OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Rockville Mayor and Council Meeting - September 15, 2025: Proclamations, Appointments, Economic Development, and Legislative Priorities

Meeting Portal — Monday, September 15, 2025
BodyRockville, Maryland
SessionMeeting Portal
DateMonday, September 15, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:09:18

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Good evening, Rockfell.

0:01

Today is September 15, 2025, and we're beginning meeting 22-25.

0:06

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

0:31

We're going to begin our meeting by celebrating our community.

0:34

And so we want to thank all of you, parents and student achievers for coming here today.

0:40

We have some proclamations to recognize important events and milestones in our community, and then we'll be acknowledging some of our student achievers.

0:48

So, colleagues, please join me at the podium.

1:15

Twenty-four years ago, September 11th changed our country.

1:19

This past Thursday, we acknowledged all those who contributed to the recovery of uh September 11th, as well as the many lives lost, about 3,000 across our country.

1:33

We know that in Montgomery County, 11 people lost their lives on that fateful day.

1:38

And we have a dedicated area in the city of Rockville.

1:41

I encourage you to check out our September 11th memorial.

1:44

And there's a bench named for each one of the people who are from Montgomery County who died.

1:49

It's important for us to remember and honor our past so we don't repeat it.

1:55

It's also important to remember the unity that we had surrounding that tragedy, how we described ourselves as one America from different political parties, different nationalities.

2:06

We came together.

2:07

We don't need a tragedy to do that.

2:09

Let's keep remembering September 11th.

2:14

Whereas people of all ages and walks of life across America and around the world collectively witness an event of immense tragedy on September 11th, 2001.

2:24

And the events of that day instantly transformed nearly everyone's lives, some through personal loss, and many others through an unfamiliar sense and national vulnerability.

2:36

Whereas on September 11th, we will never, should never be just another day in the hearts and minds of Americans.

2:44

And many wish to memorialize September 11th by engaging in personal and individual acts of community service or other giving activities as a solemn day of remembrance and tribute.

2:55

Now, therefore, the mayor and council of the city of Rockville, Maryland, do hereby proclaim September 11th, 2025 as 9-11 Day of Service and Remembrance, and tribute to the victims of the 9-11 terrorist attacks and to the many who rose in service in response to the attacks, and we urge the Rockville community to observe September 11th as the voluntary day of service and remembrance.

3:20

Councilmember Valeri moves the proclamation.

3:23

Do we have a second?

3:24

Councilmember Jackson seconds.

3:25

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

3:28

Thank you.

3:44

So it's my honor to um present the proclamation for disability voting rights week.

3:51

This is really an important thing for our city, but also for the county, state, and nation.

3:58

You know, this disability is something that can affect everybody.

4:10

So you know, making it easier to vote when you're disabled is something that we should not take for granted, and we should fight for, uh, especially now when our right to vote and our voting process is under attack, and the most vulnerable uh is the people with disabilities.

4:28

So with that, I will read the uh disability voting proclamation.

4:32

Whereas there are over 61 million people of all ages living with disabilities in communities throughout the United States, making up almost a quarter of the country's population.

4:44

And whereas there are over 38 million Americans with disabilities who are eligible voters, and whereas the disability community has a critical interest in policies and decisions made and enacted at local, state, and national levels that impact our lives directly.

5:05

Now, therefore, the mayor and council of Rockville, Maryland do designate the week of September 18th.

5:14

Sorry, September 8th through 12th, 2025 as Disability Voting Rights Week in Rockville, Maryland, and support the growing involvement of the disability community in the process and urge all residents to support this effort.

5:30

Madam Mayor, I move the proclamation.

5:33

Councilmember Fulton seconds, all those in favor, please say.

5:41

All right, perfect.

5:44

Next we'll hear from Dr.

5:46

Miles.

5:49

Good evening.

5:50

Thank you for this honor, Madam Mayor, to read this year's proclamation observing Hispanic.

5:58

I'm sorry, Hispanic Heritage Week.

6:01

It begins as follows, whereas the observation of Hispanic Heritage Week started in 1968 and was expanded into a month-long observation in 1988.

6:13

And whereas the city honors and acknowledges the participation of Hispanic Latinx, Latino identified communities as a valued segment of our city by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of our residents whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America.

6:37

Now, therefore, the mayor and council of the city of Rockville, Maryland, do hereby proclaim September 15th, 2025 to October 15th, 2025 as National Hispanic Heritage Month in Rockville.

6:52

And it's proud to celebrate the resilience, contributions, and culture of Hispanic Latinx, Latino identified individuals, groups, and communities.

7:06

With that, Madam Mayor, I move the proclamation.

7:16

And we have two special guests here to accept the proclamation that is San Rosales from the Department of Public Works and Jean Booth, who's our director of Jedi.

7:25

Welcome.

7:38

Anyway.

7:52

Thank you.

7:53

Thank you.

8:04

So following up on Councilmember Jackson's remarks about the voting rights for disabled people, we are also celebrating voter registration week, which starts tomorrow.

8:16

As Councilmember Jackson said, voting, there are a few things that are bedrock and necessary for our democracy.

8:22

Free speech, voting.

8:25

And promoting voting, promoting people registering, and actually exercising that right is critically important, particularly in this time.

8:32

So whereas the right to vote is a cornerstone of what it means to be a free society representing the bedrock tenets of equality and civic participation upon which our nation is founded, and for which many have fought to obtain and protect.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development███████████████████████████27%
Procedural████████████12%
Public Engagement████████████12%
Youth Programs████████8%
Community Engagement█████5%
Zoning And Land Use█████5%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Voter Registration███3%
Public Health███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Rockville Mayor and Council Meeting - September 15, 2025

The Mayor and Council of Rockville held Meeting 22-25 on September 15, 2025, beginning at 5:30 PM. The meeting featured multiple proclamations, student recognitions, board appointments, a public hearing, and work sessions on economic development and state legislative priorities. Key outcomes included the approval of a project plan to convert retail space into residential units, adoption of the Financial Advisory Board's action plan, and direction to create a comprehensive economic development plan.

Proclamations & Student Recognitions

  • 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance – Proclaimed September 11, 2025 as a day of service and remembrance for the 2001 attacks.
  • Disability Voting Rights Week – Designated September 8–12, 2025 as Disability Voting Rights Week in Rockville.
  • National Hispanic Heritage Month – Proclaimed September 15 – October 15, 2025 as Hispanic Heritage Month.
  • National Voter Registration Day – Proclaimed September 16, 2025 as National Voter Registration Day. Robert Koernick, Chair of the Rockville Board of Supervisors of Elections, accepted and announced a voter registration drive on September 16 from 10 AM to 2 PM at Rockville Town Square.
  • Car Free Day – Proclaimed September 22, 2025 as Car Free Day. Jake Jacobeck, Chair of the Rockville Bicycle Advisory Committee, accepted the proclamation.
  • National Preparedness Month – Proclaimed September 2025 as National Preparedness Month.
  • National Recovery Month – Proclaimed September 2025 as National Recovery Month. Latanya Rich from Tree of Hope accepted and highlighted holistic recovery services.
  • National Service Dog Month – Proclaimed September 2025 as National Service Dog Month. Rebecca Murphy and Nigel accepted on behalf of the Human Rights Commission.
  • Student Achievers Recognized: Chloe Robertson (NSO Youth Fellow), Kent Zhang (National Merit Scholar), Aaron Swibel (songwriting award), and multiple Rockville High School students including state champions in swimming (Brig Barnett, Maeve Cutter, Darren Glue) and wrestling (Anastasia Da Coolis), as well as dance team Ritmo winners.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved authorization for the city manager to execute terms and conditions of Pepco’s Power MD rebate program for LED street light conversion (Phase II).
  • Approved amendment to extend the Maryland Energy Administration contract (no-cost extension to September 30, 2026).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Pat Reber (Newmark Commons resident) opposed proposed zoning change from R90 to RM25 for a wooded lot, asking the Mayor and Council to reconsider before acting on the citywide draft in December.
  • Marty Reese (Newmark Commons resident) urged changing the zoning on the 9.75-acre Tower Oaks site from RMD 25 to R90, citing compatibility concerns.
  • Mark Pershala (former council member) advocated for keeping Ready as a third-party model for economic development, but suggested formal questions for Ready to discuss politically contentious issues.
  • Truva Diego Gumar expressed general praise for city staff and President Trump, then made statements about discrimination and illegal immigration.
  • Drew Powell (Rockville Sister City Corporation) promoted the upcoming Rockville Taiwan Bubble Tea Festival on September 20, 10 AM – 4 PM at Town Square (expected 12,000 attendees).

Discussion Items

  • Public Hearing & Action – Project Plan Amendment (PJT 2025-20): Proposal to convert 13,000 square feet of previously approved street-level retail into 13 residential units at 198 East Montgomery Avenue. Staff recommended approval subject to conditions. Councilmember Fulton moved approval; seconded by Councilmember Jackson. Approved unanimously. Applicant Nancy Reglin confirmed units should open in Q1 2026.
  • Financial Advisory Board (FAB) FY2025 Annual Report & FY2026 Action Plan: Chair Bob Wright presented. Councilmember Jackson moved to amend Action Item 7 (procurement review) – approved. Councilmember Fulton then moved to adopt the amended action plan – approved.
  • Work Session – Economic Development: Discussion on models (third-party vs. in-house), roles, coordination with Ready. Councilmember Fulton moved to direct the city manager and city attorney to: (1) create a comprehensive Rockville economic development plan within approximately one year; (2) develop a mechanism for clear communication and collaboration between Ready, city departments, and the elected body. Motion seconded and approved.
  • Work Session – 2026 State Legislative Priorities: Staff presented proposed priorities and bond initiatives. The council added: support for healthcare safety net (Medicaid), vaccine access, algorithmic pricing transparency, rent increase transparency (historic data), housing protections for teachers, and good cause eviction. Legislative bond initiatives: Twinbrook Park/Dogwood Park pedestrian bridges ($570,000) and Matty JT’s Tohanic Park gender neutral restroom ($150,000). Staff will prepare a resolution for adoption on October 6.
  • Old/New Business – Rules of Decorum: Councilmember Valeri proposed prioritizing a code of decorum. After discussion, the council agreed to have the city manager bring a resolution on rules of decorum to the September 29 meeting, with a separate longer discussion on rules of procedure to follow.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Project plan amendment for 13 residential units at 198 East Montgomery Avenue (unanimous).
  • Approved: FAB FY2026 Action Plan as amended.
  • Directed: City manager and city attorney to draft a comprehensive economic development plan and a mechanism for enhanced coordination with Ready.
  • Directed: Staff to prepare a resolution adopting 2026 state legislative priorities (including additions) and legislative bond initiatives.
  • Directed: City manager to bring forward a resolution on rules of decorum by September 29, 2025.
  • Appointments approved: Stephen Smith (Commission on Aging), Dennis Dantro, Kyle Ferrayoli, Petra Patcher (Community Policing Advisory Board), Molly Sai (Financial Advisory Board), William McGugan (Human Services Advisory Commission), Edward Duffy (Rockville Housing Enterprise).
  • Consent agenda items approved.
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, Rockfell. Today is September 15, 2025, and we're beginning meeting 22-25. Please join me as you're able in the Pledge of Allegiance. We're going to begin our meeting by celebrating our community. And so we want to thank all of you, parents and student achievers for coming here today. We have some proclamations to recognize important events and milestones in our community, and then we'll be acknowledging some of our student achievers. So, colleagues, please join me at the podium. Twenty-four years ago, September 11th changed our country. This past Thursday, we acknowledged all those who contributed to the recovery of uh September 11th, as well as the many lives lost, about 3,000 across our country. We know that in Montgomery County, 11 people lost their lives on that fateful day. And we have a dedicated area in the city of Rockville. I encourage you to check out our September 11th memorial. And there's a bench named for each one of the people who are from Montgomery County who died. It's important for us to remember and honor our past so we don't repeat it. It's also important to remember the unity that we had surrounding that tragedy, how we described ourselves as one America from different political parties, different nationalities. We came together. We don't need a tragedy to do that. Let's keep remembering September 11th. Whereas people of all ages and walks of life across America and around the world collectively witness an event of immense tragedy on September 11th, 2001. And the events of that day instantly transformed nearly everyone's lives, some through personal loss, and many others through an unfamiliar sense and national vulnerability. Whereas on September 11th, we will never, should never be just another day in the hearts and minds of Americans. And many wish to memorialize September 11th by engaging in personal and individual acts of community service or other giving activities as a solemn day of remembrance and tribute. Now, therefore, the mayor and council of the city of Rockville, Maryland, do hereby proclaim September 11th, 2025 as 9-11 Day of Service and Remembrance, and tribute to the victims of the 9-11 terrorist attacks and to the many who rose in service in response to the attacks, and we urge the Rockville community to observe September 11th as the voluntary day of service and remembrance. Councilmember Valeri moves the proclamation. Do we have a second? Councilmember Jackson seconds. All those in favor, please raise your hand and say aye. Thank you. So it's my honor to um present the proclamation for disability voting rights week. This is really an important thing for our city, but also for the county, state, and nation. You know, this disability is something that can affect everybody. So you know, making it easier to vote when you're disabled is something that we should not take for granted, and we should fight for, uh, especially now when our right to vote and our voting process is under attack, and the most vulnerable uh is the people with disabilities. So with that, I will read the uh disability voting proclamation. Whereas there are over 61 million people of all ages living with disabilities in communities throughout the United States, making up almost a quarter of the country's population. And whereas there are over 38 million Americans with disabilities who are eligible voters, and whereas the disability community has a critical interest in policies and decisions made and enacted at local, state, and national levels that impact our lives directly. Now, therefore, the mayor and council of Rockville, Maryland do designate the week of September 18th. Sorry, September 8th through 12th, 2025 as Disability Voting Rights Week in Rockville, Maryland, and support the growing involvement of the disability community in the process and urge all residents to support this effort. Madam Mayor, I move the proclamation. Councilmember Fulton seconds, all those in favor, please say. All right, perfect. Next we'll hear from Dr. Miles. Good evening. Thank you for this honor, Madam Mayor, to read this year's proclamation observing Hispanic. I'm sorry, Hispanic Heritage Week. It begins as follows, whereas the observation of Hispanic Heritage Week started in 1968 and was expanded into a month-long observation in 1988. And whereas the city honors and acknowledges the participation of Hispanic Latinx, Latino identified communities as a valued segment of our city by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of our residents whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America. Now, therefore, the mayor and council of the city of Rockville, Maryland, do hereby proclaim September 15th, 2025 to October 15th, 2025 as National Hispanic Heritage Month in Rockville. And it's proud to celebrate the resilience, contributions, and culture of Hispanic Latinx, Latino identified individuals, groups, and communities. With that, Madam Mayor, I move the proclamation.

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