Introduction:
Vote expected:
Interview:
.
Expedited Bill 1-24, Bond Authorization
Introduction: The Council president, at the request of County Executive Elrich, will introduce Expedited Bill 1-24, Bond Authorization, and its companion resolution. The legislation is required to implement the appropriations approved in the Amended FY23-28 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Expedited Bill 1-24 would increase the County’s general obligation bond authorization by more than $2.8 million in certain public facility categories. The companion resolution consolidates the previously approved bond authorizations and increases the total authorization by the amount recommended in Expedited Bill 1-24. Additionally, the resolution allows the consolidated bond authorization to be issued, sold and delivered from time to time as one or more series of bond anticipation notes.
The lead sponsor is the Council president, at the request of the County Executive. A public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 6.
Bill 40-23, Tree Canopy and Roadside Tree Requirements – Fee Revisions
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 40-23, Tree Canopy and Roadside Tree Requirements – Fee Revisions, which would update the laws regarding the tree canopy and roadside tree work to encourage the conservation of trees in Montgomery County. This bill would adjust the fees payable to the Tree Canopy Conservation Account and the Street Tree Planting Fund. The lead sponsors of Bill 40-23 are Council President Friedson and Councilmember Glass. All other Councilmembers are cosponsors.
Under the County’s roadside tree law, a permittee who removes a tree in the County’s right of way generally must pay a fee to the Street Tree Planting Fund maintained by the Department of Transportation. Similarly, under the County’s sediment control laws, an applicant for a sediment control permit must pay a fee into the Tree Canopy Conservation Account.
The bill is needed because the current structure for each of the fees has been insufficient to reflect actual costs of tree replacement, and it does not increase with inflation. The purpose of the bill is to promote tree preservation across Montgomery County and provide for a fee structure that is commensurate with costs.
Bill 40-23 would set the fee payable to the Street Tree Planting Fund at $450 per tree, with a biannual increase based upon inflation. The bill would also set the fee payable to the Tree Canopy Conservation Account at $470 per tree, with a biannual increase based upon inflation.
The Transportation and Environment (TE) Committee unanimously recommends enactment.
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Withdrawal of Bills
The Council is scheduled to vote on a motion to withdraw Bill 34-23, County Minimum Wage – Wage Commission – Established , and Bill 35-23, County Minimum Wage – Tipped Employees , from lead sponsor Councilmember Jawando. Bills are withdrawn by a majority vote of the Council.
Interview: At 4 p.m. , the Council will conduct interviews to fill two vacant positions on the County Board of Appeals. The partial terms of Ms. Seminario-Thornton (Republican) and Mr. Sternstein (Democrat) expired in September 2023. The current members of the board include Chair John Pentecost (Democrat), Caryn Hines (Democrat), Alan Sternstein (Democrat), Richard Melnick (Unaffiliated) and Laura Seminario-Thornton (Republican).
Duties of the Board of Appeals include hearing and deciding requests for variances from development standards contained in the Zoning Ordinance; hearing appeals from certain administrative decisions rendered by County government agencies; and hearing oral arguments on and deciding appeals from decisions of the Hearing Examiner on conditional uses. The board also considers and decides requests for modifications of special exceptions.
By law, no more than three members of the board shall be from the same political party. Applicants may be registered to vote in the County as a member of any political party, or unaffiliated with any political party.
The Council meeting schedule may change from time to time. View the current Council and Committee agendas, Council staff reports and additional information on items scheduled for Council review on the Council website .
Council and committee meetings are streamed live on the Council’s web page via YouTube and on Facebook Live and can be watched on County Cable Montgomery on Xfinity/RCN 6 HD 996/1056, Fios 30, and on the CCM live stream .
Release ID: 24-010
Media Contact: 240-777-7926, 240-777-7884
For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=44607