Rockville City Council Meeting - April 27, 2026: Election Code Work Session and Board Appointments
Rockville City Council Meeting - April 27, 2026
The Rockville City Council met on April 27, 2026, to conduct a work session on the proposed draft election code (Chapter 8), receive public testimony, and approve several board and commission appointments. The council also received a special presentation on the Climate Action Plan and Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan. Key decisions included straw polls on four major election policy questions and a decision not to introduce the draft ordinance immediately pending further review.
Consent Calendar
- Cultural Arts Commission: Appointed Anika Varton (term until March 1, 2027) and Emily Pucello (term until March 1, 2028) on a motion by Councilmember Valeri, seconded by Councilmember Jackson. Passed unanimously.
- Cultural Arts Commission (additional): Appointed Jerry Callestine and Molly Scott (both terms until February 1, 2028) on a motion by Councilmember Larry, seconded by Councilmember Shaw. Passed unanimously.
- Financial Advisory Board: Reappointed Jack Kelly (term until June 1, 2029) on a motion by Councilmember Jackson, seconded by Councilmember Shaw. Passed unanimously.
- Financial Advisory Board (additional): Appointed Jocelyn Fortis (term until February 1, 2027) on a motion by Councilmember Jackson, seconded by Councilmember Fulton. Passed unanimously.
- Rockville Housing Enterprise: Appointed Megan Meakin (term until April 1, 2027) on a motion by Councilmember Shaw, seconded by Councilmember Valeri. Passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Robert Koernick (Chair, Board of Supervisors of Elections - BSE): Expressed concerns that the draft election code was prepared without significant BSE input. Criticized omissions such as independent expenditure reporting, mailings, drop box locations, and unclear campaign finance dates. Urged council to allow BSE review before finalizing.
- Stephen Fisher (60-year resident): Noted that May 1, 2026 marks one year before the 2027 election cycle and urged a clear timeline. Raised issues about ballot questions, enforcement provisions, PAC reporting, and election district references.
- Stephen Wiener (BSE member, speaking as an individual): Highlighted definitional problems, a too-complex violation process, and arbitrary ballot receipt deadlines. Called for a document specialist and substantive editor to improve readability.
- Brigita Mulligan (60-year resident, former council candidate and BSE member): Questioned why BSE input was bypassed. Asked about separate voter registration system and voiced opposition to lowering voting age to 16 and ranked choice voting. Supported term limits.
- Kevin Owen (former Chair, Charter Review Commission): Noted surprise that the rewrite did not include BSE input. Cautioned that ignoring advisory ballot results (e.g., 16-17 voting lost 28-69%, term limits passed 74-22%) could signal disregard for voter input.
- Vincent Russo (resident): Argued ranked choice voting is unnecessary for multi-seat council elections and mayoral races with few candidates. Criticized the rushed timeline and lack of BSE review on technical changes like enforcement and ballot tabulation.
- Doc Mohammed (resident): Raised concerns about racial discrimination in local businesses and police conduct, alleging targeting of Black individuals. Mentioned ongoing lawsuits.
- John Becker (resident): Described the process as "ramming and cramming" and urged cost analysis, inclusion of BSE, and respect for their role.
- Libby Adams (former resident, belongings held at Fields of Rockville): Described mold issues and criticized city inaction. Stated city inspector cleared her apartment despite mold.
- Madison Dunn (Libby's daughter): Shared personal impact of mold and lack of help from city.
- Cassidy (resident): Also criticized city inaction on mold.
- Mark Busciella (resident): Requested a red-line comparison between current and proposed zoning ordinance. On elections, urged attention to 2023 advisory ballot results, especially term limits.
- Ibo (speaking for Rank Choice Voting): Supported upgrading elections, including RCV, lowering voting age, and improving accessibility. Noted DC and Greenbelt have implemented RCV.
- Anita Neal Powell (President, Lincoln Park Historical Foundation; former council candidate and Charter Review commissioner): Supported lowering voting age to 16, three consecutive term limits, council districts, and maintaining current voting system. Thanked city clerk's office.
Discussion Items
- Special Presentation: Climate Action Plan & Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan: Amanda (staff) reported that net greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 34% from 2005 to 2023, outpacing the region. Key actions: 245 buildings reporting energy use, 25% median site energy use intensity reduction, 2,000 homes in efficiency programs, 620 solar registrations, 242 tons food waste collected, 326 EV charging ports. Denzel John covered municipal projects: 25 battery electric vehicles, LED upgrades at 5 facilities, 2,500 streetlights converted to LED, solar installations planned, and a $454,000 Maryland Energy Administration grant secured.
- Work Session: Proposed Draft Election Code (Chapter 8): City Manager Mahillick and staff presented Articles 1-6. They sought council feedback on four key questions:
- Should 16-17 year olds vote?
- Should there be term limits for mayor and council?
- Should representative council districts be created?
- Should ranked choice voting be instituted beginning in 2031? Councilmembers expressed concerns about the timeline, lack of BSE input, and need for clearer definitions. They discussed the need for a summary of changes and a red-line document. Councilmembers gave individual positions (see Key Outcomes).
Key Outcomes
- Straw Polls on Election Code Questions:
- 16-17 Year Old Voting: Majority in favor (Councilmembers Miles, Fulton, Larry, Shaw, Mayor Ashton supported; Councilmembers Jackson, Van Grack opposed).
- Term Limits: All supported. Vote split: 4 for four consecutive terms (Mayor Ashton, Councilmembers Jackson, Van Grack, and one other) vs. 3 for three consecutive terms (Councilmembers Miles, Fulton, Larry, Shaw). Council will revisit.
- Representative Council Districts: Majority opposed (Councilmembers Fulton, Mayor Ashton, Jackson, Van Grack; Councilmembers Valeri, Larry, Shaw supported but with caveats).
- Ranked Choice Voting: Majority in favor, with some wanting further cost/implementation analysis and limiting to mayoral race initially. Councilmembers Van Grack opposed for council races.
- Decision on Ordinance Introduction: The council decided not to introduce the draft election code ordinance tonight, following the city attorney's recommendation that the draft is not yet complete. They will await a revised draft after BSE meetings on May 7 and May 14, 2026, and aim to introduce at a later meeting. A public hearing will be scheduled.
- Next Steps: Staff will produce a summary of changes and a revised draft for BSE review. Council will hold additional work sessions as needed. The goal is to adopt a final code by June 29, 2026, with a future effective date to allow charter amendment processes.
- Directives: Staff was asked to:
- Provide a summary of changes between current and proposed code.
- Circulate a timeline for the 2027 election cycle.
- Review BSE feedback on specific sections (definitions, duties, deadlines, etc.).
- Analyze cost and feasibility of ranked choice voting and representative districts.
- Consider expanding BSE membership and reimbursing travel expenses.
- Ensure language access and modernize outreach methods.
- Adjournment: Motion by Councilmember Van Grack, seconded by Councilmember Valeri, passed unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
It's April 27, 2026, and we're beginning meeting 11-26. Like to begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. Please join us as you're able. And to the Republic stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice. Thank you. Just wanted to turn it to Sarah Taylor Farrell for agenda review. Madam Mayor and Council members, there are no changes to the agenda for this evening. Okay, thank you. I did give my colleagues a heads up about this, but I just wanted to see if we might uh change the order of our action item and work session so we can have the discussion about the election code and then move into discussion on introduction. Do we need to council member Valeri? I would agree with making that change. I think that order um makes more sense to me as well. So everyone, uh Councilmember Van Greck. I would just ask it, just I want to make sure because I know that the introduction has certain time periods as well as relation to what we do with regard to our work sessions. I just want to make sure from either a legal perspective or orderly perspective, what we're doing and discussing, there isn't any concern or issues. Yeah, we'll uh just to clarify if we're still having the discussion tonight, it's just putting the work session tonight first. Well, now and that that that's what I want to make sure. So we can just so I'll take a stab, and then if my colleagues have anything to add. So the order we typically do traditionally action items first, then we do work sessions, but as long as we do the introduction after the work session and you guys direct us to schedule the public hearing, then we'll still be able to stay on schedule. Thank you. Colleagues, is everyone okay with this? Okay, thank you. Okay. Next city managers report. Welcome, Mr. Mahillick. Mayor Ashton, members of city council, ladies and gentlemen. Good evening. We continue to be in high season and a number of different things, which were we're happy to be super busy based on last week's really good work session. We are now putting the final touches on the budget, which we'll present to the council for adoption here in a couple weeks, working on a number of different updates to the city code in a number of different areas, including zoning and landlord tenant, and of course, election code, which we'll talk about in some detail in a little while. We're also doing a number of different park improvements in in the city. This is playground equipment, paths, et cetera. But then every now and then we get to do something fun, and we did that this past week as a number of city departments hosted Take Your Child to Work Day. You know, a lot of kids running around City Hall having a good time learning about their parents' work. It was really neat. So we had a bunch of budding police officers and park planners, etc. For some reason, though, no kid wanted to sign up to be the future city manager, but I get that. It's understandable. So that's all I have to report, Mayor. Thank you. Thank you. We're moving on to agenda item six. We have a number of boards and commissions appointments and re-appointments for Cultural Arts Commission. We have the Financial and the Financial Advisory Board as well as Rockville Housing Enterprise. Councilman Valeri. Madam Mayor, I can do the Cultural Arts Commission the purchase, too, if that makes sense. Please proceed. Okay. Uh I move to appoint Anika Varton to the Cultural Arts Commission to serve a three-year term until March 1st, 2027. And I move to appoint Emily Pucello to the Cultural Arts Commission to serve an expiring three-year term until March 1st, 2028.
openpublica.com