Recommendation
Approve the Draft Correspondence for Signature and Distribution

Discussion
Following the Mayor and Council meeting of November 23, 2009, staff was directed to prepare a letter to the Montgomery County Executive expressing the City's objections to the County Master Plan for Town Center facilities. The purpose of the letter was to request a joint meeting between the Mayor and Council, County Executive and County Council to express the City's concerns and discuss implementation of the County Master Plan.

The Mayor and Council reviewed the initial draft of the attached letter at their regular meeting of December 15, 2009. Based upon comments received at this meeting, staff has made the necessary revisions and is presenting the letter for Mayor and Council approval. Per Mayor and Council direction the letter will be sent individually to each County Council member and the County Executive. As directed, copies will also be sent to nearby homeowner's association presidents, the TCAT chair and the legislative delegation.

Staff was asked at the December 15th meeting to include a discussion of the Town Center Action Committee's (TCAT) comments on the County Master Plan in the correspondence. The County made a presentation of the County Judicial Center Annex to TCAT at their meeting of September 6, 2009. There were comments from members in attendance, however there was no vote taken and no meeting minutes were kept. Therefore, staff was unable to find any documented comments to include in the draft correspondence.

Staff was also asked to look at a potential range of dates for the proposed joint meeting. A suggestion has been made that the Mayor and Council consider the dates between the end of the County Council's holiday recess (January 12, 2010) and before committee worksessions on the budget begin the second week of February, 2010. Another possibility is the use of the meetings of the Maryland Municipal League between Montgomery County and other County municipalities. These meetings are scheduled for February 18, 2010 and March 18, 2010.

Attachments

Department Head:



Susan Swift, Director of Community Planning and Development Services
Approved on: 01/04/2010

City Manager:

Scott Ullery, City Manager
Approved on: 01/04/2010