Council to Vote on Town Square Parking and Signs

Rules for using city facilities for political campaigns and plans for the parking garages and signage at Rockville Town Square highlight the agenda for tonight’s meeting of the Rockville City Council. 

The meeting, at 7 at City Hall, is the council’s only meeting for August.

Among the agenda items scheduled are:

• Adoption of changes to rules governing the use of public facilities for campaign activities.
  The proposed new policy would allow the rental of city facilities for political and campaign events “under the same terms and conditions as the general public.” The city’s policy barring the use of city funding or staff for political events would remain unchanged.
• Approval of an agreement to lease the three Town Square parking garages to Federal Realty Investment Trust.
  The 50-year agreement would allow Federal Realty to set rates and provide for validation of parking, effective Sept. 1. Federal Realty, which owns and operates Town Square, would be responsible for the operation, maintenance and improvement of the garages.
• Approval of signs for a proposed grocery store in Town Square.
  Signage—including a sign and naming rights on the Town Square Plaza pavilion—have become  that wants to open a store in Town Square.
  The revisions to the sign plan for Town Square include approval of:
  • Exterior signage for the grocery store.
  • Locations of door and window openings for the grocery store.
  • Facade details and bus stop design along North Washington Street.
• Introduction of an ordinance to establish a city ethics commission and update the city’s ethics laws.
  Under city code, the mayor and council instruct the city attorney to pursue allegations of ethics violations in court. A state law passed in 2010 gave counties and municipalities until October 2011 to establish an agency responsible for administering the ethics law.
  The five-member commission would be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council.
  Montgomery County, and the cities of Frederick, Gaithersburg, Takoma Park and Laurel all have ethics commissions.
  The state law also requires that the city update its ethics rules, including enacting specific prohibitions on gift giving and conflicts of interest and expanding financial disclosure requirements.
• A proclamation declaring Aug. 29 to Sept. 3 “Mattie Stepanek Week in Rockville.”

After the meeting, the council will recess until Sept. 12.