Rockville City Council Meeting and Work Session: May 18, 2026

On May 18, 2026, the Rockville City Council convened Meeting 14-26, beginning at approximately 11:30 AM. The meeting featured a community forum, consent agenda approvals, and a lengthy work session on proposed amendments to Chapter 18 of the City Code concerning Rental Facilities and Landlord-Tenant Relations. The council also adjusted its schedule for upcoming zoning items.

Consent Calendar

• Councilmember Van Grack moved to approve consent agenda items A (Liberty Tree scion planting at Glenview Mansion), B (FY26 grant agreement for Rockville Volunteer Fire Department Emergency Vehicle Contribution), C (award and execute contracts for water main rehabilitation), D (FY26 Community Development Block Grant contract with Montgomery County, added before noon on May 18), and E (approval of minutes). The motion was seconded by Councilmember Jackson and passed unanimously.
• Councilmember Miles noted that staff reassured him about the low bid for item 9C, confirming the contractor has a good track record.

Public Comments & Testimony

• David Fields (recent Rockville resident, Milton at Twinbrook Metro): Expressed support for the landlord-tenant code revisions but raised rhetorical questions about defining health risks (e.g., smoke), adequacy of a two-day lease review period, and enforcement of tenant organizing rights. He reported that his building management removed notices about forming a tenants association. Mayor Ashton accepted written comments.
• Mark Pashela (College Gardens Civic Association): Thanked the council for moving in the direction of their request regarding MXCD zones (vehicular access on Rucker Street) and requested an added sentence requiring published standards and neighborhood consultation for such access. He also asked that purpose statements for single-unit residential zones (R90, R75, R60, R40) be added to the zoning code, drawing language from the current ordinance.
• Julia Binder (Newmark Commons HOA board member): Expressed deep alarm at the proposed RMD‑15 zoning with a 55-foot height cap exception for ZORID 17, noting the code caps RMD‑15 at 40 feet. She urged the council to use RMD‑10 with a 40-foot height limit and stated that a 55-foot height is incompatible with surrounding neighborhoods.
• Susan Knowles (Newmark Commons): Thanked the council for prohibiting through traffic via Newmark Commons and Markwood from any development on ZORID 17. She presented a chart showing that, with only about six buildable acres, RMD‑15 would yield ~24.3 units per acre (close to the rejected RMD‑25), while RMD‑10 would yield ~16.3 units per acre and still allow 15 MPDUs. She urged reconsideration to RMD‑10.
• Anna Astrid Molina (Markwood resident): Thanked the council for rejecting through traffic and high-density RMD‑25 on ZORID 17. She urged RMD‑10 with a 40-foot height limit, warning that a 55-foot structure would tower over single-family homes (max 25 feet). She noted that College Gardens townhomes are under 40 feet and that the parcel has uneven terrain and a historic burial site.
• Pat Rieber (Markwood resident): Echoed Molina’s concerns, citing that about half of the 9.75 acres are unbuildable, and that all 146 units would be concentrated on ~5 acres (nearly 30 units per acre). She urged RMD‑10 to cap density at 20 units per acre and height at 40 feet.
• Libby Adams (tenant at Fields of Rockville): Stated that three weeks shy of a year since discovering black mold, her belongings remain held by the landlord and property manager because she refuses to sign a non-disclosure/non-suit agreement. She criticized city inspections as inadequate and accused the city of systemic failure, especially toward low-income families. She requested communication from landlord-tenant specialist Trevor Stevens.

Discussion Items

Adoption of Ordinance to Amend Chapter 18 (Rental Facilities & Landlord-Tenant Relations)

Staff Presentation (Trevor Stevens, Jane Lyons, Ryan Trout, Christina Shakur Harris):

• The project began in April 2025 with engagement sessions. Staff held work sessions in fall 2024 and 2025-2026, followed by community engagement in April 2026.
• Proposed policies include: restrictions on algorithmic rent pricing and junk fees; banning eviction-history questions on applications; requiring two-year lease options (with 90-day notice allowed for rent increase during the term); mandatory data reporting; a repair-and-deduct option; relocation assistance (temporary and permanent); and increased transparency.
• Equity Impact: Positive, as improved housing stability benefits disproportionately affected Black and Hispanic renters (50% of Rockville renters are cost-burdened; ~20% severely cost-burdened).
• Economic Impact: Staff assessed neutral, noting potential upward pressure from compliance costs and downward pressure from increased transparency.

Council Deliberation by Article:

• Article 1 (Definitions, etc.): Councilmember Van Grack and others emphasized the need for clearer definitions (e.g., “written notice,” timelines). Councilmember Shaw asked for more data on the equity statement and noted women—particularly Black women—are disproportionately burdened.
• Article 2 (Administration): Councilmember Fulton requested the enhanced inspection baseline be written into code. Staff agreed to include a baseline but cautioned against over-specificity. The landlord-tenant affairs commission’s damage award cap would increase from $2,000 to $5,000; staff explained this is based on observed need.
• Article 3 (Rental Facility Requirements): Councilmember Fulton highlighted that tenants sometimes deny access, and staff would require landlords to enforce their leases. Councilmember Shaw pointed out that smoke detectors are listed but carbon monoxide detectors are not; staff noted those are in Chapter 5. Councilmember Van Grack argued that landlords shouldn’t be penalized if a tenant refuses entry, and staff explained the rationale is to incentivize landlords to enforce their leases.
• Article 4 (Landlord-Tenant Rights & Obligations):
  • Two-Year Leases: Councilmembers debated whether rent increases during the term should be disclosed upfront (year 1 and year 2 amounts) rather than permitted via a 90-day notice at any time. Mayor Ashton clarified the intent was upfront transparency. Councilmember Shaw noted that without rent stabilization, landlords could price two-year leases so high that tenants cannot afford them.
  • Permanent Relocation Assistance: Dr. Miles questioned the six-month trigger and the “three-months-of-rent” payment. Councilmember Fulton and others expressed concern about the burden on small landlords and suggested a possible small/large landlord distinction.
  • Fees: Staff agreed to adjust the 45-day charge limit (for water bills) to 120 days. Councilmember Jackson and others asked for clearer definition of “unreasonably withheld” regarding subleasing. Councilmember Fulton noted the city charges a credit card processing fee but the code would prohibit landlords from recouping similar fees; staff said this can be re-examined.
  • Algorithmic Rent Pricing: Councilmember Van Grack urged caution based on lawsuits in other jurisdictions (Clark County, NV; Berkeley, CA). Councilmember Shaw supported passing it separately if needed. Staff confirmed they are researching those cases.
• Article 5 (Data Collection): Councilmember Shaw questioned the accuracy of aggregating diverse lease terms (month-to-month vs. 13-month) into a single average. Staff said the property-level average would smooth outliers. Councilmember Fulton noted that only this article references the Director of Housing and Community Development rather than “city manager”; consistency was requested and agreed.

Key Outcomes

• Chapter 18 Ordinance: Not adopted tonight. The council directed staff to incorporate the following substantive revisions and return the ordinance for a future vote:
  1. Clarify definitions (e.g., “written notice,” timelines, “unreasonably withheld”).
  2. Include a baseline for the enhanced inspection program in Article 3.
  3. For two-year leases, require upfront disclosure of year‑1 and year‑2 rent (not a mid-term 90-day increase).
  4. Consider a small/large landlord distinction for relocation assistance.
  5. Examine the permanent relocation payment amounts and the six-month trigger.
  6. Extend the fee recovery period for water bills to 120 days.
  7. Reconsider fee recovery for credit card processing/returned checks.
  8. Strengthen ability for landlords to enforce lease terms when tenants deny access.
  9. Include carbon monoxide detector requirements (or cross-reference Chapter 5).
  10. Ensure algorithmic rent pricing ban withstands legal challenges; research existing lawsuits.
  11. Provide a lease template (or addendum) for small landlords.
  12. Improve interdepartmental coordination for landlord-tenant inquiries.
• Schedule Change: The June 1st work session will now include the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite (ZOR) (final work session) and a discussion of JEDI. Adoption of the ZOR remains scheduled for June 29th.
• Councilmember Valeria: Confirmed attending virtually; her concerns about the Liberty Tree planting were addressed by adding a song by Mary Anderson to the ceremony.