Dear Friend,

Welcome to my Legislative Newsletter, highlighting Council Bills and Council Resolutions proposed by the Howard County Council.

As your County Council representative, I encourage you to review this information and lend your voice by testifying via email or in person. To voice your support or opposition, please email councilmail@howardcountymd.gov . The next Legislative Public Hearing will be Monday, April 20th at 7 PM off-site (meetings will be held virtually for the safety of all participants). To sign-up in advance to testify, click here .

It is my pleasure to serve you, your family, and residents of District 2. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office by calling (410) 313-2001 or by emailing ojones@howardcountymd.gov . I hope you will continue to stay engaged by visiting my council website at https://cc.howardcountymd.gov/Districts/District-2 .
Sincerely,
The Process
The County Council is responsible for adopting the laws of the County. The legislative process generally follows a monthly cycle:

  • 1st Monday- New legislation is introduced; legislation from prior month is given final consideration
  • 3rd Monday- Public hearing on legislation introduced that month
  • 4th Monday- Legislative work session, if needed

Council Bills must be signed or vetoed by the County Executive within 10 days of presentation of passed legislation, from the County Council.
Council-Related Legislation
Howard County Council Legislation

Unless otherwise noted, the following legislation is introduced by the Chairperson at the request of the County Executive.
Howard County Council Appointments and County Council Election Results for 2020
Maryland Association of Counties Legislative Committee
Representative: Councilmember Rigby, District 3
     Alternate: Councilmember Jung, District 4

National Associations of Counties
Representative: Councilmember Rigby, District 3
      Alternate: Councilmember Jung, District 4

Board of License Commissioners
Chair: Councilmember David Yungmann, District 5
Vice Chair: Councilmember Rigby, District 3

Zoning Board
Chair: Councilmember Dr. Opel Jones, District 2
Vice Chair: Councilmember David Yungmann, District 5

Howard County Council Chairpersons
Chair: Councilmember Jung, District 4
Vice Chair: Councilmember Walsh, District 1
March's Legislative Session Recap
Appointments
Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Chuck Bubeck to the Board of Directors of the Downtown Columbia Partnership.
Status:   Tabled (4/6/2020)

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Paul Casey to the Housing Commission.
Status:   Tabled (4/6/2020)
Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Lawrence R. Liebesman to the Environmental Sustainability Board.
Status:   Tabled (4/6/2020)
 
Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Daniel Lovette to the Howard County Design Advisory Panel. 
Status:   Confirmed

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Mia C. Williams to the Commission on Disabilities.
Status:   Tabled (4/6/2020)
Financial
Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION amending the Howard County Board of Education Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2020 to appropriate $7,200,000 from its Fiscal Year 2019 unassigned General Fund Balance to its Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget Fixed Charges category to reduce its Health Fund Deficit; and generally relating to the Board of Education Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2020.
Status:   Tabled (4/6/2020)
My Vote:  Yes

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
AN ACT pursuant to Section 612 of the Howard County Charter, approving a multiyear Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreement between Howard County, Maryland and KDC Solar Maryland, LLC or an affiliate entity for the purchase of electric power for a term of twenty-five years, with the option for renewals; authorizing the County Executive to take certain actions in connection with the Agreement.
Status:   Tabled (4/6/2020)

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION amending the Reimbursement rates applicable to one-time reimbursements for an investment in an on-site stormwater best management practice that reduces the impact on the public stormwater management system; providing that certain previously adopted rates shall remain in effect; and generally relating to schedules of rates adopted as part of the Watershed Protection and Restoration Fee.
Status:   Tabled (4/6/2020)

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION amending the purchase price formula used to determine the price that Howard County pays when purchasing development rights under the Agricultural Land Preservation Program; and specifying that the purchase price formula shall be effective upon passage of the Resolution and shall remain in effect until changed or repealed by Resolution of the County Council.
Status:   Tabled (4/6/2020)

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION endorsing and authorizing the Howard County Executive to file an application with the Maryland Transit Administration of the Maryland Department of Transportation for certain grants under the Federal Transit Act; indicating certain endorsement by the County Executive; and requiring certain copies be sent to the Maryland Department of Transportation.
Status:   Confirmed
General
Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION adding certain sites to the Cemeteries and Grave Sites Inventory.
Status:   Tabled (4/6/2020)

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION supplementing and amending the Historic Sites Inventory for Howard County by adding two properties to the Inventory and by amending address information related to properties already on the Inventory.
Status:   Tabled (4/6/2020)

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION endorsing an application by the Patapsco Heritage Greenway, Inc. to the Maryland Heritage Area Authority for approval of amendments to the Patapsco Valley Heritage Area boundaries.
Status:   Passed as amended
My Vote:  Yes

Introduced by: Deb Jung Co- Sponsored by: Christiana Rigby and Liz Walsh
AN ACT to require certain projects to document that the project meets specified bird-friendly design standards; providing for a delay in enforcement of this Act; and generally relating to environmental design.
Status:   Tabled (4/6/2020)

Introduced by: David Yungmann
AN ACT to allow a landlord to show a model or similar unit to a prospective tenant if the unit to be leased is not vacant under specified circumstances; to repeal the authority of a tenant to terminate a lease without penalty if certain violations are not abated within a certain time; to allow a lease to provide that a tenant will pay specified costs under specified circumstances; to alter the lease payment grace period; to allow for the collection of specified charges; to repeal the prohibition against a lease stating that it is a contract under seal; making a technical correction; and generally relating to landlord-tenant relations.
Status:   Tabled (4/6/2020)

Introduced by: Christiana Rigby Co-sponsored by: Opel Jones and Liz Walsh
AN ACT amending the Howard County Code to establish a Notice and a Requirement to provide an offer to the County and Housing Commission to Purchase Rental Housing offered for sale in the County; and generally relating to the sale of Rental Housing.
Status:   Tabled (4/6/2020)

Introduced by: Liz Walsh Co-sponsored by: Deb Jung and Christiana Rigby
AN ACT amending the Howard County Code to adjust, beginning on July 1, 2020, the use of the Housing Unit Allocation Rolling Average provision as defined in the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance; and generally relating to the Housing Unit Allocation Rolling Average provision.
Status:   Passed
My Vote:  Yes
Tabled
Introduced by: Liz Walsh
AN ACT altering the number of consecutive years a project or phase of a project must be retested if a project fails one or more components of the school capacity test of the Adequate Public Facilities Act of Howard County.
Status:   Extended Life

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of Glenelg Country School
AN ACT permitting a publicly accessible electric scooter sharing system for short-term electric scooter trips on certain County rights-of way; requiring certain information in support of an application for a permit; requiring permit fees as part of the permit; and generally related to electric scooters on public rights-of-way in Howard County.
Status:   Passed as Amended
Introduced Legislation
Appointments
Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Alicia Altamirano, Esquire, to the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Donna Bauer, GPHR, PHR, to the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Chuck Chandler to the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Sara Cochran to the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Andrew Heiliger, MBA, to the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Leslie Iampieri, LCSW-C, to the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Monica Diane Morris Krebs, MS, to the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Samantha Samuel-Nakka, M. Sc., to the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Rev. Delavago “Del” Scruggs to the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Sara Smoley, LCSW-C, to the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Jon Steuernagle, MD, to the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Yvonne Loftin Woodard, LICSW, LCSW-C, to the Human Trafficking Prevention Coordination Council.
Financial
Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION adopting the Howard County Consolidated Plan for Federal Fiscal Years 2020- 2024 for housing including the Federal Fiscal Year 2020 Action Plan Community Development Block Grant and Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Consolidated Plan Schedule.
General
Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
AN ACT amending the Classification Plan for Howard County to amend the minimum education and experience requirements for employees in the Department of Fire and Rescue Services; and generally relating to amendments to the Howard County Classification Plan.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION adopting the Howard County Consolidated Plan for Federal Fiscal Years 2020- 2024 for housing including the Federal Fiscal Year 2020 Action Plan Community Development Block Grant and Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Consolidated Plan Schedule. 

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION calling the County Council of Howard County, Maryland into legislative session on specified dates.

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
AN ACT amending the Classification Plan for Howard County to amend the minimum education and experience requirements for employees in the Department of Fire and Rescue Services; and generally relating to amendments to the Howard County Classification Plan.
Status:   Passed (4/6/2020)
My Vote:  Yes

Introduced by: Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION amending the Howard County Council Rules of Procedure to provide for oral testimony via electronic means during certain states of emergency; and generally relating to the County Council’s Rules of Procedure.
Status:   Passed (4/6/2020)
My Vote:  Yes
Tabled
Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive at the request of Dorsey Overlook, LLLP
AN ACT declaring that a portion of Old Maryland Route 108, containing approximately 1.087
acres, is no longer needed for a public purpose and authorizing the County Executive to
waive the advertising and bidding requirements of Section 4.201 of the Howard County
Code in order to convey the County’s property interest to the developer of the adjacent
property, Dorsey Overlook, LLLP.

Introduced by: The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive
A RESOLUTION adopting the Housing Unit Allocation Chart for Fiscal Year 2020 pursuant to the Adequate Public Facilities Act of Howard County.
Upcoming Meetings
Unless otherwise noted, the County Council will hold its meetings in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD. The next meetings are as follows:

  • Thursday, April 16, 2020; BUDGET: Capital Budget Public Hearing (Off Site; Meetings will be held virtually for the safety of all participants.)
  • Monday, April 20, 2020; BUDGET: Capital Budget Work Session (Off Site; Meetings will be held virtually for the safety of all participants.)
  • Monday, April 20, 2020; Legislative Public Hearing (Off Site; Meetings will be held virtually for the safety of all participants. )
  • Saturday, April 25, 2020; BUDGET: Capital Budget Work Session (Off Site; Meetings will be held virtually for the safety of all participants.)
  • Monday, April 27, 2020; Legislative and Budget Work Session (Off Site; Meetings will be held virtually for the safety of all participants)

Please note these date are subject to change. To access the most up-to-date calendar of meetings in it entirety, click here .

Cant attend a meeting but still want to stay involved? You can stream the Council's sessions online and click on the meeting you would like to watch. The Council's sessions are also streamed in real time on this website.