The Trachtenberg Office Attends the African Affairs Advisory Group Meeting

Naomi Bloch attended last night's re-scheduled meeting of the African Affairs Advisory Group meeting representing Councilmember Trachtenberg. The meeting took place at the Office of Community Partnerships located at 255 Rockville Pike.

The meeting focused on the status of the Group's efforts to ultimately establish an African Community Center. A report was presented on the work being done by the non-profit committee towards that goal.

A report was also given by Rev. Kennedy Odzafi, the Vice-Chair of the AAAG about the Latino Health Initiative and the very effective work they are doing on health issues affecting the Latino Community in Montgomery County. He suggested that it is critical to use their model to establish an African Health Initiative to address health issues that are specific to the African immigrant community in Montgomery County.

An update was given regarding the upcoming 2010 Census Count and how the African Community is doing a great job with having ads placed in publications throughout the county, particularly African-targeted publications. The Chair, Remi Duyile, reminded the group that while these are all great actions, the group must not loose sight of the ultimate goal of making sure that a total count of African residents in Montgomery County is accomplished.

Chair Duyile updated the group with her report on the Sister City project asking the group for recommendations and to be sure that the process is completely unbiased and fair as this is just the first in what will hopefully be many additional future Sister Cities to be name in the years ahead.

The African Affairs Advisory Group meets the 2nd Thursday of every month in the Office of Community Partnerships, Suite 102. For more information, click here.

Montgomery County Business Advisory Panel

The Trachtenberg Office was represented at the 11th Annual meeting of the Business Advisory Panel. The Panel is convened by the County’s Office of Finance.

The County Council of Montgomery County established the BAP in 1999 to seek the advice of industry experts in key sectors of the County’s business community concerning the current and future state of the County’s economy. The law requires that the Director of the Department of Finance convene the panel annually and relay the panel’s advice to the County Executive and the County Council.

The BAP consisted of members representing the real estate, biotechnology, academia, government and trade associations. The meeting was structured to allow participants to brief the panel on the local economic trends and to share their insights about future economic prospects in the County. The participants also discussed the Department’s economic assumptions for the next six fiscal years.

Our Chief of Staff Alan Bowser represented Councilmember Trachtenberg at the meeting.

County Economic Information and Business Advisory Panel Reports can be viewed here.

"Duchy @ the Diner" Series Begins

This windy morning was the start of our "Duchy @the Diner" series. Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg will be going out to diners throughout Montgomery County for informal chats with constituents. People were already waiting to speak with Councilmember Trachtenberg as she entered the Tastee Diner on Woodmont Avenue in Bethesda this morning. Over coffee, poached eggs and hash browns, Councilmember Trachtenberg spoke informally on issue ranging from housing for people with disabilities to micro-finance issues in developing countries. The informality of the diner setting allowed for a free flowing conversation. The residents of Bethesda and Chevy Chase dropped in and out of the diner to speak with the Councilmember. Duchy @the Diner wrapped up around 9:30 am.

Tastee Diner owner Gene Wilkes and Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg at the first "Duchy @the Diner"

Please watch for a "Duchy @the Diner" in your area. The next one will be at the Tastee Diner in Silver Spring at 8 am on Friday, March 5th.

Online System Makes It Easy to Report Potholes in Montgomery County

The aftermath of the recent record-breaking storms has produced more than mountains of snow. As anyone who has driven or ridden on area roads recently can attest -- pothole season is here. The conditions have been ideal for forming potholes – freezing temperatures at night, above freezing temperatures during the day and plenty of water from melting snow to seep into minute road surface cracks. As this daily freeze-thaw cycle expands and contracts pavement, the potholes are created.

Residents can report potholes either on the county’s website at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/potholesor call Highway Services at 240-777-6000. It is helpful to provide as precise a location as possible, including the nearest street address or cross street.

Residents are reminded that numbered roads in the County, such as Rockville Pike, Route 355 or Georgia Avenue, Route 97, are maintained by the State Highway Administration (SHA). Report potholes to SHA at http://www.roads.maryland.gov/, and then click on “Report Litter or Pothole.”

Action in Montgomery – Trachtenberg Office Attends Public Meeting

Naomi Bloch represented Councilmember Trachtenberg last evening at the Action in Montgomery’s (AIM) Public Meeting which took place at St. Martins Catholic Church, located at 201 South Frederick Avenue, in Gaithersburg.

The purpose of this gathering was to present to County Executive Leggett and the County Council AIM’s Top 4 Budget Priorities:

• Equality for all County Residents
• Universal Access to Higher Education
• Affordable Housing
• Ensure that basic needs are met for the most vulnerable in our county.

Action In Montgomery is a multi-racial, multi-faith, strictly non-partisan, County-wide citizens’ organization, rooted in local congregations and associations. AIM is affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), the oldest and largest national, congregation-based, community organizing network in the United States. Founded more than 50 years ago by Saul Alinsky, the IAF works with more than 55 community organizations like AIM across the United States, and in Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. These organizations have produced impressive results in training thousands of ethnically, culturally, and economically diverse leaders to take action on community, city, and state issues.

Action in Montgomery’s website is http://www.actioninmontgomery.org/.

Trachtenberg Office Attends Ceremony for Biotech Cooperation

The aftermath of the recent record-breaking storms has produced more than mountains of snow. As anyone who has driven or ridden on area roads recently can attest -- pothole season is here. The conditions have been ideal for forming potholes – freezing temperatures at night, above freezing temperatures during the day and plenty of water from melting snow to seep into minute road surface cracks. As this daily freeze-thaw cycle expands and contracts pavement, the potholes are created.

Residents can report potholes either on the county’s website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/potholes or call Highway Services at 240-777-6000. It is helpful to provide as precise a location as possible, including the nearest street address or cross street.

Residents are reminded that numbered roads in the County, such as Rockville Pike, Route 355 or Georgia Avenue, Route 97, are maintained by the State Highway Administration (SHA). Report potholes to SHA at www.roads.maryland.gov, and then click on “Report Litter or Pothole.”

Trachtenberg Office Attends Down County Latino Network Meeting

Wil Gutierrez from the office of Councilmember Trachtenberg attended the Down County Latino Network meeting yesterday at the Mid-County Regional Center in Wheaton.

The three topics of discussion were:

• Info Montgomery (http://www.infomontgomery.org/): A website that provides detailed information about health, educational and human service resources throughout Montgomery County.
• VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance): FREE Income Tax Preparation Assistance for low-Income (Annual income under $49,000), elderly, disabled and limited-English speaking people. For a list of VITA centers throughout Montgomery County, click here (Note: You must have Adobe Reader to view this page. To download this free reader, click here.)
• Census 2010: Households in Montgomery County will receive census questionnaires beginning March 15, 2010. The 2010 census form is one of the shortest forms in history, and asks for name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship, and whether you own or rent your home. There are 10 questions, which will take about 10 minutes to complete. Individual responses are used for statistical purposes only and all responses remain confidential. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share this information with anyone. Census data determines how more than $400 billion is allocated each year to local and state governments. The money is used for schools, roads, hospitals, senior centers and other social services in the community.
  
  The U.S. Census Bureau opened a new office in December in Rockville, which employs approximately 1,000 people in various positions, to support all field operations in Montgomery County. The Census Bureau is now recruiting for census taker positions, who will visit households that did not return a questionnaire. Interested applicants should call 240-780-3930 or go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/census.

The Trachtenberg Office Attends Affordable Housing's Roundtable: "Facing the Future: Changing Assumptions about Housing"

Councilmember Trachtenberg attended this afternoon’s Affordable Housing Conference of Montgomery County’s 6th Annual Public/Private Sector Roundtable: “Facing the Future: Changing Assumptions about Housing”, which took place at the Rockville Library.

There were two panel discussions: Panel I – Who Are We? Demographic Preconceptions vs. Reality and Panel II – Creating a New and Improved Housing Future

The discussions addressed the changing demographic makeup of Montgomery County as more minorities move into the area for job opportunities and baby boomers become senior citizens and decide to age in place, as well as the current economic realities impacting this critical area of need.

The purpose of today’s discussion was to help us rethink the way we think about affordable housing needs for all Montgomery County residents and to work together to understand and act upon the information presented to create a new and improved affordable housing future for us all.

Naomi Bloch of Councilmember Trachtenberg's staff also attended the Roundtable.

For more information: http://www.affordablehousingconference.org/.

Councilmember Trachtenberg’s Office attends Parks and Recreation Summit in Germantown

Councilmember Trachtenberg’s Office was represented at “Vision 2030,” a Montgomery County-wide Summit of community leaders, government officials and other stakeholders interested in a forward-looking agenda for the County’s parks and recreation resources.

The Summit was held at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, Maryland. The program, which was facilitated by GreenPlay, LLC, emphasized the values, vision and mission for the County’s Department of Parks and the Department of Recreation.

Among the featured speakers were Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen, Councilmember Mike Knapp, County Planning Board Chair Royce Hanson, Vice Chair Mary Wells-Harley, Director of Parks Mary Bradford, and Director of Recreation Gabe Albornoz. Our Chief of Staff Alan Bowser represented Councilmember Trachtenberg at the program.

For more information about the program, visit www.VisionMontgomery2030.org. Email your comments to Vision2030@MontgomeryParks.org.

Trachtenberg Office Tours BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown

The Trachtenberg Office toured the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. The mission of the BlackRock Center for the Arts is to inspire the community to become involved in the arts. To this end, it has several theaters - with a performance arts season featuring music, dance, and theater; an exhibition gallery; and an education program featuring classes and summer camps for children (ages three and up) and adults. Classes are also available for children with developmental disabilities. Classes include piano, creative movement, ballet/tap, hip hop, musical theater, guitar, music studies, art (painting, printmaking, paper collages, and more), and songwriting. Summer camps are half day, art exploration sessions for ages three to six, and full day for children entering grades two through eight. The older kids focus on the arts, creating a performance piece by the end of the camp.

In the early 1990s, a group of Germantown, Maryland residents began to promote the concept of an arts center that would be located within their own community. Their idea became a rallying point for Germantown's active civic leadership. Within a year, the Germantown Cultural Arts Center, Inc. (d/b/a BlackRock Center for the Arts) was founded as a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization to develop, own and manage BlackRock.

To learn more about the BlackRock Center for the Arts, visit http://www.blackrockcenter.org/.

Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) Committee Updates

The Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) Committee, Chaired by Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, met this morning and discussed the following issues:

Executives Recommended FY11-16 Capital Improvements Program and the FY11 Capital Budget for selected projects (section 7 in the Executives Recommended CIP)
For agenda item #1, the MFP Committee focused on a few projects, namely, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, asbestos abatement for the County government, environmental compliance for the County government and facility planning for the County government. In addition, the Committee discussed other general government projects within the Department of General Services. David Dise, Director of the Department of General Services, was present for this portion of the meeting.

Executive Regulation No. 23-09, Amendments to Montgomery County Personnel Regulations, Probationary Period for Noncompetitive Reappointments
For agenda item #2, the MFP Committee accepted the Executive’s proposed amendments to the Montgomery County Personnel Regulations (MCPR) to amend Section 7 of the 2001 Personnel Regulations. These amendments clarify under what circumstances an employee who receives a noncompetitive appointment must serve a probationary period.

Executive Regulation No. 28-09, Amendments to Montgomery County Personnel Regulations, Gain Sharing Program and Performance Based Pay for Employees
For agenda item #3, the MFP Committee supported the Executive’s proposed amendments to the Montgomery County Personnel Regulations (MCPR) to amend Section 10 of the 2001 Personnel Regulations. These regulations deal with the “Gain Sharing Awards Program.” Specifically, the amendment states that any decision by the Review Panel or the Chief Administrative Officer relating to the “gain sharing” program cannot be grieved or appealed.

Bill to conform to State Ethics Commission requirement
For agenda item #4, the MFP Committee discussed a bill that would amend the County ethics law to conform to a State Ethics Commission requirement and clarify and update other provisions of County law. The Committee discussed issues involving gifts to the offices of Councilmembers and financial disclosure requirements.

Bill 12-09 Ethics Ex parte Communications
For agenda item #5, the MFP Committee postponed this agenda item for discussion at a future date.

In addition to Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, Legislative Aide Laurie Edberg attended the MFP Committee meeting.

The Trachtenberg Office Attends Vision 2030 Meetings in Silver Spring

Naomi Bloch attended last night’s first public meeting of the Vision 2030, an effort undertaken by the Montgomery Parks Department and the Montgomery County Recreation Department. The project is being coordinated across both departments by GreenPlay, LLC and will take up to 18 months to complete.

This week's Vision 2030 Public Meetings will be streamed "live" from our website at: http://www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/

To find and view the meetings online, choose the "watch live / video recordings" in Planning Board Agenda section (upper left area of the blue background). Each meeting will be listed under “Live and Upcoming Events” and then added to the “Archived Videos” after the meeting is complete.

The public is being invited to make suggestions and that can be done either via attending these various public meetings or online at: http://www.visionmontgomery2030.org/

Overview of Montgomery County's Budget and Revenue Outlook for FY11

County Executive Ike Leggett and Chief Administrative Officer Tim Firestine presented an update of the County's fiscal situation for FY10-11. Joining them was OMB Director Joe Beach, Finance Director Jennifer Barrett, and their colleagues. This update set the stage for the March 15 transmittal of the Executive's recommended FYIl operating budget.

This update reflects the increasingly heavy toll that the Great Recession has taken on State and County revenues, as it has for governments nationwide.

The complete fiscal update presentation, including the latest changes in revenue and expenditure data, is found here.

To view the presentation on County Cable Montgomery Online video, click here.

Trachtenberg Office Attends Up-County Citizens Advisory Board

Last night Naomi Bloch attended a monthly meeting of the Up-County Citizens Advisory Board, which took place at the Up-County Regional Services Center, 12900 Middlebrook Road, Suite 1000 Germantown, MD 20874.

There was a presentation by the Commander Tom Didone and Officer Marcus Dixon of the 5th Police District and the 5th District Advisory Committee.

Commander Didone told us that he had established the 5th District Advisory Committee as a way to enhance regular communication between the police and the communities in the Up-County areas.

Together they presented information about their in-school teen programs; the goal of re-establishing some sort of awareness programs for elementary 5th graders; and the success of the community policing programs; the bike patrols being one of the most successful programs.

These presentations were followed by a vigorous discussion concerning the West Gaithersburg Master Plan during which Ms. Diane Jones, from the County Executive office answered questions from the Board and the citizens who where present for this discussion.

The Board will be presenting two letters, one to the County Council and County Executive with their concerns and suggestions.

The next Full Board Meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 15th at the Up-County Regional Services Center. For more information: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/upcounty

Maryland Receives $14.8 Million for Transportation Projects From Federal Recovery Act Funds that will Benefit Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties

Last week, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that Maryland will receive $14.8 million under the competitive TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant Program designated for innovative, multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional transportation projects. The TIGER application was submitted by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments on behalf of its member jurisdictions and the states of Maryland and Virginia.

The funds will be used to construct three projects benefiting Montgomery and Prince George’s counties: the Takoma Langley Transit Center, a major transit hub for Montgomery County’s Ride On bus system, and priority bus corridor enhancements along University Boulevard and Veirs Mill Road.

“These additional federal resources will help us to advance important transit options in Montgomery County,” said County Executive Ike Leggett.

The Takoma Langley Transit Center project received $12.3 million to supplement matching funds of $2.5 million each from Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and $7.3 million from WMATA’s Transportation Infrastructure Investments fund. The transit center will be located at the intersection of University Boulevard and New Hampshire Avenue, on the border of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. The eight bus stops and 11 bus routes that currently serve this location is the busiest non-Metrorail transit terminal in the region. The project will consolidate these scattered bus stops at the heavily used bus transfer point into one facility that will also serve as a station on the future Purple Line. The new facility will have bus bays, pedestrian walkways, a full canopy, restrooms, lighting and real time bus information.

TIGER funds will also provide 100 percent of project funding for two other projects: $1.26 million for
University Boulevard in both counties and $265,000 for Veirs Mill Road for priority bus corridor enhancements. These two corridors are among those identified by WMATA as having the majority of bus riders in the region. To improve speed and reliability, these corridors will be enhanced by queue jumpers, traffic transit signal priority timing, bus stop improvements and real time bus information.

TIGER funds are part of President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, designed to generate significant economic and environmental benefits and invest in America’s infrastructure, green economy and public education system. In particular, the areas served by these projects are in economically distressed areas, and the residents will be served through better connections to job centers throughout the region.

TIGER fund projects were selected based on their contribution to the economic competitiveness of the nation, improving safety and the condition of the existing transportation system, increasing quality of life, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and demonstrating strong collaboration among a broad range of participants, including the private sector.

Ride On Fares to Increase March 1; Proposed Ride On Route Changes Avoided

Montgomery County’s Ride On bus system will change its fares on March 1 to coordinate with the introduction of a new fare structure by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro). The Ride On fare changes are designed to make transfers between Metrobus and Ride On simpler and less confusing by keeping fares for the two transit systems compatible. Changes include an increase of 10 cents per trip (from $1.25 to $1.35 for fares paid with a SmartTrip® Card and from $1.35 to $1.45 for fares paid with cash or tokens).

Other fare changes that begin March 1 will:

• Increase Metrorail to Ride On transfers from 75 cents to 85 cents.

• Increase the Ride On Day Pass from $3.00 to $3.20.

• Increase the Ride On express route fare for Route 70 (Milestone in Germantown to Bethesda) from $3.00 to $3.10 with a SmartTrip® Card, and from $3.10 to $3.20 for fares paid with cash or tokens.

In addition, a change to the Call and Ride program will allow low income residents to continue to purchase two books of taxi vouchers worth $60 for as little as $5.25 in March and May, and one book in April and June.

To help close the County’s projected budget gap of more than $600 million for fiscal year 2010, the elimination of some of Ride On’s routes was proposed beginning March 1. However, additional revenues were identified, including the coordination of fare increases from Metro, so these route eliminations have been avoided for this fiscal year that ends June 30.

For more information, go to Ride On’s website at www.RideOnBus.com or contact the Transit Information Center at 240-777-RIDE (7433).

Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) Committee Concurs with Staff on CIP Issues

The Management and Fiscal Policy Committee, Chaired by Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, met this morning on the five following issues: Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) for the Integrated Justice Information System (IJIS), CIP for the Public Safety System Modernization; CIP for the Technology Modernization, CIP for the FiberNet project and the FY2010 Preliminary Cable Communications Plan. The MFP Committee concurred with Council Staff on the CIP for all the topics mentioned above and in some instances requested additional information. There was no action taken on the Preliminary Cable Communications Plan as the work session was informational in purpose.

Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) Committee Updates

The Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) Committee will meet on Monday, February 22nd at 9:30 am to discuss the Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Specifically, the Committee will review the Integrated Justice Information System (IJIS) and Public Safety Modernization. In addition, the MFP Committee will meet at 10:30 am on the same day to discuss General Government - Technology Modernization, FiberNet and the Cable Television and Communications Plan.


Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg is Chair of the Management and Fiscal Policy Committee.

February 2010 Newsletter

Click here to view my February 2010 Newsletter.

Topics in this issue, include:

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Montgomery Council Retains Ride On Bus Routes in Approving $70 Million Savings Plan
Reproductive Health Services Report
Crisis Pregnancy Center Regulation
Disability and Veteran Hiring Bill
White Flint + Gaithersburg West Master Plan Updates
Youth Town Hall
In the News
Duchy in the Community
Census 2010
Alert Montgomery
The Family Justice Center
Duchy's Recipe
Stay in Touch
Trachtenberg Staff News
Duchy's Pledge

Photos: Signing of Disability and Veteran Hiring Bill

Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg (center) speaks at the signing ceremony of Bill 46-09. She joined County Executive Isiah Leggett (left) and Councilmember Phil Andrews (right), the Bill's chief sponsor in Rockville.

County Executive Isiah Leggett (center) signs Bill 46-09 into law.

 

Trachtenberg Applauds Signing of Disability and Veteran Hiring Bill

Today, Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg celebrated the signing into law of Montgomery County Bill 46-09, which establishes a hiring preference for veterans and persons with disabilities for a vacant County merit system position if the candidate is among the highest rated candidates in a normal competitive process. The new law alters an existing hiring preference for veterans, giving the same advantage to people with disabilities. It also creates a new classification—veterans with disabilities. The signing took place this morning at the Executive Office Building on Monroe Street in Rockville. The room was packed full of leaders from the disability as well as veterans communities. As County Executive Ike Leggett signed the bill into law, the room let out a collective applause to celebrate this momentous and historic step for Montgomery County.

"The is a joyous occasion," said Trachtenberg. "I am thrilled that Bill 46-09 is signed into law for residents of Montgomery County. Now the government and residents of Montgomery County have an opportunity to benefit from the contributions and talents of all of our neighbors, regardless of a disability they might have." Councilmember Trachtenberg also related a conversation between her and her friend Stephanie, a woman with disabilities. She said that Stephanie wanted the opportunity to live just like everyone else. This Bill helps Stephanie as well as others with disabilities to have the same opportunities as well as possibilities to achieve their potential.

Bill 46-09 requires the County Executive to adopt regulations establishing and maintaining a hiring preference for certain qualified persons with disabilities who apply for an initial appointment to a County merit system position. The Council’s Management and Fiscal Policy Committee, which is chaired by Councilmember Trachtenberg, recommended amending the bill to place a veteran with a disability first in the order of hiring preference and to give a veteran without a disability and a non-veteran with a disability an equal preference. The law relies on the definition of disabled used in federal hiring programs, not the broader definition used to prevent discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The applicant must have proof of the disability, certification of job readiness, and meet all required qualifications for the position.

Among those attending the ceremony were Councilmember Phil Andrews (D Gaithersburg-Rockville), the measure’s chief sponsor, Chairman of the Commission on Veterans Affairs Bill Gray, and Chair of the Commission on People with Disabilities Mark Maxin. Legislative aide Laurie Edberg attended the ceremony with Councilmember Trachtenberg.

Long Branch Sector Plan Community Meeting

Have your say on a long-term vision for Long Branch! Tell planners what you would like to see in your community.

The Long Branch Sector Plan will explore ways to improve quality of life in the Long Branch community and create a safe, walkable community served by the proposed Purple Line stations.

Long Branch Sector Plan Community Meeting
7-9 p.m. Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Long Branch Library, 8800 Garland Avenue

Learn more: www.montgomeryplanning.org/LongBranch

Contact: MCP-LongBranch@mncppc-mc.org
301-495-4614

Trachtenberg Office Attends Western Montgomery Citizens Advisory Board Meeting

Naomi Bloch represented the Trachtenberg office at last night’s meeting of the Western Montgomery Citizens’ Advisory Board meeting which took place at the Rockville Library located at 21 Maryland Avenue in Rockville.

There was a very full agenda that included presentations from several different speakers including:

Chief Treschuk of the Rockville Police Department; Acting Commander John Hack, Montgomery County Police – 1st District Station who updated everyone on some of the most concerning trends in the county. Two issue areas of particular concern: the rise in the theft of GPS units from cars and the ongoing problem of daytime residential robberies in Potomac.

Mr. Hamid Omidvar from the Department of General Services updating us on the plans for the Circuit Court Annex as well as a general overview of the Government Core Facilities Master Plan Study.

Mr. Fred Lees, from the Department of Transportation, talked about the recently completed Rockville Pike Pedestrian Safety Audit. The primary area of focus for the audit was from Bou Road down to Randolph Road. This was because this is where the highest numbers of pedestrian accidents have been occurring. No final decisions have been made as to the extent of the final changes but Mr. Lees did say that better lighting and signage would certainly be one area that will be upgraded.

Ms. Jenny Kimball, Assistant City Manager told us about the Rockville Neighborhood Resources (RNR) Program which exists to better connect the communities and the Rockville City government. For more information about this program: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/

Finally we heard from Mr. Philip Mclaughlin from Ride On with his update about the recent concerns about eliminating bus routes. He told us that for the time being, service cuts have been averted for the FY10 budget but that it remains to be seen what future cuts there may be when the FY11 budget comes over from the County Executive on March 15th. He also talked about the challenges from the recent snow storms.

Next meeting of the Western Montgomery Citizens’ Advisory Committee (WMCAB) is March 15th and will take place at the Glen Echo Town Hall, 6106 Harvard Avenue; Glen Echo, MD 20812. For more information: www.Bethesda.citizen@montgomerycountymd.gov

Trachtenberg Office Attends February Community Outreach Forum

Wil Gutierrez from the office of Councilmember Trachtenberg gave a presentation of the various social media tools that we use to reach our residents at the February Community Outreach Forum.

The Community Outreach Forum is organized by the Office of Community Partnerships to bring together all of the County government departments and the staff responsible for outreach and public education in order to accomplish three goals: 1) coordinate outreach efforts, 2) build camaraderie among county staff, and 3) learn about best practices in outreach and related fields. Non-Profit Montgomery and other key partners in the non-profit community in Montgomery County, also attend. The Forum meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month in the Executive Office Building Auditorium from 2-4pm.

Today’s meeting topic was: Using social media to reach our residents. Apart from Mr. Gutierrez, Lee Caughron, County Cable Program Manager and Bill Delaney, Fire and Rescue Community Program Manager also gave presentations. Blogs, Facebook and Twitter were among the topics discussed. All three panelists answered many questions from the approximately 30 attendees.

Wil Gutierrez manages social media for the Tracthenberg office and edits this blog.

Trachtenberg Office Follows Land Use Issues

Councilmember Trachtenberg attended that the County Council’s recent work session on the establishment of a Commercial/Residential (CR) Zone. The CR zone is for mixed use development with respect to a blend of commercial and residential/non residential development. One of the goals of the CR zone is to create walkable communities as well as healthier lifestyles. Councilmember Trachtenberg requested specific language with respect to health and well being in a CR zone. A vote is scheduled for next Tuesday, February 23rd. Legislative Aide Laurie Edberg attended the work session.

Staff from the Trachtenberg Office also attended the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED) Committee’s meeting his week on staging for the White Flint Sector Plan. It was the Committee's seventh work session on the White Flint Sector Plan. The staging plan is guided by four principles: coordinating development with public infrastructure; promoting a sense of place; promoting balance; and ensuring fiscal responsibility. Representatives from the Planning Board had an opportunity to discuss the staging process. Legislative Aide Laurie Edberg attended the committee meeting.

Montgomery County officials are urging residents to use extreme caution when driving and walking, since visibility is still limited by large snow banks, and some sidewalks are still hidden under mounds of ice and snow

- Drivers should watch for pedestrians in the roadway, particularly at night when visibility is more difficult.  Other safety tips for drivers include:

- Slow down and obey the posted speed limit.

- Stop for pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections- it's the law

- Don't block crosswalks when stopping at intersections.

- Take extra care around schools, playgrounds, and neighborhoods.

- Always look out for pedestrians, especially before turning at a green light or making a "right turn on red."

- Obey signs, signals and markings--and never run red lights.

- Be careful when passing stopped vehicles. They might be stopping for pedestrians.

- Share the road. It is your responsibility to look out for others.

Pedestrians who have to walk in the street because there may not be an accessible sidewalk following the past week’s record-breaking snowfall should walk facing traffic so they can see the vehicles coming toward them. Other pedestrian safety tips include:

- Stay visible after dark and in bad weather with reflectors or retroreflective clothing.

- Cross the street at marked crosswalks and intersections whenever possible.

- Stop and look every time before crossing streets, even when you have the right-of-way, and especially at intersections with “right turn on red.”

- Before crossing, look left, right, then left again, and over your shoulder for turning vehicles.

- Begin crossing the street on “Walk” signals – never on a solid or flashing “Don’t Walk.”

Snow Removal Update: What to Expect This Weekend in Montgomery County

The two back-to-back blizzards in Montgomery County this week buried our area in more than three-and-one-half feet of snow, and the extreme wind conditions on Wednesday produced snow drifts of up to 16 feet in the upper part of the County. Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (DOT) has responded to this record storm by mobilizing an unprecedented 1,200 pieces of equipment for snow removal, and crews have been working non-stop for more than a week and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Here’s What DOT Has Done:
Cleared Primary and Secondary Roads Through Plowing and Snow Removal. Because of the historic amount of snow that must be cleared, DOT is conducting two different snow removal operations. In some areas, crews are plowing snow. In the more urbanized areas where there is inadequate space to pile up plowed snow, DOT is actually removing snow by loading it into dump trucks and hauling it away. This is an extremely time and resource intensive job that will take much longer than typical plowing operations.
Begun Clearing Neighborhood Streets. Many residents are understandably frustrated by the huge snowfalls and are eager to get out of their neighborhoods and resume their normal activities. Typically, it takes DOT 60 hours after a snowfall ends to clear the County’s roads of a 24-inch snowfall. Yet, just 24 hours after the end of Wednesday’s blizzard, DOT has brought primary and secondary roads to relatively good condition and is already clearing neighborhood streets.
Ensured Emergency Services are Able to Reach Residents.  DOT snow plow operators continue to escort Police, Fire and Rescue and others to ensure they have access to residents who call with an emergency.
Aided in Getting Power Restored to Residents. DOT snow plows also accompanied PEPCO repair crews to make sure they could get to areas without power.

Here’s What to Expect This Weekend:
Business District Snow Removal.  Crews will begin removing snow in the business districts in Silver Spring, Wheaton and Bethesda.
Continue Operations on Neighborhood Streets. Crews will continue to clear neighborhood streets.
Return to Remove More Snow from All Roads. Crews will go back to primary, secondary and neighborhood roads to remove additional snow.

Some Facts to Help Understand DOT’s Operations:
DOT clears more than 5,000 lane miles of road in Montgomery County.
The State Highway Administration clears all numbered roads in the County, which includes major arteries, such as Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike, Georgia Avenue, Connecticut Avenue, etc.
Major municipalities, such as Rockville and Gaithersburg, clear the roads within their jurisdictions.
DOT’s first priority in clearing roads is to remove snow from emergency routes and primary roads (main and divided highways such as Montrose Road or Norbeck Road).
Next, secondary roads are cleared, which are the main roads within neighborhoods. Residents may become understandably concerned that their street has been missed when secondary roads just a couple blocks away have been cleared and their road has not. However, all secondary roads must be cleared before any work on residential streets can begin because otherwise, residents driving out of their neighborhoods will have no access to main roads.
DOT’s policy about clearing roads is that primary and secondary roads are generally cleared to bare pavement. Neighborhood roads are not. Instead, they are made passable.

What Residents Can Do:
Be patient.
The county remains under a Snow Emergency Plan, which means there is no parking on roads designated by red and white snow emergency signs.
Give crews an opportunity to reach neighborhood streets over the next two days.
Residents may contact Highway Services at 240-777-6000 or highway@montgomerycountymd.gov if they believe their street has been missed. 

Montgomery County Government to Open on Friday; Ride On Bus Service to Operate on S Service Plan

Montgomery County Government will be open with liberal leave; essential employees must report.

Ride On bus service will operate on an S Service Plan.

Parking regulations in County garages and lots in the parking districts in Bethesda, Silver Spring, Wheaton and Montgomery Hills will remain suspended through Sunday.

Solid Waste Transfer Station will open at 7 a.m. The public drop-off areas for recyclables, household hazardous waste and trash, accessed from the Route 355 entrance, will open at 10 a.m. The Recycling Center will be closed to the public. There will be no County-operated residential trash/recycling pickup. Normal collections will resume on Monday, February 15, which is not a trash collection holiday.

County operated liquor stores will be open.

Normal operations will be in effect for all other County facilities, including public libraries and recreation centers. Mongomery County Public Libraries has announced that customers with materials due from February 5 to 13 will have their due dates extended one week. No fines will be charged for the period from February 5 through 13.

The overnight shelters at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown and the Coffield Recreation Center in Silver Spring closed at 4 p.m. today. The overnight shelter at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville will remain open. The high school is located at 250 Richard Montgomery Dr.

Update on Montgomery County Services and Activities for Thursday, February 11; Montgomery County Government Closed Except for Essential Personnel

Montgomery County Government will be closed on Thursday, except for essential personnel. 

Snow Removal Operations
Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (DOT) has increased to 1,000 the pieces of equipment they are using to plow or remove snow, and they will be clearing primary roads and emergency routes throughout the night.  

Ride On
Montgomery County’s Ride On bus service will not operate on Thursday.   For more information, go to www.RideOnBus.com.

Libraries, Recreation Centers and Liquor Stores
Libraries, recreation and community centers and liquor stores will not be open on Thursday. 

Community Use of Facilities
All activities in schools or County buildings will be cancelled on Thursday.

Solid Waste Transfer Station and Trash and Recycling Pick-Up
The County’s Solid Waste Transfer Station will be closed on Thursday.  County-provided trash and recycling collections will be cancelled Thursday.

Parking in Public Garages and Lots
Suspension of parking enforcement has been extended through Sunday in public garages and lots in downtown Silver Spring, Bethesda, Wheaton and Montgomery Hills.  Residents are urged to take advantage of this free, off-street parking so snow plows can work unhindered.  For locations of these parking facilities, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/parking.

Need for Volunteer Drivers
Volunteer drivers with four-wheel drive vehicles are needed.  To assist, please call the Volunteer Center at 240-777-2600 or email volunteer@montgomerycountymd.gov. 

Power Outages
Residents without power should call their service provider: PEPCO at 1-877-737-2662, Allegheny Power at 1-800-255-3443 or Baltimore Gas and Electric at 1-877-778-2222.  Residents who have been without power for several days are urged to re-report their outages.

The County continues to operate three shelters for residents without power.  For information about transportation to the shelters, call 240-777-6000.

Residents are urged to take precautions to prevent fires by unplugging appliances during a power outage until power has been restored. 

Emergencies 
For emergencies or to report “hot” or sparking wires, especially those across roadways, call 911.  To contact Montgomery County Police for non-emergencies, call 301-279-8000.

Downed Trees
To report downed trees in the public right-of-way or roadway, call 240-777-6000 or email highway@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Help Clear Fire Hydrants 
Residents can assist Fire and Rescue efforts by clearing fire hydrants of snow so they are visible, or marking them with broomsticks or flags.

Roof Safety
Homeowners should not attempt to clear snow off their roof.  Residents with flat roofs should watch for the warning signs of a potential roof collapse ,such as a sagging or cracking ceiling; popping, cracking or creaking sounds; or doors and/or windows that can no longer be opened or closed. Residents should evacuate their home if they notice any of these warning signs, and call 9-1-1 if their roof collapses. 

Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Residents without power should be aware that using gas or charcoal grills, propane heaters and stoves, kerosene space heaters or generators indoors can be fatal. They are a source of carbon monoxide, which can build up indoors and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Avoid using candles or outdoor grills indoors, to prevent the risk of a fire.

Check on Welfare of Neighbors
Continue to check on neighbors, especially those who live alone, are elderly or disabled.  Anyone concerned about the safety and well-being of a neighbor should call the County’s Crisis Center 240-777-4000.

For more information, go to the County’s website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov.  

Winter Storm Update from County Executive Ike Leggett -- 6 PM, Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The latest storm is beginning to wind down in Montgomery County. Many challenges lie ahead for our highway crews, public safety responders, utility crews and all others who have worked so hard through difficult conditions -- 40-plus inches of snow, power outages, and hundreds of downed trees.

Here’s the latest:

• Earlier today our road crews had to suspend operations during severe blizzard whiteout conditions. This afternoon our road crews resumed their plowing operations. They are working on the primary roadways, and then will tackle our secondary routes before turning to the 4,128 lane miles in residential neighborhoods as soon as possible after that.

• Much difficult work lies ahead of us. In some parts of the County we see snow drifts of up to16 feet. In all parts of the County expected high winds overnight will challenge our plowing efforts by blowing new and already plowed snow across roadways.

• We are receiving, through the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), 150 trucks from Pennsylvania and North Carolina and 50 more loaders. This brings our complement of equipment to about 1,000 pieces.

• Road conditions are still extremely hazardous and residents are urged to stay in their homes unless travel is absolutely necessary. That way you’ll be safer – and you will make the work of our road crews much easier.

• If you are able to get out of your home and walk about your neighborhood, please check on your neighbors, especially if you know of any frail or elderly persons in your area.

• The latest figures from PEPCO show that there remain just over 3,000 people in Montgomery County still without power. We will continue to give snowplow, tree crew, and other assistance to PEPCO as needed. Residents who are PEPCO customers are reminded that they should call 1-877-737- 2662 to report any outages.

• Also remember that for emergencies, including any downed "hot" or sparking wires especially across the roadway, call 9-1-1. The Police non-emergency number is 301-279-8000. To report snow removal problems or downed trees, call 240-777-6000 or email highway@montgomerycountymd.gov

Montgomery County's Ride On Bus System Will Not Operate on Thursday, February 11

Montgomery County's Ride On Bus system has announced it will not operate on Thursday, February 11.

Ride On is the region's third largest bus system, operating a fleet of 350 buses.

For more information, go to Ride On's website at www.RideOnBus.com.

Montgomery County Officials Warn Residents to Stay Indoors and Off Roads during Blizzard Conditions

Montgomery County officials warn residents to stay indoors today. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for Montgomery County until 7 p.m. this evening. Heavy snow and high winds with white out conditions are expected. The storm is being characterized as life threatening.

Residents are strongly urged to stay off the roads. Driving is extremely dangerous as road conditions are treacherous and visibility is virtually zero. In the event a motorist becomes stranded in their vehicle, they should remain in the vehicle and call 911.

Due to extremely hazardous driving conditions today, unless residents are experiencing a medical emergency, they should plan to shelter in place.

For more storm information check the County's website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov.

County Government Closed on Wednesday, February 10

County Suspends Ride On Bus Service at 10 p.m. (Tuesday, February 9) and Remain Closed on Wednesday, February 10 Due to Hazardous Weather Conditions; County Government Closed Wednesday, February 10 Except for Essential Personnel

Montgomery County's Ride On bus service will suspend service at 10 p.m. today (Tuesday, February 9) and will remain closed on Wednesday, February 10 due to hazardous weather conditions. For more information, go to www.RideOnBus.com.  Montgomery County government will be closed on Wednesday, February 10 except for essential personnel.

Winter Storm Update from County Executive Ike Leggett -- 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Montgomery County continues its work to deal with last weekend’s record 30-inch snowfall, tens of thousands of power outages, and hundreds of downed trees – and to address the storm now underway, which could deposit another 10-20 inches on us. 


Updates: 


• 900 pieces of equipment on the streets – up from 500 pieces used in previous storms.

• Our County road crews and contractors have completed the initial plowing of the 4,128 lane miles of neighborhood residential streets. We are taking a look at “missed street” reports and double-checking that all streets have received service. Any missed streets will receive a plow as soon as possible.

• Approximately 5,900 homes are still without power. We are working closely with PEPCO to make sure that power is restored to these residents as quickly as possible, and we are committed to continuing this support as the new storm moves in and additional outages are possible.

• For residents currently affected by power outages, a shelter remains open at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville. The County opened two additional shelters today – one in Silver Spring at the Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center, 2450 Lyttonsville Road, and another in Germantown at Seneca Valley High School, 19401 Crystal Rock Drive -- to accommodate any residents who lose power during the new storm.

• Once the new snow starts to accumulate, the County’s Snow Operations Center will gear up to send plows back to primary streets as soon as the new snow starts. Plows will begin clearing primary and arterial roads, then secondary roads, and then the 4,128 miles of neighborhood roads. 


Here is some important information. Consult the County website for updates. 


• Useful phone numbers:

Emergencies and to report “hot” or sparking wires, especially those across roadways, call 911 (do not use for plowing questions); 

Non-emergency, Police 301-279-8000; 

Snow removal problems or downed trees 240-777-6000; emailhighway@montgomerycountymd.gov;

Power outages, call your power provider: PEPCO at 1-877-737-2662, Allegheny Power at 1-800-255-3443 or Baltimore Gas and Electric at 1-877-778-2222;

Four-wheel drive volunteers 240-777-2600; email volunteer@montgomerycountymd.gov

Shelter information/transportation 240-777-6000;

Damaged mailboxes (standard boxes) report 240-777-6000; damaged non-standard mailbox, call 240-777-8920; 

Residents concerned about the safety and well-being of children, elderly individuals or adults with disabilities, call the County’s Crisis Center 240-777-4000.

• Web sites:

County plowing policies and plans (pdf). 
Streets missed by County plows, the County's snow operations web site.
General snow information, www.montgomerycountymd.gov .

• Shelters:

Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville, remains open. Transport to the center is being handled by volunteers with four-wheel drive vehicles and by Maryland National Guard members. 
Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Center, 2450 Lyttonsville Rd., Silver Spring and Seneca Valley High School, 19401 Crystal Rock Dr., Germantown. Call 240-777- 6000. 


• Sign up for Alert Montgomery to have emergency alerts, notifications and updates sent to your cell phone, e-mail, PDA, Twitter or Facebook. 


• Watch Montgomery County government’s cable television channel—County Cable Montgomery (CCM), Channel 6 on the Comcast and RCN cable systems and Channel 30 on Verizon -- featuring live coverage of road conditions at all major traffic intersections. 


• Enforcement of parking regulations in all public parking garages and lots in the Silver Spring, Wheaton and Bethesda parking lot districts is suspended through Thursday. Check the County website for updates beyond Thursday. 


• Trash, recycling, yard trim collections suspended for remainder of the week. Collections will resume Monday, February 15. 


• Montgomery County Public Library customers are asked not to return library materials unless libraries are open and not to leave materials outside the library buildings. Materials due Feb. 5 through Feb.10 will have their due dates extended one week. No fines will be charged for the period from Friday, Feb. 5, through Wednesday, Feb. 10. 


Tips for residents: 


• Clear snow away from fire hydrants (if able) so that they are visible from the road and accessible to firefighters in the event of an emergency. 


• Exercise caution when shoveling snow. Shovel snow into the yard rather than the street, to facilitate plowing. Cold weather puts an extra strain on the body. Individuals with heart disease or high blood pressure should follow their doctor’s advice about shoveling snow or performing other hard work in the cold. Avoid overexertion. Heart attacks from shoveling heavy snow are a leading cause of deaths during winter. 


• When going outdoors, dress warmly and stay dry. Adults and children should wear a hat, scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth; sleeves that are snug at the wrists, mittens (they are warmer than gloves), a water-resistant coat and boots, and several layers of loose-fitting clothes. 


• Serious health problems such as hypothermia and frostbite can be caused by prolonged exposure to the cold. Watch for loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes and the tip of the nose. Signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. In both cases, residents should get medical attention immediately if symptoms are present. 


• Property owners are responsible for clearing their public sidewalks, driveways and entrances within 24 hours of the end of a snowstorm. Residents are strongly encouraged to be good neighbors by clearing the sidewalks in front of their homes, as well as assisting those who may not be physically able to do so. 


• Residents without power should be aware that using gas or charcoal grills, propane heaters and stoves, kerosene space heaters or generators indoors can be fatal. They are a source of carbon monoxide, which can build up indoors and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Avoid using candles or outdoor grills indoors, to prevent the risk of a fire. 


• If traveling is hazardous, residents should be prepared to shelter in place. Individuals planning to go to a shelter should bring all medications and personal supplies with them. Pets are not permitted at shelters except for service animals. 


• Help elderly or ill neighbors with their snow shoveling. Snow shoveling services for a fee are listed through a web search ("snow removal services, Montgomery County, Maryland") or through the yellow pages ("landscaping and maintenance services"). 


Tips for motorists: 


• Stay at home if at all possible, to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles to respond to calls and plows, trucks and front-end loaders to clear snow. 


• Do not attempt to drive if you are not comfortable driving on snowy roads. When preparing to drive, be sure to thoroughly clear the snow from the entire car – including roofs, windshields trunks and hoods – to ensure visibility and prevent snow from blowing onto surrounding cars. When driving, do not speed and be sure to leave plenty of space between your car and the one in front of you. Avoid pulling out in front of other vehicles and do not slow down before going up a hill. 


• Even as roads become more passable, drivers should watch their speed as they may encounter unexpected conditions such as snow plows, pedestrians or icy patches. 


• After melting begins, if temperatures drop below freezing at night, black ice can occur during the night and caution is advised. 


• Proceed with extreme caution when approaching an intersection where the line of sight may be blocked by mounds of snow. 


• Stay alert for pedestrians walking in the roadways, because many sidewalks are blocked with snow. Pedestrians’ vision and hearing may be impeded by hats and hoods. At night, be extra cautions, because it is extremely difficult to see pedestrians wearing dark clothing.