Montgomery County Council Meeting - March 10, 2026

The Montgomery County Council met on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 9:05 a.m. in the Council Hearing Room in Rockville, Maryland, with President Natali Fani-González presiding, Vice President Marilyn Balcombe, and all 11 councilmembers present. The meeting included two proclamations, five morning public hearings, a district council session, a semi-annual report from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), approval of a consent calendar, and four afternoon public hearings/actions on supplemental appropriations plus two public hearings on landlord-tenant legislation. The meeting adjourned at 2:39 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• Resolution 20-1056 (Item D): Adopted unanimously (11-0) designating the Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth, and Families as the County's Local Management Board, as recommended by the HHS Committee.
• Resolutions 20-1057 through 20-1060 (Items E-H): Adopted unanimously confirming County Executive appointments to the Commission on Children and Youth (Brittany Taylor), Racial Equity and Social Justice Advisory Committee (Kathy Guevara, James Stowe), Silver Spring Urban District Advisory Committee (six members), and Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee (four members).
• Items A, B, C: Introduced resolutions supporting the Wheaton Arts and Entertainment District redesignation, the Council of Governments' Local Food Procurement Challenge (Councilmember Friedson noted Montgomery County is the first jurisdiction in the region to support it), and a supplemental appropriation of $400,693 for MCPS's Blueprint Career Advising Program. Public hearings/action scheduled for March 24, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Bill 7-26 (Agricultural Buildings): Bob Sissel of Montgomery Agricultural Producers and Link Homing of Fair Access Committee spoke in support; Doug Leckleiter (Montgomery County Farm Bureau) supported; El Sean Ball (controlled environment agriculture farmer) supported with suggested clarifications. All stated the bill would reduce burdens on farms. No opposition.
• Expedited Bill 10-26 (Arts and Humanities): Luisa Cardona (Assistant Chief Administrative Officer) testified in support on behalf of the County Executive, noting the need to modernize a 50-year-old governance framework after an internal audit. No other speakers.
• Bill 11-26 (Fire/Rescue LOSAP): Christopher Jennison (Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Rescue Association) testified in support, noting the bill implements negotiated terms (two 4% LOSAP adjustments) with a fiscal impact estimated at $110,500 over six years. No opposition.
• Bill 12-26 (Developmental Disabilities Providers): No speakers; hearing closed.
• Supplemental Appropriation #26-59 (AHCMC): No speakers; hearing closed.
• Bill 8-26 (Rent Algorithms): Multiple speakers:
  • Support: Monique Ashton (Mayor of Rockville), Barry Jackson (Rockville City Councilmember), Cheryl Gannon (Montgomery County Civic Federation), Isola Shaw (Rockville City Councilmember/renter), Martin Michaels (We Are CASA), Matt Losak (Montgomery County Renters Alliance), Ben Winters (Consumer Federation of America), Sergean Yengo (Housing Justice Montgomery), Grant Sams (Rockville Renters United), Ali Ijaz (tenant organizer), Leanne Tobias (retired real estate executive), Janet Frank (Montgomery County Women's Democratic Club). They argued algorithms inflate rents by $70–$112/month, disproportionately harm minorities, and constitute price-fixing. Rockville officials noted eight properties (nearly 2,000 units) in their city are managed by companies named in lawsuits.
  • Opposition: Brian Anleu (Apartment and Office Building Association) argued the problem is supply, not software, and claimed only one-third of landlords use these tools, accepting recommendations about half the time. Lee Henry raised First Amendment concerns about including public databases. Russell Brazil (Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors) said the bill is overbroad and harms small housing providers. Mike Semko (RealPage senior vice president) stated rents are falling in areas with high RealPage usage due to increased supply, and criticized the bill's ban on public data.
• Bill 9-26 (Air Conditioning Standards):
  • Support: Pascal Lamar (Enclave Tenant Association) and Dick Stoner (property manager) generally supported but asked to keep single-family home exemption (Stoner argued historic homes without AC are affordable and tenants often prefer portable units). The County Executive's Office (Brian Anleu) opposed extending the cooling season to May 15, calling it a comfort issue not a safety one.

Discussion Items

• District Council Session (9:50 a.m.):
  • Introduced Remand of Local Map Amendment H-149 (Americana Glenmont, Silver Spring) with additional binding elements regarding building height; action tentatively scheduled for March 24, 2026, with a briefing from the Hearing Examiner.
  • Introduced Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-05, Expedited Approval Plan – Job Creation Project, sponsored by Council President Fani-González. It would rename “Signature Business Headquarters” to “Job Creation Project,” lower the required employees from 20,000 to 200, expand eligible zones, and add enforcement provisions. Nine councilmembers requested co-sponsorship. Public hearing scheduled for June 9, 2026.
  • Introduced and adopted Resolution 20-1055 (11-0) extending the public hearing for ZTA 26-05 to July 28, 2026. Motion by Councilmember Friedson, second by Councilmember Katz.
• M-NCPPC Semi-Annual Report (10:05 a.m.):
  • Planning Board Chair Harris highlighted 44 new plans approved in 2025 (3,100 dwelling units, 600,000 sq ft commercial space), 982 total applications reviewed, and the launch of the Community Planning Academy (463 registered as of the meeting). Director Sartori presented on environmental planning (2,700 trees planted, 17 climate assessments), the new Development Tracker (27,000 units with initial approval, 13,500 with all planning approvals), and ongoing master plans (University Boulevard, Clarksburg Gateway, Eastern Silver Spring, Friendship Heights, Germantown, Wheaton).
  • Parks Director Figueredo discussed outreach (1,200+ responses to restroom survey), the Black Baseball/Softball project, athletic field policy update (implemented fall 2027), new disc golf course, sign manual, and the facelift program (Porky the Litter Eater restoration). She noted the Potomac Horse Center demolition scheduled for spring 2026.
  • Councilmember Jawando requested park usage data; Director Figueredo said it's challenging but the 2027 PROS survey will help. Councilmember Katz requested a breakdown of approved units by type; Sartori later stated 80% multifamily, 20% single-family attached/detached. Councilmember Stewart asked about using the Planning Academy model for MCPS boundary studies. Councilmember Sayles raised the need for year-round enclosed spaces in Montgomery Village and the skate park at Centerway Park.

Key Outcomes

• Votes: All adoptions were unanimous (11-0) unless noted.
  • Consent Calendar (8 items) approved 11-0.
  • Resolution 20-1055 (extend ZTA 26-05 hearing date) adopted 11-0.
  • Supplemental Appropriations (Items 9-12): All adopted 11-0 after public hearings and record closure.
    • #25-89 (DEP Carbon Reduction/EVSE): $4,011,055 (state grant).
    • #26-19 (DEP Urban Trees): $719,750 (state grant).
    • #26-54 (MCPS Literacy Grant): $776,033 (state grant).
    • #26-55 (MCPS Employee Benefit Plan): $12,000,000 (MCPS fund balance).
• Public Hearing Records: All public hearings held; records remain open for written testimony until specified dates (March 10, 12, 16, or 19, 2026, depending on bill). Committee worksessions scheduled for subsequent months.
• Referrals: Bill 8-26 and Bill 9-26 referred to the Planning, Housing and Parks (PHP) Committee for a future worksession. Bill 7-26 to ECON (3/23), Expedited Bill 10-26 to GO/EC (3/19), Bill 11-26 to PS (3/11), Bill 12-26 to HHS (TBD), Supplemental #26-59 to GO/EC (3/19).