:44,160 --> 02:40:51,040
the lessons from 2008 were that takes a little bit of time to hit us. So actually, I don't

1759
02:40:51,040 --> 02:40:59,660
believe we cut real property very much. But it will be an issue in the 22 budget. I'm pretty sure,

1760
02:40:59,780 --> 02:41:05,080
a lot of our properties get reassessed this year in a three or three year cycle. So this will probably

1761
02:41:05,080 --> 02:41:11,380
be the worst year for that. And there's no presumption on the part of the staff that there's any appetite for

1762
02:41:11,380 --> 02:41:18,640
a general feeder tax increase given this current situation. Let us know if we can change the line

1763
02:41:18,640 --> 02:41:19,180
of it.

1764
02:41:21,510 --> 02:41:30,430
Okay, so the potential impacts on expenses. There's two slides here. We expect that there'll

1765
02:41:30,430 --> 02:41:36,850
be some combination of virtually all of these things. No one categories is big enough or

1766
02:41:36,870 --> 02:41:39,530
would we consider eliminating completely?

1767
02:41:41,150 --> 02:41:45,810
So we would consider removal of the positions that

1768
02:41:45,810 --> 02:41:48,830
were in the FY 2021 budget effectively instituting

1769
02:41:48,830 --> 02:41:49,790
hiring freeze.

1770
02:41:51,670 --> 02:41:55,570
We will have some increased personnel costs from the CARES Act.

1771
02:41:56,370 --> 02:41:59,870
Most of that, as I understand it, it is a complicated act.

1772
02:42:00,390 --> 02:42:04,590
We already are covered with most of the aspects of the CARES Act,

1773
02:42:04,590 --> 02:42:15,150
But there are some like daycare that we have not so there will be some increased personnel, those are TBD at the point

1774
02:42:16,050 --> 02:42:17,990
We had programs in

1775
02:42:19,750 --> 02:42:25,810
I believe a 3% merit increase in a 1.5% cola at this point

1776
02:42:27,930 --> 02:42:28,490
That's

1777
02:42:28,490 --> 02:42:30,810
Unfortunately, personnel costs are where the money is

1778
02:42:31,510 --> 02:42:33,990
So we will very likely propose a reduction

1779
02:42:34,590 --> 02:42:39,690
of the merit adjustment, and we just very consistent with what other governments are doing it

1780
02:42:39,690 --> 02:42:46,330
at this time. We'll probably see some decreased personnel costs because we just aren't hiring

1781
02:42:46,330 --> 02:42:53,950
anybody right now, even for existing positions because we just can't onboard them. When you onboard

1782
02:42:53,950 --> 02:43:06,010
something, it's a hand-holding process, it's a personal process, we have a few people that kind of

1783
02:43:06,010 --> 02:43:13,470
on board. We do need to budget for them, but they probably won't be paid until possibly the end of

1784
02:43:13,470 --> 02:43:13,750
the summer.

1785
02:43:17,660 --> 02:43:25,040
Next slide, please. We have to account for the potential reduction of event budgets or

1786
02:43:25,040 --> 02:43:34,490
conversely budgeting for events that may or may not happen. The big upcoming one for next year

1787
02:43:34,490 --> 02:43:41,510
be some or fast and then October fast and I guess the parade so we're going to have to make a policy

1788
02:43:41,510 --> 02:43:47,750
decision whether we just decide not to have them which is difficult to do that many months in advance

1789
02:43:48,750 --> 02:43:55,270
or that we're comfortable budgeting for possibly a smaller event with the expectation that

1790
02:43:55,270 --> 02:44:01,410
possibly isn't going to happen but that will result in its savings. Reduced travel,

1791
02:44:01,410 --> 02:44:10,970
contracting budget is a commonly proposed outcome by the departments. We have already received

1792
02:44:10,970 --> 02:44:21,050
some department supported cuts about a million dollars from six of our operating departments.

1793
02:44:22,090 --> 02:44:27,930
And a lot of those have to do with personnel costs as well. For example, public works will not be

1794
02:44:27,930 --> 02:44:34,490
seasonal summer. We have a large part-time summer workforce. Since we're only calling in a few

1795
02:44:34,490 --> 02:44:42,350
public workers at a time right now, they will be taking over and doing seasonal work as it's

1796
02:44:42,350 --> 02:44:47,890
need. So that will be a significant savings and public works is able to propose almost a

1797
02:44:47,890 --> 02:44:57,190
500,000 dollar cut to their existing FY21 proposal. We are not at this point proposing to

1798
02:44:57,190 --> 02:44:58,470
L.A.L.A. or...

1799
02:45:00,000 --> 02:45:08,300
We're going to reduce grants and economic development fund, but possibly a reallocation, not only of the amounts, but the purpose.

1800
02:45:09,100 --> 02:45:20,860
Excuse me, an example that would be the economic development toolbox. Currently, it's not used for things like rent. It's not used for things like keeping people from going out of business.

1801
02:45:20,860 --> 02:45:31,060
But would we temporarily change those guidelines and then it's probably end up spending more money than we normally would out of those.

1802
02:45:31,340 --> 02:45:34,180
That's a policy discussion we'll have to have.

1803
02:45:34,540 --> 02:45:42,280
And the reduction of fund transfers, including the CIP, asset replacement fund, the other post employment benefit fund.

1804
02:45:43,160 --> 02:45:46,940
Some CIP projects could be pushed out of your two.

1805
02:45:48,500 --> 02:46:05,520
current projects that are right in front of us right now, like CPSC, we probably not fall in that category, because we're going to do four down the road, but there are some other projects like facility projects that we'll get to on the next page.

1806
02:46:06,830 --> 02:46:08,930
So, to the next page,

1807
02:46:10,990 --> 02:46:20,810
these are the areas that, you know, we'd like for you, originally I had intended to kind of go through this and say, you know, are you okay with this bullet? Are you okay with that bullet?

1808
02:46:22,050 --> 02:46:33,150
Now, you know, four weeks later, we're probably going to recommend to you a program that includes all of these things.

1809
02:46:33,150 --> 02:46:39,190
With a focus on the increased user reserves, as everybody who follows us knows, we do have

1810
02:46:39,190 --> 02:46:48,070
substantial reserve balance and if there was ever a time when reserves were put to good use,

1811
02:46:48,070 --> 02:46:50,050
this is probably it.

1812
02:46:50,970 --> 02:46:56,850
So we're looking at kind of generally splitting the shortfall between cuts to the existing

1813
02:46:56,850 --> 02:47:02,090
budget and use of reserves, but I do think I do need to hear from you guys that you're

1814
02:47:02,090 --> 02:47:10,470
okay with that. The other issues on here, you know, that's these are just the brainstorming

1815
02:47:10,470 --> 02:47:15,230
that we had in going through this exercise.

1816
02:47:17,430 --> 02:47:20,550
At the bottom of the page, the capital projects

1817
02:47:20,550 --> 02:47:26,990
for facilities, public work, city hall and then KC. Those are tough. I mean, those are facilities

1818
02:47:26,990 --> 02:47:35,830
that need work, but they're also very high-dollar, except for Casey, so we would need to push those

1819
02:47:35,830 --> 02:47:42,410
off a little bit. Not something we want to do, but it's, you know, the situation is a difficult one

1820
02:47:42,410 --> 02:47:47,270
as you know. And the asterics at the final bullet, you know, we do need to maintain infrastructure,

1821
02:47:48,130 --> 02:47:54,790
we do need to continue to maintain our facilities, so we don't anticipate cuts to that aspect of the

1822
02:47:54,790 --> 02:48:03,850
IP. So this is the key slide which I'd like to kind of open up for discussion. If anybody has

1823
02:48:03,850 --> 02:48:09,710
any particular hot buttons that they would like us to avoid or to focus on, that would

1824
02:48:09,710 --> 02:48:19,750
help a lot. I can just leave it at that and then we'll get to the next time. Tony, before I kind

1825
02:48:19,750 --> 02:48:28,590
like have you go ahead and finish the the slides and then do the public comment

1826
02:48:28,590 --> 02:48:33,810
at a respect for the poor members of the public who want to testify on this

1827
02:48:33,810 --> 02:48:37,910
and then we'll come back to that slide and comment on that's that cool. Sure. I

1828
02:48:37,910 --> 02:48:41,590
think there's only the one more on

1829
02:48:45,820 --> 02:48:55,200
the back up here. Yeah next steps. So I

1830
02:48:55,200 --> 02:49:02,060
a few days. We need to cut, make the budget cuts, and we need to prepare a revised budget

1831
02:49:02,060 --> 02:49:07,280
plan for you to discuss next Monday using tonight's guides and sounds like you want to hear

1832
02:49:07,900 --> 02:49:13,740
from the members of public that want to comment as well. And the rest of the slide is really

1833
02:49:13,740 --> 02:49:18,540
just about what's going to happen in the next few weeks. So I think I can wrap it up at this point.

1834
02:49:19,560 --> 02:49:27,200
Okay, well then let's go to the public and then we'll come back to the main questions.

1835
02:49:29,060 --> 02:49:31,820
So we're going to go in the water people signed up.

1836
02:49:32,000 --> 02:49:38,480
Our first speaker, our tech team, if Jason will Cox is still around, what's bring up

1837
02:49:38,480 --> 02:49:41,980
Jason and Jason, just stay your name and go ahead and start.

1838
02:49:50,020 --> 02:49:51,300
Well, unmute yourself too.

1839
02:49:57,130 --> 02:49:57,490
Yes.

1840
02:49:57,810 --> 02:49:58,450
I can hear you.

1841
02:49:58,490 --> 02:49:58,830
Great.

1842
02:49:58,830 --> 02:50:01,770
Thank you. Again, Jason Wilcox.

1843
02:50:03,550 --> 02:50:08,010
Well, it is understood that the city is expected to face extraordinary revenue shortfalls due to

1844
02:50:08,010 --> 02:50:10,450
the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

1845
02:50:11,270 --> 02:50:15,810
I asked that the mayor and council at minimum maintain funding for the city's community service,

1846
02:50:16,090 --> 02:50:20,870
school, and nonprofit school grants at the FY20 levels in the FY21 budget.

1847
02:50:21,650 --> 02:50:27,690
It is undeniable that many of our city's residents are currently exposing themselves to the threat of COVID-19 and low-wage jobs,

1848
02:50:27,690 --> 02:50:32,950
such as food service workers, grocery store stockers, drugstore clerks, and hospital custodians

1849
02:50:32,950 --> 02:50:36,850
that are essential in keeping our economy running and the rest of us safe and healthy.

1850
02:50:37,530 --> 02:50:41,710
Many of these residents, among others, have relied upon and will continue to rely upon the

1851
02:50:41,710 --> 02:50:47,090
myriad of services provided by Gathersburg area nonprofits to make ends meet, including for food

1852
02:50:47,090 --> 02:50:52,270
and nutrition, housing, education, financial empowerment, and mental health and wellness.

1853
02:50:53,190 --> 02:50:57,630
These nonprofits in turn have been stretched to the absolute limit in providing emergency

1854
02:50:57,630 --> 02:51:02,310
assistance and resources to those in need during this unprecedented time. Food

1855
02:51:02,310 --> 02:51:05,910
pantries, including nanophoots center, gathers work health in women-to-care

1856
02:51:05,910 --> 02:51:10,050
ministries, are temporarily waving income requirements to provide food to any

1857
02:51:10,050 --> 02:51:14,410
resident impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Our most vulnerable residents are

1858
02:51:14,410 --> 02:51:18,310
depending on the primary care coalition now more than ever to connect them to a

1859
02:51:18,310 --> 02:51:23,090
high quality comprehensive healthcare safety net. Identity has gone completely

1860
02:51:23,090 --> 02:51:27,090
virtual to continue serving our Latino youth and their families, running virtual

1861
02:51:27,090 --> 02:51:32,630
reading groups, census parties, ESOL and GED classes, and individual and small group therapy

1862
02:51:32,630 --> 02:51:37,350
by phone or video. The same can be set of career captures, which continues to provide career

1863
02:51:37,350 --> 02:51:41,890
counseling and vocational services to under and unemployed immigrants, victims of domestic

1864
02:51:41,890 --> 02:51:46,150
violence, and those trying to break the cycle of poverty. There are just too many examples to

1865
02:51:46,150 --> 02:51:51,370
list. The city of Gathersburg has always prided itself on delivering excellent services to

1866
02:51:51,370 --> 02:51:55,650
all of those who live and work here. This would not be possible without the continued partnership

1867
02:51:55,650 --> 02:52:00,890
with Gapersburg area nonprofits and the support that the city provides through the community service,

1868
02:52:01,570 --> 02:52:06,750
school, and nonprofit school grant programs. In fact, Mayor and Council will be remiss to

1869
02:52:06,750 --> 02:52:11,190
forget that when other municipalities reduce support for social services during the great recession,

1870
02:52:11,790 --> 02:52:16,330
the city of Gapersburg redeveloped its support through the continuation of funding for these very programs.

1871
02:52:17,010 --> 02:52:21,770
Now that we enter a second once in a lifetime economic downturn in just the last 12 years,

1872
02:52:21,770 --> 02:52:28,750
The City must again renew its commitment to Gapersburg area non-profits and the vital services that they provide by at minimum

1873
02:52:28,750 --> 02:52:36,210
maintaining funding for the city's community service, school, and non-profit school grants at their current levels in next year's budget.

1874
02:52:36,730 --> 02:52:37,450
Thank you.

1875
02:52:39,960 --> 02:52:40,980
Thank you very much, Jason.

1876
02:52:43,040 --> 02:52:45,320
We still have Jackie with us.

1877
02:52:47,750 --> 02:52:48,610
Yes, I'm still here.

1878
02:52:48,970 --> 02:52:49,270
Okay.

1879
02:52:49,650 --> 02:52:50,530
First off, Jackie.

1880
02:52:52,010 --> 02:52:56,110
Please forgive me and us for keeping you this long.

1881
02:52:56,110 --> 02:53:02,810
And second off, before you even start on behalf of all of us in the city, we want to thank

1882
02:53:02,810 --> 02:53:09,230
you for what you're doing and how you're helping the community in such an amazing, incredible,

1883
02:53:09,330 --> 02:53:11,210
unthinkable time of need.

1884
02:53:11,610 --> 02:53:19,090
Manna has just been a stalwart part of our community and I'm following what you guys are

1885
02:53:19,090 --> 02:53:23,690
doing on social media and I'm sure all of us are and we just, we just really appreciate

1886
02:53:23,690 --> 02:53:24,850
you and your team, Jackie.

1887
02:53:24,850 --> 02:53:33,450
so with that go right ahead. Well, I certainly want to return the gratitude. I mean the

1888
02:53:33,450 --> 02:53:38,390
dedication that you all have and not just because you've slung through this very important

1889
02:53:38,390 --> 02:53:44,490
meeting, but I'm just so admiring that you all is public servants and it's my honor to participate.

1890
02:53:46,350 --> 02:53:52,530
I guess I have the same message that Jason just did that we're just really encouraging you even though

1891
02:53:52,530 --> 02:54:01,090
there are uncertain financial times ahead that you maintain the allocations to the safety

1892
02:54:01,090 --> 02:54:07,730
net providers. I'm representing the Food and Nutrition Coalition, which is a Mana Food Center

1893
02:54:07,730 --> 02:54:16,790
nurse now and give this break up and all of us have tried to respond to this latest

1894
02:54:17,590 --> 02:54:25,010
shop of the pandemic and we are seeing the data coming out on a week-to-week basis that

1895
02:54:26,290 --> 02:54:30,810
the zip code of 2.77 is particularly hard.

1896
02:54:30,810 --> 02:54:40,810
We at NAMMA experience the 22% increase in food requests from the city of Skatefish Burger residents, just since the middle of March.

1897
02:54:41,430 --> 02:54:49,530
And so I think everybody recognizes that no matter how long the pandemic lasts, the economic preparations are going to be even longer.

1898
02:54:50,190 --> 02:54:57,970
And we want to make sure that the food nutrition coalition can remain strong and stable and able to help.

1899
02:54:57,970 --> 02:55:09,130
We appreciate the partnership with the each of you with your outstanding staff and as we move toward the uncertain future.

1900
02:55:09,610 --> 02:55:20,310
Please be assured that we are ready to serve, but we do need the support from public funds to complement what we're raising from private sources and the business community.

1901
02:55:20,310 --> 02:55:30,730
So with that, I'll just, you know, obviously answering questions, but thank you for considering maintaining support of the food and nutrition coalition.

1902
02:55:32,390 --> 02:55:33,090
Thank you, Jackie.

1903
02:55:33,650 --> 02:55:41,670
As I said, we're grateful beyond words for what you guys are doing and appreciate your testimony.

1904
02:55:44,970 --> 02:55:47,730
Next, we'll move on to Bob Punichtera.

1905
02:55:49,330 --> 02:55:54,170
And again, please forgive me for the time that this is taken,

1906
02:55:54,290 --> 02:55:55,950
but Bob, we're glad to hear from you.

1907
02:55:56,110 --> 02:55:59,070
Please unmute yourself, state, state your name, and go right ahead.

1908
02:55:59,570 --> 02:56:00,290
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1909
02:56:00,350 --> 02:56:01,450
My name is Bob Punichtera.

1910
02:56:01,670 --> 02:56:03,570
I'm the Executive Director of Liberty's Promise.

1911
02:56:04,570 --> 02:56:06,430
Mr. Mayor, how do members of the City Council?

1912
02:56:06,430 --> 02:56:10,810
City representatives, thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to you this evening.

1913
02:56:10,810 --> 02:56:15,110
And these on Orthodox circumstances and what are certainly unusual times.

1914
02:56:15,890 --> 02:56:21,830
I will endeavor to make my remarks brief since you're going to be hearing from our director of Montgomery County programs,

1915
02:56:22,110 --> 02:56:23,170
Mr. Julian LeBiche.

1916
02:56:24,030 --> 02:56:28,530
And he's going to tell you about the wonderful and important work our organization does in your community.

1917
02:56:29,570 --> 02:56:36,190
First of all, I'd like to thank all our basis berg elected officials for the passing current support of our work.

1918
02:56:37,870 --> 02:56:48,380
The presentation by Mr. Thomas Ellis just now, sort of illustrated the situation that you folks are in because of the current health crisis and that we're all in.

1919
02:56:49,180 --> 02:56:56,480
Now, nonetheless, I would ask you to most earnestly consider leaving funding for non-profit

1920
02:56:56,480 --> 02:57:01,420
agencies and tech. I cannot speak to the work that many other non-profit organizations

1921
02:57:01,420 --> 02:57:08,180
do in the city, although Mr. Jackie did eloquently before me, and I'm sure you're

1922
02:57:08,180 --> 02:57:13,240
all well aware of this. I can't however speak to the perennial light at the end of the tunnel.

1923
02:57:14,080 --> 02:57:20,580
Come the fall, Liberty's promise will be ready to begin our app to school programs for immigrant youth, the Gates of Bird High School,

1924
02:57:21,260 --> 02:57:25,900
which engage both English speakers and Spanish speakers in the civic life of the Gates of Bird Community.

1925
02:57:26,900 --> 02:57:31,940
Moreover, we submitted a proposal this year to expand this work to Quince Origin High School,

1926
02:57:32,320 --> 02:57:35,960
an idea that has a strong support of QO principal Beth Thomas.

1927
02:57:36,780 --> 02:57:47,100
In conducting these programs, we take you with out into the broader Gatesburg community and give them a chance to learn about all the many opportunities for success this country has to offer them.

1928
02:57:47,460 --> 02:57:55,800
The vast majority of our program participants graduate high school, they go on to some form of higher education and they embark on meaningful careers.

1929
02:57:57,460 --> 02:58:04,140
The youth in city high schools are great kids and their individual talents and gifts can contribute so much to Gatesburg as a whole.

1930
02:58:04,780 --> 02:58:09,400
I would ask you then to consider funding the city's nonprofit sector without cuts.

1931
02:58:10,040 --> 02:58:15,680
Long after this crisis over, the use of our programs will be making a positive contribution

1932
02:58:15,680 --> 02:58:18,220
to the civic life of the Gasesburg community.

1933
02:58:19,000 --> 02:58:23,180
And it's with that future in mind that we request your full-site financial support.

1934
02:58:23,440 --> 02:58:24,860
Thank you.

1935
02:58:25,680 --> 02:58:26,220
Thanks Bob.

1936
02:58:26,380 --> 02:58:31,700
Thanks for all you do to support the recent immigrant community in the city of Gatorsburg.

1937
02:58:31,700 --> 02:58:36,500
you guys run a great program and and now we have Julian coming up, Julian will be

1938
02:58:37,720 --> 02:58:41,920
and Julian, I'm new to yourself and I look forward to hearing what you have to say.

1939
02:58:44,530 --> 02:58:51,210
Thank you very much for hearing us. We appreciate the work and the support you've provided

1940
02:58:51,210 --> 02:58:56,890
over the years. Let me just promise you started programs in 2007. So that's 13 years now

1941
02:58:57,910 --> 02:59:04,910
of impacting the youth in the community and you've seen the youth, you know the impacts that

1942
02:59:04,910 --> 02:59:10,830
our programs have on them and just to illustrate that I will talk about a few of them. One of

1943
02:59:10,830 --> 02:59:16,710
of them is a young man from the Philippines who wasn't my program last year and he was a senior

1944
02:59:16,710 --> 02:59:21,750
and didn't have the confidence to apply for scholarships. He almost applied for one and then he

1945
02:59:21,750 --> 02:59:29,110
because eating feel like he could do it. So it was a matter of sitting with him and laying it out in front

1946
02:59:29,110 --> 02:59:33,990
of him and showing him what the steps are to apply for the next scholarship and he felt much more

1947
02:59:33,990 --> 02:59:39,290
confident once he had the support for this. You apply actually for the care to count scholarship,

1948
02:59:39,710 --> 02:59:44,810
which he got in and he got another scholarship which helped him apply, which helped him in roll at

1949
02:59:44,810 --> 02:59:50,080
Montgomery College. Without our support this young man wouldn't be in college. He would be

1950
02:59:50,080 --> 02:59:56,080
you probably be working for time jobs to make meets end.

1951
02:59:57,800 --> 02:59:59,320
His case is not singular.

1952
03:00:00,000 --> 03:00:16,420
Many, many other young people, and I could name many of them, who went to college or got jobs that they liked and are living healthy lives, because they got the support from me, which is promise and another non-profits like us.

1953
03:00:16,840 --> 03:00:23,120
I could talk about Audrey, who is now who graduated from George Washington University last school in July now.

1954
03:00:23,120 --> 03:00:29,620
or Sotheira, who's a software engineer at the U.S. Census Bureau, who got internships at Samsa

1955
03:00:29,620 --> 03:00:35,220
with overall programs. Audrey got rental assistance, she got scholarships, she went to

1956
03:00:35,220 --> 03:00:41,100
internships, she benefits from many jobs, she has workshops from us. As did her family,

1957
03:00:42,000 --> 03:00:47,780
other members of her family. I could talk about Obedon, who is a patent examiner at the U.S.

1958
03:00:47,780 --> 03:00:59,080
and trade marks. Many, many young people are relying on this help, and the cost to the community or the saving,

1959
03:00:59,840 --> 03:01:06,640
the return of interest to the community is enormous. So, as Bob was explaining earlier,

1960
03:01:07,220 --> 03:01:14,200
this is a long-term impact that this programs have, and this impact will be felt next year,

1961
03:01:14,200 --> 03:01:19,020
In two years and five years, in ten years, because the community as a whole will benefit the economy

1962
03:01:19,020 --> 03:01:21,060
will benefit from the success of these use.

1963
03:01:21,580 --> 03:01:26,700
These program of civic engagement and internship programs, again, have been running on for

1964
03:01:26,700 --> 03:01:35,700
13 years, and we ask to council and mayor to consider sustaining these programs, helping

1965
03:01:35,700 --> 03:01:41,580
us sustain these programs, because these young people are, to generation of the future, and

1966
03:01:41,580 --> 03:01:48,840
will tremendously give back their talents and put that in back into the community. Thank you very much.

1967
03:01:49,240 --> 03:01:54,200
Thank you very much, Julian. We look forward to seeing you soon, please stay safe, stay well.

1968
03:01:54,680 --> 03:01:58,720
Next we have Michelle, if she's still there.

1969
03:02:00,980 --> 03:02:05,220
Just unmute yourself, stay to your name and go

1970
03:02:05,220 --> 03:02:13,740
Okay, good evening Michelle Levy representing mobile medical care and the Gapishburg Health Network.

1971
03:02:15,120 --> 03:02:20,420
Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and the Council for allowing us to speak tonight.

1972
03:02:21,200 --> 03:02:27,700
Thank you for your longstanding commitment to Gapishburg's most vulnerable residents in this wonderfully diverse community.

1973
03:02:28,840 --> 03:02:34,220
I'm proud to serve as the Director of Development, the New Director of Development at Wage at Mobile Medical Care.

1974
03:02:34,500 --> 03:02:41,900
For over 50 years, our mission has been to improve the health of low-income people who face the greatest barriers to care access.

1975
03:02:42,360 --> 03:02:52,080
As you know, mobile med delivers high quality, comprehensive, culturally competent primary care to low-income and under-insured residents.

1976
03:02:52,080 --> 03:02:58,320
We also serve as a lead agency for the health care network, and tonight I'm also representing

1977
03:02:58,320 --> 03:03:05,520
a Spire Counseling Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Davisburg Health, Holy Cross Hospital,

1978
03:03:07,180 --> 03:03:10,380
Health Center, Korean Community Service Center, and Mercy Health Clinic.

1979
03:03:10,860 --> 03:03:16,640
Through this collaborative, we serve nearly 2,000 city of Davisburg residents this year.

1980
03:03:16,640 --> 03:03:22,360
As you know, primary care, which includes integrated behavioral health, can have a tremendous

1981
03:03:22,360 --> 03:03:28,780
positive impact on quality life and is highly cost effective, timely care and regular

1982
03:03:28,780 --> 03:03:35,520
screenings can reduce not only expensive treatments later, but also help prevent unnecessary

1983
03:03:36,320 --> 03:03:37,120
ER visits.

1984
03:03:37,480 --> 03:03:42,460
In light of COVID-19, the demands of healthcare or further stretch, our network remains strong

1985
03:03:42,460 --> 03:03:43,740
an agile in this crisis.

1986
03:03:44,320 --> 03:03:47,560
Mobile Med has instituted healthcare telehealth visits

1987
03:03:47,560 --> 03:03:49,240
for established patients and will be doing

1988
03:03:49,240 --> 03:03:51,580
so with new patients as needs evolve.

1989
03:03:51,900 --> 03:03:54,760
Tomorrow, we will be launching a home visit

1990
03:03:54,760 --> 03:03:55,940
for a group of patients and blood

1991
03:03:55,940 --> 03:03:57,420
that are performing a blood test

1992
03:03:57,420 --> 03:04:00,340
and then following up with a telehealth visit the next day.

1993
03:04:00,660 --> 03:04:02,560
A spire counseling has been implementing

1994
03:04:02,560 --> 03:04:04,940
both telehealth and audio only visits.

1995
03:04:05,360 --> 03:04:08,080
Patients are highly responsive to the shift

1996
03:04:08,080 --> 03:04:11,060
and will likely continue this option after a crisis.

1997
03:04:11,060 --> 03:04:15,260
Mental health needs have only increased during this untartered and trying time for a resale.

1998
03:04:16,560 --> 03:04:21,620
KCSC has implemented new wraparound services for its patients, providing groceries to them.

1999
03:04:21,920 --> 03:04:30,520
They report through collaboration, they have seen them take a more active role in forcing their concerns and fulfilling more preventative care testing.

2000
03:04:30,880 --> 03:04:40,120
Mercy health clinic and other partners have seen a steep increase of individuals who have recently lost insurance and may not be eligible for Medicaid.

2001
03:04:40,120 --> 03:04:46,120
We ask for your continued support for the for the gave us work health care network,

2002
03:04:46,420 --> 03:04:51,240
even in a tight budget we request an increase in funding to meet the anticipated increase

2003
03:04:51,240 --> 03:04:54,640
in the number of residents who seek their services.

2004
03:04:55,200 --> 03:04:59,460
I would also like to add that we have a good working relationship with community services staff

2005
03:04:59,460 --> 03:05:01,400
who are responsive, helpful, and professional.

2006
03:05:01,900 --> 03:05:06,180
We're extremely grateful for the city's commitment to the most vulnerable residents

2007
03:05:06,180 --> 03:05:10,100
and look forward to continuing our work together to address their health needs.

2008
03:05:10,460 --> 03:05:11,660
Thank you for your time.

2009
03:05:12,360 --> 03:05:14,320
Michelle, thank first, thanks for your patience.

2010
03:05:14,680 --> 03:05:24,220
Second, thanks to you and to MobileMed and all your partner organizations for all that you're doing in our community, particularly in this time of need.

2011
03:05:24,720 --> 03:05:26,040
We will see you soon.

2012
03:05:27,760 --> 03:05:43,720
Okay, that concludes our test of the money, so Council members, raise your hand if you'd like to go first as we take as we circle back to Tony's American Council feedback areas who wants to go first on that.

2013
03:05:44,000 --> 03:05:46,800
Okay, I see Ryan first. We'll go to Ryan and then Neil.

2014
03:05:48,720 --> 03:05:52,620
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Just briefly, I want to say, you know,

2015
03:05:52,620 --> 03:05:59,960
I think Tony hits the nail on the head with respect to the philosophy of trying to address

2016
03:06:00,880 --> 03:06:04,700
the current economic situation with cuts and use of reserves.

2017
03:06:06,360 --> 03:06:09,340
And I just want to make the comment, even though I know we're not in policy discussion.

2018
03:06:10,180 --> 03:06:16,200
I mean, it's quite remarkable that as a city, because of our fiscally conservative approach

2019
03:06:16,200 --> 03:06:21,480
and fiscal responsible efforts to make sure we have good reserves and good budgeting.

2020
03:06:22,360 --> 03:06:30,100
and a lean operation that we really aren't as devastated at least not yet by the situation,

2021
03:06:30,260 --> 03:06:34,940
the way that many other communities are. And as the President of the Maryland Municipal League,

2022
03:06:35,000 --> 03:06:40,800
I'm feeling phone calls from cities and towns all over the state who are really in much more

2023
03:06:40,800 --> 03:06:45,420
dire straits than we are in. I don't want to minimize the challenges that lay ahead of us.

2024
03:06:46,320 --> 03:07:04,400
And, you know, I mean, this is a massive, this is a massive, massive challenge for our economy, for our people, for our city government, but all things considered, we're in relatively good shape to whether this at least in the short term and in this budget cycle, and I know that Tony and staff have to address these issues on the fly quickly.

2025
03:07:04,400 --> 03:07:11,620
So, I think it makes perfect sense to empower him and the staff to make reasonable recommendations.

2026
03:07:12,620 --> 03:07:16,240
Targeted strategically with respect to the items that he's listed in this presentation

2027
03:07:16,240 --> 03:07:20,020
of things like freezing new hires where it makes sense.

2028
03:07:20,640 --> 03:07:23,600
There may be a couple of exceptions to things like that.

2029
03:07:24,200 --> 03:07:28,380
And looking at deferral of certain capital projects and other things.

2030
03:07:28,380 --> 03:07:36,420
but generally speaking, the idea of strategic cuts while still protecting our full-time workforce

2031
03:07:36,420 --> 03:07:43,500
and preserving basically what they have now, and dipping into our reserves because as Tony said,

2032
03:07:44,640 --> 03:07:49,580
what are reserves for if not to use them in a time like this? I think that makes perfect sense.

2033
03:07:50,740 --> 03:07:56,300
And I just want to say I sort of endorse that approach. And with respect to the testimony of the comments

2034
03:07:56,300 --> 03:08:01,260
if I Mr. Wilcox and of course the testimony of all of our great non-profit providers.

2035
03:08:01,780 --> 03:08:16,280
Tonight, my understanding from Tony's presentation is that there is no intent to cut any of the current levels of funding for non-profit grant programs and social safety net support for non-profit partners.

2036
03:08:16,600 --> 03:08:24,260
There may be some reallocations internally in terms of what types of services will prioritize in versus others in the short term,

2037
03:08:24,260 --> 03:08:26,260
depending on what the needs of the community are.

2038
03:08:26,500 --> 03:08:29,680
But in terms of the overall pot of what we're continuing

2039
03:08:29,680 --> 03:08:32,540
to dedicate and budget to those kinds of services,

2040
03:08:33,200 --> 03:08:37,000
sounds to me like there's no intent from Tony's,

2041
03:08:37,020 --> 03:08:40,300
at least as a latest proposals to do any cuts to that,

2042
03:08:40,420 --> 03:08:42,960
whether we should do any increases or can even afford

2043
03:08:42,960 --> 03:08:45,340
to do any increases to that is another question.

2044
03:08:47,300 --> 03:08:49,040
But Mr. Wolkoch was absolutely right

2045
03:08:49,040 --> 03:08:52,360
that back in 2008, 2009, or we were dealing with this,

2046
03:08:52,360 --> 03:08:58,020
had an important and good discussion about how that was the time not to be cutting back on the

2047
03:08:58,020 --> 03:09:04,720
social safety net services but to be double down on them and we did and I was proud to be

2048
03:09:05,200 --> 03:09:11,080
you know one of the folks leading the charge on that back in 2009 and I don't know if we're going

2049
03:09:11,080 --> 03:09:15,400
to be in the same position to be able to increase funding for those services this time around but

2050
03:09:15,400 --> 03:09:19,960
the very least it sounds to me maybe you can confirm it doesn't seem like you're planning to

2051
03:09:19,960 --> 03:09:26,280
cut any of that on it. That's correct. And the latest thing is, there are some grants, you know,

2052
03:09:26,360 --> 03:09:32,860
for example, school grants that may or may not happen. And as opposed to just those those

2053
03:09:32,860 --> 03:09:38,420
funds just disappearing, you know, can we sweep them into safety net services? That would just be an

2054
03:09:38,420 --> 03:09:38,860
example.

2055
03:09:41,770 --> 03:09:48,650
Great. We'll move on to Neil. Sure. I'm going to cover some of the same ground as Ryan

2056
03:09:48,650 --> 03:09:50,210
but use fewer words,

2057
03:09:52,590 --> 03:09:55,930
okay, sorry, it's getting late.

2058
03:09:56,690 --> 03:10:00,770
Actually, I have a big question for Tony before I want to weigh in

2059
03:10:00,770 --> 03:10:03,720
on anything in particular, which is this.

2060
03:10:04,550 --> 03:10:07,790
It does this, does the city staff have any kind of a worst case

2061
03:10:07,790 --> 03:10:10,010
estimate for what it looks like?

2062
03:10:10,110 --> 03:10:14,710
I mean, you mentioned that the property tax revenue

2063
03:10:14,710 --> 03:10:17,870
was not likely to be as severely impacted as some other things,

2064
03:10:17,870 --> 03:10:19,350
And that's kind of the big number.

2065
03:10:20,150 --> 03:10:23,090
So the question is, how much of a shortfall?

2066
03:10:23,430 --> 03:10:27,290
Assuming this goes on for months forward

2067
03:10:27,770 --> 03:10:36,390
and then public gatherings stay are still discouraged

2068
03:10:36,910 --> 03:10:39,150
to some extent, and we don't do some big events,

2069
03:10:39,210 --> 03:10:41,690
and we don't have a lot of hotel occupancy.

2070
03:10:43,170 --> 03:10:45,710
What's the bottom line for the next fiscal year?

2071
03:10:45,710 --> 03:10:50,250
we're talking about a million dollar shortfall of ten million dollars. What are we looking at you think?

2072
03:10:50,530 --> 03:10:54,130
A next year do you mean twenty-one that we're playing for an hour twenty-two?

2073
03:10:54,410 --> 03:10:59,850
The current one. The next year, the year behind that is, yeah, we'll deal with later.

2074
03:11:00,210 --> 03:11:05,350
Well, we believe three and a half to four million, which is where we came in.

2075
03:11:06,530 --> 03:11:15,690
Some of those were pretty confident. Some of them are frankly guesses, because we, you know,

2076
03:11:15,690 --> 03:11:21,330
But we think we need to cover between three and a half and four million dollars for F-821.

2077
03:11:24,090 --> 03:11:26,830
And we believe we can with a mixed program.

2078
03:11:28,410 --> 03:11:28,970
Okay, thank you.

2079
03:11:29,230 --> 03:11:34,410
So on that basis, that's basically what I thought what I expected to hear as a number in that general range.

2080
03:11:35,250 --> 03:11:39,410
So again, going back to what Jason said and what Ryan reiterated.

2081
03:11:40,270 --> 03:11:44,950
And times like this is not the time to cut back on social safety net services, right?

2082
03:11:44,950 --> 03:11:50,570
people are in need out there, they're hurting, I mean everybody's hurting to some extent, but

2083
03:11:50,570 --> 03:11:56,810
the most vulnerable people need to be taken care of. It's not their fault. You know, we just

2084
03:11:56,810 --> 03:12:02,370
need to do what we do, and if we can increase in some way, it's not the biggest budget item that

2085
03:12:02,370 --> 03:12:07,270
we have, so I think we're not going to break the bank by taking care of people that need to

2086
03:12:07,270 --> 03:12:14,350
be taken care of. That said, you've already identified what you described as probably a million

2087
03:12:14,350 --> 03:12:17,790
dollars worth of savings on that three or four million dollar shortfall.

2088
03:12:18,390 --> 03:12:22,190
And fortunately, as we all know, the reserve situation is pretty solid.

2089
03:12:23,290 --> 03:12:28,890
And I'd say that the two areas that we want to focus on for the next fiscal year that

2090
03:12:28,890 --> 03:12:34,910
we're working on right now are probably deferring, CIP, expenses, pushing them out of

2091
03:12:34,910 --> 03:12:35,130
year.

2092
03:12:35,310 --> 03:12:41,170
I don't love doing that, but especially for things that are farther in the future that's

2093
03:12:41,170 --> 03:12:42,870
much less painful than other things.

2094
03:12:42,870 --> 03:12:52,670
And dipping into our reserves, that's, you know, as you said, that's what they're for, if it's a rainy day fun, it's raining and it's time to get out the umbrellas.

2095
03:12:54,030 --> 03:12:55,650
So that's it for now. Thank you.

2096
03:12:57,150 --> 03:12:57,850
Thank you.

2097
03:12:57,850 --> 03:12:58,690
Thank you, Neil.

2098
03:13:00,570 --> 03:13:02,870
Calts about it. Rob, go over the head, Rob.

2099
03:13:06,320 --> 03:13:07,540
Thanks, Mr. American, hear me.

2100
03:13:09,360 --> 03:13:10,400
Yes, go right ahead.

2101
03:13:10,400 --> 03:13:15,180
Okay, awesome. I'm exactly where my colleagues are on this issue.

2102
03:13:16,840 --> 03:13:21,140
You know, if we need to dip into the rainy day fund, we should. We should also be tightening

2103
03:13:21,140 --> 03:13:28,000
our belts. And I trust telling in our teams discretion in trying to weather this in the most

2104
03:13:28,000 --> 03:13:36,220
physically prudent way possible. I'm not necessarily in favor of across the board hiring freeze.

2105
03:13:36,220 --> 03:13:40,780
if we need the positions, absolutely need them, then I think a strategic

2106
03:13:40,780 --> 03:13:45,780
hiring is a better way to go. But if we can defer the positions or we don't need

2107
03:13:45,780 --> 03:13:53,420
them, we can look to future budgets to fill those needs, everything else I think

2108
03:13:53,420 --> 03:14:02,260
just makes sense to me. I'm kind of where Ryan was with respect to providing support

2109
03:14:02,260 --> 03:14:09,700
through our grants programs for social safety nets, we shouldn't be cutting, possibly I think

2110
03:14:09,700 --> 03:14:15,280
we should be looking to meet the needs of the community and we're robust to the extent

2111
03:14:15,280 --> 03:14:20,560
that we can, which I think is where Ryan was going as well. I've had some discussions

2112
03:14:21,320 --> 03:14:32,240
Tony with you and with Dennis and Tom about providing perhaps small business assistance to the

2113
03:14:33,180 --> 03:14:40,360
You know, kind of an off the wall type idea, you know, and Lynn may pop on and start screaming at me.

2114
03:14:40,560 --> 03:14:41,980
What about a matching challenge?

2115
03:14:42,660 --> 03:14:49,940
City publicizes some kind of fundraising ability for where we will match whatever is raised from the public.

2116
03:14:50,780 --> 03:14:52,800
I don't know, just throwing it out there.

2117
03:14:53,220 --> 03:14:59,960
The concept is supporting the concept or idea that, you know, in times of trouble.

2118
03:15:00,000 --> 03:15:10,200
We need to be the community support. We need to be working with the community support to meet the needs. And, you know, this is an unprecedented time that we're in.

2119
03:15:11,560 --> 03:15:23,060
I guess finally, you'd mention, cancelling major events. I'm not sure I'm in favor of that, perhaps reducing the scope is a better way to go to the extent that we can.

2120
03:15:24,200 --> 03:15:45,420
But I think it's important, particularly in the summer event, if we are able to attend the event in a socially responsible way that we should be looking to hold that in certainly October fest in the fall time frame is a major soon to be events.

2121
03:15:45,420 --> 03:16:06,820
And then as Neil had commented about the, my preference on capital projects is take care of what needs to be done, but what can be pushed I'm fine with pushing and I'll leave that to your discretion and your staff's discretion to identify which projects fit was chat which category. Thank you.

2122
03:16:08,200 --> 03:16:15,420
Thank you Rob, Mike Lorian, Mike. Go ahead. You're muted.

2123
03:16:16,080 --> 03:16:17,820
I had her hand up first.

2124
03:16:18,920 --> 03:16:19,920
Okay, go ahead, Lorian.

2125
03:16:23,710 --> 03:16:25,430
Thank you, Mike.

2126
03:16:26,290 --> 03:16:26,590
Thanks, Jen.

2127
03:16:27,870 --> 03:16:32,910
So I will probably share the same sentiments as my colleague.

2128
03:16:33,310 --> 03:16:39,370
I don't believe we should be considering decreasing

2129
03:16:39,370 --> 03:16:48,850
decreasing our contributions for the community grant program and I like the idea of any unused

2130
03:16:48,850 --> 03:16:53,890
monies from the Education and Richmond Committee that won't be allocated for the scholarship

2131
03:16:53,890 --> 03:17:05,490
fund to be put toward our nonprofit budget for funding our nonprofit grant program.

2132
03:17:06,710 --> 03:17:21,770
Over the weekend, I was able to go to one of the food pantries parent gate that's for our friend of the city due to Clark, she is in charge of doing the weekend backpack program.

2133
03:17:21,770 --> 03:17:27,690
before COVID she was doing about 2,500 and now that's doubled.

2134
03:17:28,490 --> 03:17:31,930
So I can only imagine what everyone that's testified

2135
03:17:31,930 --> 03:17:36,930
from Manna to LiPherty's Promise to Mersees.

2136
03:17:37,470 --> 03:17:40,790
I'm sure all of our nonprofit partners are overwhelmed

2137
03:17:40,790 --> 03:17:48,290
and so if we're dozing event budgets and delay

2138
03:17:48,290 --> 03:17:56,730
some capital improvement projects, but are way down the line. I'm definitely in favor of that.

2139
03:17:57,310 --> 03:18:05,850
Also in favor of the hiring freeze. But definitely want us to prioritize any strategic

2140
03:18:05,850 --> 03:18:09,210
additions that are absolutely necessary.

2141
03:18:11,230 --> 03:18:16,050
And we just look forward to hearing the recommendations

2142
03:18:16,050 --> 03:18:22,670
actual recommendations. We're not going to know when we can congregate in a big crowd again,

2143
03:18:23,110 --> 03:18:30,650
and so I'm curious to see which event we would consider producing the budget on, and if we could

2144
03:18:30,650 --> 03:18:38,670
maybe get a line item of our events. I know that Parks and Rec has shared that with us before,

2145
03:18:39,490 --> 03:18:44,890
but if we can see that before the next meeting or that can be included, the events that we're

2146
03:18:44,890 --> 03:18:53,130
considering resizing that would be very helpful in coming to final decision.

2147
03:19:00,540 --> 03:19:02,440
And that's the thank you guys.

2148
03:19:03,520 --> 03:19:04,540
Thank you, Lorien. Mike.

2149
03:19:05,900 --> 03:19:10,200
Okay, so this is kind of deja vu all over again.

2150
03:19:11,100 --> 03:19:15,640
Three of us were on the council when we went through this in 2007-2008.

2151
03:19:16,260 --> 03:19:20,000
Ironically, it's also when we had a transition in city manager and leadership.

2152
03:19:20,000 --> 03:19:49,200
And I think it's important that we remember some lessons from that period of time, some things that we did well, mostly we did well, and I think we are very creative and some things I think we're a little bit perhaps we we thought about them now in terms of things like deferred maintenance and holding CIP expenses things like that.

2153
03:19:49,200 --> 03:19:56,280
because in the long run they ended up costing a second and perhaps the short-term benefit

2154
03:19:56,280 --> 03:20:02,040
was not realized, had a consequence later on.

2155
03:20:04,040 --> 03:20:12,740
So I'm glad that everybody's on board with maintaining our commitment to our nonprofit partners.

2156
03:20:12,740 --> 03:20:35,840
You know, Brian, I push for that back in 2008, I think we impressed a lot of people with that that we were able to do that, but I think we designed a budget going back that allowed us to do that. We have a reserve and then we have a surplus on our reserve and I think we've been able to maintain that over a period of time.

2157
03:20:36,840 --> 03:20:46,140
for major projects but also to keep us well above water, we're not treading water actually, I think we're swimming laps here.

2158
03:20:47,980 --> 03:21:01,660
So I'm glad that there's a commitment from staff to maintain that effort to our nonprofits, to our partners and to helping those who are most vulnerable and most of the greatest victims of the current situation.

2159
03:21:01,660 --> 03:21:06,780
So I think the other thing I want to remind everybody about is that one of the things we're

2160
03:21:06,780 --> 03:21:12,540
created during this period of time was our economic development fund. We decided to spend some

2161
03:21:12,540 --> 03:21:19,500
money, what's a money on the line, and committed to economic development. And we created the, we

2162
03:21:19,500 --> 03:21:27,240
we also then decided to create the position of economic development director and department

2163
03:21:28,160 --> 03:21:29,320
within that framework.

2164
03:21:30,080 --> 03:21:32,080
So when everybody else was cutting back,

2165
03:21:32,200 --> 03:21:33,440
we decided to make the investment

2166
03:21:33,440 --> 03:21:41,220
and trying to generate some economic incentives

2167
03:21:41,940 --> 03:21:44,940
for companies that were here, businesses that were here,

2168
03:21:45,020 --> 03:21:46,500
but also to attract new businesses.

2169
03:21:46,660 --> 03:21:49,040
And I think that actually put us on the map in many ways.

2170
03:21:49,760 --> 03:21:52,420
So I think we've seen the great benefits of that

2171
03:21:52,420 --> 03:21:53,440
over the period of time.

2172
03:21:53,500 --> 03:21:55,960
And I think we need to remember that kind of a lesson.

2173
03:21:55,960 --> 03:22:05,680
In terms of the feedback areas, I would say we need to not be, I understand the need for

2174
03:22:05,680 --> 03:22:10,480
iron and freeze, but I think we need to think about strategic additions to that. Certainly,

2175
03:22:10,660 --> 03:22:17,840
the reserve is there for specific reason, and if we have the reserve available to allow us to do

2176
03:22:17,840 --> 03:22:24,320
certain creative things, then we should think about those things like we did in 2007-2009.

2177
03:22:24,320 --> 03:22:26,800
So I think the rest of it makes sense,

2178
03:22:26,980 --> 03:22:29,220
but I'm looking forward to hearing the plan.

2179
03:22:29,440 --> 03:22:30,940
I think we're all kind of on,

2180
03:22:31,100 --> 03:22:32,740
we're all more or less on the same page.

2181
03:22:32,760 --> 03:22:36,980
I think it is remarkable that we've been able to maintain

2182
03:22:36,980 --> 03:22:39,300
the kind of reserve and surplus

2183
03:22:39,300 --> 03:22:41,060
that we have over a period of time.

2184
03:22:41,660 --> 03:22:44,220
And I think a lot of that has to do with the fiscal management

2185
03:22:44,220 --> 03:22:47,820
that Tony's been the major leader on in terms of the city.

2186
03:22:48,420 --> 03:22:52,440
So I think in terms of his parting gift to us

2187
03:22:52,440 --> 03:22:59,760
is that we can use that as he retires that we'll be able to use that to help us dig our way out of this.

2188
03:22:59,880 --> 03:23:05,460
And I think that what we're digging our way out of is a lot less than what many other municipalities are.

2189
03:23:06,300 --> 03:23:12,760
So that's that's basically it. I think you know, it doesn't sound like there's a lot of

2190
03:23:12,760 --> 03:23:17,280
difference of opinion here on the council. And I think I'm sure Judd feels the same.

2191
03:23:17,280 --> 03:23:31,240
You are correct. I agree. I agree 100% fact I agree with everything everybody said on this. Tony, the question is do you feel you feel guided to get us to next week to our work session.

2192
03:23:31,780 --> 03:23:40,900
I do. I've got a whole page of notes actually from what's been from the public and from you guys and I see Nate and Matthew been writing all over. So we're ready to jump on this pretty quickly.

2193
03:23:41,460 --> 03:23:44,700
Okay, right. I see Ryan wants to jump in.

2194
03:23:44,700 --> 03:23:49,700
This very briefly, none of us mentioned it in our previous comments, but I think it goes without saying,

2195
03:23:50,580 --> 03:23:56,040
uh, we all agree that there should be no tax rating creases at this point.

2196
03:23:56,820 --> 03:24:00,620
Um, and assume that that in your presentation, and I think he was assumed it very correctly.

2197
03:24:01,880 --> 03:24:02,240
Okay.

2198
03:24:02,900 --> 03:24:03,580
Thank you.

2199
03:24:03,760 --> 03:24:04,020
Yeah.

2200
03:24:04,500 --> 03:24:04,840
Okay.

2201
03:24:05,120 --> 03:24:06,820
It's going out too far on a limb.

2202
03:24:07,700 --> 03:24:13,380
So, um, we ever brought that up, because I don't think it's ever been proposed while we've been up at the day as this year.

2203
03:24:13,380 --> 03:24:17,940
So yeah, one time we did, it was 2000, no,

2204
03:24:20,320 --> 03:24:20,980
I'm sorry.

2205
03:24:23,920 --> 03:24:28,840
So, let's see our staff recommends that we hold a record open until 5 p.m. on Wednesday,

2206
03:24:29,100 --> 03:24:34,540
May 13th, raise your hand if you want to say so moved. Okay, Rob.

2207
03:24:36,980 --> 03:24:44,200
So moved, Mr. Mayor. Do we have a second? Okay, Mike is seconded it. Okay, we'll take the

2208
03:24:44,200 --> 03:24:45,880
Council member Cessma.

2209
03:24:47,040 --> 03:24:47,140
What?

2210
03:24:48,400 --> 03:24:49,480
That was Neil the second.

2211
03:24:49,820 --> 03:24:51,720
Okay, sorry, Doris, that was Neil.

2212
03:24:52,920 --> 03:24:54,320
Council member Cessma, yeah or nay?

2213
03:24:56,660 --> 03:24:57,360
Council member Harris.

2214
03:24:58,080 --> 03:24:58,220
Yeah.

2215
03:24:58,580 --> 03:24:59,520
Council member Spiegel.

2216
03:25:00,320 --> 03:25:00,560
Yeah.

2217
03:25:00,960 --> 03:25:01,920
Council member Cels.

2218
03:25:03,440 --> 03:25:03,620
Yeah.

2219
03:25:04,360 --> 03:25:05,120
Council member Wu.

2220
03:25:08,040 --> 03:25:08,340
Okay.

2221
03:25:09,000 --> 03:25:10,840
We will move to the

2222
03:25:10,840 --> 03:25:13,640
you'll public hearing Tony take it away.

2223
03:25:14,040 --> 03:25:15,820
And now this one's actually ref you, so.

2224
03:25:16,160 --> 03:25:17,070
Okay, ref you.

2225
03:25:17,720 --> 03:25:18,740
Well, thank you, Miss Smith.

2226
03:25:19,580 --> 03:25:21,780
Well, post one to a state law.

2227
03:25:22,100 --> 03:25:25,760
Look at governments are required to hold a public hearing.

2228
03:25:26,740 --> 03:25:29,720
If they are maintaining a quality test rate,

2229
03:25:30,080 --> 03:25:32,280
we'll lead to an increase in revenues.

2230
03:25:33,360 --> 03:25:38,110
If we maintain the two points point two six two,

2231
03:25:38,110 --> 03:25:48,250
up $100 of a set value property tax rate, property tax revenues will increase by 1.5%.

2232
03:25:48,250 --> 03:25:55,450
To collect the same amount of property tax revenue as last year, which is FY 2020, the city

2233
03:25:55,450 --> 03:26:05,130
would need to reduce a tax rate, though 0.2582, the constant year rate per $100 of a set

2234
03:26:06,130 --> 03:26:15,190
However, we are requesting a web proposing that a city maintains its current tax of .262 of

2235
03:26:15,190 --> 03:26:21,130
every hundred dollars of our sales value. The public hearing was introduced on March 16th

2236
03:26:22,050 --> 03:26:29,250
and advertised that according to said law on April 2nd to be head today. Our staff requires

2237
03:26:29,250 --> 03:26:36,490
that mayor and city council vote to hold the record open until Wednesday, May 13th at 5

2238
03:26:36,490 --> 03:26:43,830
here under the five Republic of the proposed task rate of 2.6 to power $100 assets value

2239
03:26:43,830 --> 03:26:49,750
will be voted on during the May and Council meeting on June 1st.

2240
03:26:50,050 --> 03:26:50,970
Thank you.

2241
03:26:51,090 --> 03:26:51,850
Thank you, Raffee.

2242
03:26:52,010 --> 03:26:55,130
We do not have any speakers signed up to speak on the topic.

2243
03:26:55,230 --> 03:26:57,350
Do we have any questions or comments from the council?

2244
03:26:59,170 --> 03:27:28,370
not seeing any okay. I don't have that page in front of you. I'm assuming that the recommendation is also May 13th is that correct? Yes. Okay. Mike, I said you're raising your hand. Yeah, I was going to move. Are you going to move week? Okay. So staff recommends we all the 15th 2020 and I would comment then when we raise the tax by a nickel in 2009 we were still number 19 out of the

2245
03:27:28,370 --> 03:27:36,930
out of the top 20 cities or municipal governments in the state of Maryland, so we weren't anywhere near the highest tax rate.

2246
03:27:37,230 --> 03:27:39,790
We're still below us for any of the big cities in Maryland.

2247
03:27:41,590 --> 03:27:44,430
Neil, do you have your seconding it?

2248
03:27:44,710 --> 03:27:46,050
We'd like to second the motion.

2249
03:27:46,850 --> 03:27:51,150
Okay, Dan, all those in favor will say, I'll call the Royal Council Member Sessma.

2250
03:27:51,310 --> 03:27:51,570
Why?

2251
03:27:52,210 --> 03:27:52,950
Council Member Harris.

2252
03:27:53,610 --> 03:27:53,810
All right.

2253
03:27:54,150 --> 03:27:55,310
Council Member Spiegel.

2254
03:27:55,690 --> 03:27:56,270
All right.

2255
03:27:56,270 --> 03:27:58,090
Council Member Sales.

2256
03:27:59,130 --> 03:27:59,370
Aye.

2257
03:27:59,810 --> 03:28:00,750
Council Member Wu.

2258
03:28:01,530 --> 03:28:01,550
Yay.

2259
03:28:02,850 --> 03:28:03,290
Okay.

2260
03:28:05,410 --> 03:28:06,070
Thank you for that.

2261
03:28:06,190 --> 03:28:09,130
We appreciate you staying in this late with us.

2262
03:28:09,390 --> 03:28:11,310
We're going to move on from the Mayor Council.

2263
03:28:11,530 --> 03:28:13,550
And we're going to start with Council Member Wu.

2264
03:28:16,410 --> 03:28:17,030
Thanks, Mr. Mayor.

2265
03:28:17,110 --> 03:28:18,690
I'm going to keep this exceedingly short.

2266
03:28:19,770 --> 03:28:20,570
Stay home, everybody.

2267
03:28:21,010 --> 03:28:21,690
Stay safe.

2268
03:28:22,350 --> 03:28:22,830
And that is all.

2269
03:28:23,330 --> 03:28:23,670
Okay.

2270
03:28:23,970 --> 03:28:24,630
Well, then we will.

2271
03:28:24,630 --> 03:28:25,250
Thanks, Rob.

2272
03:28:25,390 --> 03:28:27,010
We will move on to Council Member Sales.

2273
03:28:30,780 --> 03:28:39,800
Thank you, Mayor, so I will second what Rob has said, please stay home, stay healthy.

2274
03:28:41,080 --> 03:28:46,880
Don't forget to fill out the census if you're at home and you have not completed it yet.

2275
03:28:47,280 --> 03:28:56,120
I think only 50% of the census takers have completed their census and only takes 10 minutes.

2276
03:28:56,120 --> 03:29:04,540
I also like to remind everyone that the April primary has been delayed until June 2nd.

2277
03:29:04,540 --> 03:29:13,240
Please make sure that you are registered to vote and your registration is up to date since we'll be doing vote by nails this year.

2278
03:29:15,140 --> 03:29:18,040
And please stay tuned to our website.

2279
03:29:18,320 --> 03:29:24,120
It's updated regularly with updates about resources, regarding unemployment benefits,

2280
03:29:24,120 --> 03:29:29,480
is nonprofit and business grants through the city,

2281
03:29:29,640 --> 03:29:33,880
I mean through the city state and the county.

2282
03:29:34,460 --> 03:29:36,880
So I know that money is running low,

2283
03:29:37,140 --> 03:29:41,360
but please be sure to stay tuned to our website

2284
03:29:41,360 --> 03:29:45,040
for updates and always reach out to our amazing staff

2285
03:29:45,040 --> 03:29:49,420
if you don't find something that you're looking for

2286
03:29:49,420 --> 03:29:50,220
in our website.

2287
03:29:50,840 --> 03:29:52,720
And thank you all for your patience

2288
03:29:52,720 --> 03:29:55,000
during the difficult time, take care.

2289
03:29:55,340 --> 03:29:55,960
Thank you, Lorian.

2290
03:29:56,000 --> 03:29:57,780
We'll go to Council Member Spiegel.

2291
03:29:59,660 --> 03:29:59,960
Thank you, Mayor.

2292
03:30:00,000 --> 03:30:07,480
The delivery workers, the postal workers, food workers, grocery clerks, all those volunteers, so are helping people in need.

2293
03:30:08,060 --> 03:30:16,540
And our businesses and our nonprofits that have really been stepping up, and all of our city workers who continue to deliver critical services in these trying times.

2294
03:30:17,280 --> 03:30:28,520
Everybody please do what you can to support them, whether it's with symbolic acts of thanks, or by safely volunteering your own time, or donating to the many good causes out there,

2295
03:30:28,520 --> 03:30:34,660
or supporting businesses by ordering delivery or carry out or just by staying home to keep yourself

2296
03:30:34,660 --> 03:30:40,520
and others safe. I also want to give a shout out to all the teachers and all the parents who are

2297
03:30:40,520 --> 03:30:45,720
working hard to continue caring for and educating our kids at home while still trying to make

2298
03:30:45,720 --> 03:30:54,120
ends meet and stay sane. As a reminder, face masks are now required in Maryland by executive order

2299
03:30:54,120 --> 03:31:00,420
the governor, if he go out to any stores or businesses or offices, and I want to thank the governor

2300
03:31:00,420 --> 03:31:06,940
for his strong leadership in this crisis. As President of the Maryland Municipal League,

2301
03:31:07,360 --> 03:31:11,860
I certainly do not anticipate having to leave the league during a crisis like this, but

2302
03:31:11,860 --> 03:31:18,300
I want to just give a shout out to the League staff and the leadership in members, mayors and council

2303
03:31:18,300 --> 03:31:24,580
members and other municipal officials from around the state who've really been stepping up

2304
03:31:24,580 --> 03:31:33,580
with creativity, with compassion, and the league itself has been really working hard to provide regular

2305
03:31:33,580 --> 03:31:38,900
updates to our members, to compile resources and guidance, and to really serve as a clearinghouse

2306
03:31:38,900 --> 03:31:44,120
of information for all of the cities and towns of Maryland. Like the City Council, the

2307
03:31:44,120 --> 03:31:49,240
Municipal League has been holding virtual meetings, and has a virtual chat room where mayors

2308
03:31:49,240 --> 03:31:55,160
and council members can exchange ideas and questions, and the very well-known, if I were

2309
03:31:55,160 --> 03:32:00,560
mayors, essay contest that is sponsored by the Maryland Municipal League, and in which

2310
03:32:00,560 --> 03:32:08,680
Gatorsburg actively participates each year has been reimagined, consistent with our theme

2311
03:32:08,680 --> 03:32:12,000
of reimagining tomorrow, which has proven prescience.

2312
03:32:13,460 --> 03:32:16,740
It's been reimagined as an online learning module

2313
03:32:17,320 --> 03:32:20,280
that parents and teachers can use as content

2314
03:32:20,830 --> 03:32:23,240
as we're doing remote and virtual learning.

2315
03:32:24,180 --> 03:32:26,400
So I would encourage folks, particularly teachers

2316
03:32:26,850 --> 03:32:29,820
to check out the Maryland Municipal League website

2317
03:32:29,820 --> 03:32:34,640
at MD Municipal.org to learn more about how they might

2318
03:32:34,640 --> 03:32:40,460
able to use this free online learning module for third, fourth, and fifth graders while

2319
03:32:40,460 --> 03:32:43,800
they're putting together their remote learning curriculums.

2320
03:32:44,440 --> 03:32:48,760
Laurie Anne already talked about encouraging folks to check out the city's website for resources.

2321
03:32:49,680 --> 03:32:51,120
I just will echo that.

2322
03:32:51,120 --> 03:32:52,420
That is updated regularly.

2323
03:32:53,880 --> 03:33:00,540
And I just want to remind everyone that this week are the days, the official days of remembrance

2324
03:33:00,540 --> 03:33:07,600
in the United States to commemorate the Holocaust and tomorrow is Yomhashallah, the official

2325
03:33:07,600 --> 03:33:15,580
day of remembrance for the Holocaust, particularly important as we're seeing a rise in anti-Semitic

2326
03:33:15,580 --> 03:33:24,320
hate speech and crimes in protests where people are carrying signs, blaming Jews for COVID-19.

2327
03:33:24,980 --> 03:33:30,540
These are exceptions, not, you know, not the norm, but we still need to remain

2328
03:33:30,540 --> 03:33:35,120
ever vigilant that people don't use these trying time to

2329
03:33:35,120 --> 03:33:41,940
an opportunity to continue to grow in the hate and

2330
03:33:41,940 --> 03:33:45,660
discriminatory acts and speech, and of course with respect to the Holocaust

2331
03:33:45,660 --> 03:33:47,260
we need to never forget.

2332
03:33:47,780 --> 03:33:48,460
That's all I've got.

2333
03:33:48,520 --> 03:33:49,280
Thank you.

2334
03:33:50,700 --> 03:33:51,400
Thank you, Ryan.

2335
03:33:51,540 --> 03:33:52,760
We'll go to Neil.

2336
03:33:53,700 --> 03:33:57,460
Thank you Mayor and thank you everyone for your comments.

2337
03:33:58,680 --> 03:34:07,800
You know, I'm sure that when Tony agreed to stay on for a few extra months he didn't quite realize what he was stepping into.

2338
03:34:08,320 --> 03:34:19,540
But I want to thank Tony for not only for stepping up and proactively dealing with this crisis situation from a budget point of view as well as from the city's point of view.

2339
03:34:19,540 --> 03:34:22,480
But for all he's done in his tenure in the city,

2340
03:34:22,700 --> 03:34:25,580
and I've been on the council now for about five and a half years,

2341
03:34:26,500 --> 03:34:31,160
and Tony has always been someone who has been a steady force

2342
03:34:31,160 --> 03:34:36,440
at the helm and someone that you can talk to and bounce ideas

2343
03:34:36,440 --> 03:34:41,240
off of and share thoughts and has been a fountain of wisdom

2344
03:34:41,240 --> 03:34:43,080
as far as city operations are concerned.

2345
03:34:43,640 --> 03:34:45,160
So I just wanted to say this in public

2346
03:34:45,160 --> 03:34:47,600
because we don't have that many meetings left with you on board,

2347
03:34:47,600 --> 03:34:52,580
only unless you're changing your mind at this point, which is probably a slim chance.

2348
03:34:54,120 --> 03:34:59,340
On a more serious, on a different serious note, I want to comment on something that was

2349
03:34:59,340 --> 03:35:10,460
said during the public comment section early, where it was discussed, somewhat accused

2350
03:35:10,460 --> 03:35:13,060
It's a totally, if that's actually a word,

2351
03:35:15,320 --> 03:35:18,780
of the discussion a few months ago about the

2352
03:35:18,780 --> 03:35:26,980
from the Board of Supervisors of Elections in terms of the possible elimination of right

2353
03:35:26,980 --> 03:35:33,080
in candidates and the possible change of the polling place in that part of town.

2354
03:35:33,860 --> 03:35:39,680
And I want to tell you that, first of all, one of the residents of the Sabro Community

2355
03:35:39,680 --> 03:35:46,380
Dave Anderson was at the meeting, attended, listened to a whole conversation and came up to

2356
03:35:46,380 --> 03:35:47,140
us afterward.

2357
03:35:47,260 --> 03:35:51,740
In fact, I think even spoke publicly during the meeting that he was surprised that he

2358
03:35:51,740 --> 03:35:56,880
actually felt that everything was on the up and up, that some of the recommendations

2359
03:35:56,880 --> 03:36:03,060
that the Board of Supervisors and Elections were making were all based on experience and legitimate

2360
03:36:03,940 --> 03:36:05,800
concerns and recommendations.

2361
03:36:07,820 --> 03:36:14,140
I know, speaking for myself and I believe for my colleagues, competition is healthy and we're

2362
03:36:14,140 --> 03:36:18,600
happier when there's a healthy election campaign with a number of people running.

2363
03:36:19,140 --> 03:36:26,800
It was just felt that it works better when everyone's actually on the ballot and follows

2364
03:36:26,800 --> 03:36:29,600
the rules and qualifies to be on the ballot.

2365
03:36:30,720 --> 03:36:43,340
And that's why the discussion went in that direction as a recommendation from the board that right in candidates in the city were probably not a good idea and that's actually pretty common in the at least in this state.

2366
03:36:43,880 --> 03:36:48,440
And in terms of moving the polling place, it was just a discussion in terms of efficiency.

2367
03:36:48,440 --> 03:36:52,780
I mean, none of our polling places are busy on election dates, sadly.

2368
03:36:53,020 --> 03:36:57,820
It would be nice if they were busier and it's hard to get volunteers, it's hard to get

2369
03:36:57,820 --> 03:36:58,640
election judges.

2370
03:36:59,700 --> 03:37:04,220
So there's been some discussion of ways to make that process more efficient, and that's

2371
03:37:04,220 --> 03:37:08,860
really what was being looked at in terms of other possible options for polling places.

2372
03:37:09,220 --> 03:37:17,000
So I know that people are suspicious, and I know that there's a bit of an atmosphere, but

2373
03:37:17,000 --> 03:37:23,420
this is really very sincerely it's not aimed in any particular direction other than making our

2374
03:37:23,420 --> 03:37:27,700
election process work better. I just wanted to put that out there for those who weren't

2375
03:37:27,700 --> 03:37:32,460
at the meeting. Like I said, the person who wasn't the meeting came away feeling very differently.

2376
03:37:33,360 --> 03:37:37,760
All right, thank you for your time. I know we have a lot more to do, so I won't go on any longer.

2377
03:37:39,060 --> 03:37:40,460
Thank you, Neil. Mike.

2378
03:37:41,520 --> 03:37:46,780
Well again, I want to tell everybody to be safe out there. Be careful. Stay at home.

2379
03:37:47,000 --> 03:37:55,160
Wash your hands. Keep your distance. We're all in this together. We need to flatten the curve, but we're not out of the woods yet.

2380
03:37:56,080 --> 03:38:10,100
So it's most important that we do our part. And I want to call out and acknowledge the great work that our governor has been doing. It might be a surprise to hear for some of you to hear me say something like that.

2381
03:38:10,100 --> 03:38:15,400
about Governor Hogan but he's been quite an impressive leader through all of this and I think he really

2382
03:38:15,400 --> 03:38:23,620
recognizes the urgency of our emergency and the critical nature of it and I don't think I think that

2383
03:38:23,620 --> 03:38:31,820
he's made the right moves including at times being critical of leadership at the federal level when

2384
03:38:31,820 --> 03:38:36,140
it hasn't been there when it hasn't been consistent or where it hasn't been well fought out.

2385
03:38:36,140 --> 03:38:38,820
So one again, thank the governor for that.

2386
03:38:39,140 --> 03:38:42,580
And then the other person that I think I want to call out

2387
03:38:42,580 --> 03:38:44,240
is our own Ryan Spiegel.

2388
03:38:44,640 --> 03:38:46,920
President of the Maryland Municipal League,

2389
03:38:46,920 --> 03:38:49,460
I can't think of someone who would have been a anyone.

2390
03:38:50,160 --> 03:38:52,580
And I know a lot of city officials in state of Maryland,

2391
03:38:52,680 --> 03:38:54,680
and I don't know anybody who would have done a better job

2392
03:38:54,680 --> 03:38:58,500
in this particular situation where we're reimagining Maryland

2393
03:38:58,500 --> 03:39:00,600
and reimagining municipal government in Maryland.

2394
03:39:01,140 --> 03:39:03,820
So Ryan's been a real leader both through the league,

2395
03:39:03,820 --> 03:39:07,680
But I think also, some of those ideas have been shared nationally.

2396
03:39:08,260 --> 03:39:10,080
So I want to thank Ryan, again, for that.

2397
03:39:12,160 --> 03:39:19,300
So as always, Kudos to our staff for their earnest work and dedication to the job.

2398
03:39:19,360 --> 03:39:21,640
I hope we're taking care of you as much as we can.

2399
03:39:21,700 --> 03:39:24,540
I hope you're taking care of yourselves and each other.

2400
03:39:25,300 --> 03:39:31,440
And then thank you to our team here, our clerk or city attorney.

2401
03:39:33,300 --> 03:39:53,520
And the IT team that have been enabled us, Brian and Andrew and some others that enabled us to have this kind of historic meeting and I think it really was a historic meeting so that's all I have for now. Again, stay safe. Everybody be well. We're all in this together. We are Gatorsburg.

2402
03:39:54,660 --> 03:39:55,840
Thank you, Mike.

2403
03:39:56,960 --> 03:40:00,800
You speak about the meeting in the past tense, but there is still more to go.

2404
03:40:02,080 --> 03:40:04,200
I will just note two items.

2405
03:40:05,120 --> 03:40:10,000
First off, to give a shout out to our multicultural affairs committee,

2406
03:40:10,300 --> 03:40:16,660
and that we have, even though it's sort of got overshadowed by a lot of other things,

2407
03:40:16,960 --> 03:40:22,880
we have dedicated April as our proclaimed April as their American heritage month

2408
03:40:22,880 --> 03:40:31,860
in the city of Gator'sburg and through social media we're continuing to put out information about

2409
03:40:31,860 --> 03:40:39,040
ways that the community can commemorate that and a quick note about the book festival while we

2410
03:40:39,040 --> 03:40:44,940
did cancel the in-person book festival that was scheduled for May 16th. Look for some announcement

2411
03:40:44,940 --> 03:40:51,340
soon from the book festival team for some virtual programming that's probably set to begin

2412
03:40:51,340 --> 03:40:56,320
over a period of several weeks around May 16th and it's good.

2413
03:40:56,340 --> 03:41:00,880
We're going to have some amazing authors just virtually instead of in person.

2414
03:41:01,500 --> 03:41:02,500
So that's coming up.

2415
03:41:02,520 --> 03:41:04,160
Next we'll go to From the City Manager.

2416
03:41:05,980 --> 03:41:07,120
Oh, I'm sorry.

2417
03:41:07,600 --> 03:41:12,780
Before we go to Tony, just to the regular announcement that next join us next week,

2418
03:41:13,600 --> 03:41:16,660
April 27th for a work session on the budget,

2419
03:41:16,660 --> 03:41:22,500
where we'll sort of get down into a deeper dive than we did this evening and then the next

2420
03:41:22,500 --> 03:41:27,720
regular meeting of the mayor and council is on May 4th. Now Tony, all yours.

2421
03:41:28,780 --> 03:41:32,000
I think I talked enough for one night and I will pass.

2422
03:41:34,240 --> 03:41:36,400
Okay. Well then we will go to economic

2423
03:41:36,400 --> 03:41:43,820
development update and I'm wondering if is Tom Watering is coming up on the screen. Thank you very

2424
03:41:43,820 --> 03:41:48,100
much time for staying with us till 11 p.m.

2425
03:41:48,800 --> 03:41:49,600
Go ahead, Tom.

2426
03:41:50,080 --> 03:41:50,980
My pleasure, Mr. Mayor.

2427
03:41:51,140 --> 03:41:53,340
And I promise not to take too much of your time,

2428
03:41:53,920 --> 03:41:56,900
as you're all well aware, the public health crisis

2429
03:41:56,900 --> 03:41:59,720
and mandated shutdown of non-essential businesses.

2430
03:42:00,440 --> 03:42:01,520
This had a crippling effect.

2431
03:42:02,000 --> 03:42:04,360
Not only in the nations economy, but here in Gafersburg,

2432
03:42:04,380 --> 03:42:06,320
as our business community hasn't been spared.

2433
03:42:07,180 --> 03:42:10,700
By the impacts, city salons, bars, theaters, fitness studios

2434
03:42:10,700 --> 03:42:13,200
are just among some of the categories of businesses

2435
03:42:13,200 --> 03:42:18,240
that have been ordered closed to help prevent the spread of the potentially fatal contagion,

2436
03:42:18,420 --> 03:42:24,600
forestry, forcing scores of proprietors to lay off staff cut overhead and figure out

2437
03:42:24,600 --> 03:42:30,200
how or if they're able to pay their rent. While we're unable to obtain city-level data,

2438
03:42:30,800 --> 03:42:36,040
first-level, first-time rather unemployment filings in the county of Skyrocketed since the onset of

2439
03:42:36,040 --> 03:42:41,260
prices, nearly 39,000 initial claims filed just since mid-March.

2440
03:42:41,980 --> 03:42:46,740
Cities hotel industry, while still legally able to operate, has been decimated honestly

2441
03:42:46,740 --> 03:42:50,580
by the precipitous decline in business leisure and other travel activity.

2442
03:42:51,540 --> 03:42:57,720
Three of the cities, 13 hotels have temporarily closed for now, while though still operating

2443
03:42:57,720 --> 03:43:01,280
a reporting occupancy is in a fraction of where they ordinarily are.

2444
03:43:01,860 --> 03:43:07,240
While it's pretty challenging to identify any real good news that's occurring in the city

2445
03:43:07,240 --> 03:43:11,920
and beyond, we are hopeful that the support systems being funded and implemented will help

2446
03:43:11,920 --> 03:43:14,220
our business community whether and survive the storm.

2447
03:43:15,000 --> 03:43:19,580
Based on interviews we've conducted with commercial property owners, many to most of them are

2448
03:43:19,580 --> 03:43:24,500
trying to work with their tenants with rent, deferral, or forbearance, even with the mandatory

2449
03:43:24,500 --> 03:43:27,200
restrictions on commercial evictions during the crisis.

2450
03:43:27,200 --> 03:43:31,240
Many of our landlords have made it clear that they would prefer to work with their tenants

2451
03:43:31,240 --> 03:43:35,540
to help them get through the crisis, then lose them and cope with high vacancies after

2452
03:43:35,540 --> 03:43:36,340
this passes.

2453
03:43:37,060 --> 03:43:41,620
In general, lenders that hope commercial debt on commercial real estate are communicating

2454
03:43:41,620 --> 03:43:46,520
with their borrowers and regulators are not currently pressuring lenders to demand payments

2455
03:43:46,520 --> 03:43:50,240
as long as the borrowers can show legitimate need, which many can.

2456
03:43:51,300 --> 03:43:55,640
Additionally, economic development staff has been regularly communicating with city businesses

2457
03:43:55,640 --> 03:44:03,060
and commercial property owners and relaying information about federal, state and county disaster assistance funding programs as they're introduced.

2458
03:44:04,320 --> 03:44:14,680
Unfortunately, due to crushing demand, many of those programs have run out of funding, and will not be accepting any new applications for support unless or until additional appropriations are approved.

2459
03:44:15,300 --> 03:44:21,660
The most recent program to run out of funding is the economic impact disaster loan or EIDL as it's commonly known.

2460
03:44:21,660 --> 03:44:27,260
would stop accepting new applications this past Friday, though applicants who have already submitted applications,

2461
03:44:27,660 --> 03:44:32,560
who will continue to be processed in a first come-first or basis. We hope and expect that

2462
03:44:32,560 --> 03:44:37,980
particularly popular programs such as PPP will be replenished in the not-too-distance future

2463
03:44:37,980 --> 03:44:43,440
until then for businesses who have a relationship with an SBA lender, they should look into an SBA

2464
03:44:43,440 --> 03:44:49,560
expressed bridge loan mow waiting on the EIDL program. The SBA is also allowing small businesses

2465
03:45:19,440 --> 03:45:29,780
lot of information. The Federal Reserve just announced it's Main Street Lending Program.

2466
03:45:29,780 --> 03:45:33,840
which will enhance support for small and mid-sized businesses that were in good financial

2467
03:45:33,840 --> 03:45:38,360
standing before the crisis by offering four-year loans to companies employing up to

2468
03:45:38,360 --> 03:45:43,180
10,000 workers and less than 2.5 billion in revenue, which is most.

2469
03:45:44,620 --> 03:45:47,860
Also, I want to mention that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, this is a pretty small grant,

2470
03:45:48,540 --> 03:45:54,020
but it's better than nothing. It's offering $5,000 to small businesses with three to 20 employees

2471
03:45:54,020 --> 03:46:03,100
In certain economically vulnerable zip codes 20877 in the city is eligible 20878 is not the site.

2472
03:46:03,360 --> 03:46:04,200
Just went live today.

2473
03:46:05,200 --> 03:46:08,320
It saves small business.com.

2474
03:46:08,940 --> 03:46:13,340
We encourage people to apply as we are sure that money will go pretty fast.

2475
03:46:13,900 --> 03:46:19,500
And finally, the Maryland Department of Commerce has a number of programs like Advantage Maryland,

2476
03:46:19,500 --> 03:46:26,140
which provides conditional loans for new businesses or business expansions and the non-profit

2477
03:46:26,140 --> 03:46:31,000
interest-free micro-bridge loan program which provides loans to non-profits to support ongoing

2478
03:46:31,000 --> 03:46:36,180
operating costs while awaiting future government grants. Also, I want to mention that Governor

2479
03:46:36,180 --> 03:46:40,920
Hogan has signed an emergency order to protect families from price gouging on everyday household

2480
03:46:40,920 --> 03:46:47,500
items and essentials. Staff has received a couple of email complaints about some city retailers

2481
03:46:47,500 --> 03:46:51,680
that they suspect you're doing that, we remind them that retailers who attempt to exploit

2482
03:46:51,680 --> 03:46:57,360
this crisis for profit, or personal gain will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

2483
03:46:57,500 --> 03:47:01,720
If anyone suspects that price gouging may be occurring, we encourage them to report these

2484
03:47:01,720 --> 03:47:07,220
instances to the attorney general office directly. As economic development staff continues to

2485
03:47:07,220 --> 03:47:11,800
communicate all available programs to city businesses, we encourage anyone who has a business

2486
03:47:11,800 --> 03:47:16,020
or knows of a local business struggling to identify programs where to complete applications

2487
03:47:16,020 --> 03:47:21,320
to reach out to myself for sharing this kind of my team directly. We'll be happy to lend a hand,

2488
03:47:22,340 --> 03:47:26,500
either by helping them ourselves or directing to the right people and our resources

2489
03:47:26,500 --> 03:47:29,880
and we're genuinely here to help them throughout this. That's all I got, Jen.

2490
03:47:30,740 --> 03:47:36,280
Thank you very much Tom. We will move on to policy discussions and we will

2491
03:47:37,500 --> 03:47:45,700
say by the time and we will invite Frank Johnson to join us to lead us in our policy discussion

2492
03:47:45,700 --> 03:47:48,760
on the amendment to chapter 90.

2493
03:47:50,040 --> 03:47:50,860
Okay, thank you.

2494
03:47:52,580 --> 03:47:54,800
I'm assuming everybody can hear me then, very good.

2495
03:47:55,220 --> 03:47:58,560
This is a policy discussion on a proposed ordinance

2496
03:47:58,560 --> 03:48:01,160
to amend chapter 19 of the city code.

2497
03:48:02,100 --> 03:48:05,600
I won't go through the entire history of everything,

2498
03:48:06,060 --> 03:48:07,920
but these were some changes recommended.

2499
03:48:08,620 --> 03:48:12,840
After the city mayor and city council approved two MOUs

2500
03:48:12,840 --> 03:48:20,580
to allow participation in the capital bike share program and the county's

2501
03:48:20,580 --> 03:48:26,240
doctors vehicle sharing demonstration program. In any event these

2502
03:48:26,240 --> 03:48:31,360
were changes initially recommended on February 3rd and public hearing

2503
03:48:31,360 --> 03:48:36,140
was held on March 2nd. Record was held open until March 22nd. The record

2504
03:48:36,140 --> 03:48:41,480
does not include any public comments as none were submitted and the initial

2505
03:48:41,480 --> 03:48:48,620
policy discussion was set for April 6 and after the crisis we are now working through, this

2506
03:48:48,620 --> 03:48:57,700
was moved to tonight. The basic proposal, I won't reintroduce all of the changes, but basically,

2507
03:48:58,360 --> 03:49:07,000
section 19-4, there are a couple of updates, but primarily focuses on the use of e-bikes and

2508
03:49:07,000 --> 03:49:09,800
users and imposing some reasonable limits.

2509
03:49:11,580 --> 03:49:15,300
And secondly, Section 195 deals with parking

2510
03:49:15,300 --> 03:49:17,000
or where they're going to be left.

2511
03:49:17,460 --> 03:49:19,560
And what are some restrictions there?

2512
03:49:21,240 --> 03:49:24,540
There have been some changes that I want to highlight

2513
03:49:24,540 --> 03:49:28,180
in what is now being proposed based on comments

2514
03:49:28,180 --> 03:49:29,920
and discussion at the public hearing.

2515
03:49:30,400 --> 03:49:32,840
And we were actually pleased to be able,

2516
03:49:32,840 --> 03:49:39,900
believe to address the concerns based on without having to say, well, we've got to go back

2517
03:49:39,900 --> 03:49:45,960
to a public hearing because that was some of the discussion at the time. Section 194,

2518
03:49:46,600 --> 03:49:53,160
Subsection A, the definition of subway, segway has been clarified, which was suggested.

2519
03:49:54,040 --> 03:49:58,760
Subsection B now does include, which was proposed, a subsection

2520
03:50:00,980 --> 03:50:08,820
as a limit and unsafe using either one of these items in an unsafe manner or unreasonable

2521
03:50:08,820 --> 03:50:17,220
rates of speed also does have a instead of just an overall 10 mile an hour limit, allowing

2522
03:50:17,220 --> 03:50:23,280
the limit overall of 20 miles an hour or 10 when pedestrians are present.

2523
03:50:25,220 --> 03:50:28,540
Third, or minor clarification to the helmet requirement,

2524
03:50:28,740 --> 03:50:34,520
basically to make sure that we're referring to an ASTM compliant helmet.

2525
03:50:36,400 --> 03:50:48,020
And fourth, there was a suggestion that we recount the limitation on passengers or other persons

2526
03:50:48,020 --> 03:50:56,780
in addition to the operator in the draft before you. Subsection B7 and this is of

2527
03:50:56,780 --> 03:51:04,060
194 does say that. It was pointed out that if we leave that if you decide to leave it in that

2528
03:51:04,060 --> 03:51:13,860
way, that would potentially eliminate a child seed or a seed for a kid or even perhaps a built-in

2529
03:51:13,860 --> 03:51:15,580
or a task seating for a passenger.

2530
03:51:16,680 --> 03:51:22,220
So it would be suggested that perhaps to avoid that

2531
03:51:22,220 --> 03:51:25,760
what I would presume would be an unintended result

2532
03:51:25,760 --> 03:51:30,920
to add to Subsection 7 where it says that

2533
03:51:30,920 --> 03:51:34,240
may not be operated with a passenger or any other person

2534
03:51:34,240 --> 03:51:37,260
in addition to the operator comma,

2535
03:51:37,720 --> 03:51:42,960
except those using designed or attached passenger seating

2536
03:51:42,960 --> 03:51:49,360
including a task-seeding for children, which is compliant with safety and

2537
03:51:49,360 --> 03:51:50,940
manufacturer standards.

2538
03:51:53,140 --> 03:51:56,740
The sense there would be, it has to be safe, it can't be

2539
03:51:56,740 --> 03:52:06,840
something that violates the basic manufacturer standards. The changes to,

2540
03:52:09,460 --> 03:52:09,820
excuse me,

2541
03:52:09,820 --> 03:52:17,880
I just did a bit to refer to parking restrictions rather than prohibitions and secondly,

2542
03:52:19,280 --> 03:52:26,820
subsection b's been changed. There was a suggestion I to indicate where doctors vehicles

2543
03:52:26,820 --> 03:52:33,240
could be parked. So this now does specify the can be parked and standing upright position

2544
03:52:33,240 --> 03:52:39,800
in areas which are subject to a restriction or prohibition or designated areas or in

2545
03:52:39,800 --> 03:52:47,560
the operators on private property or on bicycle stands or certainly private property with

2546
03:52:47,560 --> 03:52:59,300
the owner's permission. And then there is also in a suggested addition to for enforcement

2547
03:52:59,910 --> 03:53:07,060
to provide notice to vendors in the opportunity for that vendor to retrieve the doctors

2548
03:53:07,060 --> 03:53:13,460
vehicles, and that's partly based on the fact that these vehicles may well be owned by vendors.

2549
03:53:14,080 --> 03:53:19,400
And since we're talking about these two MOUs with the county, that was a suggestion from

2550
03:53:19,400 --> 03:53:19,840
the county.

2551
03:53:20,020 --> 03:53:21,040
But those are the changes.

2552
03:53:21,560 --> 03:53:32,800
Again, from the draft you have, the one change is to subject section 19 for subsection B7, just

2553
03:53:32,800 --> 03:53:37,160
to specify that we're not saying you can't have a child seat there.

2554
03:53:40,050 --> 03:53:43,770
And these changes of course can be adopted in part or entirely.

2555
03:53:44,930 --> 03:53:50,590
We would recommend with the change to subsection 194 B7.

2556
03:53:51,470 --> 03:53:57,730
And this the effective date here would be in 20 days, which unless I'm incorrect in my calculation

2557
03:53:57,730 --> 03:54:00,330
would be May 11th, 2020.

2558
03:54:00,910 --> 03:54:06,570
I'm certainly happy to answer any questions or look at anything else.

2559
03:54:06,590 --> 03:54:07,410
Thank you, Frank.

2560
03:54:07,650 --> 03:54:08,930
I saw Mike's hand up.

2561
03:54:09,270 --> 03:54:10,310
Mike, go ahead.

2562
03:54:10,610 --> 03:54:11,150
Mike, you're muted.

2563
03:54:13,450 --> 03:54:13,610
Okay.

2564
03:54:13,870 --> 03:54:14,170
Sorry.

2565
03:54:15,030 --> 03:54:16,110
I had to find my cursor.

2566
03:54:17,290 --> 03:54:19,590
You know, we've talked about this at Nazium.

2567
03:54:19,750 --> 03:54:23,150
I think we agreed last time that we should go ahead and move forward this.

2568
03:54:23,370 --> 03:54:26,270
And even though there might be some areas that we wanted to clarify later.

2569
03:54:26,270 --> 03:54:37,330
I like Frank's addition to B-7 related to passengers and what might be what we would consider

2570
03:54:37,330 --> 03:54:42,030
a legal modification that would allow carrying children or somebody else.

2571
03:54:44,110 --> 03:54:53,170
Based on that, in our prior discussion, there are differences even in terms of the speed of these bikes on a on a sidewalk.

2572
03:54:54,130 --> 03:54:59,530
you know, I certainly expect that we're going to be revisiting this after our experiment

2573
03:54:59,530 --> 03:55:06,950
begins with the Dockless and Bikeshare bikes. So anyway, I was going to go ahead and move

2574
03:55:06,950 --> 03:55:16,610
this with the amendment to what was it B7, 19, 19, four B7.

2575
03:55:19,240 --> 03:55:21,120
Okay, so Rob's hand up first.

2576
03:55:21,560 --> 03:55:26,680
Yeah, thanks, Mr. Mayor. I'll second it and thank you, Frank, you know, thank you.

2577
03:55:26,920 --> 03:55:33,420
I caught the B7 issue as I was thinking about Neil writing his bike around the back.

2578
03:55:33,900 --> 03:55:36,660
And I thought he would be very upset if we made that conduct illegal.

2579
03:55:37,200 --> 03:55:42,040
So I appreciate the quick response and rewarding that. I agree with it and I'll second it.

2580
03:55:42,040 --> 03:55:43,760
Okay, I did see Neil's hand up.

2581
03:55:43,940 --> 03:55:45,420
Neil, what did you want to add? Anything more?

2582
03:55:45,460 --> 03:55:49,120
You're going to say the same thing. First of all, I didn't catch in previous drafts.

2583
03:55:49,120 --> 03:55:57,320
the fact that child seats would be potentially an issue. And as Rob said, I love driving around the

2584
03:55:57,320 --> 03:56:03,780
city with my son on the bike with me and it's on a seat that has been designed to carry a large

2585
03:56:03,780 --> 03:56:09,920
child. Also, I think your change to the language of the speed limit on sidewalks is a great

2586
03:56:09,920 --> 03:56:15,300
is a great move forward. You know, if there's no one else on the sidewalk 20 miles an hour,

2587
03:56:15,300 --> 03:56:19,540
which is what these bikes are going to be limited to is very, very reasonable.

2588
03:56:20,520 --> 03:56:28,100
And if there are pedestrians around, I'm certainly in favor of the fact that 20 miles

2589
03:56:28,100 --> 03:56:33,960
an hour is too much, so that's, I think that's a great change and I support the new language.

2590
03:56:35,280 --> 03:56:38,080
Any other comments before we go to call the roll?

2591
03:56:39,780 --> 03:56:41,800
Okay, not seeing any, we have a motion.

2592
03:56:41,940 --> 03:56:42,640
We have a second.

2593
03:56:42,640 --> 03:56:44,480
and all those in favor, please say aye.

2594
03:56:44,740 --> 03:56:45,660
Council member Cessva.

2595
03:56:46,780 --> 03:56:47,620
Council member Harris.

2596
03:56:48,880 --> 03:56:49,740
Council member Spiegel.

2597
03:56:50,600 --> 03:56:50,620
Aye.

2598
03:56:51,120 --> 03:56:51,920
Council member Cels.

2599
03:56:53,380 --> 03:56:53,640
Aye.

2600
03:56:54,240 --> 03:56:55,080
Council member Wu.

2601
03:56:56,240 --> 03:56:57,960
OK, carries unanimously.

2602
03:56:59,280 --> 03:57:04,220
Next, we have staff guidance and Chris Berger, God bless.

2603
03:57:04,300 --> 03:57:05,420
Thank you, Frank, by the way.

2604
03:57:05,660 --> 03:57:06,420
Thank you, Dennis.

2605
03:57:09,040 --> 03:57:10,200
Chris Berger, God bless you.

2606
03:57:10,340 --> 03:57:11,200
You're still here.

2607
03:57:12,980 --> 03:57:19,940
And this is just a request to extend the record for the STP for the CPSC Park.

2608
03:57:19,980 --> 03:57:20,780
Take it away.

2609
03:57:21,820 --> 03:57:27,660
Yeah, the Planning Commission will schedule to provide a recommendation on STPA-275-2019

2610
03:57:27,660 --> 03:57:29,500
to the mayor and city council.

2611
03:57:29,760 --> 03:57:34,100
It is April 1 meeting, but the Planning Commission's meeting was cancelled because of the pandemic.

2612
03:57:34,820 --> 03:57:39,960
The Planning Commission eventually provided its recommendation at the April 15th virtual meeting,

2613
03:57:39,960 --> 03:57:46,700
which began at 730 p.m. and the mayor and council's record closed on the same date at 5 p.m.

2614
03:57:46,740 --> 03:57:52,760
so just a few hours prior to the recommendation. So staff recommends or request that the mayor

2615
03:57:52,760 --> 03:58:00,020
and city council reopen its record for three days until 5 p.m. on Thursday, there's April 23rd

2616
03:58:00,020 --> 03:58:03,780
to allow for planning commissions recommendation and any other public comment.

2617
03:58:04,520 --> 03:58:09,280
The mayor and city council's policy discussion will be unaffected by the record reopening

2618
03:58:09,280 --> 03:58:12,400
and remains scheduled for May 4th.

2619
03:58:12,560 --> 03:58:13,800
Mike, I saw your hand.

2620
03:58:14,020 --> 03:58:14,600
Oh, move.

2621
03:58:17,080 --> 03:58:17,340
Ryan.

2622
03:58:17,900 --> 03:58:18,280
Second.

2623
03:58:18,800 --> 03:58:20,580
OK, all those of the favorite police say,

2624
03:58:20,880 --> 03:58:21,960
I count some member Sessma.

2625
03:58:22,140 --> 03:58:22,500
Right.

2626
03:58:22,780 --> 03:58:23,600
Count some member Harris.

2627
03:58:24,080 --> 03:58:24,480
All right.

2628
03:58:24,720 --> 03:58:25,660
Count some member Spiegel.

2629
03:58:26,140 --> 03:58:26,640
All right.

2630
03:58:26,820 --> 03:58:27,940
Count some members sales.

2631
03:58:28,920 --> 03:58:29,380
All right.

2632
03:58:29,680 --> 03:58:30,680
Count some member Wu.

2633
03:58:31,100 --> 03:58:31,380
All right.

2634
03:58:31,740 --> 03:58:32,540
Carries unanimously.

2635
03:58:33,480 --> 03:58:36,560
Chris can't believe you waited until 11.30 at night

2636
03:58:36,560 --> 03:58:38,840
to get that quick agenda item.

2637
03:58:38,920 --> 03:58:40,060
But thank you very much.

2638
03:58:40,060 --> 03:58:47,440
You're welcome 28. Come on 11 28. Okay, I don't want to sell it short and late. I think there's the watch and rock go.

2639
03:58:50,160 --> 03:58:53,580
Thank you Chris from the city attorney.

2640
03:58:55,490 --> 03:59:04,130
I just have one comment. I wanted to follow up on council members sales coming about the upcoming primary election.

2641
03:59:04,130 --> 03:59:09,770
I'm sure you all saw that it has changed to a vote by mail election.

2642
03:59:10,690 --> 03:59:17,290
However, the governor has decided that there will be a few voting centers open on primary

2643
03:59:17,290 --> 03:59:18,390
election day.

2644
03:59:18,790 --> 03:59:23,110
There will be four Montgomery County and we are working on the activity center being one

2645
03:59:23,110 --> 03:59:24,390
of those four.

2646
03:59:26,540 --> 03:59:27,780
Thank you for that, Lynn.

2647
03:59:28,060 --> 03:59:31,960
We look forward to updates on plans for that.

2648
03:59:32,560 --> 03:59:41,300
I got a text from Dennis that that he has nothing from in from other staff. I don't know if there's any other staff that's even still around.

2649
03:59:42,880 --> 03:59:54,020
So we are at this point. I'm just going to say thank you very much in particular to our tech team, Brian Helms, Andrew Barnes, we're not over Gomez and anybody else that that really helped facilitate this.

2650
04:00:00,000 --> 04:00:01,280
We are adjourned.