Greetings!


Welcome to my Legislative Newsletter, highlighting Council Resolutions and Council Bills 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. To sign-up in advance to testify at the upcoming Public Hearing click here.
It is my pleasure to serve you, your family, and the 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- Legislative Public Hearing on legislation introduced that month
  • Following the Legislative Public Hearing a Legislative Work Session is held, if needed


Council Bills must be signed or vetoed by the County Executive within 10 days of the Council's presentation of passed legislation.

Howard County Council Appointments and County Council Election Results for 2025

Howard County Council Chairpersons

Chair: Councilmember Liz Walsh, District 1

Vice-Chair: Councilmember Opel Jones, District 2


Zoning Board

Chair: Councilmember Opel Jones, District 2

Vice-Chair: Councilmember Deb Jung, District 4


Board of License Commissioners

Chair: Councilmember David Yungmann, District 5

Vice-Chair: Councilmember Christiana Rigby, District 3


Maryland Association of Counties Legislative Committee

Representative: Councilmember Deb Jung, District 4

Alternate: Councilmember David Yungmann, District 5


National Associations of Counties

Representative: Christiana Rigby, District 3

Alternate: Councilmember Deb Jung, District 4

Final Consideration

Appointments


CR152-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Short Title: Appointment- Arthur Gold- Adult Public Guardianship Review Board Title: A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Arthur Gold to the Adult Public Guardianship Review Board.

My Vote: Yes

Status: Approved


CR153-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Short Title: Appointment– Colin Fraser - Adult-Use Cannabis Advisory Panel Title: A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Colin Fraser to the Adult-Use Cannabis Advisory Panel.

My Vote: Yes

Status: Approved


Reappointments


CR154-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Short Title: Reappointment- Sue Bryant - LGBTQIA+ Commission Title: A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Sue Bryant to the LGBTQIA+ Commission.

My Vote: Yes

Status: Approved


CR155-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Short Title: Reappointment- David C. Jordan, SPHR, SHRM-SCP – Pension Oversight Commission Title: A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of David C. Jordan, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, to the Pension Oversight Commission.

My Vote: Yes

Status: Approved


CR156-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Short Title: Reappointment- Ellen Flynn Giles – Historic Preservation Commission Title: A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Ellen Flynn Giles to the Historic Preservation Commission.

My Vote: Yes

Status: Approved


CR157-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Short Title: Reappointment- Julianne Danna – Historic Preservation Commission Title: A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Julianne Danna to the Historic Preservation Commission.

My Vote: Yes

Status: Approved


CR158-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Short Title: Reappointment- Gabriel Moreno- La Alianza Latina Commission Title: A RESOLUTION confirming the reappointment of Gabriel Moreno to the La Alianza Latina Commission.

My Vote: Yes

Status: Approved


General


CB60-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Short Title: Amendment - Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency. Title: AN ACT amending the membership of the Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency to add an ex officio member and to amend the number of members accordingly; and generally relating to boards and commissions. expires – 01/13/2025; extended – 02/18/2025; extended twice – 03/24/2025

My Vote: Yes

Status: Passed


CR159-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Short Title: Conveyance of a portion of a 20” public right of way easement – approximately 930 square feet Title: A RESOLUTION pursuant to Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code declaring that a portion of a 20’ public right of way easement to make openings and excavations, and to lay construct and maintain drains, water pipes and other municipal utilities and services containing approximately 930 square feet is no longer needed by the County for public purposes; authorizing the County Executive to terminate the easement interest and convey the property to the fee simple owner, Trotter 5857, LLC; waiving the advertising and bidding requirements of Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code in order to convey the easement interest to Trotter 5857, LLC; and providing that the County Executive is not bound to terminate the easement interests if he finds that the easements may have a public use.

My Vote: Yes

Status: Passed as amended


CR160-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Short Title: Conveyance to Howard Community college - Approximately 4.848 Acres – 10650 Hickory Ridge Road Title: A RESOLUTION pursuant to Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code declaring that 4.848 acres of land owned by Howard County, Maryland located at 10650 Hickory Ridge Road, Columbia, is no longer needed by the County for public purposes; authorizing the County Executive to convey the property to Howard Community College; waiving the advertising and bidding requirements of Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code in order to convey the property; and providing that the County Executive is not bound to convey the property if he finds that it may have a further public use.

My Vote: Yes

Status: Passed


CR161-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Short Title: Approving – Urban Renewal Project – Long Reach Village Center Title: A RESOLUTION approving the urban renewal project for the Long Reach Village Center in Columbia pursuant to Section 13.1106 of the Howard County Code.

Status: Tabled


CR162-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Short Title: Conveyance – 7.71 acres located at 8775 Cloudleap Court to Columbia Concepts, LLC Title: A RESOLUTION declaring that certain real property containing approximately 7.71 acres located at 8775 Cloudleap Court, Columbia, Maryland and acquired by the County pursuant to the urban renewal project initiated by Council Resolution No. 22- 2014 is no longer needed by the County for public purposes; authorizing the County Executive to sell the property to Columbia Concepts, LLC or its subsidiary; waiving the advertising and bidding requirements of Section 4.201 of the Howard County Code; providing that the County Executive is not bound to sell the property if he finds that it may have a further public use.

Status: Tabled


CB61-2024 - Introduced by Liz Walsh, Christiana Rigby, Deb Jung, David Yungmann Short Title: Inspector General – Establishment Title: AN ACT establishing the Office of the Inspector General; specifying the selection, term, qualifications, and responsibilities of the Inspector General; providing for the referral of certain matters; specifying the funding and powers of the Office of the Inspector General; requiring certain reports; establishing the Inspector General Citizen Board; specifying the composition, term, and responsibilities of the Inspector General Citizen Board; amending the whistleblower protection statute; and generally relating to the Office of the Inspector General. expires – 01/13/2025; extended – 02/18/2025; extended twice – 03/24/2025

My Vote: Yes

Status: Passed as amended


CB62-2024 (ZRA 208) - Introduced by the Chairperson at the request of Demirel Plaza, LLC Short Title: (ZRA 208) To allow School, Commercial as a permitted use in the OT zoning district. Title: AN ACT amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to allow School, Commercial as a permitted use in the Office Transition (OT) zoning district; and generally relating to the OT zoning district. expires – 01/13/2025; extended – 02/18/2025; extended twice – 03/24/2025

My Vote: Yes

Status: Passed


CB63-2024 (ZRA 209) - Introduced by The Chair at the request of The Weinman Company Short Title: (ZRA 209) To allow Self Storage, Indoor as a permitted use, allow for the reduction of retail square footage, and allow for residential uses in the CAC zoning district. Title: AN ACT amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to allow Self Storage, Indoor as a permitted use in the Corridor Activity Center (CAC) zoning district; to allow for the reduction of first floor retail space in the CAC zoning district; to allow for certain residential uses in the CAC zoning district; and generally relating to the CAC zoning district. expires – 01/13/2025; extended – 02/p18/2025; extended twice – 03/24/2025

My Vote: Yes

Status: Passed


CB64-2024 (ZRA 210) - Introduced by The Chair at the request of Tradepoint Atlantic, LLC Co-sponsor(s) Liz Walsh, Opel Jones, Christiana Rigby, David Yungmann Short Title: (ZRA 210) To allow Warehousing, within a flex space as permitted use in Corridor Employment (CE) zoning district. Title: AN ACT amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to allow Warehousing, within a flex space as a permitted use in the Corridor Employment (CE) zoning district. expires – 01/13/2025; extended – 02/18/2025; extended twice – 03/24/2025

My Vote: Yes

Status: Passed as amended

Tabled

Appointments


CR117-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Short Title: Appointment- Andrea Rizkallah- La Alianza Latina Commission Title: A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Andrea Rizkallah to the La Alianza Latina Commission.

My Vote: Yes

Status: Removed from table and approved


CR138-2024 - Introduced by The Chairperson at the request of the County Executive Short Title: Appointment- Bruce Fulton- Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency Title: A RESOLUTION confirming the appointment of Bruce Fulton to the Board to Promote Self-Sufficiency

My Vote: Yes

Status: Removed from table and approved


General


CB59-2024 (ZRA 207) - Introduced by The Chair at the request of Normandy Venture Limited Partnership Short Title: (ZRA 207) To allow Self-Storage Facilities, Indoor as a conditional use in the B-2 zoning district Title: AN ACT amending the Howard County Zoning Regulations to allow Self-Storage Facilities, Indoor as a conditional use in the Business: General (B-2) zoning district, under certain conditions; and generally relating to Self-Storage Facilities, Indoor uses expires – 12/16/2024; extended – 01/21/2025; extended twice – 02/24/2025

My Vote: Yes

Status: Removed from table and passed as amended

Upcoming Council 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. Meetings will be held in person and virtually. The next meetings are as follows:


  • Council Joint meeting with Board of Education: Monday, December 9th at 9:45 AM
  • Offices Closed - Happy Holidays: Wednesday, December 25th
  • Offices Closed - Happy New Year 2025: Wednesday, January 1st
  • Legislative Session: Monday, January 6th at 7 PM

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