 Wednesday, June 25, 2025
It's officially summer, and there are a number of exciting events happening in District 2 to mark on your calendar! As we continue to see record high temperatures this week, please be sure to take precautions to protect yourself from extreme heat. The County has put together a dedicated webpage with information about staying safe during extreme heat events. Keep this information handy for reference all summer long, to ensure you enjoy the events below safely!
Heritage Days
Heritage Days are this weekend, June 28th and 29th from 12-4PM. This free festival is hosted annually by Heritage Montgomery and highlights historic and cultural sites with exhibits, live music, food, demonstrations, and much more! Spend this weekend learning about the Civil War, agricultural history, the stories of local railroads and trollies, African American communities and life along the C&O Canal. Visit the Heritage Montgomery website to plan your day!
Germantown Glory
Germantown's annual Independence Day celebration is scheduled for July 4th from 7-10PM at the South Germantown Recreation Park. Live music begins at 7PM, with the fireworks show beginning at approximately 9:15PM. Lawn chairs, blankets, and coolers are welcome at the event and food vendors will be present. Alcoholic beverages and pets are not allowed. Free parking is available on-site.
Upper Montgomery VFD July 4th Celebration
The Upper Montgomery Volunteer Fire Department is hosting its annual Independence Day celebration on July 4th at the soccer fields at Hughes and Sugarland Roads. Gates open at 5PM, and parking is $10 cash per car. Stop by for live music, food trucks, and a great time! Alcohol and pets are not allowed. Call 301-972-8719 if you have questions.
Summer at the Rock
The BlackRock Center for the Arts has a great lineup of summer events, with something for everyone to enjoy! Check out an Artisans Market, join a dance party, or bring your blanket and lawn chair for a community movie night. Visit the BlackRock website for a full list of events and plan a summer to remember, all in the heart of Germantown!
Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce Upcounty Summer Taste Tour
The Upcounty is home to hundreds of amazing and unique restaurants! This summer, the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce is hosting an Upcounty Summer Taste Tour! Click the passport below to download the flip book and get started by tracking your progress. You'll receive one prize entry for each restaurant that you visit, and an extra five entries if you visit 13 restaurants in 13 weeks! Enter to win online or in-person by September 1st. Join me this summer in supporting our fabulous restaurants in the district!
A flyer advertising the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce Summer 2025 Upcounty Taste Tour. Clicking the image will take you to the chamber's website.
We may have set a record at the Council during our June 17th Council session! 11 bills and two zoning text amendments were introduced. Read about each item below.
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Expedited Bill 16-25, Personnel - Employees' Retirement System - Membership Requirements and Membership Group
- Lead sponsor: Council President at the request of the County Executive
- This legislation would make certain emergency communications managers eligible for retirement group E.
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Bill 17-25, Contracts and Procurement - General Provisions - Exemptions - Internet Access Service
- Lead sponsor: Council President at the request of the County Executive
- This legislation would exempt the acquisition of internet access service from procurement law.
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Bill 18-25, Forest Conservation - Trees
- Lead sponsor: Council President at the request of the Planning Board
- This legislation would define a solar photovoltaic facility and remove afforestation requirements for such facilities, add new categories to the priorities of forest retention, reinstate forest mitigation banks that protect existing forest, and remove significant trees from Tree Save Plan requirements.
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Expedited Bill 19-25, Noise Control - Leaf Removal Equipment - Seasonal Exemption
- Lead sponsor: Councilmember Albornoz
- Co-sponsors: Councilmembers Luedtke, Balcombe, and Katz
- This legislation would provide an exemption for landscape professionals to use gas-powered leaf blower equipment during certain months of the year and set a sunset date for a seasonal exemption.
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Expedited Bill 20-25, Economic Development Corporation - Economic Development Strategic Plan - Deadlines
- Lead sponsors: Council President Stewart and Councilmember Balcombe
- This legislation would alter due dates associated with the preparation of an economic development strategic plan.
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Bill 21-25, Taxation - Day Care and Child Care Property Tax Credit
- Lead sponsor: Council President Stewart
- Co-sponsors: Councilmembers Albornoz, Friedson, Katz, Glass, Sayles and Council Vice President Jawando
- This legislation would increase eligibility for the day care and child care property tax credit, increase the amount of the tax credit, update the terminology in accordance with state law.
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Bill 22-25, Labor Peace Agreements - Hotel Development Projects
- Lead sponsors: Councilmembers Fani-Gonzalez and Katz and Council President Stewart
- This legislation would require certain employers, as a condition of the County's economic participation in hotel development projects, to enter into labor peace agreements with labor organizations and establish minimum requirements for labor peace agreements.
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Expedited Bill 23-25, Early Care and Education Coordinating Entity
- Lead sponsors: Councilmember Albornoz and Council Vice President Jawando
- This legislation would specify the duties of Early Care and Education Coordinating Entity, clarify the membership of the Board of the Early Care and Education Coordinating Entity and alter reporting requirements of the Entity.
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Bill 24-25, Transportation Demand Management - Repeal
- Lead sponsors: Councilmembers Balcombe and Glass and Council President Stewart
- This legislation would repeal Article II of Chapter 42A of the Montgomery County Code.
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Bill 25-25, Taxation - Payment in Lieu of Taxes - Public Housing Authorities
- Lead sponsor: Councilmember Katz
- This legislation would define housing authority, expand the automatic payment in lieu of taxes for public housing authorities of qualifying housing developments, modify the procedural method for executive regulations, and make technical and stylistic changes.
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Bill 26-25, Vegetation - Invasive Plants
- Lead sponsor: Councilmember Glass
- Co-sponsors: Councilmember Luedtke and Council President Stewart
- This legislation would exempt native plants and grasses from weed removal requirements and prohibit the sale of invasive bamboo.
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Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-09, Funeral and Internment Services - Alkaline Hydrolysis
- Lead sponsor: Councilmember Fani-Gonzalez
- This ZTA would allow alkaline hydrolysis as part of the Funeral Home, Undertaker and Crematory uses.
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Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-10, Landscaping Requirements - Native Plants
- Lead sponsor: Councilmember Glass
- Co-sponsors: Council President Stewart and Councilmember Luedtke
- This ZTA will require 50% of required landscaping to use native plant species.
I had a fabulous time celebrating Juneteenth this past weekend! On Thursday, June 19th, I spent the evening at Poplar Grove Baptist Church in North Potomac for Route 28 Quince Orchard Interfaith Team's annual Juneteenth event. The following day, I recognized local heroes at the African American Living Legends Awards at the BlackRock Center for the Arts.
To round out the festivities, I spent the day at the County's annual Juneteenth celebration! Thank you to everyone who came out to this fantastic event to commemorate Juneteenth in the heart of Germantown. It was a hot and humid day, but we did not let the heat stop us from enjoying great food, music, and company. A huge shoutout to the Office of Human Rights for organizing, and to the team at the BlackRock Center for hosting yet another amazing event!
Councilmember Balcombe speaks onstage during the Juneteenth celebration at the BlackRock Center for the Arts. She is joined by her colleagues Council President Stewart, Councilmembers Friedson and Katz, and Delegate Wims.
The MD 355 Flash Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service will provide upgraded bus service along MD 355, bringing fast and reliable transit service (in dedicates lanes where feasible) to this busy corridor. In District 2, we will see this project along Frederick Road in Germantown and Clarksburg. The project will create new connections and support growth at key activity centers. To stay updated on this project, visit the MCDOT website.
MCDOT is also seeking applicants for the MD 355 Flash BRT Corridor Advisory Committee! Committee members provide valuable input and community feedback to the Department of Transportation. If you are interested in applying, visit the MCDOT website. Applications are due by July 14, 2025.
Economic Development (ECON) Committee
The Economic Development (ECON) committee met with the Public Safety (PS) committee on June 16th to discuss Bill 13-25, Licensing and Regulations Generally - Picnics, Dances, Soirees, and Other Entertainment - Amendments. I am a co-sponsor on this bill, which was introduced by Councilmembers Friedson and Luedtke. Bill 13-25 would prohibit an unlicensed party for gain or profit to which what general public is admitted with certain exceptions and establish the penalty for violation of the prohibition against said unlicensed party.
You can review our staff packet on the Council website and watch a recording of our session on the Council YouTube channel. Bill 13-25 will be taken up at full Council at a later date.
Our next ECON committee session is scheduled for July 10th. We will be discussing MCEDC's quarterly economic indicators for the first quarter of 2025.
Transportation and Environment Committee
The Transportation and Environment (TE) committee met on June 23rd to work on amendments to the Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan and to discuss the abandonment of portions of Washington Grove Lane. You can review our staff packet on the Council website and watch a recording of our session on the Council YouTube channel.
Our next meeting will be a joint session with the Planning, Housing, and Parks (PHP) committee for a briefing on Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO) Report 2025-5, Street Classification and the Master Planning Process.
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.
July 8, 2025
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1:30PM: Master Plan of Highways and Transitways (MPOHT) - 2025 Technical Update
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1:30PM: Resolution to approve the Creation of Development District and Tax Increment Financing District - White Oak
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1:30PM: Expedited Bill 16-25, Personnel - Employees’ Retirement System - Membership Requirements for Membership Group
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1:30PM: Bill 17-25, Contracts and Procurement - General Provisions - Exemptions - Internet Access Service
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1:30PM: Bill 18-25, Forest Conservation - Trees
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1:30PM: Expedited Bill 20-25, Economic Development Corporation - Economic Development Strategic Plan - Deadlines
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1:30PM: Bill 21-25, Taxation - Day Care and Child Care Property Tax Credit
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1:30PM: Bill 22-25, Labor Peace Agreements - Hotel Development Projects
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1:30PM: Bill 24-25, Transportation Demand Management - Repeal
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1:30PM: Bill 25-25, Taxation - Payments in Lieu of Taxes - Public Housing Authorities
The following County boards, committees, and commissions are seeking applicants:
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- Montgomery Planning is still seeking community feedback through its Germantown Sector Plan Amendment community questionnaire. If you live, work, or shop in Germantown, fill out the survey today.
- Keep an eye out this summer for invasive spotted lanternflies. The spotted lanternfly is a nuisance pest in residential gardens, however, it can be particularly devastating to vineyards. It is recommended to physically kill any spotted lanternflies that you find in your yard and property. Do not spray home remedies such as white vinegar or dish soap because these items can harm other plants and animals.
- If you would like to learn more about how to prepare for and safely defend your rights during encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), visit the We Have Rights website.
- June is National Immigrant Heritage Month! Join the County in celebrating the contributions of immigrants to Montgomery County and stand with immigrants!
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A flyer highlighting Montgomery County's diversity. The County is home to 35% of the state's foreign-born residents who shape its cultural and economic landscape.
- MoCoConnect is a new public safety program which enhances emergency preparedness by enabling police, fire, and public safety professionals to better assess and rapidly respond to criminal activity and emergency situations. By registering your external home security camera through the program, first responders can utilize footage captured by your system to solve crimes. Learn more and register through the MoCoConnect website.
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.
If you were forwarded this email and would like to subscribe to my newsletter, click the button below. I look forward to remaining in touch with you and serving you as your Councilmember.
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