REVISED AGENDA: March WECA Meeting – Thursday, March 21st at 7:00pm

This month’s WECA meeting will be held on Thursday, March 21^st at 7:00pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Avenue). Please enter from the rear parking lot on Harrison Street. The meeting agenda is provided below -- we hope to see you then.

Agenda for WECA Executive Board Meeting on 21 March 2013 at 7:00pm

1.       Organizational/Business Items                                    7:00 – 7:15pm

• Approval of Minutes from Feb 2013
• Treasurer’s Report- Jan and Feb
• Block Captain approval if pertinent
• Updates from City
• Report from Lt Over

2.   *Meet Barbara Matthews, Rockville City Manager    7:15 – 7:45pm

3.   Jehovah’s Witness Project Discussion                          7:45 – 8:00pm

4.    By-Laws Discussion                                                         8:00 – 8:30pm

5.    Rockville Pike Plan                                                          8:30 – 9:00pm

6.    Updates on on-going project/other issues as needed

7.    Ideas/Comments from the Floor    

*denotes revised item                                       

Update on the Rockville Pike Plan from the City of Rockville Staff

Rockville's Planning Commission invites the public to provide input on a revised draft plan for the future of a 2-mile portion of the Rockville Pike corridor that is in the City.  Public hearings will be held on March 20, April 24, and May 22 during the 7 p.m. Planning Commission meetings at Rockville City Hall. The public is invited to testify at the hearings or to submit written testimony.

Planning Commissioners decided at their meeting on February 13 that, with minor edits, the draft plan was ready for release. Rockville's Pike Plan, Draft for Planning Commission Second Public Hearing, will be available on the City's Web site after March 1 at www.rockvillemd.gov/rockvillespike.

Substantial public input informed the creation of the original draft plan, which was released in December 2010 as an update to the 1989 plan covering the same area. This latest version of the plan includes revisions made in response to public testimony on the December 2010 draft, during a series of Planning Commission work sessions over the last two years.

The plan area is the 2-mile stretch of Rockville Pike between Richard Montgomery Drive (just south of Rockville Town Center) and the southern city limits (just north of Bou Avenue). The plan governs land use and transportation along this core section of the Pike.

The goals for the area include creating a place of pride for the city; improving the experience for drivers, walkers, bicyclists and transit riders; enhancing economic vitality; ensuring that development is supported by sufficient public services and facilities; and adding parks and open space. The latest iteration of Rockville's Pike Plan includes a new cross section for the Pike that allows for the possibility of high capacity transit service.

After the public hearings and following public comment period, the Planning Commission may make further revisions to their draft before sending it on to the Mayor and Council. The Mayor and Council are expected to hold a public hearing and work sessions on the document ahead of adoption later this year.

For more information on the plan visit www.rockvillemd.gov/rockvillespike or contact Cindy Kebba, Planner III, in the Community Planning and Development Services department at ckebba@rockvillemd.gov or 240-314-8233. Chief of Long Range Planning and Redevelopment David Levy is also available to answer questions at dlevy@rockvillemd.gov or 240-314-8272.

Tree Canopy Replacement Rebate Program

Many thanks to our neighbors at the East Rockville Civic Association for passing along the following information: PEPCO, with coordination of the City of Rockville, has recently gone through our neighborhoods and removed many large trees. Many of these were on private property and replacing them is up to individual homeowners.

Should you or your neighbors be considering replanting, the City of Rockville can help you out through the Tree Canopy Rebate Program. Information is available on the bottom of the Rainscapes Rewards information page: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/environment/watersheds/rainscapes.html

The application is available here:

http://www.rockvillemd.gov/environment/watersheds/rainscapes/Tree%20Canopy%20Rebate%20Application.pdf

The RainScapes and Tree Canopy rebate programs are administered through the Environmental Management Division of the Department of Public Works. To learn more about the rebates, call the RainScapes Coordinator at 240-314-8877 or e-mail rainscapes@rockvillemd.gov

February WECA Meeting – Thurs, Feb 21st at 7:00pm

This month’s WECA meeting will be held this Thursday, February 21^st at 7:00pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Avenue). Please enter from the rear parking lot on Harrison Street. The meeting agenda is provided below -- we hope you will join us on Thursday evening!

Agenda for WECA Executive Board Meeting on 21 February 2013 at 7:00pm

·         Welcome and Opening Comments/Introductions                            

·         Organizational/Business Items                                                                                                           

o   Approval of Minutes

o   Treasurer’s Report

o   Approval of new block captain- Announcements

o   Updates from City

o   Report from Lt Over

·         Presentation by the Historic District Commission (7:15pm – 8:15pm)                       

·         Updates on on-going projects/issues

·         Ideas/Comments from the floor

WECA January Meeting - Thurs, Jan 17th at 7pm

The January WECA meeting will be held this Thursday, January 17th at 7:00pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church. The agenda follows: 
 

1.       Welcome and Opening Comments/Introductions
2.       Organizational/Business Items                                                   

• o   Approval of Minutes from Nov 2012
• o   Treasurer’s Report
• o   Approval of new block captain- Announcements
• o   Updates from the City
• o   Report from Lt. Over

3.       Updates on on-going projects/issues

• o   Update on Jehovah Witness Project -- Rose Sharkey                                                                   
• o   Mansionization – Marlene Berg
• o   Town Center Phase II and 275 N. Washington St.
• o   Sidewalks on Maryland Ave.- Approved
• o   Meeting with the City Manager                                                                  

4.       Presentation by Ida Wallenmeyer and Phyllis Wallenmeyer, ASLA
5.       By-Laws Committee  
6.       Ideas/Comments from the floor

Meetings are held at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Avenue). Please enter from the rear parking lot on Harrison Street. All West End residents are welcome and encouraged to attend. We hope to see you on Thursday evening!

And many of you have noted the reduced parking near the movie theater due to the Duball/Choice Hotels project. For more information on parking options around Town Center generally during construction, please visit  www.rockvilleparking.com 

Rockville Releases Annual Financial Reports 12/20/2012

Rockville Releases Annual Financial Reports

Summaries Give Public Look at City's Fiscal Health

Rockville, Md., Dec. 20 - The public can get a close look at the City of Rockville's budget and financial health from the most recently completed fiscal year in two annual reports that city staff delivered to the Mayor and Council this month.

Rockville ended the 2012 fiscal year on June 30, 2012 in a positive position. "The City of Rockville has experienced economic pressures similar to the rest of the country, although to a lesser degree," City Manager Barbara B. Matthews said in the City's Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR). "The City's General Fund, our main operating fund, ended FY 2012 in a positive position with a fund balance of $9.9 million, which represents a 15 percent reserve."

The PAFR (pronounced paff-er), likely to be of most interest to the public, is a summary document that outlines how the City spent funds and where the funding came from. The PAFR helps people to easily understand the City's financial structure and the City's finances after the fiscal year concludes.

The City created the first PAFR document several years ago as a way to explain in layman's terms the information contained in the City's audited financial report, known as the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

The CAFR, which City staff presented to the Mayor and Council on Dec. 17, is prepared by Rockville's Finance Department in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and audited by a firm of certified public accountants each year.

The PAFR is not a replacement for the CAFR, but a supplemental document to further assist the public in their review of the City government's financial operations.

The Fiscal Year 2012 PAFR describes:

• The overall financial health of the City
• The City's General Fund and the General Fund balance
• The City's Enterprise Funds
• The City's total debt load

The PAFR, CAFR and the City's adopted budget are available at www.rockvillemd.gov/budget. For more information, call the Finance Department at 240-314-8400.

A message from Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Reiemer

A message from Montgomery County Councilmember Hans Reiemer in December 2012:

We live in an era of great change. But can Montgomery County government keep pace?

That is a big question facing our county’s leaders. We want Montgomery County to be recognized as an innovation capital, where the government, the private sector, and community leaders work together on our biggest challenges.

In that spirit, the County Council recently passed a bill that I crafted called the Open Data Act. It will require County Government to be more sophisticated in how we collect and manage data and it will establish a new policy of sharing valuable data openly with the public. The new law is a foundation for a new digital strategy for Montgomery County, which I have helped formulate with County Executive Ike Leggett and his superb team.

What does it all mean for you?

• The county budget is now on the web in remarkable detail. Citizen analysts will be able to manipulate the data and even casual users can create their own visualizations using our online tools. The smallest budget details are searchable for each department, including the salary for all county employees. In time, every department will have a public data set.
• Use our new 311 mobile app to request county services. Want to report a road repair or fallen tree limb, request bulk trash pickup, you name it -- use 311 mobile wherever you are.
• 3rd party app developers will improve services. Across the country, app developers are figuring out how to create valuable services for consumers based on government data. From transportation planning apps to real estate and tax apps, you are going to benefit from letting the private sector leverage county data to create apps.
• Your voice can be heard in new ways. Already I talk with residents daily on my Facebook page. You may also interact on Facebook with the county police department, fire & rescue, libraries, regional centers, and more. The county also has a new tool for collaborating with residents, called engageMontgomery, where you may submit your own ideas for county priorities and “second” those submitted by others. Its a great tool that government agencies are using all across the country to garner input from residents.
• More innovation jobs in Montgomery County. MoCo has one of America’s most highly skilled workforces, we have dynamic IT and biotech companies. Striving for leadership in digital government will send a positive message to the private sector and the county council is specifically looking at how we can use these new tools to foster economic development.
• Next steps and how YOU can get involved. We need a forum where local government officials can join with experts, programmers, journalists and most importantly, citizens like you. I have proposed that the County begin planning a summit where participants can exchange ideas, advocate for issues, leverage open government content, and provide input for better local governing practices. This is a chance to help shape the community around us. The planning is still in initial stages and we will need help from people like you. Please reply to this email if you are interested.

In launching the new digital government agenda, the County Executive released a Digital Roadmap that says, “this strategy aims to be disruptive.”

That’s exactly right. We need to disrupt and create. New ideas will help us drive change in this county for the better.

WECA Considerations and Vote on Proposed Jehovah's Witness Development Project

The following provides an overview of the proposed Jehovah’s Witness development project (corner of Great Falls Rd and Maryland Ave) and the considerations contemplated in the recent WECA Executive Board vote regarding this project:

Proposal to Build a Second Kingdom Hall at Great Falls and Maryland

The Rockville Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses submitted plans in January 2011 for an additional place of worship/meeting for their Chinese congregation at the intersection of Great Falls Road and Maryland Avenue, across the street from Julius West Middle School. The site is currently developed with single family homes, 628 and 626 Maryland Avenue, and adjoins its current facility at 624 Great Falls Road. The house at 628 Maryland Avenue was purchased by the congregation in 2008 and is currently used as a residence; the house at 626 Maryland Avenue is currently used for office space.  After carefully following this project the WECA Executive Board has voted to oppose the project.  The details of the project and the reasons for this decision are explained below.  Information on how you can participate is included at the end.

Under the congregation’s current proposal, the house at 626 Great Falls Road would be demolished, and the stucco house at 628 Great Falls would be retained.  A 3,700 square foot worship hall addition would be made onto the house at 628 Great Falls Road (1,400 square feet), for a total of 5,100 square feet.  The worship hall will have with 130 seats. Development will include a parking lot providing 32 parking spaces, exceeding the 17 currently required by the Zoning Ordinance, and a one-way through driveway from Great Falls (right turn entrance only) to Maryland Avenue (right turn exit only).
 
A Post- Application Area Meeting took place on November 7^th, and the Development Review Committee met on November 15th.  A committee of WECA residents, including residents of Rose Hill Falls, Rose Hill, and Prospect Hill Court, has been closely following this application.  Following discussion of the project at the November 12^th WECA Executive Board, a motion was approved that WECA oppose this project.  Some of the continuing concerns include pedestrian and traffic safety issues, inadequate parking that has a significant impact on the character of the neighborhood and pedestrian safety, high use and traffic associated with the adjoining Jehovah properties, the destruction of the site as the current residential Gateway to the historic West End, and lack of information on plans for growth of the congregations.

The applicant will now submit responses to the Development Review Committee findings and resubmit plans based on these findings.  In early January, the DRC will again review the project.  The City staff will then submit a report to the Planning Commission.  If everything moves ahead without any major setbacks, the project may go before the Planning Commission in early February for review and approval.  This Level II site plans does not need approval of the Mayor and Council. 

For more information on the project including updates, see http://www.rockvillemd.gov/zoning/development/626-628GreatFallsRoad.html If you have any additional questions/comments or wish to join the committee, contact Noreen Bryan, WECA president, at president@weca.us.

November WECA Meeting - Thursday, Nov 15th at 7:00pm

The November WECA meeting will be held this Thursday, November 15^th at 7:00pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church. The agenda follows:

Agenda for WECA Executive Board Meeting                                      

Thursday, 15 November 2012 at 7:00pm

·         Welcome and Opening Comments/Introductions                               

·         Organizational/Business Items                                                           

o   Approval of Minutes from Sep 2012

o   Treasurer’s Report

o   Announcements

§  Historic District Commission (HDC) would like to meet with WECA.  HDC working on scheduling.

§  Ads for the newsletters

o   Updates from City

o   Report from Lt Over

·         Presentation of Latest Drawings for 274 N. Washington St.- JBG Representatives

·         Front Porch Forum - Discussion of a New Internet Communication Approach

·         Updates on other projects/issues

o   Update on Fireside- Noreen Bryan

o   Update on Jehovah Witness Project- Rose Sharkey                                                                   

o   Mansionization – Marlene Berg                                                               

·         Overview of Rockville Summit  - Susan Prince  

·         By-Laws Committee  

·         Ideas/Comments from the floor                                                

Meetings are held at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Avenue). Please enter from the rear parking lot on Harrison Street. All West End residents are welcome and encouraged to attend. We hope to see you on Thursday evening!

Homeowners Tax Credit Information

Deadline Nears for Homeowners Tax Credit Application

Residents Have Until Oct. 31 to Apply for City Credit

The City of Rockville offers a supplemental credit to the State of Maryland's Homeowners' Tax Credit Program, and the deadline to apply has been extended to October 31, 2012.

This program provides real property tax credits to low- and moderate-income residents for property taxes on their principal residence.

Under the City's current program, households with gross incomes up to $91,000 per year and a household net worth of less than $200,000 (not including the value of the home or qualified retirement savings) could qualify for tax relief on the first $495,000 of their home's assessed value. For low-income households, the credit could be several hundred dollars, with a maximum credit of the total City tax due on the first $495,000 of assessed value.

Seniors age 70 and up who are eligible for any state, county, or Rockville credits will automatically receive the homeowners tax credit with their application.

To apply for the tax credit, residents can submit a detailed application to the state's Department of Assessments and Taxation (DAT) at www.dat.state.md.us and it will be processed at the city level as well.

For more information, visit www.dat.state.md.us or call Rockville's Department of Finance at 240-314-8400 or the Maryland DAT toll free at 1-800-944-7403.

Rainbow Place Shelter Walk - Nov 18th

Share the bounty of the season and join the annual Rainbow Place Shelter Walk 2012 on Sunday, Nov. 18th

Registration & light lunch begins 11:30am; Walk departs from the Rockville Presbyterian church at 12:15pm

All fees and donations help to provide a warm, safe, caring winter shelter for homeless women. Be sure to be part of this pre-Thanksgiving gathering to share our blessings with those in greater need.

Walk departs from the church parking lot, located on Harrison Street, proceeds into Rockville Town Center, then returns to the church parking lot.  All registered walkers will receive a Rainbow Place Shelter Walk 2012 T-Shirt!

For more information, visit www.rainbowplace.org

October WECA General Membership Meeting - Oct 18th at 7:00pm

The October WECA General Membership meeting will be held this Thursday, October 18th at 7:00pm.
The meeting agenda follows:

·         Welcome and Opening Comments/Introductions                               

·         Organizational/Business Items                                                           

o   Approval of Minutes from Sep 2012

o   Treasurer's Report

o   Announcements: Introduction of Tom Kuehhas, the new Executive Director of the Montgomery County Historical Society

o   Election of new block captains - Kevin Zaletsky

o   Updates from the City

o   Report from Lt Over 

    Information on Jehovah Witness application to expand their church at intersection of Maryland Ave and Falls Rd

• For the plans go to: http://ww.rockvillemd.gov/zoning/development/626-628GreatFallsRoad.html

Updates on other projects/issues:

Update on Sidewalks on Maryland Ave and Fleet St.-  Vicki McMullen        

Update on Phase II JBG- Jacques Gelin                                                           

Update on Fireside- Noreen Bryan                                                                   

Mansionization – Deb Breesman                                                                     

Ideas/comments/questions from the floor                                                       

Meetings are held at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Ave). Please enter from the rear parking lot on Harrison Street. All West End residnts are welcome and encouraged to attend WECA meetings.  

WECA Items of Interest - Dawson's Market, Fireside Apts, Oct 18th General Membership Meeting and More!

WECA neighbors - Lots of activity is happening in and around the neighborhood! Please see the four items of interest below:

1.      Fireside Apartments Issue

For those of you interested in the Fireside Apartment issue (southern end of Monroe Street), where the City of Rockville is considering providing financial support for Rockville Housing Enterprise's (RHE) acquisition of Fireside Park Apartments to preserve moderately-priced rental housing in the City of Rockville, please note that this item will be discussed at the next Mayor & Council meeting on Monday, September 24^th. The WECA President, Noreen Bryan, has written an overview of this issue, which is available by contacting her at president@weca.us

 

2.      Dawson’s Market Invites You to their Grand Opening! Doors Open 7:00am on Sept 29^th (with Sept 28^th Sneak-Peek)

Friday, September 28th:

·         6:30pm: Rockville Town Square celebrates their final Friday Night Live of the season with the band, Mambo Combo!

·         7:00pm: Dedication of the Dawson's Market Pavilion by Mayor Marcuccio, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Federal Realty, Robin McBride, Dawson's Market owner, Rick Hood, and others.

·         7:45pm: Everyone is welcome to enjoy a sneak peek of the store before it opens on Saturday!

Saturday, September 29th:

·         7:00am: DOORS OPEN! Breakfast is served and the coffee will be hot!

·         10:00am - 4:00pm Grand opening activities start and last all day! VisArts will host a cookie decorating station outside and other kid friendly activities. Kids ages 5-12 are given the chance to design our next paper bag graphic. Enjoy live music on the Dawson's Market patio. Test your fruit & vegetable skills at our Name That Produce contest where you'll have the chance to win a $75.00 gift card to the store.

·         11:00am - 7:00pm: Curious as to what Dawson’s Market has to offer? We'll be sampling more delicious goodies all day long!

Dawson's Market is located at 225 N. Washington Street in Rockville Town Square, Rockville, Maryland. 

3.      Public Forum Set for Thursday, September 27^th for Ride On's Proposed Route Changes

Montgomery County will hold a public forum regarding proposed Ride On bus route changes on Thursday, September 27, 2012 beginning at 6:30 pm and ending after the last speaker at the Executive Office Building Cafeteria on Terrace Level, 101 Monroe St. Rockville, Maryland.
In order to serve areas that have been recently developed and to eliminate sections of routes that are under performing, Ride On has proposed changes to six Ride On routes and one Metrobus route operated on Saturday by Ride On. Those routes are 38, 47, 52, 53, 58, 98 and the Z2.
Public comment on the proposed changes will be accepted through 5:00 pm October 1, 2012.

For more information, please visit the Montgomery County Department of Transportation website, or contact Hjarman Cordero, hcordero@rockvillemd.gov, (240) 314-8344 at the City of Rockville.

 4.       WECA General Membership Meeting on Thursday, October 18^th at 7:00pm

Please mark your calendars for the fall WECA General Membership Meeting, being held on Thursday, October 18^th at 7:00pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church. Details on the agenda will be forthcoming in the meeting reminder, sent out a couple days before the meeting. Please plan to join your neighbors!

Celebrate Montgomery County's 236th Birthday with Sept 9th Festivities!

The Montgomery County Historical Society is celebrating Montgomery County’s 236^th Birthday with a free birthday party and fun festivities! Everyone is welcome to join in the celebration!

When: Sunday, September 9^th from 2pm – 5pm

Where: The Beall-Dawson Historical Park, 103 W. Montgomery Avenue, Rockville

What: Exhibits, reenactors, games, crafts, lectures, music and more!

For more information, please visit: http://www.montgomeryhistory.org/HBMC

September WECA Meeting - Thursday, Sept 6th at 7pm

Please note that the next WECA meeting is scheduled for the FIRST Thursday in September, on Thursday, September 6^th at 7:00pm (rather than our normal third Thursday of the month).  

In addition to this date shift, because of major renovations going on in our typical meeting room location, we will instead be meeting in the Sanctuary of the Rockville Presbyterian Church (the same location where we held the General Membership meeting back in May). Please park as you normally do in the rear parking lot accessible via Harrison Street, but walk around the building to enter through the Sanctuary FRONT door, which faces West Montgomery Avenue.  The street address for Rockville Presbyterian Church is 213 W. Montgomery Avenue.

In addition to the normal agenda items (prior meeting minutes approval, Treasurer's Report, City Update, Police Report) we will also cover the following items:

• * Election of new Block Captains
• * Update of Jehovah's Witnesses Project
• * Update on Sidewalks on Maryland Avenue & Fleet Street
• * PRESENTATION by JBG concerning their proposed development at the old Giant site
• * West End residents only - discussion of presentation and Phase II design

We look forward to seeing you then!