Greetings!
Welcome to our February 2022 Newsletter!
In February, we honor and celebrate Black History Month. Black History Month is an opportunity to learn and reflect on Black history and culture in Howard County and the United States. This history is often untold in our classrooms and textbooks, which is why it is so important that we amplify Black history and Black voices not just this month, but throughout the year.
Earlier this month, the County Council recognized several of Howard County's "Living Legends" for Black History Month. The Council honored Doris Ligon, the founder of the African Art Museum of Maryland, and Melvin and Elizabeth Garrett, who owned the historic Log Cabin Restaurant in Jessup. I am grateful to Council Chair Jones for lifting up their voices and contributions to Howard County during our Legislative Session. You can watch their recognition here.
As we continue into 2022, please don't hesitate to contact my office if you are experiencing any issues in your community or would just like to get in touch. We are here to help with your concerns and listen to your feedback. Wishing you a safe, happy, and healthy February!
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Christiana Rigby
Councilwoman, District 3
she/her/hers
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COVID-19 Vaccine Information |
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Vaccine Update
Howard County residents have continued to get their COVID-19 vaccinations in record numbers. While nearly all residents have received a first and second dose of the vaccine, many eligible residents have not yet received their booster shot. The most recent data available indicates that over 66% of eligible adults have received their vaccine booster shot.
If you haven't been vaccinated yet, there are many opportunities to get your shot! The Howard County Health Department is offering dozens of vaccine clinics at locations across the County, including appointments for anyone age 5 and older. You can find a full list of vaccine appointments here.
Variants & Mask Mandate
With the rise of the different variants across the world, the CDC has recommended the reinstitution of prevention strategies, like wearing masks in public indoor spaces. These new recommendations are aimed at controlling the spread of the virus. Howard County currently is experiencing substantial virus transmission, as defined by the CDC. The COVID-19 vaccine is highly recommended as a proven method to counter the spread of the virus and provide protection against serious illness and death.
COVID-19 Testing
The Howard County Health Department and our private partners are continuing to offer COVID-19 tests across Howard County on a regular basis. If you would like to get tested for COVID-19, please visit this website for a list of nearby testing clinics and locations. As demand for testing has increased, the Howard County Health Department has been working to expand opportunities to get tested in Howard County. You can also request 4 free tests be mailed to you from the federal government by visiting this website.
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January Legislative Wrap-Up |
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On February 7th, the County Council convened for our February Legislative Session. The County Council took action on several pieces of legislation, including the following:
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CB11-2022: AN ACT repealing a certain provision of law relating to the determination of whether an election is contested for the distribution of a public contribution from the Citizens' Election Fund; confirming that a certified candidate may receive a matching public contribution for any qualifying contributions that were collected prior to the effective date of this Act; making a technical correction in order to remove an ambiguity in the Citizens' Election Fund law to facilitate orderly administration of the program; generally relating to the Citizens' Election Fund; and declaring that this Act is an Emergency Bill necessary to meet a public emergency affecting life, health or property. This legislation was passed in a 5-0 vote. Introduced by Opel Jones, Deb Jung, Christiana Rigby, Liz Walsh, and David Yungmann. Co-sponsored by the Chairperson at the Request of the County Executive.
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CB2-2022: AN ACT prohibiting discrimination based on citizen or immigration status in the areas of employment, law enforcement practices, public accommodations, and financing; clarifying prohibited discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status in the area of housing; and generally related to Human Rights provisions of the County Code. This legislation was passed in a 4-1 vote. Introduced by the Chairperson at the Request of the County Executive.
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CB7-2022 and CB8-2022: AN ACT amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to require that Moderate Income Housing Units (MIHUs) be developed in the Planned Golf Course Community (PGCC) zoning district; and generally relating to Moderate Income Housing Units. These bills were tabled in a 5-0 vote. Introduced by Liz Walsh.
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CB9-2022: AN ACT to alter a duty of the Department of Planning and Zoning related to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance; requiring certain developers to meet with the School System about school capacity solutions; and generally relating to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. This legislation was tabled in a 5-0 vote. Introduced by Deb Jung.
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CB10-2022: AN ACT requiring certain employers to recall certain employees who have been laid-off after the imposition of the COVID-19 state of emergency; specifying the procedures by which the recall would operate; establishing certain procedures for filing, investigating, and adjudicating a complaint; prohibiting retaliation against employees for filing a certain complaint or participating in certain proceedings; declaring that this Act is an Emergency Bill necessary to meet a public emergency affecting life, health or property; providing for a certain termination date; and generally relating to a right of recall for Covid-19 laid-off employees. This legislation was passed in a 4-1 vote. Introduced by Liz Walsh.
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CR17-2022: A RESOLUTION adopting a comprehensive revision to the Howard County Design Manual Volume III (Roads and Bridges) that includes content changes; renaming the Howard County Design Manual Volume III to be “Complete Streets and Bridges”; amending the Howard County Design Manual Volume IV (Standard Specifications and Details for Construction) to include updated sections and details reflecting Complete Streets concepts and policy in Howard County; repealing current Howard County Design Manual Volume III (Roads and Bridges); and generally related to Volume III and IV of the Design Manual. This resolution was approved in a 4-1 vote. Introduced by the Chairperson at the Request of the County Executive.
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CB83-2021: AN ACT to establish a Police Accountability Board; setting forth the qualifications for members and method of appointment; setting forth the process for selection of the board chairperson; providing for a process to receive certain complaints alleging police misconduct; setting forth the duties of the Board; defining certain terms; providing for the requirement to submit financial disclosure statements; providing for the staggering of initial appointments to the Board; providing for the application of this Act; and generally relating to police accountability in Howard County. This legislation was passed in a 5-0 vote. Introduced by the Chairperson at the Request of the County Executive.
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CB88-2021: AN ACT to prohibit the willful failure to do specified maintenance and repair of certain historic structures thus prohibiting certain demolition by neglect of those structures; allowing the Historic District Commission to waive compliance in certain cases of financial hardship; providing for a hearing and an opportunity to cure specified violations; and generally relating to historic structures, historic sites, and historic districts in the County. This legislation was passed in a 5-0 vote. Introduced by the Liz Walsh.
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On February 7th, the County Council convened for our February Legislative Session. Several new pieces of legislation and resolutions were introduced, including the following:
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CB14-2022: AN ACT to add requirements to a forest conservation plan; and generally relating to forest conservation in the County. Introduced by Christiana Rigby.
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CB15-2022: AN ACT altering the appointment process for members of the Planning Board; altering the qualifications of the members of the Planning Board; and generally relating to planning and zoning. Introduced by Liz Walsh and David Yungmann.
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SAO3-FY2022: AN ACT transferring $6,560,000 from the General Fund, Contingency Reserve to the Department of Housing and Community Development in order to move priority affordable housing communities forward and to further affordable housing initiatives. Introduced by the Chairperson at the Request of the County Executive.
Tabled Legislation
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CB7-2022 and CB8-2022: AN ACT amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to require that Moderate Income Housing Units (MIHUs) be developed in the Planned Golf Course Community (PGCC) zoning district; and generally relating to Moderate Income Housing Units. Introduced by Liz Walsh.
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CB9-2022: AN ACT to alter a duty of the Department of Planning and Zoning related to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance; requiring certain developers to meet with the School System about school capacity solutions; and generally relating to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance. Introduced by Deb Jung.
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CR16-2022: A RESOLUTION pursuant to Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code declaring that a portion of land containing a total of 1,669 square feet or 0.0383 acres owned by Howard County, Maryland located on Main Street in Ellicott City is no longer needed by the County for public purposes; authorizing the County Executive to convey, upon certain consideration, fee simple title to 8308 Main Street, LLC while retaining easement interests; waiving the advertising and bidding requirements of Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code; and providing that the County Executive is not bound to convey the Property if he finds that the County may have a use for the property. Introduced by the Chairperson at the Request of the County Executive.
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CR140-2021, CR141-2021, CR142-2021, CR143-2021: Resolutions approving the terms and conditions of a Payment in Lieu of Taxes Agreement for four solar power farms in Howard County. Introduced by the Chairperson at the Request of the County Executive.
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Community News, Events, and Updates |
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Protecting Specimen Trees |
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I’ve introduced CB14-2022 this month, a local bill that will identify and save more specimen trees in Howard County. Currently, on-site forest retention is required for State champion trees, trees 75% of the diameter of State champion trees, and trees 30 inches in diameter or larger when a property is being developed. Unfortunately, it is possible that there are trees that meet the 75% threshold that are less than 30” in diameter that may get missed during the forest conservation process.
CB14-2022 requires that all trees with a diameter of 24” and larger be included on the Forest Stand Delineation as part of the Forest Conservation Plan. The bill also requires more information to be listed for each tree, including information that will be used to identify champion trees and ultimately preserve them as specimen trees. Since this requirement is part of the Forest Stand Delineation, the work of identifying and tracking these trees will be completed by a licensed forester, licensed landscape architect, or certified arborist as part of the documents being submitted to the County with the Forest Stand Delineation. The County’s Department of Planning and Zoning will still do site inspections to confirm the Delineation is accurate.
The County Council will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 22 at 7:00pm. If you would like to register to submit verbal testimony on this bill, you may do so here. If you prefer to submit written testimony on a bill or resolution, you may do so by sending your comments to the Council via email at CouncilMail@howardcountymd.gov. The Council will spend February considering this legislation before it is scheduled for a vote on March 7.
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County Executive's FY23 Budget Hearing |
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Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will hold his second Resident's Budget Hearing for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget cycle on Monday, March 14th at 6:00 p.m. This hearing provides residents with an opportunity to make their voices heard, share concerns and provide input on priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. The March 14th budget hearing will be held virtually and can be watched live from the County Council’s streaming website; the hearing will be listed under “Upcoming Events.”
Beginning Monday, February 28th, residents will be able to sign-up ONLINE to speak at the hearing by clicking HERE. Speakers must sign-up individually, and one person may not sign-up for several testifiers. Additionally, individual testimony is limited to three minutes and group testimony is limited to five. Speakers who have a document or record they wish to submit with their testimony are asked to email the file to budgettestimony@howardcountymd.gov, with “BUDGET TESTIMONY” in the subject line.
You can learn more about the FY2023 Budget Process, including how to get involved and submit testimony by visiting this website.
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HCPSS Simulated Congressional Hearing
Call for Volunteers!
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The Simulated Congressional Hearing (SCH) is the culminating activity for fifth grade social studies in the Howard County Public School System. Throughout the year, students study four units of instruction: The American Revolution, Building a New Nation, Challenges of a New Nation and We the People. The SCH is an authentic, performance-based assessment where students demonstrate their understanding of the founding of U.S. Constitution and the impact of its creation. You can learn more about Howard County's SCH program here.
Each year, community members may volunteer to serve as judges in Howard County's 5th Grade Simulated Congressional Hearings. I will be volunteering at several District 3 schools this year, and I invite you to join me! You can sign up to serve as a SCH judge here.
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Active Transportation Open House |
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From Saturday, February 12 to Friday, February 18, the Howard County Office of Transportation will be hosting its annual Active Transportation Open House. The Open House is your opportunity to learn about and discuss projects and initiatives related to biking, walking, Complete Streets, and shared micromobility in the County.
I encourage you to participate in the Open House and share your feedback about active transportation efforts in Howard County. You can learn more and participate in the Open House here.
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Howard County Child Care Fair |
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Howard County’s Department of Community Resources and Services will host its annual Child Care Fair on Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the North Laurel Community Center, located at 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road in Laurel (masks are required).
While admission is FREE, attendees are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item or unopened pack of diapers or wipes to donate to the Howard County Food Bank.
Representatives from the Office of Children and Families and community service organizations that offer programs and services to Howard County’s young children will be on hand to share resources and information. The event will also feature free information sessions on “How to Choose an Early Childhood Program” at 11:00 am, noon, & 1:00 pm.
Digital access to the 2022 Parent's Guide to Howard County will also be available at the Child Care Fair registration table. Though not required, pre-registration is highly recommended so event organizers can contact attendees in case of inclement weather on the day of the event.
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Complete Streets Design Manual Approved! |
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I was thrilled to vote in favor of the first installment of Howard County's Complete Streets Design Manual earlier this month. Our Complete Streets Manual will improve safety, access, and equity in transportation for people of all ages and abilities.
The transportation sector currently accounts for roughly 40% of our greenhouse gas emissions in Maryland. Complete Streets is one of our most important transportation tools to combat climate change locally and chart a new direction for our transportation future in Howard County -- a future where residents in our community can just as easily walk, bike, and roll to their everyday destinations as they could travel by car. I am looking forward to continuing the important work to advance Complete Streets in neighborhoods across Howard County.
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Howard County Breaks Ground on Cricket Pitch |
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Last month, we broke ground on Howard County’s first designated youth cricket pitch, which will be located right in East Columbia! This investment will provide students and youth cricket players with an opportunity to learn and enjoy the sport of cricket at a central location in our community.
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Shop for the foods YOU want at the Howard County Food Bank. All shopping trips are family-choice.
Fresh items such as milk, eggs, hygiene products, meats, produce are all on hand each time. Families who may qualify should visit www.CAC-HC.org or call 410-313-6440 for more details.
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Head Start and Pre-K Opportunities
from Community Action Council
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Community Action Council (CAC) offers FREE Head Start and Pre-K programming to eligible 3- to 5-year-old children. Programs provide family engagement services, speech & language therapy, mental health consulting, hearing & vision screening, and nutritional counseling.
CAC operates four sites across Howard County. Learn more at www.CAC-HC.org or call 410-313-6440.
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Rental Assistance & Eviction Prevention |
Howard County Government is offering Rental Assistance and Eviction Prevention Grants to Howard County residents who need assistance paying their rent or mortgage due to loss of income resulting from COVID-19.
Residents may apply for rental and mortgage assistance from:
Maximum housing assistance per household is up to 15 months of past due rent and utility bills and up to 12 months of mortgage assistance. Residents that previously received housing assistance ARE eligible to apply for additional assistance. You can find more information on the housing assistance grants and how to apply here. We have recently learned that Howard County has expended most of its rental assistance funds and is currently awaiting additional funding from the State.
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Howard County Government has dedicated additional funding to the Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC) for energy/utility assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you are in imminent danger of utility cut-off and need assistance paying your utility bills, you can apply for assistance from the Community Action Council by visiting here or by calling 410-313-6440.
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Emergency Broadband Benefit |
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The Emergency Broadband Benefit Program will provide eligible households with discounts of up to $50 a month for broadband service. It also will provide a one-time discount of up to $100 on a computer or tablet for eligible households.
Households can apply in three ways:
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Contact your preferred participating broadband provider directly to learn about their application process.
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Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to apply online and to find participating providers near you.
- Call 833-511-0311 for a mail-in application, and return it along with proof of eligibility to: Emergency Broadband Support Center, P.O. Box 7081, London, KY 40742.
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Virtual Assistance Portal |
Howard County Government has launched a Virtual Assistance Portal to help connect residents with disaster and emergency resources, including housing assistance, food assistance, employment assistance, utility assistance, and more.
You can visit the portal and learn more about the resources available here.
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You can find more information and apply for unemployment benefits from the State of Maryland here.
You can find more information on job opportunities and employment assistance from Howard County's Office of Workforce Development here.
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Howard County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) is a group of community organizations focused on collecting and deploying resources during a local disaster.
If you are able to donate, are in need of grocery/medicine delivery, or are in need of resources, please visit COAD's website here to learn more about their services.
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District 3 Pre-Submission Meetings |
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There are currently no community pre-submission meetings scheduled in District 3. |
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Christiana Rigby
Councilwoman, District 3
crigby@howardcountymd.gov
410-313-2001
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Colette Gelwicks
Special Assistant
cgelwicks@howardcountymd.gov
410-313-2421
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Felix Facchine
District Aide
ffacchine@howardcountymd.gov
410-313-3108
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Please feel free to contact us by email or phone. Plus, you can stay up-to-date with Christiana by following us on social media, where we post regular updates on county news, legislative priorities, and community initiatives! |
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