June 2024 Newsletter

Greetings!

On May 22nd, the Council unanimously passed the FY2025 Capital and Operating Budgets! The FY25 Budgets included historic levels of investments in our County. Despite a difficult year of budgeting for the Board of Education and Superintendent, education funding increased in the third year in a row. I truly believe that the Board of Education approved a positive budget, beneficial to both students and teachers. While negotiations are still underway, I am confident the Board of Education, Superintendent Barnes, and Howard County Education Association will come to an agreement that highlights our communities' appreciation for teachers.

For our County employees, we are updating our classifications and compensation structures, which have not been evaluated since 1993. In order to meet the needs of Howard County residents now and in the future, we must support County government employees. Within County government, this budget includes funding for many initiatives. We have been working hard to develop and implement HoCo Climate Forward. I look forward to seeing the County expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure, increase tree plantings, and create a new Climate Infrastructure Rebate Pilot Program. In October, we passed the award-winning HoCo By Design, and this budget funds the Gateway Master Plan and Route One Task Force. Our Department of Housing and Community Development is receiving funds for the Housing Opportunities Trust Fund and strengthening the current pilot program for rental subsidies for Howard County Public School System's students and their families. This marks a significant step forward for the Trust Fund and the County's commitment to housing affordability through rental and homeownership programs.

There are many exciting investments coming to District 3. In North Laurel, residents expressed their desire for a community pool for almost 20 years. Finally, North Laurel is getting the pool! The North Laurel Community Pool was fully funded, and construction will start soon. I want to highlight the over 500 signatures we received in support of the project. Thank you all for your advocacy! Details about the upcoming groundbreaking are includes below - please join me!

Residents in Owen Brown can see the investments in their community like the Complete Streets coming to Cradlerock Way. This momentous project has funding for the design and construction for phase one. I want to express my gratitude for the Owen Brown Village Board and many community members who advocated for this project.

For our neighbors in Elkridge, this budget includes transformational investments like funding for the Elkridge Branch Library renovations, Elkridge Community Center, and an Elkridge High School.

It was a great budget year, and I am so grateful to County Executive Ball, my Council colleagues and staff, and our County Departments for their efforts.

As always, 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. Wish you a happy summer!

Yours in service,

Christiana Rigby (she/her)

Councilwoman, District 3

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June 13, 2024

May Legislation Wrap-Up

On May 22nd, the County Council convened for our Special Legislative Session to vote on the budget legislation. The Council voted on several pieces of legislation, including the following:

CR64-2024: A resolution levying a fire and rescue tax for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025 and setting the tax rate for the fire and rescue tax. This bill passed, as amended, in a 4-1 vote. Introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.

CR65-2024: A resolution levying a property tax for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025; setting the tax rates for property; and providing for the collection of the property tax. This bill passed, as amended, in 3-2 vote. Introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.

June Legislation

New legislation was introduced at the June 3rd Legislative Session, including:

CB37-2024: An act to alter the school facilities surcharge for single-family detached dwellings in accordance with Chapter 744 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2019; and generally relating to the school facilities surcharge. Introduced by Councilwoman Christiana Rigby.

A Public Hearing on all other legislation is scheduled for June 18th at 7:00 PM. The legislation will be up for a vote at the Council's Legislative Session on July 1st at 7:00 PM.

VIEW COUNCIL LEGISLATION

TESTIFY AT A PUBLIC HEARING

VIEW COUNCIL CALENDAR

Community News, Events, and Updates

North Laurel Community Pool

The pool is here!

County Executive Ball and the Department of Recreation and Parks are hosting the groundbreaking for the North Laurel Community Pool on Tuesday, June 18th at 11:00 AM. This will be a wonderful opportunity for the community to join together and celebrate.

I hope you will be joining us!

Pride Month 🌈

June is Pride Month!

Pride Month was first celebrated in 1970. In 1999, President Bill Clinton officially declared June as "Gay and Lesbian Pride Month." By 2011, President Barack Obama expanded Pride Month to include representations for the LGBT community.

Celebrate Pride Month by participating in events like making pride bracelets at the Elkridge Branch Library on June 25th at 7:00 PM, or the Pride Month Concert with award-winning drag musician Flamy Grant on June 29th at 7:00 PM at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center. Tickets can be purchased online in advance.

Juneteenth Celebration

Carroll Baldwin Hall and Leona's Sewing Studio are hosting Savage's 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 19th from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The fun evening will be filled with activities, education, and music to highlight the contributions of the Black Community. I hope to see you there!

Free Concert at Glen Mar Church

The Ken & Brad Kolodner Quartet will perform on Friday, June 21st at 7:00 PM at Glen Mar Church. This quartet brings a unique spin to old music by weaving the hammered dulcimer and clawhammer sounds together to make American folk music. Traditional and original music will be played.

Admission is free and donations are suggested. Learn more about the Summer Concert Series at the Glen Mar Church website.

Farmers Markets

Summer brings farmers markets! Howard County has five farmers markets, and District 3 has a brand-new farmers market in Savage. The Savage Farmers Market takes place at Carroll Baldwin Commons every Wednesday from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM.

Check out all the farmers markets in the County at the Howard County Economic Development Authority website.

Roving Radish Mobile Market

The Roving Radish Mobile Market is here! The Mobile Market brings fresh and local produce directly to our neighborhoods. Each week, the Market will make 12 stops around the County.

In District 3, the Mobile Market will visit the East Columbia Library, Columbia Commons, Laurel Woods Elementary School, Owen Brown Place, and Monarch Mills Apartments.

Summer Reading Adventures

The Howard County Library System's Summer Reading Adventures is here! As the school year comes to a close, I encourage students, parents, and grandparents alike to participate in the Summer Reading Adventures. As always, the program is open to people of all ages and all reading skills.

To start, visit your local library branch to pick up a gameboard, learn more about the program, and start reading today!

Meet Emily

Meet Emily, our Summer Intern! Emily is a rising sophomore at the University of Maryland, double majoring in Government & Politics and Criminology & Criminal Justice.

Emily is passionate about combating human trafficking. Currently, she is training with nonprofit organization, Turnaround Inc., to become a human trafficking hotline responder. Additionally, she is involved with Model Congress at her school, where she writes legislation and hosts a mock congressional hearing for high school students.

During her internship, Emily has been instrumental in assisting with residents’ concerns, researching legislation, and contributing to our monthly newsletter! We are super excited to have Emily on our team!

Serve on a Board or Commission

There are three opportunities to serve on Boards or Commissions in Howard County!

The Housing and Community Development Board is seeking members. If you are interested in evaluating programs and policies that will enhance housing options for individuals and families to live and work in Howard County, please apply. Learn more about this position online and be sure to apply by June 14th.

The Board of Health is seeking health professionals and members of the public to serve. In order to serve on this Board, applications should not currently work as a health professional or have worked as a health professional in the past five years. Learn more about this position online and apply by June 14th.

The Commission on Aging is seeking members to serve and uphold Howard County commitment to remaining an age-friendly community. If you are interested in being a part of the team apply for the Commission on Aging online. Apply by June 14th.

Christiana's Climate Corner

Welcome to Christiana's Climate Corner, where I will be sharing updates on environmental and sustainability efforts in Howard County, including information on legislation, events, and opportunities for you to support sustainability efforts in our community!

Spotted!

Last week, my team and I took our lunch break outside. We were enjoying the warm weather and breeze when a small bug landed on our table. At first glance, I thought it was a small weevil, but that didn't seem quite right because the bug was black with white spots. After a quick search online, we were shocked to find out that it was a Spotted Lanternfly nymph!

The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive insect that poses a significant threat to our agriculture and natural environment. The Spotted Lanternfly sucks the sap of many plants, trees, and leaves, damaging and stunting the growth of these plants.

Because of their destructive effects, it is critical that each of us takes action to prevent and limit the impacts of the Spotted Lanternfly. First, it is essential to learn how to properly identify a Spotted Lanternfly at each of the four life stages. During the first life stage, the insects are gray egg masses with a smooth wax coating. In the second life stage, the early nymph stage, the small insects are black with white spots. These nymphs are most often seen between April and July. The nymphs turn red during the third life stage, the late nymph life stage, and this change starts in July and ends in September. Finally, the insects reach the adult life stage. As adults, Spotted Lanternfly's are about one inch long with gray and red wings with black spots. Adults will begin appearing as early as July. In September, adult Spotted Lanternfly's lay egg masses on tree trunks, rocks, and even cars, starting the cycle again. Usually, adults remain active until November, or when the first frost hits.

You can then report your sightings to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, at this link, to help control the harm. Other options include buying a commercial trap or simply destroying the egg masses by scraping them into a bucket of soapy water or a jar of hand

sanitizer.

If you currently have a Spotted Lanternfly infestation, use this link to access information from the Maryland Department of Agriculture on utilizing chemical and cultural controls. Through these actions, we can help protect Howard County from the detrimental effects of the Spotted Lanternfly.