Good evening.

Today is Monday, February 9, 2026.

We are convening meeting number 4-26.

We're now convening in an open session to entertain a motion to go into closed session pursuant to 3-305 B7 to the general provision article to the annotated code of Maryland to consult with the Office of the City Attorney to obtain legal advice regarding a draft zoning tax amendment.

Councilmember Valeri.

Madam Mary, I I move uh what you said.

Thank you very much.

Do we have a second?

Thank you.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Good evening, Rockville.

Today is February 9th, 2026, and we're beginning meeting 4-26.

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

And to the Republic.

One nation under God.

Liberty and Justice.

Good evening all.

I just want to uh say a few quick things.

Some of my colleagues are not here because this is an unusual day.

There was a shooting at Wooton today.

I'm gonna ask the city manager to read a statement about that so we can provide the facts.

But as a mother, as a community leader, this is a tough time for our entire city.

And uh just want to just my heart goes out to everyone who's still dealing with and unfolding what's happening.

Uh I'm gonna turn over to city manager to share a few facts with you all.

Mayor Ashton, members of city council, ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

Um, unfortunately, at approximately 2 15 p.m.

today, the Rockville City Police Department were dispatched to Wooton High School for a reported shooting.

The first arriving officers located the victim in a hallway inside the school.

The student victim was found with one gunshot wound and transported to an area hospital.

Pleased to report to you that that victim is in stable condition.

The suspect, also a student, was quickly identified and arrested a short time later near the school.

It's also important to know at this time there's no further threat to public safety in and around the school or in the community at large.

All our thoughts right now are really for the victim and the family and friends of the victim.

I do want to call out the very fast response by the Rockville City Police Department who are very well trained, knew how to handle this incident and handle it in such an outstanding way, including apprehending a suspect immediately.

That's all I have to report, Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I want to thank Rockville City Police, uh, Montgomery County Police, uh, MCPS, as well as Montgomery County's emergency response.

I was on site today and had a chance to see them all working very closely to bring resolution to the situation to make sure that first and foremost that uh the building was secured and students were safe and that they were apprehending the suspect.

Uh there are parents right now who are still waiting for their children to be rejoined with them.

Uh there are there's a pickup of unification location at uh frost, but I just want you to have a compassion and support for our community because this is a hard thing.

Unfortunately, division and conflict is escalated more than ever.

We're seeing it at the national level and it's playing out locally.

We all need to be thinking about mental health, supporting each other through stress, as well as having a national conversation on gun safety.

We cannot have another child being shot in one of our schools.

Again, I want to thank all emergency personnel who quickly responded and know that all of the parents uh who are still waiting for their children.

We are praying that you get to return to your child quickly.

Thank you.

I do want to acknowledge uh my colleagues.

So councilman is uh attending to his child.

Uh and uh Dr.

Miles is helping him with that.

And we have a councilmember Hobio joining shortly, who is not well today.

Uh, she'll be joining virtually.

So, in case you're wondering why you're seeing a smaller crew here.

Um, it's not a normal day.

We do have business to do, but we also are human beings first.

Okay.

All right.

Agenda review.

Any changes to the agenda.

There are no changes.

There are no changes to this evening's agenda.

Thank you.

I want to now go to community forum.

This is a time for us to be able to listen to the ideas and concerns of our residents and constituents.

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

Members of the audience shall be respectful to each other as well.

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

There is a time clock in front of you to be able to watch for your time.

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

Please end by that time.

Please state your name and if you live in the city of Rockville for the record.

The first person who has signed up is Margie Graff.

Welcome.

I too have a very heavy heart today.

Mayor Ashton and members of the city council, my name is Margie Graff.

I'm the present CEO of the Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce, representing hundreds of local businesses, associations, property owners, and community stakeholders.

I'm here to raise serious concerns about the proposed sign ordinance language in Article 10 of the staff draft zoning ordinance, specifically the prohibition of internally illuminated freestanding signs and electronic message centers or EMCs that are visible from the public right away.

At a time when small and mid-sized businesses are working harder than ever to attract customers, these changes would significantly disadvantage them.

Internally illuminated freestanding signs and EMCs are not cosmetic features.

They are essential business tools.

Internally illuminated monument poll and pylon signs provide greater visibility and legibility at night and in bad weather.

For many businesses, especially those set back from the road or located in multi-tenant centers, these signs are the primary way customers know they exist and where to turn.

While current signs may be grandfathered, any change of copy, such as a new tenant, a logo update, or a name change would eliminate that status.

Even without changes, the sign must be removed after eight years, forcing businesses to absorb new costs and accept signage that is less visible and less effective.

The ban on EMCs visible from the public right away is equally concerning.

These are on-premises digital signs, they're not billboards.

But the proposed definition would include gas station price displays, drive-through menu boards, and bank drive-through signs already in use across Rockville.

Many jurisdictions successfully regulate these signs through brightness limits, automatic dimming, and reasonable message timing.

Rockville's proposal instead places local businesses at a competitive disadvantage.

Neighboring jurisdictions, including Montgomery County and Gaithersburg, allow these sign types with appropriate controls.

These restrictions will just proportionately harm independent retailers, local restaurants, and service providers, and they make Rockville a harder place to do business and invest.

The Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce urges the city to reconsider these provisions and work collaboratively with the business community to adopt sign regulations and protect community character while still allowing Rockville businesses to be seen, found, and supported.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Next, we welcome Eulysis.

I think he may have stepped out briefly.

I'll move to James Drova Kamara while Ulysses comes back.

Oh man, before you start the clock, you guys should have a disinfectant wipes here.

So for the future.

Okay, disclaimer this is a limited access forum, so not all my thoughts.

Look for more detailed information in the future on my social media accounts at vote JDK.

Thank you.

Now, City of Rockland, Maryland Government Mayor and Council, thank you for this opportunity.

This open democracy forum.

Now a pledge of allegiance to USA America Everywhere, rule of law, rule of law.

Thank you.

Please note I praise and critique all I'm equality for all.

No regress for all, no change here.

It was and oh, I'm always like this.

I've been the floor general on many occasions, explainer in chief, EIC EIC, informed a lot, warned a lot about current and future problems.

As you're all aware, I'm evaluating candidacy for U.S.

Congress, this district.

I need a treasurer.

Please contact me.

I'm bringing in billions of dollars, at least 20 billion.

I want all your endorsements, including those who do not like me or agree with me, 100%, thousand percent.

Now, very important to elaborate on this.

My current legal name is Druva Diego Kumar, my home country.

India given name by my parents was Dreva Kumar.

Mostly over there, there are no middle names.

When I became a USA American citizen a few decades ago, I added the middle name Diego as mentioned, so much meaning for me, but also being more of a USA American, like many USA Americans, I wanted a middle name also.

So Drew Diego Kumar.

Now to have more connection and respect for and with my home nation, USA, and also because of our centuries long heritage here as a very relevant part of this the development of the original USA American colonies.

It is time to change my name to reflect all this.

So I'm in the process of legally changing my name to James Druva Kumar as explained.

James in English is a version of Diego.

If I file for political candidacy, I will do so as JD Kumar.

I discussed this last week.

I'm now requesting many to call me JD also.

Thank you.

When filing for candidacy to use a nickname or a name different than your actual legal name, you have to show the media press refers to you as this.

In our new world, my social media accounts reflect this, and I don't know if this is sufficient while I make the legal court approved change.

You can also submit an affidavit from those you know to attest the same.

I'm mentioning this here as part of an open public forum.

And I do not know if the Board of Elections will accept my information and elaboration here of or they will yet require other format.

Additional info, no ego ego on this, just explanation.

This legal name change allows me to have my original initials also DK to be now JDK.

I like the flow also and all this not so heavy and cumbersome.

Thank you for listening to me on this.

Um, um the Elon Muscolini Bambolini.

I'm running out of time.

So I discussed commensurate full employment economic term.

So just uh in the future, come to my social media accounts about that.

The H1B visas, um, the uh and many other uh uh subjects.

I thank you for your time today.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Now welcome Eulisi Santa Maria.

Okay, thank you.

All right.

Okay.

Good evening, members of the council and the mayor.

Uh I'm Ulysses Santa Maria, the president of Rockville Science Center, an institution that has served for over 15 years as the heartbeat of STEM education in our city.

Uh today I come giving the notification that unfortunately we have been uh displaced.

Our 36C Maryland Avenue location was unexpectedly leased to another tenant, and we uh were notified that we will need to vacate in the near future.

Uh the impact of this so far is that we have been uh forced to suspend registrations for one of our bigger programs of the year, our summer camps, our STEM, our STEM summer camps, leaving hundreds of families in limbo with what they're gonna do uh for the summer.

So on our end, uh mostly just as a reminder that for us, we are a good asset to the city.

Uh, we're a magnet for highly skilled residents, uh, that the that the city wants to attract.

We consistently receive uh messages and emails from people who recently move into the area, many of them who come here for work at places such as NIH or other scientific installations.

Uh recent graduates from highly esteemed universities and uh scientific professionals.

Uh they move to the area and they immediately seek us out to try and find a community that they can uh that they can gel with for lack of a better term.

Uh for us, we also uh build the future workforce.

We are home to the 2024 and 2025 National Drone Champions, and behind me are some of our FTC students uh who just won a first place prize in their most recent competition this past weekend.

These students are part of our 99 9990 trend.

99% of our high school participants will end up going to college, and 90% of them end up choosing STEM majors as well.

Uh parents from their program as well as others describe us as a unique and essential gem that feeds their children intellectually and emotionally beyond the classroom.

For us, we have a major ass this time around.

Uh we are looking for public-private partnerships, and we are looking towards the mayor and council to see if you can help us find um private private partners that align with our mission or will support our mission uh and would be uh a good partner with our community for us in terms of physical space uh needs to get us through the end of the year.

We're looking for about 5,000 square feet.

But for us to actually reach our aspirations that we have as an organization, we're looking towards 20,000 square feet.

Uh and to also help with this, we have launched a $1 million fundraising campaign over the next few years to try and help fund such a location.

So please help us show that the Rockville City is a great place and a place for talented students and scientists.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else who would like to speak?

Okay.

I will just note since you're here, the Rockville Economic Development Inc.

is sitting right here, and they can help organizations find relocation.

So please exchange cards and meet up.

Okay.

Thank you very much, and appreciate the work.

We're now moving on to consent agenda item nine one.

Award a contract in the form of a purchase order to Mid-Atlantic Truck and Equipment of Clinton, Maryland for the purchase of one leaf collection truck in the amount of 293 around 1,000 dollars for consistent with the terms and conditions of the cooperative purchase of Virginia Sheriff's Association, contract number 26070711.

I'd like to welcome.

Oh, this is consent.

Never mind.

I saw that they put staff on here.

Uh do my colleagues have any questions, or can we move to consent?

You have a question.

I'll move it.

Oh, you move it.

Councilman Valeri.

Madam Mayor, I move to approve consent agenda item A.

Well, 9-1.

9-1.

Yeah.

Just to be perfect.

Yes.

Yes.

Do we have a second?

Thank you.

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

Aye.

Excellent.

Thank you.

Okay.

I vote in favor as well.

Dr.

Miles is online with me, and he votes.

So uh just want to make sure you have that for the record.

And I see Councilmember Shaw, did you vote as well?

Okay.

Thank you.

We'll now move on to our work session, which is our mid-year report.

Uh, an update from the on the impact of government restructure and effects on Rockville.

A huge welcome to Rockville Economic Development Inc., and I want to thank the many board members who are here as well.

Welcome, Cindy Vivard.

And I want to acknowledge panelists and participants.

I know we have Barack Matite here and Linda Moran.

Also acknowledging Michelle Wilson, Amanda Bosslin, Melissa Gaudier, Karen Sippel, Nancy Ragland, Bema, Todd Pearson, Susan Prince, and Margie Graf.

And Lavon Torrensburn.

And Lavon.

Welcome.

Thank you, Mayor and Council members.

Cindy Rivard with Rockville Economic Development.

And I have to make sure I know how to use this.

But we're gonna quickly go over a general overview of Ready, talk about some of our current market challenges, and then uh go over our mid-year accomplishments.

Let's see.

Worked.

Yay.

Or was that you?

No, there's a slide move.

Okay.

Um so ready is uh the economic development arm of the city.

We help businesses launch, locate, and expand in Rockville by providing tools, resources, and guidance to support all stages of business growth.

Our mission is to identify and develop economic opportunities to help Rockville prosper.

The vision is for Rockville to be a 21st century city for business, and our values are to be proactive, be an expert, be innovative, be collaborative, and be impactful.

And this is how we're organized.

So the mayor and council appoints the ready board of directors, and they select the CEO, and then the staff uh reports to the CEO.

So this has been an unprecedented time.

Um there has uh with the federal restructuring that started last year.

Um the DC region has lost uh 52,000 plus jobs since November 24.

Maryland has lost 25,000 federal jobs.

And this area, the area that includes Frederick, Gathersburg, Bethesda, that that region in Rockville has lost 9900 jobs.

Rockville's unemployment rate rose 4.2% from when you're looking at September 25 to September 24.

And we're just starting to see some of the deferred resignations come in.

So we expect that the numbers may climb.

From policy and services impact, we've seen deregulation of energy, increasing tariffs that are impacting climate, health, worker production, and supply chain.

We've had disruptions to SNAP, Head Start, OSHA, nonprofit grant cancellations have led to program suspensions and layoffs.

Research data has from some ages agencies has been suspended, including economic indicators like the consumer price index and the BLS employment data, which is why there's been a lag in our being able to answer some of your questions about how things are going.

On top of the federal changes, the state imposed a 3% sales tax last year on some data and IT services to close the budget.

And IT was a lighthouse sector.

So that has caused some challenges in attraction and retention for technology companies.

Let's see.

So when we look at various industry sectors, for federal contracting, Montgomery County had 11.3 billion in contracts for 2025, which was a 38% decrease from 2024.

But we do see that the contractors with DOD contracts are continuing to sustain.

And there are a number of firms in Rockville that have DOD contracts.

And all the DEI-related NIH grants will not be reviewed in 2026.

For retail, the consumer spending is down, and lodging is slightly down, 4.9%.

Small scale manufacturing is seeing less consumer spending for food products, and the tariffs have increased costs for supply and their supply chain disruption.

Let's see.

When we look at Rockville's commercial real estate, uh we have 13 million square feet of inventory for office.

The vacancy rate of 25% is holding steady.

We've had that rate for many, many, many years.

So there hasn't been much change there.

The current price per square foot average is $30.

For industrial flex space, we have 4.4.1 million square feet.

The vacancy rate of 7.7% is slightly up over last year's 7%.

And the average square footage charge for industrial is 24.

We are seeing that we have five Class A office buildings that offer over 100,000 square feet or more that are offering the market opportunities for new ownership, redevelopment, adaptive reuse, or incentive-driven leasing strategies.

Larger blocks of space are limited, so we're finding that as our occupants start to grow and evolve into larger companies.

So REDI has sort of been ahead of the curve in this.

It also creates a locational identity for Rockville as the epicenter of this third largest cluster in the United States.

Let's see here.

The board uh created a strategy in 2023 looking for industry diversification.

So, in addition to biolfe sciences, we've been looking at uh small scale manufacturing, we've been looking at emerging technologies, we've been looking at green tech, and I think we're starting to talk about health technology companies as well as an area maybe that we could lean into.

Um let's see, sorry.

Uh with regard to small scale manufacturing, obviously, Rockville has a competitive edge because it has light industrial areas, both in Rock East and Twin Brook.

Um, and that has allowed us to create an identity for that area for Rock East and to provide technical assistance and do some placemaking to, and it really has elevated people's understanding that it is a place to come with your company to do food manufacturing and other um uh maker type uses.

So these are our mid-year accomplishments.

So, in response to all the federal restructuring, um MWCBC created reboot in the summer.

It was a uh boot camp for federal workers and contractors to come and look at uh entrepreneurship as a as an alternative path.

We were surprisingly pleased to know that people were very interested in this.

A lot of people are looking for their second act.

Uh, that led to our developing Founders Rising, which is a cohort-based capacity building program for displaced federal workers and contractors.

We started the first uh cohort in November, and it's 20 uh 20 um budding entrepreneurs who are going through a series of uh trainings and really uh bonding with each other, supporting each other.

Um they will be having a graduation, and thank you, Councilmember Fulton, for for speaking at that on Wednesday.

So it's been very, very successful.

Um we think that it's going to be a good program for us to continue to grow.

Um we also worked with our partners in the region to create mobilize Montgomery, which was a single resource location for all of the resources for people who were experiencing the change in their jobs to get information, to get connected with the sour the resources here.

And worksource Montgomery ended up creating the nation's first federal workforce career center.

And we're working with their folks daily.

They're really great.

So if you need any assistance, please go to the federal resource hub.

Um going to the next one.

So this is just a little bit more detail on what I already touched on.

Uh the biotech corridor uh we launched at the International Bio Show last June.

We've had a lot of traction from it.

We've actually had a Baltic region delegation come and visit us with a number of businesses, and we were invited to the Italian embassy uh stakeholder invitation to talk about how they're trying to do more investment in the United States.

And even without a strong marketing campaign, we get inquiries on the biotech corridor website asking for resources and assistance.

So it's it's got traction, which is exciting.

Um, in addition to the brand, we've been trying to create an ecosystem on a community in Rockville that is supportive of the businesses.

We Boston does this, California does this, and we were finding that we had companies that were buying, you know, syringes from somebody somewhere else, but there's a company down the road that sells them.

So we want to have more interaction between the companies so that they know what each other's products and services are, and that they they can also support each other.

It's it's a very interesting ecosystem.

People are not as competitive as in other industry areas.

They they seem to all be looking towards how to make uh health better for everybody.

Um, and so ThermoFisher has stepped up to create some exclusive executive dinners where we've been able to curate conversations like uh what's happening at the FDA, how to access private capital, um, and we had a bioboost event at Share Partners to gather information from the companies about where they would like us to next build out um functionality in the website, which is going to be like a calendar of events, it's gonna be a directory and understanding each other's services and products.

Uh MWBC uh has done a lot of work this year.

We brought Karen Sippel on board last a year ago, and uh so she's had a lot of challenges in navigating all of this.

We were very lucky that our federal grants were renewed, and the Congress, I I'm not sure I can explain all of the legality of it, but they took action to ensure that the WBCs are a program that cannot be eliminated.

So that was very exciting.

Um to date, uh Maryland Women's Business Center has had 446 unique clients, supported 548 jobs, and had uh almost 120,000 of capital infusion.

This includes 59 entrepreneurs in Rockville and 64 jobs in Rockville.

Um and then we went through the the reboot and the founders rising.

Um, and we're working now on redesigning the retail incubator curriculum.

Um we have a grant from the county that we've been working on with that, and it's coming along very well.

Uh we have a cohort going through that process right now.

I do want to let you know uh along with the science center, uh, we are getting displaced from the shop local location because the tenant that Morgard found is taking both spaces.

So we're looking at options with them as to alternate locations.

So for business attraction expansion and retention, so far we've done 70 business visits this half year, and we've attracted 32 new businesses.

Um it's uh we're moving ahead despite all of the challenges and having success.

For the grant programs, these are the grants we've made so far this year.

The next um grant deadline is end of April.

So uh we have a number of people who've already filled out applications for that that round.

But you can see there across the city.

Um let's see.

And this our staff has been recognized at a lot of levels, um, which is creating um greater visibility for Rockville, elevating our profile and awareness.

So, you know, we have uh staff that are on boards of Visit Montgomery, the Chain Greater Rockville Chamber of Commerce, um, Maryland Economic Development Association, um, Interfaith Works, um, we're doing business development committee of the downtown Frederick Partnership through MWBC, 100 black women coalition of Prince George's County.

Um we have uh staff appointed to the Comptroller's Business Advisory Council and the Women's Empowerment Count Council.

Uh we have uh staff involved in women in bio in the capital region and the Maryland State Innovation Team.

Um I was uh named uh CEO monthly economic development CEO of the year, which is nice, and also uh had a thought leadership uh article in Innovate Maryland about the importance of creativity in uh life sciences.

Um MWBC was designated a national WBC of Excellence for a second consecutive year.

And I know that you all are aware of our um strategic plan for the year, but this is how we've positioned um our our work for the year.

We're focusing on the biolife sciences, uh, elevating the brand, building out the website, um, and building the ecosystem.

We have emerging and clean technology where we are using prospect lists to for targeted attraction.

We're assisting emerging tech businesses, including Leatris, Pearl, and NextGlass, who are growing and growing this epicenter of the green technology companies.

Uh we have a 26% of the country's clean tech in Rockville.

And small scale manufacturing, we've uh given the training to three cohorts at this point.

Um, and we are have designated designated manufacturing hubs for Twinbrook and Rock East.

And we've been receiving county funding for further development of those areas and for paying for the technical assistance.

And looking forward for 2026, uh, we want to continue to analyze and respond to the federal landscape, um, building our resilience and response to assisting people.

Um, we want to scale the Founders Rising program, which is doing well.

Um, we want to complete a fundraising feasibility study that we're in the middle of to figure out how to support the biotech corridor growth and launch an enhanced biotech corridor website.

Um we're looking to also work with the fundraising uh consultant to diversify MWBC's funding and enhance communication strategies with shareholders and stakeholders.

We're also looking at data system integration and performance measurement modernization.

We're using AI and we've retooled our metrics.

And thanks to Dave Gottesman for all his help.

From our budget, you can see our funding sources.

And then one percent, other we do get some money from trainings and sponsorships and things like that.

And this is what we have spent so far.

Oh wait, this is sorry, this is the breakdown of the funding from Rockville.

Um it's in accordance with the budget that was approved.

The categories.

And this is where we are on spending today.

We're 39% of the budget has been spent.

Um we this tracks where we were last year.

We tend to uh have more spending at the very end of the year because of the international bio show and the global bites campaign.

Um so we are on schedule.

And I think that's it.

Thank you very much.

You've been busy.

Yes.

Yes, it's been an interesting year.

It has been for many reasons.

Yes.

Uh I just wanted to start out by saying thank you.

I know this has been again uh very strange year in terms of a lot of things shifting in the economic development space and the business space, and just trying to understand uh how things change nationally and their impact on local.

Uh so I want to open up to my colleagues first.

I know I have lots of questions, but I want to see if anyone has questions first.

Okay.

Councilwoman Fulton, are you good?

All right.

All right.

Um, so I I will say one of the biggest things that happened in this region.

Uh I know with COVID it was a big change in how people used office space.

Yes.

This has been a big change in the loss of federal workers and contractors.

Um I did appreciate the information you put on unemployment in this presentation.

Um, do you know if the numbers are greater Rockville or if they're a city of Rockville?

Because there were about a thousand unfortunate layoffs just outside the city, but people would still maybe track that into our zip codes.

I wasn't sure if that number was including the greater Rockville, if it was specific to Rockville.

It's the Greater Rockville, it's the census area.

Okay, yes, because I there were many, most of the HHS layoffs were just outside the city on Executive Boulevard and official lane, etc.

So I just wanted to.

It's we're all in this region together, but I just want to clarify that for the listening public.

Yes.

Thank you.

Um with that said, there have been some layoffs within the city.

Mostly I've seen on the contract side.

Uh I won't name all the companies, but there's some important long-standing companies who have had to really wind down.

Um, so I appreciate the work that you're doing through Founders Rising as well as uh connecting people to work source Montgomery to help people find a job or create their, you know, create their own company.

Uh, that's been tremendously important.

Do you have a sense of um what is the go get number?

I always like to think with goals for how many new jobs we need to bring in to make up for the loss in federal jobs and contract jobs.

And I also say there's a trickle as well the federal government funds nonprofits.

Uh so it's I want to acknowledge that workforce too.

I don't have an answer for that.

I I you know, obviously, it would be ideal to have one-to-one replacement for the jobs lost.

Um I think you would have to do a complex modeling to understand all of the variable industries that are affected, and you know, when does it affect your tax base?

Um, so I don't I don't have an answer for that.

I don't know that anybody has an answer for that at the moment.

Um the 9900 jobs are from Bethesda up to Frederick.

So you know, it's uh it's obviously less than that.

Thank you.

Uh and how is everything going in terms of I know your partnership with Work Source Montgomery, help people to find new jobs.

Uh is there anything that you can share about how well that's working?

Are there things that we should be thinking differently?

Uh, in addition to the work that you're doing on Founders Rising and the cohorts that you've been pulling together.

Yeah, their team is really uh top notch.

We like I said, we talk to them very regularly when people reach out to us saying they have jobs they need to fill or they're looking for a job, they have resources to assist with all of that.

Obviously, they're doing job fairs, um, and you can go to the website for for more information.

Um, but they're they're very responsive.

Excellent.

Thank you.

And I'll just uh remind the listening public that organization is called the Worksource Montgomery.com.

It is funded.

I know there's a mixture of Montgomery County as well as some federal funding that I believe they have.

Uh, and there's a partnership between all the economic development folks and uh that entity is part of mobilize Montgomery.

Is there anything else you want to say about that?

No, it that just mobilize Montgomery is a great uh resource to look at everything that's available in the region.

Okay, thank you.

Councilmember Fulton.

Um thank you for the presentation.

And and yes, it has been an interesting year.

So um thanks for writing that out so well on behalf of Rockville.

Um question I have was on um the investment in the biotech corridor and the accomplishment of it says on one of these slides attracting 32 new businesses.

What what industry, not all of them individually, but like where are we at?

Is there a concentration that we're actually attracting more in any certain sector than the other?

I don't know that we've analyzed that.

Rochelle, do you have an idea?

So come on.

Hi, apologies.

Uh good after good evening.

So the mix um of companies that have been attracted to Rockville so far, I would say majority of them lean towards retail um companies, but we did see a large influx of office um companies moving in as well.

So professional services, life science, um technology firms as well.

Thanks.

Okay.

So has there been a spike in bio?

Are we are we waiting for the impacts of the biotech corridor sort of investment and maybe would see more coming in then?

Or somewhere covered in what you just said?

We are seeing life science activity, not as much as we've seen, probably in like 2021, 2022.

Um and a lot of it, again, to a lot of the changes that we've seen um last year.

So, for example, a new company that just moved in, Hansel Bio, they were already located within Montgomery County, but this is their first location within the city of Rockville.

Um so we are seeing expansions, especially um if financially they're they're stable, contracts are in place and things like that.

Where we see it get a little bit um shaky and they're a little bit hesitant to expand or to grow within the city, is if any type of funding resources, whether they're coming from the federal government or whatnot, um have been halted or even removed altogether.

Thanks.

I appreciate it.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

I was gonna do you have a question?

I was gonna super quick.

Go for it.

Yeah.

Um it just kind of struck me um in thinking about this issue.

Um clearly we saw um the loss of of too many jobs, um, but you know, we're we're turning the ship around.

Um did we see any sort of and again, knowing that it's early days.

Did we see any early indications of like a population shift where people said, you know what, maybe this is my time to go somewhere else, or are people kind of sticking around and and remaining uh a resident of the city?

I don't think we have all the data on that yet.

Um I do think that the listings for houses in the area has gone up.

Yeah.

That's what I was guessing, unfortunately.

Thank you.

Councilmember Jackson.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh sure about that.

I had a little uh technical difficulties, so uh thank you for your indulgence.

Uh but that's why I passed on the question I had uh originally.

So um I like your um positioning of uh trying to attract uh the small uh startup companies.

I think that's uh uh uh really a niche area that uh we're pretty good at.

Um but you know, when they get bigger, obviously they um we look around for space uh and uh maybe that we don't have it.

Uh so can you describe what you do uh to coordinate um and cooperate with the surrounding jurisdictions like the county or Gaylisburg or or whatnot.

And and do you try to keep them um uh close uh if if possible?

Absolutely.

Yeah, our our first goal is to keep somebody in Rockville.

And if we really can't meet their needs, then um we try to keep them as close to us as possible.

So we work regularly with MCEDC with Gaithersburg and with the Department of Commerce.

Um, you know, ultimately, if Montgomery County cannot provide the the space needs of a of a company, we're all trying to keep them in Maryland.

So uh, you know, uh a follow-up uh question.

So the incubators, um I know that that's a program uh that uh you really put a lot of time and effort in, and I think you had success um with uh the bio life sciences um uh sector.

Um are you planning on uh uh kind of building out or are are um uh looking for similar success in other sectors?

Uh and uh what do you what are your plans for for the for uh that for incubating those?

Yeah, so I mean there's a number of incubating.

So the county incubation system um that has the Rockville Incubation Center over at Wizards uh does have a lot of data companies there.

Um the people who need lab space are really going to Germantown in that system, um, but but hopefully, you know, they're establishing themselves as companies in our area.

Um we don't provide technical assistance uh on the science.

Um we really provide technical assistance on people who need to know how to do a business plan, how to do a marketing plan, um uh for small-scale manufacturing, how to do supply chain, those those kinds of things.

So um I wouldn't say per se we're we're incubating bio life science companies, um, we're just trying to convene them together.

Uh but the incubators uh like the BioBoost and the uh sorry, not BioBoost, um Founders Rising, those are helping uh people across a lot of different types of uh business ideas develop their concept um to get it get it going, get it legally uh you know, registered, figure out uh where they want to go.

If they need funding, we help them figure out what they need to uh provide for the lender to be able to get funding, those kind of things.

And I understand uh uh uh speaking of uh incubators, uh there is uh um uh a meeting or uh a facility you had a tour, I think in March uh uh the in-computer space uh down in uh DC?

Oh, yes, with Gathersburg, yes.

Yeah.

So what is that?

Can you tell us a little bit more?

I um I don't know as much as probably more than you do, but uh I know a Gathersburg council member was interested in having us all go down and see this model, and it looks very interesting.

Um I was disappointed it got re uh um rescheduled to March, but I'm excited to go see see what it is and what what his ideas are.

No, uh it sounds uh uh pretty interesting.

So uh uh last question, because uh uh we try to rotate them around uh as a new uh unofficial policy.

Um how much capacity for growth does the uh bio or life science lines uh life sciences uh have?

I mean, we've been working on um this life scientist uh corridor for uh for a while.

And so I know that people are uh asking the question, you know, uh what is the potential for growth?

Uh have we uh uh uh approached it yet?

So I I just uh I want to kind of uh dump that into that a little bit.

Sure.

And that's a complex question because it also involves what is the market doing, but we do have space.

We have plenty of lab space, we have plenty of office space for the use.

Um we continue to be an epicenter because of our proximity to FDA, NIH, and the fact that the companies are really clustering in in Rockville.

I think you saw the heat map I sent around on on Friday that really shows the orange spot is Rockville.

Um and that I I've I liken it to like when you're leasing a mall, uh all of the stores want to be near the Nordstrom wing because and that's sort of what we are.

We're everybody wants to be near us uh because they want the interaction with the other companies.

They're also um they want the talent pool that's here, and people do switch companies here.

Um, but but that's really our biggest attraction is the the quality of the workforce and the talent that we have here.

Thank you.

Councilman Van Krak.

Thanks, and I apologize for not being there.

I'm actually currently in the reunification line here at Frost.

Okay.

So apologize for not being there currently.

Um so uh question that I did have with regard to the presentation, and I apologize.

I was not able to hear um everything because of the noise that's happening.

But can you tell me a little bit?

I think you touched on it slightly, but can you tell me a little bit about how city investment in some of the either infrastructure areas or areas throughout Rockville can be beneficial to economic development?

Yeah, absolutely.

I think creating a sense of place and a place where people want to be very important.

I mean, in addition to the the talent pool that's here, uh the next leading driver is where does the CEO and their partner want to live?

And so, and where do they want their family to live?

So what amenities do they want?

And you know, what what do they want the community to be like that they're going to be in?

So, you know, our uh mural project in Rock East was uh in part to create that visual sense of being somewhere, uh, create a little bit more life and activity so people recognize that it's a light industrial area and a makers um district.

So, you know, our um mural project in Rock East was uh in part to create that visual sense of being somewhere, uh, create a little bit more life and activity so people recognize that it's a light industrial area and a makers um district, and uh we're doing the same with the biotech corridor, um, you know, letting the companies know that they're part of something and that it's a community and that they want to be there because it has uh what they identify with.

So I mean, can you help me?

What are some of the either issues or things that you could see the city that might be able to do or invest that could be specifically beneficial to courting companies or making people want to use the services and stores within the city?

Well, I uh tell me if I'm off base, but I know we talked a lot about um the importance of having an aesthetic experience, uh, understanding how to navigate.

So, and I I know this body has talked a lot about the wayfinding and uh being able to figure out where you're going and see understand that there are things to go see that you can't see immediately, like in town center.

Um, and redoing the Rockville Metro Center, I think is a great opportunity for creating that sense of place, the sense of arrival, um, and uh letting people know that if they can get from the metro station to town center um and and town square.

Was that what you were looking for?

Yeah, so I mean, uh I I guess then let me ask kind of as a follow-up, maybe coordination.

I mean, I'd ask the city manager if we were gonna implement something that talked about either these types of either infrastructure-based or unification aspects to kind of encourage people to want to be here or that type of infrastructure.

What type of either plan would you suggest that we could go forward and implement City Manager?

Yep, thank you, Mayor.

I appreciate it.

Um I did I do think we spent a lot of time and energy talking about placemaking over the past year or so.

And we've done some work too.

And we have done some work, yep, which we're very proud of.

Um, we can do more, but I think if we're gonna do it um citywide, then we absolutely need a plan.

So it's it's a connected set of different improvements that have um similar themes.

Um that's a big initiative, but it's also something we can do.

But we absolutely wouldn't need a plan to put that together to make sure we're investing properly.

Thank you.

And I will note there's been a lot more that's happened in the past two years with um uh asphalt art and murals and signage, uh leveraging bridges to do that work, and then I know the Cultural Arts Commission has been working very hard to put murals up all across the city and they have more to roll out.

Uh, I know that we still need to do more wayfinding and signage as something that's a carryover that we've been trying to get done.

Uh and I know you're looking at signs throughout the city as well.

Uh so I appreciate your update there.

And I believe that's something that you've started and you have planned for part of this fiscal year and moving into next.

Is that right?

Yes, yes and yes.

Okay.

So then I think thank you so much for the presentation, and uh congratulations on your award.

I um I had a few questions around the displaced federal employees.

I know you shared the numbers.

Um, I think you said there was about 990 or so uh within our area.

Could you share the numbers of how many um former federal employees receive jobs from the programs from those those four programs?

Uh work source Montgomery, mobilize Montgomery, um the founders rising, and I think there was another program.

Yeah, so Founders Rising is a pilot right now with 20 entrepreneurs.

Um, and I believe uh how many are from Montgomery County?

15?

15 of those are Montgomery County, and five are from Prince George's County.

Um I don't have the numbers for the success for work source Montgomery.

We could certainly reach out to them and see what they can tell you, and we can circulate that afterwards.

Um and BioBoost, I know we just I don't remember the numbers, but it was uh maybe 50 people each the the um about 50 each.

Sorry, um a total of 89.

89 total.

Okay.

Yeah, I would I would appreciate uh if you could share those numbers.

Um I just know that you know our region has been disproportionately impacted by the layoffs.

Um so it would be good to know just in terms of the success of those those really great programs.

Definitely councilmember Fulton, then Councilmember Leary.

Um building on some of the questions about how we can make it uh an attractive place.

You know, we talked about obviously placemaking, you talked about people want to work uh and live there, how are the schools, how are the facilities, how are the amenities.

I assume that people are also thinking about like how accommodating is it to start and run a business in that jurisdiction.

Yes.

Uh so building on what Councilmember Van Grag said about what can the city do from a are we creating any unnecessary friction in places that you would feel comfortable advising us that we could help in that regard?

I think most of it is in you know that you're addressing with the zoning code rewrite, and you've done a lot of work um reducing some of some of those barriers.

Um I have not heard other things.

I most of the challenges come at a state level, um, and you know, with the tax structure and things like that, which we can't fix at this level.

Fair enough.

Okay.

So we're doing what we can do in that regard from Councilmember Valerie.

Yes, thank you.

Um so we did actually um during the last uh was it the last one?

Might be the one before one of our strategic sessions where we kind of talk through priorities and come up with ideas.

We did come up with an idea that made it to the final round.

Um, and that is supporting and making it easier for um retailers to utilize um their you know exterior walls for retail related uh murals and other sort of um that that sort of art and in it's in a public place, but it's not a private entity.

Um, and you know, kind of expanding upon what we see more of coming in uh through Morgard's work in uh Rockville Town Center, but um really trying to expand that because I think that that is something that um does bring a lot of character and um vibrancy to especially to uh some of our uh older shopping centers and and so forth.

Um I did have a question um in general, just because I do try to stay on top of things, given um, and if you don't have the answer to this, I totally understand, and I apologize.

I just literally thought of it sitting here.

Given the county executives recent comments about data centers and acknowledging the limitations there, are looking at um things like like uh microdata centers and small scale.

Is that something that could make Rock Bill uh in particular attractive to individuals looking for those kind of spaces?

Yeah, I know that was brought up at our retreat last year, and we haven't really done a lot of thinking around that, but I I think it's an interesting idea.

I'm just yeah, because I think that was um I can't remember when the comments were made, probably within the last week or so.

Okay.

Um, that there would be um some sort of moratorium on allowing for any new data centers in the county, but um maybe that's something that we can yeah, obviously exploring what the utility costs and and uh energy costs and all that.

Absolutely, absolutely.

Um, but it you know, um a rising tide will lift our boat.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I wanted to uh acknowledge, I know that we had the Hilton opening and women in bio organization was there and we're able to match them up, and now they're gonna have the conference here in Rockville.

So uh thank you for helping them to follow through on that.

Uh, because that's sort of a creating a convener hub opportunity to bring people into the space.

Uh so I wanted to acknowledge that.

Um I've also um seen that some of the existing biotechs are buying more buildings.

Um so we visited one where they went from two buildings to three, and I think they may have five now or something.

Six, six.

Um, so that is also positive momentum to see how do we help companies grow here and do more like that.

So I wanted to acknowledge, and I I what was interesting is that some of these companies are actually manufacturing here.

Oh, yeah, in Rockville.

Um, so I I thought that was quite neat.

So you would be surprised to see what is those buildings look normal on the outside, but they may be a satellite or a there's a lot of cool stuff.

So the other big one that's coming in is uh uh YAA is fills the art space, uh young artists of America.

So uh just some really good.

I know there's been a hardy with the federal workers, which is absolutely we need to keep driving at.

I wanted to celebrate um some of those wins.

And I think that we're gonna have to do an hustle to bring a lot more companies in because we want our federal workers to stay here and to give them meaningful work.

Uh they have such educated uh and life great life experience that we want to see how can we help them to be here.

And I know some of them are already moving and finding jobs, and I I've have heard stories from the um workshops Montgomery where they were able to get higher jobs, higher paying jobs, some are still looking, it's just everyone is in a different journey on that struggle.

Um, and that's something we have to continue to to manage and and support.

Um you talked about some of the companies that are coming in.

I was surprised to see so many uh IT companies uh as that category, and even like health, not AI data, not data centers, but AI sort of small companies that are trying to innovate in that space.

So that that was an interesting observation uh for me.

Um in terms of what can we do?

Uh I I am in I know that we've we've been doing a lot in terms of trying to change the zoning and uh and we looked at a permitting processes.

I I do want just the world to know that we are still open to learning and to doing better.

So if people have ideas, if your experience is different, then we think the process is please talk to our city manager, please let us know.

We are open to innovating to make sure that we are the best place to do business.

Um also I know we're looking at the approval process, and another thing we've been talking about, the city managers that the navigation services, so that as you're working with the city, you also can get support navigating the county and the state.

Because that's that's sometimes you need approvals from different levels of government.

Um the last thing I was gonna mention on that, what can we do?

Um, we always want to make sure that the businesses stay here when they're in a growth stage and catching them before they look someplace else.

So um just I know this whole body is is very supportive of the retention tours, and if there's anything that we can do collectively to support you, I have seen the impact it makes when a business one of us shows up at their doorstep and they're just excited and it you know to and then you are doing all this great follow-up, it really creates a relationship to want to stay here.

Um and we want to be that kind of city where we know our businesses, we they're creating jobs for our people, and people are creating businesses and creating jobs for other people.

Uh so if there's anything that we can do better to support you in that effort, please let us know.

No, and we appreciate every time one of you is able to come to meet a business, it they get so excited, and it's really impactful to meet you and to know that they have elected officials who care.

Um I do want to uh put out there too, we are we've scheduled our annual retreat for Saturday, April 25th.

As usual, it's 8 a.m.

sharp to noon.

We try not to keep anybody beyond that, but um it's very important to have everybody at the table uh, you know, with the with the brainstorming and the ideas um so that we can collectively create the path for the next year.

Thank you.

And we can talk about economic development without also thinking about people's lived experience on as they're walking about the city.

I have seen some neighborhood shopping centers fill up, like you know, uh the Woodley Garden Shopping Center has new energy with a new business that is coming, and people are super excited about that.

Um the uh the there's so there's some work happening in Rockville Town Center, but I just want to get I what are you thinking about the neighborhood shopping centers?

Is there anything that we need to be doing differently there?

Uh what's your read on that that landscape?

I mean, I think you know, retail's softening a little, but I our small business impact fund is a real unique tool for our businesses, um, knowing that they have the support of the mayor and council to help them sustain and grow in their businesses.

Um so I think we just we continue doing that.

Um I know that um Josh from Morgard is gonna be in town this week, so hopefully he's meeting with uh a number of you to let you know what's going on there.

He hasn't been ready to announce a bunch of things.

Um I don't know any other thoughts.

I was gonna say if if there's some uh displacement on the uh community service uh leases he has, it means he must there must be some new leases coming in.

Yes, yes, good problem to have.

It is, and we have you know, are so thankful to have had free rent for five years.

Um it was really very, very kind of them.

Awesome.

Uh councilmember uh Jackson, and then I just want to see if any of my other colleagues have questions.

No, uh thank you, uh Mayor.

And I'm so looking forward to your your retreat.

Uh uh it's gonna be a perfect way to spend my birthday.

Oh dear.

We'll get you a cake.

Um so uh I just want to say, you know, a couple of years ago when we were uh first uh elected and it came in uh onto this council.

One of the things that we talked about was actually uh the moves grants and the small business and uh funds and basically um you know that uh it should include all of Rockville.

Um, you know, and I think that uh you've really done a good job of uh doing that, of uh giving uh these grants uh across the city.

And so I just want to commend you for that and and uh say keep it keep it up.

Um it's great.

To the point that the mayor was uh making on neighborhoods, shopping centers and and others.

Um, you know, um it's important, uh I think to attract new businesses, but uh the um the the businesses that are established um or really crucial as well.

And so to to dig in on her point a little bit, um you know how can we get Ready's message out uh or programs or resources that you have that would help um to stay to thrive.

Um I know I've asked it before, but I just have you thought any more about you know how you actually get out to uh these businesses and let them know about the programs and resources that you have.

Yeah, we we have walked um almost all of them and given out packages of information.

Um, you know, they don't always trust us.

Um so I know that you all are some of our best ambassadors.

So I uh I know I've given the mayor business cards and things you can pass out if anybody needs any more.

I think I put a bunch in your boxes uh six months or so ago.

But if you need more, please just tell them because they do trust you all.

Um, and and that that's very helpful for you to say, hey, go go to Ready.

I will say sometimes it takes uh three to five touch points because people have been burned or think the process is too complicated, or they can't believe that something is really good for that, you know.

Right, someone's really trying to help them.

And then also you have entrepreneurs that are just busy, they're trying to make it and survive.

Uh, and they don't always like to admit when they need help.

None of us like to admit when we need help.

So we're like, really, we're here to help.

Let us know.

So if you're a business out there and need help, uh please know that you have the Maryland Business Center ready as well as the chamber there to support you.

Um, and I'll just give a plug again.

You have grants that you do throughout the year, you offer technical assistance and some of the hubs, uh incubation hubs to offer.

So please take a look and relocation assistance, which is we can help you find a space.

I can help you find a space.

Um thank you so much.

I just I wanted to just say one other thing.

Uh something that you mentioned, uh small scale manufacturing.

I'm still trying to noodle on this because you know, when we were doing the comprehensive plan, it's like, okay, just take everything and do more housing, which we need more housing, but then you also look at you know, how do we create some manufacturing space in special places in the city?

So that's something I think that we all need to grapple with and just keep us posted on the trends because that was demand for it for sure.

That was a big change from 2021, yes, I think.

Um, so I just if you're seeing trends that we need to be better reacting to as a government, um, please let us know.

So absolutely.

And uh Karen just texted me for council member Shaw.

The Federal Workforce Career Center saw 175 clients in the first 10 weeks.

Wow.

Thank you.

All right.

So well thank you.

Go ahead, Councilmember Shaw.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Um so um I was asking about so that was that's a great uh that's a great number.

Um if you could just follow up and find out how many jobs they received.

Yeah, thank you.

Yeah, and I know that's something I've talked to Worksworth Montgomery about, and something I think many of us would be interested in is just how is it going.

Yeah, uh, I know that they were putting some systems to track that.

Uh obviously uh finding a job can be a long lead situation.

And um when I've asked questions about what are the biggest challenges is the applicability of all that great federal national level thinking to are there additional local certifications or what are the challenges our federal workers are experiencing when they're trying to go into other marketplaces.

So uh that would be good to just know more about as well.

Definitely thank you to the entire board.

Thanks for all of your work.

We really appreciate all that you're doing.

And I know that we'll be at the retreat on April 25th.

Um, I also want to acknowledge that the city is developing an economic development plan uh that will tie in land use and the work that Reddy is doing.

And then the County Montgomery County Economic Development Corp is also developing their strategic plan.

And the chambers and REDI and others are working together in the ecosystem to try to feed into that so that we're connected.

And then we're planning a joint economic development session with Gaithersburg on June 29th.

So lots of discussion on economic development opportunity and job creation.

Thank you.

All right, that concludes our work session, unless anyone has any final comments or questions.

Okay.

Just checking for final hands here.

Okay, perfect.

We'll now move on to mock agenda.

We have reviewed that this morning.

So there was one potential question that we got a response on today.

Thank you for that, City Manager.

Old new business.

Okay.

Do we have a motion to adjourn?

Councilmember O'Leary.

Madam Mayor, I move that we adjourn.

Thank you.

Do we have a second?

Councilmember Jackson, seconds.

Hands up fast on these two.

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

Aye.

It is unanimous.

Thank you.