2018 Fall CGCA Meeting
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Guest Speakers: Lt. Brian Paul, Victor Brito, and Mark Pierzchala
Number of attendees: 17
Call to Order and Introductions
Tom Miner, president, called the meeting to order and introduced the guest speakers.
Treasurer’s Report
Bob Mills, treasurer, reported that CGCA earned $1907 gross from selling the neighborhood directories. The association spent $725.55 on National Night Out (NNO) but was reimbursed for $200 from Woodley Gardens West (WGW). The current balance is $4815.48. Special thanks to Naomi Miner, Karen Carp, and Jerry Callistein for their assistance with putting the directory together again, from selling ads to assembling all the data.
National Night Out recap
John Mosley Hayes, vice president, shared that 2018 was the second year we joined forces with Woodley Garden West to host the NNO. We had approximately 200 attendees. The mayor and a city councilmember attended NNO as did the city manager along with some fire and police department officials. The Rockville German Band provided live music. Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped make the event successful, from the grillers to the Italian ice servers, to the coordinators of the children’s activities and Manna donations, to the food preppers. Extra burgers were donated to the men’s shelter on Gude Drive.
Police Beat
Lt. Brian Paul of the Rockville Police Department (RPD) says very little crime happens in College Gardens (CG). CG is mostly hit by crimes of opportunities rather than serious crime. What is the easiest way to prevent crime in the neighborhood? LOCK CAR DOORS. Leave nothing in the cars, not even exposed chargers or change.
A request to have the barrier at Nelson and College Parkway repaired was made by a neighbor. Lt. Paul introduced our new police chief to the meeting.
The new Rockville chief, Victor Brito, has 30 years of experience in law enforcement, mostly with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. He grew up in Kensington. His uncle played for the Washington Redskins. Rockville is a small department in a growing city. Chief Brito teaches the history of policing in America at American University. He says good policing is a collaborative effort. The department has 61 out of 64 sworn officers for RPD. Montgomery County Police are the lead investigators in the county. But that doesn’t mean RPD doesn’t respond.
Mark Pierzchala, councilmember
Two major council sessions regarding deer have taken place this year alone. The Maryland Park and Natural Resources and the county made a presentation on April 13. How do you lethally control deer? Ordinances will have to be changed to cull deer. Any cull would require coordination with the county. The county does cull deer in other areas. Mark intends to ask the state legislature to address the deer overcrowding as a health issue.
Another meeting was held in September. Several groups have been invited to offer points to consider where the deer are concerned. We have to take into account the ecology of deer, tick-borne diseases, habitat management, and contraception for deer. Before the next city election Mark would like to change ordinances, come up with a deer management plan so the next council could continue with a process rather than starting over. Rockville is part of a Montgomery County deer management project. As part of the project, deer are counted every year using a couple of different methods. We are more than ten times over capacity with our deer population. Mark suggests that the CGCA not take a position for the city council yet. We should wait until legislation or a policy is proposed. When that happens the association should have a meeting and take a community vote. The state issues permits for the use of rifles or bows to cull deer. A lively discussion took place on the wisdom and popularity of deer management within the neighborhood.
On October 29, the mayor and council had a session regarding MPDU (moderately priced dwelling unit). The city would like to liberate some of these issues to allow for in-law suites. Accessory units can include garages or sheds, which require a permit.
Hometown Holidays will still be held in Rockville Town Square (RTS) this coming year. But after that the event will likely be moved to Carver Educational Services Center to allow for easier access to merchants and better parking.
Regarding the widening of I-270, we did get some assurance from Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Rahn that the state would not expand I-270 beyond the present right-of-way. Tolls, lane widening are options being considered.
Regarding RTS, the City spent about $51,000 for CIP (Capital Improvements Program) for parking garages, VisArts, and general improvements through bonds, in the mid-2000s. With bonds we have to pay interest. RTS’s tax rate is the second-highest in Maryland (this may not be true any more but it’s still more than double the normal tax rate). The Richard Montgomery Cluster will be in a building moratorium next year due to overcrowding at RM. Mark will lead a vote to push for a higher capacity ceiling for two priority areas in Rockville, the Rockville Town Square, and the South Pike to allow density in those areas to help businesses grow. RM cluster covers 60% of Rockville. Federal Realty wants to bring in a tire store that is a show room only (bays are not allowed in RTS). Mark would like more residential buildings in RTS.
Mayor and Council have asked City staff to estimate how much RedGate Golf Course could be sold for. The golf course is in bad shape and would require several millions to revive. The course will close by the end of the year. Bill Casper Golf has run the course for several years.
The Gude Drive cut-through to Yale Place that was the main focus of the spring meeting is not going to happen. It is officially off the table. A ramp off I-270 to Gude would impact the Rockville Senior Center and office buildings. The neighbors in West End and King Farm may like such a ramp.
CGCA Board elections
Tom explained that the current board’s two-year terms are coming to an end. Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, and President all were re-elected, nearly unanimously.
Miscellaneous
The Garden Club is discussing options for combating erosion at College Parkway and Nelson. Maple trees being taken down and replaced with a Genko tree in an effort to diversify the tree population.
Adjournment at 8:53