Good evening, Rockville.

Today is November 10th, 2025, and we are beginning meeting 27-25.

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

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

And to the Republic for which it stands.

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Okay.

Thank you, everyone.

We're now moving on to agenda review.

Ms.

Sarah Taylor Pharrell.

Madam Mayor and Council members, there was a change on the agenda this evening to reflect the correct title of action item C and to modify the language for the motions that are associated with that agenda item.

And it has been corrected online for the public and at the diaspora.

Your quick reference.

Okay.

This is for item 11.

11C.

Yes, thank you.

And 11C refers to the rental facilities and landlord tenant relations in case anyone is trying to follow along.

Okay, thank you very much.

Now we'll have the city manager's report, Mr.

Mahalick.

Welcome.

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

Good evening.

Just two very quick announcements.

Um, due to the high winds and low temperatures that are forecasted for tomorrow.

We're going to change the uh Rockville Veterans Day celebration to be an indoor event that'll be at the Rockville Senior Center tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Again, 11 a.m.

tomorrow, Rockville Senior Center for the Veterans Day.

We think it'll be a better tradition with greater attendance if we move it inside.

Um one other announcement, and that's really good news.

Um the Rockville Town Center Master Plan, which is which this body unanimously adopted a couple of weeks ago, received an award from the Maryland chapter of the American Planning Association.

So that's great news for really excellent work by staff, um, by this council and by the community with rich engagements.

Really proud of that.

That's all I have, Mayor.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

We know the Rockville Town Center Master Plan was well done by staff and our colleagues, and it's nice to see the others see it as well.

So thank you for your leadership on that.

Uh and just a reminder 1111 at 11 at uh the senior center.

So please uh note that and tell your friends.

We don't want anyone standing outside in the cold.

Okay.

We'll now be moving on to community forum.

All persons shall address the mayor and council and speak in a civil and courteous manner.

And members of the audience, we also ask that you be respectful to each other.

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

There is an uh there will be an audible beep, but you can also follow along with the time clock that's in front of you.

We do have a few people who have signed up in advance.

First is Mr.

Glenn Felman.

Okay.

We'll now move on to Larry Yates.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Uh good evening, Madam Mayor, honorable uh council is a little different on this side of the dies.

My name's Larry Yates.

I'm a member of the City Council in Ocean City, which I'm very proud of.

But what I'm going to talk about in a moment, I'm even more proud of.

Um, good evening to the city clerk, Mr.

City Attorney, Mr.

City Manager.

Thank you all for what you do every day.

I know it's a full-time 24-hour day job.

Trust me, my phone blows up a lot.

I'll try to keep this at three minutes.

Um 55 years ago in January, I stood before exactly almost where uh Madam Mayor is and raised my hand to become a police officer with this city.

I am so so deeply proud of that and what it has become today.

It's just so amazingly honorable.

I can't tell you.

If I start crying, you have to bear with me.

And like I say, it's a little bit different out here.

So with that, um, I would like to ask the chief to come up with me for just a moment.

I did not bring a pizza for you.

I know, right?

So we'll keep the meeting short so you can get out of here and eat.

I've done those four or five and nine-hour meetings.

So if Chief West will join me for just a second.

Thank you, Chief.

Madam Mayor, we have a gift to give to Chief West tonight.

And what it is, I will show you, and then I'll read uh the documentation on it.

We have a flag.

It was flown over to Capitol in honor of the Rockville City Police Department and Chief West for all the awesome work that has been done.

I have a long history here, and it has just been an absolute honor.

And I'm I'm just so pleased to tell you all that.

The flag of the United States of America.

This is the certified that the accompanying flag was shown, was flown over to United States Capitol.

This flag was flown in honor of Chief Jason West, Rockville City Police Department, Maryland, who was sworn in on June 30th, 2025.

Rockville City Police Department, Maryland, founded 1801, presented by retired Captain Larry Yates, Rockville City Police Department, Maryland, honor and blessings.

The chief is going to display this, he tells me in his uh beautiful office there in a in a nice box.

And kudos to Jason and I become friends.

Mr.

Van Grack over here, I probably held him as a baby.

And I worked for uh half of the mayors, my wife and I were chatting outside here, real quick, and she said, How many of those mayors you work for?

And I went from here all the way to here.

So it's over half of that board.

So I the work that they have done is just remarkable.

I I've seen it over the past.

Um I've worked at the patrol shifts, I've done it all.

So anyway, with that, I thank you for your time.

Um we love Chief and let's keep him going.

Thank you very much.

Congratulations, sir.

God bless you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much for your feedback and thank you for your service.

God bless you all.

Thank you.

Welcome, Drew for Diego Camaro.

I'm gonna run out of time saying the same things every week.

Honorables Mayor Ashton, thank you for presiding and leading over this open democracy forum.

Please note that I'm explainer in chief.

My info, council worth billions to trillions of dollars.

It's also not qualified quantifiable just by denero money.

Already proved proven this.

As mentioned previously, I'm evaluating possible candidacy for U.S.

House Rep Congress or Montgomery County Government Council.

Thank you.

Now, not all my thoughts.

I only get three minutes here.

Disclaimer as C to stated previously, not necessarily this info for any of you individually or as a council.

Um my preamble, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States.

British America are founders and framers of our USA Constitution, USA America, rule of law, MAGA America First, rule of law, rule of law.

I pledge allegiance to my home country, India's smooth, not war, not ugly conflict, transition from the British Empire to the British Commonwealth.

This British Commonwealth, a lot of credit to the Brits on establishing this form of United Nations nations, their global leadership.

I repeat this India, British Empire, now British Commonwealth combination, multiplicity relationship, directly or not, has always been a huge economic benefit for my home nation, United States of America.

Not just this, also our ability, our home nation, USA to maintain our sovereignty, freedoms, threats against evildoers.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I we are not your guests here.

Okay.

We built this USA also from afar before and do it now, also close and afar.

I mentioned Puerto Rico.

Their wealth creation was for the Spanish Crown.

They became part of our USA in early 20th century.

I emphasize that I do not pledge allegiance to this already seceded to Latin America, Central America, Montgomery County, Maryland government that uses them as a dangerous militia against vulnerable, very small minorities like me and my mom, our family.

We do not belong to any groups.

We do not belong to the majority minority, this new major majority minority.

We do not belong to home country, Clarksburg Indians.

We don't belong to that.

This LA Latin America, Central American illegals, not so secret militia is prominent all through the seams and fabric here in my home nation, USA.

Our USA National Guard got nothing on this.

People, not a joke statement.

Now, um the actions of evil doers are the Epstein Repsteins, State Senator Sherlock Kagan, Montgomery County, Eldrich and County Raskin, the Tacoma 3, which is Montgomery County, Maryland Government, Council Kate Stewart County Old Ridge, County Raskin.

They're also known as the Tacoma Three.

Thank you very much.

Let's Guerrera Evil Doers.

Now welcome Pat Rever.

Well, thank you.

Good evening.

I just uh wanted to thank you all, some of you all for listening to us last week, uh coming out and seeing the property that we're concerned about.

Uh and I want to invite um uh and others from the mayor and council or the zoning staff or Mr.

City Manager, you're welcome to come out and have a look.

Um so um the reason I'm here alone again is that uh we have a team of about 60 in Newmark who are working on this issue.

I think you all are now familiar with what the issue is, and most of them are at home tonight, uh still working on on talking to people and uh explaining the situation to them.

Um, and um uh more than half of our homes are represented on the petition that you'll be receiving next week.

Um, and um uh we have well over 300 signatures on the petition, so I just wanted to bring you all up to date with with uh where we're at with our our our project in Newmark Commons, and again I want to thank you all for for what you do and for coming out.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

Fallman, I called you, Ali.

Would you like to still speak?

Okay, please join us.

Good evening.

Oh wow, you put the seal straight.

Uh good evening, uh council members.

My name is Glenn Felman, and I am a lifelong resident of Rockville 20853, just outside the city limits, but you'll uh invite me as a guest tonight.

I'm here to strongly urge the city of Rockville to retire its official flag and to commission a new design, one that truly reflects our motto rise together.

Uh the current Rockville flag adopted in 1979 contains three wavy blue stripes, two white stripes, and six red emblems known as botany crosses.

Uh it is these botany crosses in a white field that are the problem.

While the botany cross is part of the larger Maryland coat of arms, the way it is used on our flag carries a very specific and divisive historical context in the state of Maryland.

In the 1600s, Maryland's founding family, the Calverts created a coat of arms that combined two symbols, the red and white botany crosses of the Crossland family and the yellow and black Pali stripes of the Calvert family.

These two symbols were meant to be equal, balanced, and inclusive.

During the Civil War, Marylanders who joined the Confederacy specifically adopted the Red Botany Cross on a white field to signify their birthplace and allegiance.

Meanwhile, Union loyalists in Maryland adopted the yellow and black Pally stripes, and the two became symbols of a divided state and a divided populace.

After the war, the Maryland flag was deliberately adopted to feature both of those symbols equally side by side as a powerful symbol of reunification, tolerance, and inclusion.

In the state of Maryland, there are 148 counties and municipalities with official flags.

Twenty of the 148 use both the botany cross and the Pali stripes in their imagery.

Six use only the Pali stripes, which was the union affiliated symbolism.

The Rockville flag is unique.

It stands alone as the only flag to feature the red botany crosses in a white field without its balancing counterpart.

No other place has a flag like this because in Maryland's regional context, the symbolism represents subjugation, segregation, and secession.

It is the anti antithesis of rise together.

Um we need a new flag.

There was one more that was like Rockville's.

There actually was one.

It's no longer in existence.

It was Howard County.

Howard County's executive uh recognized and the leadership of Howard County, the same problem that Rockville has with its flag.

It's not appropriate, it doesn't reflect the values of the community.

And two years ago, they embarked on a program to replace their flag for exactly the reasons that I'm advocating Rockville replace its flag.

And they replaced it this summer with a beautiful new flag.

Thank you.

So I encourage you to do the same.

Thank you.

Thank you for your time.

That concludes the list of those who have signed up in advance.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak?

Okay.

We appreciate everyone's comments.

We now move on to consent agenda.

We have uh one item, approval of minutes.

Does anyone have any questions or do you move to approve?

Okay.

Do we have a motion?

Okay.

I'm gonna council member Jackson.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, I move to approve consider uh agenda item A.

Council thank you.

Councilmember Fulton seconds.

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

Excellent.

Thank you.

Great.

We'll now move on to our public hearing.

Our public hearing is focused on our fiscal 2027 budget, and it is first of many that we will be doing.

I would like to invite Kim Francisco as well as the finance team to share a little bit of background and then we will open up the public hearing.

Good evening, Madam Mayor and members of the council.

We are here tonight to formally kick off the FY2027 budget process with our first budget public hearing.

The illustration on the screen is an overview of the city's annual budget process.

While I did just refer to this public hearing as our official kickoff, the reality is that we began soliciting public feedback for FY2027 back in May with our proposed project process, and we launched the city's budget priority survey in September.

The public hearing we will hold tonight is one of three that we have planned for this year's budget process.

Internally, staff are actively compiling budget submissions, which will be reviewed by the city manager and evaluated for inclusion with the proposed budget.

Staff have received the listing of the mayor and council's key initiatives that came from the September retreat.

Rest assured that departments are folding these into their work plans and their budget submissions for FY2027.

Looking ahead to 2026 meeting dates, we are planning to introduce the budget on March 9th and hold two work sessions in March focused on the operating budget, followed by a final work session in April focused on the capital improvements program and final balancing.

We've outlined the schedule to allow for budget adoption for May 4th, which meets county requirements for confirming updated refuse, stormwater, and property tax rates.

I will share with you all and the listening public that we are launching a new interactive digital budget book this year, which we hope you will find to be user-friendly with graphs and charts that are visually engaging and show more trend data.

Consistent with past practice, we will maintain our budget QA document that will be used to track all budget related questions received and staff responses.

Last but never least, we encourage our community members to share their feedback ideas and priorities for the upcoming budget using our budget priority survey.

You can access this survey by scanning the QR code on the screen or by visiting www.rockville md.gov slash budget.

If there are no questions, I will turn it over to Dan Chambers to cover our public hearing for tonight.

Good evening, everyone.

This is our first public hearing scheduled for the FY27 operating budget and capital improvements program.

This public hearing has a goal of engaging residents at an earlier stage in the formulation of the budget.

This public hearing was advertised in the Washington Post on October 23rd and 30th, posted to the City of Rockville's website, social media accounts, the Channel 11 Bulletin Board, as well as in the October and November editions of Rockville reports.

Included in your packets this evening, along with the sub slides just presented is a summary of all public testimony on the FY27 budget thus far, as well as the public testimony exhibits themselves and an interim report of our community budget priorities survey.

At the time of drafting the report, we had 119 responses.

When I checked as of tonight, we were at over 170, so it's still going up and up.

Additional public hearings, as we just saw, are scheduled for March 9th and 23rd after the FY27 proposed budget is presented.

In addition to these public hearings, the public can submit written comments directly to the mayor and council, as well as we just said submit responses to the online survey again at Rockville MD.gov slash budget.

The FY27 budget public record is scheduled to close in April of 2026.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Does anyone have any questions?

Okay.

I do have one question, just to note that we did discuss having a uh some of the budget priorities discussions that we've traditionally had at this uh Monday at one of our Monday meetings.

So I just wanted to flag that if that could be folded into the schedule.

And uh I don't see anyone has signed up for the budget public hearing.

Okay.

Does anyone want to speak?

Okay.

Can you just restate uh how long this will go in the next one again, just so people can join for that?

Yeah, it's the 9th and 25th.

So the next public hearings will be after the proposed budget is presented, and they're scheduled for March 9th and March 23rd.

Excellent.

And the public record will be kept open through April.

Okay, thank you.

And I'll just note in the agenda book, we did receive several uh capital project requests, and we have some of the budget survey responses.

So uh I know I've I know my colleagues and I have been pouring over those, and we appreciate everyone who shared feedback in that manner.

All right, thank you.

Next, we'll be moving over to agenda item 11a action item introduction and possible adoption of an ordinance to amend ordinance number 12-25 to appropriate funds and levy taxes for FY26, which is budget amendment number two.

Welcome back, Kim Francisco, and welcome Mary Sue Martin as well.

Good evening again, Madam Mayor, members of the council.

This is the second budget amendment for FY26.

This amendment includes funding for purchase orders they carried over from FY25, an increase in police overtime funding, which is fully offset by community support revenue, recognition of a zero emission vehicle grant from the Maryland Energy Administration towards the purchase of an electric bus for the senior center, additional funding from art and public architecture reserves for a public art project at David Skull Park, replenishment funding for grant contingency and water fund contingency, and recognition of a reduction in the federal grant for the Twin Book Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge project.

Several of the items on this amendment support the mayor and council's initiatives related to equity, the environment, and the local economy as explained on packet page 163.

If the amendment is adopted, the total appropriated amounts by fund would change as shown on the budget ordinance in attachment one.

Tonight staff recommends that the mayor and council introduce the ordinance, waive the layover period, and adopt the ordinance.

Thank you very much.

I also want to acknowledge Dan Chambers.

Thank you for your work.

I know there's a whole team that's behind there and uh as well.

So all right, colleagues, any questions on the budget amendment?

Councilmember Valeri.

Yes, um, this question is actually for um Mr.

City Manager.

Could you explain a little bit behind um the item in this budget amendment with regards to the Twin Brook Pedestrian Bridge?

Sure, I'm happy to.

The budget amendment is simply to recognize the rescission of 284,000 from a federal grant with that was not included in the federal budget.

There's still ample money in the budget that was pre-approved by the council to the design of a full facility after the completion of the feasibility study.

Thank you.

And I I think that's helpful.

I think that some of the confusion uh comes from the language in the staff report.

Um, it's actually the very last sentence of the staff report that the net effect of this rescission is that the city will need to find other funds for design, and it goes on.

Um, I would put forward to my colleagues that um because this is not perhaps the most accurate way to uh describe uh what the next steps are with regards to design that the friendly amendment be made to this budget amendment, which would add the language that the funding through design will come from the original appropriation and FY 2023 approved budget.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Mahalik, do you have any questions about that or before we talk about it as a bottle?

I don't have any questions.

Okay, yes, and I shared uh language with my colleagues and Mr.

Mahal.

I I do recall that um it was fully funded for feasibility and design in FY23.

We then got a grant.

Uh, but can you confirm that the money is still allocated through the tax duplication funds should we decide to move forward with that after the feasibility is presented to Mayor Council?

That's correct.

Okay, so the funding is there.

All right, colleagues, any comments or questions.

I know you had your hand up.

Uh Councilmember Jackson.

Uh thank you, uh Mayor.

Just a brief uh question, and uh I know I put you on the spot.

I'm sorry, I should have asked this question uh earlier, but I'm always getting questions about um how the city's doing budget wise, especially with the tariffs, with the shutdown, with uh the doging.

So could you just maybe uh speak a little bit to that and how you monitoring the situation uh and what would happen uh if there's any changes.

Yeah, um I'll give a broad description then let you know about my strategy as we develop the budget to present to council in subsequent months.

Our revenues are still coming in very strong, actually, and I think I've shared that with this body.

Um we're a little bit worried about another year in advance, but for this current planning year and for the preparing the budget next year, I think we're in really good shape.

Having said that, we are gonna be very thoughtful about including additional um recommendations for funding in the budget that have um significant impacts on the budget moving forward in subsequent years.

You know, I joked to you guys it's the gift that keeps on giving, so I'm gonna be real careful about that, and that could include staff ads and so on.

But I think we're in really good shape.

I just think we need to be really prudent when we develop um the budget for the next year, but it doesn't mean that council still can't move move forward with all the key initiatives that they have in mind.

Thank you.

Councilman Van Greg.

So I mean, first I want to say I agree with Councilmember Valeri.

This is definitely a bridge that we need to have, and I think there's every single member of the mayor and council supports that.

The only thing is, with regard to that amendment, would that potentially preclude us from finding other funds?

Because I know we've really done a great job about initially trying to find it funded from the federal government.

Doesn't look like except for the very first part that's gonna happen, but there could always be either some other event or opportunity.

We weren't necessarily precluding ourselves from doing that, are we?

Not at all.

In fact, we're really good at looking for finding and securing grants, and we're never gonna stop that.

I just want to make sure that whatever we do here with regard to committing ourselves for funds wouldn't preclude us for finding those funds in an alternative way, and then using those funds kind of like we thought we were doing for other purposes uh of the city.

That's correct.

Okay.

Thank you.

Uh thank you to my colleague for raising this.

Uh, I think the Twin Brook Pedestrian Bridge, uh, just as a way of background, is a way to address equity and support connectivity through the city.

Uh, and uh just like we did in FY23, uh, there was uh use of tax duplication funds that came through negotiation with the county, uh, and those funds are from the county are for transportation and police.

So it's fitting to me that we continue to look at our transportation needs and police, although I know it goes to general fund.

Uh so I appreciate staff's clarification that we're not through this budget amendment touching the funding that's in tax duplication, but it's just recognizing that part of the federal government grant has been rescinded, and uh that's all that we're doing here.

So, with that, I personally cannot make a motion, but I do support the friendly amendment by my colleague, Councilman Valeri, and thank you to all of my colleagues for considering this.

And I I also just want to uh stay updated on the feasibility part of this.

I know that was something that we were hoping to see soon, and I look forward to getting an update on that on that part of the project, which is supported by a grant.

All right, who wants to does anyone have any other questions on this?

So if not, we can move to the introduction.

Councilmember Leary.

I'll do the introduction.

I introduced an ordinance to amend ordinance number 12-25 to appropriate funds and levy taxes for FY 2026.

Thank you.

I wasn't quite sure how to do that.

Um so I introduced an ordinance um with the inclusion of the very friendly amendment um that I stated previously.

Can you just read it, reread it for the record?

I am happy to do so.

Um, and this is just for clarity's sake.

The net effect of this rescission is that the funding through design will come from the original appropriation from the FY2023 adopted budget.

I know that's part of staff report language, but you can mesh that into we understand intent.

Thank you with the amendment.

Appreciate you.

All right.

Do we have a motion to weigh the layover period?

Councilmember Van Grant.

Madam Mayor, I move to weigh the layover period.

Thank you.

Do we have a second?

All right.

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

That was Councilman Valerie seconded.

Okay.

It's you uh Dr.

Miles, are you good?

All right.

Okay.

We have to do that.

Now we need a motion to adopt the ordinance as amended.

Councilmember Jackson.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, I'll move to adopt the ordinance to amend ordinance number 1225 to appropriate funds and lay the taxes for FY 2026.

As amended.

As amended.

Thank you.

Councilmember Shaw.

All right.

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

Aye.

Okay.

It is unanimous.

Thank you.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you to the finance team.

Well done.

We now move over to our next action item.

Item B, adoption of an ordinance to amend Section 1-8 entitled Application of County Law of Chapter 1 of the Rockville City Code entitled General Provisions to allow Chapter 48 Solid Waste Article, Plastic Carryout Bag Reduction, Section 4865, short title, uh, and then 4867 plastic carryout bag prohibited and section 40-68 penalty and enforcement of the Montgomery County Code to apply in the city of Rockville.

I'd like to welcome our presenter, Amanda Campbell, along with staff member Erica Shankara.

Thank you, Mayor Ashton and members of the council.

I plan to provide a brief summary of the proposed ordinance amendment, which is in attachment one of your packet.

This simply allows Rockville to opt into the plastic carry-out bag reduction section of Montgomery County's Bring Your Own Bag Law, so the full law can be consistently applied in Rockville and Montgomery County.

As background, earlier this year, the Montgomery County Council adopted the bring your own bag law, which is attachment two in the packet.

This bill goes into effect January 1st, 2026.

The new law applies differently in the Munes municipalities than the county as a whole.

So if Rockville does nothing, then on January 1st, Montgomery County's bag fee increases from the current five cents to 10 cents on both plastic and paper bags for carry-out bags.

On January 1st, the rest of the county outside of municipalities will have a plastic bag ban go into effect and a 10 cent fee on paper bags with some exceptions.

Municipalities can choose to opt into the plastic bag ban portion of the laws, so the policy would be consistent with the county.

If the city adopts the ordinance as is without making any changes, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection will include Rockville in their outreach education administration and enforcement.

Additionally, opting in by January 1st, effective date will reduce confusion among consumers and retailers and facilitate smoother adoption.

If adopted, plastic carryout bags would no longer be provided at the point of sale to customers at most retail establishments in Rockville, with certain exceptions, you know, for practical purposes.

Actually, you can have paper or plastic, but you don't they're not going to also charge a fee either, or dry cleaning or for perishable items like um meat is wrapped in plastic or um bulk goods, for example, your granola, you know, things like that.

Um and also it's uh charitable food distribution.

Also, there are other uh exemptions from the fee, uh such as restaurant carry-out food or or food you get from a food truck.

You um consumers would not be charged for a paper bag in that instance for practical purposes.

Also, uh SNAP and WIC beneficiaries will not have to pay the bag fee.

They'll be exempt.

Uh additionally, reusable carry-out bags are allowed and then defined as having stitched handles specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuses and is made of cloth or other washable fabric or durable material suitable for multiple reuse that is not made of plastic film.

This helps circumvent what other places have experienced where some retailers just handed out thicker plastic bags and um you know sort of said, oh, here's your reusable bag, but it actually ended up resorting resulting in more plastic in circulation rather than less.

So many other jurisdictions in Maryland had adopted bag bans, and there's more in your packet, but um some of note are Prince George's County and Arundel County and Baltimore County.

Taking this next step may be a fairly easy shift for Rockville because according to one survey, uh over 60% of shoppers in Rockville don't use bags or use reusable bags already.

The Rockville Environment Commission voted unanimously in July to recommend that the city follow the county's lead.

Montgomery County conducted extensive public engagement and modified several parts of the law to respond to um helpful feedback that they received throughout the process.

For this reason, staff proposes to waive the layover period.

So this concludes our overview, and we're happy to take any questions.

Thank you.

I would like to thank you for bringing this forward.

I also saw when you presented this to the uh Rockville Environment Commission, and I appreciate that you got the feedback of the commission, they were able to weigh in ahead of time.

Um I will say I also appreciate the Sierra Club and Montgomery County.

Uh they also reached out to give brings to our attention.

Um it looks like uh even part of it if we don't move forward that actually the county's taxation law would automatically apply to retailers anyway.

So that not only is it good for the environment, but it does make a lot of sense uh in my opinion, and the county would actually also help on uh the education and outreach and enforcement, as you said.

So that would also not increase costs for the city.

Um and I also was looking at the some of the stats on uh plastic bag production in terms of litter and uh greenhouse gases, and just wanted to note that some of the studies show with policies like this that there is a reduction in plastic bag litter.

Uh, and as you noted, many of our Rockville residents are already uh engaging in this practice.

So it's trying to get to the other 40%, and there are some exemptions that make sense.

So I just uh want to thank you for bringing this forward.

Uh, thank my colleagues for uh sharing and their support for putting this on agenda for discussion.

Colleagues, does anyone have any questions?

Any questions?

All right, Councilman Van Grack.

I was just gonna add, and um I appreciate ums Campbell and Ms.

Shangara's point, but even to clarify it even more.

Not only was there the original presentation with regard to this issue before the environment commission, I think it's important to note almost every single member of the environment commission specifically talked about the benefits of incorporating this ordinance um into Rockville.

And I think it's important to note not only is the benefits for all the different reasons that were noted in the presentation, um, and for everything that Madam Mayer said, we've also got an issue where if Montgomery County is going to do this, and we've got stores in Rockville, there could create a confusion with regard to shoppers as and businesses as to what specifically are the rules.

So for all the reasons that I think everyone in the environment commission talked about, um, and for us to allow consumers to be consistent about what are the going to be the rules for bags while they're shopping in Rockville and the surrounding community.

I think it's important for us to pass this ordinance.

Thank you, colleagues.

Uh, Councilman Valeri.

Yes, thank you so much, and thank you for um a great um uh uh staff report and the resources that you pulled together for this item as well, is really appreciative of that.

Um I have one question and then two super quick comments.

Um there's only one thing that made my my eyebrow go up, and I'm very um supportive uh of us opting into this, and that would be under uh the exemptions.

A bag used to package items for the purpose of charitable food distribution.

Can you explain that one a little bit?

I'm thinking more in terms of you know, you've gone into a store and you're getting some food for you know, a charitable purpose.

So how do you how is that even enforced?

What that use is for.

I'm sorry to put you on the spot.

I think I mean, just from volunteering at our uh holiday drive, a lot of times we package the food in plastic bags, or we've done reusable uh lately, but it's something like that or other food banks.

So if you're going and getting canned food or other things, I think I don't know how they would enforce it because there's not really a retail.

You're exactly right there.

But that's why there's an exemption.

Okay.

And that kind of makes sense.

Like, but even they've moved away from leaving a bag on your door and they just put a post it note.

So yeah, that would be the one exemption.

Literally, it's the only exemption that I'm just I'm I'm not quite sure how that's enforced or how that would work.

Um I I love this idea.

Um, I'm always cautious when we um are having to communicate uh anything that applies to residents of Rockville that the county has passed.

And I've seen some of the challenges in particular uh in the same environmental vein with the ban on gas-powered blowers.

And you know, folks don't quite know, you know, like you try talking to a neighbor and they kind of shrug you off.

What's your next step then if that person still utilizes a gas power blower and we're well past July 1st, right?

Um, and then there's some of us when we call 311, um, because we're in the city of Rockville, they'll just reiterate us to City Hall.

So is there something in um the way that we communicate to residents how they can um how this will actually apply to them?

Um that's probably more in the PIO realm of things, but I think we need to move quickly as well, since January 1st would be when this would you know kick into place.

So getting our our folks, our residents ready for that would be I think critical.

There is a possible um hook um that we could use, and that would be um, I think there's a lot of places in the city um are a lot of folks that maybe don't know where they can recycle existing plastic bags, so there might be kind of a hey, get ready for January 1st, and you can drop off any plastic bags you have right now here, here, and here.

Um, I was just kind of trying to think through um, you know, how do you really kind of make an impact?

Because, you know, um, as much as we are very much integrated in the county, I think um we can kind of carve out our own communications on this as well.

So, but I am I'm very supportive.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I would note there are 13 exemptions.

Uh, folks are interested in learning more.

Uh, I won't read them all, but it's on page 176 and 177.

And I was at a couple of food distributions uh this past week, and people are using paper bags um to distribute uh to residents, and uh that would be exempted.

And I I also saw that there's an exemption for pharmaceuticals for um a pharmacist to give medicines.

Does that also apply to mental products in case someone wants that discretion?

Um that's a good question.

I I don't think so, but I think um uh you know the paper paper bags will still be offered at these locations.

Um, you know, it might be 10 cents or um, you know, a consumer always has the option of using a reusable bag or or something like that.

It's a good point.

Thank you.

I would just encourage for health reasons for you know, I think that's part of health, um, something to raise with the county.

Okay, all right, colleagues.

So uh if you Dr.

Mausich, I see your hand.

Are you good?

Okay.

If we are in agreement with this, then we have to move to waive the layover period.

Would anyone like to do that?

Sorry, we have to introduce it first.

Yes, Councilman Fulton, would you like to introduce it?

Sure.

Um, I introduced an ordinance to amend section one-8 entitled application of county law of chapter one of the Rockville City Code entitled General Provisions to allow chapter 48, solid waste article nine, plastic carry-out bag reduction, section 48-65 short title, section 48-66 definitions, 48-67 plastic carry-out bag prohibited, and section 40-68 penalty and enforcement of Montgomery County Code to apply to the city of Rockville.

Thank you.

Does anyone want to wave the layover period?

We have a motion, Councilmember Shaw.

I move uh to wave the layover period.

We have a second.

Councilmember Valeri Seconds.

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

Wow.

It's unanimous.

Now we need a motion to adopt.

Councilman Van Grek.

Madam Mayor, I move to adopt an ordinance to amend Section 1-8 entitled Application of County Law of Chapter 1 of the Rockville City Code and titled General Provisions to allow chapter 48 Solid Waste Article 9, plastic carry-out bag reduction, section 48-65 short title, section 48 66 definitions, uh section 48-67 plastic carry-out bag prohibited and section 40-68 penalty enforcement of the Montgomery County Code to apply in the city of Rockville.

Thank you.

Motion's been made.

Do we have a second?

Councilmember Fulton seconds.

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

Excellent.

Thank you very much.

And I will also note that the plastic bag money does go to a good cause in terms of supporting stormwater management and other things related to the environment.

So thank you to the environment commission.

Thank you to our staff.

Uh and thank you, City Manager's Office for bringing this over to us so quickly.

I appreciate you.

Okay.

All right, we have an additional action item, uh, which is the adoption of an ordinance to amend Section 18-176 of Chapter 18 of the Rockville City Code entitled Rentals Facilities and Landlord Tenant Relations to Udate Notice Requirements for Evictions in accordance with current state law.

I'd like to welcome our presenter, City Manager Jeff Mahalick.

And I know you are supported by staff members, Ryan Trout, Director, as well as Jane Lyons Raider.

Mayor Ashton, thank you so much.

Presented for your consideration this evening is an ordinance to amend Section 18 of the Rockville City Code.

It would be to update notice requirements for evictions in accordance with current state law.

As you all will recall, back in October 1st, 2025, state law requires landlords to notify tenants of a scheduled eviction at least six days or prior to the eviction date.

The notice has to be provided in writing for multiple methods, including posting on the premises, first class mailing, and if available, an email or text.

Additionally, and this work comes to this evening's agenda item.

The law allows local jurisdictions like Rockville to increase the requirement of the six-day notice to a 14-day notice.

This council practically asked me to put this on our agenda very quickly.

It's presented to you this evening with a recommendation for approval.

Upon adoption of the draft ordinance, the rents will be incorporated into city code and will be effective immediately.

And landlords will be required to adhere to the 14-day notice requirement for evictions.

Happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Thank you.

And this is enabling authority from the state just to uh let the listening public know, as Mr.

Mahalick noted, it's simply extending the period of notice from six days to 14 days to give tenants more time to plan.

And I appreciate the equity statements that you included in this agenda item that will help support uh tenants during a very difficult process to help give them time to relocate.

Uh so I wanted to uh see if anyone has any questions.

Councilmember Jackson.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

Just uh uh thank you uh to staff uh for doing it so quickly.

Um I know I mentioned it uh before at the meeting uh a couple of weeks back, and uh it's already on the agenda, and it's really uh an important piece of um uh uh of legislation for so many people that uh are facing addition, and it really doesn't make that much of a big change, but it means a lot to people that are in the situation.

So thank you for uh reacting quickly, working quickly, and for getting in front of us.

Thank you, Councilmember Shaw.

Um, I also wanted to thank staff and my colleagues as well.

Um, I wanted to see if we could actually add an amendment to this um similar to the county's law that requires landlords to provide the a copy of the notice of the eviction to the housing department.

Um that would help for us to gather data.

Uh, we can also prepare earlier to provide resources to those tenants.

Thank you, Mr.

McHaleck.

Can you please share uh if that's something that the department could handle and uh how that would take effect for you all this is a new request.

Haven't had much time to think about it.

Um if we take the information from the landlord, I'm not sure if we'd be able to make it actionable.

It does go outside what the state law provides, so I'm a little nervous about it in terms of it being a practice of ours.

We could certainly do that, but I'm not sure that putting it into a city ordinance is something that I'm comfortable with doing right this minute, but I could bring it back if I have other thoughts on this.

Thank you, Mr.

Dawson.

I saw that you were also potentially going to say something.

Okay.

So it there are things that you could do uh in code and also something in practice or guidelines.

We could definitely do something in practice and guidelines.

The code part I'd I'd want to think about and make sure in partnership with the city attorney's office that we can do it and not be in conflict with state statute.

Thank you.

Councilman Michelle.

In our code, we do have we do have language around uh landlords providing the increase in rent when each time they provide the lease renewal.

Um and so this would actually uh reflect and be identical to the the county's law.

Um and in addition, um, how will we enforce this?

Because I know that evictions are done on the county level.

Um they're funded on the county level uh for the entire county that provide tax dollars uh for evictions all over the county.

Um so how will this be enforced?

It is enforced by the county that I can um let you know.

Um if the council adopts this tonight, we'll certainly notify the county immediately about the council's decision to push this out to 14 days.

We'll also notify the courts to make sure they know too when people show up to eviction courts.

So we were happy to do that.

Um I also have an idea.

Um if council wants to move forward this quickly to go to 14 days, you can do that tonight.

It's effective immediately.

But as you know from review of your six-month planning calendar, we actually um plan on having a work session on further potential amendments to chapter 18 next month, and that's something we can analyze between now and then to see if we can make some additional changes to the language.

Thank you very much.

Uh Councilmember Fulton.

The city manager just said what I was gonna recommend.

Uh I think it we we know we we've got a staff report, we had an urgent sort of request to change this uh notice period.

I'm prepared to vote in favor of that today.

Any other changes or requirements, I think should we should give the city attorney, the city manager and staff enough time to think about.

So I would move that to the work session.

Thank you, Councilman Van Crack, and then Councilman Shell.

I was gonna say first, I think it's important to note first of all, as my colleagues have said, staff putting this together, the speed that you did and being able to get for us is important.

I think I've spoken to a number of people who've specifically asked for this from the city to adopt it was made for as for the state to allow us to do it, the county's doing it.

This is absolutely the right thing to do.

I also want to say what councilmember Shaw was discussing is the right type of initiative that we need to do, because we've talked about the type of um oversight that we want to make sure is happening with regard to our laws.

Um, but I also want to make sure that there isn't any issues or concerns with us doing it and how from a staffing perspective we do that.

And I think putting it together with some of the other things that we're doing to make sure that we can do this, how it fit works.

Um, but as drafted and after staff put together, I do support what's here.

Thank you, Councilman Michelle.

Yeah.

Um, so I just wanted to note that um in the county's law, um, they they, as I mentioned, have um you have to landlords have to provide a copy of the eviction notice to the housing department, in addition to that.

If landlords fail fail to do that, um it will be deemed a class A civil violation, subject to a fine of $500 for the first offense and 750 for each repeated offense.

Um, and so I think it's great for us to move forward with this in concept.

Um, but also uh it would be better if we had a way of enforcing it.

And I think um once we once we draft this into our into our code, if we can start practicing where we would have landlords providing a copy, it provides an extra um level of enforcement, oversight.

It also provides us a way that we can get data on the evictions, and it also provides us a heads up and how we want to coordinate with that tenant to provide them with the resources that they need to prevent the eviction.

Thank you.

I agree that uh ultimately would like to prevent evictions, and sometimes people don't know about our rental assistance programs, which some sometimes is on, you know, we definitely do it on top of the county, so there's a way for Rocka residents to get support above and beyond what the county gets.

Um, I would also note that uh there would need to be education.

Uh and I'm I I'm fine to move forward what we have today and then explore as you noticed, Mr.

City Manager, as we look at the landlord tenant code to see how we can do that because I do think that when anyone applies for a rental license, they need to know what the penalties are and what the requirements are, and this is new, so we'd have to do some uh outreach there.

Councilmember Valeri.

Uh my question is actually for Mr.

City Attorney.

I know you have um explained this in the past, but in this context, it might be helpful as well.

Can you share a little bit about why it would be a landlord may issue a tenant versus a landlord must issue a tenant?

And then continue that sentence.

Sorry to put you on the spot.

So you're referring to section 18-176A.

A correct.

So before it read that a landlord has the right to issue.

And now we're just simply saying a landlord may issue a tenant a written notice to vacate the to vacate and institute eviction proceedings in accordance with provisions of the real property.

So the provisions of the state law requires the.

No, I'm just wondering if if May here has the same force um under the law as must.

I'm presuming well, it doesn't have the same force, but it does state that you they would have to do it in compliance with state law.

Okay.

So if we want if I think we probably could change it to Shell, but in this in this in this case, it still has to be done in compliance with state law.

Yeah.

And I I would just put a pin in that um as part of our discussion in the next month.

Um, maybe where there are places where we can make it a little bit more.

You actually can just amend the the motion to change that from May to Shall.

Okay.

And then I would put that forward as an edit.

I don't know why we would make that optional for folks.

But again, it is an optional, it still has to be in compliance with state law.

Yeah.

Councilmember Jackson.

If uh there's no further discussion, I will go ahead and go ahead and uh uh introduce an ordinance.

Please do.

All right.

Uh introduce an ordinance to amend section 18-176 of chapter 18 of the Rockville City Code entitled Rental Facilities and Landlord Tenant Relations to Update Notice Requirements for Evictions in accordance with state law as amended.

Thank you.

Do we have a second?

Councilman Valerie Seconds.

Sorry, you're introducing, sorry.

Uh, do you want to waive the layover period?

Yes.

I will move to waive the layover period.

Should we have a second for that?

All right, Councilman Valerie seconds.

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

Aye.

Excellent.

Okay, who wants to make the motion?

Councilmember uh Van Grant.

Madam Mayor, I move to adopt an ordinance to amend chapter 18 of the Rockville City Code entitled Rental Facilities and Landlord Tenant Relations to update the notice requirements for evictions in accordance with current state law.

As amended.

As amended, please.

As amended.

Thank you.

But be just I'm sorry, I just got a text message from the attorney who actually drafted the section.

And she said that the landlord doesn't have to move forward with the eviction there, therefore that's why she put May in there instead of shall.

Yes.

So we probably should keep it as May.

Yeah, that's fine.

I take away the as amended.

Okay, so uh Mr.

Dawson, would you like us to restate to go back and clarify with our original motion?

I think the introduction I think the introduction was fine and the waiver of the layover, it's just the motion itself.

So let's make a clean motion, please.

Madam Mayor, I move to adopt an ordinance to amend chapter 18 of the Rockville City Code entitled Rental Facilities and Landlord Tenant Relations to Update Notice Requirements for Evictions in accordance with current state law.

Thank you, Councilman.

Councilmember Leary.

The second period.

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

Aye.

Excellent.

Thank you.

And thank you for our call of front experts.

We appreciate the work on this, how quickly it went and the information you provided.

Thank you very much.

Um I will just note that we should make sure on our rental license that we're including information about this.

I was I was having trouble finding some of the basic bill of rights and landlord tenant information.

So just want to take a look at that as well.

Councilmember Shaw.

And to your to your point, Madam Mayor.

Um I just had a question.

Um, so um so will some outreach just in general go out to landlords, like an email or um some type of information to share this update.

Yeah, we'll put together a light community engagement plan to make sure people are aware of this code and we'll publish it um through our normal channels.

Okay, thank you.

And I know you said you're gonna be in touch with the courts as well as the sheriff's office.

That's correct.

Thank you very much.

Okay.

We'll now be moving on to a work session uh on rental license expense inspections.

I'd like to welcome Keena Campbell, and I believe they're also panelists, Mr.

Craig Simon, Janita Jackson, Ryan Trout, and Jane Lyons Raider.

Welcome, Ms.

Campbell.

Good evening, Madam Mayor, members of the council.

My name is Keena Campbell, and I'm the Chief of Inspection Services, and I am joined tonight by Sharnita Jackson.

She is the code enforcement manager.

And we are here to present to you the rental license inspections process.

Let me see.

Okay.

And then plus the supervisor.

The group is currently subdivided.

They have the city to subdivide it into seven different zones, with each of them assigned a zone.

For tonight's presentation, just an outline.

We will go through the purpose of the of the programs.

We will discuss both the single family and the multifamily rental processes.

We'll get into our enforcement tools.

We will also discuss the new Maryland Mold Law.

And then we will be looking for any feedback when we get to the end of the presentation.

Just a few things to keep in mind as we're going through the presentation.

Do you support staggering the multifamily licenses?

Do you support continuing the current enforcement tools?

Do you support raising the number of multifamily inspections from 20 to 25%?

And then also do you support implementing an enhanced inspection program?

And obviously, we'll go through these during the presentation.

So again, the purpose tonight is to discuss the single family rental inspection process.

We'll also discuss the multifamily process, the current tools that chapter 18, the landlord tenant code allows us to do at the time at this time.

And then we will also discuss proposed new processes related to both mold and enhanced inspections.

So we'll start with the current single family rental license process.

So single family licenses are issued biannually, and the expiration dates stagger.

So each property has its own expiration date.

So that comes out to about 50% of the total stock in the city that gets inspected every year.

There are approximately 2,500 single family rentals in the city.

And all of them are inspected by our co-enforcement team prior to the expiration of their license.

The process is within 30 days of your expiration date, you'll get a notice letting you know your data's approaching for you to go ahead and schedule.

And again, all of the all of those properties do get inspected before your license gets renewed.

And if there are any deficiencies, they must be addressed and closed out prior to issuance of that of that license.

So that we could kind of see how we how we fare compared to some of our neighbors.

We did look into other jurisdictions.

And they issue the license before they inspect the unit.

Then their process is that they kind of do rolling inspections throughout the year.

So they may get into each each home throughout the year.

But the key thing is that they issue the license before they actually inspect.

Montgomery County was interesting.

They issue a license annually, but without an inspection.

Their process is more complaint-driven, so that's when they would actually get in to do an inspection based on a complaint.

But but again, the key there is that they issue a license annually with no inspection first.

Prince George's County also issues biannually.

So once they come out, if they see issues, um, if you're in, and so that you don't enter into an expired period, you'll get a temporary license, a chance to fix your deficiencies, and then they issue that final license.

We put together some data.

Um, this is for calendar year 2024, just to kind of to give us an idea of how do we look.

Um, what are we actually seeing when we go out and inspect?

And what we found, and again, this is for calendar year 2024 that we had a pass rate of 74 percent.

So this is 74 percent of the homes that we did inspections for past that first go round.

So, based on this data, um based on the um comparison with neighboring jurisdictions.

Um, we've we decided that we will be continuing this program for the single families with no changes at this time.

Excuse me.

So moving on to the the multifamily rental license process.

Um, we currently have approximately 90 9,135 units in the city.

Uh, the the current process is that all of those licenses expire annually on March 31st.

So, as you all can see, that's that's a lot of work the the first quarter of the year with with all of those units expiring by March 31st.

Our current practice is that we inspect 20% at each complex before uh renewal of the license.

So that gives you a turnaround time of about five years, so it would take about five years at that rate for units to be to be inspected.

Um any deficiencies that we find during those renewal inspections must be addressed prior to the issuance of the license, and just some examples of common violations that we see.

Um it may be broken or inoperable appliances, um, inoperable smoke alarms, um, maybe broken locks, infestation, um just to just to kind of name a few of some of the more common uh violations that we find at this time.

So this this table here again is for calendar year 2024, and it was intended again to give us an idea of how how are we looking, what are we seeing?

So this data shows us that we have a pass rate for multifamilies of 87 percent.

Um higher than higher than the single families.

Um but um again, these are 87 percent will pass on that that first um inspection without the need for a reinspection.

Um this is uh we thought that this was an interesting, uh interesting number, and and what it told us is that um we know we have some outliers, or I don't want to.

We have some one-offs in that uh we've got some older buildings, we have properties that may have management companies that need to need to step their game up, or um maybe they have some issues staffing, whatever it is with their on-site team that may need to be addressed.

So we we've we've discovered some of that, um, but but also we were kind of encouraged to see that we've got this 87% pass rate for the multifamily units.

We again looked at neighboring jurisdictions to see what their processes are.

City of Gaitersburg is again a license gets issued for the multifamily units prior to inspection, and their their staff is just continuously going in units throughout the calendar year and performing inspections.

They have staggered renewal dates, so that's another big difference from us, not on that one central date for the year.

Montgomery County issues licenses annually without an inspection again, so even on their multifamilies, you get the license, no inspection, they're more of a complaint-driven process.

And Prince George's County, they are on a uh every two-year cycle for their multifamilies, and all of their units get inspected prior to um issuance of a renewal.

So we we've been working um on some proposed changes to the multifamily process.

The first one here is to stagger the license renewal dates.

Um, this would help spread the workload out.

In addition to staggering the dates, we will be increasing the inspections from 20% to 25% during the renewal period.

So this means that that that one per five year that we we talked about a couple minutes ago, now it'll be once every four years that we'll estimate that a unit will be will be inspected.

Again to 40% based on thresholds, and we've come up with two different categories that the thresholds will be placed in a health and safety category and another.

And I just want to repeat that because we that'll be a very um good jump in and increase in the number of units that we will get in during that license period every year.

So again, from 20% to possibly 40% at renewal period.

One of the goals of the enhanced inspection program is to focus more attention on those properties that have a higher number of deficiencies from based on that annual inspection count.

We want to give those properties some extra attention.

And we also want to ensure that the property management teams are addressing these issues prior to receiving multiple complaints.

So again, a more of a proactive approach is what what we're hoping to get out of the enhanced inspection program.

So the inspection the enhanced inspection program will use a tool of um of an escalation system.

So depending on the quantity of your violations and the category will determine whether or not we have to implement the enhanced for your property at that time.

So again, um, as I stated earlier, we will categorize those violations based on health and safety and other and you'll see a little bit more about this on a on a on an upcoming slide.

We'll we'll show you how we plan on breaking those out.

And one other key thing that will be a part of the enhanced inspection program is properties where the enhanced inspections are implemented will be assigned as a senior and uh community enhancement inspector.

So those properties will get escalated, um, again get um again additional attention and more of a um a management role uh will be played in ensuring that those deficiencies are closed out.

So you'll see here um how we will be categorizing the violations and um and those triggers to get you into the enhanced inspection program.

So this the this is a representation of some of the more common violations that will that we see.

So we will be starting with with our new 25 percent during annual period.

Well, if 25 percent of my 25 percent fall into this category where I have either of these things, smoke detectors aren't operable, broken doors, broken locks, suspicion of mold, then that's a given.

We're definitely going into enhanced inspections, which will mean that now we're gonna bump ourselves up to at least 40% at that property.

If I have 10% of my initial 25%, that where I have uh malfunctioning HVAC system where I can't maintain at least 68 degrees in the eating months, then I will also be kicked into the enhanced inspection program, and I'll be bumped up to now 40% of the units at that property will be included in the rental license inspection.

So our current enforcement tools, and and I'll start by saying that these are these are what chapter 18 allows for us to do currently.

Um the first one is inspect at the time of application or renewal.

So again, um we must inspect prior to issuance of the license.

Chapter 18 also says that we have the right to go in and inspect when we have reasonable suspicion, and it defines what reasonable suspicion is, which is a credible complaint of a violation or documented evidence that a violation may exist.

So and the next one is is complaints.

So these first three are really um what chapter 18 gives us as permission to to enter.

This is these are when we have a role to play, either at renewal time, initial issuance of license time, so those kind of go hand in hand.

If I have a credible credible complaint slash reasonable suspicion, or now three, which we'll get into more in the next slide, if I have a complaint.

So that there's just the kind of the basis as to when we can get when we have a role to play to get in and inspect.

So you'll also see here that chapter 18 allows us the ability to deny a license, suspend, or revoke a license, and then we also have the tool of a citation.

So complaints.

A complaint is helpful to us.

We can't be everywhere, even if we go in and do an inspection for a renewal for the license.

As soon as we leave, something breaks.

We know by way of complaint.

The code tells us that the complaint must be reported in writing to the landlord first.

So the residents should not be reporting it to us first.

They should report to their landlord, and the code gives them one week to make that repair or a good faith effort to make that repair prior to any action from code enforcement.

So again, we're complaint driven, and the complaints are what help us know that it's time for us to step in and take action.

So I just think that's important for us to put out there that we've got to have complaints.

Next, we have specific requirements for when we can suspend, revoke, or deny a renewal.

And we can do that if the landlord does not abate or initiate a good faith effort within 10 days of the violation notice.

So far during our our time here, um, and Sharnita and I are both um fairly new to the city.

We're maybe three years in.

Um, but in that time frame, we haven't seen where we've risen to that point where we've deny a license.

Um typically the property management companies are responsive, and when we see things and give them their compliance dates, we typically get compliance from them within those dates.

Um there are occasions where we go to citation, which again is our seventh tool.

At that point, we can issue them a $1,000 per issue per day fine.

But it gets a little tricky with citations because when we issue it, they get the option to request a court hearing.

So instead of paying, so they don't have to get into compliance, they can just say, I want to go to court.

Then it goes outside of our control when they're going to get a court date.

So during this time frame, it may be 90 days, no control, they don't have to be in compliance, and then when they get to court, it's possible that the court says, Oh, we'll give you 30 more days or 30 more days.

We we we see that happen quite frequently.

So whereas a citation, it is a tool, um, we would definitely prefer to get voluntary compliance before we have to go that route, just because that tends to kind of lengthen the process in an in an uncompliant condition.

So in July of 2025, the state of Maryland and the governor signed the the new Maryland tenant mold protection law.

Um one of the things that we're finding is that um everyone's trying to kind of get their footing about them with with the law, even the folks at the state level.

We've made contact with them.

Um the state signed off on this bill, implemented this law, and hasn't really provided any guidance or resources, even to the folks at the state level who are given some responsibility for enforcement.

The law stipulates that a landlord must perform a mold assessment within 15 days of notification of a potential issue within a unit, and then if uh it's confirmed that there is mold that it should be remediated, they have 45 days or within a reasonable amount of time in order to remediate the issue.

So in response to the the new Maryland Mole law, we have we have made some changes in code enforcement.

Even though there's it's still a little bit of question for us as far as what is the city's legal responsibility.

So that 15, 45 days will be our new compliance date for suspicious substances.

Whenever a black substance is observed.

And you'll you'll notice that that I'll use the word black substance.

It could be mold, it could be mildew.

We'll we use the word black substance.

However, to provide some assistance for us, since now you know there's um more action required from us from on the state level.

We are in the process of formalizing a contract with an air quality consultant to to provide us some assistance, whether we need another set of eyes on a test report that we've received from a comp from a property management company.

Um maybe they're two two different reports at the same property, and we need some assistance and working working through those.

They may be able to perform testing for us as well.

So we we are in the process of um formalizing a contract.

Um while the state hasn't um they're still in the process of putting together their own processes, they do have a list on the state website of not people that they can endorse, but just qualified companies, and we were able to find some folks on there who are are going to be on standby for us to be able to provide assistance.

Um other thing that we would we are changing on the rental license, the multifamily rental license, and the single family, there will be a reference and an acknowledgement to the Maryland Mold Law.

So that'll be a mandatory checkbox on the only the applications saying that they we we know we acknowledge our requirements as landlord here, what we must fulfill.

So we're in the process of adding those to the applications.

Next steps.

Um in the spring of 2026, um the the chapter 18 rental facilities and landlord tenant relations will be back before you before this body.

Um so if there are any changes, um that they will be back early in the year.

Um we will implement the process to begin staggering the the multifamily renewals.

We're approaching that time now.

Um typically the applications start to come out end of the year, definitely you know, January, that'll be peak season for those applications to come in.

We're gonna start staggering those and by stagger, and um we will no longer use that flat out March 31st date.

It'll be uh staggered based on your approved inspection date.

So throughout the year, um that that'll that'll help us with workload and the ability to be able to get into more units because we're not trying to cram everybody in by that March 31st date.

Um, we will also establish the enhanced inspection threshold thresholds for violations.

Um that was as we discussed, so that we can we will get to that 40 percent um based on what the violations are and the thresholds that they fit into in December of 2026, we will provide a report of the findings based on these implemented changes back to this body for you all to see exactly where we fall if we've what our progress looks like, and we will also consider a senior community enhancement code inspector for the FY27 budget.

Okay, so we're we're back to our questions from the beginning.

Do you all support staggering the multifamily licenses?

Do you support continuing the current enforcement tools, which were the seven tools that we went through, the inspector application renewal, inspect with reasonable suspicion, the complaints, deny, suspend, revoke, and citation.

Do you support raising the level of multifamily inspections from 20 to 25 percent?

And do you support implementing the enhanced inspection program, which would increase us to 40%?

I am very excited about this topic.

Um I know the city manager's office and others have heard me say I've seen some things.

I've lived some things uh, you know, as I was growing up.

So I when I see things, I see what families are going through, and I've heard some from our school leaders, community leaders, about things that are happening.

And I think you're right, it tends to be specific types of buildings, specific buildings.

It's not a citywide issue necessarily, but there are some apartments that I feel very concerned about the quality of housing.

Um, and I appreciate the research that you all have done to reload at our program.

As you noted, it takes five years to get to multifamily, and I'm very concerned about that.

I'm also very concerned about a complaint-driven approach because we know that there's so many people who feel vulnerable and don't feel comfortable making complaints, and that particularly can be in in communities that are already impacted by a lot of disparities.

And so I will just say I think taking a more proactive approach and getting through more of our units will help our residents have higher quality housing.

I know that I've walked uh and knocked several doors uh of uh residents who um feel like they're in despair, uh whether it's roaches or mold and other issues that they're dealing with and don't feel empowered and they finally will speak up sometimes if we're knocking or if someone is helping them, but there's a trust factor as well, and I think we have to think about where we are as a nation, and people are generally uncomfortable and don't trust.

And so I think that's another critical aspect of how we go about this program.

It's not only what we do, it's how we do it.

Um, but I think there's a lot that we can do to improve quality of housing for residents in this community.

Uh, and I'm particularly concerned about uh some of our communities that are seniors, uh, low-income people who are from uh maybe immigrant communities.

Uh there are several uh vulnerable communities that I think are not living in the level of housing that I think should be in Rockville.

Um so I I really appreciate everything you've done here.

I think there are a lot of good comments.

If maybe we can go to the questions.

Um I wanted to note one thing I learned through the process is what you guys have been dealing with and having to um do inspections of multifamily with everything ending in one period of the month of March.

That is a lot of work for you all.

Uh, and I appreciate you raising this as a key issue that we have to address.

So I will just say I fully support the staggering because that will help you from a workflow perspective.

I don't think we should be giving licenses without inspecting.

And so I think this will give you some time to be able to see how things expire and and move them out.

Um I do also, as a general perspective, I'm concerned with the lack of parity between uh tenants who are in single family homes and tenants who are multifamily.

If you are in single family, your home is being inspected every two years.

If you are in multi-family, it's every five.

Uh, and so I think that's a big difference, and a lot of our residents are living in multifamily, and that may be growing over time.

And so I I would I appreciate some of the efforts that you've put forward to uh change that.

I want to go a little farther, that's just me.

I'll say that up front.

I I do appreciate the 20 to 25, um, but I'm I'm hopeful that we can get to every unit within three years.

Um, but you all have to tell me how how is that if that's even feasible.

Um, I have a couple questions for you just to help, and before we get to all these questions, and I want to turn over for to my colleagues as well.

Um, when you're doing multifamily inspections, are they randomized?

Or do you go back and you say, I've touched these 20 units last year, now I'm going to the next 20?

How does that work?

We do track.

So we do know which 20% we went in last year, so that we'll know we're not going in the the exact same units again the following year.

So we do keep track.

Okay, that's that's helpful.

Um, the other thing is the rental license process itself.

Um, I think there could be more education so that landlords and tenants, landowns know what we expect, and tenants know what their rights are.

And so there's you can quickly get into the apply for a rental license without having to see or or getting exposed to other things.

So I'll just note that as we look at this process.

I think there are opportunities for us to educate landlords on their responsibility so that we don't have to complain or have a complaint.

Maybe they can proactively address if they know what their responsibilities are.

So I'm hopeful that we can take a look at that as we look through our larger process on landlord tenant code, but I think we could do a lot more there.

Um I was also curious about the interplay between the Department of Housing Clean Development and Planning.

I appreciate that you all have put together some of the discussions for me and my colleagues on we really need to do more between as a hazard action team going out together.

Um but from a user perspective on our site, for example, it it can be confusing as to if they have an inspection issue, they may be filing a landlord tenant complaint form.

So I just wanted to share.

I kind of went in through our systems as a user, uh not knowing which door to go through uh and and having to help some tenants navigate that recently.

So I just I think that's something we could also look at as part of our inspection process as well.

Um my other question is do you uh when you do the rental licenses for multifamily, are you giving licenses to the whole building, or are you only giving licenses to that percent of units that you're inspecting?

The current uh current process is that the entire building gets a rental license.

So, like the all the the unit numbers are all documented down, but the license is issued overall to the entire building.

Okay.

And are you proposing to keep it that way or that you would change it so you only the units um that are inspected actually get licensed?

We are looking into um possibly making changes there.

We're we're researching.

Okay.

I will just share my feedback is I think units should be inspected before they're licensed, and if there hasn't gotten inspection in five years or four years, I don't think they should, you know, I think we should make sure that every unit is getting the inspection associated with the rental license.

Um and that might be easier now that you're staggering things because I know before it was just kind of a block and everything would hit at one time.

Um so I wanted to ask that question and share that feedback.

Um do tenants have the ability for the enhanced to be able to see um who is on the enhanced inspection program.

One of the things we talked about in our um housing work sessions was the um ability for tenant for transparency.

Uh and I know the county does publish a list of what they call distress buildings.

Um I'm just curious as to what you all think about that, or if there's been any evolution on that.

I don't think we've really talked about that too much, Mayor.

Um, it's certainly something we can consider.

Um kind of goes back to our broader discussion about landlord tenant act and transparency.

I think there were some suggestions by this body and by our housing team that look if we have some troubled properties in the community that are not passing inspections, would there be a problem with us um putting those on the website so people could see it?

I don't think that's a problem.

I don't off the top of my head.

Okay, thank you.

Um I'll just note for just to go through your questions.

For me, uh yes, I appreciate you sharing the staff load quandary and support uh your recommendation for staggering multifamily licenses.

Um I do support enforcement tools.

I think we could probably strengthen them a little bit more.

Um if someone is not following the rules and the housing is not high quality, there may be a suspension, or maybe they can't increase the rent for that unit or something.

There needs to be something where if you're not following the rules, and that's not a quality house, they shouldn't be able to just continue to do that.

So and I see I'm I recognize a loophole that you noted where people will just say I want a court date.

Um so I just I want to get to figure that out.

Um the third for me, I would like to multifamily inspections as I noted.

I would be more close to the 33% uh so that we can get to every multifamily home within three years.

I'm also willing to look at making single family on par if it's a workload issue so that everyone is getting inspected every three years.

Um, and then I do support implementing an enhanced inspection program.

I have concerns, there is a building that 44 out of the 55 units we inspected failed at the first time.

At that level, I think we should go in and look at the whole building.

Um, and I've seen that building.

And I have concerns about that building.

I have I've raised concerns about this building since my term as council member, and there's still concerns about that building.

I I think that we when they're when they're that serious, and it's there's I mean, literally have seen videos of serious roach infestations and mold.

I just think that we gotta go in there.

And I that I looked at some best practices from other jurisdictions, and there's wiggle room and in the code language that says that if there is suspicion or if they've have a high failure rate that they can go in and do that.

So I just I wouldn't want to put anything to code that limits us to only inspecting 40% of that property, that we would have the right and that we should in practice get to almost all of it if it's that concerning.

Um so I just that to me there's an elevated level of um uh dangerous housing conditions that I'll be very concerned about.

And um I'll pause there because I'm sure my colleagues have a lot of comments and I'll I'll come back to my question additional questions later.

Who would like to go next?

Adam.

Councilman Van Greg.

Um so first of all, fantastic presentation.

Um you you've obviously been listening to us of the things that we've been uh concerned about and addressing them directly in it.

So I know it's appreciated.

One question I did have, and I go it goes to a little bit of what the mayor was saying, is I understand the structure that we're putting out, and I agree with you.

We want to be able to find problems and address them before they become significantly problematic and even deal with uh uh an issue with regard to a tenant.

However, to what extent, because I know we've heard some issues with regard to delays from complaints that are coming from complaints that went to the landlord that aren't being addressed.

Is anything that you're proposing here potentially gonna get in the way of us being able to address complaints promptly?

Because if we're gonna be increasing what we're doing here, which I support 100%, I want to make sure that when there is an emergency complaint or complaint that we're receiving from a tenant that isn't being addressed, that we're not having any concern about addressing it from a complaint perspective as opposed to be a progress proactive perspective.

So I'll take a stab and then the keen I can support if I'm not getting exactly right.

Um councilman Van Grack.

No, I don't think that's the case.

Um, with our existing compliment of uh code enforcement officers by changing the inspection dates and spreading them out to multiple months instead of them do all at the same time, we're still gonna be able to do all the need inspections we want, even increasing from the 20, 25 percent.

But what this program really is about is using our existing resources generally and really taking those number of hours in a given week and really identifying those problem properties and then really focusing it on those problem properties.

You know, when there's a pass rate in the 70 and 80 percent range for single families and multiple and many multi-family buildings, and they pass every year.

We'd like to get in and get out of those inspections really fast.

But on those properties where there's a challenge and they chronically have failures of inspections, then we want to have more resources there to turn those units over more quickly.

So I don't think it's gonna be a drain on resources to change these standards, but I do think having the senior code enforcement officer um assigned to the problematic properties is gonna help us in a big way because what Keen and I talked about is they're not gonna leave that property until all the violations are corrected.

That's the problem property, and that's what I think we really need to do to place that extra emphasis.

So hopefully I answered the question.

All right.

So I mean, generally, I agree with all the feedback.

I mean, it I I agree with what we're talking about staggering.

I agree with continuing the enforcement tools.

I agree with raising it and I agree with implementing.

My only concern is I don't want us to lose track of when we have something more serious and people need to get the complaints addressed immediately.

So to the extent that anything that we're doing is gonna cause any delay, or to the extent that we couldn't potentially increase that time reaction now and do something there, I think that's probably the most critical because people are screaming out for help and need it as soon as possible.

That being said, everything that we're doing to be proactive is something that potentially can limit the amount of complaints that we get, which I think is an important role.

And I think you've done an excellent job here.

That's good feedback, and we'll just make a note, uh, Kenya Craig and I, Sharnita, to make sure that we'll include that in the annual report a year from now to make sure that there weren't any um unintended consequences to make sure we can respond to emergency situations.

Thank you.

Great, thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Fulton.

Thank you for the presentation.

Thanks for listening to us.

This is really responsive.

Uh to give the feedback, yes, staggering makes complete sense on number one, uh, yes to continuing the current enforcement tools.

Uh yes uh with uh raising the level for multifamily to 25.

And on the enhanced inspection program, yes, and I would amp it up.

This is like I really talking my day job here.

I believe a whole lot in risk-based prioritization, and that's what you're doing with that, right?

Uh, like to your point, targeting the resources to where you think uh there's the biggest problems.

So um rather I I actually think you're gonna get more bang for your buck out of that than the overall increase in the percentage of inspections if you do that right.

So I am hugely in favor of the enhanced inspection program, maybe even going up more than 40% based on like and even considering a lower threshold for bumping it up.

Like I would focus a whole lot of attention there.

Um, and I think that's gonna uh be really impactful.

Thank you for this.

Councilmember Jackson.

Thank you, Mayor.

And I'll be brief.

Uh thanks for the presentation, and thank you for listening to uh everything that we've uh said uh from the Daesh.

Um I agree largely with uh council member uh Fulton, which uh uh probably wouldn't be surprising to anybody.

Um yes to the first question, uh yes to the second question, yes to the third question to the 2025, and I agree totally um wholeheartedly with council member Fulton.

I think that uh the bang for a book could be really enhanced uh with the enhanced inspection program.

I think going uh 40% is good.

I think finding a way to go even higher uh will be better, and uh totally support that as well.

Thank you.

Uh just to clarify, this would be having single family every two years and then multifamily takes four years to get through.

Just want to clarify.

That's correct.

Okay.

All right.

Councilmember Valeri.

I will echo and ditto all across the board.

This is really really helpful.

Um, and uh yeah, um I definitely had um a very unique experience um when my family and I rented a single family home in uh East Rockville, and we were there for a little while, um, never saw an inspector, even when we had issues there.

So um I think there's pockets of perhaps situations.

Um my first question actually is do we have um I know that Mr.

City Manager mentioned it, like problem properties, but I think that probably more of the term I'm looking at is is distressed properties in the city.

Do we have a current list of um buildings that have had uh ongoing issues, um sustained complaints and have been brought into compliance over and over and over again?

And yeah, I'm just I'm curious, I'll stop right there and say, do you do you have kind of that list of keeping your eye on it properties?

Um so we we have a list, but not that we have tagged as a distressed properties list.

Okay.

As as Mayor Ashton mentioned with the housing action team, we started with four, I'll say call them target properties.

Um and and those four properties have been the the focus of that group, which is comprised of the code enforcement team as well as the folks from housing.

Um so we've been given special um and um I shouldn't say special, but extra attention, more focused attention on those four properties over the last year.

Okay.

That was kind of my thinking.

I thought it probably intersected with the hat team, the housing action team.

Um, but I I wasn't quite sure because yeah, I know that that's still a relatively new team.

Um, you know, I am to go to the questions.

I I just want to like ditto everybody here, and especially on number four.

Um just like I think that that is can should go, as council member Fulton said, as high as we possibly could, because when you start getting to that level of of failure, there's where there where there's smoke, there's fire, but you don't want to think about fire.

Um, so I really do support that, and I'm with everybody on that.

Um this is my probably not my last question, but my last question for the evening on this topic.

Um I noticed in the um report that a complaint must be filed with the landlord and a reasonable amount of time to abate the violation must be given prior to filing a complaint with code enforcement.

I am the the situation that just popped in my head as I'm sitting here was the person who is in a unit where it is during a heat emergency or a cold weather event, and their HVAC is not working and not even, you know, I think whether it's say 68.

Um what is a reasonable amount of time there and what is the increase in pressure on a property manager in those circumstances.

So that's where we would partner with our housing folks as well to ensure that other um resources are thrown at a situation like that.

So if we are contacted in a circumstance like that, those would not be the ones where we'll say, oh no, you know, go away until you've you've dealt with the landlord.

We we're on top of those.

Um so that reasonable amount of time is you know, is a couple of days, and we're also reaching out to the property management company to apply pressure and make sure that they are on top of it, maybe they're wait for parts, whatever it is, but we're making sure that they're on top of it and being responsive.

And again, that's where we would be a partner with housing.

Maybe there's some additional need and additional resources that the housing folks can help and assemble in a case like that.

And that's actually really helpful because that was kind of my my thought too um when we were when you were talking about the the mold program as well.

And you know, how long does it take and where does the person or the family or the whoever um where could they go and how are we supporting people?

So that's actually really helpful.

Um I think those were that was the extent of my question, and yeah, I answered all the questions as well.

Thank you so much.

And this was a really helpful.

Answer number three.

I did.

Okay, perfect.

All right.

I said I said yes, yes, yes, and heck yes, I guess on four and that.

Yeah.

Uh okay.

Councilman Shaw.

Um, thank you again.

Um, I just want to echo my colleagues.

Um, this was an excellent presentation, very thorough.

Um, I do support staggering the multifamily licenses.

I do support continuing the current enforcement tools, and I do support uh raising the level of multifamily inspections for 20 to 2020, 20 to 25.

Um, and I do uh I want to echo my colleagues in supporting um the implementing of the enhanced inspection program as high as possible.

Um I do have a few questions um to council Valeri's point, council member Valerie's point about um some of the complaints being urgent.

Um I thought there was a list that included things like heat as council as council member Valerie shared, and then um hot water and AC.

Um, I thought there was like a list of specific conditions that were urgent that would require like a three-day turnaround or something like that.

Is that yeah?

So let me differentiate what we're talking about tonight relative to what's in the property maintenance code.

What we're talking about tonight are really the inspection um elements of rental unit that must be present in a positive way for them to get a rental license.

Okay.

That's one thing.

Other thing is what does it take to have a habitable structure, whether it's single family or multifamily.

If a landlord has a rental facility and it's 10 degrees outside and they can't keep the temperature above 68 degrees, then that's an uninhabitable structure.

The family's got to go, and the landlord's responsible for getting them another unit.

And if that can't be provided, then we do have emergency resources provide that, and the landlord would pay us back.

Okay.

Um and then my other question, uh, we're talking about multifamily and single family.

Um, I know that throughout the code, there's some difference in the law across the board with uh smaller multifamilies, and I just want to make sure is is there any type of difference here?

Like if there is one or I'm sorry, if there's two or more units.

Um, I believe one of the codes, it was like eight units.

Um, but is there some type of definition for multifamily?

Let us circle back on that one, council member.

Um yeah, because um I think um in the specific code uh where a landlord is required to report a rent increase, that is only for multifamilies that have I think seven or eight units or more.

Um, and then there are other parts of the code.

So I know it distinguished between the smaller landlord and a multifamily or maybe a more of a corporate landlord.

So just wanting to clarify that.

And then um just oh I I also just wanted to share.

I think um from from speaking to a lot of tenants, uh Madam Mayor did speak about like the fear of having to report.

Uh and I I uh that fear is is very real.

Um, and I think that um just building on that, uh, one of the major fears around uh reporting conditions is a rent increase or a rent increase that's too high for a renewal for one person to pay, so they're afraid about having to be forced to move out.

I know in the building where there were that the 44 complaints, there was a high number of rent increases as well.

And a lot of folks actually had to move out.

There were a lot, there was I believe 60 or so um failure to pay rent in that building.

Um and so I it is it is also tied with their fear is also tied with being able to stay in that unit and to be able to afford that unit.

Um so I just wanted to put that out there.

Um and also you you talked about the city making um some of our troubled or at-risk properties or or distressed, but um I know them as troubled or at-risk properties public.

Um would you are you also considering making other multi-family property condition issues that comes that come out of this process public as well?

Maybe not at the at-risk level.

Yeah, let us let us continue to uh give that some thought as we continue to look at chapter 18.

I don't think it's a bad idea at all.

Okay.

Um the other thing I just I just wanted to note, I would be remiss if I didn't share the data point, but with the rent stabilization in the county, the troubled and at-risk properties dropped by 70% because it tied rent increases to um having um having uh a function, a functioning property.

And uh, Madam Mayor, I know you talked about like lowering the rent or being able to not raise the rent.

And so that is a similar point.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Valeri.

Oh sorry, Councilmember.

Dr.

Miles, go ahead.

I sent a message.

I didn't see you respond.

Thank you.

Oh, is it me?

Or I'm I apologize.

Go ahead.

Okay, thank you.

Uh thank y'all for this presentation.

I'll answer four the four questions, and I have two questions of my own.

Yes, I'm in support of staggering.

Um current enforcement tools, yes.

Uh number three, yes, to raise it at 25%.

I think somebody floated the idea of 30, 30, 33 percent or more.

I agree to the extent.

I mean, I think the one of the rate limiting steps is was articulated is staff.

Ideally, you would want all the units inspected all the time, but I recognize that you know we are limited.

Um I am and would be supportive of to the extent that the budget can handle it, and we're not quite budget offs yet to support increased staffing for y'all's department um because you all have a big load to lift.

I'm thankful for your work.

Number four, uh yes to the enhanced inspection program.

Those are my answers to your question.

The two questions that I have are um that and I I apologize if I missed that missed the responses in your presentation.

Who determines which of the 20 or 25% of units are inspected?

Is it random or is it landlord directed or is it staff directed?

The reason I asked this question is that you know, if it's a landlord offering the units, they could you know this is if if somebody were acting with the various intent, we just show you all the units.

So again, the question is who determines which units are inspected.

So the inspectors keep track of what units they've been in on previous years.

So we've we've got the the rent the the roster of units, and we're able to determine which ones are are up this cycle.

So the inspectors are keeping track and are able to um make that request um for access to the specific units that they want to get into.

Great.

Thanks so much.

That makes sense.

My second and final question is how do you all determine whether complaint is credible?

Uh I think it's in one of your something that would trigger enhanced inspection, I believe, was uh credible complaint.

Um yeah, how does that get determined?

So that was the uh provision that um we can inspect with uh reasonable suspicion and reasonable suspicion is if we receive a credible complaint.

Um that wouldn't be like a rumor or or word of mouth or from someone who I heard or down the street, typically the complaints we're looking for are from that from that resident that impacted resident.

Um if we do get uh hear from someone who say I'm reaching out on behalf of um we would we would wait for that affected individual or resident to to file that complaint.

Yes, ma'am, I appreciate that.

And then I want to be mindful of the remarks of my colleagues.

It's been a minute since I was myself um a renter, and thankfully didn't have uh many problems with my unit, but um I do recognize what was articulated by my colleagues in terms of um intimidation, people using rent increases as a way to intimidate people from filing complaints.

Uh so I do want to be mindful of ways that we can empower tenants to make credible complaints without fear of retribution.

Um and by associating also myself with the town comments of my colleagues, council member shawl with regard to some of the benefits that we've seen in terms of inspections and violations with rent stabilization.

That's all I have.

Thank you.

Thank you, Dr.

Miles.

Council Member Valerie.

Okay, so I lied previously.

I had two more quick questions.

Um I guess the first one, and and this might be maybe um more in uh Mr.

City Manager's Will House.

Um, did we do any sort of uh survey of the citation dollar amount in other jurisdictions?

We did not.

Okay.

I would be curious because I could see for some properties where that amount would be like that's an ouch, maybe for other ones, acceptable, you know, um damage.

Yeah, um, so that I would be curious about that.

And I don't know if any of my other colleagues would be, but I just don't know what the layout the land is.

Um and so going back to um, so what we're looking at is every four years, all units would be inspected in the multifamily space.

Is that correct?

Well, it's remember, it's kind of two-tiered at a minimum, at a minimum, all um multifamily inspections would be every four years.

But in those areas, the problem properties or the distress properties that we're talking about, when there's a certain failure rate, then those buildings would automatically go to 40 percent.

Yeah, no, but I mean, just in general, um, because you know, from from day to day, uh a property with no previous issues could become an extremely problematic situation.

So I'm just trying to get a sense in my brain, and math has not always been my strongest subject.

So you're trying to do math.

Um so multifamily basically every four years, and then single family homes every two years.

That's correct.

Generally, okay.

So what would we need to as a body?

Um, what would we need to what sort of resources would be needed to get that to parity?

So that maybe both are on a three-year cycle, um, so that we kind of ramp up the inspections on multifamily, which honestly it is the bigger lift, but if we've been doing single family homes every two years and multifamily not anywhere close to that, there needs to be like a little bit of shifting at first.

It would be my my guess.

But um, I think that that would be one of the questions that I would want to see answered before we start maybe drafting anything is is creating more parity there.

Um, because again, like my experience in Rockville was as a single family home renter, but I was an apartment renter um outside of the city, and I had more issues with the single family home that I rented um than in multi-family.

I left out many ways with where I rented, but um, I don't want to kind of I don't want to favor one over the other, and I think that we can do both uh quite well.

So that would be my data point.

Thank you.

I too am concerned with the lack of parity between single family and multifamily started there.

I appreciate the comments of my colleague.

I think it's unfair.

Um, and I I've heard the most complaints from multifamily.

I do agree that the enhanced inspection program will help to target the most at-risk properties.

Um, but I just wanted to note on the record, I do not support the lack of parity.

Um I have a question uh about uh when you receive a complaint, um things like mold mice roaches.

Are you automatically uh with your protocols uh focused on not just on that one complaint, but those kind of things spread to other units?

Is that something that you're planning to do with this new approach?

Yeah, so let me take a stab at that.

And so let me stress these are new ideas.

We think they're good ideas.

Uh the annual report after this will give us uh a good feel for whether or not we need to ramp it up even more for your suggestion, Mayor and Councilmember Valeri.

Um, so we just don't know yet, but we just think it's moving in the right direction.

Mold, we didn't want to go too deep on that because of the brand new um state law on that, which is really um geared to make sure that the landlord or property owner um actually has to do the abatement in a in a very specific timeline, and that's in there.

Um, but when it comes to any of the violations you rattle off, Mayor, if there's mold, if there are roaches, if there's anything that is a violation that's um could spread, I think it was to your point, then we would always send out the hat team and start knocking on doors.

And we've done that at four different properties where we knock on doors, we say, hey, there's been reports of XYV violation.

Can we come into your unit?

The challenge is, and I think Councilmember Sean and a couple other people brought it up, is just gaining access into those units.

We've been trying really hard to develop that trust, spend time with people, um, but it's still hard to get in there.

But yes, when we have problem properties, we're spending a lot more time not only with the code enforcement team, but with the housing navigators as well to see if we can gain access to more units.

Thank you for raising that uh and sharing that you do look at the others and send the team out.

Um I do think when I talked about approach earlier, I think there is a trust issue, or some people may also be working and not home.

Um so I I think that we are getting contact information for the tenants.

Is that correct when people apply for the rental licenses?

That's correct.

Okay, so we could I was thinking about some people may need a phone call ahead of us going there because um they may not feel safe to open the door.

So I just wanted to note that.

Thank you.

Councilmember Fulton.

I actually really like the idea you just mentioned about calling, thanks.

But that's um, I did want to mention more on the enhanced inspection program.

Yes, I think that we should be inspecting more frequently and there should be more parody between the two.

So I wanted to co-sign on what some people said.

And also, I think the way to do that is through juicing up the enhanced inspection program.

Um I care more about outcomes and outputs, and if you're focused on the right things, like that'll get you a higher level of inspections just in the right places.

Like, you know, it matters more to me that we I don't know how to say this, like find a higher percentage of the where there are violations than enter a higher percentage of units, right?

Um so the however we can do that, I think you'll get to the same place.

You'll just be hitting the right percentage of units as opposed to a random percentage of units.

So thanks.

Thank you, council member.

Uh, I agree that enhanced inspection is we gotta focus on the trouble properties.

Uh, I still think that this should be parity, but um, I I know that we're gonna try to resource this and look at things.

Um just to clarify, is it clear to you that I think I heard a majority of people want more than 40 percent.

Uh, we want to up that on the enhanced inspection program.

Is that your understanding of what you heard from this body?

Um I didn't hear like 40 to 50 to 60, but I did hear folks say when you have an enhanced inspection program and someone meets the threshold, do as many inspections you can.

And if we go have to go above 40 percent, we should be able to do that.

Um, the code actually provides city staff with the opportunity to do more inspections if necessary.

So I want you guys to be aware of that.

Thank you.

And I just specifically want to note for that property that had 44 out of 55 fail, we should be in way more than 40 percent, almost that whole building.

So looking for my colleagues to see if they're any additional councilman Van Grack, did you have a chance to weigh on all the questions?

I know you had some.

Oh, no, yeah, no, I did, and I agree.

Um, I mean, the enhanced inspection program is going to be something that can again reduce the potential future complaints and address our resources to where they need to be.

So to the extent we can increase the necessary amount to 40 percent.

Again, I want to make sure our resources are being placed to the extent we can.

I think it'd be exactly helpful.

But it's one of those things, uh Mr.

City Manager, as you mentioned, when we're looking at this, we can look at what we've done if we're gonna implement this and then reassess.

We might realize that our enhanced inspector program is so well and so resourced that we want to put more resources into it because it's coming up and we are reducing the complaints because of it.

We're making the properties better.

Councilman Shaw.

So I just want to make sure that I'm understanding this.

Um, in terms of uh the hat team going in and inspecting the units or um inspecting the 20 to 25 units.

Um that is something that is that the landlord must comply with, right?

And so in essence, right, correct?

That's correct.

So in essence, you don't need the tenants uh approval unless you if you provide if the landlord provides notice that this team is coming in, um, I think you only need to provide one day notice in advance to the tenant.

That's what most leases state, correct.

So even you know, if the tenant was um not available, but the tenant has received notice, you're still able to complete the 20 to 25 percent.

If the if the landlord um keys us into the unit, then we'll absolutely do the inspection.

Okay.

Um I know you know the best case scenario is to make sure like to have the tenant welcome you welcome you in.

Exactly right.

Um, but I I just wanted to just check to see like how best we could efficiently uh complete uh inspecting the units.

And then the other thing, um, if you are in contact with the tenant and it's the hat team, will they provide information um like around knowing your rights or any other type of information or resources?

Because I think I think this was mentioned before.

This is a really great touch point for the city and the tenant um to share resources.

Yeah, we're trying the whole essence of the hat team is to have um folks there not only from the enforcement side, so people know building codes, et cetera, what their rights are from a habitable rental unit, but also the folks that are hey, um, if you're having challenges with your landlord about um rent payments, you're behind, etc.

No your rights, and that's what the housing navigators are there before.

And we think it's a very powerful team that pair them up together.

We don't always do it that way, but when we identified a problem property, I think Kina described it really well.

Then we'll keep going out there, going out there.

Sometimes it's um to get the property in compliance with the building code, other times it's just to provide opportunities for counseling and resourcing.

Okay.

Um, I just wanted to note um, I mean, there was a uh new law, the tenant safety act that passed on the state level.

Um, I think it was last month or two months ago.

Um, and it allows tenants to collectively uh combine their complaints together, and then um if they need to, then collectively put their rent money in escrow.

It's essentially like a legal strike, if you will.

Um, I hate to use that word, but um, it allows tenants to collectively put their rent money um in escrow, and then the landlord will not get the rent money until they are paid and they have to go through the court system.

But it's it's a very new law.

Um, so I I'm not sure if a number of tenants are aware.

Um, but um, I think it's a it's a great protection, um, especially if you are finding that uh 20 or 25 percent of the units are having issues.

Thank you, Councilmember Fulton.

Thanks.

I just I wanted to follow up on something that I thought we'd clarify.

So for number four, um do you support implementing the enhanced inspection program increase to 40 percent?

Yes, and I would be willing to increase to closer to 50 percent if if that's what the triggers said.

So I think I think that's what you're hearing.

I just want like I wanted to clarify what I think we're hearing is to go above 40 percent if that's where the risk is leading you.

Thank you.

I was I was in the same vein, and uh I will just note that there are some jurisdictions that will have a number like that, but they say they can go into all of them if the problem is bad enough, and I think we should write the code to be that way.

I will just say this building that I was referencing earlier the year prior was told that there were only seven complaints, many of which I helped put in.

Um so sometimes with the current system, some of those buildings didn't seem like they were on the hands property potential inspection, but now they would qualify.

And so I was just saying there is a merit to getting in there and inspecting because you will not always get those complaints.

Um I do have a one other comment that I was looking at.

Some jurisdictions have something for people who are doing well.

Um so I've seen some three-tier systems.

So if there's a brand new building or someone is consistently inspect uh passing flying colors, there's some rewards in other systems in that way as well, in terms of that.

So I just that may be a way to balance resourcing.

Um, and I just wanted to note that.

And then uh I know you're gonna come back to us with the landlord tenant code.

Um, and you raise some next steps here.

When do you think you'd be starting to implement this?

Oh, immediately.

Okay.

Yeah, we have to change the code, correct?

We do not have to change the code to do any of these four things that are here.

The code provides city staff with actually quite a bit of flexibility.

This will be our practice.

We'll start the annual reporting right away, and we'll do the staggered inspection starting this next um period, which is starting January 1st, and we'll spread it out, and we'll collect a lot of rich data.

This was brought up by a number of council members.

Maybe we'll hit it right on the button.

Probably not.

We may have to tweak this thing as we go.

Well, we at the end of the day, we just want to make sure that the changes we're making via practice, um, are having the outcome we expect, and that's to give provide people with a safer place to stay at the end of the day.

And just to clarify, you're going to increase them of four to fifty percent.

I don't know if if I want to take a short poll on that, but yes, you will.

Yep.

Okay, all right.

Thank you.

I'm looking to my colleagues to see if they have any other questions.

I will say um thank you for this.

On behalf of the I've just seen so many homes and so many residents that I am hopeful and thankful that we'll be able to help more effectively.

Um it's it's heavy what I've seen, and I I know others have as well.

So I just uh want to say the work that you do has a direct impact on children's ability to learn, can they sleep at night?

Uh the health of our residents, and so I I appreciate and I know you do the hard job because it's not always easy to engage with uh you know when someone is in violation, and so I just want to say thank you because this is directly correlated to the quality of life of people living in our city.

Okay, all right.

Thank you, everyone.

Mr.

Mahalik, will we be able to get a summary of whatever the new guidelines are when you put them together?

Just so it's rewritten back to us beyond what we did here or just so it's is it written that it's gonna be 50% or just you know, there's there was some small tweaks like that one.

Just want to clarify, and then we will also have our transparency initiative discussion.

Okay, thank you.

Um I will also note some of my colleagues mentioned the education component, so I'm hopeful that will move forward as well.

Uh thank you to my colleagues, and thank you to staff for a very thoughtful conversation.

Next, we're moving on to the mock agenda.

Does anyone have any comments or questions?

I will note that it's been posted, uh, and they're about a thousand pages.

So thank you to staff for pulling that together.

Does anyone have anything under old new business?

Does anyone make want to make a motion to adjourn?

And we are we are really doing well on time here.

So thank you all.

Councilmember Fulton.

I moved to adjourn.

Do we have a second?

Thank you.

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

Excellent.

Thank you, everyone.

We appreciate all of your work.