Dear District 4 Resident:
As another fiscal year for County government draws to a close, I am providing my usual update on the work of the Council. This report is intended to focus not only on budget decisions but also on the projects, programs, and policy decisions of interest to our part of the county. While I try to reply personally to everyone who contacts my office, the volume of correspondence on several issues has been so great in recent months that I am using this means to thank you for your input. And to you soccer enthusiasts living in my district, please be assured that all your postcards were duly noted!
Let's begin by talking about the budget, which directly affects us in so many ways. There has been a lot of talk in the media about large amounts of unexpected revenue and unprecedented State funding for school construction. This has led many people to ask: why all the worry about funding the County's budgets? can't we do it all? Well, the fact is that meeting the diverse needs of our growing population still requires us to make tough choices. For me, the Clarksburg Detention Center provided a golden opportunity to make the right choices. By delaying its construction for two to four years (a proposal that I supported), we could have freed up resources to use for schools and other projects. Population estimates indicated that a delay in construction was justified. Unfortunately, the Council majority insisted on continuing the jail on schedule. Despite this, the budgets passed by the Council do go a long way toward funding the school system's priorities and other much needed facilities and projects such as roads, recreation centers, libraries, parks, Silver Spring revitalization, Montgomery College/Takoma Park, and technology initiatives at the College. As you can see, although the economy has improved there is much to be done to see that your tax dollars are being put to their best use.
And speaking of tax dollars, I have some good news and some bad news. I supported a decrease in the property tax rate (2 cents) and a reduction for next year in the piggyback income tax rate (from 60% to 58%). I was disappointed that the latter was rejected by a majority of Councilmembers. However, the Council is supporting a measure that I sponsored to allow the County, in any given year, to provide a tax credit for owner-occupied properties. This is a tool that provides flexibility to give something back to homeowners, especially in years with one-time revenue "windfalls." The Council will use this legislation to enact this property tax credit for the next budget year in the amount of $50 per household. Although the amount is small, it establishes an important precedent for annual consideration of tax relief. I am pleased that the Council has also supported my most recent business incentive: a property tax credit for businesses that create new jobs.
Two other issues bear special mention---"Pay-and-Go" legislation and the Silver Spring redevelopment project. Because Silver Spring is the east county's downtown, I have been especially interested in the redevelopment efforts. As you may know, there were several proposals that did not materialize, perhaps the most well-known being the "American Dream" proposal. I was critical of those past efforts and could not support them. I am, therefore, especially pleased with the most recent initiative which calls for a good balance of public and private investment and is on an appropriate scale that is oriented to community needs and desires. It will be great to see Silver Spring resume its place as a center of community activity for those of us in the eastern county.
Many of you have let me know your views on the "Pay-and-Go" legislation that was adopted last fall by the Council. This program allowed both commercial and residential developers to pay a set fee and then move forward with their developments, even in areas under moratorium. At the time the legislation was adopted, I predicted that it would place a tremendous burden on Eastern Montgomery County. My predictions quickly proved to be correct: in the first three months the program was in effect, developers came forward with plans for more than 500 residential units in the Fairland/White Oak area, more than in any other planning area in the County. As these facts came to light and public opposition grew stronger, some councilmembers who had voted in favor of the program changed their minds. The Council president finally allowed the issue to be reconsidered and that portion of the law related to residential development was repealed, grandfathering in those projects already pending before the Planning Board. I urged my fellow councilmembers to take responsibility for development in the Fairland area by asking their support for much-needed improvements to Fairland Road. I also insisted that the budget accurately reflect increased taxpayer costs associated with "Pay-and-Go," which requires less money from developers and more money from the County for road projects in impact-tax areas (Fairland/White Oak and Germantown). As chair of the Management and Fiscal Policy Committee, I could not in good conscience support a "smoke and mirrors" budget that essentially "hid" a $6.7 million County obligation. I am pleased that I was able to convince a majority of Councilmembers to agree with me on both these issues.
I want to let you know about several other initiatives I have been working on. For the past year I have served as vice-chair of the Federal Communication Commission's Local and State Advisory Committee which was created to advise the FCC on issues affecting local jurisdictions. Our efforts this first year have focused on protecting local government authority, incorporated within the 1996 Tele-communications Law, over public rights-of-way and zoning.
I have also been working with some very dedicated individuals on two separate efforts to improve the well-being of our young people. The first one involves the development of a common set of principles to support greater collaboration between the County government and the Montgomery County Public Schools. I have been leading a group of representatives of the Council, the County Executive, the Collaboration Council for Children, Youth, and Families, the Board of Education, nonprofit and community organizations to implement an action plan that will initially focus on children and the County's Linkages to Learning programs and hopefully will lead to shared program planning and budgeting. The second initiative involves the coordination of the many volunteer mentoring efforts that provide financial and other support for our youth. Montgomery Mentoring, Inc. will be a newly incorporated nonprofit umbrella organization designed to assist with training, fundraising and outreach for mentoring services throughout the County.
The following pages provide brief summaries of some of the projects that are in District 4. I take particular pleasure in pointing out the upcoming grand opening in July of the East County Recreation Center. When I joined the Council in 1990, one of the glaring inadequacies of our area was the lack of recreational facilities for our young people. It was clear that two centers were urgently needed, one on either side of US 29, but you may recall that the economy was on a downswing and funding was not readily available. Fortunately, my suggestion to obtain federal CDBG funds proved successful for a center on the east side. At a later date County funds were approved for the second center (on the west side) and we can look forward to that groundbreaking later this year. These two centers do not satisfy all of the recreational needs in District 4 but they are certainly a good start.
Finally, it was so good to see those of you who stopped by my drop-in sessions at the end of April. I will schedule another round next fall but in the meantime, please don't hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions about the items in this report or any concerns or views you would like to share with me.
Blake High School: At my urging, the Council provided not only enough funds to complete construction of our new northeast high school but also included the 20-room addition to this facility to allow the Preferred Choice program to proceed successfully.
Modernizations: Kennedy High School is in the first year of its modernization and construction of a 16-room addition to be completed by September 1999. Wood Middle School received FY99 funds to begin planning for a modernization and Harmony Hills is funded for construction to be completed in the fall of '99. I am especially pleased that Harmony Hills is receiving an additional $125,000 from the State and $150,000 from the County for a Health Center to be added during this construction. I am also pleased that my efforts were successful to have funding included for gymnasiums along with the modernizations underway at Barnsley and Westover Elementary Schools. At my urging, the Wheaton High School project ($8.327 million to begin planning a 12-room addition and core improvements to the school) remains on schedule.
The school system proposal to close Parkland Middle School and reopen Belt as a single feeder middle school to Wheaton High School stirred great interest in the Wheaton community. We were told that the County Executive was in the final stages of negotiating the transfer of the Belt lease, with an option to purchase, from its current lessee to Yeshiva High School. However, a citizens association recently filed a lawsuit to prevent private use of the Belt Junior High School building, casting new doubt on the eventual outcome.
Fairland Regional Park: Construction for the final phase should begin by fall of 1998 and will include a creative playground, picnic shelters, a trail connecting the Montgomery and Prince George's facilities, restrooms, and landscaping.
Calverton/Fairland Local Park: Reconstruction of this park and parts of adjacent Galway Park are scheduled to begin this summer, providing a trail system linking the communities and Galway Elementary School, new play equipment, tennis courts, a new soccer field, restrooms, kiosk and an in-line skating rink.
McKnew Local Park: Construction is to begin this summer with completion scheduled for the spring of '99; the project will include a playfield, tennis court, basketball court, picnic shelter, play equipment, trails and a parking lot.
Recreation Centers: The grand opening of the East County Center on Gateshead Manor Way adjacent to Greencastle Elementary School is scheduled for July 1 at 7pm. Construction of the Fairland Center, to be located adjacent to the Fairland Library, is expected to begin this fall with completion in late 1999.
Wheaton/Glenmont Pool: The major replacement of this facility is expected be completed by the summer of 2000. Efforts are being made to try to phase the construction so that the pool will remain in operation during the summer of '99.
Wheaton Ice Rink: A new enclosed ice rink at Wheaton Regional Park is to be completed by March '99; the existing facility is to be used for in-line skating once the new rink is constructed.
Wheaton Regional Library Parking: Adjacent land has been acquired for 55 more parking spaces and to improve circulation in the parking lot. Construction may begin late fall or spring of '99.
East County Government Center: A site has been chosen off of Briggs Chaney Road that will share parking with the new Recreation Center and has additional access from Robey Road. Construction is scheduled to begin in the summer of '99 with completion of the project the following summer.
Germantown Soccerplex: I include this because of the great many postcards I received from east county folks urging my support for this complex which initially will have 16 fields, an indoor arena, and a championship field with bleachers; future plans call for a total of 24 fields depending upon successfully addressing traffic and environmental issues and receiving the necessary commitment of private funding.
Briggs Chaney Road: Realignment of the "S-curve" and widening between Legend Oaks Drive and Olive Branch Drive has been delayed somewhat due to problems with right-of-way acquisition. Construction is now scheduled to begin this summer. Eventually the road will be reconstructed as a four-lane divided roadway from Automobile/Castle Boulevards to Aston Manor Drive with two lanes from there to Gentry Ridge Court. A sidewalk is planned for the north side and a Class I bikeway for the south side from US 29 to Olive Branch Drive.
East Randolph Road: Widening to five lanes from Bea-Kay Drive to Old Columbia Pike is underway. Traffic should be shifted to the newly-built eastbound lanes east of the Paint Branch; on the west side the road will be temporarily widened on the north to carry traffic during the construction between Bea-Kay Drive and Paint Branch. Bridge construction has been temporarily delayed for design of a new pedestrian walkway under the bridge. Completion is planned for fall of 1999.
Robey Road: Utility relocation and right-of-way acquisition continue leading up to the widening which is scheduled to begin in October. The project, which extends from the north end of Greencastle Elementary School to Greencastle Road, includes a sidewalk and bike trail. In response to citizen concerns, the scope of the project has been changed to save additional trees, reduce downstream erosion, and provide a temporary traffic signal at Wexhall Drive and Greencastle Road. The road will be open to traffic on one side at all times during construction. Completion is slated for FY01.
Intercounty Connector: Last October, the Council recommended that the State move forward with a "Network of Improvements" in lieu of an ICC. In addition to intersection improvements on existing roads, I requested that additional grade-separated interchanges be looked at along Route 29. (I had earlier met with State officials to push for funding for Route 29 improvements. The State had responded by beginning planning and design work on Cherry Hill/Randolph Road, Route 198, and Briggs Chaney Road interchanges.) The Governor subsequently suspended the ICC project to initiate a short-term Congestion Relief Study which is to identify 10 to 12 intersection improvements that would be built in the next two years in the ICC study area. The Governor also has appointed a Transportation Solutions Group to look at the transportation picture in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties and issue final recommendations in July 1999. Montgomery County has eliminated all funding for the ICC study office. I continue to be concerned about the possibility of a future highway alignment being identified in the Burtonsville area and will continue my efforts to support the Burtonsville/Spencerville communities.