I wish you and all those close to you a joyous holiday season and a new year filled with happiness and hope. One of the greatest joys of this season is the opportunity to say THANK YOU! So, during this season of giving, my thanks go out to:
- my very supportive family, particularly my husband,
- the District 4 staff (China Williams, Ginnie Gick, and Roz Hightower) who take great care of constituents and of me,
- the employees of our County government who work hard to serve the public every day,
- the County residents who make many personal contributions of time and assistance to the ongoing fabric of Howard County, and
- the many nonprofit organizations who are often overtaxed at this time of year but maintain good spirits, working through thick and thin.
Thank you for making the holidays meaningful. I hope that each and everyone of you experience all the love and happiness that this season can bring!
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The Council's most recent voting session occurred on December 2; see below for an overview of the legislation and vote outcomes. No new legislation was introduced at the December session because of the Council's end-of-the-year recess. Per the Charter, we also select our chairs and appointments for 2020. Congratulations to all of my colleagues in the old and new chair positions and for completing a marathon year of legislation.
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CB62: Forest Conservation
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Thanks to D4 student intern, Keon Parsa, for this informative CB62 Vote Outcomes infographic.
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CB62 as Amended
Amendment 1 amended by amendment 1: Changes the definition of an existing forest to 35 feet wide and replanted forest to 50 feet wide, changes site design requirements, technical corrections.
Amendment 3: Changes "forester" to "licensed landscape architect or certified arborist."
Amendment 4 amended by amendment 1: Changes threshold percentages for land use types.
Amendment 9: Removes the definition of unwarranted hardship.
Amendment 11: Removes the Planning Board from the variance process.
Amendment 13: Removes the grandfathering clause.
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Special Election: Maryland's 7th Congressional District
February 4
A special primary to fill the seat of U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings (D), who died October 17, will be held on February 4.
Howard County schools will be closed for the special election so that the buildings can be used as polling centers.
Click
here
for more information.
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General Assembly News
On November 6, State lawmakers announced the "Built to Learn Act" (HB1 and SB 1) for the 2020 session that would provide an additional $2.2 billion to local governments for school construction and renovations. Funding would originate from bonds issued by the Maryland Stadium Authority and would be paid back over 30 years using $125 million a year in casino revenues intended for education spending.
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State Delegation: Local Bills
There are 14 local bond initiatives, ranging from funding for projects such as Ellicott City sidewalks and an educational facility at the Community Ecology Institute, located at Columbia’s last working farm.
There are 14 local bills, many of which deal with school boundary adjustments and school assignments.
There is also a bill dealing with liquor inspectors; Senator Lam kindly collaborated with me and the Howard County Police Department in an effort to address concerns that arose during my tenure as chair of the Board of License Commissioners.
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Kirwan Commission Update
On November 21, the Kirwan Commission voted on its $4 billion recommendations for school funding formulas and program phase-ins; the recommendations will proceed to the General Assembly for consideration. Increased education spending would be phased-in over a 10-year period with the State responsible for an additional $2.8 billion and local jurisdictions for $1.2 billion by 2030.
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Potholes Be Gone
Report potholes and other repair requests and track the solution through
SeeClickFix
.
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Visit the county's interactive
pDox
tool for more.
1/15/20 & 1/29/20 Zoning Board hearing Hickory Ridge Village Center Redevelopment
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Alternative Compliance Access
The Department of Planning and Zoning now provides online access to alternative compliance decisions that allow exemptions from development regulations for site-specific situations.
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FineFix
The State has announced a debt forgiveness program for uninsured motorist fines. This program provides State residents an opportunity to reduce their delinquent fines by 80%.
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Recycling Trivia
What Happens to HDPE Plastic?
Milk jugs, detergent bottles, and other plastics labeled with #2 emblem go
to Waste Management Recycle America in Elkridge for separation from other recyclables. These items are then sent to Mauser Packaging Solution facility in Reidsville, NC, where they are washed, shredded and processed into pellets or bricks to be sold to processors for drainage pipes, plastic parts, and dumpster lids.
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Other Legislation
Here are highlights of legislation introduced on November 4 and voted on December 2.
CB57
Prohibiting the distribution of electronic tobacco products to individuals under 21 years of age.
Passed as amended
CB61
Amending the criteria for granting waivers.
Passed as amended
CB63
Altering buffers along a Scenic Road.
Passed as amended
CB64
Providing a fee for disposable plastic bags.
Passed as amended
CB65
Amending Zoning Regulations to reduce setbacks for buildings and parking uses associated with Commercial Athletic Facilities.
Passed
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Howard County Council New Officers & Appointments
County Council
Chair: Deb Jung, District 4
Vice: Liz Walsh, District 1
Zoning Board
Chair: Opel Jones, District 2
Vice Chair: David Yungmann, District 5
Board of License Commissioner (Liquor Board)
Chair: David Yungmann, District 5
Vice Chair: Christiana Rigby, District 3
Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), Legislative Committee
Delegate:
Christiana Rigby (Deb Jung, alternate)
National Association of Counties (NACo)
Liaison: Christiana Rigby (Deb Jung, alternate)
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Boundary Review Process Completed
The Howard County Board of Education voted on school attendance areas for the 2020–2021 school year on November 21, 2019.
The redistricting plan will go into effect in the 2020-2021 school year and will reassign 5,402 students at the following levels:
- 2,827 elementary
- 568 middle school
- 2,007 high school level.
The final plan reduces overcrowding at nine schools bringing 51 schools to within 90–110% capacity.
Of the 33 schools with percentages of students receiving
Free and Reduced Meals (FARM)
that exceed the countywide average of 22.5%, 13 schools will experience 5% to 22% decrease in their FARMs rate.
Click
here
for more details on the final plan.
Click
here
for HCPSS School Locator, which now shows the new school boundaries.
Click
here
for information about supports for reassigned students.
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HCPSS Health & Dental Fund Deficit
On November 7, the Board of Education approved a $15.2 million transfer from the General Fund to reduce the fund's deficit to $24.0 million.
This decision by the BOE requires legislative action on the part of the County Council. The County Council discussed this matter at the most recent County Council/BoE Joint Meeting.
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Safety Concerns on US 29 & Rivers Edge Road
The traffic signal at Rivers Edge Road is the last remaining light on US 29, which is classified as a freeway/expressway carrying over 90,000 vehicles a day.
Due to safety and congestion concerns, MDOT SHA is reviewing modifications to Rivers Edge Road that would allow right-turns only to and from US 29. Such a change would remove the traffic light and close the median crossover.
If this change is adopted motorists exiting Rivers Edge Road travelling north on US 29 to drive about one mile south to the US 29/Johns Hopkins Road interchange to access northbound US 29. Alternatively motorists travelling to Rivers Edge Road from northbound US 29 would use the interchange at westbound MD 32, about ¾ miles north of Rivers Edge Road.
A final traffic analysis and public meeting will be held in February. A final decision will be made following the public meeting.
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BWI Roundtable Update
The BWI Roundatble voted on November 19 to approve the flight-pattern
recommendations
to reduce aircraft noise. The Maryland Aviation Administration will forward the proposed solutions to the Federal Aviation Administration for review.
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State Efforts to Address Climate Change
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is finalizing its 2019 Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Act Plan in an effort to help Maryland achieve its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emission by 40% by 2030. Public comment sessions are being scheduled.
Click
here
to read the report.
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Columbia Named Safest City in the US
For the second year in a row, Columbia has won the "Safest City in America" designation from WalletHub, a website providing credit report and financial news. The rankings compared more than 180 cities across 41 key indicators of safety, from assaults per capital to unemployment rates.
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Public Meeting: Lime Kiln Road Improvement Project
December 18, 6-7:30pm, Media Center, Fulton Elementary School, 11600 Scaggsville Road, Fulton
A public meeting will be held to discuss the first phase of plan
ned
improvements to Lime Kiln Road.
Phase I will include realignment of a 650-foot section of roadway, relocation of utilities, and improvements to an existing culvert between 11957 and 12185 Lime Kiln Road. The project is expected to begin in summer 2021.
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Congratulations to ...
The
Wilde Lake boys' soccer team
for their overtime win at the 3A State championship. Click
here
for more.
The
Wilde Lake girls' soccer team
for advancing to the 3A State finals.
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The recipients of the
Celebration of Academic Achievement
presented by the Council of Elders of the Black Community of Howard County & HCPSS.
River Hill High School
for being selected as one of Maryland's 15 best STEM high schools by
Newsweek
. Click
here
for more.
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HCPSS students
whose artwork is on display in the Banneker Room at the George Howard Building. I enjoy viewing the diversity of our County's artistic talents during legislative sessions.
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Community Organizations Active in Disaster
This local private partnership has recently been established to coordinate disaster response. Click
here
for more.
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Below are some of the events and meetings I have recently attended. Let me know about your community activities so I can stop by, if my schedule allows.
11|14
Office on Aging and Independence Thanksgiving Banquet
11|17 Neighbor Ride 15th Anniversary
11|18 Bicycle Advisory Group Meeting
11|18 Student Art Reception
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|19 Howard County State Delegation Public Hearing on Local Bills
11|21 Howard County Farm Bureau Annual Banquet
11|22 Fifth District Volunteer Fire Department Annual Awards Banquet
11|24 NAACP Youth Council Meal for the Homeless
11|26 Annual Turkey Distribution, Howard County Food Bank
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30 Frosty Fun Run, Ice and Fire
12|04 - MACo Conference
12
|06 - Midnight Madness Welcome Reception
12|07 - Breakfast with Santa, Wilde Lake Village
12|08 - Future of Healthcare Town Hall
12|09 - County Executive's FY2021 Budget Meeting
12|10 - C-Span Bus visit to River Hill High School
12|10 - River Hill Village Town Hall
12|12 - Wilde Lake Boys' Soccer Team Banquet
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Left:
Office on Aging and Independence Thanksgiving Banquet, Student Art Reception, Annual Turkey Distribution, Midnight Madness Welcome Reception;
Right:
Frosty Fun Run, Future of Health Care, C-Span Bus Visit
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2020 Winter Activity Guide
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Ice and Fire Festival
Now through December 22nd
Saturdays and Sundays from 5pm - 8pm
10431 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia
Stroll through the Light Forest, get lost in the Light Maze, and be enthralled by the Ice Fairy and her friends as they transform Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods into a Winter Wonderland.
Click
here
for more information.
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Open on Wednesday, December 25
County parks (NO staff present)
Closed Wednesday, December 25
County government offices
Courts
Animal shelter
50+ centers
Alpha Ridge Landfill
Community centers, athletic complex and activity rooms
Robinson Nature Center
Baltimore & Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum
County historic sites
No trash or recycling service, yard trim and food scrap pick-up services
No RTA Service
Parking fees not enforced
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5th Annual Kwanzaa Celebration
Thursday, December 26, 5:30 pm
George Howard Building, Ellicott City
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and the Office of Human Rights invite the public to join them for an evening celebrating Kwanzaa, a seven-day festival commemorating the African-American people, their culture, and their heritage.
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