COLLEGE GARDENS CIVIC ASSOCIATION
FALL MEETING MINUTES
November 8, 2023

This was a hybrid meeting with 21 people attending in-person; and 8 members participating via phone or video link.

The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by the President of the College Gardens (CG) Civic Association (CGCA) Jennifer Weiland (JW).

Introduction and Proposed Meeting Agenda (JW): 
JW introduced the other CGCA officers: Gamal (Jimmy) El-Masry (Vice President; GE); John Mosely Hayes (Secretary; JMH); [Treasurer currently vacant] 

JW introduced the meetings speakers – 
LT. Bill Nieberding – City of Rockville Police Report point person
Mark Pierzchala – City Council Representative, CG resident and former CGCA President – City update 
Diane Fuchs – West Rockville Connects Village Organization Volunteer
Jennifer DeMatteo – Garden Club of College Gardens (GCCG) President
Karyn Miller – Arts, Culture, and History Program Manager, City of Rockville

JW described the proposed agenda:
– Treasurer Report
– Police Report
– City Updates
– Woodley Gardens Shopping Center Vape Shop update
– West Rockville Connects village organization update
– CGCA voting on 3 issues that CGCA maybe asked to weigh-in on before the next CGCA meeting
– Proposed amendment to by-laws to allow electronic voting on CGCA issues
– Mural on CG Park Shelter
– CGCA Treasurer?
– New Business 

Treasurer’s Report (JW):  JW reported that as of November 8, 2023, the CGCA bank account had a positive balance of $5,749.42; expenditures since the Spring meeting were for the National Night Out event including $18.59 for potluck supplies and $302.80 for Carmen’s Italian Ice. The next CGCA membership dues collection cycle is targeted for 2024. 

Police Report (Lieutenant Bill Nieberding, Lt. (BN)): 
Nothing alarming to report.  The College Gardens and Woodley Gardens communities continue to have a very low number of calls for police service.
A meeting participant who has a home on Yale Place next to the CG elementary school shared that a car parked at her home had the wheels stolen.  BN responded that this was an outlier event and that normally such theft occurs in apartment complexes and parking garages by car theft gangs. 
He explained that in many cases they target specific car models and steal the whole wheels which in some cases can be quite expensive.

City of Rockville Update (Mark Pierzchala, Rockville City Council Representative): 
City Election, Rockville voters elected Monique Ashton as Mayor; and Kate Fulton, Adam Van Grack, Izola (Zola) Shaw, incumbent David Myles, Marissa Valeri and Barry Jackson as Council Members to form the new enlarged 7-member council.  Many of the council members are there for the first time, and there will be many issues which they will be confronted with right away. 
Widening I-270 and toll lanes is still a strong possibility despite the strong opposition coalition. Proposed development will first start from I-370 north and once this is done work will move farther south to connect the I-270 Spur to Rockville and further north to the section that would have been completed in the first phase.  
Woodley Gardens Shopping Center Vape Shop update. The City Council has put a moratorium on more vape shops within the city, as it continues to review and revise the ordinance and permit process regarding this type of business. In the end, this might prove to be a difficult matter for the City to prohibit, and a reasonable compromise might need to be worked out because it will not be possible for the City to outright prohibit such businesses in our neighborhood. Possible exclusion zones that might hold legal muster might include proximity to schools and playing fields where very young children congregate. There is also the hope that moral suasion by the community could dissuade the potential vape shop operators from going ahead with the project.

West Rockville Connects village organization(Diane Fuchs, WRC Volunteer): Diane explained that Villages are local, volunteer-led, grassroots organizations, which foster social connections through activities and events, and coordinate volunteer help at home using a neighbor-helping-neighbor model. She explained that there were six other “Villages” that are being developed in Rockville and that Trish Evans (tevans@rockvillemd.gov; Tel: 240-314-8807) works on coordinating the development of Villages for the City of Rockville.  The email to connect with persons working on the WRC which includes the CG neighborhood is wrcvillage@gmail.com.  To learn more about WRC, go to westrockvilleconnects.org. She also showed the contents of the WRC welcome package for new arrivals to the neighborhood..

Garden Club of College Gardens (Jennifer DeMatteo, immediate past GCCG President):  Jennifer described the activities of our neighborhood garden club and invited residents to join the GCCG meetings held on the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm, usually at the Rockville Senior Center.  Further, the GCCG welcomes new residents to College Gardens with a red geranium plant, the club flower. In addition to maintaining the landscaping of the Hill, at the corner of Nelson St. and College Pkwy, the club holds an annual Plant Sale in April and bulb sale in the Fall.  Geraniums were delivered to new residents of College Gardens following our spring plant sale. Neighbors were invited to join the GCCG on November 9, for a lecture and discussion on cultivating edible mushrooms.

CGCA voting on three issues (JW, CGCA President): JW explained that the CGCA Executive Committee wanted to determine how the CGCA members felt about three issues that the CGCA might be asked to weigh-in on prior to the next CGCA meeting. JW then led a vote of the meeting participants to determine the CGCA position on the issues  
Widening I-270 and toll lanes – The overwhelming majority of participants voted that they were against the expansion of I-270 and creation of toll-lanes
Woodley Gardens Shopping Center Vape Shop – The overwhelming majority of participants voted that they were in favor of zoning restrictions that would prohibit a vaping shop in residential and so close to playing grounds and public parks, such as the Woodley Gardens shopping center.
Gude Access to Senior Center – All participants voted that they were in favor of allowing a northern access to the Senior Center,  provided that there is a barrier between the north and south parking lots that would not allow for non-emergency vehicle traffic from a possible north entrance to pass through into the Woodley Gardens neighborhood.
  
Proposed amendment to bylaws to allow electronic voting on CGCA issues (JW, CGCA President): 
JW explained that the purpose of the proposed amendment is to allow the Executive Committee to solicit members’ views on important matters of interest to the Association by electronic means between the General Meetings. While the bylaws allow for special meetings, the low attendance at spring and fall meetings did not bode well for attendance at special meetings and therefore only reflect the position of a small number of residents.  Allowing residents to weigh in electronically on issues allows for the possibility of more robust participation from our community.  The CGCA bylaws required that at least 10 CGCA members sign a petition for such an amendment to be placed on the next CGCA General Meeting. Only then would a majority vote allow for the proposed amendment to the bylaws to become effective. 
An in-depth discussion amongst the participants followed, ending with 10 CGCA members petitioning that the amendment be made. The point was made that in-person meetings provide a more personal venue in which to exchange viewpoints and thereby get to know our neighbors and that the bylaws allow for special meetings at any time to gather community input.  A participant pointed out how a question is phrased and described before a vote is critical, and that electronic polling might not afford the opportunity for the CGCA to hear feedback and clarify issues for voters.
At the next CGCA meeting, tentatively scheduled around April/May 2024, a vote will be taken to complete the amendment process.
If approved, it will be added as Section 5 to Article VIII (Committees) and is proposed to be worded as follows –
“Article VIII, Section 5- Between General Meetings, the Executive Committee is authorized to hold electronic votes on matters it deems to be important or of significant interest to the Association. The same quorum requirement will apply to the electronic vote as spelled out in Article XI, Section1. <See attached Bylaws> The outcome of the electronic vote will be determined by the majority of the votes cast. The Executive Committee may then communicate, or otherwise act upon, the outcome of the electronic vote, as if such a decision were taken by the membership in a General Meeting.“

Mural on CG Park Shelter (Karyn Miller – Arts, Culture, and History Program Manager, City of Rockville): 
The City of Rockville will work with the community and an artist to transform the College Gardens Park Picnic Shelter with a vibrant mural. Community input is essential for Rockville’s public art planning, as it enables us to align our efforts with the needs and desires of those we serve. By participating in this project, community members can actively contribute to the development of the public art landscape in their community. This mural project is an excellent opportunity to showcase the talent and creativity of artists while fostering community engagement and pride in the neighborhood.  
A survey on the project is accessible here: https://www.rockvillemd.gov/348/Arts-Culture
Residents are invited to attend an upcoming Cultural Arts Commission meeting. To attend the meeting or find out more about this project, please contact Karyn Miller, Arts, Culture, and History Program Manager for the City of Rockville. Karyn can be reached at kmiller@rockvillemd.gov.
The Artist Nomination Committee will meet twice. They will be asked to review artist submissions in advance of the meetings. Meetings will last approximately 1.5-2 hours each. Exact dates and times are still to be determined, but the approximate timing and time commitment is outlined below. Gamal (Jimmy) El-Masry will represent the CGCA on this Committee.
Meeting 1: early Jan 2024, likely the week of Jan 8-12. This meeting is for preliminary review and scoring of all artist applications. The Committee will be asked to recommend a short list of artists who will then develop more detailed and site-specific proposals.
Meeting 2: late Feb 2024, likely the week of Feb 19-23.  This meeting is to review detailed proposals from a short list of artists, score proposals, and make recommendations for an artist to the Rockville City Council for final approval.  

The meeting ended shortly after 9:00 pm.

COLLEGE GARDENS CIVIC ASSOCIATION
SPRING MEETING MINUTES
MAY 10, 2023

This was a hybrid meeting with 21 people attending in-person; and about 15 members participating via phone or video link.

The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by the President of the College Gardens (CG) Civic Association (CGCA) John Mosely Hayes (JMH).

Introduction and Proposed Meeting Agenda (JMH): 

JMH introduced the other CGCA officers: Chaula Butterworth (Vice President); Jennifer Weiland (JW, Treasurer); Gamal (Jimmy) El-Masry (Secretary; not able to attend); and Tom Miner (immediate Past-President and Exofficial) 

JMH introduced the meetings speakers – 

• LT. Bill Nieberding – City of Rockville Police Report point person
• Mark Pierzchala – City Council Representative, CG resident and former CGCA President – City update 
• Sandy Watson – Woodley Gardens Civic Association President
• Diane Fuchs – West Rockville Connects Village Organization Volunteer
• Jennifer DeMatteo – Garden Club of College Gardens (GCCG) President

JMH described the proposed agenda:
– Treasurer Report

– Police Report

– City Updates

– Woodley Gardens Shopping Center Vape Shop update

– West Rockville Connects village organization update

– CGCA updates

– New Business 

Treasurer’s Report (JW):  JW reported that as of April 30, 2023, the CGCA bank account had a positive balance of $6331.50; 77% of the 336 CG single family households had given $10 bi-annual membership dues during 2022 dues collection; and that next CGCA membership dues collection cycle is targeted for 2024. 

Police Report (Lieutenant Bill Nieberding, Lt. (BN)): 

• ‘College Gardens and Woodley Gardens communities including both shopping centers made up approximately 2.5% (a low amount) of all the calls for police service in the city of Rockville. Further, the highest number of calls throughout the city are “disorderly calls” and “suspicious situations” calls. The vast majority of these calls are either unfounded or easily adjusted by having a conversation with the parties involved.
• Concerning driving in the city and the appearance of a higher rate of aggressive driving in the city including speeding and running stops signs. I believe with so many people making the same observations, there is probably a rate of more aggressive driving. Police department’s today are avoiding aggressive traffic enforcement to avoid the image of being overbearing, but at the same time the police department are enforcing observed violations. I reminded everyone to please contact the police department if there is a particular area or intersection that should be checked by our patrol officers as time allows.
• There was a question about Artificial Intelligence (AI). I did not have a lot of knowledge about AI but advised that it affects many aspects of our lives. Everyone should follow the news about AI and make their own determination.
• The police department has added a Mental Health Counselor to the police department. Beth Loftus is a credentialed professional who gives the police department another valued resource in helping people who may be having a mental health crisis. She is available to respond to a scene to assist officers and also follow up with citizens for additional help.
• There was a question about street lights that was fielded by Councilman Pierzchala. Pepco maintains them and the City is working with them to identify and repair faulty lights.
• We had a little bit of conversation about the recent guest in the neighborhood – the bear. It is a good idea to accept the idea that we will have uninvited guests from mother nature from time to time. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is a great agency that takes these situations very seriously. The Rockville City Police are always happy to work with the DNR.
• The police department is looking forward to seeing the College Gardens Civic Association this summer at National Night Out.’

City of Rockville Update (Mark Pierzchala, Rockville City Council Representative): 

• Widening I-270 and toll lanes, the Maryland chapter of the Sierra Club submitted a multi-organization coalition supported letter to the MD Dept. of Transportation Secretary to not widen I-270 with toll lanes, and the Rockville City Council unanimously continues to recommend the same to state and other government officials. 
• Rockville City Budget, this was Mark’s 12th year serving on the council and he was very disappointed in the council’s performance in adequately budgeting for the future.  In particular, the City’s not raising police salaries negatively impacts the Police Dept’s ability to hire additional police officers. There are four vacant police officer positions. Further, not enough money has been allocated to maintain the capital improvements part of the budget. Mark is concerned that in time not doing so will impact the AAA bond rating that the City currently has (a hard rating to acquire). In addition, Mark was disappointed that 2 million dollars has been budgeted for a consultant to provide a Red Gate Park utilization proposal plan.
• Rockville Hometown Holidays Celebration, held at the Redgate Park on the last weekend in May. Rockville..
• During the Q&A session that followed, Mark explained that the Rockville Housing Enterprises had purchased the Scarborough Square’s 122 apartment units and will maintain the property as affordable housing for its current tenants, including for larger families. 

Woodley Gardens Shopping Center Vape Shop update (Sandy Watson, Woodley Gardens Civic Association President): Explained that vape shop does not have the appropriate electrical permits. In addition, the City Council has put a moratorium on more vape shops within the city as it reviews and revises the ordinance and permit process regarding this type of business. 

West Rockville Connects Village (Diane Fuchs, WRCV Volunteer): Diane explained that Villages are local, volunteer-led, grassroots organizations, which foster social connections through activities and events, and coordinate volunteer help at home using a neighbor-helping-neighbor model. She explained that there were a couple of other Villages that were being developed in Rockville and that Trish Evans (tevans@rockvillemd.gov; Tel: 240-314-8807) works on coordinating the development of Villages for the City of Rockville.  The email to connect with persons working on the WRCV which includes the CG neighborhood is wrcvillage@gmail.com. 

Garden Club of College Gardens (Jennifer DeMatteo, GCCG President):  Described the activities of our neighborhood garden club and invited residents to join the GCCG meetings held on the second Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm, usually at the Rockville Senior Center.  Further, the GCCG welcomes new residents to College Gardens with a red geranium, the club flower. In addition to maintaining the landscaping of the Hill, at the corner of Nelson St. and College Pkwy, the club holds an annual Plant Sale in April and bulb sale in the Fall.

CGCA updates (JMH, CGCA President, now Secretary): 

• Gave an update that the CGCA National Night Out neighborhood potluck would be held August 1, Tuesday, in the evening at the CG Park Pavilion.  The CGCA will provide Carmen’s Italian ice and water. The Rockville German Band will perform; a robotics group will give a robotics demonstration; the Montgomery County Police Department will give a drone demonstration; there will be a Manna Food Collection; and Rockville City Police Department, Fire Department and City officials will attend.
• JMH also proposed that in the future the CGCA should consider using software like Google Forms to poll its membership on various issues; it was pointed out that the CGCA bi-laws would need to be updated if using such a polling tool would be used to take a membership vote outside of the normal Spring and Fall CGCA meetings. 
• JMH recognized that Chaula Butterworth had decided to resign her position as the CGCA Vice-President and that the remaining officers wanted to change to new positions as follows – Jennifer Weiland, President; Gamal (Jimmy) El-Masry, VP; John Mosely Hayes, Secretary.  A vote was taken and it was unanimous to allow the changes.  There were no volunteers to become the CGCA Treasurer and the CGCA officers will continue to seek out a volunteer to fill the Treasurer position. 

.  

The meeting ended at 9:00 pm

COLLEGE GARDENS CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Fall MEETING MINUTES
October 12, 2022

This was a hybrid meeting with 21 people attending in-person; and about 15 members participating via phone or video link.

The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by the President of the College Gardens Civic Association o(CGCA) John Mosely Hayes (JMH).

Introduction and Proposed Meeting Agenda (JMH): 

JMH introduced the other CGCA officers: Chaula Butterworth (Vice President); Jennifer Weiland (JW, Treasurer); Gamal (Jimmy) El-Masry (Secretary); and Tom Miner (Immediate Past-President and Exofficial) 

JMH then introduced the meetings speakers – 

• Ken Hoffman, primary CGCA City of Rockville’s Comprehensive Master Plan 2040 (CMP) point person; Akiva Liberman, secondary CGCA CMP point person
• LT. Bill Nieberding – City of Rockville Police Report point person
• Mark Pierzchala – City Council Representative, CG resident and former CGCA President – City update 
• James Hedrick of the Rockville Housing Enterprises (RHE), for update about the RHE purchase of the Scarborough Square Apartments
• Christopher Meyers, Jane Lyons and Katie Gerbes City’s CMP team

Agenda:
– Treasurer Report

– Police Report

– City Updates – Discussion of RHE Acquisition of Scarborough Square Apartments and other info (e.g. Deer mitigation update) 

– Directory info update

– City Comprehensive Master Plan (CMP) Project Prioritization Session 

– New Business 

It was proposed to use the second hour of the meeting for the CMP Project Prioritization discussion.

Treasurer’s Report (JW):  JW reported that since the last meeting in May 2022, the CGCA had paid out expenses for paper copies used by block captains of $54.44; and collected dues for the electronic directory project (see agenda item No. 5) of about $2,150.00. As of October 12, 2022, the CGCA had a positive balance of $5,679.11 at hand. 

Police Report (Lieutenant Bill Nieberding, Lt. (BN)): BN reported that he joined the Rockville Police in his current capacity as a member of the Command Staff in July 2022. There was not much in terms of crime to report in our area. There were some reports of suspicious cars parked around the Woodley Swimming Pool after dark, but they turned out to be harmless. There was a fire incident at the College Gardens Park Gazebo. The fire was quickly extinguished and blown into the pond; which made an investigation of the fire source and possible instigators very difficult. There was also a recent report of a naked person in the neighborhood, who was probably suffering from mental illness. He was taken by the police to a local hospital for evaluation.
In the ensuing questions and answers session (Q&A), Lt. BN explained that there had been a marked increase in incidents where guns were involved, rising from 7 per year in 2021 to more than 30 in the first 9 months of 2022. This probably reflected the new reality after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down New York’s restrictions on the carrying of concealed weapons, and Governor Hogan subsequent loosening of similar restrictions in Maryland. Other issues discussed were the need for adequate street lighting to avert crime in some areas; and increased occurrence of cars rolling through, and not respecting, STOP signs at key intersections.

City of Rockville Update (Mark Pierzchala, Member of the Rockville City Council): 

• On the widening of the I-270 with toll lanes, the Maryland chapter of the Sierra Club and three other environmental advocacy groups filed a federal lawsuit claiming deficiencies in the proposal’s environmental analysis. The City of Rockville has also put in a request for additional information and data. While these new initiatives may delay the project, in reality no one can really tell what its fate will be. Even though both gubernatorial candidates have stated on the record that they would consider significant changes to the project, the Maryland Board of Public Works may still approve parts of the project before Governor Hogan’s term ends in January 2023.
• On the overpopulation of deer, there is no easy solution. This matter has been discussed at some 7-8 City Council meetings with no clear resolution in sight. Deer overpopulation is a problem across the Eastern Seaboard, and open culling is very difficult in Montgomery County and Rockville with such a high and dense human population. 
• During the Q&A session that ensued, one participant complained about large trucks parking on the College Plaza parking lot; and another inquired as to when the bumpy Nelson Street would be resurfaced, particularly from around College Parkway to West Montgomery Avenue.

Scarborough Square Apartments (James Hedrick, JH): (Summary about the apartment acquisition was sent via the CGCA Google Group prior to the meeting) JH of the Rockville Housing Enterprises (RHE, which serves as the City of Rockville’s agency to acquire and manage affordable housing) explained that RHE will be purchasing, on behalf of the City of Rockville, the Scarborough Square’s 122 apartment units which are currently owned by a private investor. The deal is likely to be finalized in early December 2022, after which more details will be made public. RHE will continue to maintain the property as affordable housing for its current tenants, including for larger families. RHE is planning to upgrade the property in about 2-3 years (façade, landscaping, possibly new roofing, etc.), when the refinancing of the purchase is envisaged. A summary about the apartment acquisition was sent via the CGCA Google Group prior to the meeting. 

Neighborhood directory update (Jennifer Weiland, JW): JW explained that about 90 percent of the names, addresses and household data had been entered into the updated electronic directory that will be made available to members in good standing (gave every two years CGCA dues – currently $10) as an electronic file. The electronic directory has the advantage that it can be updated on an ongoing basis. Only a few block captains have yet to hand in their collected data. For those who prefer a printed directory, a special CGCA work group led by CGCA member Karen Carp will be provided the electronic directory file so the work group can produce a printed version.

City of Rockville’s Comprehensive Master Plan 2040 (CMP). (Project list and previous CGCA member submission suggestion letter to city regarding CMP sent via the CGCA Google Group prior to the meeting) Christopher Meyers, Jane Lyons and Katie Gerbes from the CMP made a presentation about the CMP, emphasizing that this was an evolving and living document that was intended to guide City planners over the next decades. For Planning Area 5, which encompasses College Gardens and Woodley Gardens, the Plan currently includes five projects as described below and the meeting participants gave feedback about these projects. CGCA CMP point person Ken Hoffman gave additional background and a synthesis of CGCA feedback to the City regarding the CMP so far, including input about Area 7. 

• Project 1: Create a new vehicle entrance from West Gude Drive only to the Rockville Senior Center’s northern parking lot, without any drive-through access to the neighborhood. There was general support from attendants.
• Project 2: Reopen pedestrian and bicycle connection from Princeton Place to the Montgomery College campus. There was firm opposition from immediate neighbors, but also general support from other members who welcomed the safer and quicker access that such an entrance would allow to the Montgomery College campus.
• Project 3: Redesign and construct a safer bicycle and pedestrian access from Yale Place to the Millennium Trail along West Gude Drive. There was general support from attendants who emphasized the current dangerously steep and sharp turn onto the Trail with limited visibility.
• Project 4. Explore the feasibility for one or more new bicycle and pedestrian paths across Upper Watts Branch Park to connect the College Gardens and Woodley Gardens neighborhoods. There was widespread opposition to any new paved paths that would change the character of the park. Some members were open to exploring one safe wooden bridge crossing or stepping stones over the creek at the head of an existing dirt path. Participants were opposed to any type of paved/developed trail and did not want trails to become bike trails, but rather left as natural and pedestrian oriented as possible.
• Project 5: Explore the feasibility of a new bicycle and pedestrian path connecting the Upper Watts Branch Park to West Gude Drive, opposite Gaither Road. Most attendants were indifferent, but some more immediate neighbors opposed this project fearing that to do so could attract unwanted foot traffic.  Participants were opposed to any type of paved/developed trail and did not want trails to become bike trails, but rather left as natural and pedestrian oriented as possible.

The CMP Team encouraged CGCA members to visit the City of Rockville webpage, fill out the survey, and provide any comments on the draft CMP by October 19, 2022. There will also be future opportunities to comment on subsequent drafts of the CMP. The CMP can be accessed and viewed at:
(https://www.rockvillemd.gov/203/Rockville-2040-Comprehensive-Plan-Update)

(Post meeting – The CGCA sent out a message from the City CMP Team with a link to the CMP project prioritization survey, an Area 5 project summary and links to the CMP).  

The meeting ended at 9:15 pm

COLLEGE GARDENS CIVIC ASSOCIATION
SPRING MEETING MINUTES
May 11, 2022

* Simultaneous in-person/virtual – 15 people in-person; 17 accounts signed-on

7 p.m. – call to order

Proposed Meeting Agenda (JMH): CGCA President John Mosely Hayes (JMH) introduced the other CGCA officers [Treasurer Jennifer Weiland (JW); Ex-officio Officer Tom Miner (TM); note – Vice-President Chaula Butterworth unable to attend; Secretary position vacant], the City Councilperson Mark Pierzchala (City Report), the Rockville City Manager Robert DiSpirito (City Report), Rachael Plett of the Woodley Gardens Civic Association (pool update), CGCA member Diane Fuchs (radon update), mentioned that  Rockville City Police LT Brian Paul was unable to attend (note – he did submit a report and highlights inserted below) and reviewed the proposed meeting agenda:
– Treasurer Report
– Elect CGCA Secretary
– Police Report

– City Updates — Woodley Gardens Pool, Blue Mailbox, 270 expansion

– National Night Out Event Update

– Radon Information

– Plan for collecting/sharing directory info

Treasurer report (JW):   Treasurer Jennifer Weiland reported that as of April 30, 2022, the date of the last bank statement, the CGCA account had a balance of $3808.23.  

Election of CGCA Secretary:  Meeting attendees unanimously elected Gamal (Jimmy El-Masry) as CGCA Secretary effective immediately. 

Police Report (Brian Paul): (from submitted report) Between January 10, 2022 and April 10, 2022, Rockville police compiled three criminal offense reports on activities within College Gardens.  These reports were written regarding one theft of a video doorbell, one vandalism of tires and two thefts from autos in the neighborhood on March 23.

City Council Updates – mailbox replacement status, Woodley Gardens Pool, deer management, 270 expansion, other (Mark Pierzchala): 

Mailbox update – The Mailbox at the corner of Princeton Place and College Gardens Parkway was destroyed by a car several months ago.  Citizens of College Gardens, Rockville City Council Member Mark Pierzchala and Rockville City Manager Robert DiSpirito have contacted the Rockville Post Office and State Representative Jamie Raskin asking that the mailbox be replaced.  Representative Raskin’s office has stated that it is working on the issue. 

Woodley Gardens Pool –  Rachael Plett of the Woodley Gardens Civic Association gave an update on the status of the Woodley Gardens pool.  The pool was purchased by two families who live in Woodley Gardens and it will be open this summer.  Plans are underway for the Georgetown Day School to re-open following remodeling which will add a second story to both the school and the pool clubhouse.  The owners plan to expand enrollment capacity from 100 to 200 children.  The owners also plan to refurbish the pool after the 2022 season with the intention of the work being completed in time for the 2023 pool season.  

270 Expansion – Mark gave a synopsis of the information and efforts of the DontWiden270.org (coordinator Janet Gallant) organization.  Rockville City Manager Robert DiSpirito emphasized that the City Council has been very responsive and has submitted multiple official letters to voice its concerns about the proposed expansion, copies of which are on the Rockville City website for reference. 

National Night Out (NNO) (JMH; JW):  Attendees discussed the August 2022 NNO picnic and there was general agreement that this year’s picnic would be potluck, as it was in 2021, with water and Carmen’s Ice to be paid for from CGCA funds.  There was also discussion of holding the NNO picnic with the other nearby neighborhoods of Woodley Gardens and Woodley Gardens West.  Executive Committee members from Woodley Gardens and the CGCA will discuss that possibility in the coming months. 

Radon Awareness (Diane Fuchs):  CGCA member Diane Fuchs gave a presentation about her experience of finding high radon levels in her home and the process of installing a radon mitigation system.  Diane has also worked with the city of Rockville to raise awareness of the radon issue which has prompted the city to start taking substantial steps toward informing citizens of the dangers of radon.  

Directory (JMH; JW; TM):  Executive Committee members gave an update on the neighborhood directory plan which includes updating information for each household, creating an electronic directory that can be viewed online or downloaded as an Excel or PDF file, a creating/sharing two PDF directory files – one sorted by house and another sorted by primary last name.  A small group of members led by CGCA member Karen Carp will use the electronic directory to produce a printed directory for those who prefer that format.  Block captains will be asked to finish collecting household information by June 30, 2022. 

Meeting ended: 9:04.