I just wanted to drop everyone a note to pass along the meeting minutes from the HCA meeting last month. A large number of topics were covered so please review the minutes BELOW and feel free to reach out if you want more information.
Also in the minutes is our next couple of identified neighborhood events. I heard the National Night Out pot luck was a success despite the weather. We hope to continue to grow and include participants in these social events so please pass along word that we'll be having a neighborhood day on September 28th which will consist of yard sales and a meet and greet for Rockville city council candidates. Then, on October 26th, we'll have the annual trunk or treat.
With elections soon approaching make sure you visit the city's FAQ information page, https://www.rockvillemd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/34882/Vote-By-Mail-FAQ, should you have any questions.
Look forward to seeing everyone again in a few weeks.
Best Regards,
Jeff Perkins & The HCA Board
HCA Meeting Minutes 7/28/19
Attendance: 14 ( +6 kids)
·
Welcome Jeff
Perkins
·
City Updates Jeff Perkins
o
Stone Ridge Pond Update
§
Plan for mid-August completion of heavy
machinery and removal of fencing
§
Smaller work on vegetation in September/October
§
Financial penalties have been enacted secondary
to delay
·
Question of where penalties go? Do funds go back to City of Rockville and can
any be redirected to the neighborhood?
To be determined.
o
FAST regulations
§
Minimal online information
§
Expediting smaller projects/permits/building
projects, lessened regulatory review
§
Review pamphlet for more information
o
Richie Parkway drainage project
§
Working on getting city contact for updates
o
Downtown and Town Square recommendations
§
Meeting was recorded and is available for
viewing online
§
Summary of recommendations
·
Improving signage
·
Increase advertising
·
Possibility of adding senior resource
center/youth resources
·
Change traffic flow
o
Sealing off North Washington?
·
Full report will be provided to City in next 1-2
months
o
City commissions Marc Plante
§
Please volunteer on city commissions! It is an easy application process.
§
Forward any current volunteers
§
There is currently a Boards and Commissions Task
Force at City level
§
Contact mayor and council @rockvillemd.gov for
city input and suggestions
Previous Business
·
Budget Update Jackie Lin
o
< $2000 in bank account, does not include
anticipated fees for 5013c
§
Next grant process for Rockville opens 12/19
·
Update on Maryland tax filings Jackie Lin
o
The HCA needs to be in good standing for
Rockville
o
Due to changes to Federal Regulations on
non-profits we now must file as an existing entity. Regulations are retroactive, therefore HCA
not currently established and delinquent
§
HCA BOD is trying to establish a 501c(3)
o
501c(4) allows for political advocacy
§
Con: higher annual cost
o
C(3) does not allow political advocacy
§
Benefit for taking donations
§
Lower cost to establish and file
§
Articles for Rival in process w/ state, it is a difficult/lengthy
process
·
The treasurer is waiting response to a request
for assistance from county volunteer office.
Also looking for neighborhood volunteers w/ legal and tax expertise
New Business
·
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) 2021 Patti Westenberg
o
Looking for committee members
o
Proposal must spend $25,000
o
Proposal ideas for Elwood Smith grounds
§
Invasive tree removal
§
Picnic grounds
§
Natural playground
§
Restroom access
§
Walkway by waterways
o
Due by December/January
·
Traffic Update- Marc Plante
o
Sits on city committee
o
City has been active on citizen concerns
o
Meets monthly 4th Tuesday, meetings are
open to public
o
Pedestrian study
§
Majority incidents are pedestrian caused
§
Commission is working measures in Town Center
o
Hungerford specific concerns
§
Mt Vernon Place pedestrian crossings to RM trail
·
There had been safety concerns regarding limited
sight lines
o
No Parking x 2 car spots have been added at
every pedestrian crosswalk to increase sight lines
§
West Edmonston right turn lane onto Wootton Pkwy
·
Traffic study will be completed when school is in
session to evaluate bus traffic and turning radius
·
Anticipate September evaluation, likely
recommendations shortly thereafter
·
They are optimistic that a turn lane addition
will be feasible
§
Ride On Flex
·
Hungerford is “transit desert”
o
We are part of one year pilot study
·
Flex/on demand service via an ap
o
“corner to corner service”
o
Between Hungerford, Rockville Town Square and
metro
·
If we don’t utilize as a neighborhood during
pilot we may loose the service
·
FREE for seniors and students, $2/ride otherwise
§
Wootton Pkwy speeding concerns from neighborhood
residents
·
Will bring up to commission at next meeting
§
Please bring up and forward any concerns!
·
Monique
Ashton
o
RM Cluster Coordinator
§
Currently communicates to neighborhood via local
PTA. They are attempting to also work
out communication directly with neighborhood organizations
§
Advocate and engage w/ principals, leadership
and families
§
We have a strong cluster
·
RM # 7 in Maryland
·
Successful first year for BRES
o
Good principle
o
World Language school
§
Currently there are at least 45 minutes per week
of language instruction for ALL students
·
Issues for next year and a planned reduction in
resources have been restored for 2020
o
Possible reduction again in 2021, will need more
community involvement to advocate to keep school wide resources
o
Opening ceremony coming soon
§
County is looking at expanding IB program county
wide/decentralizing the IB program. RM
is currently the only school that pulls from across county
·
1000 IB applicants per year, ~ 300 get in
·
IB is essential to strength of RM cluster
§
Boundary issues
·
RM Specific
o
6 portables at RM already, cluster is constantly
growing Overcrowding is a concern.
§
Possible strategies: move kids out vs build more
schools in cluster
§
MCPS is building new high school in Crown to
open ~ 2025, 5 cluster boundary study including RM will be involved with the
Crown boundary decisions
·
County study
o
MCPS has a request for proposal out for overall
analysis
§
We are several years out from the actual
boundary study
§
Everything is on the table for the county
·
Plan to address volume and diversity concerns
§
Significant capacity is on the outskirts of the
county, a lot of growth/need is in city centers
§
Potential to move IB to move volume
§
The process needs significant eyes and cross
checks from community
·
Errors can be made on county level
§
Next meeting on FRP 7/29
o
Pedestrian Advocacy Committee
§
Meets monthly, first Thursday of month at 7pm
§
Currently working on pedestrian portal
·
Tracks heat maps and issues being reported
§
Meetings are open to everyone
§
Eyes Up Rockville
·
Advocacy campaign to bring awareness to
pedestrian safety
§
Group is addressing E-scooters and safety
·
Pilot program in county
·
200 scooters in Rockville, 200 more coming
·
Scooters are considered bikes and should conform
to bike rules
·
Riders should be 18 years and up
·
There are many pros and cons to program
·
If you find one you can call the City for
removal
·
Villages Update Trish Evans
o
Summary: the Villages concept began as an opportunity
for neighborhoods could help each other.
Started as senior support so that seniors can age in place. Current iteration is more
multigenerational.
o
Local examples: King Farm, Twinbrook just
incorporated (East Rockville and West End are looser)
§
KF has more senior members
§
Twinbrook very socially oriented
o
City does not dictate structure, Villages are locally
organized
§
City provides support only
·
Free city rentals
·
Software support
·
Logistical support
·
Woodley Waves
o
5013c has been established to try and save the
group
·
Deer population
o
Request for city response on overpopulation
o
Update from Beryl
Feinberg
§
There has been a unanimous vote by mayor and
council to approve a culling
·
Coordinated by Parks and Rec committee
·
There is a longstanding plan with pilot plan already
approved
o
Awaiting approval from State DNR
·
Update anticipated in December
·
Next summer/fall first pilot culling, unclear
which Rockville park
Future Dates
·
National Night Out August 6
o
National police night/organization
o
Potluck
o
6-8 @ ES
o
Bounce house provided by Rockville
·
September 28th
o
Candidate Forum 1:30pm
§
There is a possible conflict with televised City
dates
o
Community wide yard sale in morning
o
HCA meeting
·
October 26 Trunk or Treat at Elwood Smith 4 to 6
