Keeping Up with Christiana!
|
|
Greetings!
Welcome to our October Newsletter! This month, Howard County, the state of Maryland, and the United States of America suffered a terrible loss with the passing of Congressman Elijah Cummi
ngs. Congressman Cummings was an unwavering voice for truth, justice, and dignity in our country. In all that he did, Congressman Cummings focused on the legacy that we would leave behind for our children. He often said “our children are the living messengers we send to a future we will never see.”
Today, thousands of people touched by the life of Congressman Cummings gathered in Baltimore at his funeral. As we reflect on the lessons and leadership that Congressman Cummings shared with us, I hope that we all dedicate ourselves to that brighter, hopeful future that he worked so tirelessly to build for our community.
|
|
Coming out of our September legislative session, the County Council is considering a large docket of legislation in October and November. You can find details on some of the bills and resolutions before the County Council below. For the full list of October and November legislation, please visit
this website
, where you can read the legislation.
|
|
As we continue into the Fall 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. Wishing you a safe, happy, and healthy October!
Yours in service,
|
|
Christiana Mercer Rigby
Councilwoman, District 3
|
|
|
September Legislative Highlights
|
I was proud to pass several pieces of legislation with my colleagues at our legislative session on October 7th, including
CR112-2019
, a resolution supporting the Board of Education's efforts to integrate Howard County Public Schools by socioeconomic factors.
Fortunately, there were no substantive changes to CR112 that would remove the history and important context within the Integration Resolution, and the County Council was able to unite on language that was passed in a 4-1 vote. Additionally, the Council amended the resolution to include language calling on the Council to “examine land-use and zoning policies, housing goals, and transportation access and to recommend policy and funding options to help support actions taken by the Howard County Public School System.”
With this charge, I look forward to continuing to work on policies that will help integrate our communities in Howard County.
|
The Council also passed several pieces of legislation that would strengthen stormwater protections in Howard County, including CR123-2019, which strengthens flooding standards in the Tiber Branch and Plumtree watersheds.
The Council also considered CB38-2019, legislation sponsored by Councilwoman Liz Walsh that would alter requirements in the Patapsco Lower North Branch Watershed. After careful consideration, I ultimately did not support this legislation. Several aspects of the legislation were unclear with unintended consequences for the region, and I believe that legislation should be grounded in data, balanced through deliberative discussion, and have clear, detailed solutions and outcomes.
|
Given these considerations, I am proud to join Councilwoman Walsh in re-filing our Scenic Roads legislation (
CB63-2019
) for introduction in November, which was considered by the Council earlier this year. This update to Howard County's scenic roads standards would expand buffers along our scenic roads from 35 feet to 100 feet, as well as adding additional accountability measures for projects along these roads.
In addition to the Scenic Roads update, I am cosponsoring County Executive Ball's legislation this month to update the Forest Conservation Act (
CB62-2019
). This update contains critical measures which will ensure that reforestation is taking place onsite when new construction occurs. Additionally, these updates implement stricter standards for reforestation and afforestation, increasing incentives to retain and replant trees in the same watershed.
You can find a full description on these two pieces of legislation below.
|
|
This month, the County Council is continuing to hold discussions on
CB42-2019
, legislation I introduced with Councilwoman Jung that would raise the school facilities surcharge in Howard County.
This surcharge is paid by developers for new residential construction in Howard County, and the revenues help fund our school construction. However, the surcharge has not been raised for
15 years
, and an increase is essential to ensuring that our schools have the funding they need to address severe overcrowding.
While there are several outstanding components to this legislation that the Council is working on, I am hopeful that we will pass this legislation this Fall and provide critical funding for school construction in Howard County.
|
|
Additional legislation being considered in October includes:
- CB51-2019: legislation prohibiting the use of certain pesticides on County land except in certain, restricted circumstances. Introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.
- CB55-2019: legislation establishing a moratorium on solar projects that are developed with conditional uses in Howard County. Introduced by David Yungmann.
- CB50-2019: legislation allowing the use of Disability Income Housing Units (DIHU) as an optional method of providing moderate income housing units (MIHU) in certain instances. Introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.
|
|
On Thursday, October 24th, The County Council and the County Executive pre-filed legislation for our November Legislative Session. Next month, I will be working hard on several pieces of legislation, including:
- CB62-2019: An update to Howard County's Forest Conservation Act. As Howard County continues to build out, one of my greatest concerns is that we have been paving over the East and planting over the West of the county. This update to the Forest Conservation Act takes significant steps to correct this disparity, ensuring that the vast majority of reforestation is taking place on-site of new construction. Additionally, these updates implement stricter standards for reforestation and afforestation, increasing incentives to retain and replant trees in the same watershed.
- CB63-2019: An update to Howard County's scenic roads requirements, which would expand natural buffers along scenic roads from 35-feet to 100-feet and add accountability measures for project approval along these roads. District 3 is home to several scenic roads that would benefit significantly from these increased protections.
- CB64-2019: Legislation establishing a 5-cent fee on disposable plastic bag use in Howard County. The average family in the United States uses roughly 1,500 plastic bags every year, yet very few of these bags end up being recycled and many end up in our streams, trees, oceans, and habitats. With this fee on plastic bag use, Howard County will join dozens of jurisdictions that have already taken this step toward a cleaner and more environmentally-conscious world.
|
|
|
|
Oct. 28, 10:00am Work Session
Nov. 4, 7:00pm Legislative Session
Nov. 15, 1:00pm Monthly Meeting
Nov. 18, 7:00pm Public Hearing
Nov. 22, 10:00am Work Session
Dec. 2, 7:00pm Legislative Session
Dec. 9, 8:30am Joint Meeting with the Board of Ed.
Dec. 9, 2:00pm Monthly Meeting
December: Council is in Recess
|
|
Upcoming Community Events
|
|
|
If there are any community events that you would like us to include in upcoming newsletters, please email
ffacchine@howardcountymd.gov
with the event information.
|
|
Upcoming District 3 Pre-Submission Meetings
|
|
Small Business Saturday is coming up on Saturday, November 30th? Do you own, shop at, or visit a small business in District 3 that you would like Christiana to visit on Small Business Saturday?
If so, please email crigby@howardcountymd.gov with your suggestion!
|
|
|
Christiana Mercer 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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
