Montgomery County Council New Laws

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INFORMATION: Copies are available from the Council Office in the Council Office Building , 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville 240-777-7900.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY- CLIMATE PROTECTION - MOTOR VEHICLES, Bill 29-07 requires certain County vehicles to use biodiesel fuel; requires the Sustainability Working Group to conduct an annual inventory of sport utility vehicles in the County fleet and set criteria to identify which positions in County government should be assigned a sport utility vehicle; requires the Sustainability Working Group to develop a strategy to achieve a significant improvement in average County fleet fuel economy standards; requires the Sustainability Working Group to evaluate the costs and benefits of creating a car share program; requires the sustainability Working Group to prepare a Telecommuting Action Plan; makes stylistic changes; and generally amends the law relating to energy, environmental policy, and motor vehicles. Effective date: August 4, 2008.


BUILDINGS - ENERGY EFFICIENCY, Bill 30-07 requires the Sustainability Working Group to develop an energy baseline, energy unit savings plan, and energy cost savings plan for each County Building; requires that each energy unit savings plan and energy cost savings plan include a plan for using an energy performance contract unless the sustainability Working Group finds that the cost of  using an energy performance contract outweighs the benefit; requires certain residential buildings to meet certain
ENERGY STAR standards; and generally amends the law relating to buildings, energy, and environment policy. Effective date: August 4, 2008.

REAL PROPERTY - ENERGY PERFORMANCE AUDITS, Bill 31-07 requires a seller to provide information relating to certain utility bills and opportunities for home energy efficiency improvements to a buyer before signing a contract for the sale of a single-family home; requires the Sustainability Working Group to evaluate options to encourage homeowners to conduct home energy audits; and generally amends the law relating to real property, energy, and environmental policy. Effective date: August 4, 2008.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY - CLIMATE PROTECTION PLAN, Expedited Bill 32-07 establishes goals to reduce Countywide greenhouse gas emissions by certain amounts by certain dates; creates and specifies the membership and duties of a Sustainability Working Group; requires the Sustainability Working Group to prepare a Climate Protection Plan designed to achieve Countywide goals for greenhouse gas emissions; requires the Sustainability Working Group to evaluate the costs and benefits of converting the fuel energy tax to a carbon tax; requires the Sustainability Working Group to recommend whether the County should join a cap and trade program; makes stylistic changes; and generally amends the law relating to energy and environmental policy. Effective date: May 5, 2008.

RENEWABLE ENERGY, Bill 33-07 requires the Sustainability Working Group to develop a Renewable Energy Action Plan after evaluating options for increasing the use of  renewable energy in and by the County, including the feasibility of creating a Sustainability Energy Fund; prohibits enforcement of certain deed restrictions, covenants, rules, or regulations relating to renewable energy devices; creates a property tax credit for the installation of certain renewable energy devices; and generally amends the law relating to energy and property tax credits. Effective date: August 4, 2008.

PLANNING PROCEDURES - GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, Bill 34-07 requires the Montgomery County Planning Board, when preparing certain plans, to assess a plan's potential impact on greenhouse gas emissions in the County, consider ways to reduce vehicle miles traveled in
the County, and consider options that would minimize those emissions; and generally amends the law relating to planning procedures. Effective date: August 4, 2008.

CONSUMER PROTECTION - ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY, Bill 35-07 requires
the Office of Consumer Protection to advocate for the County's interest in obtaining the lowest possible rates consistent with environmental stewardship for gas, electricity, and other energy sources by participating in matters pending before appropriate federal and state agencies; and generally amends County law governing energy and the environment. Effective date: August 4, 2008.

PERSONNEL - RETIREMENT - RETIREMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM, Expedited Bill 12-08 provides a retirement incentive program for certain members of the employees' retirement system; and generally amends the law regarding the employees' retirement system. Effective date: May 21, 2008.

FOREST CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE - COMPOSITION, Expedited Bill 14-08 alters the composition of the Forest Conservation Advisory Committee; and generally amends the law regarding the Committee. Effective date: June 3, 2008.

MONTROSE PARKWAY EAST, Bill 16-08 authorizes the planning, design, and construction of the Montrose Parkway East, Project No. 500717, in the North Bethesda and Aspen Hill Policy Areas. Effective date: September 18, 2008.

NEBEL STREET EXTENDED, Bill 17-08 authorizes the planning, design, and construction of Nebel Street Extended, Project No. 500401, in the North Bethesda Policy area. Effective date: September 18, 2008.

WOODFIELD ROAD EXTENDED, Bill 18-08 authorizes the planning, design and construction of the Woodfield Road Extended, Project No. 500151, in the Damascus Policy area. Effective date: September 18, 2008.

BETHESDA METRO STATION SOUTH ENTRANCE, Bill 19-08 authorizes the planning, design, and construction of the Bethesda Metro Station South Entrance, Project No. 500929, in the Bethesda CBD Policy area. Effective date: September 18, 2008.

BETHESDA LOT 31 PARKING GARAGE, Bill 20-08 authorizes the planning, design and construction of the Bethesda Lot 31 Parking Garage, Project No 500932, in the Bethesda CBD Policy area. Effective date: September 18, 2008.

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