Council President's Update: June 17, 2019

Dear Resident,

The Council is kicking into high gear once again, with several bills to be introduced at tomorrow’s meeting. These include the following:

Bill 14-19, Police – Policing Advisory Commission Established
Bill 14-19 would establish a 13-member Policing Advisory Commission, with the aim of enhancing trust and transparency between the police department and community members and identifying best practices in policing. The lead sponsor is Councilmember Hans Riemer. Councilmember Will Jawando is a cosponsor. Read more here.

Expedited Bill 15-19, Contracts and Procurement – Minority Owned Businesses – Sunset Date – Amendments
Bill 15-19 would extend the sunset date for the County’s minority-owned business purchasing program. I am the lead sponsor, at the request of the County Executive. A public hearing is scheduled for July 9 at 1:30 p.m. Read more here.

Expedited Bill 16-19, Special Capital Improvements Project – Gude Landfill Remediation
Bill 16-19 would authorize the planning, design and construction of the Gude Landfill Remediation project in the Rockville area, with the goal of providing for the remediation of low-level environmental contamination at the Gude Landfill. I am the lead sponsor, at the request of the County Executive. A public hearing is scheduled for June 25 at 1:30 p.m. Read more here.

Bill 17-19, Bond Authorization - Stormwater Management
Bill 17-19 would increase the County’s authority to issue special limited obligation bonds for stormwater management facilities or other related projects. I am the lead sponsor, at the request of the County Executive. Read more here.

Bill 18-19, Landlord Tenant Relations – Relocation Expenses
Bill 18-19 would require a landlord to make a tenant relocation payment if the tenant’s housing is condemned as unfit for human habitation and require a landlord to provide a tenant with a right of first refusal to re-occupy rental housing. The lead sponsor is Councilmember Jawando. The goal of this bill is to help improve the health and safety of tenants and to provide financial assistance when a tenant is displaced because of unfit living conditions not caused by the tenant. A public hearing is scheduled for July 16 at 1:30 p.m. Read more here.

Expedited Bill 19-19, Economic Development – Workforce Development – Amendments
Bill 19-19 would allow the Council to designate a nonprofit corporation, a public educational institution, or both, as the County’s workforce development organization. I am the lead sponsor. Councilmember Jawando is a cosponsor. The goal of this bill is to better align County resources to ensure that the County’s workforce development efforts meet the talent attraction, development and retention needs of strategic industries; meets the needs of the underemployed and unemployed; and develops efficient and effective career pathways that lead to sustainable wage jobs that support a thriving economy. A public hearing is scheduled for July 16 at 1:30 p.m. Read more here.

We also have a full Committee agenda this week. You can see which Committees are meeting, stream meetings live and find Council staff reports here. As always, you can view the Council’s agenda here and read our Council Coming Attractions for an overview of everything that’s coming up.

Save the Date

On the evening of Wednesday, June 26, the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown will be hosting our second Countywide community conversation on racial equity and social justice. (Para información sobre esta conversación comunitaria en español, haga click aquí.) You can find more information here about the work we have been doing to reach out to all of our residents in our efforts to develop an inclusive, official Racial Equity and Social Justice Policy for the County. Equity matters here and everywhere.

Thank you, and I hope you have a wonderful week.