MAYOR AND COUNCIL
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND

Meeting No. 18-08
June 2, 2008

The Mayor and Council met in retreat at the Glenview Cottage at Rockville Civic Center Park on Monday, June 2, 2008 at approximately 8:00 p.m.

In attendance: City Manager Scott Ullery. 

Re: Convene

At approximately 8 p.m., Mayor Hoffmann requested a motion to go into public session.  Upon motion by Councilmember Britton, duly seconded by Councilmember Marcuccio, and passed with Mayor Hoffmann, and Councilmembers Britton and Marcuccio voting “aye,” and Councilmembers Gajewski and Robbins abstaining, the Mayor and Council voted to go into public session.

The Mayor then read aloud a memorandum from the City Attorney re “Applicability of Open Meetings Law to Mayor and Council Retreats,” dated May 30, 2008.  The Mayor stated that the closed meeting held earlier in the evening, which she attended with Councilmembers Britton and Marcuccio, and the City Manager, was not in violation of the Open Meetings Act.

Councilmember Robbins said she did not object to the meeting on grounds of violation of the Act, but because of the lack of an agenda and facilitator.  Councilmember Gajewski said he objected to the Mayor’s conclusion that the previous closed meeting was not in violation of the Act.

Re: Discussion regarding the Draft of the Mayor and Council’s Community Vision, Vision Priorities, and Operating Guidelines

Mayor Hoffmann described the agenda report, which contained the “Draft Mayor and Council Community Vision, Vision Priorities, and Operating Guidelines,” from the March 3, 2008, worksession.  She invited comment on the first topical area, “Distinct Neighborhoods, One City.”

Councilmember Marcuccio stated that it was fine, and observed that the section contained some of the same language as the previous Mayor and Council’s Vision.  Councilmember Britton said we should ensure that pedestrian needs are met in planning, in all of the City’s planning processes. 

Councilmember Britton also said that the budget process should be based on the Vision.  City Manager Ullery said the vision and priorities are referenced explicitly in the budget process, the budget document, and the quarterly reports.  From a general discussion of the budget process, a general consensus was apparent that the Mayor and Council would like a worksession for the fall budget preview that is more in depth than in the past, in terms of both the briefing provided by staff and the Mayor and Council’s discussion and direction.

At this point in the discussion, and in response to a video camera having been set up in the room, there was an inconclusive discussion as to whether or not the camera was recording.  Councilmembers Marcuccio and Britton stated their objections to the camera.  Councilmember Gajewski said it was important to have a record of the proceedings.

The discussion about the budget process resumed.  Tax rates and funding for non-profits were raised as areas needing greater attention during the fall budget preview.

The Mayor asked for discussion on the second Vision category, “A Cultural Destination.”  Councilmember Gajewski asked about the status of this item.  The City Manager responded that the staff was in the early stage of determining the scope of this project, and that it would begin in earnest once some key staff positions were filled, particularly in the Public Information Officer’s division.

On the Vision category of “Green City,” Mayor Hoffmann requested that the City’s outreach efforts be conducted in a way that attracts more publicity.  Councilmember Britton asked if the City should explore financial incentives for residents to adopt solar technology.  Councilmembers Britton and Robbins expressed interest in investigating other jurisdictions’ zoning codes for examples of incentives and requirements that promote this Vision category.  Mayor Hoffmann said she would like to also discuss “zip cars and flex cars,” in a regular session.

Under the Vision category of “Quality Built Environment,” discussion focused on the time frame for completing the new Zoning Ordinance and ending the development moratorium.  There was discussion about whether or not the Mayor and Council should cancel the August recess and work through August if the Zoning Ordinance is not adopted prior to the recess.  There was apparent consensus that a worksession with the Planning Commission should be scheduled.  There was also apparent consensus that the Mayor and Council should work toward approving the Ordinance as quickly as possible, but work on it with diligence and care.  Councilmember Marcuccio suggested that perhaps an outside expert should be hired to look at the draft code.  Mayor Hoffmann stated that the new Director for Community Planning and Development Services would serve that role.

There was no discussion on the Vision categories of “Exceptional City Services” and “Economic Development and Sustainability.”  On the subject of the Vision category “Community Engagement,”  Councilmember Marcuccio observed that many people still do not have access to electronic media, and depend on Rockville Reports for news about the city.  She said that citizen engagement with the City is lacking for those not connected with the city electronically.  Councilmember Robbins stated that she witnessed significant community engagement in the Town Square.  Mayor Hoffmann suggested that environment could provide an opportunity to promote engagement.

Re: Issues Identified for Further Discussion

Having concluded discussion of the Vision, the Mayor asked for discussion on the “issues identified for further discussion” during the January retreat.  Councilmember Gajewski said he would like more formality in the Mayor and Council meetings, for example, a system for the Councilmembers to electronically signal to the Mayor their desire to be recognized.   There was apparent support by the other members of the Mayor and Council for this suggestion.

Councilmember Gajewski added that he felt that a better understanding on how agendas are formed is needed.  He said that he understood that the staff would put items on the agenda, but he wasn’t clear how the members of the governing body could initiate agenda items.  The City Manager suggested that be done during the “Future Agenda” discussion.  There was apparent consensus that during “Future Agenda,” when two Council Members request a new item, the item be added to a future agenda.

Councilmember Gajewski suggested that the Mayor and Council not act immediately on items brought up under “New Business,” but bring such items to a future meeting, the following week if possible.  He suggested, and there was apparent consensus, that “New Business” could only be acted on during the same meeting it is raised if there is a 4-1 vote to do so.  The City Manager said that some items might take longer than a week for staff to prepare.

There was also general discussion about Rockville’s Boards and Commissions and their relationship to the Mayor and Council.  Mayor Hoffmann suggested there be annual worksessions for the Mayor and Council with the Transportation, Environment, Cultural Arts, and Human Rights Commissions.  Councilmember Gajewski stated that the Mayor and Council should consider whether or not their workload is already too great to add more work sessions.

Re: Adjournment

The Mayor adjourned the meeting at approximately 10 p.m.