Keeping Up with Christiana!
Greetings!

Welcome to our March Newsletter! During this Women's History Month, I am incredibly grateful for the inspiring women in our county, state, and country that have pushed the box, paved the way, and made history.

As we celebrate the amazing contributions of women in our county, I am excited that the Howard County Commission for Women will be inducting Barbara Allen, Evelyn Darden, Lori Fuchs, Terri Hill, and Tracey Williams into the Howard County Women's Hall of Fame. These women will be recognized for their remarkable service, leadership, and dedication to Howard County.
As we enter into a beautiful spring season, 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. Additionally, please read our latest coronavirus update below . Wishing you a safe, happy, and healthy March!

Yours in service,
Christiana Rigby
Councilwoman, District 3
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March 2020
Coronavirus / COVID-19 Update
As COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases continue to increase in the United States, I am closely following all updates of the virus. To date, there are ten confirmed cases of coronavirus in Maryland, and none have been confirmed in Howard County yet. Each of these Maryland cases is either in self-quarantine or being treated in the hospital.

Howard County Government is working closely with the Howard County Health Department, the Howard County Public School System, and the Maryland Department of Health to ensure that our county is preparing for cases of coronavirus in our community.

As we expect the number of cases to increase, I encourage all Howard County residents to be safe and diligent in their everyday life. The Howard County Health Department has a list of prevention resources and information on the coronavirus, which you can find here . We can all take actions that limit the opportunity for exposure and transmission of the virus, including:

  • Frequently wash and clean hands and/or use hand sanitizer
  • Disinfect and clean surfaces
  • Use social distancing when possible
  • Reduce physical contact with others (handshaking, hugging, etc.)
  • Limit food sharing
  • Reach out to older family members and friends and share resources and information about the importance of virus prevention
  • Stay home if you are feeling sick or have a sick family member in your home

I am also grateful to the Maryland General Assembly and Governor Hogan, who this week approved $50 million in state funding to be used toward Maryland's coronavirus preparation, prevention, and response.

This is a rapidly-evolving situation. We will continue to update residents with news and recommendations pertaining to the coronavirus as they are available.
February Legislative Highlights
I was proud to pass several pieces of legislation with my colleagues at our March 2nd Legislative Session, including:

  • CB3-2020: legislation authorizing electric scooter permits and implementing e-scooter regulations in the Columbia area. This legislation passed unanimously. Introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.

  • CB7-2020: Howard County's Whistleblower Protection Act. CB7-2020 lays out the grounds for a whistleblower complaint and prohibits any threat or retaliation against employees that make a disclosure. You can learn more here. I'm pleased that this legislation passed the County Council unanimously and I am grateful for my colleagues' support on this important measure. Introduced by Christiana Rigby. Co-sponsored by Opel Jones, Liz Walsh, and Deb Jung.

  • CB8-2020: legislation requiring a public fiscal analysis on certain bills before the County Council. This bill provides the public with important information about the financial impact of County legislation. This legislation passed unanimously. Introduced by Opel Jones. Co-sponsored by Christiana Rigby and David Yungmann.
March 2020 Legislation
This month, I joined my colleagues on the County Council in introducing and sponsoring several pieces of legislation, including:

  • CB13-2020: The Affordable Housing Retention Act, which provided the Howard County Housing Commission with right to purchase, commonly known as the "right of first refusal," when rental properties are put up for sale in Howard County. If an owner wants to avoid the right of first refusal process, they will have the option to maintain at least 20% of affordable units at the property up for sale. As we continue to have important conversations about housing equity in Howard County, this bill provides our county with an additional tool to maintain affordable housing opportunities across the County. Read more here. Introduced by Christiana Rigby. Co-sponsored by Opel Jones and Liz Walsh.

  • CB11-2020: legislation requiring that certain new buildings in Howard County meet bird-safe building design. This legislation will help reduce bird deaths in Howard County, while also encouraging more energy-efficient building design. Read more here. Introduced by Deb Jung. Co-sponsored by Christiana Rigby and Liz Walsh.

  • CB14-2020: legislation amending Howard County's Housing Allocations regulations under APFO to prevent more than 10% of unused housing unit allocations from being included in allocations for future years. In doing so, this legislation limits the number of housing unit allocations currently available and manages the growth of future allocations. Introduced by Liz Walsh. Co-sponsored by Christiana Rigby and Deb Jung.
Tax Credit Applications Open!
Tax season is here, and that means that  Howard County Government 's tax credit applications are now open! From now through April and May, eligible Howard County residents can apply for a number of local tax credits from Howard County Government.

These tax credits include the Senior Tax Credit, the Aging-in-Place Tax Credit, the Public Safety Officer Property Tax Credit, and more. You can learn more and find information on all of Howard County's tax credits here .
Ride with Rigby: Coming to a Bus Stop Near You!
Starting in February, my office is launching a new initiative called "Ride with Rigby." Every month, I will be encouraging Howard County residents to join me in riding RTA public transit to work and school!

Riding transit is good for our environment and good for our community - public transit reduces greenhouse gas emissions, cuts down on car traffic, and improves air quality in our neighborhoods. Stay tuned for information about our next "Ride with Rigby" day in coming up this Spring!
Upcoming Council Dates
March 16, 1:00pm Monthly Meeting

March 16, 7:00pm Legislative Public Hearing

March 20, 9:30am Legislative Work Session

April 6, 7:00pm Legislative Session

April 13, 1:00pm Monthly Meeting

April 20, 7:00pm Legislative Public Hearing

April 27, 9:30am Legislative Work Session

FY2021 Budget Dates
April 13, 6:30pm Capital Budget Public Hearing

April 16, 6:30pm Capital Budget Public Hearing

April 17, 9:30am Capital Budget Work Session

April 20, 9:30am Capital Budget Work Session

April 22, 6:30pm Operating Budget Public Hearing

May 1, 9:30am Capital and Operating Work Session

Please note: all County Council meetings and sessions are live-streamed and available to the public online. Due to ongoing concerns about coronavirus, I strongly recommend that residents stay home and watch future Council meeting from home via livestream , which can be accessed here , and submitting written testimony by emailing CouncilMail@howardcountymd.gov . I assure you that your voice will be heard through written testimony - please don't put yourself or others at risk.
Upcoming District 3 Pre-Submission Meetings
Human Rights Commission Looking for Applicants!
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is seeking adult and student applicants to serve on the Human Rights Commission. Adult voting members serve five-year terms, whereas student non-voting members serve one-year terms from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, March 31, 2020 .

The Commission is tasked with recommending a civil rights policy to the County Executive and the County Council; may conduct surveys and studies concerning human rights conditions and problems; and has the authority to file a complaint when there is reason to believe a pattern or practice of discrimination exists.
 
To be eligible for consideration, candidates must be a Howard County resident, 18 years or older for adults and under the age of 18 for students, and able to attend meetings on third Thursday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Community Resources Campus, 9820 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia.

Applicants should send a resume and brief letter detailing their desire to serve on the Commission to Kimberly Pruim via by email to kpruim@howardcountymd.gov or by mail to: Howard County Government, Office of the County Executive, Attn: Kimberly Pruim, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043.

The names of eligible applicants will be submitted to the County Executive for approval and then to the County Council for confirmation.

For more information on the Human Rights Commission, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/County-Administration/Human-Rights/Boards-and-Commissions or contact Chaunta Taylor with the County’s Office of Human Rights at 410-313-6460 or via email HRC@howardcountymd.gov .
Want to Get in Touch?
Christiana Rigby
Councilwoman, District 3

crigby@howardcountymd.gov
410-313-2001
Colette Gelwicks
Special Assistant

cgelwicks@howardcountymd.gov
410-313-2421
Felix Facchine
District Aide

ffacchine@howardcountymd.gov
410-313-3108
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 daily updates on events, county news, legislative priorities, and Christiana's activity! Don't miss out on any District 3 news!