Artwork Decision Brings Out The Differences, Mayor and Council Recap 10/11/10 [UPDATED]

Ending soon after 11 PM, last night’s Mayor and Council meeting was over quite early compared to recent weeks. Here’s what you need to know.

A Few Quick Town Center Updates

• This Wednesday the Planning Commission will review the Tri-State Ice Management application to build a real ice rink in Rockville Town Square, and if approved operation will begin by mid-November.
• The interactive fountain closed on October 1st and will reopen on May 1, 2011. The arrangement with Lebanese Taverna to use the restaurant’s restrooms saved the City funds.
• The new District Courthouse will begin operations in March 2011 and staff is working with the County on improved signage.
• Even with the additional evening and weekend parking fees, the average occupancy rate in the Town Center Parking Garages continues to be higher in 2010 than in 2009, and the monthly tag use is also higher due to the 101 tags leased to library employees.
• County Department of Health will require restaurants with outdoor seating to screen the openings to the outdoors to prevent flies and bugs from entering the restaurants, so look for this change at restaurants next Spring.

Appointments Unanimously Approved by the Mayor and Council

With many vacancies for Rockville’s Boards and Commissions, we continue to highlight the volunteers who step forward to serve:

Rockville Economic Development Board: Scot Browning, Susan Prince, Gauroy Dayal [UPDATED: We are being told that although the City Appointment document spelled the first name "Gauroy", it is "Gaurov".]

Traffic and Transportation Commission: Eric Palakovich Carr

Historic District: Commission Jessica Reynolds

Two New Art Installations

The Mayor and Council approved two new pieces of art to enhance our City. John Moser, Cultural Arts Commission Chairperson, presented the recommendations of the Artist Nomination Committee and the Cultural Arts Commission.

After comments from residents “across the board” with no clear support any of the three final sculptures, the $30,000 award for the East Rockville Public Art Project, to be located at the corner of Park Road and South Stonestreet Avenue next to East Rockville sign, went to Wayne Healy of Los Angeles, California for his steel and tile sculpture. The Cultural Arts Commission worked very closely with three neighborhood associations to make the recommendation. East Rockville neighbors were supportive. The artist has expressed his delight at working with residents to put their ideas about East Rockville on the tiles of his piece. This has developed into a community project with the tiles being designed by the residents. Mayor Marcuccio stated it was art but didn’t represent the community, only Lincoln Park. Councilmember Gajewski is satisfied with the process we have for choosing art in our City. Gajewski made the motion and Pierzchala seconded.

Councilmember Newton then started a discussion with someone in attendance because she wanted to talk with someone from East Rockville. When Councilmember Gajewski asked if they were having a public hearing because the body has gotten into trouble in the past for hearing testimony without announcing to everyone, the Mayor said this vote was similar to a public hearing where you have an opportunity to express yourself. The woman who Councilmember Newton engaged then proceeded to walk around and look at the artwork, stating she was from East Rockville and had lived there six years then she suggested the artist needs to get with people who have lived here for many years.

The Mayor then stated that the East Rockville Citizens Association has been meeting at the Glenview Mansion because the Pump House is not in use and therefore only 3-4 people were represented on this matter. Mr. Moser responded that when three association presidents come before the Cultural Arts Commission, they can only believe they represent their communities. He doesn’t know their processes. If he goes beyond his jurisdiction in this matter, he would be accused of meddling.

The Motion passed 4-1 with the Mayor opposed.

Mr. Moser asked that the Mayor use her influence in East Rockville to get people to work together, to which she responded that they do work together but sometimes they are just not heard.

The Rockville Swim and Fitness Center Meeting Room Public Art Project $15,000 Award went to Eileen Doughtyof Vienna, Virginia for her hand-painted quilts and acoustic baffles. Satellite images of Rockville will be depicted on the baffles. Although, this artwork was designed for acoustic reasons to absorb sound, it is primarily artwork. Sound-absorption tiles could be installed separately. Pierzchala made the motion, Gajewski seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

Councilmember Pierzchala commented “I think it looks pretty good myself” to which the Mayor responded “I wish we had something as good”. Despite this remark, residents seem willing to work with Mr. Healy to create an appropriate tribute in East Rockville.

The Consent Agenda Items all passed so we can expect to see:

• A new Aerial Bucket Forestry Truck
• Two antennaes for T-Mobile and Cricket at the City’s water tank on Glen Mill Road, and
• The bidding for construction to begin for the conversion of the Old Rockville Post Office into the new home for the Rockville Police Department.

New Program Will Highlight Quality Businesses: Friends of Rockville Seniors (FORS)

If you have mobility or other concerns, the Rockville Senior Citizens Commission has developed a new “Friends of Rockville Seniors” (FORS) Program which will help seniors decide where to dine, shop and do business. This program will be like a “Zagat rating” with the intention of rewarding businesses which go above and beyond when delivering services to seniors. This is not a new idea but it is new to Rockville. A committee will decide on businesses which must meet 85 of 105 different criteria points to receive a decal indicating they are part of the FORS program.

Extreme Need For Affordable Housing Forces Long Waits

[UPDATED] “The demand[s] for our units are just unbelievable.” reported Ruth O’Sullivan, Executive Director of Rockville Housing Enterprises (RHE), during the Public Hearing on Rockville’s upcoming application for Community Development Block Grant funds. When RHE opened the waiting list because of the newly renovated three-and-four bedroom units at the David Scull Courts following renovations, 2,000 applications were received in three days. About 1,000 were for one- and-two bedroom units which they do not have available. About half were Rockville residents (those who live and work in Rockville) who will get first priority. They open the list whenever it runs low so there are now plenty for the next couple of years. Well over a thousand are also on the list for Housing Choice Vouchers. Turnover is very low. Altogether there are 105 public housing units and eight are vacant right now.

It’s Still About School Overcrowding During the Worksession

The process to draft the Municipal Growth Element (MGE) of the City’s Comprehensive Master Plan continued to be dominated by a discussion about school overcrowding. Bruce Crispel was on hand to represent the Montgomery County Public Schools.

He contended that it would be too difficult to be constrained by the City’s boundaries when setting school districts. Councilmember Gajewski stated that it is really only two small slivers, the north part of King Farm and a small section in South. He doesn’t care if kids from outside Rockville go to a Rockville school but all kids who live in Rockville should go to a Rockville school. The Councilmember didn’t understand why it can’t be addressed by MCPS. It’s dismissive in a way it doesn’t need to be.

The CIP will be announced on October 28th and there will be more capacity for the Richard Montgomery Cluster although the details will not be known until this date. Mr. Crispel explained that MCPS does not intend to halt development in Rockville. However, there is a mismatch between the City’s APFO with a two-year timeframe and the reality of the situation when it takes 3-5 years to build after a school capacity need is identified.

Councilmember Pierzchala expressed concern about Julius West Middle School overcrowding since we know full well it will be overcrowded. Mr. Crispel explained there must be a four-room deficit in a six-year period to get County Council to fund additional school capacity. MCPS must prove the enrollment is here to stay. Clusters with only one middle school such as Richard Montgomery, make it more difficult to address.

The next Mayor and Council Meeting is Monday, October 18, 2010.

Note: We can’t cover every decision and discussion but we’d like to provide enough information so readers know what’s happening in our City. We invite the community to let us know when we leave something out. We also invite anyone speaking during Citizens Forum to send their remarks to us for consideration as Contributor Opinions. Email to: [email protected]. If we miss a vote or leave out a bit of information you think is important, we’d like to know in comments!

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