#TakomaPark council: public commenter continues, believes flyer ban would increase, not decrease, risk of First Amendment problems.
#TakomaPark council: public commenter addresses trees. "The message should be SOS." Notes Baltimore's loss of10% of a species of oak. Wonders whether constructors of Purple Line, who are cutting down trees, are planting trees. Wants 50-100 year plan.
#TakomaPark council: public commenter addresses Glenside Drive stormwater management project. Notes that it has been delayed. Believes measures at Jackson Avenue may be inadequate. "We have ten acres of impervious service coming down."
#TakomaPark council: public commenter addresses flyers. "Frankly I found out about this because of a flyer." Not aware of public concern; does not want a sterile neighborhood; worries about potential for differential enforcement; advocates for limiting any ban to permanent signs.
#TakomaPark council: on to council comments.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kovar mentions earlier assessment presentation, believes process "doesn't capture everything that's going on in Takoma Park. Hopes to testify at county cell tower hearing.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kovar mentions committee on environment document on application for Merrimac cell tower; hopes for further information.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Dyballa mentions upcoming regional meetings on stormwater, climate. Has been named to regional Council of Governments legislative committee.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Dyballa mentions work with State Highway Administration on crosswalks near Washington Adventist University.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Dyballa notes Pepco lighting changes disturbing some people's sleep; with city staff, has contacted Pepco.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kostiuk mentions work with Council of Government's Access for All committee; there are concerns about e-scooters (speeding, abandonment in sidewalks). Notes upcoming meeting of city's Complete Safe Streets Committee.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Smith notes Maryland Municipal League here tomorrow. Plans to attend National League of Cities meeting.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Smith feels council must consider how to claw back rent stabilization exemptions when landlords fall short in maintaining properties (and in other ways). Mayor Stewart asks city manager to arrange immediate meeting with owners Smith mentioned.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Searcy mentions recent meeting on opportunity zones; notes city staffer question about using crowd source funding to fund opportunity zones.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Searcy notes recent meeting with Maryland state planning officials and community association meeting.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Searcy lauds Crossroads Development Authority on new mural (on New Hampshire a bit south of University); notes their upcoming neighborhood advisory meeting.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Searcy thanks outgoing Crossroads Food Network for their work.
#TakomaPark council: Mayor Stewart notes recent event on getting a full count in the upcoming census; notes that, across the board, children under age five are undercounted.
#TakomaPark council: Mayor Stewart notes recent Scout pancake breakfast, Morial Day event. Notes that today is World Kindness Day. Mentions council's letter to county on cell tower matters
#TakomaPark council: Mayor Stewart mentions today's Council of Government's meeting (and it's new housing goals).
#TakomaPark council: on to city manager comments.
#TakomaPark council: city manager recaps status of junction redevelopment. Mentions Merrimac Avenue cell tower application; staff has determined that permit requirements have been met.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Searcy: what of concerns about multiple language signage mentioned at community meeting? Mayor: need to determine whether it needs to be addressed by council (in code) or staff (in regulations).
#TakomaPark council: cell tower installers may have agreed to multi-language sign in this case; to be checked.
#TakomaPark council: city manager provides update on bikeways projects. Notifies council they'll be doing emergency purchasing for tree removal work.
#TakomaPark council: on to work session (no formal votes) with five discussions. First up: closing Laurel Avenue on 5/2/2020 for the Takoma Children's Business Fair. Mayor covers the details.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kostiuk lauds Children's Business Fair.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kovar: open to Taking Park kids? Councilmember Kostiuk: yes. Public commenter (fair organizer): open to all; priority for Takoma Park kids.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Searcy: supports kid's business fair; "longer-tail investment."
#TakomaPark council: discussion #2 (of six, not five--I miscounted (on a contract for an elevator refit (about $196,000--ulp).
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Dyballa: what of sump pump and disposal costs? Public Works head: elevator goes to basement; disposal of old elevator stuff.
#TakomaPark council: on to discussion #3, on purchase of replacement police vehicles. Police chief notes that electric patrol vehicles are not yet available; hybrids are available, and two are to be purchased.
#TakomaPark council: total cost of this round of replacement police vehicles: about $110,000.
#TakomaPark council: on to discussion #4 of draft tree ordinance amendments. City attorney has now taken the stage. Mayor runs down history and status of tree work. "I'm going to walk us through the draft ordinance."
#TakomaPark council: Mayor notes that Urban Forest Manager has been on leave, city attorney plans to consult with rmthem on some matters in their return.
#TakomaPark council: Mayor Stewart hopes to complete tree work with one or two work sessions in 2020, followed by votes.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Dyballa wonders why draft definition of ecosystem services differs from that provided by tree commission. City attorney hasn'r seen commission's proposal.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Dyballa: what of time frame in definition of hazardous? Public Works head: should hew to existing standards.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Dyballa: why are we defining tree impact assessment/service? City attorney: either at council or commission request.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kostiuk spots a lurking "he/she;" folks amenable to changing it to "they."
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kovar hopes that a reference to "city manager" can be changed to "city manager or delegate." Public Works head: in this particular case, oughta be the city manager. City attorney: can handle "or designee" business in definitions section.
#TakomaPark council: on to chapter on "undesirable vegetation." Mayor Stewart recaps changes. Councilmember Dyballa asks whether listed noxious growths should be changed to a mention of "invasive vines" generally. Folks seem amenable to a "such as" preamble to the list.
#TakomaPark council: in answer to Councilmember Searcy's question, Mayor Stewart notes that a newish provision is designed to allow the city manager to require that infested trees be marked and/or that proper disposal be certified.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kostiuk wonders about ban on vegetation higher than three feet within twenty feet of an intersection; sees safety as important, but wonders if this is too restrictive.
#TakomaPark council: on to section in tree impact assessment requirement. Mayor notes change: no assessment required for up to ten percent pruning (currently five percent).
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kostiuk hopes that language about compacting soul and damaging tree root can be generalized to damaging tree root. Wants better definition of what am emergency is for purposes of not requiring a tree impact assessment.
#TakomaPark council: folks worry about "tree impact assessment or tree preservation plan" language; want it clear that both are required in all cases. Councilmember Dyballa wonders if the two can be combined in some cases.
#TakomaPark council: city attorney: staff and commission recommend against combining tree impact assessment and tree protection plan. Councilmember Dyballa: "I'm not convinced." Public Works Head notes that it now takes 2-3 days to do assessment after a proper application.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kostiuk suggests moving specific fees to regulations. Folks seem amenable.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kovar worries about the law allowing a requirement to hire an arborist to draft a tree protection plan, fears it may become the default.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Dyballa wonders if "significant" needs better definition. Public Works head: could give percentages, but there's variation from site to site.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kostiuk: why"certified arborist or licensed landscape architect"? City attorney: "licensed landscape architect" should come out.
#TakomaPark council: Public Works head: are we removing the appeal process for tree protection plans?
#TakomaPark council: city manager suggests changing headings to start with "approval process" to clarify what sections cover. Folks seem amenable.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kovar notes that some native species may be undesirable; may want native, undesirable, and invasive as categories. City manager: could get by with undesirable (which would include invasive).
#TakomaPark council: councilmember Kovar worries that "impacting a building" is vague. Public Works head: this is more flexible than having a list.
#TakomaPark council: councilmember Kostiuk wonders how number three was arrived at in mentions of "life expectancy of three years." Councilmember Kovar suggests using "active decline" rather than life expectancy.
#TakomaPark council: Mayor Stewart asks if folks are okay with eliminating appeals of approvals of tree protection plan. Councilmember Kovar: what if neighbors trees might be affected? If allowed, 10 day period for appeal might be too short; might need 15 days.
#TakomaPark council: Public Works head notes that recent appeal had merit and did lead to change in tree protection plan. Folks seem amenable to continuing to allow tree protection plan appeals (perhaps more limited than now).
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kovar believes that written explanation should always be required if a tree protection plan is rejected. Public Works head is amenable.
#TakomaPark council: buzz acronym for the night: UFM (Urban Forest Manager).
#TakomaPark council: councilmember Dyballa wonders about including a list of factors to consider in evaluating tree protection plans. Folks seem amenable to reviewing the language.
#TakomaPark council: and now I'll slow down a bit so that @Twitter does not mistake me for a robot.
#TakomaPark council: councilmember Dyballa wonders whether specification of what tree replacement fund can be used for should be covered in code or covered in regulation.
#TakomaPark council: Mayor Stewart notes change to not allow appeals of tree replacement calculations.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kostiuk wonders about whether there's a time limit in code on holding for hearings on appeals. City attorney: no; they have been handled as expeditiously as possible.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Dyballa suggests moving language of notice of tree regulations required on sale of homes to be moved to regulations. Folks seem amenable.
#TakomaPark council: and that's a wrap on review of the tree ordinance draft. Mayor recaps upcoming steps.
#TakomaPark council: on to discussion #5, discussion of regulation of signs in right-of-way. City attorney takes the helm; recaps a memo they wrote on "regulation of signs in the public right of way."
#TakomaPark council: city attorney mentions 2015 United States Supreme Court decision; notes that city law predates that decision. Notes that safest way forward is to have limits that do not cover content, but only time, place, and manner.
#TakomaPark council: city attorney notes that safest course forward is that "everybody plays by the same rules."
#TakomaPark council: city attorney notes that it is okay to regulate size and method of posting.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Seamens sees value in posting of signs by community. Notes that majority of notices are posted on utility poles (despite legal stands of utility owners).
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Seamens: "When [people] find a sign to be objectionable, they take it down." Wants signs to include contact information, date posted.
#TakomaPark council: Me: does a requirement to include a date and contact information amount to regulation based on content?
#TakomaPark council: Mayor Stewart wants a size limit (not necessarily letter size, perhaps a bit bigger). Wants to ensure business sandwich boards are permitted.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Smith: "I wish we weren't talking about this." Has not heard sign complaints during time on council. Wants requirements that are easy to meet; willing to have time limits.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Dyballa: "I don't see why we would do a permit program...I'm trying to dispose of it as an option."
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Dyballa: any way to distinguish signs for lemonade stands from signs for carpet businesses? City attorney: runs a risk.
#TakomaPark council: Mayor Stewart notes that current attention to signs was based on resident request.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Dyballa wonders whether there's a way clearer than "right-of-way" to frame regulation. City attorney: right-of-way is what it is, and it varies in the city.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Dyballa: what does Pepco have to say about utility poles? City manager: prohibits posting signs on poles, meaning city does not now have places to post signs that are legal.
#TakomaPark council: city manager wonders about establishing bus shelters and bus stop signs as legal places to post signs.
#TakomaPark council: city manager notes both complaints about signs and sympathy for lost-cat signs. "Signs are hard."
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kostiuk wants to identify places where signs can be legally placed, wants to allow large signs in some cases (perhaps by permit).
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kostiuk wonders about election signs in right-of-way. City attorney: should not treat election signs differently.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kovar: I have gotten sign complaints; concern did not come out of nowhere. Notes that it is rare for folks to take down event signs after the event.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kovar suggests a permit process for bigger signs (to cover business sandwich boards). Worries that signs at bus shelters won't serve all parts of city (where buses don't go).
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Kovar wonders about being able to take down hateful signs.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Searcy: "We will have an explosion of commercial signs" if signs are permitted in right-of-way without limitation of content. Suggests placing newspaper boxes at bus stops (including school bus stops), community bulletin boards.
#TakomaPark council: Councilmember Searcy: "If I lost my dog, I would probably litter this entire City and I wouldn't care who complained."
#TakomaPark council: city attorney notes that commercial signs are already posted in some parts of city; does not expect an explosion no matter what council does.
#TakomaPark council: are commercial signs currently illegal in right-of-way? City mamager: yes.
#TakomaPark council: Mayor Stewart wraps up; city attorney will give it another go. Mayor Stewart expects one or two more work sessions on sign matters before ant voting.
#TakomaPark council: final discussion, on appointments to volunteer committees. Councilmember Seamens notes they will be voted on Monday.
#TakomaPark council #GavelDowm (I believe actually tonight, but my ears may have received me.)
