Call to order: 19:01 EDT

Treasurer’s report (Bob Mills):
The current account balance is $4334.93.

President’s report (Tom Miner):
Tom is stepping down permanently from the board. The participants nominated voted in a new slate of candidates for the board and voted 26 yes votes. 

New board for CGCA
– John Mosely Hayes, President
– Chaula Butterworth, Vice president
– Fran Miller, Secretary
– Bob Mills, Treasurer

Rockville Police Report (Lt. Brian Paul):
The neighborhood crime report shows it’s quiet in the neighborhood despite the coyote and home invasion anomaly. The home invasion suspect was known to one of the residents. It was a random act, and not a continuing activity.

Coyotes do not normally act as our recent coyote.  The coyote victims are recovering.

Gude traffic is an annoyance. Police will focus on major roads around neighborhood, 355, Gude, Route 28. MCPD will focus on 270. RPD will meet with ICC police to come up with a joint plan to stop the speeding on Gude Dr. Traffic stops are being conducted to limit the speeding.

Lt. Paul can be reached at bpaul@rockvillemd.gov

I-270 Construction update (Janet Gallant):
Gov. Hogan forging ahead with widening 270. First segment will add toll lanes from the ICC South to 495. Spring 2021 expects to select the winning bid that will last for 50 years. Expected winner is TransNorthern (from Virginia). Peter Franchot will likely cast the deciding vote. Construction could start in October 2022. MDOT released DEIS. Despite the gov’s promise that the project wouldn’t cost the tax payers a dime, the project could cost $1 billion in addition to WSSC’s expenses. Traffic will be worse after the lane increase because of the lack of widening at 270 North. Bridges will be widened, noise will be around for up to five years. DEIS does not account for dirty run-off, toll costs, and mass transit. Bridget Newton and Mark Pierzchala have been staunch advocates to reject the project. Julie Palakovich Carr signed the letter to deny the contract. The contract for the Purple Line failed to protect local interests. Toll lanes would be the biggest construction projects in the country. Robert Mitchell item in TWP from 10/12. Mark is championing a major signing initiative. Send comments to MDOT now to say ‘no’ to widening 270.

See attachment for full update and details, and information to

Rockville City Councilperson’s Update: (Mark Pierzchala):
Thanked the people spearheading the pushback to widening I-270. He says environmentally and financially the toll lanes make no sense. Raw data is not being shared to governing parties. Include MC council with comments if anyone writes against the widening of 270.

The Swim Center (check city website for more details or call city) are open. The exercise room at the swim center is open. City Hall remains closed, and all city council meetings are online. City of Rockville budget is currently in good shape. We have AAA bond rating, with good reserves. No layoffs through this year. The city is performing very well during the pandemic. Rockville has grown by approximately 25,000 in 20 years. City employees have not grown commensurately.

Red Gate golf course will remain recreation and parks. The process to sort out what to do with 144 acres will take a while.

Mayor and council have established a charter commission, which equals our constitution. They will look at the number of council members + mayor. Members are elected at large. May get switched to election by area. Next election is 2023.

Town Center is really struggling, even before the pandemic. New leasing agreements coming to RTS. We have a lot of discussion with little agreement on how to improve the situation.

Mayor and council are likely to appoint a police advisory commission. Rick Brito is a good leader, encouraging diversity training for officers.

Transition to 5G requires lots of small cell towers instead of few large towers. City council has to provide access to right-of-ways to cell carriers. Some restrictions can be applied, like certain distance from a house. The City has joined a lawsuit challenging the FCC power. The hope is for the cell towers to be attached to streetlights.

Accessory apartments or accessory dwelling units issue will be addressed on November 16 before mayor and council.

Woodley Swim Club had an extremely successful swim season. The owner is looking to sell for retirement income. He could sell to build single-family homes. Adding senior living or housing in place of the pool is off the table.

Deer – a pilot program will be tried in the forest preserve off Norbeck. Certain types of bows, shooting the bows downward, etc. are some of the rules involved with the deer hunt.

November 3 safe election- drop box at City Hall is actually a county drop box.

Construction at swim center is new skate park. The skate park will have supervision.

Garden Club fall sale is on the civic association web site. Bulb offerings are listed there.

Closing comments: By end of meeting there were 34 attendees.

Meeting adjourned: 20:14 EDT