Margery,

As we move into November and reflect on the season of gratitude, I want to take a moment to thank you for being an important part of our District 3 community. This time of year provides an opportunity to express appreciation while also considering the diverse histories and experiences tied to the Thanksgiving holiday.

From all of us in the District 3 office, we wish you a season filled with warmth, rest, and connection. Thank you for the many ways you contribute to our shared community—whether by sharing concerns, offering feedback, advocating for change, or supporting your neighbors. Your dedication helps shape a more inclusive and vibrant future for all.

As always, my office is here to listen, assist, and advocate on your behalf. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s a way we can support you or your community. Wishing you a safe, reflective, and healthy November!

On November 4th, the County Council convened for our November Legislative Session. The Council voted on several pieces of legislation, including the following:

• CB58-2024: An act amending the process for the issuance and appeal of citations for violations of animal control provisions of the County Code; providing that appeals may go to the Animal Matters Hearing Board or to the District Court; providing that the Board may take certain actions; and generally relating to the enforcement of animal control provisions of the Code. This bill passed. as amended, in a 5-0 vote. Introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.

• CB59-2024: An act amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to allow Self-Storage Facilities, Indoor as a conditional use in the Business: General (B-2) zoning district, under certain conditions; and generally relating to Self-Storage Facilities, Indoor uses. This bill was tabled in a 5-0 vote. Introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.

New legislation was introduced at the November 4th Legislative Session, including:

• CB61-2024: An act establishing the Office of the Inspector General; specifying the selection, term, qualifications, and responsibilities of the Inspector General; providing for the referral of certain matters; specifying the funding and powers of the Office of the Inspector General; requiring certain reports; establishing the Inspector General Citizen Board; specifying the composition, term, and responsibilities of the Inspector General Citizen Board; amending the whistleblower protection statute; and generally relating to the Office of the Inspector General. Introduced by Councilmembers Liz Walsh, Christiana Rigby, Deb Jung, and David Yungmann.

• CR161-2024: A resolution approving the urban renewal project for the Long Reach Village Center in Columbia pursuant to Section 13.1106 of the Howard County Code. A public hearing for this bill will be held on January 21, 2025. Introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.

• CB60-2024: An act amending the membership of the Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency to add an ex officio member and to amend the number of members accordingly; and generally relating to boards and commissions. Introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.

• CB62-2024: An act amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to allow School, Commercial as a permitted use in the Office Transition (OT) zoning district; and generally relating to the OT zoning district. Introduced the Chairperson at the request of Demirel Plaza, LLC.

• CB63-2024: An act amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to allow Self Storage, Indoor as a permitted use in the Corridor Activity Center (CAC) zoning district; to allow for the reduction of first floor retail space in the CAC zoning district; to allow for certain residential uses in the CAC zoning district; and generally relating to the CAC zoning district. Introduced by the Chairperson at the request of The Weinman Company.

• CB64-2024: An act amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to allow Warehousing, within a flex space as a permitted use in the Corridor Employment (CE) zoning district. Introduced by the Chairperson at the request of Tradepoint Atlantic, LLC.

A public hearing for this legislation will be held on Monday, November 18th at 7:00 PM. The legislation will be up for a vote at the December Legislation Session on Monday, December 2nd at 7:00 PM.

Racial Equity Webinar Series

The Office of Human Rights and Equity is hosting “Racial Equity: A Call-to-Action,” a webinar series for residents to discuss racial equity and community efforts to create equitable and inclusive communities.

On Monday, November 18th at 6:00 PM, OHRE will be joined by Ishaan Busireddy to discuss Youth Change Agents and on Monday, December 2nd at 6:00 PM, Dr. Denise Boston will discuss Advancing Racial Equity.

Both webinars will be featured on OHRE's Facebook and Instagram, and on the Howard County Government Youtube Channel.

BICA Training

On Tuesday, November 19th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the Office of Human Rights and Equity and Howard County Library System are hosting Bystander Intervention and Cultural Awareness (BICA) training.

This virtual training equips participants with the practical tools needed to help them intervene if someone in their community is being targeted or harassed. Register for the training by visiting the Howard County Library System website.

Elkridge Community Center & 50+ Center Meeting

The Department of Recreation and Parks is hosting a community input meeting on Thursday, November 21st from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department for residents to share their feedback on the design of the new Elkridge Community Center! This meeting is a chance for residents to have a voice in shaping this exciting new space.

The County recently acquired 25+ acres for the center, which will feature an athletic center, meeting spaces, a gymnasium, early childcare learning rooms, and activity rooms, with space for a future pool addition.

For those unable to attend the meeting who would like to submit public comment about the new center, please visit the Recreation & Parks website by no later than 5:00 PM on Monday, November 25th to present your testimony.

For more information about this meeting, visit the Recreation & Parks website or for questions, contact Anna Hunter at ahunter@howardcountymd.gov.

Make the Switch to Solar

The Office of Community Sustainability has partnered with Solar United Neighbors to help Howard County residents save money on rooftop solar for their homes. Resources available through Solar United Neighbors teach residents about solar technology and financial considerations. With registration open now through November 22nd, Solar Switch participants can expect to save an average of $7,478 on a typical-sized solar installation, plus save an additional 30 percent with available federal tax credits. 

To learn more about switching to solar, visit the Solar Switch website.

Thanksgiving Support

The Department of Community Resources and Services is ready to help Howard County residents experiencing food insecurity. On Monday, November 25th from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM at the North Laurel Community Center and the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department, staff will be onsite to hand out meal baskets to residents. Please note that there is a one basket per household limit and only available while supplies last. Registration is not required in advance.

For more information, please contact Ms. Valerie Mathis at 410-313-0220 or email vmathis@howardcountymd.gov for North Laurel pick up questions or Mr. Triston Cooper at 410-313-6549 or email tcooper@howardcountymd.gov for Elkridge pick up questions.

County Executive's Residents' Budget Hearing

County Executive Calvin Ball is hosting the first Residents' Budget Hearing on Monday, December 9th at 6:00 PM. This hearing is a great opportunity for residents to share their thoughts and inform the budget process. The hearing will be held virtually, and residents can register online. Individual residents will have three minutes to speak, and groups will have five minutes. The meeting will be streamed on the County Council's streaming website.

Proposed Regional Bike Network Feedback

The Bikeable Baltimore Region (BBR) project is presenting the Proposed Regional Bike Network for community feedback. Currently, the Baltimore region has over 600 miles of bike lanes and paths, but many of these routes are not connected. Because of this, it is challenging for bikers to safely travel around the region. By identifying a regional bike network, we can focus on building connections that people want and need.

Comments are accepted online from now until January 10, 2025. A virtual public meeting will be held on Thursday, December 12th at 6:00 PM. Share your feedback on the proposed network by visiting the BBR website.

North Laurel/Savage Facade Improvement Grant

The Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA), in partnership with Howard County, has received $75,000 from Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to support a Facade Improvement Grant Program for businesses in the North Laurel-Savage Sustainable Community area. This program will open up a new opportunity to assist businesses with making exterior, aesthetic improvements to their properties. The grant offers 100% reimbursement for the first $5,000 of eligible and pre-approved project costs and 50% reimbursement for total eligible project costs more than $5,000. The minimum grant award for an application is $1,000 and the maximum is $20,000. 

Learn more by visiting the HCEDA website.

Leave Your Leaves

When the leaves fall, it's tempting, and common for many of us, to rake them up. We see the season changing as a bit of nuisance to lawn care. However, there are many environmental benefits to leaving the leaves. Instead of seeing the fallen leaves as waste, think of them as a valuable resource to our local ecosystem.

As they break down, leaves provide essential nutrients to the soil, acting as a natural fertilizer. This decomposition process returns organic matter to the ground, adding vital minerals to the soil and improving its structure. By allowing leaves to decompose on your lawn or in garden beds, you can reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and support healthier plant growth.

Leaving leaves also creates a natural habitat for many insects and wildlife. Leaf litter serves as a warm home for pollinators like butterflies, moths, and bees, which are critical to our local ecosystems. It also provides shelter for small creatures, such as toads and salamanders, helping them survive the colder months.

Additionally, keeping leaves in place can help reduce waste. Bagging and removing leaves requires time and effort and contributes to the volume of organic material in landfills, where they take up space and release greenhouse gases as they decompose.

For those interested in lawn care, mulching leaves with a mower is a simple way to prevent them from covering your grass. Shredded leaves break down more quickly and can help insulate your lawn over the winter, protecting it from extreme temperatures and moisture loss. Another option is bagging the leaves so they can be picked up with Green Bin Composting or yard trim collection.

By leaving leaves in your yard, mulching them, or composting, you are reducing your environmental footprint and promoting sustainability. So, this fall, instead of bagging your leaves, consider leaving them where they fall or putting them to good use as mulch or compost!

The County is seeking members to serve on numerous Boards and Commissions. Below is a list of current openings:

• Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission – seeks one college/trade school commissioner to advise the County Executive on policy initiatives and issues affecting the AAPI community. 
• Cemetery Preservation Advisory Board – seeks up to three adult applicants who represent or work in the development-building industry, religious, or special interest in historic preservation or genealogy to review newly discovered cemeteries for County adoption and advise on historic cemetery resources. Two applicants may live outside Howard County.
• Commission on Women – seeking members of the general public interested in serving a three-year term, who are 18 years of age or older, have an interest in women’s equality and able to attend the Commission’s meetings. 
• Design Advisory Panel – seeks up to two adult applicants with professional experience in urban planning and landscape architecture to review a variety of development plans, conditional use applications and design guidelines and encourage excellence in building architecture and site design.
• Historic Preservation Commission – seeks two adult applicants who live or own property in the Lawyers Hill Historic District or who have architectural experience or professional experience in the architectural field to review applications for alterations to historic structures, provide advice on historical resources and review applications for historic tax credits.
• Human Rights Commission – seeks two adult applicants interested in engaging and educating the community, studying and investigating human rights issues, proposing and improving policies on human rights, and interpreting and enforcing the Howard County Human Rights Code. 
• La Alianza Latina Commission – seeks four adult commissioners and one college/trade school commissioner to promote diversity, civility and address the concerns of Latino and immigrant communities.
• LGBTQIA+ Commission – seeks four adult commissioners and one college/trade school commissioner to advance policy and systemic change for persons who are in the LGBTQIA+ community.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission – seeks four adult commissioners to help coordinate appropriate ceremonies and activities to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King. Appointed by the County Executive, Commission members serve an initial two-year term. 
• Opioid Restitution Fund Commission – seeks individuals or family members of an individual with an opioid use disorder, advocates or substance use disorder professionals that provide education, treatment or prevention services, certified peer recovery specialists, and a student representative under the age of 19 at the time of their appointment to help with reviewing and providing recommendations about the use of settlement and grant funds related to addressing opioid use disorders. 
• Public Works Board – applicants sought to support the plans and policies of the Department of Public Works. 

If you are interested in learning more about these commissions and/or how to apply, visit the Boards and Commissions website.

• Energy and Utility Assistance
• Food Assistance from the Howard County Food Bank
• Emergency Broadband Assistance
• Volunteer Opportunities

• HCPD Daily Bulletin
• Interactive Map
• Unemployment Benefits from the State of Maryland
• Maryland Vaccine Locator

There is one community pre-submission meetings scheduled in District 3.

Name: Adair's Subdivision

Sign Code: R11

Meeting Date: Monday, December 2, 2024

Meeting Address: Savage Branch Library, 9525 Durness Lane, Laurel, MD 20723

Acres: 0.78

Planned use: Subdivide 0.78 acres into 2 lots

Christiana Rigby

Councilwoman, District 3

crigby@howardcountymd.gov

410-313-2001

Colette Gelwicks

Chief of Staff

cgelwicks@howardcountymd.gov

410-313-2421