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Hello Ward 3 neighbors,

In this update: Last Night’s Council Meeting. Public Hearing on the Budget. Reconciliation Process, Round 2. Quick News Updates and Announcements. My opening comments to Council colleagues from last night.

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Thank you for all of the thoughts you’ve shared during this budget process. I continue to refine my thinking through conversations with colleagues and with the City Manager and staff. I am doing my best to represent and advocate for residents’ views in a balanced and just manner. We are now halfway through the process, with all reconciliation items having been proposed by staff and Council members.

Last Night’s Council Meeting.

Last night the Council meeting began with recognition of Montgomery College scholarship recipients and with a beautiful remembrance of Jacquette “Jackie” Frazier, inspirational local leader and founder of the Lunch and Learn program centered in Essex House on Maple Avenue.?

Public Hearing on the Budget.?

The meeting proceeded with the second Public Hearing on the, including these comments from residents:?

Tom Gagliardo (Ward 1) called for creativity and not reinventing the wheel when addressing renovations to the Atrium and design work for the Public Works facilities.?

Previous Ward 3 Councilmember Randy Gibson called for austerity and prioritization in this tough budget season, with an emphasis on clear objectives, hard-nosed choices, meeting the most urgent needs, and protecting the most vulnerable, who include house-burdened homeowners. He asked for the Council to honor the views and the constructive criticisms of hundreds of engaged residents, seek sustainability, and find creative ways to balance the budget.?

Paul Heubner (Ward 3) shared statistics and projections for inflation and recession, emphasizing that now is the time to cut the property tax rate and eliminate or downsize projects. He asked about the status of funds allocated a few years ago for work in the Community Center that apparently went unspent. He noted that the state budget deficit, County budget deficit, and anticipated County tax rate increase constitute a “perfect storm” for our residents.?

Nadine Bloch (Ward 3) emphasized the moral imperative of protecting both renters and homeowners from having to make the difficult choice to leave this community. She presented this value in the broader context of the city’s progressive commitment to being a “sanctuary” in every sense of the word, and she specifically stated that lowering the property tax rate would be a signal of this commitment.

Fred Schultz (Ward 6), speaking as a member of the Police Chief’s Advisory Board, expressed pride in the soon-to-be-completed Library project and called for Council members to move forward with the Atrium project and seek budgetary savings elsewhere. Reverend Gail Fisher-Stewart (Ward 1), also a member of the Police Chief’s Advisory Board, emphasized the Police Department’s service and accountability to the community and that “the least we can do” is provide a workspace that is “long overdue.”??

Lisa Beaudet (Ward 3) shared the perspective of a homeowner who pays a lot in taxes. She agreed with Emily Van Loon’s written comments and emphasized how many homeowners give back to this community in time and in money when that is available. She asked for the City to approach capital projects such as the Atrium renovation with the mindset of a homeowner on a limited budget who prioritizes and uses discretion in determining what must be done to maintain or refurbish the property. She also called for future budget processes to begin with the City Council setting a target for expenditures or tax rate and then requiring the Manager to figure out how to budget within those constraints.?

Colleen Cordes (Ward 1) clarified that the proposed flat property tax rate is in fact a property tax increase, with the City set to take in 2.6% more in taxes due to the net increase in assessments. She pointed out that the recent City newsletter article on the budget did not make this clear but instead included a graphic showing the rate remaining steady. Later, Colleen returned to the microphone to clarify that the Council’s budget priorities resolution late last year never indicated an official decision to hold the tax rate steady.

Terry Seamens (Ward 4) emphasized that the Atrium project is responding to needs identified many years ago and cannot be done piecemeal, must be done in total. He expressed satisfaction with keeping a steady tax rate.??

Julie (I’m sorry that I didn’t get your last name!), citing past recommendations of resident committees, called for the City Council and Manager to report out on whether the City continues to hold investments in Northrop Grumman; she asked on what grounds Takoma Park can continue to claim status as a nuclear free city.?

Comments from councilmembers followed (you can find mine at the end of this email). There are clearly differing views on whether the existing property tax rate is appropriate, how much cutting, if any, is needed in the budget, and the advisability of trying to scale back the Atrium project. There’s certainly strong consensus around making sure that the City is in a strong position to weather the storm of changes at the federal level and in the economy and to protect residents in need.?

City Manager Rob DiSpirito, among other comments, reminded residents of tonight’s (7-9 pm in the Community Center, overflow parking available at Piney Branch Elementary School). If you take a strong interest in how law enforcement agencies cooperate across borders in our area, and particularly if you have questions, suggestions, or issues to report, please consider coming to this meeting – or reply to this email and I’ll do my best to represent you.

Reconciliation Process, Round 2.?

The next part of the evening involved examination of staff recommendations for projects involving sidewalks, traffic calming, or traffic studies. I advocated for the installation of a speed hump on Orchard Avenue. Staff have registered the interest in a traffic study for the Orchard/5th/4th Avenue area, but it is clear that the highest priorities for traffic studies in FY26 are in the New Hampshire Gardens area (Glenside and Wildwood Avenues) and along Flower Avenue between Sligo Creek Parkway and Carroll Avenue. A second possible high-priority traffic study could be along Lincoln Avenue; I advocated for such a study, if deemed affordable, to be extended beyond Ward 2? to include all of Lincoln Avenue, including the 300 block in Ward 3 and the blocks in Ward 4 between Carroll and Maple. Councilmember Dyballa proposed significant reductions by asking for holding off on some staff-recommended sidewalk projects. If all reconciliation proposals stand, this area of the budget may increase slightly.

The rest of the evening was devoted to council members proposing additional reconciliation items (adjustments to the proposed budget) for consideration by the group. We voted to add another work session on Monday (April 21) for further discussion of all reconciliation items. Next Wednesday’s meeting (April 23) will include final discussions and votes on reconciliation items.?

I can’t access an up-to-date spreadsheet of the reconciliation items at this time, but when it’s made available, I’ll share it with you. In the meantime, I’m interested to hear your thoughts on these items:

- a reduction of $485,000 in the Atrium renovation budget (out of a proposed $1.685 million) to restore the original $1.2 million approved by a prior Council; OR

- a hold placed on spending any money for the Atrium renovation pending an effort to creatively limit it to the most essential needs (i.e. dispatcher area, ADA restroom, soundproofed interview space). (This would earmark and move $1,685,000 into the General Fund unassigned reserves.)

- a reduction in $222,000 in the contribution to the Equipment Replacement Reserve, with a call for delaying some vehicle replacements and/or moving to leasing arrangements if appropriate.

- increases in revenue of $10,000 from utility taxes and $10,000 from “cafe” rentals of sidewalk and street space.

- freezing the search and hiring for one vacant full-time position, at the discretion of the City Manager (savings to be determined).

- a reduction of $65,000 through removal of the proposed hiring of a consultant for a Financial Review, on the grounds that the newly hired 2nd Deputy City Manager adds sufficient expertise to enable the Manager’s Office and Finance Departments to evaluate City financial decisions in-house.

- an additional $110,000 for grants to help with food assistance and other urgent community needs (co-introduced by Councilmember Amy Wesolek, Ward 6).

I introduced all of the above items in keeping with plans I previously shared with you.

- an additional $135,000 to expand available funds for property tax relief (for residents who qualify for a recently expanded County program)?

The above item was introduced by Councilmember Cindy Dyballa, Ward 2. I support this.

- holding off on any allocation of $85,000 for a housing policy study/rent stabilization review, until the Council can discuss and vote on its priorities for housing. (The funds would be earmarked and stored in General Fund unassigned reserves.)?

- reducing $37,000 by not purchasing an electric motorcycle for the Police Department.

- reducing an amount to be determined ($36,000 or more) by limiting salary increases to 3% for management staff, less than the proposed 4.55% increase.

The above items were introduced by Councilmember Jessica Landman, Ward 1. I support them.

The Council postponed its work on finalizing a process for organizing a “Council Compensation Committee,” which City Code calls to be convened every four years to evaluate and make recommendations about compensation for City Council members (with any changes to take place in the next term). We will get to that next Wednesday.

Quick News Updates and Announcements:

1.Tonight: (7-9 pm in the Community Center, overflow parking available at Piney Branch Elementary School). If you take a strong interest in how law enforcement agencies cooperate across borders in our area, and particularly if you have questions, suggestions, or issues to report, please consider coming to this meeting – or reply to this email and I’ll do my best to represent you.

2. Reminder: New Hampshire Avenue remains limited to right-turns only at University Boulevard due to Purple Line construction, for at least another week to ten days.

3. Independence Day Celebration: volunteers’ happy hour meet-and-greet at Olive Lounge - Thursday, April 24, 4:30 - 6:15 pm.

4. Start planning for Earth Day events: , more to come.

5. Have you noticed the refurbished sculpture at Spring Park? For now, let’s just say thank you to the unsung artist hero who volunteered to take this on!

6. Thanks in advance to Adriana Elefante and Vincent Verweij, who are joining me this Saturday on a walk to identify some local natural wonders around Ward 3 that deserve to be highlighted and appreciated.

7. City staff have announced the intention to initiate $1/hour metered parking at the lot between the Co-op and Cielo Rojo. Some spaces will be reserved for businesses, and a loading zone will be established on the right as you enter the driveway.

8. SHA was asked to review signal timings in the Junction area in light of congestion at the Fire Station signal. SHA reviewed the timings and – frustratingly, in my view – have not recommended any changes in signal timings.

9. Robert Frost wrote, that “Nature’s first green is gold / Her hardest hue to hold. / Her early leaf’s a flower, / But only so an hour.” In the midst of all the craziness happening in our society, I hope you can take a few minutes to enjoy these perfectly beautiful spring days.

Best regards,

Roger

P.S. Here are my opening comments to Council colleagues from last night:

Thank you to everyone who has commented. Council colleagues:

I would estimate that I have received emails from well over 100 residents, in addition to the 25 or so who came to a Ward 3 budget conversation. Overwhelmingly, I am hearing the same message that residents shared in the fall at the Manager’s Budget Forum: please, please exercise strong oversight and great fiscal restraint this year. Older residents on fixed incomes, younger residents who have lost their federal jobs, are feeling squeezed and forced to move. The trend of home assessments rising far faster than the rate of inflation, and the property tax rate following along, is not sustainable.?

Many are asking for delays in vehicle purchases, freezes in hiring, reductions in the use of consultants, and – more than any other suggestion – reasonably scaling back new capital projects. To be clear, there’s strong agreement that City workers shouldn’t be hurt by budget decisions and they want to see more emergency aid made available. In terms of the property tax rate, many residents are clear in saying that they want to see a constant yield property tax rate for FY26.?

Colleagues, these residents’ pleas are urgent. I am not inclined to dismiss the impact that a small reduction in the property tax rate would have on their budgets or on their feeling of trust in this government.

I’ll ask you to consider these five reasons for strong fiscal prudence in this reconciliation process:

1. The budget priorities we voted on in December included a flat property tax rate as a “Whereas” from the Manager, not as a priority for the Council.

2. Four of us were brand-new to the Council when that budget resolution process took place, just getting our footing.

3. At the federal, state, county, and local level, there have been radical new developments since December that effectively mean our resolution might have been written five or ten years ago. Many, many local households are hurting in ways that were not foreseen four months ago.

4. The new property assessments that came at the end of December have locked in growth in the property tax base for the next three years, regardless of the rate we set.

5. As a Council, we have not yet agreed upon our Priorities for this two-year term, so we shouldn’t appropriate spending in areas where we don’t yet have consensus or clarity about our strategic directions.

I feel that we want to see Takoma Park continue being a true community, as shown in its capacity for listening and showing people that they are heard. A true community is not a collection of properties where people rent until they can’t anymore, or purchase until they are forced to “cash out” – a true community is a place where people can live out their lives. Thank you for listening, and I look forward to our discussions.