OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Rockville Mayor and Council Meeting Summary: June 16, 2025

Meeting Portal — Monday, June 16, 2025
BodyRockville, Maryland
SessionMeeting Portal
DateMonday, June 16, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good evening, Rockville.

0:01

Today is June 16, 2025.

0:03

We are beginning meeting 17 25.

0:06

Please join as you're able in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:21

One nation and individual liberty for all.

0:33

We'll now move to agenda review.

0:35

Miss Sarah Taylor Pharrell.

0:37

Madam Mayor and Council members, the agenda was updated to include uh the public comments for 12B, the election reform that we received, and also a revised mock from this morning's uh LPT meeting to remove the item 9A.

0:53

Thank you.

0:56

Mr.

0:57

City Manager, City Manager's Report.

1:00

Mayor Ashton, members of City Council, ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

1:04

In the interest of time, since we're a very long agenda tonight, I'll just say that staff is very busy with a number of ordinance updates, a number of community events and improvements to our parks and recreation facilities.

1:15

Thank you, Mayor.

1:18

Thank you.

1:19

We'll now move on to oh, any questions from colleagues?

1:22

All right.

1:23

We'll now move on to our board and commission appointment and reappointment.

1:27

We have two to do today.

1:33

Colleagues.

1:36

Councilmember Valeri.

1:42

I move the reappointment of May Liz Ortuzar to serve a full three-year term until July 1st, 2028 to the Cultural Arts Commission.

1:52

Thank you.

1:53

Do we have a second?

1:54

Councilmember Jackson seconds.

1:55

All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye.

1:57

Aye.

1:58

Excellent.

2:00

Next we have landlord.

2:03

Tenant.

2:04

Councilmember Shaw.

2:06

I move to reappoint Barry Stad to serve a full three-year term until July 1st, 2028, to the landlord tenant affairs commission.

2:16

Thank you.

2:16

Do we have a second?

2:20

All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye.

2:22

Aye.

2:23

Excellent.

2:23

Thank you.

2:26

All right.

2:27

So thank you to our volunteers.

2:28

Next, we'll be moving on to community forum.

2:31

Getting the list.

2:33

All persons, uh, please address the mayor and council, speak in a civil and courteous manner.

2:38

The members of the audience also be respectful to your to each other.

2:41

Each person is allowed three minutes, and we ask that you stick to the three minutes allowed.

2:46

There will be a time clock in front of you.

2:48

Uh you will hear an audible beep at the end of your three minutes.

2:51

Please state your name and whether you live within the city of Rockville.

2:55

I will call up those who have signed up in advance, followed by those who may want to join.

3:01

Okay.

3:05

First, we have Rosie Clemens Cope.

3:16

Good evening, Mayor Ashton and Council members.

3:19

My name is Rosie Clemens Cope.

3:21

I live here in Rockville, and I'm 16 years old.

3:24

I lead Sunrise Rockville, and I'm a rising senior at Richard Montgomery High School.

3:28

I spent years fighting for climate and social justice in this community in solidarity with friends, neighbors, organizers from all over the county as well.

3:37

In 2023, we pushed the Montgomery County Council to pass a rent stabilization policy, which capped rent increases at the rate of inflation plus 3%, with a maximum cap at 6% per year.

3:49

And the best part of this is that this policy works.

3:52

There have been no major crises or land or and no landlords fleeing.

3:56

This policy shows that leadership grounded in compassion can create real housing protections.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Rental Housing████████████████████████████████████████40%
Affordable Housing█████████████████████21%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Youth Programs███3%
Election Procedures███3%
Voter Registration██2%
Economic Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Rockville Mayor and Council Meeting Summary: June 16, 2025

The Mayor and Council of Rockville met on June 16, 2025, beginning at 11:45 AM. The meeting featured extensive public testimony on rent stabilization and lowering the voting age to 16, a special presentation on affordable housing preservation, a work session on landlord-tenant code transparency, and several consent and action items. Councilmember Shaw announced an intent to introduce a rent stabilization framework during the meeting.

Consent Calendar

  • 9A, 9B, 9C: Approved a consent agenda (motion by Councilmember Van Grack, second by Councilmember Miles) including a service agreement for technical support, approval of caregiver and community grants totaling $1.5 million for FY26, and the first amendment to a funding agreement for mental health services. These passed with unanimous votes.
  • 9D: After being pulled by Councilmember Valeri, the council approved a memorandum of agreement with Montgomery County for a mental health specialist for the Rockville City Police Department. The motion passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Rent Stabilization: Over 25 speakers, including representatives from Rockville Renters United, the Huntington Tenant Association, the Reed Tenant Association, and individual renters, expressed strong support for a binding rent stabilization policy. Speakers such as Grant Sams, Chris Madden, Isaac Burmy, Katie Midor, Travis Kinder, Allison Bohack, Mike Haywood, Sandra Velarde, and Lily Adams urged the council to cap rent increases, ban junk fees, and provide tenant protections similar to Montgomery County’s policy. Several speakers criticized the council for not advancing rent stabilization, accusing some members of prioritizing landlord interests over renter needs. Councilmembers Shaw and Miles were repeatedly thanked for their support.
  • Lowering the Voting Age to 16: Seven speakers, including Rosie Clemens Cope, Layla McCarthy, Ariana Rainey, Jan Portier, Roshan Diodar, Amina Ahmed, and Marshall Friedman (virtual), advocated for lowering the voting age in Rockville municipal elections to 16. They argued that 16-year-olds are responsible, pay taxes, are taught civics, and are directly impacted by local policy decisions. They cited the success of similar policies in Takoma Park as evidence of higher youth turnout.
  • Ranked Choice Voting: Michelle Whitaker, a resident, spoke in support of ranked-choice voting for Rockville’s at-large council elections, citing successful examples in neighboring jurisdictions.
  • Other Topics: Zoe Polak referenced research linking housing costs to homelessness, and Tyler McClennathon linked rent stabilization to broader democratic values.

Discussion Items

  • Agenda Item 12B (Election Reform): The council voted 6-1 to move this work session to a future date, citing the need for more preparation and specific direction for the consultant. Councilmember Miles expressed regret for those who prepared to testify.
  • Item 8A: Special Presentation on Affordable Housing Preservation: Thomas Garda, a graduate researcher, presented findings from a year-long study funded by the city. Key recommendations included creating a preservation database, reviving a small rehab loan program, and building or strengthening preservation networks. He noted that within the next 10 years, five properties with 226 MPDU units are set to expire. The council will receive follow-up reports.
  • Item 11B: Ordinance Amending Chapter 15 (Personnel): After extensive discussion, the council reached consensus (via straw polls) on the following amendments:
    • Strike section 15.2.9 (city manager approval of personnel policy manual changes with council oversight) and adopt a new process: the city manager will provide advance notice of substantive changes and an annual report by July 1st.
    • Extend timeframes for employee preparation and PAB hearings.
    • Revise 15.42C to state: “No employee shall actively support any candidate or group of candidates or referenda by either directing or coercing in any manner another employee by using their knowledge, position, or city of Rockville resources.”
    • The ordinance was introduced (first reading) but did not achieve six votes to waive the layover period, so it will return for final action at a future meeting.
  • Item 12: Work Session on Chapter 18 (Rental Facilities and Landlord-Tenant Code): Staff presented preliminary recommendations for data collection, reporting, transparency, and lease requirements. The council generally supported the direction, with preferences for: lowering the applicability threshold from eight units to a lower number; requiring rent increase history to be provided to tenants and displayed in a color-coded system (option 3); and maintaining the 90-day notice requirement to the city. Staff will return with refined proposals.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda and Mental Health Agreement: Approved unanimously.
  • Rent Stabilization Framework Introduced: Councilmember Shaw, joined by Councilmember Miles, introduced a framework for a rent stabilization policy, including a cap on rent increases at 3% or CPI (whichever is lower), a ban on junk fees, exemptions for new construction and small landlords, a waiver process, and strong enforcement. The city manager will gauge council interest in scheduling a work session.
  • Election Reform Work Session Postponed: Moved to a future date after council members requested more detailed guidance for the consultant.
  • Personnel Ordinance: Introduced but will require a second reading and final vote at a subsequent meeting.
  • Affordable Housing Preservation: Council received the report; follow-up on recommendations will be scheduled.
  • Landlord-Tenant Code Update: Staff will incorporate feedback and return with draft code amendments in the fall.
  • Invitation to Board of Education: Councilmember Shaw expressed interest in inviting the Board of Education and superintendent to discuss school-related priorities (boundary studies, Rock Terrace, Stone Street housing, Twinbrook feasibility, Wootton). The council will consider this for a future meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, Rockville. Today is June 16, 2025. We are beginning meeting 17 25. Please join as you're able in the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation and individual liberty for all. We'll now move to agenda review. Miss Sarah Taylor Pharrell. Madam Mayor and Council members, the agenda was updated to include uh the public comments for 12B, the election reform that we received, and also a revised mock from this morning's uh LPT meeting to remove the item 9A. Thank you. Mr. City Manager, City Manager's Report. Mayor Ashton, members of City Council, ladies and gentlemen, good evening. In the interest of time, since we're a very long agenda tonight, I'll just say that staff is very busy with a number of ordinance updates, a number of community events and improvements to our parks and recreation facilities. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. We'll now move on to oh, any questions from colleagues? All right. We'll now move on to our board and commission appointment and reappointment. We have two to do today. Colleagues. Councilmember Valeri. I move the reappointment of May Liz Ortuzar to serve a full three-year term until July 1st, 2028 to the Cultural Arts Commission. Thank you. Do we have a second? Councilmember Jackson seconds. All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye. Aye. Excellent. Next we have landlord. Tenant. Councilmember Shaw. I move to reappoint Barry Stad to serve a full three-year term until July 1st, 2028, to the landlord tenant affairs commission. Thank you. Do we have a second? All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye. Aye. Excellent. Thank you. All right. So thank you to our volunteers. Next, we'll be moving on to community forum. Getting the list. All persons, uh, please address the mayor and council, speak in a civil and courteous manner. The members of the audience also be respectful to your to each other. Each person is allowed three minutes, and we ask that you stick to the three minutes allowed. There will be a time clock in front of you. Uh you will hear an audible beep at the end of your three minutes. Please state your name and whether you live within the city of Rockville. I will call up those who have signed up in advance, followed by those who may want to join. Okay.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com