The Montgomery County Council will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 9 a.m., and the meeting will begin with three proclamation presentations. The first, presented by Council President Natali Fani-González, will recognize Veterans Day. The second, presented by Councilmember Kate Stewart, will recognize Legacy Business Month. The third, presented by Councilmember Shebra Evans, Will Jawando, Laurie-Anne Sayles and County Executive Marc Elrich, will recognize Remembrance and Reconciliation Month.
At 1:15 p.m., Councilmember Sayles will present a proclamation recognizing National Farmers Day.
More detail on each agenda item is provided below.
Each item on the Council’s Consent Calendar can be found on the Council agenda for Tuesday, Nov. 10, which is available on the Council website.
Council appointment to the Board of Appeals: Richard Melnick
Interview: The Council will conduct an interview with Richard Melnick, who is a candidate for appointment to the Board of Appeals. The Council is interviewing Mr. Melnick for consideration for reappointment to the Board of Appeals after his first full term expired in Sept. 2026. The duties of the Board of Appeals include conducting hearings 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 and deciding appeals from decisions of the Hearing Examiner on conditional uses. The board also considers and decides requests for modifications of special exceptions.
Resolution to Approve a Long-Term Solid Waste Disposal Alternative
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on one of two possible alternative solid waste disposal options. The first option supports keeping the Resource Recovery Facility (RRF) open for the long term as the County’s primary method for the disposal of solid waste. The second option supports closing the RRF and transitioning to the disposal of the County’s solid waste at out-of-county landfills. Both resolutions are found in the Council staff report.
The Council has publicly discussed alternatives to long-term solid waste disposal over the past several years with representatives of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The Council received a briefing in July 2025 from DEP representatives about a proposal for the long-hauling of County waste by truck and disposal at an out-of-County landfill. At a meeting held on July 28, the Council received a briefing on alternative recommendation for long-term solid waste disposal and at meeting held on Sept. 15, DEP representatives provided an update on these recommendations. At a meeting held on Sept. 29, the Council received an overview of the RRF operations. The Council continued its discussion on long-term solid waste disposal options at a meeting held on Oct. 27.
Unless otherwise noted, the Council will hold the following hybrid public hearings at 1:30 p.m. Residents can visit the Council website to learn about the multiple ways to provide testimony.
- Resolution to approve Supplemental Appropriation #27-29 to the FY27 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government, Department of Health and Human Services, Aging and Disability Services High-Need Medicaid Clients, $1,200,000
- Resolution to approve Supplemental Appropriation #27-30 to the FY27 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government, Department of Health and Human Services, Behavioral Health Services Preservation, $486,506
- Resolution to approve Supplemental Appropriation #27-37 to the FY27 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government, Department of Health and Human Services, Custodial Services for Emergency Shelters, $885,000
- Resolution to approve Supplemental Appropriation #27-38 to the FY27 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government, Department of Health and Human Services, Adult Only Household Shelter Services, $619,158; and Amendment to FY27 Operating Budget Resolution 20-1132, Section G, Designation of Entities for Non-Competitive Contract Award Status: Rainbow Place Shelter for Homeless Women, Inc.
- Resolution to approve Supplemental Appropriation #27-39 to the FY27 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government, Department of Health and Human Services, Care for Kids and Senior Dental Programs, $487,096
- Resolution to approve Supplemental Appropriation #27-40 to the FY27 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government, Department of Health and Human Services, Immigrant Services Corps, $220,000
- Resolution to approve Supplemental Appropriation #27-41 to the FY27 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government, Department of Health and Human Services, Lighthouse, Immigration Legal Services Program, $500,000
- Resolution to approve Supplemental Appropriation #27-43 to the FY27 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government, Community Engagement Cluster, Kids in Need of Defense, Inc., $170,000 (Source of Funds: General Fund Undesignated Reserves); and Amendment to the FY27 Operating Budget, Montgomery County Government, Resolution 20-1132, Section G, FY27 Designation of Entities for Non-Competitive Contract Award: Kids in Need of Defense, Inc.
- Bill 51-26, Streets and Roads – Public Hearing Requirements – Amendments
Public hearing and vote expected: The Council will hold a public hearing and is expected to vote on a more than $7.2 million capital budget amendment to fund construction cost increases for the Burtonsville Elementary School Replacement project. The funding is needed due to site conditions and permit delays, and to fund Charles Drew Elementary School and Spark Matsunaga Elementary School HVAC replacement.
Public hearing and vote expected: The Council will hold a public hearing and is expected to vote on a capital budget amendment to transfer more than $5.2 million in surplus funds to the Burtonsville Elementary School Replacement project for HVAC replacement and provide an additional $2 million in funding for the removal of unsuitable soils. The funding is needed due to construction cost increases and permit delays.
Resolution to approve the Imposition of Special Tax in the Viva White Oak Development District
Public hearing and vote expected: The Council will hold a public hearing and is expected to vote on a resolution to approve the imposition of a special tax in the Viva White Oak Development District. The Council approved Bill 31-26E in July 2026 for the purposes of issuing and financing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) bonds. The bill included an amended and restated Rate and Method of Apportionment (RMA). The RMA was amended to include one additional category of development that had not been previously included in the RMA. This resolution formally adopts and approves the amended and restated RMA.
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Public hearing and vote expected: The Council will hold a public hearing and is expected to vote on a $185,000 supplemental appropriation for the Clarksburg retail store refresh within the Alcohol and Beverage Services Retail Store Refresh project. The increase is needed to reflect tenant improvement assistance of $185,000 for a pilot refresh model that will allow the store to remain open for most of its usual hours, minimizing the impact on store revenue.
Public hearing and vote expected: The Council will hold a public hearing and is expected to vote on a nearly $1.2 million supplemental appropriation to fund energy-efficiency and advanced energy projects in County facilities. This increase is needed to appropriate utility incentive funds received from participating in utility payback incentive programs with third-party vendors.
Expedited Bill 29-26, Personnel and Human Resources – Eligibility for County Employment
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Expedited Bill 29-26, Personnel and Human Resources – Eligibility for County Employment (Community Trust in County Employees Act), which would alter eligibility requirements for County employment and restrict the hiring of individuals who carried out certain activities during federal employment. The purpose of Expedited Bill 29-26 would be to increase community trust in County government by restricting the County from hiring individuals who were employed by the federal government after 2025 to enforce federal immigration laws.
The lead sponsor of Expedited Bill 29-26 is Councilmember Kristin Mink. Councilmember Jawando is a cosponsor. The joint Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) and Public Safety (PS) Committee recommends enactment with amendments. Additional detail is available in the Council staff report.
Bill 35-26, Forest Conservation – Trees – Applicability, Brush
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 35-26, Forest Conservation – Trees – Applicability – Brush Management, which would clarify that the forest conservation requirements do not apply to routine vegetation maintenance in conformance with certain federal standards on agricultural land. Under current law, any person who expects to cut, clear or grade more than 5,000 square feet of forest or any champion tree must request an exemption from the forest conservation law’s requirements from the Planning Department. Bill 35-26 provides that routine vegetation maintenance performed on land used or intended for use as agriculture need not obtain a written exemption from the Planning Director if the work is performed in accordance with certain guidelines and standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The lead sponsors of Bill 35-26 are Councilmember Sayles and Council Vice President Marilyn Balcombe. Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke, Sidney Katz and Evans are cosponsors. The Transportation and Environment (TE) Committee recommends enactment with an amendment. Additional detail is available in the Council staff report.
Bill 38-26, Discriminatory Housing Practices and Early Lease Termination – Amendments
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 38-26, Discriminatory Housing Practices and Early Lease Termination, Amendments, which would prohibit discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status in the sale or rental of housing. In addition, Bill 38-26 would permit the landlord to allow early termination of a residential lease under certain circumstances. The purpose of Bill 38-26 is to expand the protected class under the County’s fair housing law to include citizenship and immigration status. A landlord or realtor would be prohibited from discriminating against an individual because the individual or their family is from another country, in an active immigration proceeding, undocumented or has an immigrant visa.
The lead sponsor of Bill 38-26 is Councilmember Mink. Councilmembers Stewart, Jawando, Evans, Luedtke and Sayles are cosponsors. The Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP) Committee recommends enactment with amendments. Additional detail is available in the Council staff report.
Bill 39-26, Montgomery County Urban Districts – Wheaton Urban District Boundaries – Amendments
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Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 39-26, Montgomery County Urban Districts – Wheaton Urban District Boundaries – Amendments, which would expand the boundaries of the Wheaton Urban District to include the Wheaton Library and Community Recreation Center and Wheaton Local Park. In addition, the expanded boundary would include the right of way along Georgia Avenue to connect these spaces to the existing urban district boundaries. A map of the proposed changes is available in the Council staff report.
The lead sponsor of Bill 39-26 is Council President Fani-González. The Economic Development (ECON) Committee recommends enactment.
Bill 40-26, Landlord-Tenant Relations – Accepted Forms of Payment
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 40-26, Landlord-Tenant Relations – Accepted Forms of Payment, which would require landlords to accept certain forms of payments for rents, security deposits, fees and other purposes. In addition, Bill 40-26 would require residential leases to include terms regarding acceptable forms of payment.
Under Maryland law, a landlord must accept certain forms of payment for the redemption of leased premises in eviction proceedings. Maryland law does not address which types of payment must be accepted for rent payments outside of the redemption context. The purpose of Bill 40-26 is to require landlords in the County to accept certain forms of payment, including money orders and certified checks, for rent and other monetary obligations under a lease.
The lead sponsor of Bill 39-26 is Council President Fani-González. Councilmembers Stewart, Sayles, Mink, Luedtke, Evan Glass, Katz, Andrew Friedson, Evans and Council Vice President Balcombe are cosponsors. The PHP Committee recommends enactment with amendments to generally require the acceptance of personal checks by landlords for rental payments, establish a mandatory timeline and contents of receipts for payments to landlords, and require landlords with fewer than four rental units in the County to provide a physical location in the County where rental payments may be made.
Bill 41-26, Landlord-Tenant Relations – Licensing Procedures and Fees – Accessory Dwelling Unit
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 41-26, Landlord-Tenant Relations – Licensing Procedures and Fees – Accessory Dwelling Unit, which would remove the owner-occupancy requirement for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and establish a fee waiver for ADUs that comply with certain affordability requirements.
Under current law, to obtain a rental license for an ADU, the principal dwelling or ADU must be the primary residence of the applicant. Bill 41-26 will remove the owner-occupancy requirement. In addition, Bill 41-26 would exempt all building permit-related fees, the annual Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) license fee and other application fees for ADUs that charge rent affordable to households earning 65 percent or less of the area median income for a period of at least 10 consecutive years, in agreement with and as determined by DHCA.
The lead sponsors are Councilmembers Friedson and Council President Fani-González. Councilmember Evans, Council Vice President Balcombe and Councilmembers Luedtke, Glass, Stewart, Katz and Sayles are cosponsors. The PHP Committee recommends enactment with amendments limiting the number of ADU rental licenses by a single owner to two, adding a reporting requirement and a technical amendment removing an application requirement for consistency.
Vote expected: The Council is expected to vote on Bill 42-26, Transient Lodging Facilities – Short-Term Residential Rental – Online Platform Compliance, which would require a short-term rental platform to verify a rental license before listing a short-term rental in the County. In addition, Bill 42-26 would require DHCA to provide an electronic system for verifying short-term rental licenses.
The bill also would prohibit a short-term rental platform from collecting or processing payment for an unlicensed rental, require online rental platforms to submit an annual report regarding rental occupancy in the County and establish penalties for noncompliance of a short-term rental platform.
The bill is needed because County law does not extend or place direct requirements on online rental platforms or booking services. Bill 42-26 seeks to strengthen short-term rental compliance requirements for online platforms. Under the County’s short-term residential rental law, a short-term rental is generally a rental of a room or dwelling for less than 30 consecutive days. The operator must obtain and renew a license annually with DHCA to maintain the rental.
The lead sponsor of Bill 42-26 is Councilmember Evans. Council President Fani-González, Councilmember Stewart, Council Vice President Balcombe and Councilmembers Mink, Sayles and Luedtke are cosponsors.
The PHP Committee recommends enactment with amendments to make the electronic verification database publicly accessible on DHCA’s website and to make the bill effective July 1, 2027, to allow additional time to onboard the electronic verification system.
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.
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