 Wednesday, January 29, 2025
I had such a spectacular weekend celebrating Lunar New Year in the community! On Saturday, I spent the day at CCACC's annual Lunar New Year celebration at Westfield Montgomery in Bethesda. This is an event I look forward to every single year and I was honored to share in the joyous celebration! On Sunday, I attended the Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association Annual Tet Festival at Gaithersburg High School and had such a fabulous time!
The County Council celebrated Lunar New Year yesterday with a proclamation by Councilmember Mink and Council President Stewart on behalf of the entire Council. Happy Lunar New Year to all who are celebrating!
 A collage of photos from this weekend's Lunar New Year's celebrations.
This past Friday, I attended the Montgomery County Black Collective's AMBER reception, where I met Melissa Barrington of M3 Consulting Services LLC. Melissa is a participant in this year's AMBER program, a business coaching program designed to provide technical assistance, expertise, and individualized coaching to small and minority-owned businesses. The AMBER program is a phenomenal resource for our local business community and helps residents tackle the challenges that small and minority-owned businesses face.
If you are interested in becoming a part of the AMBER cohort, visit the Montgomery County Black Collective to learn more and complete an application!
 Councilmember Balcombe and Melissa Barrington at the Montgomery County Black Collective's AMBER reception.
Over the last few months, I've been hosting Breakfast with Balcombe, an informal community conversation that provides residents the opportunity to swing by a local restaurant to have a cup of coffee and a chat with me. As we make our way around District 2, I have been joined by constituents, state delegates, leaders from the local chambers of commerce, representatives from the Montgomery County Police Department, and so many more!
No RSVPs or reserved time slots are needed for Breakfast with Balcombe; simply come on by anytime between 9-11AM for an opportunity to chat.
On February 21st, I plan to be in the Darnestown and North Potomac area! A location has not yet been finalized, so keep an eye out for more information in my next newsletter. If you have suggestions for a local restaurant that might be a good venue for Breakfast with Balcombe, let me know! I am a strong supporter of small businesses, and these meetings are a great way to introduce the community to hidden gems!
If you have any questions, please let me know.
 A flyer advertising Breakfast with Balcombe, an informal community meet and greet with Councilmember Balcombe. This event will be held on Friday, February 21st from 9AM to 11AM. A location will be announced soon.
Economic Development (ECON) Committee
The Economic Development (ECON) committee met on Monday, January 27th for three follow up discussions about the FY25 budget. We looked at funding for Visit Montgomery, WorkSource Montgomery, and the Department of Permitting Services. You can watch a recording of our work session on the Council YouTube channel and can review the staff packet on the Council website.
We will be meeting again as a committee on Thursday, January 30th for three additional FY25 budget follow ups, this time to discuss the Business Center and Small Business Support Services NDA, UM3-Institute for Health Computing, and BioHub.
Transportation and Environment Committee
The Transportation and Environment (TE) committee will be meeting on Thursday, January 30th for a discussion about Executive Regulation #17-13, Building Energy Performance Standards, also known as BEPS.
As always, our staff packets will be posted on the Council website and recordings of the work sessions will be available on the Council YouTube channel.
On Monday, February 3rd, the TE committee will be meeting for a jam-packed meeting, with the following items on our agenda:
- Abandonment of a Portion of Old Georgetown Road in White Flint
- Abandonment of a Portion of Broad Street in Bethesda
- Bill 24-24, Taxation - Paper Carryout Bags and Prohibition on Plastic Carryout Bags ("Bring Your Own Bag")
- Expedited Bill 29-24, Transportation - Parking Permit for Specialized Service Providers - Established
Council Legislation
There have been several bills introduced at the Council in the last few weeks. Learn more below:
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Bill 1-25, Public Safety - Emergency Medical Services - Insurance Reimbursement - Amendments
- Sponsors: Council President at the request of the County Executive
- This legislation would amend the Emergency Medical Insurance Reimbursement Program to allow fire and rescue service personnel to ask for information related to an individual's insurance coverage for the limited purposed of providing transportation to an alternative destination or providing treatment in place.
- A public hearing is scheduled for February 11th at 1:30PM.
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PUBLIC HEARING on Bill 27-24, Animal Control - Impoundment and Disposition
- Lead sponsors: Councilmembers Katz, Luedtke, and Mink
- Co-sponsors: Councilmembers Balcombe, Glass, Jawando, Albornoz, Stewart, Sayles, Friedson
- This legislation will reduce the impounded animal control hold time, clarify the appeal rights for abandoned animals, and amend the notice requirements.
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PUBLIC HEARING on Expedited Bill 29-24, Transportation - Parking Permit for Specialized Service Providers - Established
- Sponsors: Councilmembers Stewart, Luedtke, Katz, Mink, Sayles, Balcombe, Albornoz, Fani-González, Jawando, and Friedson
- This legislation would establish a parking permit rate for specialized service providers and authorize the Department of Transportation to review eligibility criteria and administer certain parking permits in the Silver Spring area.
Upcoming Public Hearings
To testify at a Council public hearing or to submit written, audio, or video testimony, please visit the Council website or call 240-777-7803. The deadline to sign up to testify for a 1:30PM public hearing is 2PM the day prior. The deadline to sign up to testify for a 7PM public hearing is 5PM the day prior.
January 28, 2025
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1:30PM: Resolution to approve the Spending Affordability Guidelines (SAG) for the FY26 Operating Budget
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1:30PM: Supplemental Appropriation #25-40 to the FY25 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Special Education, $17,000,000
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1:30PM: Supplemental Appropriation #25-43 to the FY25 Operating Budget, Dept. of Environmental Protection, Chesapeake Bay Trust - Urban Trees Grant Award, $663,494
February 4, 2025
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1:30PM: Supplemental Appropriation #25-41 to the FY25 Operating Budget, Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, COVID-19 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Contractor Support $374,156
February 5, 2025
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1:30PM: FY26 Capital Budget, Amendments to the FY25-30 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) and the FY26-31 WSSCWater CIP
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7PM: FY26 Capital Budget, Amendments to the FY25-30 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) and the FY26-31 WSSCWater CIP
February 6, 2025
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1:30PM: FY26 Capital Budget, Amendments to the FY25-30 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) and the FY26-31 WSSCWater CIP
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7PM: FY26 Capital Budget, Amendments to the FY25-30 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) and the FY26-31 WSSCWater CIP
February 11, 2025
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1:30PM: Resolution to approve the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan 2025-2034
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1:30PM: Bill 1-25, Public Safety - Emergency Medical Services Insurance Reimbursement - Amendments
The following County boards, committees, and commissions are seeking applicants:
- Mark your calendar for an upcoming public meeting about the Clarksburg Library! The Department of General Services and Montgomery County Public Libraries are hosting a community meeting on Thursday, February 13th from 6:30-8PM at Rocky Hill Middle School to answer questions and hear from residents about their vision for the Clarksburg Library. Make your voice heard and attend this important meeting!
- Visit Montgomery is seeking community input through its Rural Montgomery Community Survey, results of which will help develop a strategy that supports tourism in the rural areas of Montgomery County. Take a moment to fill out the Visit Montgomery survey!
- Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown recently joined 11 State Attorneys General to explain that state and local law enforcement cannot be commandeered for federal immigration enforcement. You can review the press release on the Attorney General website. If you have any questions about how federal decisions may affect you, please reach out to my office.
 MCPS' Pre-K & Head Start Program is seeking donations for its winter coat drive. Please help out by donating new children's winter gear at 4910 Macon Road, Room 141 in Rockville. Coats, boots, gloves, scarves, and socks are all needed. Help out students in need and share the warmth!
 RespectFest is fast approaching! Virtual week kicks off on March 30th, and the in-person festival will be held on Sunday, April 6th from 1-4PM at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center. Click the flyer to learn more!
If you would like to get in touch with me regarding anything mentioned in this newsletter or any other concerns you may have, please email me at Councilmember.Balcombe@montgomerycountymd.gov or call my office at 240-777-7960.
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