MCCAB Priorities for 2012-13

Brainstorming MCCAB Priorities for 2012-13

            The MCCAB spent time brainstorming priority topics for the new fiscal year.  These included the following:

Quality of Life:

1. MCFRS: new FS 18 and implementation of EMS reimbursement fee program
2. Wheaton: design & planning of library/recreation center, redevelopment of CBD
3. MCPS: lack of adequate yearly progress at several schools (which can lead to state takeover)
4. Youth out-of-school time programs

Budget:

1. Understanding the budget process (briefing by OMB at the beginning of the year)

2. Performance—follow up on existing projects under development

3. Wheaton redevelopment/Wheaton library

4. Meeting w/civic groups to get budget input

5. Funding from speed cameras—how it is utilized

Land Use, Zoning and Transportation:

1.    Rapid Transit Vehicles (aka: Bus Rapid Transit)

2.    Traffic management and vehicular transportation issues (TPAR-how this works throughout the County)

3.    Understanding and interaction of planning process

4.    Pedestrian and cyclist safety as it pertains to growing development in Wheaton, Olney (entire mid-county area)—blinking lights when pedestrians are present

5.    Parking and towing issues in Wheaton

6.    Aspen Hill development and related traffic problems

7.    Issues with state managed roads

Executive Committee

1.    Create procedures for important last minute decisions that need to be made by the whole committee

2.    Work on outreach with pertinent departments on a regular basis

3.    Modernizing engagement and voting processes

4.    Socializing outside of committee

5.    Retreat for members at the beginning of the year

6.    Asking members to connect with specific departments

7.    Calendar of major milestones for the year

8.      Outreach to civic groups

MCCAB Executive Committee Draft June Meeting Agenda

MCCAB Executive Committee Meeting

June 5, 2012

DRAFT Agenda

6:30 pm – Call to Order

            -Major agenda items for June MCCAB meeting

                        Gas Station ZTA

                        Approval of ambulance fee letter

                        Fire rescue staffing

                        Visiting CERB members

                       

            -Initial brainstorming on priority areas for 2012-13

            -Selection of nomination committee

                        Creating position of Secretary

            -Discussion of MCCAB procedures

                        Special meeting notices

                        Committee rosters

7:00 pm - Adjourn

At the Quality of Life Committee meeting on June 5, at 8 pm, we will discuss the following DRAFT letter on the Emergency Medical Services Transport Insurance Reimbursement Act. Dear Mr. Leggett: On behalf of the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board (MCCAB), I am writing to express our support for the recently enacted Emergency Medical Services Transport Insurance Reimbursement Act. This Act will enable the County to collect an estimated $18 million a year from insurers to reimburse the County for the costs of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) services. This additional revenue will help the County absorb the anticipated shift of state pension costs. We are pleased that the Act includes the following provisions to safeguard County residents and enhance EMS services: • ensures that County residents will not pay out-of-pocket expenses for EMS transport; • establishes a patient advocate in the Office of Consumer Protection; • requires the Fire Chief to report semiannually to the County Council and County Executive regarding implementation of the Act; • requires the County to conduct a public outreach and education campaign; • requires the County to use revenues collected from insurers to supplement existing expenditures for EMS services, rather than supplanting existing spending. As you implement the EMS reimbursement program, we recommend that you focus special attention on the public outreach campaign mandated by the Act and measure the impact of this effort. This campaign is very important to assure residents that they will not be responsible for out-of-pocket costs related to EMS use. The revenue received under this program should go towards improving the County’s EMS system. Therefore, some of the new revenue should be used to develop additional EMS patient outcome measures. We recognize that the Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Service (MCFRS) has continued to make significant advancements in measuring EMS patient outcomes particularly in the area of treating patients experiencing heart attacks (STEMI) and sudden cardiac arrest. We urge MCFRS to develop additional measures and to include them as performance measures in the operating budget. [do we have other ideas for how the revenue should be used?] We will closely monitor the implementation of the Act, particularly its impact on residents who use EMS services and the performance of the EMS system. We look forward to working with you to improve EMS services in the County. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to share our views on this issue.

At the MCCAB's Quality of Life Committee meeting on May 1, 2012, the Committee approved a motion to support the bill introduced in April by the County Executive to create an EMS Reimbursement Program. The vote was 6 in favor, 1 against, and 3 abstentions. The full MCCAB will decide whether to support the bill at its next meeting on May 15.

Budget Subcommittee Agenda
11/14/11 at the Mid-county RSC

The agenda for the meeting is provided below:

 

1. Present CIP and PSP review process/work plan for consideration and comments

2. Review current CIP and PSP

3. Costco construction work stoppage and potential issues for the Committee to address

4. New budget and investment topics submitted from our Committee to add to the CIP and PSP portfolio for review and comments

5. Based on necessity, identify speakers to invite for future meetings from OMB, County Council, and other stakeholders

6. Consider a Committee name change to include job/community development and revitalization 

 

Agenda for the next Quality of Life Committee Nov. 1st

Agenda for MCCAB Quality of Life meeting
Tues, Nov. 1, 8-9 pm at Mid-County RSC

1. Legislation introduced by Councilmembers Andrews and Leventhal to prohibit certain loitering or prowling (bill is attached)

2. Councilmember Leventhal's legislation to sunset certain boards and commissions, including the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee and the Fire and Emergency Services Commission (this Board provides oversight to the MCFRS) (bill is attached)

3. Potential issues involving Fire Station 18 and Privacy World

Quality of Life committee report

At the Quality of Life Committee meeting on Sept. 12, the committee approved a motion to recommend that the MCCAB send a letter to the County Executive supporting a curfew law for the County. The draft letter is below and will be discussed at the MCCAB meeting on Sept. 20.

DRAFT


Mr. Isiah Leggett
County Executive
Rockville, MD 20850

Dear Mr. Leggett:


On behalf of the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board (MCCAB), I am writing to express the MCCAB’s support for legislation that would establish a curfew for minors under the age of 18. A curfew would help reduce juvenile violence and gang activity in the County. A recent incident in downtown Silver Spring illustrates the rationale for a curfew. On July 1, more than 80 teenagers and young adults—many of them gang members—fought for more than two hours until 2:30 a.m. (Concerns about Silver Spring spur consideration of curfew, Washington Post, July 26, 2011). If a curfew had been in place, officers could have ordered minors to go home and arrested those who refused before the fighting escalated. Although a curfew is not a panacea for underage crime, it would give police another tool to prevent juvenile crime that occurs late at night. A curfew law would also align Montgomery County with two of our neighboring jurisdictions—Prince George’s County and the District of Columbia—which have existing curfew laws.



We agree with your proposed bill that a curfew should operate from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Monday through Thursday and from 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A curfew should contain exceptions for minors who are accompanied by a parent, traveling in the County, engaging in employment, responding to an emergency, or homeless. A curfew should also exclude minors who are going to or returning home from a school, religious, entertainment, or recreational activity. In addition, violations of a curfew should be considered a civil offense. Finally, the County should monitor enforcement of a curfew law and issue a public report on the number of curfew violations and the impact of the law on juvenile crime and gang activity during curfew hours.



We look forward to working with you to improve public safety in our neighborhoods. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to share our views on the importance of a curfew law.


Sincerely,

Gamunu Wijetunge
Chair

CC: Valerie Ervin