Montgomery News

City of Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council met November 13.

Here is the minutes as provided by the council:

1. Call to Order

The Work Session of the Mayor and City Council was called to order at 7:30 PM with Mayor Jud Ashman presiding.

Attendee Name    Title     Status   Arrived

Jud Ashman                Mayor                                Present

Ryan Spiegel              Council Vice President      Present

Neil Harris                   Council Member                Present

Laurie-Anne Sayles    Council Member                Present

Michael Sesma            Council Member               Present

Robert Wu                    Council Member               Present

Staff present: City Manager Tomasello, Deputy City Manager Enslinger, City Attorney Board, Neighborhood Services Division Chief Roman, Police Chief Sroka, and Police Officer II Day.

2. Closed Executive Session

A. Motion to Conduct a Closed Executive Session

Motion was made to conduct a closed executive session, Tuesday, November 13, 2018, immediately following the scheduled session pursuant to the General Provisions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, Sections 3-305(b)(7) to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice and 3-305(b)(8) to consult with staff, consultants, or other individuals about pending or potential litigation. The topics to discuss were the Transportation Tax Memorandum with Montgomery County and appeals of FCC rule makings and a claim.

      RESULT:          PASSED [UNANIMOUS]

      MOVER:          Ryan Spiegel, Council Vice President

      SECONDER:   Neil Harris, Council Member

      FOR:                Spiegel, Harris, Sayles, Sesma, Wu

3. Discussion Topics

A. Residential Parking Permit Program Update

Neighborhood Services Division Chief Roman gave a presentation that included background on the City’s Residential Permit Parking Program, discussion regarding the results of the Residential Permit Parking Survey, and staff recommendations including permit limitations and performance measures to establish any new Residential Permit Parking Areas. The Mayor and City Council questioned uniformity of the program, visitor permits, towing authority on City streets, size of residential permit parking areas, and reasonable fee for permits. Residents from various neighborhoods such as, Brighton East, Floral Drive, Park Ave, Water Street, and Whetstone Run, spoke in favor of the program and also expressed concerns with parking congestion, trash, and enforcement.

Speakers from the public:

      1. Cydney Sherman, 409 Rock Lodge Road, spoke in favor of permits on Rock Lodge Road. Expressed spill over parking from adjacent condominium is contributing to concern.

      2. Carl Sherman, 409 Rock Lodge Road, thanked City for implementing current parking restrictions from 1AM to 5AM on Rock Lodge Rd.

      3. April Hodges, Brighton Terrace, questioned economic impact of implementing residential permit parking areas, is the city taking in to account individual needs of residents that aren’t currently impacted and also questioned penalties for violations, number of complaints received, and how visitor passes will be managed.

      4. Maria Rose Cain,508 Rock Lodge Road, expressed concern of impact from adjacent condominium complex onto Rock Lodge Road. Indicated that the root of the problem began when the condominium changed its enforcement procedures and forced vehicles not in compliance onto Rock Lodge Road.

      5. Joan Berkowitz, Park Ave, spoke in favor of parking permits. Also advised permits are still needed on Park Ave due to nearby apartment complex. Stated guest/visitor permits would be desirable.

      6. Jeffery Horlick, 8 Duvall Lane, expressed a need for the permit program even though he does not participate. Stated Duvall Lane at West Deer Park Road is heavily congested, while his end of Duvall Lane has not been impacted.

      7. Dave Andersen, 402 Belle Grove Road, concerned that performance measure criteria will be required in a large geographical area and therefore may not show/express a need that an individual block or area is experiencing.

      8. Helen Ward, Floral Drive, spoke in favor of the permit program and expressed a need for it on Floral Drive due to spill over from adjacent apartment complex.

      9. Tom Sheridan, 316 Summit Hall Road, expressed statements of equity between single family homes and townhomes. Stated overcrowding is root cause of concern in Brighton East.

      10. Tanya Stewart, 111 Floral Drive, spoke in favor of permits and expressed concerns of trash, safety, and congestion from spill over parking from nearby apartment complex

      11. Ann Aragon, Rock Lodge Road, expressed need for permit parking on Rock Lodge Rd. Current restricted parking from 1AM to 5Am negatively impacts residents when they have overnight guests.

      12. Eileen Shea, 209 West Deer Park Road, expressed support of permit program, stating that each local area needs to be considered individually as every neighborhoods conditions are different. Stated overcrowding, too many vehicles are contributing to problem. Questioned if on-street parking spaces on West Deer Park could be marked.

      13. Laura, Water St, expressed support of permit parking on Water Street due to vehicle congestion and trash concerns coming from vehicles related to nearby apartment complex.

      14. John Wright, Water Street, in favor of parking permit program. Experiencing trash, commercial vehicles and blocked driveways on Water Street.

      15. Becky Butler, Water Street, expressed concerns with parking congestion, commercial vehicles and trash on Water Street. Additionally, voiced concerns of enforcement.

      16. Edgar Ipina, Water Street, echoed experiencing parking congestion, trash on Water Street. Sees a need for parking permits to solve the problem.

      17. Aaron Auyeung, Water Street, spoke of concerns of commercial vehicles, trash and vehicles blocking mailboxes on Water Street. In favor parking permits.

      18. Don Mills, Summit Hall Road, voiced concern of overcrowding in Brighton East, vehicles parked on lawns overnight and on weekends. Also concerned that Home Based Businesses are also negatively impacting neighborhood.

There were no other speakers from the public.

The Mayor and City Council directed staff to draft amendments to the City’s existing ordinance for introduction, incorporating the recommendations and feedback provided from the above mentioned survey.

4. Correspondence

      A. Outside

5. Adjournment

There being no further business, the session was adjourned at 8:45 PM

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