Rockville.

Today is December 8th, 2025.

We are convening meeting number 30-25.

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

We'll now move to agenda review.

Miss Sarah Taylor Farrell and Judy Henney.

Madam Mayor and City Council members, there are no changes to this evening's agenda.

Thank you very much.

And I just wanted to do a quick preview.

We have a number of consent items that my colleagues and I will be addressing, A through E.

And then we have the King Farm Farmstead Master Plan, which is posted on Engage Rockville, as well as the Montgomery County City of Rockville funding application for community development block grant.

And then we have a detailed discussion, one of two sessions that we're planning on rental facilities and landlord tenant relations.

I want to thank staff for pulling together an excellent agenda and for putting forth some ideas like serious uh tenant protections, lease review, two year lease terms, early lease termination, um, getting some transparencies on fees and rental history, as well as banning potentially rental agromethic pricing.

So that's what's on agenda for today.

Then we'll look at our agenda for next meeting.

Mr.

City Manager, do you have anything to report?

I do, Mayor, thank you.

Mayor Ashton, members of City Council Asian gentlemen, good evening.

Two bits of good news.

I announced um a number of weeks ago in partnership with the police department that we're doing a new crime suppression task force.

That is a joint partnership between the city of Rockville and Montgomery County police.

And the goal of that is really this time of year to try to do what we can to lower retail theft.

Unfortunately, we do have a lot of retail theft along Rockville Pike in and around metro stations.

We've been out in force with a lot of steady presence.

Um we have made a number of arrests, and that is good, but more than anything else, that that presence is really making sure that people know we're serious about retail crime and theft, and we're trying to create a real safe environment out there during the business shopping time of the year.

So we know that we've been receiving a lot of great feedback from store managers and um shoppers that are out there.

So I just want to say thanks to the police department for their great work in collaboration with the Montgomery County Police Department.

Also very pleased to present to you and let you know that we received a council of governments grant.

It's called the Transit Within Reach Grant.

It's an 83,000 dollar grant.

It's a study and design pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements in and around the Twin the Twinburg neighborhood with a really big focus on getting people safely to and from the Twinbrook Metro Station.

So really excited about that.

That's all I have to report, mayor.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

And that will be uh the Council of Governments.

I had a chance to vote on that.

Uh so really excited.

That will be transportation uh improvements along Lewis Avenue, I believe.

That's correct.

I did also want to note another uh big thing that happened today.

The county signed the impact tax agreement with the city of Rockville, uh, the city and the county's share impact taxes, and uh the city put forth a series of pedestrian safety vision zero projects that were approved.

In addition, uh this co-supports the uh BRT, which will help to bring more transit throughout the city, and so that will help the county get that done as well.

So I wanted to uh formally thank you and the team for negotiating that on our behalf.

Uh that was excellent work today.

Great.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

Councilmember Jackson.

Yes, uh thank you, Mayor.

So um I just want to take this uh moment to mark a um sad anniversary um uh in our uh history of the our city.

So on December 8th, 2017, uh Captain uh fire captain uh Rockwell Thower Department uh volunteer uh Sandra Cohen, uh December 8th, 2017, uh tragically lost his live while uh uh attending a call uh on uh two set uh 270.

Um it was uh eight years ago.

And just take a moment to remember him and all the men and women uh who have been taken so soon in service to their communities.

Um thank you to the first responders, especially RCBD and RVFD for their service to the community and for putting your lives on the line and for us and for to your families.

Uh I've gotten to know um his mother uh well uh going to the fire station, national it out.

Um keep them in your thoughts and your prayers.

Um so thank you, Mayor.

Thank you.

I'll just also add on the Rock for Volunteer Fire Department.

Uh, they do a lot of work to support EMT, which is our health.

Um, and in addition to the important work they do, they also bring holiday cheer.

And so you can go to the website to see where they're gonna be doing their fire truck visits all across the city to celebrate the holiday season both for Christmas and Hanukkah.

Councilmember Van Grant.

No, we're just gonna add what you guys have both said.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

Uh also just want to note that there are a lot of holiday events.

You can find them out on Explore Rockville and the city's website.

Okay.

We're now gonna move on to community forum.

Uh we have some lists of folks who have signed up in advance.

I believe that is making its way here.

Uh, all persons, please address the mayor and council.

Uh, please speak in a civil and courteous manner, and members of the audience, please also be respectful to each other.

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

There's a time clock in front of you, and you will hear an audible beep at the end of your three minutes.

Uh, please state your name and whether you live within the city of Rockville for the record.

The first person that we have signed up is Daphne Pereda.

Is Daphne here?

Welcome.

Good evening, Madam Mayor, and good evening to all of you.

Um, I was actually supposed to speak to you privately in the previous hour, but something got mixed up.

But I will bring this up right now because this is a very sensitive and personal case that I would like to address about Montgomery County public school.

I moved my son to this area recently, and I enrolled him at Wheaton High School.

My son Gabriel was a ninth grader, and he was a very sweet child and a very um musical oriented child.

He began his academics at Wheaton High School, but two months after that, I received a call from the assistant principal stating that he went to the principal and told them that he was going to be assaulted.

I would like to know what was done in that case.

I've not yet been able to get any answers.

Furthermore, the very following day, my son was assaulted by six students just outside Wheaton High School.

It was still on Montgomery County recreation property, just a few minutes away.

My son suffered very physical injuries and was hospitalized for over a month.

Montgomery County Public School Wheaton did not charge the students.

They said that that was up to my son, who was 15 years old, was traumatized and was in the hospital for over a month.

The following month when he came out, I took him out of that school and placed him in Rockville High School.

The school knew everything about the history of his attack, his emotional state, and his admission to the hospital.

Yet on one day on February 27th, I received a call from the assistant principal in this case.

She stated, we believe that your son has drugs in his backpack, and he has left the school.

And what could I do at that moment?

Where would I find my son?

But she did not venture to give me any suggestions or advice.

She focused on me going to the school the next morning for an eight o'clock meeting to have a disciplinary action against my son.

She did not stop to think about the ramifications that would occur for the rest of the 24 hours.

Thank you, Mr.

Mahilek.

I'm gonna see if someone from staff can take time to uh meet with you to learn more about this and to see how we can get in touch to help find answers and advocate with you.

Uh Mr.

Mahela, can someone from staff meet with her?

Yeah, happy to do that, Mayor.

Thank you.

I'm sorry to hear about that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Welcome Pat Rebery Good evening, Madam Mayor and Council members.

I'm just here tonight to say thank you on behalf of uh many people in Newmark Commons who appreciate your acknowledgement last week that dense, very dense zoning on the property next to our neighborhood is uh um does not appear to be appropriate.

And I we appreciate that.

And your willingness to listen to us and carefully consider the implications of this proposed zoning change have uh greatly strengthened our confidence in the engagement of mayor and council.

I'm just here to say thank you, thank you very much.

Thank you.

Welcome, Jay Schaeffer.

The next person to speak will be Wendy Murphy.

Hi, good evening, thank you for having me today.

I came to speak today because um, well, I was asked to.

And what I wanted to talk about is some of my personal philosophies.

My philosophies are that if you have rights on one side and responsibilities on the other, things get out of balance.

Um I believe the tenants who pay good rent deserve a clean, dignified place to live.

If it's not clear, I uh have a day job, I'm a real estate agent, and I'm a property manager.

I manage four properties in the city of Rockville, uh, 20 throughout the area.

Um, I do believe that you know we are all adults, we enter into an agreement, and when we make a deal for a clean, dignified place, you deserve one.

On the other side, um, I also expect that we're all adults, then you'll take care of the property that I rent to you because the property owner is spending good money to provide a good property to you.

I understand this isn't always the case when you're talking about the um commercial property owners, but this is the individual residents of the area that I'm referring to.

And I think that there's a lot of pressure to pass laws that I think are hurting the individual owners who are the local who are actually providing affordable housing.

We rent by the room.

You know, you're you're just not gonna find properties that you can rent in a minimum wage uh environment and be able to rent a place on your own.

So that's a little bit of who I am and my uh philosophy.

I believe that we all need to have accountability for each other.

And I think if we don't have accountability, we have some of the problems we're talked about earlier that spill into other social areas.

But I wanted to talk and address some of the items that you had asked me to talk about.

Uh, two-year lease terms.

I think if you have a good tenant, um a property owner would want to renew the lease.

So I'm really not a huge fan of a two-year lease, especially on the initial term.

You want to get to know each other, make sure that it's a good fit.

Um, early lease termination.

I believe that anybody who wants my personal the way I run my business, if somebody wants to leave, go.

Please.

I don't want to hold you because why does it torture you?

Why does it torture me?

I don't think it's it's it's really a good thing to do.

Lease review and receipt.

I provide a copy of lease at least signing.

I don't see the problem with that.

As a matter of fact, um, if you do it by paper, I've got two copies, we both signed together.

Otherwise, electronic, you get a copy immediately.

Organizing tenant organizing, why not?

If you can't stand up to scrutiny as a property owner, what are you doing wrong?

That we should all be able to handle things.

Non-electronic payments, I have a bit of a problem with that.

You get into a he said she said, um, or he said he said or she said, she whatever, two people arguing.

You need to be able to prove that your rent is paid, so have some sort of paper trail other than cash.

Cash is problematic.

Rent payment history, of course, you should get a rent payments history.

Algorithmic uh pricing ban, absolutely, but I would like to be able to still use the MLS.

Uh court costs and legal fees, I'd love to get reimbursed.

Fee transparency, of course.

Um, two sides.

And when things get out of balance, you have a problem.

Thank you very much for consideration.

Welcome, Wendy Murphy, followed by Jack Ring.

Hi.

Good evening.

I'm Wendy Murphy.

Yikes, and I rent here in Rockville from a bigger landlord.

So really different issues.

Over the past year, renters were told that rent stabilization would stop development, that developers would leave the county and come to Rockville instead.

More supply, lower rents.

That was the expectation.

Rockville's housing permits have fallen by 74% since 2024.

Where are those housing units?

We were told to expect.

Showing renter protections and development can coexist.

Without stabilizations, seniors and essential workers, all workers, I mean this area is really in such a crazy place right now.

Already face uncertainty, and with that stabilization, it just rents can rise suddenly and sharply.

But I'm wondering whether landlords are have to report in any way about before it happens, not when it happens.

The algorithmic rent setting, thank you for not wanting to go for that because I was in commercial real estate.

Yeah, you know, do things like that anyway.

And if we had the stabilization, it would not be a worry anyway.

So because it wouldn't come into play.

Um I don't want to use the word that came to my head, so until 27.

Um, but there were so many of us here.

So I'm not really understanding that.

I'm a senior on a fixed income whose husband didn't get paid last week.

We're not really sure why.

It'll probably be fine.

But that's kind of a scary thing.

I can only work part-time.

Thank you very much.

So I need stability.

Thank you.

And I'm not the only one.

Welcome, Jack Ring, followed by Eric Fowler.

I thought you guys were asking.

I'll just note if anyone uh is not able to send their full comments if you want to email them to us, please feel free to do that.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Hello.

Uh thank you.

My name is uh Jack Ring.

I live in King's Farm, uh, local Rockville residents.

Um my second time uh going up and talking to y'all.

Um and I can't believe this is what my voice actually sounds like.

So sorry.

Um so yeah, um I I think that I last time I said something along the lines of we both have to have empathy.

Um both sides have to have empathy and listen to one another.

And um I'm hearing um the that that has happened, and so I I want to commend uh the city council and and everyone else for you know their contributions and making you know trying to work towards um you know a solution that works for everyone.

Um I think that uh what was I gonna I think that um we we should continue with this uh this kind of like spirit of cooperation.

Uh I think that um I wish I had something more like more facts to um read out or I had planned something um but more substantive, but um uh yeah there were um certain things that were uh promised um about uh you know and reasons given for not um stabilizing rent and um it seems that not all of those things have uh borne out um the development has been down um and uh there are lots of lot lots of other problems um that are facing renters and landlords but in the spirit of

And um it seems that not all of those things have uh borne out.

Um the development has been down.

Um and uh there are lots of lot lots of other problems um that are facing renters and landlords.

But in the spirit of this, you know, renter, landlord, uh tenant, you know, uh renter, property manager, you know, uh agreement.

There should be um there should be transparency, there should be honesty and uh a commitment for working, you know, working together with one another to make an equal and balanced uh situation on on both sides.

So sorry for babbling and taking up your time.

Thank you.

Thank you for sharing the story.

Welcome, Eric Fowler, followed by Chris Madden.

Is that good?

Yeah, seems to be good.

All right, hello, mayor and council.

My name is Eric.

I am a uh neighbor of Rockville, and I'm here tonight with uh Rockville Renters United to support rent stabilization.

Uh now I do recognize that tonight's meeting is not necessarily to discuss rent stabilization, uh, but it's discuss the landlord tenant code.

But um I'm I'm a little confused as to why we are setting that limit.

Uh much of what is being discussed in the updates uh would actually be applied with the Montgomery County uh rent stabilization bill that we that our neighbors have.

Uh things like uh uh bans on junk fees, um, you know, uh uh limits on uh increasing for trash or parking fees.

Um I'm also hearing talk that uh there may be uh eliminating, there's talk about eliminating the requirement for reporting rent increases to the city.

I think that'd be a huge mistake.

Reporting that sort of information helps uh us keep track of you know what's going on in our city, especially when you know there's a well-publicized national housing crisis that very much applies here in Rockville.

Um I I do believe Rockville tenants need more protections, not less.

I'm glad to hear that there's uh talk about banning algorithmic um rent increases.

That is a good thing.

So thank you for that.

Um but then there's there's other things.

There's uh I saw that there's actually down payment assistance uh program for new homeowners.

I myself am a new homeowner, and while those programs are great, uh they only impact a small number of uh residents.

Meanwhile, rent stabilization would help literally tens of thousands of people in this city afford their rents, you know, people on on fixed incomes would be able to afford their rents.

Uh and this is a problem that applies not just to you know corporate landlords, although they are generally, you know, uh the commercial landlords are more impactful, but even small town, small-time landlords, you know, they can make mistakes.

They can have there can be issues with housing regarding that too.

Um I do want to recognize that over the last 10 years, specifically the proportion of cost burden renters in this city has increased dramatically.

Uh, this is really not a questioned fact, it's well established, but you know, behind those numbers are thousands of residents, you know, people that are actually feeling the impacts of the lack of these protections.

Um I think this council has an obligation to represent those tenants uh and you know, represent their residents over, you know, the interests of potentially wealthy donors.

Um I strongly urges council to uh take this opportunity to enhance protection for tenants.

And uh I also urge you to put rent stabilization back on the agenda.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Welcome, Chris Madden, followed by Brad Orinland.

Hello.

Uh my name is Chris Madden.

Uh you're all familiar with me.

Uh I've been up here a few times.

Um I am a resident of Rockville.

I live in the Great King Farm.

Um, and I'm here today to speak in favor of rent stabilization.

Um that uh I talk to when I'm organizing tenants, knocking on doors, helping to organize tenant associations to help people speak out.

Um they're concerned, they like the they usually like their communities that they live in, and they don't want to leave.

They don't want to move because of a huge rent increase.

They want to be invested in their community.

They want to come to city council meetings like this, but they can't don't have the ability to, or they don't feel connected to the community because of how bad the housing market is now with you know rent.

Renters now are used to whenever they get a rent increase that they can't afford just moving to another jurisdiction or moving to another state and constantly moving from year to year rather than sticking in one place and being invested in that community.

And I think we lose a lot of people who would really help out Rockville and really want to live here, want to benefit Rockville as a whole because of these huge rent increases.

Thank you.

Oh, thank you very much.

Welcome.

Brad Orland, followed by Tyler M.

Mayor and Council, my name is Brad.

I live in Rockville, and I'm here tonight to discuss update the code updates for the landlord tenant code.

Um some of the updates I think are very promising.

Others I hope you will revisit to better serve Rockville residents.

And so I'm glad that we have the opportunity to speak at this community forum to make uh you all aware of what we need from our city government.

Hanging over all of this is the continuing need for rent stabilization.

Uh, some of the things that you're considering would be more efficiently addressed through rent stabilization.

There is no substitute for this, and we are not going to stop talking about it.

Um the other thing that I wanted to focus on is junk fees.

Uh you have a proposal before you to increase transparency around junk fees to make sure that people are aware of the junk fees that they're going to be subject to.

And this is a step in the right direction.

Junk fees are harmful, they are unfair, and they are unnecessary.

Since you recognize that this is a problem, we are asking you to take the next step and ban junk fees altogether.

When you know that something is bad, the solution is not to make sure that people know what bad things are going to happen to them.

The solution is to prevent those bad things from happening in the first place.

And you have the power to do this, and residents will thank you for it.

There are a number of other important issues that you're hearing about tonight, and which I hope you will consider, but I really wanted to focus on those two.

Ban junk fees.

If you polled Rockville residents and asked how we feel about junk fees, the public is entirely on one side on this issue.

And if you were to land on the other side, that would send a very bad message about who you really represent.

So I look forward to your leadership on this issue and taking that next step, moving beyond transparency is a good first step, but banning junk fees altogether.

Uh and the other issue is rent stabilization.

Every time that somebody moves out of Rockville to Germantown or Frederick because they've gotten a double-digit rent increase, or the people who grew up in this city, like I did, decide that they aren't able to afford to live here as adults and they have to move out of state.

That's preventable.

You have the power to prevent things like that.

And so far you have chosen not to.

And that is a shame.

Um that's all.

Thank you.

Welcome, Tyler Clayton, followed by Madison Dunn.

All of us.

Well, sorry.

Hey, Mayor and Council.

I'm Tyler.

I've been up here a few times, except this time I did not prepare at all.

So you're getting raw and uncut today.

So the thing, the first thing that I wanted to focus on was this idea of safety.

Um, Mayor Ashton, you actually asked the crowd at the tree lighting if they felt safe.

I was there.

Um and then city manager, you also talked a lot about safety when it comes to folks shopping during the holiday season.

Um I want to say that in our current economic climate, I don't feel safe.

I feel that my ability to live, breathe, and enjoy Rockville is completely at the whims of the housing market and Morregard.

And folks can just decide to raise my neighbors' rent as much as they want without any control.

And I think if we're really focused on the other piece of this, right, we want to make sure we have a safe shopping environment that folks are not stealing from stores.

We know what drives people to commit petty theft.

It's that their other, excuse me, their other expenses, their housing, their health care, their food, they're not able to access it.

And so they're forced to make decisions they would otherwise not make in order to commit these crimes.

You guys have direct control over how safe Rockville is.

One of the things you can do is to regulate the housing market.

I applaud the landlord tenant conversations.

I sat in on a listening session for the tenant one.

Um and I will say, I'm not sure if your staff is allowed to say because you banned it.

The tenant session, every single person said that they wanted rent stabilization.

I don't know if that made it to the PowerPoint.

Sorry, I didn't get to look at the notes ahead of time.

Every tenant in the listening session said that that that was their number one concern.

Junk fees.

Great.

Ban them, as my friend uh Brad.

Yeah, Brad.

Brad just said, ban the junk fees, algorithmic pricing, great, ban it.

Should absolutely ban it.

I would also say if you really do care about the citizens of Rockville, um, you just hire two new people in your housing department.

Maybe have one of them instead of focusing on homeowners, have one of them focus on tenants.

If you have folks who are being evicted, you have resources in the county and the city.

You you put them on the sheet that you gave out to help those people.

Most of the people who are being evicted don't know about those resources.

If you're being alerted ahead of time, like you talk about in one of your things you want to do, you could have someone in the city reach out to those folks and say, hey, here's all the money we can get to keep you from being evicted.

Thank you for your time.

Appreciate it.

Thank you very much.

Welcome, Madison Dunn, followed by Cassidy and Elizabeth Adams.

Hi, my name's Madison Dunn.

Uh, it's great to see you guys again.

I did speak here another time.

Um I live in the fields of Rockville.

Um, and I just wanted to talk about how the mold affected me and my family a lot.

I remember the day that I woke up in the middle of the night with extreme stomach pains, and then the next morning it still hurt.

And so my mom took me to the emergency room and I had to get an emerging activectomy um the next morning.

And after my acted but activectomy, um, I remembered not being in so much pain that even when I was trying to walk, I could barely walk.

And I had to work miss my first week of school because of it.

And it made me really sad because I was really excited because this is my this is my freshman year of high school.

And I just really felt really sad.

And during that, my cat died because of the mold as well.

She had a heart attack because she was barely eating because the mold affected her so much.

And I just really would like if you guys could try and help because my sister is also allergic to the mold and is also getting really sick because of the mold, and we're staying there.

And the apartment complex did try to help us saying that they would clean our stuff and help us pay for a new apartment, but they wanted us to sign saying that we wouldn't sue because they didn't want to sue and after all this.

And my mom was like, no, because they did all this to us, and we're still in so much pain because of it.

And I just would really like some help because I hate this, and I'm also getting sick, also, because I sprained my ankle a few weeks ago, and I am sitting at the house laying on the couch that it soaked in a bunch of um fungus in the air.

And I'm also I'm feeling a little sick now because of it.

And we are also me and my sister are sleeping on the couch because our bedroom is where the we found first found the mold in like a corner of the room.

And so now our beds also have fungus and like mold stuff in it.

So we're scared to sleep in it to get because we don't want to get really sick.

Um, so I know I said this, but it's like I'm just really scared about my health and my mom and my sisters as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Cassidy Ayers followed by Elizabeth Adams.

Hi, my name is Cassidy, and I live in the fields of Rockville.

Um, we have been transitioning through um hotels because they've been doing a lot of remediation, but every time we come back, there's something different going on.

And it's really hard on me and my family because it sucks being there because it affects us inside because it makes us really sick.

And like my sister said, I did get admitted to the hospital for a couple of days.

Um it wasn't fun, but at least I got better.

And I hope that stays that way.

And I hate living there because it's really hard for all of us, and I just hope we can find a better place and you guys can help us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Hi, my name is Elizabeth Adams.

I also live in the fields of Rockville.

My kids are so awesome, I almost don't need to say anything.

Um, so you know, you guys know my story.

Um, you guys see my emails.

Uh the fields of Rockville is literally doing the bare minimum, and that's because they have eyes on them.

Um I am back at my house in less than two weeks.

I'm having headaches every day when I wake up.

My body hurts to the point I can barely get out of bed.

They've been at the doctor's, I don't uh like eight times in the past week and a half.

Uh uh, I brought for you guys, um, in case you're interested, um, some of the termites that are crawling out of the screw hole for my toilet in my bathroom that they remediated just a month ago.

I brought some of the slime that now grows in my toilet despite me cleaning it with bleach every three days.

Um, I also brought the trap that um goes behind my toilet that has a bunch of pharaoh ants, which also breed in moist environments.

So I think that is pretty indicative of the fact that even though they remediated my bathroom, there is still a huge problem.

And you guys know about not just my issue, but so many other families over there that are having similar issues to mine.

And I think that it's said enough that the apartment complex is a problem.

And I'm wondering at what point Rockville City helps make the apartment complex do what they should be doing.

Makes them actually go in there and test properly, remediate properly instead of shuffling me and my family in and out of hotels every four to six weeks, where we have to pack up and move not only a family of three, but our cats who are currently showing um signs of mold toxicity already in a week and a half.

So it's you know right now they're being allowed to essentially poison me and my family.

And you guys know about it, because I've told you.

And so I'm wondering when something is done.

I have 47 seconds.

Am I allowed to get answers or no?

Thank you.

That would be under the management of the city manager's department, uh, Mr.

City Manager is also on my emails.

Okay, well, I'll just say real quick I think not just all of that, but like all of that is like brings me to rent stabilization.

Like, I don't know why on earth, if you guys actually care about the residents of Rockville, why you would know vote no on that.

Like that's just kind of ridiculous.

But on top of that, like if the landlords are allowed to do things like this, and then I come to the departments in Rockville that are supposed to help the residents go through and deal with things like this.

And I mean, it's been six months.

Where is my family still in a mold-infested apartment that the apartment complex refuses to acknowledge, does everything to get away without fixing, and is poisoning my family.

So thanks.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Gottesman, thank you for that.

And I just want to see if anyone, if you would like to meet with staff at the back, we can do that.

I do want to point that while I'm waiting for this list.

Um, we did have a dedicated inspection session.

Uh, that was a couple weeks ago, and the city of Rockville is enhancing and changing its inspections at the direction of Mayor and Council.

And City Manager can answer to more of that um in the future.

Okay, we have additional sign-ups with Michelle Shen and then Jack Theoloff.

Hi, um, my name's Michelle.

Um, I live in Rockville, and um I'm here to talk about the landlord tenant code, but also uh I'm just wondering why we can't have rent stabilization given all the testimonies here.

Um the ban on algorithmic pricing good could be solved with rent stabilization, uh banning junk fees, that's in the county code.

And I think if you are talking about fee transparency as a solution, then we should also add some transparency around like what this city is doing for renters, because when I talk to a lot of renters, they think that uh they have rent stabilization already because they live in the county, and they're usually surprised to find out that their rent can go up as high as the landlord likes.

So I really feel like uh we should have some messaging around how uh the mayor, councilman Van Greg, Councilman Jackson, Councilman Valeri, and Councilmember Fulton, uh, all voted to just never talk about rent stabilization again.

And I feel like this should be apparent on people's leases before they sign because they don't realize that they're writing or uh getting into a contract housing where they uh think that they'll be protected by the county law, and then they find out later that they can get double digit rent increases by Morgard or Greystar or whatever.

So yeah, that's all I really have to say.

Thanks for your time.

Thank you.

Welcome, Jack Therlock.

Good evening, Mayor Ashton and Council members.

I'm Jack Therov.

I'm the chair of the city's recreation and parks board.

Uh, but I'm speaking tonight on my own behalf.

Uh, and this is ahead of your review of the King Farm Farmstead Master Plan.

Uh, our feedback or my feedback to you has been uh we've been talking about this since I went to Julius West, which is a long time ago, as you can probably guess.

And two, keep it simple and get it done.

Uh, that's the message again tonight, uh, for you, but also for the broader community.

Let's come together and get something simple and meaningfully done.

Let's protect the farmstead by making it used and useful.

Is the proposal perfect?

No.

Uh, will it be a paradise for everyone?

No.

But it's an older set of barns, an older house.

The city has a legal obligation to keep up.

It's also an opportunity to repurpose those spaces to meet the broad public interest and preserve a part of the city's agricultural history.

If you create a safe and usable space for city residents, we'll turn it into something special.

And you can look at the community garden at the farmstead as an example of that.

Just make the space safe and useful.

City residents will make it uh something special.

Uh, delaying doesn't help.

Let's start the work and make sure we're not leaving a bigger and more expensive challenge for our successors.

Uh, our oldest is going to middle school at Julius West now.

I hope we're not still talking about this when she has uh when she's my age.

That would be a scary thing.

Uh figuring out what to do with the farmstead isn't easy.

That's why we've delayed decisions for 25 years.

Uh and I want to close by just saying a big thank you to the city staff for working so hard on this.

It's not easy.

Um, there are easy things to do in recreation and parks or easier things.

This is definitely not one of them.

Uh so a big thank you to uh the city team for uh doing what I think should really be a model for of community engagement across the board going forward for all of our major projects.

Uh and thank you, Mayor Ashton, for just saying we got to get this done and not letting this uh move forward.

We've got other really big important things to think of as a city.

We're hearing a lot about it tonight.

Um, we need to just keep focused, get it done, and move forward.

And I look forward to seeing a Finnish King Farm Farmstead and being there uh sometime soon.

So thank you very much.

Thank you.

Okay, that exhaust less of those who have signed up.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak?

Honorable Zemeyor Ashton, thank you for presiding and leading on this open democracy forum, rent stabilization posse.

ICAP rent forever and peg it to your financial success, reimbursed periodically, and as feasible to your landlords.

Vote for me.

As mentioned previously, I'm evaluating possible candidacy for uh US house rep uh Congress or Montgomery County, Maryland Government Council.

I need a very good treasurer, campaign manager, etc.

Please contact CRMG Clerk office and leave your info if I can do this.

We need to do this ASAP, me awesome for all of you already bamboozled real American communities, really bamboozled all of you.

New immigrants, you need to earn at real USA American founder citizenship.

This is not devices divisive, this is respect, deference to us as necessary.

Our immigration policy set expectations.

Implement immigrant tax for those arrived after the end of the Cold War.

Voluntary for you here before the new century.

Many groups exempt, lower or voluntary, British Africa, America, et cetera.

Many of you immigrants do too much suck up and new forms of segregation.

Disclaimer, all this not all my thoughts is limited access forum and this info, not necessarily for or against any of you individually or as a council.

This is for county government audience here and beyond.

Now my preamble, I pledge allegiance to the flag of British America, USA America, who are founders and framers of our USA Constitution.

Also, British African America, and this in earnest as a latter part of the 18th century, latter part of the 18th century.

So many projects, no insult to a very centuries, mentally health affected group, African Americans must continue to be aware of this.

Please new immigrants, also respect and deference is necessary.

Chris Rock type woke indoctrination, not good at all.

Please don't promote these limited narratives.

USA beneficiary of British Empire, British Commonwealth.

Latin America Central America Illegals Undocumented is a statement I made.

Home Depot not built in a day already, a rallying cry for many of you.

And also going forward, Home Depot not built in a day.

Those Home Depot stores, Lowe's have more than 30,000 products, 35,000 products, 35.

Online, millions of products.

Latin America Central America illegals and notes.

You did not build this country.

You have made very good contributions, and now more prominence, a lot of prominence.

We all need work, most of us.

So you work for yourselves, unless you work for free or slave or servant wages, which you don't.

You're all dangerous, unionized, do ugly falls, dangerous manipulative lawfare.

You do and cause a lot of hand jobs.

All from this background have come illiterate, and this even in your own language.

You have abusing me and my family for more than a decade and a half.

I need a legal settlement from your unions and Montgomery County, Maryland government.

Until then, this is my factual narrative.

Start by simply being nice and respectful, refrain from not necessarily civil disobedience.

Your constitution amendment for African American slave abuse, including abused kids, not emanated into slavery or indentured service.

Montgomery County, Maryland already seceded to Latin America.

I feel for you all, you're young, especially with this illegals undocumented term.

Not good.

They have mental health issues because of this.

They you are people, but you all unionize and abuse us huge with false, dangerous manipulative lawfare.

Again, you have come to my home nation, USA, that gives you access to top USA education system, a very 21st Renaissance app online based society.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Good evening, uh mayor and council.

Uh my name is Paul Scott.

I'm the president of King Farm.

And I'm coming to you uh this evening with regards to uh the recommendation on the King Farm Farmstead.

Um first of all, I just want to um state that we appreciate the work that the city staff and the mayor and the council have done with regards to getting impact and getting uh feedback from the community.

Uh Mr.

Merrick, your staff has done a really good job.

Uh, and um it shows that the city of Rockville is very much uh focused on getting community feedback.

Um King Farm is one of the largest communities in the city of Rockville, very diverse community.

Um renters, yes, Chris.

We have renters.

Um Jack, you spoke very well.

And um, owners, uh, we have a mixed uh variety of housing um in uh the city in uh King Farm.

One of the things that uh we are concerned about in the recommendation is just making sure that uh transportation issues were um not going to have an unfair impact upon our community.

Um schools, transportation safety issues, uh, shopping parks, all of those things are the reasons why people come to King Farm, white people come to Rockville.

And as the mayor and the council and the city makes the decisions with regards to the farmstead, we just appreciate you taking those things into consideration as we go forward.

Um of the things I did note on the recommendation draft started on page 264 uh with regards to the impact statement.

Um, three words, three um topics equity, environment, and economy.

Uh it was just very interesting that there was in each one of those sections there was not a mention of um the equity impact upon um King Farm, uh, the environmental impact on King Farm and the economic impact if these decisions and if this thing is not done right.

So I just want to ask you just to keep those things in consideration and even forward in the future when we do make these statements that we not only talk about the community be awide, but also have a consideration about the immediate uh area.

But again, you all have done a great job.

I'm really proud of the city, proud of the work, and uh again, uh, even though our recreation parks director has long gone and she's gone to another area.

The team did a good job, and we know that you all will do the right thing.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

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

Hello, how are you doing?

My name is Jonathan Brown.

consideration about the immediate uh area but again you all have done a great job i'm really proud of the city proud of the work and uh again uh even though our recreation parks director has long gone and she's gone to another area the team did a good job and we know that you all will do the right thing thank you very much thank you please state your name and whether you live in the city of Rockville hello how you doing my name Jonathan Brown um I'm here on the behalf of my mom Camina Brown who I'm advocating for and on behalf of my younger siblings um this matter has been going on for about 11 years um my younger brother uh Isaiah Brown he's 27 now he's been on the program of um Rockville Enterprise housing for over 11 years um right now he just came out the hospital um from having his second open heart surgery to put the the the device in there to be able to keep his heart going right now um he's been on the breathing machine he has lupus um he has the the worst health problem in the household right now and we're trying our best to keep him alive at this point what's currently going on in my mom's housing right now is mice infestation really bad um there's holes in the walls um there's mold that they keep painting over that we're talking about 11 years now you know that my mom has been telling me about this and it's getting to the point where I have to drive from DC and I have to approach the maintenance people and I'm not coming at them in a way of trying to be violent or aggressive or anything like that but you know my brother's life is on the line you know what I'm saying he'd been on his deathbed a couple of times already and he has specific notes from when he was in children's hospital in Washington DC that he can't live in that type of environment so we're thinking that this this um program is supposed to accommodate people with disabilities which is kind of getting irritating to me because I'm like y'all see me I'm coming to speak the out my mom's in fear of her housing and anywhere to live her job she might not be able to work sometimes which can you know mess with her funds of being able to pay rent and things like that because she has to take care of him you know majority of the time so now we're to the point where while while my family I have three other siblings as well you know it's not just him there's I have I'm the oldest out of five boys so it's getting to the point where it's like they're doing remediation while people are occupying the unit which I know it's not even you're not even supposed to do that.

You know so I took like I took it upon myself and I'm sure I wrote everybody in here you know emails and I definitely spoke to the mayor and she's the one that you know point me the direction of landlord tenant um I appreciate Miss Vanessa coming through Vanessa Mason she really showed initiative to be able to spread the word and um you know allow my mom to be heard and find a way to resolve this because my younger brother just came out the hospital and he went back in the hospital like a couple days ago and I had to just pull my car up on the premises to the front door and you know thank you take him to the hospital you know so I would like to speak with you whoever I need to speak to because they're talking about remediation Mr.

Mahale can you please have someone from staff first of all thank you for telling your story that is not acceptable.

Yes I appreciate those who are sharing the inspection stories.

Mr.

Mahale can we have someone talk to him but also can the mayor and council receive an update on what's going on in both both apartments.

Absolutely thank you thank you man have a blessed night is there anyone else in person who would like to speak okay I'm gonna go to those who have signed up for virtual participation like to first go to Shen Young we're gonna hear from Shenyang followed by Nadia Boga okay I'm gonna go to the next person hold on one second let me just go through this list and then if someone from staff can help answer her question please and if it's a testimony request please let me know Shhen Young Nadia Boga Margaret Ratcliffe Lee and uh Miss Tara Tallifrail can you see if these folks are online please we also had uh comments from Anna Chung all right may may you please say your name Danny Winborn yeah I was I've I've emailed them again to let them know and I've been emailing them trying to get them to speak for you to go on the line okay thank you please uh state your name and uh whether you live in the city of Rockville hi my name is Margaret Rack of Lee and I originally moved to the city of Rockville in October of this year.

I live over in the farmstead district and I would like to step back and first thank the mayor and the council members for hearing me today.

And I just want to I've read through the master plan that was made available to all the um the community and about the the development of the farmstead and how it can benefit the community in the surrounding areas and I based on the last meeting discussed I thought that there was concerns about the parking availability and the impact on the community for the residents that live around the farmstead and I would like to add as the pardon me as the residents of the farmstead district are moving into their completed homes that we would also like to voice our concerns about the traffic would be as we're the farm district is still under development there is already concerns within the community about uh parking and level traffic within the community and then also how there there is intention to expand parking to make it more available um there is already a a wide community within the area that could that could experience the farmstead and so I would like to voice uh my request that the community members are also heard in terms of the impact on their homes and their everyday lives thank you for your time thank you okay I'm going to call the virtual names once again uh Shin Young or Nadia Boga do we have them on okay and then Mr.

City Man yes please state your name whether you live in the city of Rockville Hello can you hear me?

We can oh sorry because I was trying to and thank you so much.

So my name is uh Nadia Bogas Viving me this opportunity and also uh like uh someone says uh you're doing a fantastic jump for the re uh trying to renovate and make the the farm live again and uh profit other people that can visit the site we're just uh my unit is at 2001 Hansen Norris Street and it's the corner it's at the corner so I can overlook the parking of the the farm so I'm a little bit worried of the safety and security because there are no fence between the the parking and um the community so uh people who can visit the site can easily enter the community so I just wanted to make sure that you take this into consideration uh especially the parking that is already um on site um so just to make sure that also we are worried about the heavy traffic that um may occur when people visit and we wanted to see what where will be the hours of the events if it's open on the weekends uh you know uh what are the our uh hours of visitation this is our main concern like traffic safety uh and also noise uh during the weekend because of the events thank you so much thank you next uh asha behe would like to speak oh I can speak from here please come to the mics and uh state whether you live in the city of Rockville thank you thank you I didn't know I have to sign in my Asha and I'm also Rockville resident and nice to meet you again uh I know we and I live the same apartment and really that's not the main thing I'm actually here um I'm originally from Somalia just like I'm so immigrant my kids are US citizen and I know what kind of I don't know what kind of power you have towards the school or the culture or just the community what you can contribute that I know you cannot shut the president mouth at the time now but is there any way that you can have like uh because you literally put my community in the mouth and now in Minneapolis Somalis are very much under attack by ice but I'm not worried about that part I'm US citizen and US actually welcome me here but my main thing my kids and I were having conversation I have 13 and uh 10 year old and we're driving to school and literally this in Mami I use citizen and I'm like yes I'm citizen I'm fine so there's anxiety going on with anybody not every color immigrant person and it looks like we somehow put in umbrella that we're not speaking out so I would love to mayor have some kind of petition some kind of power that you can contribute to this administration to say somehow we are not okay in this facility or Rockville City what can you do or what you can even have a meeting later maybe think about any idea to come to put this is not okay you can't just get up

So I would love to mayor have some kind of petition, some kind of power that you can contribute to this administration to say somehow we are not okay in this facility or Rockville City.

What can you do or what you can even have a meeting later, maybe think about any idea to come to put this is not okay.

You can't just get up one morning and talk about you as a citizen, have no right to be in this country.

So kindly, I want my kids to go to school and feel fine.

And and the principal have some kind of talk with them, say, hey, you are American citizens, and maybe there's something they're not speaking about it, but we're having this conversation, it's real, it's in our living room.

So I don't want to be shy and away from it.

And it's not about being um black or color, only that is on the top of immigrant.

And just like I said, I know you don't have the power to shut anybody in terms of the Abu office, but I would love you to have any kind of contribution towards the community school, even anything, and that's my main concern and have a good evening.

Thank you.

Uh we don't always have this kind of comment, but given what's going on in our country, I wanna just say that we respect all Somali people.

Um I have previously worked in the Office of Refugee Affairs and know uh there are many refugees in our city and our country who are contributing to our um city and our country.

Uh this country is built on immigrants, and I just feel the need to just say that we respect all immigrants.

We have a fostering community trust ordinance that's part of our code.

Uh, we have also worked together to establish several no place for hate resolutions.

Uh, this city is a welcoming city.

I don't care what other people say, you are respected, and uh we appreciate all people regardless of their race, their creed, and their gender.

Um it's sad that we are in a place in this country where people are being attacked, all kinds of people.

And I just want to say that we appreciate you speaking forward and telling your truth.

And we need to protect our children because children are being afraid to go to school, they're being attacked because of where they come from, people who um you know their due process is being violated.

So I just wanted to say thank you for speaking out, and uh the mayor and council will continue to fight for an inclusive community.

Thank you.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We have the person now.

Yes, we do.

Okay, please state your name and whether you live in the city of Rockville.

Mr.

Chung, you can speak now.

Hello, can you hear me?

Yes, we can.

Oh, okay.

Sorry about that.

Um, yeah, my name is Young.

Um, my wife and I um recently moved into um this community fromstead.

We just purchased this condo um recovered two months ago.

Um I'm just learning about this uh this project that we're gonna go through.

Um our unit is literally looking directly at this uh farm price.

It's a beautiful farm price.

Um but my concern here is that um the food traffic, what would be looks like after this being renovated.

And um what I found out today from the HOA meeting is that um our street here is Puppet Street, and anyone can park on our street, and there's no enforcement to see to see who actually park here.

Um when this project is done, like what this topic's gonna look like.

I can imagine what would be I I would imagine that it's gonna be you know, a lot of more people gonna be uh you know, coming in and go.

And our thing is that our unit fortunately is literally like uh uh Route 355.

The noise that we coming uh from the highway is already a lot already.

Um I'm just worried about what this project is going to bring in not just the topic, but also you know what the people is going to be, you know, the noise that will be introduced into this community.

And lastly, because of bringing more traffic, was the safety to our family.

Like could be any random people could uh introduce like just come in and go.

So you saw the concern in my head, and uh I just want to wanted to note uh uh is there any um to add just like you know, the topic, the safety and the noise level that would be introduced from this project.

That's all I have.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you to everyone who signed up and who uh spoke out today to share your feedback with the mayor and council.

I'm gonna ask that we move through the consent agenda item first and then we'll take a brief break.

Okay, so for consent agenda 9A, authorize the city manager to execute modification number one between the city of Rockville, Maryland, Department of Natural Resources, and provide a no cost extension to the grant number 14-2308 TRF.

That is related to public works and stormwater.

Staff recommends the B, the mayor and council award and authorize the city manager to execute a rider agreement for the purchase of various hardware software supports and professional services.

And this is a lease agreement with Cisco Systems Capital Corporation for said hardware, software and support.

Uh this uh amount is not to exceed 1.918 million.

And C award and authorize the city manager to execute a rider agreement with ATC Corp, a Maryland Corporation not to exceed 500,000 annually for the initial term with terms and pricing consistent with Baltimore County contract for athletic court maintenance.

D, authorization for the city manager to sign a grant agreement amendment with the federal highway administration for the FY 2023 safe streets and roads for all project.

And then lastly, an approval of our minutes.

I asked my colleagues, do we have a motion to approve, or does anyone have con uh questions that you'd like to pull for any of these items?

Okay.

Councilmember Jackson.

Thank you, Mayor.

I move to approve uh consider agenda items A, B, C, D, and E.

Thank you.

Do we have a second?

Councilmember Fulton seconds.

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

Aye, excellent.

Thank you.

While it is unanimous, we'll take a brief seven minute break and then we'll be back.

Now moving on to our action item portion of the agenda.

And the first item is 11A, discussion and adoption of the King Farm Farmstead Master Plan.

I'd like to welcome Chris Henry from our esteemed recreation and parks program.

Thank you, Madam Mayor, members of the council.

I'm Chris Henry, Deputy Director of Recreation and Parks.

I'm here tonight to present the King Farm Farmstead Master Plan and request adoption.

Based on the direction of the mayor and council on October 20th, we have removed any of the new parking lots that were proposed within the master plan on the King Farm Farmstead property.

We've removed the addition from uh the dairy barns, and we have updated the cost estimates accordingly.

Can I just because we did hear some questions about um parking?

Just to note that in the brief book itself, it knows that there are 47 spaces on site and 268 at the Matisopanic Park for a total of just of over 300 spaces.

Thank you.

Yes, that's correct.

Uh and there's also some um parking along Ridgemont Avenue that has limited time, um, but it does exist about 25 spaces.

As this slide shows, we've removed the parking in the plan itself, and it shows the available parking within walking distance of Maddie Stapanic as well as along Ridgemont and how it is close to the Metro station and other parking areas, as well as a large number of residents within walking distance of the farmstead.

This slide provides what has changed since that meeting.

Just to give you follow along on the uh the slide itself on the top left hand side.

Number one is the area shaded in green, and that is the top of the two graphic, the the top two graphics, and it shows the addition has been removed from level one and level two.

Number two is the area that the teaching kitchen, due to the uh removal of the addition, uh the teaching kitchen and the catering kitchen no longer has uh the the economies of scale for a size multi-purpose room.

So we have moved the teaching kitchen to the horse barn, and um so that the programs will be flipped.

So anything that was uh scheduled for the horse barn would now be in the dairy barn, and the programming for uh with the catering kitchen and the teaching kitchen would move to the horse barn.

Once the addition for the dairy barns were removed, um we wanted to make sure that there was a connection between the two, uh, and that moves into the the lower uh two uh diagrams, and you'll see that the um the multi-purpose room uh has been enlarged.

The uh without the the without the uh addition, the um we've created a bridge so that the two barns can still be connected, and that will help us with uh one elevator for the project as well.

Um we've also suggested uh adding dormers to the western side barn uh within the inside of the courtyard, and um to enlarge the terrace area where the addition used to be so that we could still provide services and opportunities for programs in that area.

And the third is we've adjusted the cost estimates based on these moves, and um, so you will see that the uh first phase uh from FY27 to FY30 still includes the dairy barns, the farmhouse, and the site work, and that has changed from about 21 million to 19 million, and then phase two, the horse barn, the tenant house one and tenant house two, as well as the garage is uh has has gone up because we have moved the kitchen and uh the associated construction costs to phase two, and that moves up from uh seven million to eight million.

The entire reduction for the project is about 1.3 million for uh the elimination of the addition.

That concludes my uh presentation, but we are here for any questions and uh recommend adopting the master plan this evening.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I want to thank the entire team and all the residents who have made this plan what it is today.

Uh you've all heard us say before this has been I would say decades in the making, uh, and this council is committed to getting it done and trying to help to right the future of King Farm Farmstead so that we are not just paying for the upgrades, but actually using the space for the betterment of our community.

So uh thank you for bringing forward these adjustments from our last session.

I wanted to alert the listening public that uh you can always go to Engage Rockville.

There's a lot of the history of all the fantastic feedback we've gotten from the community and the work of staff, uh and it's a great site to see and follow the journey that we've been on.

Um I have uh just two questions to clarify.

Um, and and for those who are new to this project, uh, this is a really gonna help expand our recreation space.

It's gonna be dedicated recreation space.

Um, about across all the parking elements you noted is about 340, and we're looking at potentially adding child care and uh multi-purpose space uh in the various structures uh and events as well.

Um what I did wanna check on is uh some of the feedback we heard from the historic district commission.

I want to thank them for sending their letter in as well, is uh about the history and how we're gonna put education and fuse that into what this property is.

So I don't see that quite fully represented uh in the draft, and I support approving this plan today.

But because this this document is gonna serve as a guide for future staff and bodies to finish out because it's gonna take multiple years to get done.

I do think it's important to speak to what we're at least mentioned that there's gonna be some on-site education as well as signage to honor the history of uh this location, including I know in the staff report, we've acknowledged that they potentially were enslaved people on this property as well.

So I just want to see if we can approve, but add that piece in so that it's in the forever document.

Um the second is I just wanted to uh clarify.

So no, some of my colleagues have mentioned the silos and just how we're showing up those silos, if you can just speak to that.

I'll take the silos first.

Um in the plan, we have allotted about half a million dollars to renovate and refurbish the the silos.

That at this point does not include any programming for them as of yet, but during the design process, we would be able to really see what is possible there, but it does account for uh in the cost estimate monies to make sure that they are shored up and are stable.

Excellent.

Thank you.

And I also just wanted to note for those who are listening in the past those question about the garden, the garden is staying and being preserved to help support the future residents who will garden those plots.

Thank you.

Colleagues, any questions or would you like to move to approval?

Councilman Valeri.

Just a question.

Um actually I was just uh kind of uh agreeing, co-signing what the mayor said about um uh capturing and acknowledging the the history there.

Um I would like to have that language for sure be part of the master plan, only because um I have noticed sometimes that those requests tend to um disappear if we don't codify them or memorialize them in some sort of way.

So if we could do that, um again, I'm I'm with the mayor.

I'm I'm not trying to um delay things, but um, I just wanted to acknowledge that I agree with the mayor on this point.

Councilman Van Greg.

Uh thank you.

And and again, echoing to staff.

I know this is something that you've been working on, and we've been pressing you to get it as quickly as possible and to the public in advance as well.

So I appreciate that.

Um, one question I had is uh I know I've talked before about you know both cost and the impact to the community, and I've brought up issues with regard to the horse barn.

And I'm really glad to see that we're pushing that to the second phase.

But there's two questions I had with it that I didn't necessarily see, and I just want to make sure so the first question is with regard to the horse barn, as I understand it, I had it for my notes, and I think it was you that answered it two work sessions ago.

The plan right now, as for the cost that we're looking at right now, is for a teardown and then a rebuild because there just isn't a structural assessment to use what's there.

Is that correct?

That is correct.

Okay.

So I and I just want to make sure because it I it doesn't look like we're allotting any funds with regard to the structural integrity of that building, since we're potentially gonna be using it or have some impact of it in the part of phase one.

We're not putting ourselves at any risk of the fact that it's not structurally sound currently because we're not gonna be using it and it is gonna be torn down.

Is that right, or is there a structural concern about it?

Previously, we have um shored the the building to a certain extent.

Uh, there is only so much we can do structurally, but we have shored that up.

Um so unless there is an unusual winds, uh side winds, we are in pretty good shape to keep it for the next until the the second phase of the development.

But since we're gonna be doing a teardown and rebuild as part of phase two anyway, should something happen and it either collapse or something happen, that's not gonna impede the cost of what we're looking to do.

Is that right?

I don't want to uh send lightning our way, but uh obviously nobody wants I I just want to make sure that we're uh everything that we're doing and not investing in it during phase one isn't really gonna impact any significant cost that we're doing in phase two.

Yeah, we'll just use any of the materials that are are there for uh any rebuild that we we we conduct in it at a later date.

And along those lines, because obviously I'm also concerned about cost.

If we get to that point and we get to phase two, and for whatever reason, whether there's cost prohibitive or we've got the use that we needed, given what we are now, we can always make another decision as to how we're gonna do the horse barn if we've already got the dairy barn and the other parts of phase one up and moving.

That's correct.

Okay, all right.

Um, that's uh I just want to make sure that because of how we've shifted phase one and phase two.

So once again, I appreciate all the work that you guys have done, and I really appreciate what you put together.

Thank you.

Just looking for hands.

Dr.

Miles, are you good?

Do you have any questions?

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

I was just going to associate myself with your comments, thanking staff and those of my colleagues as well.

Uh thanks also to Peerless Rockville and Historic District Commission with regards to the comments you've already articulated regarding highlighting learning more about the history of people who are enslaved.

Uh Rockville more broadly on this property in particular.

Thanks so much.

Thank you.

Uh Councilmember Jackson.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, so I'll make a motion in a second, but I just want to say so.

Councilmember Valeri showed me this uh the other day, and it's a report, the first report for the Farmstead, uh, and it was from 1999.

So it's been a long, long journey.

But I did notice, and uh associate myself with the mayor's comments and also um council member Valerie's, there's a lot of history on the Farmstead, and we would be remiss not to uh put up signage or otherwise uh mark that history, uh, going back to uh the the prior days uh of uh slavery and uh other um uh ancestors, but also uh more recently I've um uh uh learned uh about the history of the King uh family and and in fact it wasn't actually called King Farm, it was called Irvington Farm.

And I didn't uh actually realize that until I was uh reading uh through the uh the the planning document.

So I just want to say, I mean, uh this has been a long time for me personally.

Um I've been involved in King Farm for uh a long time, longer than I cared to uh admit.

I first moved here 19 years ago, and and the farmstead was a big topic of discussion uh both in my neighborhood but also uh in Rockville in general.

And it's been a long time, it's been a lot of work for for uh councils for staff uh going through the years, and I think this city staff is on a really excellent job of engaging Rockville uh whether where they are, where they live, asking what programs and services uh would you use, and then making this a reality.

So I want to thank staff for all the work uh and all the um setup to lead to this moment when we're actually about to finalize and adopt a plan to move this thing forward uh for all the Rockville.

I'm really really excited by it, and I really want to thank you guys for making it a reality.

And if nobody else is all right, so I would like to make a motion then.

Uh I move adoption of the King Farm Farmstead Master Plan.

Do you want to add the Story?

Um, yeah.

Um with the amendment of uh historical um assignage uh on the farmstead property.

Something in there.

So you're saying something in the plan about history and education.

Yes, I okay, all right.

There has been a motion, uh second by council member Shaw.

All right.

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

Aye.

Okay, it is unanimous.

Yay.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

We're excited.

Um thank you everyone for being on this journey with us.

Uh there were a lot of hands and brains on it.

Uh, this journey will continue because a plan is only a plan until you fund and implement it.

So that's what we're gonna get busy on, and then budget season, and we thank everyone for being a part of this.

Nice day in Rockville.

Okay.

We are now moving on to agenda item 11B, which is the approval and submission to Montgomery County of the City of Rockville funding application for program FY2027 year 52 community development block grant.

I'd like to welcome Jane Lyons Raider.

Hello, good evening.

For the record, Jane Lyons Rader, Housing Programs Manager with DHCD.

So tonight in discussing the application for the CDBG grant.

I'm gonna start out by providing a little bit of the background about the program.

Um then talk about the applications that we received this year and the recommendations that our interdepartmental panel made, then discuss the anticipated impacts of this action item, and then move on to the suggested motion.

So with the background, Rockville receives the federal community development block grant funds through Montgomery County.

And so for fiscal year 2027 or grant year 52, we are expecting to receive 263,000 for the CDBG program, which is on par with what we have received in previous years.

And those funds are typically used for both single family and multifamily uh housing rehabilitation.

So there was a public hearing held previously in September.

Other public notifications have gone out to folks.

Um the application is due to Montgomery County this month.

So with the single family rehabilitation program, um, this typically includes repairs to owner-occupied properties that have code violations or things that could become health and safety concerns.

So typical projects include roof replacements, plumbing and electrical upgrades, furnace replacement, kitchen and bathroom repairs, and the maximum that a household can receive is $25,000, although some projects require less funds.

So typically we're able to assist between five to seven households per year.

Um eligible homeowners uh need to be low or moderate income.

And the funds are provided not as a grant but as a five-year forgivable home, uh forgivable loan on the home.

With the multifamily rehabilitation program, those funds are provided to nonprofit housing providers who serve low and moderate income households.

Typically, we're able to assist two to four providers per year.

And we engage with providers ahead of the application deadline by offering uh webinars called housing provider forums.

So we held two of those this year that folks attended to learn more about how to apply for the grant.

Um then after that, we receive the applications, and those applications are reviewed by a cross-departmental committee.

So here on this next slide is the applications that we receive for FY27.

We receive four applications uh for projects totaling about half a million dollars in requested funds.

And then this chart here shows the organizations that applied, the score that they received when being evaluated by the review committee, the amount of funds requested, and the amount that the committee recommends.

So community reach uh would like funds to support renovations at Jefferson and Rockland Houses, which are permanent supportive residences for formerly homeless men and women.

Uh, MHP would like funds for exterior rehab and site improvements at Bethany House, which is a low-income uh senior property.

Cornerstone requested funds to replace flooring and windows at the Interfaith Works Taft Court Women's Shelter.

And Rockville Housing Enterprises withdrew their application for this year.

Um, so the review committee recommends fully funding REACH, providing additional funding to MHP since the project is projected to require more funds than they requested, and to not fund Cornerstone at this time due to some concerns with the application that were detailed a little bit more in the staff report.

And then with the allocation that's recommended for the single family rehab program, we would be able to help a maximum of five households.

Should we provide the maximum amount of funding per each of those households?

So the anticipated impacts, we anticipate positive impacts on equity due to the focus on low and moderate income households, as well as positive impacts on the environment due to repairs to address environmental health concerns as well as to enhance energy efficiency is always a focus.

And then with the economy, a minimally positive impact because of relieve financial pressure on homeowners as well as support for local contractors who complete these projects.

And that brings me to the suggested motion to approve the proposed funding allocations.

And for your reference again, here is that table with the suggested amounts.

Thank you.

I want to just thank you for all the work in managing this program.

I know it's very detailed and specific and appreciate you opening up the grant applications and diligently looking at all the applications and following along how the work is actually done.

So thank you to the Department of Housing and Community Development for the fantastic work on this.

This is an incredible lifeline to support housing stability as well as renovations for people.

So and I also want to thank the partners, the nonprofit partners who are helping to fulfill a social need for safe affordable housing for people.

So just want to say thank you for that.

I had one question for you that relates to well, two questions that relate to the single family rehab program.

It's a very small portion of the overarching program that we do.

So does the planning department and neighborhood enforcement know about how to get help people?

I've heard some questions where people, their houses are in serious disrepair and they're getting violation notices, et cetera.

Um, and I've heard that maybe some people are not aware of this program and how to apply.

So just wanted to see as their coordination across the departments to make sure as they're seeing issues that they know that yes, this is an issue, and there is a program to help.

Yes, they are aware of the program, but we're always trying to uh improve that partnership and make sure that we're reaching out to the folks that they're on the ground working with.

So short answer, yes.

Thank you.

And is there a flyer that they can leave with um the homeowner?

Okay, perfect.

I really appreciate that.

And um the next question is if a homeowner, I think there's certain requirements when you receive those funds.

Um, do we have an agreement in place between the homeowner and uh the city as in terms of the use of those funds and any requirements, just so that we're covered from that perspective?

Yes, the homeowner is required to sign a contract that lays all of that out.

Excellent.

Thank you.

I appreciate your uh follow-up on that.

Councilman Valeri.

Thank you.

Um, thank you so much for all the work in bringing this back.

I think this slide alone really um helps to shape what at the time a lot of my questions were with regards to this program.

Um, I'm always in favor of more transparency, um, not less.

And you know, I'm I'm sure I I know that it takes a lot of work to um review grants.

I've been on both sides of that.

It's very hard.

And so I'm really appreciative to the entire team for for pulling this together because I really wanted to understand um a little bit more to the why because you know, and and I think people in the community had questions too, so that made it very easy.

I have um I have two questions and a comment.

Um, and it's all around um, yeah, it's all around the single family rehabilitation program.

Um you mentioned that the how many um potentially how many people could be um helped using the amount um requested here.

What is kind of um what is our utilization of this program?

What does that kind of look like?

Um, are we seeing, you know, like are we um running out of funds?

Um, are we not getting it all out into the community?

I'm sure there's a little bit of a lag time too, but just broadly roughly, what is utilization look like for the program?

Uh usually we don't have a problem spending the funds, and we're able to achieve a pretty good balance of the applications coming in for the single family rehab program and the amount of money that we're able to give out.

That's that's awesome.

Um, and that was I was trying to kind of read between the lines on that one.

I was like, I'll just ask that question.

So that is that is really helpful.

Um, and you might have answered this elsewhere, um, but it's kind of leaving my brain.

Um, for the single family rehab program, eligible homeowners must earn 50% of uh the AMI.

Um, is that um kind of baked into this program or is that something the city has control over?

So with CDBG funds from the federal level, they must be used for low to moderate income households.

So table one in the staff report shows what those AMIs are between zero to 80% are eligible.

So for the program, that is what we look for.

Okay.

That is really helpful too because I was trying to think of, you know, for a lot of the folks in my own neighborhood who I know have been really challenged in kind of keeping up with some uh repairs and or even um looking at uh making their home um more ADA accessible.

Um, you know, it's the it's the issue of being on a fixed income, and you know, your fixed income doesn't fluctuate with you know um inflation and so forth.

So that's actually very helpful.

Um, and and thank you for that.

And I'm really excited for a variety of reasons about this program, but that's one of the big ones.

Um, my third point is a comment, and it actually just popped in my head while you guys were talking about.

I kind of see a natural partner, perhaps, with the villages network as far as getting out there to help spread the word.

Because I was trying to think through like this is a great program.

Um, we don't have problems spending the money, but it's always great to like get more people exposed to resources like this that really need it.

So I just put up a plug-in for the the villages network as a great tool for um kind of spreading the word.

Thank you.

Do you have any other questions?

Do we have any other questions?

Mayor, may I speak?

Yes, Councilman Miles.

Oh, thank you, Madam Mayor.

I'd like to also echo the thanks to staff for their review.

Thanks also for getting back to me the number of questions that I had, some of which are um irrelevant or moot at this point.

Um I guess more points I have to um raise our just food for thought, looking forward toward the future.

Um, I think MHP Housing Partnership seemed to demonstrate in its application that they can put up their own money.

I think the $60,583.

Um changes in in with regards to changes being made at Bethany House.

Um I'm just mindful that again that we've been recommended to award them more than they requested, um, despite them demonstrating, I guess, in their proposal that they could put up those funds.

The other part about the the single family home repair program is that it's just been my observation over the years that it's you know, staff and such that sometimes it's it's been challenging to find projects that meet the criteria for it.

Um you know, we can kind of see how it goes this year, but it you know, that that money if we if we're having trouble getting it out of the door, uh looking forward towards the future, you know, whether you know, a portion of it could be set aside for something like roof repair at one of the um multifamily housing complexes that uh are in need of it would be uh a recommendation if there's a an applicant that submits an application of mechan's approval.

Just a couple of points.

Um, but that's all I have.

And again, thank you for entertaining uh these observations.

That's all okay.

Thank you, Councilmember Valeri.

Madam Mayor, I would like to make a motion.

I move to approve the proposed funding allocations and authorize the city manager to transmit the grant application and enter into agreement with Montgomery County for program year uh FY 2027, program year 52 of the C D BG program.

Councilmember Fulton seconds.

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

Aye.

It's unanimous, thank you.

Thank you.

Um we'll now be moving on to another item uh that was supported by and led by uh Department of Housing Community Development after many uh sessions with the mayor and council.

We're gonna be discussing the chapter 18 update, which governs our rental facilities and landlord tenant relations.

I do want to note that Rockville has been doing a number of efforts.

We had several work sessions throughout the past two years to highlight our priorities uh and to create some new programs.

We now have the employee assistance program.

I know that there's going to be a down payment assistance program.

We have approved new affordable housing.

It's going to be 147 units in the city of Rockville.

This is just another step that we're taking.

And I know that we also had discussions on the Molly Price Dwelling Unit Program and updating that code, as well as revamping our entire inspections process to provide for more quality housing, and we've heard why that is needed.

And so now we're moving on to the Linewell Tenant Code, which was called for in our comprehensive plan approved in 2021.

I appreciate staff having meetings with the community to move forward, and we look forward to your presentation.

Welcome again, Jane Later, Jane Brian Leaders.

Thank you.

Again, good evening.

For the record, Jane Lyons Raider, Housing Programs Manager and DHCD.

And I'm joined tonight by our landlord tenant specialist, Trevor Stevens, who has been assisting with this project as well.

And I'm going to hand it over to him to kick us off.

Thank you, Trevor.

Good evening, everyone.

Yeah.

As Jane said, my name is Trevor Stevens.

I'm the housing landlord tenant specialist here in the city of Rockville.

So we'll kick off by just going quickly through the outline for the presentation.

We'll start with requested feedback before moving into the background of what we've been doing in this process and how we were shaping some of our thoughts around the process.

We'll then detail alterations to current code before delving into new policies, next steps, and then coming back for a reminder about requested feedback.

So starting with the requested feedback, we are seeking feedback as to whether or not you agree with staff recommendations in two major areas.

So first is alterations to current code.

Jane will delve into that a little bit deeply, a little bit more deeply later on in the presentation.

But these include things like some quality of life changes along with alignments with local and state updates, just given some recent changes at those levels, as well as new policies to be added.

And those are generally things we want to set aside for more dedicated research and had to dive a little bit more deeply into and with some of our research.

And just as a brief note, we will not actually be presenting any code language until the spring.

So as we know, uh housing is one of the five focus areas for the city at this point.

We've had a number of work sessions in order to go over some of the housing principles and policies that we've been discussing, including uh three in the fall of 2024 on our housing strategies, where we decided that comprehensively updating chapter 18 was going to be a major strategy.

And then this year we had our work session on data reporting and transparency.

And then very recently we had our 2025 work session on rental licensing inspections.

And I know these have been presented previously, but we developed some of our goals for the landlord tenant code rewrite based off of input that we had previously received from mayor and council, and they include items like providing clarity, considering alignment, improving housing stability, requiring greater transparency, reviewing best practices, and trying to better connect data collection with city goals.

So at the start of this process, we began with our public engaged public engagement session.

Uh so those came in the form of two virtual input meetings where we had one explicitly with landlords and then another with tenants.

We were able to fortunately get the Engage Rockville webpage up and running before both of those input sessions happened, with the goal of then having a platform for tenants or landlords who maybe didn't get to share everything to have a platform to follow the timeline for the chapter 18 rewrite, as well as complete some surveys and post questions or updates that they had about how the process was or general feedback about anything that they might have missed before.

We also received input and met with a number of local stakeholders that included nonprofit partners like HIP, CASA, Renters Alliance, as well as some of the other local government providers, including the City of Gathersburg and DHCA.

And we'll quickly run through these are the main public feedback points that we got from the tenants.

They included the rising rents and desire for rent stabilization, new fees, discrepancies between the city and county protections, lack of information regarding landlord and property, a desire for relocation assistance policy, neglected or untimely maintenance, protection against retaliation, and a lack of an air conditioning requirement.

Meanwhile, on the landlord side, the main concerns that we received were increasing costs, including taxes, fees, and HOA payments, the length and the difficulty of eviction proceedings, difficulty of the rental license application processes, responsiveness of city staff and lack of clear points of contact, keeping up with and adhering to code requirements and confusion around voluntary rent guidelines.

And with that, I'll turn it over to Jane for alterations.

All right.

So I'm gonna go through the alterations to current code, which as Trevor described, or the things that are relatively smaller tweaks to the existing code.

So the first is with the definitions at the beginning of the chapter to improve the clarity of those definitions, as well as to be in alignment with the zoning ordinance rewrite.

Two, in the purposes and policies section, enhance alignment with the goals that Trevor just presented of the rewrite.

So for example, um, we're recommending to add to improve housing stability and opportunities for tenant agency to the underlying purposes and policies of the chapter.

Number three is general clarifications.

This is true throughout the chapter, but um, especially a lot of clarifications that we want to work on as it relates to the landlord tenant affairs commission.

For example, relatively minor things like adding in explicitly what constitutes a forum or adding a position for a vice chair.

Um adding a requirement for landlords to provide two-year lease terms.

This would be in alignment with Montgomery County and provides tenants with some additional security if they're able to enter into a contract for a longer period of time.

Number five, early lease terminations.

So right now the code allows a tenant to uh end their terminate their lease early if they are involuntarily made to shift their employment outside of the DC region.

Um we would like to add some reasons for tenants to terminate their lease early, including for domestic violence, the unit being deemed unable to be occupied for a certain number of days.

Uh the landlord's rental license being revoked for reasons related to the tenant's unit, or the landlord failing to make certain repairs required to correct violation that affects the health and safety of the tenant.

Number six, lease review and receipt.

So this has two parts in its recommendations.

So the first is that prospective tenants must receive a copy of their proposed lease at least two days prior to the day of its execution, unless the tenant requests otherwise.

And the goal behind this is to allow tenants to have a review of their lease and all of its contents since there's a lot of information provided in that ahead of the actual signing.

Next is to reduce the amount of time the landlord must provide the tenant with an executed copy of the lease from 10 days of its execution to three business days.

And the goal behind that is to allow tenants to be assured of their upcoming living situation as soon as is reasonably possible.

Number seven, the renewal letter.

We'd like to require the rental amount included in the renewal offer letter to match the rental amount listed on the renewed lease.

This may seem really straightforward, but we've seen a good handful of cases where this is not being done.

And so putting it explicitly in the code would make enforcement even easier for us.

Eight, a few items related to tenant organizing.

First, to clarify that tenants may form, join, meet, or assist one another independently of property management or ownership.

So that's to support tenant organizing independence.

Second, to prohibit tenant or prohibit landlords from charging tenant organizations fees for the use of meeting rooms and common areas.

Thirdly, allow tenants and tenant organizations to invite guests onto the premises to conduct activities related to the tenants' concerted activities together.

And so that's for situations where a tenant organization is inviting in an outside group that specializes maybe in tenant organizing or tenant rights to be able to talk to those folks and help to educate them.

Number nine is non-electronic payments.

So tenants must be provided an option to make payments via non-electronic or web-based methods without being charged additional fees.

And the idea behind this is that not everybody has access to the internet or reliable access to the internet, and so not penalizing tenants who don't have that ability to pay.

Number 10, rental payment history.

Tenants should be able to request and receive their entire rental payment history.

Again, this is one that seems pretty straightforward, but we've seen some cases where that is not the situation.

So again, putting it in the code would make it easy to explicitly point to.

Number 11, notice requirements.

So for all legally required notices, notices must be provided in hard copy written format.

And again, this is because not all tenants have reliable access to the internet and could uh could miss a notice if they are not being posted in a hard copy format.

12 rental inspection frequency.

So we're recommending to remove the requirement to inspect single family dwellings when the tenant changes.

And that is because single family properties are already inspected during the rental license renewal every two years.

So that is already happening on a routine basis.

Now this section is a little bit more dense, and we talked about some of these things previously in June on the work session on transparency.

So a lot of this is sort of reviewing what we talked about then and the recommendations that were discussed.

First is lease collection of landlords submitting standard leases at the time of the rental license renewal.

And that's a theme throughout this is shifting a lot of the data reporting and providing information to this to the city at the point of the rental license renewal and doing it through that process rather than having notifications that landlords have to send just to the department generally.

Applicability, the data reporting requirements would apply to all landlords.

And I want to note an oversight in the staff report that in a previous work session, the one in June that was mentioned, there was support among the Merit Council for removing the eight-unit minimum.

And so we have made that change that it would apply to all landlords.

Notice of requirements for rent increases.

We're recommending to remove the requirement for landlords to provide the director of DHCD with rent increase information when notifying the tenant of an increase.

This would still keep the notification to the tenant, but would remove the requirement for them to notify the city.

Reporting frequency, again, this is shifting things to being instead of monthly, as it currently says in the code, to annual at the time of rental license renewal, although for single family properties that would be biannual and collect that data through the rental license process.

Then the record holding requirement.

This allows DHCD to request records on monthly utility costs and any other expenses which are passed on to tenants as a fee, which will help with the fee transparency recommendations that we'll get into a little bit later.

And so, what data is actually included in the mandatory reporting.

I'm not going to necessarily go through this list of data, but this is what the rental licensing process would be asking for from the landlord.

And then we would be able to use this data as well as other data from the city to provide transparency tools to the public.

All right, so those were the alterations to the current code.

Now we're going to get into the new policies.

And the first one here is the algorithmic rent pricing ban.

So the background here is that rental pricing algorithms.

This is software that uses extensive market data to predict and recommend rents that will maximize profit.

But unfortunately, that can lead to price coordination and erode market competition.

So because of those downsides, many lawsuits have been filed against various rental algorithmic rent pricing companies or the property management companies that use them.

And data or research from the White House has estimated that this type of software usage has increased rents by an estimated 112 dollars in the DC region.

So this is pretty significant.

And in the United States Department of Justice lawsuit, there are eight properties in Rockville that represent about 2,000 households.

And I want to note that since the staff report was written, there has been news on the front as it relates to the DOJ lawsuit.

It's nearly settled at this point.

It's not official yet.

But it puts some guardrails around what data real page can collect and how it can use it.

Most notably, it has to cease using non-public competitively sensitive information.

So that's that's a recent update, but even given that we are still recommending that we move forward with banning algorithmic rent pricing in Rockville.

And some considerations for that.

We want to make sure that we craft it as carefully as possible.

So some considerations are to have it to be broad enough to cover non-competitive rent pricing agreements generally and not just software.

To define algorithmic devices as ones that use non-public competitor data.

This is an issue that happens when if it was only public data that was being used.

That's how RealPage has sued the city of Berkeley because Berkeley did not necessarily make that distinction about non-public and public data.

We also want to make sure that any ordinance addresses price collusion on fees and any other rental terms, so not just the monthly rents, but colluding on those other things that matter as well.

Make sure to exempt owners of multiple properties from using data related to their own properties.

And then we also want to make sure that we craft the language in such such a way that we can put out the transparency tools that we've been thinking about using the data that would be reported to us in ways that would not be in violation and would mitigate any unintended consequences.

So that's the algorithmic rent pricing ban.

Next, I'll move on to court costs and legal fees.

Some background there is that landlords are able to recover court costs from tenants if three conditions are met.

First, the court rules in the landlord's favor, the lease allows it, and the total amount does not exceed the security deposit.

So our recommendation here is really focused on that number two part about what's allowed in the lease.

So excuse me.

We would like to recommend prohibiting leases from requiring a tenant to pay legal costs or attorney fees other than those awarded by a court, and that any lease that requires a tenant to pay those legal fees must specify that attorney fees aren't part of the tenant's rent and obligate the landlord as well to pay the tenant's attorney fees if the tenant wins in court.

And so this recommendation is modeled after Montgomery County's lease prohibitions on court costs and legal fees, and so would be in alignment with them as well.

All right, now another another meaty one of fee transparency and restrictions.

So some background here about fees.

So non-rent fees can add 10 to 30% onto a renter's renter's total monthly cost.

So it's something that can really greatly impact affordability.

And sometimes those fees that can be undisclosed, unpredictable, or arbitrary.

And Maryland has recently taken action on some fees specifically related to security deposits and applications.

Now only the first month of rent can be charged as a security deposit, and there's a maximum of $25 for application fees.

So those are fees that are not necessarily addressed in our recommendations because of that recent state action.

So first related to transparency in advertising, we would like to suggest to require disclosure of all mandatory fees whenever a price is advertised or displayed, including online, as well as whether utilities are included in the rent.

So mandatory monthly fees could be included or stated with that monthly rent, or else it would have to be separately stated.

And then again, prior to the lease signing and at times of renewal, we want to make sure that tenants are receiving those fee schedules.

That very clearly explains all the fees that could be charged, the whether they're optional or mandatory, why they're being charged or would be charged, the amount and the frequency, and also that the landlord landlord would have to disclose estimated utility costs.

That way folks really understand what they're getting into with when they're signing a lease and how much it can be expected to charge them.

So in the lease agreement itself, again, making sure that tenants see this information as many places as they can.

So defining the mandatory fees and really making sure that folks know that total monthly number that's not just the base rent, but includes all of these other mandatory things as well.

And then for violations, we'd like to suggest that tenants may recover up to three times the amount of any fees charged in violation of the code plus reasonable attorney fees, and that action can occur any time during the tenancy or within two years after the tenancy's termination.

So if you've been charged every month an additional $5, even 18 months after the lease ends, you can count up all of those months and seek for the landlord to provide those funds back to you.

Oh, sorry that I didn't press that next one there, but there it is.

All right.

So with fee restrictions, we are suggesting to align with Montgomery County on prescribing exactly what fees are allowed instead of trying to set general parameters that fees could be set within, just really going forward and saying these are the fees that you can charge.

Um while still allowing for some services opted into by the tenant to charge fees and not necessarily setting maximums that are inflation adjusted annually, but having some general caps.

So considerations with that.

Um not allowing fees for services or amenities previously included in the rent or provided to current or prior tenants at no cost.

So that way there's equity between tenants, um, not allowing fees for maintenance, since that's part of the landlord's responsibilities.

Landlords may not charge back or back charge for fees.

If a tenant pays more than what is owed, they must be refunded.

Fees may only be increased at time of lease renewal and with a 90-day notice.

So that would bring it in alignment with um the notice requirements for the monthly rent, and then may not charge any administrative or processing fees for utilities, including trash.

And so this next slide shows exactly what fees would be allowed and the parameters for that.

So I won't go through all of them there.

But for example, we think it's reasonable to charge an internet fee, but that um having an internet fee should not be mandatory.

Other things pet fees, lost key fees, parking fees.

Um, and then again, there's that optional fee that tenants can opt into.

With that, I will pass it back to Trevor.

Thank you.

Thanks, Jane.

So this is uh the next one is guarantor fees or guarantor requirements.

This is something we've been seeing more frequently in the city.

Uh a guarantor is a person or a company who can act as uh a financial agent to take financial responsibility for a tenant's rental payments if they're unable to pay.

So almost like a co-signer with the caveat that the tenant then is responsible for paying a guarantor fee.

Um, and those guarantor fees can range from four to ten percent of annual annual rent, which is 2400 on a $2,000 per month apartment.

Um, and this is something that we've seen increasingly landslords could offer to potentially risky tenants.

Um, as of now, no localities have placed any sort of restrictions on when a guarantor is required.

So, as far as recommendations, we don't necessarily want to curtail curtail an avenue that could potentially provide an avenue for housing for some people, but we do want to make sure that uh we create parameters for when a landlord may require a guarantor, as well as providing the reason in writing as to why they are requiring a guarantor.

The next policy we're suggesting is repair and deduct.

So it is another tool for tenants to potentially employ in the situations where repairs are not being made in a timely fashion.

So across the board, the maximum maximum allowable deduction has been set for one month of rent.

Um, and of note, uh, the process can only be pursued after giving the landlord a reasonable amount of time and a notice of violation has been provided.

And our recommendation is that we model off of Montgomery County's repair and deduct policy, but with the consideration of going up to two months of rent in terms of a maximum deduction.

So the policy is uh is a little convoluted.

So as an example, if a tenant were to say have a non-functioning stove and they wanted to repair it, they would submit that complaint to their landlord, and then they would have an obligation to provide the landlord a reasonable amount of time to make the repair.

If it does not happen within a reasonable amount of time, they could then go to code enforcement and ask for an inspection.

Code enforcement could then come out and issue a notice of violation, at which point there would be a compliance date set.

If that compliance date has been reached and there's been no activity to replace the stove, the tenant would be within their rights to deduct a month of rent or the cost so long as they go through a licensed contractor in order to make the repairs themselves.

So moving on now to next steps and what we will be discussing at the next work session.

We will be discussing some more new policies that we'll be delving into to research in the in the coming days here.

We'll be considering some programmatic enhancements, and those will include things like a landlord tenant hand handbook.

We will enhance outreach and engagement with landlords and tenants in the city as well as expand educational opportunities.

And we will also be recommending uh review of other code sections, including air conditioning and tenant opportunity to purchase.

And this is just a reminder of the feedback that we are requesting for mayor and council.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

I want to thank you both for working on this and for the entire department's work.

This has been a long time coming, and we really appreciate it.

I also want to thank you, Trevor.

You have a really hard job.

You get a lot of the uh complaints and issues on both sides.

You have to help mediate during the land loan tenant commission, and I know that job is really hard.

So I want to publicly say thank you for the work that you're doing.

Um please keep it up.

Uh, as we go through, I I know that there's a lot here.

Um when you talk, just so we have a sense of what's what's to come.

Um, can you clarify the topics for the next work session so that we may have some detailed information that we want to share that we might hold back because something else is coming?

I can give a little teaser.

One of the big policies that we're looking into is a relocation assistance policy.

And so that's that would come into play in situations likely when a unit is not inhabitable and having the landlord provide some sort of relocation assistance for tenants in that instance.

That was on my list, so I will not go into detail about that.

Is there anything else major?

Um there's some other things that we are looking into, so there will be some other policies, uh, but we're not necessarily prepared to talk about them at this time.

Okay, thank you.

Um, I do have some specific, and I sent a long list of questions that I know you all are working on.

Um, but there's two things that I was observing that uh we have previously talked about as a body.

One I know we had majority support for was that in terms of transparency.

We are trying, I mentioned some of the other things that we've been doing on affordable housing and housing more broadly.

This is a continuing journey, but we did talk about uh transparency and rent increases.

And uh I didn't see it in this draft, so I wasn't sure if you're having that come back to the next session, but if you could just let us know if that is something you're gonna be adding in, or if you'd like us to provide feedback or any questions you might have based on what the mayor and council have previously shared.

Yes, so while that change was not reflected in the staff report, that will be in the rewritten code language.

Thank you.

I think uh having being able to revisit the entire body of what transparency means will be very, very helpful.

Um, I do think that it's important for tenants to be able to see what is the previous by year history of increases so they can determine what how has a landlord behaved in the past.

So uh thank you for planning to bring that forward.

Um there's another piece that we talked about that related to uh giving tenants transparency on before they sign a lease on if the building is on our enhanced code and enhanced inspections list.

So I wanted to see is that something you plan to bring forward at our next session, or do you want us to talk more about that and make sure there's majority approval for that today?

I can read CPDS's response to that question, which was that CBDS will be striving to bring additional information to the public.

Um, that includes the date and results of the last periodic inspection, whether or not enhanced inspections were done, and the status of the rental license.

Okay, thank you.

I would encourage us to look at the county's distress building policy.

They actually have a list posted.

Um, and so a tenant can determine, and we've heard some issues, and they tend to be similar, you know.

There's the majority of the issues are at very few properties.

Uh, and tenants should have a right to know what they're signing up for.

Maybe they choose going in that they are fine with that, but they should know what the issues are.

Thank you.

So that will come next session.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Um, I have uh a couple of uh questions, and I'll I'll start off with one or two of them, and then I'll move over.

I'll you know, move over so my colleagues can ask their questions and then come back.

Um in terms of the algorithmic pricing, uh, thank you.

That is something that this mayor and council has had a lot of concern about.

Um, you mentioned that there are eight properties in Rockville currently using algorithmic pricing.

Do you have a sense of whether you're you're hearing complaints from tenants and those buildings where the algorithm pricing is being used, or you may not have had a chance to do that analysis, so I just wanted to confirm.

We have not had a chance to do that analysis now.

Okay.

Um, and then the two-year lease.

Um, I do like the idea, uh, particularly in you know, uh multifamily for there to be some level of destability, and people can make plans uh for um knowing where they're gonna live.

I do have a question because we do have some unique circumstances, especially in Rockville that might be not being other jurisdictions.

So there are a number, and I put this, I I gave a question as a heads up, um, so hopefully you've had a chance to look at it.

Um we have a number of situations and scenarios.

There's some communities in particular where we see a lot of diplomats or people who have a work overseas that they get put on assignment.

And so uh, for example, they might be an assignment for a year, and instead of leaving their house empty, they will rent it out.

Uh there are situations where a person is in the military and you know they have to kind of um sometimes work on other bases as part of moving up the rank chain, or they may be called to go out.

So they have a home and they want to rent their home out.

I there's an example of someone that I know where they did do that for in a they may be on assignment for a year.

Uh and then the other example I've seen in Rockville is a growing trend of digital nomads and people who want to pack up their stuff for a year or a set time and uh you know see the world or travel the country and then come back.

So in those situations where we'd rather a house not sit empty, um, but there is a homeowner uh who want who is not going to be in it for a year and wants to do a one year lease.

Do we have any flexibility in the code for those kinds of situations?

And maybe it's I don't know, if the person lives in the home or um if the if it's like a two or three or more, they they only they don't own multiple properties.

There is it's these are small homeowners.

Um maybe there's a way to distinguish the two year requirement.

So I was just curious about whether you've thought about those kinds of scenarios because we do have that quite a bit in Rockville.

Yes, so when we're putting together the actual code language, we can consider including in that some sort of exception for military service or for single family homes.

Okay.

And I wouldn't say just all single family homes because some people own multiple, but maybe I'm just trying to get the sense of like small landlord that I own a property versus like a multi, you know, a corporate landlord.

Um, but I just I think that is important because we do want people not to have their houses sitting vacant if someone else can live in it.

And conversely, we have a lot of people who move to this area for fellowships and internships, and therefore a year.

Um, so I also like that it's optional for the tenant to decide whether they want to do a one or two year, it's just offered.

So uh thank you for that.

I have many other questions, but I want to pause and see if my colleagues have questions.

Councilman Van Gregg.

Thank you.

And I of course want to echo what the mayor said.

Um you guys have really been working on this.

You can tell, and uh a lot of our feedback is in here and it's important.

And I'm glad also to hear you say this is just part because there's a lot of different ways that I know that we can help the renter community and truly make it more not only transparent, more fair, more equitable, and I think this is truly a great start.

Um of the questions I had is with regard to fees, because I know we heard a lot of testimony, and and I know that this is important because I was actually in Annapolis supporting uh um delegate Vogel's bill with regard to junk fees.

And so I heard a lot of the testimony.

I want to clarify a few things.

One, I know that two of the areas that was discussed a lot, and I we actually had um other delegates discussing this with other landlords is the common ownership fees as well as the trash fees.

And I know specifically that that's not included on our list.

And I want to clarify does that mean that we're essentially saying that those types of fees, a general common ownership fee that applies as well as a general trash fee.

I know we talked about administrative trust fees, but there was a discussion amongst the committee with regard to trust fees.

Are we essentially saying those are banned from Rockville landlords?

No, so this specifically doesn't include utility fees of which trash were to be considered.

Um, and it does include common ownership community penalties, but you're correct that we're not um including uh the fee itself, although that fee could be incorporated into what the landlord is asking for for their monthly rent.

Sure.

So as long as it's part of the monthly rent, but a certain certain types of junk fees, such as a common ownership general fee, we're essentially saying are banned in Rockville if we go forward.

Correct.

Perfect.

Now, with regard to trash fees, because I know this was a common discussion that actually took a little while in the committee, and I know that a lot of landlords, there's you identified kind of the two areas that it's been utilized as this administrative fee that we're essentially saying is banned if we go forward with it.

But then there's also the utility fee.

And are we requiring as part of this a clear and upfront notation that trash fees are included in the utility fees as opposed to just noting that utility fees are there?

Yes, part of the recommendation is that um they would have to clearly state in the lease exactly which utilities the tenant is responsible for.

And so that goes to kind of another question, which I it became a big issue when the committee was discussing it.

With regard to, for example, trash fees.

A lot of people can understand that they might be charged what a electricity fee is or what a normal would uh fee would apply for electricity or gas.

Are we requiring not just them to note that there's a trash fee, but if there is a trash fee, what that fee would be.

I might have to go back and check.

Um I think that yes, we are asking for an estimate on the lease of what all of the utility costs would be.

So if trash fee is a utility cost that is being charged to the tenant, then the land would landlord would need to provide that estimated monthly trash fee.

Good, because I think that that's something we really need to break down with transparency.

Because I know there's been a lot of discussion about landlords just saying utility fee or utility fee may vary.

And what we found is a lot of times they will use some of these trash fees or other blanket um monthly regulated electricity fee that isn't necessarily tied to the particular usage, but hasn't been disclosed until that first month rent.

Um so what we're essentially saying is that's the type of thing that we're gonna be make sure that the tenant is aware of.

Correct.

Um so the next question I had with regard to these fees, because I think it's important.

Are we going to regulate?

And I'm curious about if it's even been in discussion, how it's informed.

Because I know that there's a concern from a lot of renters that all these fees are kind of in, you know, the fine print on the 50th page of their lease and can be missed, as opposed to making it clear and up front, whereas often that price is up front.

I want to make it, I'm curious as to if we've discussed as how we're gonna be drafting this code, that these fees are 100% clear and not necessarily swept under on the 50th page of their lease in the fine print in, you know, eight-point font.

Something that other jurisdictions require is a lease summary page.

Um, so that's something that we can consider as well.

Excellent.

I think that's the type of thing that is important because we got to make sure that not only that we are requiring the disclosure, but to the average renter, they're clear with what those are.

Um so I think that's important.

And and and I'm glad to hear you say that we're putting down exactly what we're gonna do and allow, but then other things, we essentially are having a junk fee ban with regards to those things that aren't necessarily listed as being allowed.

Um, and I'm also glad to hear you say the definitions, because that's one of those things that we need to clarify because we're banning certain fees and only allowing other fees.

I want to make sure that within those definitions, uh, a landlord can't do an N-Run loophole to try to get certain fees in because, and I know that when I was in Annapolis, that utility um um fee allowance is something that I know that landlords will try to do.

So I want to make sure, and I'm glad to hear you say that we're gonna clarify with the definitions.

Um, I also want to echo something else that the mayor was talking about with regard to the two-year lease.

I have to tell you when I was a renter, I really had trouble finding uh a place that would have more than a one-year lease.

And I think it's important.

That being said, there's as the mayor said, I agree, there's got to be some allowance for certain unique situations of small landlords.

And you know, it could be more than just a military, because if someone is, you know, going abroad for their family reasons, helping a relative in some other state for a year, uh, we want to be understanding of those unique situations.

Um, whereas necessarily a small landlord that has unique situations, I want to make sure that we're not preventing them from allowing a housing to be put forward with the public um without um restricting what they can do.

Um I have a few other issues, but I know I've talked for a while, and I'm sure my colleagues have another uh a few other points.

So um I'll yield my time.

Thank you.

Councilmember Fulton.

Thank you.

And thanks for this.

It's really exciting to see a lot of this uh development that I think is really putting Rockville forward in tenant protections.

There's a lot of uh really novel and progressive things here that I like I don't think are widely adopted.

So I'm glad that we're on the forefront of it.

Just a uh maybe three quick things.

One um following up on what the mayor and council member Van Grack said about situations in which maybe we don't need a two-year lease to be offered.

I agree with that.

I don't recommend that we try to be parsing reasons for that for individual landlords.

If we can do it like numerically, if you own two or fewer properties, right?

Like we don't need to be in the amount of time you would spend trying to decide what a unique circumstance is is not worth the squeeze on that, but some way to accommodate those situations makes sense to me.

Um the second thing, also picking up on what's already been said.

Um it's great that we want some transparency, particularly on drunk junk fees.

Um in a prior life I did consumer protection and disclosure isn't enough, meaningful disclosure is what's needed, and the idea of a rental summary, like something that doesn't allow like the technically the information to be there, but for it not to actually be discernible.

I know that comes down to the actual code language, but I think that'll be important.

Um, and then the last thing I wanted to ask about, because I know this has come up previously in a couple different ways.

The one place where I think we're asking for, well, there's two situations in which we're asking for less disclosure to us.

One is the frequency um with just the rental license um renewal, and the other is simply removing the requirement to notify the city when there's a rent increase.

I think I know why you're suggesting that, but can you help explain why you're suggesting that removal?

Sure.

So for the rent increase, the reason there is that we believe that we can still collect the data that we're looking for to understand the rent increases that are happening in Rockville through the mandatory reporting that would happen at the rental licensing.

Um and then also we want to make sure that we are requiring landlords to provide information about how to contact our offices.

So that way, if a tenant does believe that an increase is unreasonable, they can still reach out to us when we can provide them with that um guidance and resources on how to negotiate with their landlord.

Great.

Thanks so much.

Thank you, Councilmember Valeri.

Thank you.

Um this is this is phenomenal um work.

I really appreciate um the time it's taken to pull this together.

I know it can't be easy, and I look forward to seeing um the uh kind of the code is as it exists now and what's being proposed.

I think that'll give me a better sense um the way my brain works of like, oh, so that would be improving it here, and blah, blah.

So I'm I'm really appreciative of of that coming uh on the horizon.

I agree um with what several folks have said.

I think having a lease summary page is um it's a very good idea.

I would be interested in including that as we move forward.

Um, with the um uh clarification that it should be a summary in plain language.

I think um a summary is only as good as how it's communicated.

So I would want it to be um, and I defer to some of my uh colleagues up here who have worked in or work in the federal government that there are definitions for plain language.

So um maybe we can borrow from that.

Um so that's one of my comments.

Um I think I get kept these in order, so I apologize if they like bop around a little bit.

On the alterations to current code under early lease termination, I think um what is listed here is solid.

I have three suggestions, and I would be interested in hearing my my colleagues' uh input on this.

Um, this is just in addition to it's not changing anything that you have presented.

Um one would be the death of a primary wage earner.

Um that that seems to be kind of clear there.

Um a change in disability status.

So if for whatever reason, um, as somebody who has watched a parent um have a significant disability that changed um changed employment status frequency, um, I know how important that is and and can mean the difference of having to move.

Um, and then finally, um entry into an inpatient substance use rehabilitation program or mental health program.

Um, there are times in which 90 day plus um may mean that um you know you'll enter into transitional housing afterwards.

And so um, in the spirit of uh walking the walk um with regards to substance use disorder and uh caring for those uh with mental health issues, period.

I think that that would be a compassionate inclusion.

Um on the new policies, um it's it's very funny.

I was reading through the guarantor requirements, and um I I am sure that uh scare quote risky.

I I I was that for many landlords.

Um, and so I would be really interested in to see um what the parameters will look like.

I think sometimes it may not be as justified as perhaps folks think.

Um and everybody should have the opportunity to rebuild credit um if that is the issue um around uh fee transparency and restrictions.

Um I'm I'm we I'm use uh transparency, but I want to make sure that um however we um in advertising prior to lease signing um in the lease agreement itself that we just create like a standard form for it so or format rather, so that um you know if somebody is kind of looking for a new place that it's has the same um look to it.

Um I think it'll be easier to enforce as well if you know that this is the format that is gonna come in and somebody can say, oh, well, it doesn't say this here, and I'm just gonna put that out there and actually might be easier for um landlords as well, um, just kind of stay on top of things.

Um also on fee transparency, I understand the processing uh may not charge uh any administrative or processing fees for utilities, including trash.

I totally get the processing fees.

Can you explain um a little bit behind the administrative fees for utilities, including trash?

So that's something that we've seen at several properties where administrative fees are charged.

Uh sometimes that's because a third-party entity is being used to process those transactions.

Um but we want to make sure that the payment that the tenant is making is purely because of the utility and not because of those administrative costs associated with running and operating the building.

No, that's perfect.

I was kind of thinking that's what it was, but you know, ask a question rather than to assume.

Um still on fee transparency and restrictions, um kind of in the the same vein as council member van Grack, but a little different.

On the common ownership community penalties, do we require landlords to provide the bylaws and rules if their rental is in a common ownership community?

I don't believe that's currently in chapter 18.

Okay.

Uh that would be my addition because you it would be really easy to break the rules if you don't know what the rules are in the first place.

Um having not lived in a COC, I I am really trying to put myself in other people's shoes there.

Um this this sounds maybe silly, but um I hope people and my colleagues take it as serious as I mean.

Um pet fee.

Um can we make the non-refundable monthly fee refundable if the pet passes in that month we can consider that, yes.

Thank you.

It passes.

It passes away in one month.

In the month that so you paid the fee.

Uh your your animal companion passes away.

Um I think it's a compassionate thing if the landlord is is open to refunding it, that we could get that refunded to people.

Thank you.

Councilmember Jackson.

Thank you, uh Mayor.

Um first of all, I want to say thank you.

Uh, I think there's a lot of work that went into this, and uh I read through it several times, and I'm still digesting it, uh, but that's a good thing because I think it's chock full of information and uh suggests of changes and new policies, uh which is really uh great.

And you did have the uh engagement um, you know, the landlord um as well as the tenants.

I notice uh that you gave uh some of that um uh feedback in the presentation.

What was missing, and I I would uh like to follow up maybe uh offline, but the stakeholders and um you know you said that you received uh input and met with stakeholders.

Do you um have a list or can you uh say who were the stakeholders that you met with?

Um yes, we can provide that to you after the meeting, the list.

I think you mentioned renters alliance and yeah, I mean, so that would be interesting to hear what they had to say and uh whether they uh kind of blast this um uh uh uh report or findings or or or not.

Um so on the alterations to the code.

Um I associate myself with the mayor's uh comments.

Uh there are um small landlords um that really um we should we should look at their circumstances, but I agree with um council member Fulton that um the the guidance should be on how many properties they're they're owning rather than um what the reasons are um on the uh non-electronic payments, I think the gentleman earlier in community forum made a really good point.

And so I would dig into that just a little bit.

How do we avoid um those situations?

Like I know we had a park side where um somebody claims that they paid in cash, but there's no receipt.

You you see what I'm say uh uh what I'm saying?

Yes, no, that is a great question, and we can think about that a little bit more and get back to you.

Yeah, because I I I I I totally get what uh we're trying to do by making it um flexible uh for these payments to be made, but at the same time, cash um it presents us with a hurdle, uh both the uh the the lease and the lease are um to make sure that it's tracked properly and that nobody can say, well, I didn't I I paid or I did or you didn't pay.

Uh I think that's uh something that we really want to nail nail down.

Um on the common ownership uh penalties just on pizza 660.

Can you just go through that real quick?

Like what are we talking about there?

Sure.

So that's if, for example, somebody is renting out a condo that has common ownership community bylaws.

Um so if the tenant then violates some of those bylaws and the unit receives a financial penalty, um, then this allows the landlord to pass on the cost of that penalty to the tenant.

So, and I guess maybe we're getting down to the weeds, but how would we or or do they um make a distinction that the violation was to tenants rather than uh the landlords?

I think that would have to depend on the circumstance um and also on the bylaws of the community, but I believe that depending on the situation, um we would well, the common ownership communities is managed by the county, but that distinction would be able to be made.

Well, uh I will leave my comments on the uh common uh ownership communities uh yes for another another day.

Um so I was curious on the page 661, we talk about back charges.

Um and a landlord uh neglects to charge a tenant a fee, the landlord may not collect back charges for that fee.

Can you uh describe that process?

So if a landlord forgets to charge a tenant their parking fee, for example, for one month, um, and now it's two months later, and they go back to the tenant and say, oh hey, I forgot to for whatever reason charge you this parking fee.

This would uh not allow them to do something like that.

I understand what we're trying to do, but yeah, uh I think we should think about that a little bit.

Um there could be many reasons why uh a landlord does not uh put down uh down a fee.

And if it's in the lease, um I just I don't really understand that for uh uh forgiveness uh there.

Uh but that's an uh another uh uh conversation.

Um repair and deduct, I just want to say, first of all, um uh thank you for this uh good explanation of what it is, and I fully support uh repair and deduct.

Uh and I just want to say the two-month cap as opposed to the one month uh cap uh in the county um is a fantastic idea.

I think with the inflation uh going up, uh costs uh increasing, I think uh moving that cap to two months is the right thing thing to uh to do.

Um I also wanted to thank you for uh putting in uh the code uh or strengthening the tenant uh organizing uh statutes.

Um I read through um uh this uh report, and I really think that having a strong tenant association uh organization is key to actually making progress with landlord tenant relations and having that uh where people can hold meetings, that they uh cannot be charged uh for um uh those meetings and common uh spaces um and and more is the right thing to do.

Um and one thing on repair and product, sorry sorry, I'm jumping around, but you we had a lot of information on repair and reduct uh deduct, you you mentioned the reasonable time uh given by um uh the the code, the ordinance uh to the landlord to respond to uh a repair.

You you mentioned the reasonable time uh given by um uh the the code, the ordinance uh to the landlord to respond to uh a repair.

So what is a reasonable time?

It varies depending on the nature of the repair, but usually it's construed to a non-emergency or non-life-threatening repair to be seven days and an emergency repair for 24 hours.

Okay, all right.

Uh perfect.

Thank you, uh Mayor for uh those questions.

Thank you.

Uh appreciate all the comments of my colleagues, Councilmember Shaw.

I want to echo my colleagues and thank you uh for um the recommendation to update our code and to modernize our code.

I know it's been um out of date for some time, some decades.

Um and I think uh most of these um recommendations are moving in the right direction.

Um so I have a few things.

I with two the two-year leases, um, this is similar to the county where the two-year leases it's the first offer that's provided to the tenant, correct?

This would also be a pun renewal.

Yes, right.

But it's the first offer.

So the first offer as a new tenant and the first offer when you're renewing.

Every time you renew your lease.

Right.

Yes.

Anytime you're renewing.

Correct.

Okay.

So likely in practice, um, because it's been a while since I've seen a one-year lease, because most leases usually um try to get you closer to the summer time.

So you have like the 13 month, 14th month leases.

It's been a long time since I've seen a one-year lease.

Um, and so typically uh the two-year lease would be on just to reduce the back and forth, the two-year lease in practice would likely just be on your lease renewal offer with um the other time frames on there, like the month to month, the 13th month, or whatever, right?

Correct.

Okay.

So just just I think also in practice, if we implement the, I do agree with having this.

Um, because currently we do have the two-year lease, but you have to pay in between, or there's an increase in between the two years when it's offered.

And so this would be zero increase between the first year and the second year, correct?

Um yes.

They they would still have to adhere to the 90-day notification before the lease renewal.

Right.

But when you s it the two the 24 months, right?

There's no increase throughout the 24 month period.

Correct.

That would be the idea behind how we look at the case.

Because typically on most renewals, there are two-year leases, two-year lease agreements, um, but there's usually an increase in between the two years.

At the county, there's no increase.

Right.

We would want to write it so that there would be no increase in that whole.

Okay.

And then just in practice, um in the absence of rent stabilization, typically when you have the different time periods of the lease renewal, whatever one the landlord wants you to um sign would probably be the lowest percentage, and the ones that they don't want you to sign has the highest percentage.

Like month to month, you have like a hundred and fifty percent rent increase, or like the 13 per 13th month, you'll have like maybe uh a more reasonable rent increase.

So just in practice, in the absence of rent stabilization, when we're provided that first offer of the two-year lease, or when the two-year lease is on with um on the renewal with a lot of other options.

If the landlord does not want to provide the two-year lease amount, uh, they can still charge a different increase percentage for that two-year lease, correct?

Correct, yes.

Okay.

Um I I I mean, I think that that's helpful, but it, you know, whatever the landlord, the time period the landlord wants to charge, they'll probably associate um a lower rent increase to that amount.

Okay.

Um so I also wanted to ask about the domestic violence.

I'm glad that's on there.

I think that is also on the state level.

A number of these things were already passed on the state level.

Um, for the domestic violence, when we had our public safety meeting, and I asked about the domestic violence.

Um, I don't think it was being tracked or defined in a way.

And so I do think that there needs to be some coordination uh with how we are tracking and and defining domestic violence.

Um just so it's it's clearer.

I think it's great to add this in our code, because I think it's already on the state level, but I think it's better to also have a very clear definition definition and work with the police on that.

Because if it's not being tracked, then it's probably hard for a tenant to prove that that's happening.

Okay.

And the thing that I am concerned with is if we don't have a cap on fees, it's still very expensive.

As we know, the majority of tenants are cost burdened.

So here is another area where I feel like we can do better by having a cap on fees on all the fees.

Particularly, I didn't see a cap on the pet fee, right?

Um, and I think the county has it's like $50 or something.

Um it's a pretty reasonable charge.

Um, so I think it's something to look into to have a cap on the pet fee.

On pet fees specifically, or I think that was the only fee where I saw that what didn't have some kind of cost perimeters on it.

But if there is another fee that doesn't have cost perimeters, it would be good to have a cap on that one as well.

Okay, we can look into that.

At this time, that wasn't our recommendation, but we can look back at that as well.

Um, and also I think it should be free for service animals.

I don't know if I just I didn't see if there was a difference or anything, but just just to make sure.

We'll check on that.

If they're service animals, it should be free.

Um the the other thing I was gonna mention in terms of removing the requirement to report rent increases.

Um when we talked about that last time, um, I don't believe there was a recommendation to do that when that was brought up before.

Um and the point of that is um not necessarily for new tenants to understand what the history of the rent increase is.

That's a preventative measure measure for a tenant um that when the landlord provides the rent increase that they're giving the tenant as well as the city, the city's aware, and the city in theory could um help to intervene in some way to protect the tenant, um, and also just to be aware because uh if we want to talk about transparency, like this this is this would be in the spirit of transparency.

Um, and so and if we remove this, there is no preventative measure at all with rent increases.

Um, and at least tenants have that, like in the code as something to protect them.

Um, and so if we were to remove that, tenants have very little um very little leverage, just in general.

Um, and so I think we should be very careful about removing that again.

And then um I definitely agree with the summary page.

I think it should be assigned summary page, just like you sign your lease, it can be assigned summary page, just ensuring that the tenant has reviewed it.

Um, so we already have on the books that tenants have the right to organize, they have the right to assemble.

Um, they can um they can use the common area without a charge, but I think in the code it says you're supposed it you have a charge, but I think statewide, it's a state law that they're not supposed to have a charge.

Um, but I think they're already protected, so that's good that we are updating that and removing that.

What I think is missing here, but was is actually in our code, um, and I don't it may not need clarification, but tenants are able to distribute information.

Also in our code, we already have that uh tenants can have um guests that can represent their interests and their needs.

Um I think it's just sharing that information, but um or clarifying as you said, but okay, so it's just clarifying.

Um but yeah, I just also want to add like distribute the tenants are able to distribute information and flyer and put in common areas information that um is useful to them.

I I am very happy that after you know a year or so, we are doing our own resolution.

I know that we did try on the state level to pass that.

Um, but I am glad that we are doing this.

Um I thank you for bringing that up.

I also just like thank the community as well who who brought that up as well.

Um and for their advocacy.

Um the other thing, um, I know we are updating the code based on state law.

There is the tenant safety act um that allows tenants to put information put their rent in escrow until uh repairs are done.

Um, and so that will be added, right?

As well as the mold since that's already in state law, it already applies to Rockville, and we wouldn't necessarily copy it into our code, but it does already apply.

Okay.

Okay.

Um then the other thing that I wanted to I wanted to return back to, which I spoke about during our last meeting.

Um the council, just building on the council's um increased protection on on evictions and extending the days from six days to 14 days, and the um landlord require the landlord uh notifying the tenant um in giving them 14-day notice instead of six six day notice, um, just to add to that to also notify the city in advance of those 14 days so that the city can work with the tenant, can work with the landlord to help to prevent more evictions.

And in most cases, the landlord does not want to evict their tenant, and so this could be a really good opportunity.

Um prevent evictions, there could be some alternative agreements between the landlord and the tenant.

It gives them more time.

Um, it's just helpful all around.

Um, and so I did want to uh propose to my colleagues that we make an amendment um by requiring the landlord to notify the city and provide the same notice that they would provide the tenant to the city.

Thank you.

Are you are you done?

Okay, Dr.

Miles.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Would also like to express my thanks to staff for their diligent work on this most timely of topics.

I want to say I uh largely support everything that staff recommended um inclusive of the many great recommendations of my colleagues uh to include the most recent addition, the notification requirement by a colleague, council member Shaw.

I don't have a whole lot more to add, but other than thanks and look forward to implementing these things to help protect notify information and make sure they're buying from the shame from the same sheet of music.

That's all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I had a couple quick hit questions.

I know some of my colleagues need another round as well.

Um for the notice requirements, it says that there must be a physical copy.

Um there are some, if you're not, you don't have a property manager, for example, if someone is overseas and and managing, how would they provide a paper copy?

Um so one of the requirements is that if you're out of state that you have a uh in town representative, so that it would be that representative who would be providing those copies.

But what if you're on travel?

And for example, let's say maybe you can clarify what the notice that's you know, the notification requirement is for for someone who let's say you have to get someone in as a service worker to work within the week, you're traveling, you want someone to mail a paper copy, and but you might it might not the the mailing might have an impact on the time of notification.

I'm just giving example of like let's say a dishwasher needs to be uh um replaced.

And uh sometimes that can take seven days.

Uh there's there's a variability depending on supply chain issues.

Um you're out of town and you want to help the tenant get that taken care of, you schedule it.

Are you saying that you have to wait to schedule it and the tenant would have more days of not having that work done to allow for a paper snail mail paper copy?

So with that recommendation, we're interested in crafting the actual code language in a way that in certain situations allows the tenant to opt out of the hard copy written notice.

So that way things like repairs, they could go ahead and move forward with those.

And if it's an emergency repair, then there's no notice required necessarily.

So that would not necessarily be a constraint in that situation.

Okay, yeah, I just don't want to inadvertently hurt tenants with getting timely repairs by this kind of paper process.

A lot of people are communicating via email and phone and others.

I could understand the need to put it in an email or a document electronically, but the snat the paper copy for basic maintenance, I think is something that I just I want to hear from tenants and uh small property owners in particular.

Um I just I think that's something that I think I don't want to inadvertently have unintended consequences.

So that's I would love to get more information on that.

Um the lease termination, I shared examples with my colleagues from some other jurisdictions, uh, and I I sent it to Mr.

Mahelec, so hopefully you have it as well.

Um they also included involuntary loss of employment as something, and I just think there's some good jurisdictional examples that we might want to look at.

Um, particularly everything that's going on in the federal government right now, like for example, that's there's been mass layoffs, and maybe people have to make a move.

I think they included something like they would have to pay the month rent or something, there's some kind of stipulation that makes landlords holds, but it doesn't require the tenant to pay and stay in for months and months when they don't have a job.

So I just wanted to just look at some examples of like that from other jurisdictions, and I I sent at least one today.

I think there's some humane ways that we can protect unintended situations or scenarios that tenants may have that is totally out of their control.

I appreciate the updating with the state law on domestic violence and um some of my colleagues' comments on you know, thinking about if someone becomes immobile or has a major disability that has an impact on wage, I think those are important parameters as well.

Um I just wanted to make sure we look at that a little bit more closely because there might be some other reasons why we want to think about that.

Um for fees, uh I'm I would like to get more information about other jurisdictions and what they're doing about fees.

Um, and there's a comment in there that you can't change the fees ever, like once you do the first lease, that tenant would have the same fees.

I do agree with that.

I there's one situation that I'm trying to learn more about because I've heard about this issue even since last term where some buildings have you know one meter, for example, and then they divide up.

And I know there's a been discussion about encouraging landlords to actually do the meters per unit so that people can have more understanding on what their cost is.

If someone were to make a change like that, would they be able to instead of doing this universal divide up, but give some flexibility when there's something going in a positive direction for a tenant to be able to make an adjustment to that kind of fee?

Yes, I think with that and with utilities in general, we'll be careful when crafting the code language to make sure that utilities are addressed specifically and likely separately.

Yeah, because I I also know that um tenants have complained, like I'm trying to save water, but I you know, if everyone else is wasting water, then I'm still getting charged more.

And and so there have been some buildings who have been people have been advocating to get my more submetering.

So I just wanted to flag that particular issue.

Um there was that something in there about not being able to charge for storage.

Can you please explain more about that?

So uh the storage secure storage fee is that there would be no fee for storage located within attached to or associated with a unit.

So that's if when you're renting a unit, it comes with an associated storage unit.

You can't then charge an additional fee for something that the unit already comes with.

But if a building had a certain number of generally available storage units that wasn't necessarily associated with your unit, it wasn't a part of renting the unit, then they could still charge a fee for that uh storage unit.

Okay, so if there's there are X number of spaces in the basement, and they allowed people to rent that space, we would allow that.

I just I was just thinking of if we can allow tenants to have storage on site versus having to go off property for a rental storage.

I just was thinking about again unattended consequences, wouldn't want to create that barrier for the tenant.

So they could still opt to choose a local storage in the building, and that's okay.

All right.

Um we have seen some fees like which I think is totally ridiculous.

Uh some buildings have tried to charge packaged receipt fees.

I know hotels are trying to do this as well.

What are you thinking about that?

I I just think that's that is to me a big junk fee.

So yes, since those are not explicitly listed in that fee schedule that we're recommending, those would not be allowed.

Okay.

Um, and I I do want to get feedback specifically on what you're recommended.

I I'm not willing, I'm not ready to comment specifically on what you're charging for the fees.

Um, because I I would like to get more data or information about that.

But I I think um that makes general sense that we're clear on what the fees are, so there's not these ridiculous fees.

I mean, just everyone should be able to receive a package at their home.

Um the repair and deduct, uh we have seen uh some disputes between landlords and tenants on um uh what is repaired and what should be deducted, and et cetera.

I will just say this growing up, my mother used to do repair and deduct all the time.

Um and there was, but there was communication on this is such and such, I'm going to do this, I'm I'm gonna deduct it from the rest.

So there was communication from the tenant ahead of time.

Um what are you suggesting here so that there is clarity and there's not a big fight on communication on this.

Sure.

I mean, and even in in the city now, we still see examples of landlords just come into a consensual agreement with their tenants to say if you want to arrange for the repair because I'm unavailable or unable to respond quickly enough, we can absolutely deduct.

So I think the the intent of repair and deduct and adding that extra protection is to give some of those tenants who may not have as much communication or have had chronically non-communicative landlords an avenue to be able to remake those repairs.

And uh they would communicate to the landlord we're gonna be deducting this amount so that it's not like I got my friend to charge the highest quote of the three that I got.

There will be some transparency on what the deduction would be.

Yes, the the tenants would be required to go through a licensed contractor, so it would be there would be some transparency there, and it would automatically kick in as soon as the notice of violation expired, so they could just freely communicate that they were going to deduct and they would have that right.

And they would tell the landlord what the cost of deduction will be.

Yes.

That's great.

That's great.

That's very helpful.

Um for outreach, I know you mentioned a couple organizations.

Another organization I wanted to flag is the Maryland legal aid.

They do get quite a few complaints and help people through issues.

And so I do think their experience in trying to navigate these kinds of uh tenant complaints would be helpful insights as we look at our code.

Did you already talk to them?

They gave us very, very detailed feedback on the entire code.

It was it was very helpful.

I love that.

Um I was looking at our code some time ago, it looked like we we did not have a requirement to have air conditioning.

And um also we didn't, I I did I was thinking about some of the other jurisdictions, examples on emergency situations uh where people have to be relocated.

Um but what is your proposal for air conditioning?

I just think that you can get up to 100 plus degrees now.

So we're not recommending anything related to air conditioning at this time because those standards are set in chapter five, the uh property maintenance code, so it would not be addressed by the update to chapter 18, but that's something that we we would recommend for some work after we're done with the chapter 18 rewrite and to collaborate on with um CBDS since um code enforcement is who enforces the property maintenance code um because we we agree that that is very important and we would like to suggest making those changes, um, but at this time within the scope of chapter 18, we're not necessarily recommending any changes.

Um are you seeing a lot of properties that don't have air conditioning?

Or there are have you heard of these issues?

No, not often.

Okay, I just want to get the urgency.

I can't imagine three more hot summers that people have to go through.

So I hope that that can come back more quickly than three to five years.

And I mentioned that because we cough a landlord tenant code update in 2021, and I know it took time because there's so many things and codes were updating.

So I just I wanted to flag that's a human thing uh for people to be able to live in their homes.

Um, I do recall in another jurisdiction not to be named where like AC went out and it was 90 plus degrees, and people they want very it was a very unhealthy situation.

I do think that there has to be there should be some sort of cooling if temperatures get to a certain level.

It's just especially with people with certain health conditions and uh some of our seniors.

I just it makes me feel very uncomfortable that we haven't addressed this because while some units may have AC, some may go out, and we should have some provisions on how do we address that.

Okay.

Um I did want to also talk about the rental licenses.

Uh, you note that landlords report difficulty with the rental license process.

Can you share more feedback on that?

Um yes, so that's something that we're we're hearing the feedback, and I know that CBDS is working on making changes to improve the ease of the use of the software.

Um, and one of the big things there uh that's a significant item is to transfer the single family license process from permit plan to MGO.

Those are just the two different softwares that they use, and MGO is the more modern software that would then that is used for the multifamily license.

Um, and so once moved to that newer platform that would allow for CPDS to make more modern improvements.

Okay, that's that's helpful.

I do know that you're collecting rents at least for single family every two years.

What will be the cadence for multifamily um that would be annual?

Annual.

So you'll be able to see rent changes and increases annually for multifamily and every two years for single family.

Yes.

Okay.

And there's a field on current rent.

Do you I just wonder if we can set up the system to automatically calculate the percentage?

We would like that as well.

So you don't have to manually do it for each one.

That would just be a disaster.

So there must be a tool that can do that for you.

Those are the types of implementation things that we'll be looking into and are looking into and will continue to as we rewrite the code.

Okay.

Um, and then I wanted to also see how we could use the rental license process as an educational opportunity.

Um, I still don't see, and I may miss it, may have missed it, where the bill of rights is included on our city website from the state and where that's being given out during the rental license process.

We need to make sure that both landlords and tenants understand the law and our code.

And I do think that when they get their license, they should know you must submit this to your tenant.

Um leases after this recent July.

I know that's a new piece, but I just want to make sure that we are being very clear and using those those license opportunities as educational moments.

Um, I've seen some jurisdictions do really nice jobs on um just broader art education.

Uh, and uh I've even seen some of the court systems doing some education.

It would be great to prevent a lot of issues and have some thematic educational even videos or content on our page because it is confusing for both landlords and tenants, especially if you're not a large corporate professional.

I will also add you have sometimes out-of-state landlords and property managers that are don't know the jurisdiction.

I've I've seen some issues there.

So I just I think that we need to do a better job of the education points, and I know that requires coordination among departments, but we've got to do better on that.

Um, the other issue I've heard, uh, and I know this also requires coordination across departments is inspections.

Um there's an issue, it's in the past, and no, it's probably already been fixed, but um, if there's an issue, like someone didn't pull a permit or there was an issue, we should be documenting that.

There was a uh situation where um a person tried to get information and just there just wasn't a lot of documentation to capture what the issues were, and that inhibits the tenants' rights, or sometimes even the landlords being able to prove that they did certain things.

So I just I want to see how are we doing that documentation when there's an issue so that it's in our system.

So I can read the response from CPDS, which is that city inspectors are required to document the inspections and the results.

Additionally, if the work required a permit, then the permit may have required drawings and details.

Uh so the city provides the city's documents on request uh to the tenant, but the city does not require additional information that may support a tenant lawsuit.

Okay.

I will just note there's been a couple situations where the data wasn't there.

Um I will also ask the question of um there's a group of people who live in housing that they do not own, and they are not officially uh renters, but they live in uh single in senior living facilities, and so it's a little bit more of a complicated relationship.

But they live in uh single in senior living facilities.

And so it's a little bit more of a complicated relationship.

What are we doing to think about that class of senior tenants?

Uh, that it's not a traditional landlord tenant.

I it's some of these um continuing care communities, if you will.

So that's something that chapter 18 doesn't get into and touch on at this time.

Um, but that's certainly something that we can include in our list for further consideration in the future.

I think that we've got to get a handle on that.

Um those are some of our most vulnerable residents.

And I know that's we've heard from some in previous drop in where um you know they're having concerns about the quality of housing where they are, but they don't have the same tenant rights.

And we we can't have that in the city at this stage.

I just I can't imagine we've got to fix that.

And again, that should be I would love to include it in the next work session if possible, but I uh leave it to you all discuss, but I think that should be coming in short order of how we protect our seniors as well.

And people with disabilities are also in those facilities.

Councilmember Van Krak.

Uh thank you.

Following up a number of issues, um, I do want to clarify that I I fully agree with what Councilmember Fulton was saying with regard to whether we're gonna make exceptions.

It should not be based on specific trying to find out motives or backgrounds, but um, we clearly need to do things differently when we're talking about a multiple, you know, hundred unit building and people who are renting their home or their house or their particular unit where you have exceptions to things like the two-year lease.

Um I also want to clarify, you know, with regard to some of the fees, I think there are certain situations where we might want to look to caps.

Um however, if we're gonna do it, I'd like to look more towards the situation as opposed to flat fees.

Because for example, if you've got a pet fee and you're renting an entire house and you have two dogs, that's clearly necessarily might be a different need for a fee than if you have you know one um cat in a small apartment.

So I uh I want to make note that there could be different situations in those situations at well if we're gonna cap, which you know may or may not necessarily be needed to um address.

I also want to focus in.

I know my colleagues have also talked about some of the disclosures with regard to rental increases.

And I think there's a couple things that I want to address.

One, similar to what I was talking about before with regard to fees.

I think it's critical that the incoming renter is aware of, and we've talked about it before, not just the past rental increases of the particular unit, but also of the building.

And I think that's something that if we're talking about letting them know of what has happened with this particular building or this particular unit, much like the summary sheet that we're talking about with regard to fees, that's something that needs to be upfront in my opinion and disclosed to the renter.

Um renters need to know with regard to this particular building or this particular unit, um, what has been passed.

And I'd also, if we're gonna require the landlord to inform them of that, which I think is critical.

Once again, I don't want this to be a small little note at the bottom of page five, uh, or even 53, that it's clear what this information is.

Similarly, I understand the rationale and some of the concerns about informing the city of these eviction situations as well and the notification.

That being said, regardless of what happens with that, some type of understanding or information that could go to the city could provide some view from the landlord of there being some responsibility that we're talking about a responsibility to the tenant, but this is also a city code responsibility.

So to the extent that we are requiring them to follow those codes, um, I I think some type of notification of the city does make sense.

Thank you, Councilmember Fulton.

Thank you.

Um three things as I'm hearing people talk, just to make sure I'm being clear, and at least where I stand.

One, um, on the fees, um I do actually I know this is just a work session.

In general, I'm in favor of more transparency and caps where appropriate.

I think where those are, where those stand matter a lot, and I would want to see a little bit of data on impacts before like giving full throated approval to the specific ones here.

I think that matters.

There's market impacts there.

So I just wanted to in favor generally, but the specifics I really want to know more about before I fully would say these are the right ones.

Um the second thing I will point out, Councilmember Van Grack just said it.

Um Councilmember Shaw mentioned getting city getting notice of evictions when at that 14 day mark.

I am like transparency is good and disclosures are good.

So I'm interested in seeing what that would look like as well.

I also am not in favor of notification that just goes somewhere and we don't actually do anything with it, right?

I think that sends the wrong message and gives people a full sense of security.

So if we're going to talk about that, I'd also want to talk about what and then the and so what of it and what's the resource impact of doing that.

In general, it sounds like a good idea, but I just want to see what happens, like what we would do with the information or how we would talk about what we were doing with that information.

Um, and then the third thing I wanted to coming back to um the issue of the two-year leases um and like where there might be some circumstances, though we don't want to get into the circumstances where we might not might not want to require two-year leases.

There was an exchange about um whether the rent can increase so if I'm offered, I'm offered a lease where I'm guaranteed to stay there for two years.

Does that also necessarily mean that the rent can't increase?

I fear that might have like unintended consequences.

Yes, with the lease term, the the rent that the lease is for is for that entire term of the lease.

Is there a chance that that means I'm getting a higher lease for the like I'm paying more for the first year than I would for the second year as a result of that?

There could be.

Yeah.

That's interesting.

Okay.

I'd want to think about that one too.

Thank you.

Yeah, that is something that is concerning because if someone could handle a smaller incremental increase versus getting a balloon one at the end of two years, that I just want I would like more information on that.

The other thing is, you know, if someone wants to tie something like generally, I'm gonna follow the voluntary guideline, or you know, I I do think that it could uh a landlord who's worried about risk might charge more up front and then the tenant pays more in that one year lease.

So I just I have that general concern as Councilmember Fulton mentioned.

Uh how do I don't want to do something that's performative, but that actually helps give options to the tenant.

Uh and so if a land, but I would say this if a landlord can increase the rent in that second year, they the tenant should be told what the increase is.

So here's you're getting a two-year lease, maybe you're getting a lower increase because you're signing a two-year lease, and here's what I intend to do so that they have an understanding of what that is.

I just I want to explore those options.

I just don't want to have a higher increase in your because maybe they are paying that in year two versus year one versus it it could mean more money for the tenant.

Um I I know that we talked about we had a very detailed um discussion on inspections.

And I would like to codify some of the things we talked about so that is clear and in writing.

So I just wanted to revisit that discussion on not say everything we talked about here, but just looking for opportunities to actually codify what we said we're going to do in our code.

Um I know that we have a section on inspections, and even within this part of the code, I I think that we should spell it out.

Um so I just I I think that's better transparency both for the tenant and for the uh landlord.

Um, and I think that would be also good if this staff change over or things, it just it really helps.

Um the other thing I've seen uh some other jurisdictions are just more robust eviction support.

Um so I just it's something that I've seen a lot of different proposals in that front, but I'm I'm curious to see what you come up with at our next section.

I just wanted to flag that as something that is a traumatic experience.

It no one likes either the landlord or a tenant, it's just bad for everybody, bad for the community, bad for the children.

So I I just um would like to see what what creative things we can do on that front as well.

So I one of the things I want to ask you from a process perspective, you heard us speak, and are there major areas that you feel like you want to see?

Is there majority support for, or how are you gonna translate all this feedback?

Um I was listening very carefully.

What I thought I heard, and thumbs up work for me if it works for you, Mayor.

When it comes to alterations of the current code, all those examples.

I heard support for it.

Um, I heard some nuance.

I heard some we need more data.

I heard some we want to see the language itself, but I thought I heard support for all the examples that are listed on the current slide.

With nuance.

Oh, absolutely.

Yes.

But nobody said, please do not bring this back.

No, I think because you generally every most of the things that are here are things that we've talked about, minus you know, there's a one or two additionals, but I think it represents the direction of the body from previous sessions.

But the nuances are important.

And so I'm curious to see whether you are going to either produce some sort of summary or just what you gathered so that we can track what you still have questions about too.

Well, I I think well, we'll we'll debrief, um, but then we'll start writing the code.

And then when you guys see the code is when you'll see exactly how we try to address the nuances.

When it comes to new policies to be added, again, I thought I heard or watched general support from the body today for all those items that are listed.

So if that's the case, we would add those policies to the existing code and bring that back to you for approval.

But we got a whole nother work section yet to go.

Yeah, I think there's additional research requested on fees and then trying to avoid unattended consequences in a two-year lease as well as considering small landlords.

So I don't necessarily think it's exactly how you guys wrote it here.

You've heard feedback from us, and I think there may be an opportunity to after we get the data to then say this is what the majority want.

Understood.

Any questions from Jane?

I do have a question.

If you're able to provide some more information on exactly what additional research or data you would like to see on I heard both more information wanted related to um fees, but then also related to the one year versus two-year lease terms.

Um, but if there's and we can correspond with our colleagues at the county to see if they have any data about that, since they have that requirement.

But if there's anything specific that you'd be looking for there, um that would be great to know.

I think that you heard from some people who are concerned about unintended consequences of a higher um higher rent uh up front.

I also heard some balancing on like landlords trying to push people to certain months to sign leases.

Uh, that's something that I heard uh and have seen from at least renewal letters.

I think that people are, and then we also um have some concerns about small landlord versus corporate landlords, uh making sure that we're differentiating for some of the circumstances, but not using the circumstances to do that, but by maybe delimiting a particular number or size that we would apply that kind of policy to councilman Fulton.

No, I can add, I get it, right?

Like it's one thing to say we have concerns, but what would help us resolve those concerns?

Um for the fees in particular, like I think there's got to be decent like compare jurisdiction comparison data and and what changes in fees whether there's a correlation to an increase in rent, what do you reduce the fees?

Like like hard data on impacts of different policy choices there would be really useful to me.

And to the mayor's point on the question of the one versus two year, both if there are circumstances where one year should only be offered, and the inability to change the rent in between, if there's any uh comparison data on impacts of different policy choices in there.

That's what I would be looking forward to if that's helpful.

Thanks.

Councilmember Shaw.

Um, I just want to add that there did seem to be interest to explore um having the land requiring the landlord uh to share the notification or some type of information with the city when there is an eviction um to look at amending um the code in terms of um the six-day to the 14 day.

And I just also wanted to mention this is something that Gaithersburg has in their code as well as something that the county is voting on tomorrow and has majority support for it.

Um, and there's a lot of uh research on that as well, um, and how that would help.

Uh based on uh the other jurisdictions, there is a lot of research, but I did hear interest um to explore having the landlord requiring the landlord to share the notice with the city so that we can help tenants.

Thank you.

I'm interested in um knowing more about as in terms of I think that the bottom line is how can we help people not get evicted, right?

And provide resources.

So I'm open to all ideas and approaches, not just that one on how can we address that issue.

I think that's the core of it.

One thought also is is there a partnership opportunity with the sheriff's office?

They have a list that they go through and they have plans for and that might help you from a staffing perspective instead of getting ones using twozies with 20s, hopefully not that much, but that you can see geez for the month of January.

This is what's planned.

And you know, you can have it in the consolidated spreadsheet.

So I'm just trying to also look at a workflow perspective.

We really want to try to prevent um tenants from being evicted and at least knowing about their resources.

Mayor, at the risk of having a bigger conversation.

I just want to make sure from my perspective.

Us getting a notice potentially of when there's eviction, there's not an assumption that we're gonna reach out to every single tenant and try to counsel, because that's that's a whole different conversation.

But getting an eviction notice and having it available, collecting data, identifying trends, etc.

Um, we do do some counseling now.

We do do some mediation now.

I think um Trevor does a great job with that, but I just don't want us to put us in the position that just because it's a requirement code for us to get it get that notice that we're actually trying to negotiate and um try to find a way to get someone back from the room immediately because that's a whole different conversation in terms of staff resources.

Thank you.

And just to clarify, you all get data from the county, broad data from the county on evictions at this time, isn't that right?

Um, yes, we are able to request data from the sheriff's office, which is who schedules and holds that eviction data.

Okay, and what is this extent of that data?

Does it have contact information or it's just this property?

Yes, it does have the contact information for the for the individual for the the individual tenants as well as the property.

So I'm just curious.

Is there a capacity?

And this is a Jeff question, um, for staff to look at these are the eviction scheduled for January.

I have the tenants' contact information.

I'm going to send those tenants resources and information about rental assistance, etc.

We don't have that program now, and I would certainly like time to meet with the team to talk about what it would take to do that.

I think that would be, I mean, that's for me.

I'm I'm I want to make sure people know their resources, and so I'm just curious, and all creative ideas.

Let's talk about it.

Understood.

Councilmember Shaw.

Thank you.

Um, I think I think the key thing here is particularly with evictions, there's a short period of time for like turnaround.

Um, also um, tenants sometimes are going back and forth between the county and the city, and um, it puts it puts tenants in a really bad situation.

And I, you know, I know all of us work um with tenants regularly on evictions, um, and and there's a lot of urgency there.

And then um, you know, sometimes evictions just come up, like it's it's challenging to say we want the evictions for one month.

I mean, evictions pop up at at any time.

So that's why the city of Gathersburg does this.

Um, and I also just want to mention in the county, uh, the sheriff endorsed in in the county's bill package.

The sheriff endorsed um having the landlord uh provide the notice, uh, be required to provide the notice to the county, um, because it it puts a lot less resources, responsibility on um on the landlord when they're already doing the notice.

They're already doing the notice.

And so one of the things that was found is that it's a it's a low amount of effort.

And what I'm asking here is simply that we receive the information because there could be a situation where it's better for us to know in advance than at the 11th hour, or not at all.

Because if we truly want to prevent evictions, we we can't prevent them if we don't even know about them.

Um, and especially with the colder months, I am very concerned about this and the increase of evictions that we've had.

Um, so all I'm asking here is just that we get notified that an eviction is happening.

What we do with that information is best to city set city staff, but uh just that we are notified and we we know about it when we have as much time as we need to help to prevent it if we can.

That's super helpful.

Thank you for that.

Thank you.

Yeah, I support staff's recommendation on what you the research you're gonna do on getting that information.

I will take it a step further for me.

It's important to find ways to send information out to those tenants so that they know what their eviction resources are because we know that not every landlord provides that.

Okay.

Any other question?

None from me.

All right.

We appreciate the feedback very much.

This is exactly what we needed.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

We're now moving on to.

I'll just take that here for one second.

Agenda item 13, which is mock agenda.

Thank you to DHCD.

You had a big night tonight.

And we'll see you back in February.

Is that right?

Yes.

Excellent.

Thank you.

We're now moving on to mock agenda.

We did have a detailed discussion about some upcoming potential agenda items that were set to come back to us, as well as looking at the six-month planning calendar, and staff has shared some updates that they're going to check to see what's possible to get us materials in advance or up make some updates to the agenda.

Anyone have any other comments there?

All right.

Now moving to only business.

Okay.

Does anyone want to make a motion to adjourn?

Council Member Basha?

I move to adjourn.

Do we have a second?

Thank you.

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

Aye.

Excellent.