Rockville City Council Meeting - June 1, 2026: Proclamations, Zoning Rewrite, and JEDI Strategic Plan
Rockville City Council Meeting - June 1, 2026
On June 1, 2026, the Rockville Mayor and Council held a regular meeting beginning at approximately 6:30 PM. The agenda included multiple proclamations, public comments, consent agenda items, discussion of Maryland Municipal League legislative action requests, a work session on the zoning ordinance rewrite (Articles 9–13), and a presentation on the JEDI Strategic Plan.
Consent Calendar
- Approved consent agenda items B, C, D, E, and G (minutes) unanimously.
- Items A (renewal of RESCO status for performing arts organizations) and F (Twinbrook Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge Study contract) were pulled for discussion and later approved unanimously after Councilmember Valeri asked about Rockville Civic Valley not being a RESCO and noted that the CIP language for item F should reflect 100% design funding.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ken Liu (Hungerford resident) urged support for deer mesh without setback restrictions, citing severe overpopulation and damage.
- Leah Larson Rabin (214 Harrison St.) announced a fundraiser for Rainbow Place (women's shelter) and Rockville Presbyterian Cooperative Nursery School, both being forced out of their space.
- Mark Pushela (CGCA) requested comparison tables for zoning changes and expressed concerns about the adoption schedule and lack of purpose statements for zones.
- Anutia thanked the city for opportunities and highlighted Sri Lankan community events.
- Marty Reese (9 Don Mills Ct.) asked for low-density development (max 4 stories) on the former poor farm site, preserving trees and green space.
- Julia Binder (Newmark Commons) opposed the proposed 55-foot height cap for RMD 15 on ZOR ID17, advocating for 40 feet to preserve character and wildlife.
- Pat Rever (Newmark Commons) echoed concerns, noting the 55-foot height would create a wall amplifying noise from I-270.
- Anna Astrid Molina (Markwood) requested RMD 10 with 40-foot height limit, arguing 55 feet is incompatible with surrounding R90 zones.
- JD Kumar (Congressional candidate) discussed a sex and relationship survey and ADA accommodations.
- Kathleen Kleiman asked to keep drive-throughs for people with disabilities and highlighted dangerous driveway aprons.
- Amanda Bosslin (Rockville Economic Development Inc.) promoted the Global Bites program (June 1–30) supporting local restaurants and nonprofits.
Discussion Items
- Board of Appeals Annual Report (Alan Frankel): Reported 2025 was quiet; three variance applications approved. Requested an alternate member and more diversity.
- 2027 MML Legislative Action Requests: Staff recommended three LARs: (1) protecting municipal revenues (HUR and police aid), (2) exempting municipalities from FAMLI requirements (with adjustments to acknowledge Rockville's existing generous leave program), (3) aligning school facility planning with municipal data. Council approved all three, with direction to tweak the FAMLI language and suggested exploring additional topics (e.g., school impact tax return to municipalities, algorithmic pricing, senior tax credit, balcony solar, nonprofit health insurance credit).
- Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Work Session #4 (Articles 9–13):
- Electronic Message Centers: Proposed standards for freestanding signs in industrial and mixed-use zones (changes every 30 seconds, max 0.3 foot candles brightness, dark on malfunction). Council supported.
- ADA Parking: No parking minimums within 1/2 mile of Metro and 1/4 mile of BRT; ADA requirements still apply. Council approved after discussion about monitoring impacts on people with disabilities.
- Nonconformities: Allows 20% expansion of nonconforming uses, more site improvements, and reconstruction after disasters. Council discussed drive-throughs (mayor and several councilmembers opposed to restricting them in mixed-use zones due to accessibility), and agreed to clarify that non-incineration cremation is allowed in industrial zones. Removed “compatible with neighborhood character” finding.
- Signs: Updated regulations to be content-neutral; allows A-frames, window signs, up to 3 temporary freestanding signs per residential lot without permit. Council voted (majority) to remove the limit on number of temporary signs on residential lots entirely. Also discussed enforcement of signs in rights-of-way.
- Historic Preservation: Codifies designation criteria, expands administrative approvals for minor work, prohibits demolition by neglect (with financial hardship exception), outlines removal process. Council split on removal vote requirement: 4 members preferred supermajority, 3 preferred unanimous; final decision deferred. Concerns raised about owner notification, 210-day freeze, and equity for low-income homeowners.
- Subdivisions: Creates minor/major subdivision processes, allows chief of zoning to approve minor plats, permits pipe stem lots (min. 20 ft wide), eliminates new cluster developments. Council approved with some concern about pipe stem lots.
- Bonus heights: Council discussed applying affordable housing bonus height formula to RMD 15 zone (for ZOR ID17) similar to other areas; staff noted this would be a departure from current structure.
- JEDI Strategic Plan (Jean Booth, Dr. Patricia Morgan): Presented preliminary findings from staff survey (210 responses, 38.3% rate) and community engagement (limited participation). Key findings: disparities by role, gender, race; lack of shared JEDI definition; training gaps; language access issues; geographic inequity (Twinbrook mentioned often). Council supported additional outreach to specific groups (Jewish community, West of 270 residents, nonprofits, people with disabilities) and emphasized moving from compliance to culture, with measurable outcomes. Timeline: additional focus groups in June, draft plan in late July, final plan by August.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda items A and F approved unanimously after discussion.
- 2027 MML LARs approved with direction to soften FAMLI language.
- Zoning ordinance rewrite: Council provided direction on multiple articles; staff will incorporate changes and release final draft on June 15. Adoption scheduled for June 29.
- JEDI plan: Council approved additional community outreach; specific groups to be emailed to staff. Final strategic plan expected by August 2026.
- Mayor directed staff to follow up on driveway apron safety issues flagged in public testimony.
- Meeting adjourned around 10:45 PM.
Meeting Transcript
I pledge allegiance. And through the public for which we stand. One nation under God. Just wanted to say thank you, everyone, for being here. We are going to begin our meeting with proclamations and recognitions, and then we'll start our normal meeting at 6 30. So we appreciate everyone joining us for the celebration today. I'm going to ask my colleagues to please join me at the podium as we do the recognitions and celebrations. Good evening, everyone. It is my honor to read the Maddie's topanic Peace Day proclamation. And although, while I never had the opportunity to meet Maddie, his spirit in terms of the love and care for this community runs very deep. Whereas Maddie JT Stepanic was an American poet, ambassador, and advocate for peace in our world. And whereas at the age of three, Maddie started to write poetry, which he referenced to his heart songs, enabling him to cope with a rare and fatal form of muscular dystrophy. A disease that also claimed the lives of his sister and two brothers. And now, therefore, the mayor and council of the city of Rockville, Maryland, do hereby proclaim July 17th, 2026 as Maddie JT Stepanic Peace Day, and encourage all members of the community to recognize the many contributions of Maddie JT Stepanic by thinking gently, speaking gently, and living gently. The motto by which his courageous young man lived his life. And we have Dr. Jenny Sepanic here. Oh Madam Mayor, I move the proclamation. Thank you. Do we have a second? Councilman below eight seconds. All those in favor, please raise your hands and say aye. Aye. Thank you. We have Dr. Jenny Stepanic here to receive the proclamation. I forgot my absolutely. Do you want me to hold the mic for you? I got it. Thank you. I feel like step forward people. Step forward. So thank you, everybody. Thank you to the city, to the council for always supporting Maddie's foundation and celebrating Peace Day. For people who are not familiar, Peace Day is a celebration of my son, Maddie Stepanic's life and legacy. It's on his birthday every single year. When Maddie passed away back in 2004, he left this legacy of hope and peace. He taught us all about the important matters of not having to agree with our neighbors, but learning to be with our neighbors. He taught us about having inner purpose and finding what that is so that we know that we matter, so that we're not afraid to get along with other people and find out how they matter also and build these mosaics of humanity. And he reminded us about the important matters of play, of getting to know our neighbors around the block and around the world, and just connecting because when we know our neighbors, we care more about our neighbors. And when we care about somebody, we fear them less. So there's less violence. We have materials, we have peace certification, we're developing a virtual museum, we have uh master class sessions, podcast sessions, blog things. We have all kinds of things. I have all these people here that I do a lot of my facilitation with, with some of my mama peace chats with the Main Street and um UCR communities. Um but peace day. Peace Day is a day that we pause all those programs. We pause all the hard work year-round. And we bring those programs in a playful way to the city of Rockville. So when you come to Peace Day, there's peace stations with all kinds of Matty messages paired with arts and crafts to help you understand the message.
openpublica.com