Rockville Mayor and Council Meeting - April 27, 2026
Rockville Mayor and Council Meeting - April 27, 2026
The Rockville Mayor and Council met on April 27, 2026, for a full agenda including a review of the Climate Action Plan, a work session on the proposed draft election code, and public testimony on both the election code and tenant issues. The meeting began with routine approvals, a city manager's report, and a community forum where many residents urged the council to involve the Board of Supervisors of Elections (BSE) in the election code rewrite. A straw poll on term limits showed a 4-3 split for four consecutive terms, and the council deferred introducing the ordinance until after further BSE input.
Consent Calendar
- Cultural Arts Commission: Appointed Anika Varton (term until March 1, 2027) and Emily Pucello (term until March 1, 2028).
- Cultural Arts Commission: Appointed Jerry Callestine (term until February 1, 2028) and Molly Scott (term until February 1, 2028).
- Financial Advisory Board: Reappointed Jack Kelly (term until June 1, 2029) and appointed Jocelyn Fortis (term until February 1, 2027).
- Rockville Housing Enterprise: Appointed Megan Meakin (term until April 1, 2027).
- All appointments were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Robert Koernick (Chair, Board of Supervisors of Elections): Expressed concern that the draft election code was prepared without significant input from the BSE, citing problematic omissions such as no requirements for independent expenditure reporting, no mailing provisions, and incorrect campaign finance dates. Urged the council to let the BSE review and propose changes.
- Stephen Fisher (Resident since 1957): Emphasized the need for a timeline for the 2027 election cycle, noting that key issues (ballot questions, enforcement, PAC reporting, election districts) still need addressing before a final draft.
- Stephen Wiener (BSE member, speaking as an individual): Criticized the draft for overly complex enforcement processes, unclear definitions (e.g., "voter"), and devolving too many tasks on volunteer BSE members. Asked for a document specialist to improve readability.
- Brigita Mulligan (60-year resident, former council candidate): Questioned why the BSE was bypassed, expressed opposition to lowering the voting age to 16 and ranked choice voting, and supported term limits. Also raised concerns about a separate city voter registration system.
- Kevin Owen (Former Chair, Charter Review Commission): Surprised the BSE was not consulted, as they were integral to the charter review. Noted that the 16-17 voting measure lost 28-69% in an advisory ballot while term limits passed 74-22%, and urged the council to refer the matter back to the BSE.
- Vincent Russo (Resident): Argued ranked choice voting is unnecessary for multi-seat council elections and mayoral races with few candidates. Criticized the rushed approval timeline (introduction to adoption in 8 weeks) and the lack of BSE review on technical changes.
- Doc Mohammed (Resident, business owner): Described experiences of racial discrimination by police and businesses in Rockville, alleging that police followed and barred him from public places. Called for action against such practices.
- John Becker (Resident, Americana Center): Characterized the process as “ramming and cramming,” urged cost analysis, inclusion of the BSE, and consideration of the consultant's report. Noted the timeline is unrealistic.
- Libby Adams (Former resident, mold issue): Stated her belongings remain in a mold-infested apartment at Fields of Rockville and criticized the city for inaction, citing the Maryland Tenant Protection Act. Announced she would advocate for renters countywide.
- Madison Dunn (Libby's daughter): Described the family's inability to replace mold-damaged items and asked for help from the city.
- Cassidy (Family member): Condemned the city's lack of assistance, noting that mold has caused health symptoms.
- Mark Pusciella (816 Fordham Street): Thanked council for attending a retreat. Criticized the zoning ordinance rewrite for lacking a redline comparison to current law. On elections, urged attention to the 2023 advisory ballot results on term limits and 16-17 voting, and noted that sitting council members face conflicts of interest when changing election rules.
- Anita Neal Powell (President, Lincoln Park Historical Foundation, former council candidate): Supported lowering the voting age to 16, term limits of three consecutive four-year terms, and maintaining the current voting system. Recommended assessing resources for the BSE if duties expand.
Discussion Items
Special Presentation: Climate Action Plan and Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan
Staff presented the fourth annual progress report on the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and the first annual report on the Electric Vehicle (EV) Readiness Plan. Key highlights:
- Between 2005 and 2023, Rockville reduced net greenhouse gas emissions by 34%, outpacing the metropolitan Washington region (20% reduction).
- 56% of CAP actions were completed or institutionalized by end of 2025, exceeding the FY26 target of 45%.
- Building energy use (electricity, methane gas, heating oil) and transportation (vehicle emissions) are the largest emission sources.
- Energy efficiency programs: over 2,000 homes participated in Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and Quick Home Energy Checkup programs in the last year. 17 appliances were electrified with nearly $30,000 in rebates.
- Renewable energy: Solar installations continue; 620 registrations in the group discount program last year.
- Waste reduction: Opened a fourth compost drop-off station; 242 tons of food waste collected in 2025.
- EV ownership grew 22% between 2024 and 2025; public chargers increased to 326 ports. Over one-third of EV Readiness Plan actions are completed or institutionalized.
- Municipal projects: 25 battery electric vehicles, 2 plug-in hybrids, 3 hybrids in city fleet. LED lighting upgrades at five facilities (1,022 fixtures) at a cost of $197,000, with city share under $10,000. 2,500 streetlights converted to LED (phases 1-2 complete; phase 3 planned for 2026). Grants leveraged over $1 million.
- Future plans: new Building Energy Performance CIP (solar, heat pumps, submeters), flood resiliency master plan, green space management plan.
Work Session: Proposed Draft Election Code (Chapter 8)
The council held a work session on the draft election code (Articles 1-6). City Manager Jeff Mahalic, City Clerk Sarah Taylor Farrell, and Deputy City Attorney Cindy Walters presented the draft, which is a complete rewrite of the election code based on prior work sessions and community engagement. Staff sought council feedback on four key questions: (1) allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote? (2) limit mayor and council terms? (3) create representative council districts? (4) institute ranked choice voting? (For 2031 suggested.)
Councilmembers gave their positions (some conditional or requiring more information):
- Dr. Miles: Yes to 16-17 voting, yes to term limits (three consecutive), undecided on districts (needs more study), open to ranked choice voting but wants implementation details.
- Councilmember Fulton: Yes to 16-17 voting, yes to term limits (three consecutive as soon as possible), no to districts, yes to ranked choice voting as soon as possible.
- Councilmember Valeri: Yes to 16-17 voting, yes to term limits (three consecutive), yes to districts (four districts, two at-large), yes to ranked choice voting (maybe test with mayor only first). Also raised public financing of elections.
- Mayor Ashton: Supported 16-17 voting (notes Youth Commission supports it), term limits of four consecutive terms, no to districts at this time (revisit at 100,000 population), yes to ranked choice voting in 2031 with cost and feasibility analysis. Also flagged that the draft removes existing election district sections and needs to be re-inserted for 2027.
- Councilmember Jackson: No to 16-17 voting (believes efforts should focus on existing voter groups), yes to term limits (four consecutive), no to districts (too small a city, high cost), yes to ranked choice voting in 2031 for both mayor and council.
- Councilmember Shaw: Yes to 16-17 voting (notes increase in family voting), yes to term limits (three consecutive), undecided on districts (concerns about internal inequities, needs more information), yes to ranked choice in 2031.
- Councilmember Van Grack: Does not currently support 16-17 voting (students themselves unsure), yes to term limits (four consecutive), no to districts (city too small, under 70,000), supports ranked choice voting for mayor but not for council (argues multi-seat races create confusion and reduce candidate collaboration).
On term limits, a straw poll showed 4 councilmembers in favor of four consecutive terms and 3 in favor of three consecutive terms.
Councilmembers also raised numerous concerns about the draft: need for a redline or summary of changes, many definitions are unclear or missing (e.g., independent expenditures), the draft lacks prior BSE input, enforcement mechanisms need clarity, and the timeline is too rushed. Councilmembers requested a public hearing and more time for BSE review.
The city attorney advised against introducing the ordinance that night because the draft is incomplete, and the council agreed to defer introduction. Staff will revise the draft, meet with the BSE on May 7 and May 14, and report back to the council. A public hearing will be scheduled (possibly June 1). The council emphasized the need to keep the 2027 election timeline in mind.
Key Outcomes
- All boards and commissions appointments approved unanimously.
- The council received the Climate Action Plan and EV Readiness Plan reports and directed staff to continue implementation.
- On the election code, no final decisions were made. The council gave preliminary feedback on the four key questions, with a split on term limits (4 favoring 4 consecutive terms, 3 favoring 3 consecutive) and mixed views on districts and ranked choice voting.
- Staff was directed to produce a summary of changes between the current code and the draft, incorporate council and BSE feedback, and return with a revised draft. The ordinance will not be introduced until a later meeting.
- The council requested a public hearing on the election code before adoption and expressed willingness to hold additional work sessions if needed to meet the 2027 election timeline.
- The city manager reported that Wooten Parkway repairs were postponed due to weather and are rescheduled for the following weekend.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, Rockfall. Today is April twenty-seventh, twenty twenty-six, and we're beginning meeting eleven dash twenty six. Like to begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. Please join us as you're able. And to the Republic stands. 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 councilmember Valeri? I would agree with making that change. I think that order makes more sense to me as well. So everyone, uh Councilman Van Greg. 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've 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 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, etc. 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 are 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 reappointments 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 first two, 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.
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