Rockville City Council Agenda: A New City Manager and Briefings on Planning, the Chamber and China

A new city manager, updates from the city's chamber of commerce and the Charter Review Commission, and a briefing by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments highlight the Rockville City Council’s agenda for Monday.  

The council also is scheduled to hear an update on a visit by city officials to Jiaxing, China for a mayor’s summit in June.

The council meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The meeting will be broadcast live on Rockville 11.

New city manager

The council is scheduled to hold what is expected to be a pro forma vote approving Barbara Matthews as Rockville’s new city manager.

The Mayor and Council announced Matthews’ selection as city manager on July 9 following a national search. She will be introduced for the first time on Monday.

Matthews comes to Rockville after eight years in the same role with the City of Takoma Park. She will make $199,000 a year in her new post, according to a city news release.

At the Sept. 24 council meeting, the Mayor and Council thanked Jennifer Kimball for her nearly 10 months of service as acting city manager. Kimball is expected to stay on as assistant city manager.

The council also is scheduled to vote on a money purchase retirement plan for Matthews.

Council of Governments briefing

Staff from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is scheduled to brief the council on the regional organization’s activities, including the Region Forward planning guide. The guide, created by a coalition of government, business, civic and environmental leaders, focuses on themes of accessibility, sustainability, prosperity and livability, according to a city staff report. It establishes nine regional goals related to:

• Land Use.
• Transportation.
• Environment.
• Climate and Energy.
• Economy.
• Housing.
• Health.
• Education.
• Public Safety.

COG staff is also expected to brief the council on the development of “activity centers” identified for growth by local jurisdictions.

Identifying the centers “is aimed at aligning local, state and regional resources—and attracting federal funds—so that they can have the maximum impact,” according to the staff report.

Rockville’s centers are:

• King Farm/Rockville Research Center/Shady Grove.
• Montgomery College.
• Rockville (Metro/Town Center).
• Tower Oaks.
• Twinbrook Metro.

Click here for a regional map of the centers. The COG board, of which Rockville Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio is a member, is expected to consider—and possibly approve—a map of centers across the region in November, the report said.

Chamber and Charter Review Commission updates

The council will hear updates from Rockville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Andrea Jolly and from Charter Review Commission chairman Steven VanGrack. The commission, which is charged with examining what the document that establishes Rockville’s rules for governance says about city elections, will hold the first of five town hall meetings on Tuesday. Click here for details.

China trip

The council is scheduled to hear a presentation on a trip by Rockville representatives to Jiaxing, China.

A four-member Rockville delegation, led by City Councilman Mark Pierzchala, attended the Jiaxing International Sister City Mayor's Summit on June 21-24.

Rockville has had a sister city relationship with Jiaxing since 2009, when Jiaxing officials visited Rockville, according to a Rockville staff report. Jiaxing officials are scheduled to visit Rockville for a second time on Nov. 2-4.