February 5, 2023

Dear Neighbors: Below please find:

I. Link to Jan. 26 Ward 3 Public Safety Meeting Video and Note

II. Highlights from Jan. 30 and Feb. 1 Council Meetings

III. Agenda for Feb. 8 Council Meeting

I. Jan. 26 Ward 3 Public Safety Meeting Video and Slides

Link to Ward 3 Community Meeting to Discuss Public Safety from Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 7:00 PM: https://youtu.be/nAmsx4CJWG0

Link to PowerPoint: bit.ly/Ward3CommunityMeetingPowerPoint

If you had a question that didn’t get asked, or that you thought of after the meeting, please feel free to email them to Cathy Plevy at cathyp@takomaparkmd.gov and we will get you a response.–

Note. Correction on my meeting summary. The correct email address for our neighboring ANC rep in DC is 4B01@anc.dc.gov

II. Highlights from Jan. 30 and Feb. 1 Council Meetings

Jan. 30: The meeting focused entirely on reviewing and considering revisions to the prior Council’s Priorities. A new set of priorities for 2023-24 are still being finalized. They will be used to help guide the staff in developing the next year’s budget.

Feb. 1.

A. Proclamation of Black History Month. Theme: Black Resistance.

B. Legislative Update: Hearings held. Safe Roads Act, and Ranked Choice Voting moving forward.

C. Council Comments: Several Council Members offered personal testimony re. Black History Month

D. Work Session:

FY ’23 Budget Amendment #5: Presentation by City Mgr. Fox and Director of Finance Chung: The Budget Amendment proposes a $1.3m reduction, due primarily to salary savings. Lengthy discussions were held on prior budget decisions and reports, terminology, and context of deficits. Questions were raised on whether all positions which had been unfilled were indeed “mission critical”. CM Fox was asked to provide hiring status of the previously frozen/unfilled jobs. Dir. Chung noted that over recent years our expenditures have exceeded revenue meaning unassigned reserves were tapped. She encouraged caution going forward to reverse this trend. Dr. Chung said the 2nd Qtr Financial report shows revenues higher than expenditures which is normal at this point in the cycle, and similar to 1st Qtr. financials. ARPA funding was also discussed with questions on staff capacity to implement. Discussions to be continued next week.

Overview of City Boards and Committees presented by Council Member Dyballa: Prior changes to Appointment Guidelines were reviewed including code of conduct, stipend policy and committees still to be finalized. Discussions included the need for recruitment, consideration of Board liaison roles and more formalized reporting by Boards and Committees. Board and Committee applications are due by Feb. 8. Discussion to continue next week.

III. Feb. 8 Council Agenda

City Council meetings usually take place in the Community Center Auditorium. The public may attend the meeting or view the meeting as always: on City TV (RCN – 13, HD 1060; Comcast/xfinity – 13, HD 997; Verizon Fios – 28), on the City Council Video Page of the City Website; on YouTube, or on Facebook. Meetings may also be viewed on Zoom.

Upcoming Agendas (PDF)

AGENDA (PDF)

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

CHANGES TO THE AGENDA / AGENDA SCHEDULING UPDATE

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON VOTING ITEMS

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS

(Sign up for public comments over Zoom will be open until 5:00 PM on the day of the meeting. Registration is not required to comment in person.)

COUNCIL COMMENTS

CITY MANAGER COMMENTS

ADOPTION OF MINUTES: 1/9; 1/11

VOTING SESSION