Wednesday, September 24, 2025
We're only two days away from my second annual Back to School Block Party! This free and fun event for middle and high school students will be held on Friday, September 26th from 1-4PM at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. The block party will include a resource fair, arts activities, student performances, a soccer skills station, and free food for student participants. Students can also earn three SSL hours after completing a required survey at the event.
The Back to School Block Party will take place rain or shine! No registration is required; students can stop by anytime between 1-4PM for a fun time! Thank you to all the private partners and Montgomery County agencies who are devoting time and resources to make this event a success. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
A flyer advertising the Back to School Block Party, a free event for middle and high schools students. The event will be held on Friday, September 26th from 1-4PM at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown.
As I shared in my last newsletter, Montgomery County has installed a number of "No Turn on Red" signs over the last few months as part of the Safe Streets Act, which was enacted in 2023. This legislation prohibits right turns at red lights in designated downtown and town center areas. I've heard from many constituents about their concerns with these signs and the intersections where they have been installed. If you have specific feedback on intersections that should be re-evaluated, please send me an email with the exact location of the intersection as well as the traffic impact at that intersection. Community insight and feedback is incredibly important, and I encourage you to share your thoughts with me.
This past weekend was jam-packed with tons of fun! I spent the beginning of my day in Poolesville celebrating Poolesville Day, and ended my day with two events at the BlackRock Center for the Arts. Poolesville Day is always a delight, and this year was even more special because we officially broke ground for the Riverworks Arts Center. As you all know, I am a strong supporter of the arts, and am so glad to see Riverworks moving towards its goal of expanding arts programming across western, upper Montgomery County.
The BlackRock Center for the Arts hosted a vibrant season kick-off celebration with an artist reception put together by the Gaithersburg Germantown Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County, and a live performance by Chuchito Valdez. It was an amazing night and a fabulous way to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month!
 
A collage of photos of Councilmember Balcombe at Poolesville Day.
Oktoberfest returns to the Germantown Town Center on Saturday, October 4th from 11AM-5PM! Stop by for a the parade and costume contest, artisans market, crafts and a carnival, great food, and free performances. Oktoberfest is a fabulous celebration of Germantown's vibrance and I hope to see you there. Make sure to stop by my table to say hello and take part in a craft!
A flyer advetising Germantown Oktoberfest, which will be held in Germantown Town Center on Saturday, October 4th from 11AM-5PM.
Public safety is one of my top priorities and I know how important safety is for you and your family. Therefore, I will be hosting a Public Safety Town Hall with MCPD 5th District Commander Nicholas Picerno to discuss what we can do to strengthen safety in our community. This town hall will take place on Wednesday, October 8th from 6:30-8PM at the Upcounty Regional Services Center in Germantown. Registration is not required. If you are unable to attend, please feel free to send your questions to my office ahead of time via email. If you require ASL or Spanish language interpretation, please connect with my office by October 1st.
A flyer advertising a Public Safety Town Hall, hosted by Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe and MCPD on Wednesday, October 8th from 6:30-8PM at the Upcounty Regional Services Center in Germantown.
Economic Development (ECON) Committee
The Economic Development (ECON) committee will be meeting on Thursday, October 9th to receive a briefing on Montgomery County's retail market.
Transportation and Environment Committee
The Transportation and Environment (TE) committee met on Monday, September 22nd to receive a briefing about the Purple Line and its associated bicycle and pedestrian improvements. You can review our staff packet on the Council website and watch a recording of our committee session on demand on the Council YouTube channel.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 6th. We plan to discuss WSSCWater's spending control limits, Expedited Bill 27-25, and Bill 28-25.
Council Legislation
Learn more about the recent pieces of legislation taken up by the Council below.
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Expedited Bill 29-25, Bond Authorization
- This bill increases the County's general obligation bond authorization by $652,170,000 in certain public facility categories.
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Bill 18-25, Forest Conservation - Trees
- This bill 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.
- The legislation was enacted unanimously by the County Council.
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Bill 21-25, Taxation - Day Care and Child Care Property Tax Credit
- This bill would increase eligibility for the day care and child care property tax credit, increase the amount of the tax credit, and update terminology in accordance with state law.
- The legislation was enacted unanimously by the County Council.
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Bill 25-25, Taxation - Payments in Lieu of Taxes - Public Housing Authorities
- This bill would define 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.
- The legislation was enacted unanimously by the County Council.
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Bill 22-25, Labor Peace Agreements - Hotel Development Projects
- This bill would require 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.
- This legislation was enacted unanimously by the County Council.
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Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-08, Exemptions - Landscape Contractor
- This ZTA will allow landscape contractor in the Rural Cluster Zone who have expanded their footprint beyond what was otherwise permissible to maintain their grandfathered status if the property owner returns the total square footage of onsite operations to that which existed as of October 30, 2014. This ZTA was adopted unanimously.
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.
September 30, 2025
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1:30PM: Special Appropriation to the FY26 Operating Budget, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Clarksburg to Montgomery Village Corridor Transportation Study, $100,000
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1:30PM: Bill 28-25, Motor Vehicles and Traffic - Parking in Bikeways - Prohibited
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1:30PM: Resolution to approve Supplemental Appropriation #26-3 to the FY26 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Public Schools, System of Professional Learning Grant, $323,995
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1:30PM: Resolution to approve Supplemental Appropriation #26-7 to the FY26 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government, State’s Attorney’s Office, Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP) Competitive Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Award, $649,272
October 14, 2025
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1:30PM: Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-12, University Boulevard (UB) Overlay Zone
The following County Council appointed boards, committees, and commissions are seeking applicants:
The following County boards, committees, and commissions are seeking applicants:
- The Montgomery County Council recently voted to remove the unbuilt section of Midcounty Highway Extended from the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways. I voted against this decision, and subsequently introduced a special appropriation to fund a comprehensive study about transportation between Clarksburg and Montgomery Village. A public hearing will be held on this special appropriation on Tuesday, September 30th.
- Do you need help accessing food and food related resources? The Montgomery County Food Council has fully trained, bilingual Food Resource Specialists who can assist residents with accessing emergency food resources, food benefits like SNAP, and referrals to essential services.
- The Montgomery County Planning Board is hosting two public hearings tomorrow, September 25th, for the Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan.
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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