On Tuesday, July 29, the Montgomery County Council will hear a briefing on the Department of Transportation’s Parking Lot Pilot Security Program, offer legislation to improve bicycle safety by outlawing car parking in bikeways, and present a number of proclamations.
According to the press release, three proclamation presentations will open the Montgomery County Council’s meeting on Tuesday, July 29 at 9 a.m. Council President Kate Stewart, Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles, and Councilmember Kristin Mink will present the first one, which will honor Senior Citizens Day. The second will honor Parks and Recreation Month and be awarded by the Council’s Planning, Housing, and Parks (PHP) Committee. The third will honor Fair Open Housing Day and be presented by County Executive Marc Elrich and Council President Stewart.
Each agenda item is explained in further detail below.
Program for Summer Fellows
Presentation: The Montgomery County Council Summer Fellows will provide a presentation to the Council. The 10-week program, which allows students in graduate studies linked to policy to acquire experience in local government, is being hosted by the Council for the ninth year in a row. Participants in the program gain experience in a variety of sectors and have the chance to collaborate directly with decision-makers on existing initiatives, policy assessments, and independently chosen research projects. At the Council’s last summer session, the fellows from the 2025 cohort will submit their research and initial suggestions. At the completion of the program, their research papers will be transmitted.
District Council Session
Resolution to Accept the 2025 Technical Update to the Highways and Transitways Master Plan
Expected vote:In order to approve the Planning Board’s draft of the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways 2025 technical update, the Council is anticipated to vote on a resolution that takes into account the Transportation and Environment (TE) Committee’s suggestions. A thorough overview of Montgomery County’s major road and transitway infrastructure, both planned and current, may be found in the Master Plan of Highways and Transitways. In addition to helping to designate and maintain the right-of-way required to construct new roads and transitways, it offers a roadmap for the County’s transportation initiatives. Because of the multimodal approach to street classification, the plan’s requirements affect all forms of mobility, even if its primary concentration is on roads and transitways. Bills 24-22 and 34-22, which updated street types to comply with the County’s Complete Streets Design Guide and the Pedestrian Master Plan, necessitate the 2025 technical update.
The TE Committee suggests that the Planning Board’s revised plan be approved.
Consent Calendar
The Council agenda for Tuesday, July 29, which is accessible on the Council website, includes every item on the Council’s Consent Calendar.
Suggested Closed Meeting
In accordance with Maryland Code, General Provisions Article Section 3-305(b)(7), the Council plans to meet in closed session to confer with legal counsel in order to obtain legal advice, and to confer with staff, consultants, or other individuals regarding ongoing or prospective litigation in accordance with Maryland Code, General Provisions Article Section 3-305(b)(8). The subject involves legal advice pertaining to a County contract, including the performance of a party under the contract, its remedies, and possible litigation.
Public Hearings
The following hybrid public hearing will be held by the Council at 1:30 p.m., unless otherwise specified. To find out about the many options to testify, residents can visit the Council’s website.
Montgomery County Government, Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions, Montgomery Connects (No. P341700), Resolution to adopt an amendment to the FY25-30 Capital Improvements Program and Supplemental Appropriation 25-88 to the FY26 Capital Budget, $6,171,823
Expected public hearing and vote The Council is anticipated to hold a public hearing and vote on a supplemental appropriation of over $6.1 million for Montgomery Connects, which will finance the extension of free MoCoNet residential broadband service to four affordable housing developments owned by the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) and Affordable Homes and Communities. An allowance for over $1.3 million in federal help and funding is already included in the Montgomery Connects initiative, with further funds anticipated in FY26 state awards that use federal aid as the funding source. To change the overall amount of government funds awarded, the appropriation must be amended. The proposed resolution has also been modified to reflect the fact that the program has affected four housing complexes.
Legislative Session
Bill 28-25, Prohibition of Motor Vehicles and Traffic Parking in Bikeways
Overview:Councilmember Evan Glass, the bill’s lead sponsor, will present Bill 28-25, Motor Vehicles and Traffic Parking in Bikeways Prohibited, which would make it illegal for cars to stop, stand, or park on bikeways. The goal of Bill 28-25 is to increase cyclist safety. Ten locations, whether inhabited or not, are prohibited under current county law for anyone to stop, stand, or park their cars. Bikeways would be added to this list of locations by Bill 28-25. Definitions of bikeway, bike lane, off-street trail, separate bike lane, shared use roadway, and side path are all included in the proposed legislation.
Bill 28-25 is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Dawn Luedtke, Andrew Friedson, and Natali Fani-Gonz lez. The date of the public hearing is set for September 30.
Expedited Bill 16-25, Membership Requirements and Membership Group for the Personnel Employees Retirement System
Expected vote:Expedited Bill 16-25, Personnel Employees Retirement System Membership Requirements and Membership Group, is scheduled for a vote by the Council. Under the law, some emergency communications managers would be eligible for Retirement Group E, which offers a retirement benefit to workers who hold a post as a correctional officer or a sworn deputy sheriff. Effective August 7, 2023, Montgomery County Code Section 33-37 was modified to allow select managers and represented employees in the Emergency Communication Center (ECC) classes to take part in Group E and Group J retirement plans. These revisions unintentionally left out the ECC Management Leadership Services Manager III post.
At the County Executive’s request, the Council President is the primary sponsor. Enactment is suggested by the Government Operations and Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee.
Bill 17-25, General Provisions and Exemptions for Contracts and Procurement, Internet Access Service
Bill 17-25, Contracts and Procurement General Provisions Exemptions Internet Access Service, is scheduled for a vote by the Council. It will exempt the purchase of internet access services from procurement legislation. The County Executive stated that because internet service providers are not interested in participating in the County’s procedure, the County has not been successful in obtaining internet access service through a competitive solicitation. As of right now, the Chief Administrative Officer has waived the cost of internet access for the Department of Technology and Enterprise Business Solutions (TEBS). Internet access would be exempt from county procurement law under Bill 17-25.
At the County Executive’s request, the Council President is the primary sponsor. With modifications, the GO Committee suggests enactment.
Pilot Program for Parking Lot Security, Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT)
Briefing: The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Parking Lot Pilot Security Program will be discussed with the Council. In order to determine whether using an automated security robot to monitor Silver Spring’s Town Square/Ellsworth Drive Garage was feasible, the program got underway in June 2025. The robot can move autonomously and includes cameras with a 360-degree view. Knightscope, a technological security company, has a one-year lease with the County for the use of the robot. This Council briefing on the program’s expenses, plans, and safeguards for citizens’ civil rights and privacy was sought by Council President Stewart.
District Council Session
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-05, Development Standards Optional Method Public Benefits
Review and vote expected:The Council will review and is expected to vote on Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-05, Development Standards Optional Method Public Benefits, which would update the public benefit system in the Commercial/Residential and Employment Zones. ZTA 25-05 would create a new optional method of public benefits using a tiered system that is more closely tied to Floor Area Ratio (FAR) than the prior point system, with categories that have been updated to align with County policy priorities.
The County has had a public benefits point system since 2010, which allows developers to receive additional approved density in exchange for providing certain public benefits in the Commercial/Residential and Employment Zones. In Oct. 2024, the Planning Department completed an Incentive Zoning Update, which included recommendations designed to update the public benefits point system. The update takes into consideration recent County policies and initiatives, such as Thrive Montgomery 2050, the Climate Action Plan and implementation of the County s Racial Equity and Social Justice Act.
The PHP Committee recommends approval with amendments.
