Hello Ward One Neighbors,
Summary: On the 19th the Council heard interesting updates on what the City’s 3 business associations are up to, and we discussed the potential for generating additional City revenue through increasing taxes on public utilities, commercial properties and vacant/decrepit sites. We also were briefed on the proposal to use State grant funds to support the sale of the Deauville Apartment building (over 100 units) to a new owner who commits to rehabilitate it and to keep rents stabilized.
This coming Wednesday the 26th we will be voting on this Deauville proposal; I intend to vote yes. We’ll also have a work session on the Council’s priorities – sadly the draft isn’t yet available. I plan to advocate for the City having a contingency plan for belt tightening, given the huge uncertainty about federal, state and county funding, plus job uncertainties for residents. We’ll also hear a presentation on the rental inspection program (not yet posted), and will vote to appoint members to various City committees and commissions. Check out the City’s new Agenda Center webpage to obtain links to relevant documents.
More details:
The reports from our business associations provided insights into how each one is financed and operates; all of them market and support local businesses. Old Town’s and Long Branch’s associations have voluntary membership; Takoma/Langley Crossroads, established by municipal code, charges mandatory fees to all businesses. Long Branch is seeking official Main Street designation this year, following in Old Town’s footsteps. Takoma/Langley is addressing Purple Line challenges.
Our discussion about new potential revenue sources revealed no real downside to raising utilities’ taxes (on Pepco, Washington Gas and the cable utilities), or to imposing taxes on Conrail; a tiny fraction would be passed through to Takoma Park ratepayers, because the utilities spread such taxes across their entire rate bases. Raising commercial business tax rates would have a more direct impact on pocketbooks of businesses; our decision about how to proceed on that front will weigh the pros and cons. We are still determining if we can charge a differential tax rate depending upon businesses’ size (to burden smaller ones less). We also are exploring how to charge higher taxes or fees for vacant/neglected parcels – more to spur development than to increase revenues, since only a few properties likely would be affected.
Raising revenues will help meet our funding needs – but we also need to consider the expense side of the ledger. In response to my request for comments on our budget plans for next year, nearly two dozen residents wrote to express their wish for us to hold off on further capital construction projects for now – in particular the Atrium build-out in the Community Center. I agree that FY 2026 needs to be a year for finishing the new Library and moving back in (expected in June), and paying off the current Community Center (due to happen in April – hurray!). New brick-and-mortar projects that are not ‘must-haves’ should await a more stable fiscal situation. However, we should proceed with planning and strategizing about how to make a new and better recreation center happen, through leveraging our land holdings as effectively as possible.
Our discussion on Council priorities is slated for Wednesday. Unfortunately the draft document is not yet available; keep checking the Agenda page. If you want to weigh in on what our priorities should be, this is the week to come and speak to or write to the Council! As always you can speak in person just by showing up, or register by 5 PM Wed. to speak over Zoom.
The temporary library site on New Hampshire Ave. has been serving an approximately equivalent number of library users compared to the Philadelphia Ave. site, but of different people with different needs (e.g. more computers, more Spanish language materials, etc.). The Council requested an evaluation of what it would take to continue to operate a satellite library facility on NH Ave. Our Director of Library Services Jessica Jones did a careful and detailed evaluation, and concluded that it would cost about $777,000 the first year (FY26), and approximately $620,000 per year in subsequent years (plus annual salary/benefit COLAS). Those are sobering numbers, which she said are unlikely to be fillable with grant dollars. We will have to make decisions on this in the coming weeks.
The City Manager is looking for efficiencies and savings; this week he shared a proposal from the Deputy Director of Housing & Community Development to re-configure job responsibilities within that department in a way that would reduce staffing costs and (they hope) improve our luck in recruiting candidates, without any new FTEs. That sort of thinking deserves our support.
On Wednesday we will hear a report on the City’s rental inspection program and vote on approving a contract to extend our use of Mo Co’s services to do inspections. We also will vote on approving the grant to help with purchasing the Deauville, and a variety of appointees to committees.
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Now here is some News you can Use:
My Upcoming Council Member Coffee: Saturday March 1, 10:30 AM – noon
Where: Nunley Student Center, corner of Chicago, Fenton and New York Avenues (the building with the pedestrian bridge to Metro), in the First Floor Lobby’s coffee shop – [note the shop is closed on Saturdays but I will bring some coffee!]
What: We can discuss whatever is on your mind, and participants can get to know the College, including the Food Forest sites nearby.
One on One: The last ½ hour can be reserved for one on one conversations (15 minutes/person) on a first come – first served basis – just email me in advance at Jessical@takomaparkmd.gov if you are interested. One slot is still open.
Electricity Provider Clear Choice leaves MD: Many Ward One residents got notices from Clear Choice, an electricity supplier, saying that the company was no longer going to be available to us beginning almost immediately – we will need to choose a new supplier.
While I do not have any detailed answers, our Director of Public Works Daryl Braithwaite notes that the MD Public Service Commission has a page on Home Electricity Green Options: https://www.mdelectricchoice.com/. And here is a link to the State-sponsored ‘shopping site’ for picking a provider. Shop for Electricity – MD Electric Choice . This site says that you can compare the choices for features you want.
Lee Jordan Day and Film: Today, Feb. 23, is Lee Jordan Day! Lee Jordan is a bona fide local hero and we honor him each year with a proclamation. Check out this excellent locally produced film about his remarkable life and leadership, ‘They Called Him Mr. Lee’: https://youtu.be/HZXX1fyKt-I
All the best,
Jessica
P.S. If you know others who might like to receive this report via email and not over a listserv, please encourage them to write to me and request to be added to the mailing list.