[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6218800,"mediaKeyId","3625305-efb38e38644489f1136742aaaf77b24e","parentId",3625305,"title","Gaithersburg proposes three legislative action requests to Maryland Municipal League, seeks endorsement","audioSeconds",527,"startMs",3440000,"endMs",3967000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3625305-efb38e38644489f1136742aaaf77b24e&start=3440&end=3967","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3625305-efb38e38644489f1136742aaaf77b24e/thumbnail_3440000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6218800/Gaithersburg-City/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Gaithersburg-proposes-three-legislative-action-requests-to-Maryland-Municipal-League-seeks-endorsement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218800-143c9dab92b1a0c4928d445ed278912f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183551&Signature=CGVPh2iwQUJ414AkpQ4SKfSe1Hi~hlTQDSnpcTiwuVvDn05cmQSBsRLuZCFXFmItqRPVNV7Su4VaHk9nBQme8LQmJoipimRl2JvShAkLOltbHH3eM0qProPrqO0G0WVX0NWbfLRi9CNqkc3TOyJEJYiC2Z6QgEIqIhI42~hp71-Td3ozWbR1YThwnqD9oB~0C0Cce4JRahOKdtavGPmnkWT9yi1yV6d81Gyx9VUSLXRJwnqiVUfLKIk1v3qGu66NJvrzOG10C1udTDwsFdWUf13VOqpPPge2klNyLjVtu4ipzQTS0Lru049n8nu3uBbpOLJEOl2rku~rl0wk8ySF6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Gaithersburg, MD","date","2025-06-03T01:05:39Z","article","City staff asked the mayor and council on June 2 to endorse three Legislative Action Requests (LARs) that the City of Gaithersburg would submit to the Maryland Municipal League for consideration in the 2026 legislative session. The items are: an out-of-cycle adjustment mechanism for commercial property assessments administered by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT); expansion of the admissions and amusement (A&A) tax to cover food and beverage at businesses where the A&A tax applies; and a municipal exemption or opt-out for the state family and medical leave insurance program for municipalities that already offer equivalent or superior benefits.

Staff framed the requests as requests for MML advocacy, not as binding city legislation, and asked the council to endorse the three priorities so MML could consider them for its 2026 platform. The three items are intended to address municipal revenue timing, local tax parity and the fiscal impact of a statewide paid‑leave program on local employers.

On the first item, staff described Maryland's requirement that real property be assessed at least once every three years and said SDAT currently cannot adjust a commercial assessment out of cycle except in limited circumstances. Staff proposed that SDAT be enabled to adjust assessments out of cycle when a commercial sale or property tax worksheet shows an increase greater than 20% of present assessed value, or allow county or local governments to initiate an out-of-cycle appeal. \"Three years is a long time for cities and towns to wait before revenue is realized,\" staff told the council.

The second LAR would revisit legislation considered last session to expand the A&A tax to include food and beverage sold at businesses subject to the A&A tax; staff noted similar proposals had been introduced but failed to advance. The third LAR—described by staff as \"swinging for the fences\"—would ask that municipalities be exempted from or allowed to opt out of the state family and medical leave insurance program if the municipality already offers comparable or superior benefits; staff said several other jurisdictions expressly exempt local governments or allow opt-in rather than mandatory participation.

Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about how assessments are currently calculated and how other states treat vacancy and income assumptions; staff described the LAR on assessments as an incremental, realizable change rather than a wholesale revaluation approach.

Staff did not record a formal vote to transmit the three LARs to MML during the meeting. Councilmembers generally discussed the merits, asked for additional information and indicated preliminary support; staff said they would continue outreach and follow up with additional details to the council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gaithersburg Mayor & Council Meeting: June 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff asked the mayor and council on June 2 to endorse three Legislative Action Requests (LARs) that the City of Gaithersburg would submit to the Maryland Municipal League for consideration in the 2026 legislative session.","taxTitle","Gaithersburg City, Montgomery County, Maryland","taxId",4997,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6218810,"Council reviews 25% design for 12 South Summit building; plaza and public art highlighted",537,857000,1394000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3625305-efb38e38644489f1136742aaaf77b24e&start=857&end=1394","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3625305-efb38e38644489f1136742aaaf77b24e/thumbnail_857000.jpg","/articles/6218810/Gaithersburg-City/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Council-reviews-25-design-for-12-South-Summit-building-plaza-and-public-art-highlighted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218810-9e5c443c1ee87272488b00fe097d8d33/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183551&Signature=QUuTdnvM-d1RWPWFBMRP3NK94-XEoKqHf1olP8tPcjZekMqN5PWZbAnX8kK91cFnV-K9qMH8tX~edZqV5j39RQomJJUkgz~1EL86vA1ya1k34pJT1tzdRnmF-VsuiV0l3VK7JJDJ-N9wOruIn8UnicT3Cr~IlgDnb~84gzCnFUMTf797fu7DUfSGF0HvqHb6o5tplo~jSbc3rF~UijVwxTGCegCuyqJX7Pv1jxF2zn8~ZBdDIqdinsPDBjspQBqADtnwhkPAJBRWBRzxem4bh3pLJCybVlV2uOTYfmhh0rfSJYNcSG~fYWzYQjQHFMO0Rp4346p5JBT0bTEcFjmqKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Gaithersburg reviewed a 25% design for renovations to the 12 South Summit Avenue building and its adjacent lot during the June 2 council meeting, with staff and the project architect outlining a plan that emphasizes a campus-style connection to the nearby 16 South building and a new public plaza in place of a proposed vehicle drive.

The presentation mattered to councilmembers because the project will reshape the site between the train station and the municipal campus, create pedestrian circulation, and set the design vocabulary for future public art and wayfinding near City Hall.

Project staff said the current design replaces the previously proposed drive with a plaza that will include seating, new paving, planters and stormwater management, retrofit an existing dumpster enclosure, and provide identity elements such as planters and flagpoles at the building entrance. The team proposed matching window and exterior materials to the adjacent 16 South building, adding building-mounted banners and consistent site lighting, and using a tensioned suspension cable spanning between the two buildings as the structural base for future public art.

Project architect Jessica Swaggart said the work to date amounts to about \"25%\" design and listed completed tasks including existing-condition verification, lobby layout work, a preliminary energy report and a preliminary code review with authorities. Swaggart noted that the team is still refining the site plan and anticipates a more detailed site plan in the middle of the month.

Council members asked detailed questions. Council member Neil asked, \"Have you worked with our local utilities before?\" and the architect replied, \"Yes. I have,\" noting the team wants to coordinate early once mechanical systems are finalized. Council members also pressed the design team to include visible signage explaining sustainable features; Swaggart said the team plans site signage to communicate sustainability choices.

Other council comments focused on visibility and sight lines. Council member Jim McNulty, speaking in his role as cultural arts liaison, welcomed the suspended-cable concept and said the Cultural Arts Advisory Committee would be eager to consider artist proposals. Council member Lisa urged the team to balance buffering along the rail with keeping the main entrance visible from Old Town Park Plaza and passing trains.

Staff warned there may be phasing requirements during construction to keep occupants on the fourth floor safe and code-compliant; further coordination with utilities, cost estimating, and permitting will follow the 50% design phase. The presentation did not include any formal vote or decision.

The project team plans to finish remaining design decisions by the end of the quarter and then proceed to documentation, permitting and bidding. Councilmembers indicated support for the design direction and interest in updates showing detailed site plans, sight-line studies and sustainability signage information.","The City of Gaithersburg reviewed a 25% design for renovations to the 12 South Summit Avenue building and its adjacent lot during the June 2 council meeting, with staff and the project architect outlining a plan that emphasizes a campus-style connection to the nearby 16 South building and a new public plaza in place of a proposed vehicle drive.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6218805,"Gaithersburg to launch new permit-parking system July 1; residents must register, $25 per permit",773,1602000,2375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3625305-efb38e38644489f1136742aaaf77b24e&start=1602&end=2375","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3625305-efb38e38644489f1136742aaaf77b24e/thumbnail_1602000.jpg","/articles/6218805/Gaithersburg-City/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Gaithersburg-to-launch-new-permit-parking-system-July-1-residents-must-register-25-per-permit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6218805-8966e41e4e2892425ef5211d65533d58/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183551&Signature=B72Xskasxb9Yr5-u6io0oFlPoZ-UCzx32ny7VkNbOQ1~RR2vRC6bMLjbk2t01lJbPldj0mjyxcNyhz1fH4-VzUMmt5WT89nMAKmIjso7-0xP0yZAnpOhpU~iP~5hMz4epq6e7Mn-EBci3ROCPouJ1H61wNZrE3dbEyEcvyEdv7NVMbYK-1axoSsN8ecRk95QK8VaZAHeRekfsbvYkHsoxVb2CvkD9hQBeW4S1Hlf6b14xQfx7oI1pA4A67tcoiGXT6KNvuRPY5YVchYnrudlJ99jMzzYbh4vKlOmjSTudT06rm~l0jUPtOERTC2IkqeAV9Ft8uya0lAThYDTzOyG3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials demonstrated the new online residential parking permit system June 2 and told the mayor and council the program will take effect July 1, with a public launch of the registration portal a few weeks earlier so residents can apply and upload documentation.

The demonstration matters because the program affects residents in permit zones, defines how visitor parking will be handled, and standardizes permit issuance across about 330 addresses in the city.

Tom Lonergan Seeger, a city staff member overseeing implementation, told the council: \"We are 28 days from the effective date of the city's new permit parking program, beginning July 1.\" Registration requires a user account, proof of residency and a digital vehicle registration. The city will allow two residential permits per household at $25 per permit per year; city staff said the maximum per household is $50 if two vehicles are permitted.

Program staff demonstrated three workflows: applying for a residential permit, obtaining visitor permits, and transferring a permit to another vehicle. Visitor permits are free, valid for three days, and each visiting vehicle may receive up to 30 three-day visitor passes per year. Staff said transfers and updates (for example, when a resident replaces plates or changes vehicles) are done in the account and take effect immediately; staff will contact applicants if there is an issue.

On payment and authentication, the online system currently accepts direct card entry only; Brian Helms said there is no Apple Pay, Google Pay or federated login option and that the city can submit an enhancement request to the vendor for those features. Helms also stated, \"Your fee will be $25 per vehicle per year.\" The city noted that a second, address-specific letter will be mailed to each eligible address containing a QR code to simplify registration and payment.

Staff said about 330 addresses are within the permit zones; roughly 90 residents previously held permits. The city will install signage, publish web updates and send tailored letters to the 330 eligible addresses. Implementation support named city IT staff Meghna Charla, finance staff Ashinafi Orega, Police Department staff Pete Ladisi and vendor Planet of Code's Gretchen Wyrick as key contributors. Councilmembers asked about visitor parking, payment options and ADU/addressing rules; staff responded that visitor permits require an existing residential permit and that permitting is handled per full address (separate addresses, such as an ADU with its own postal address, get a distinct permit capacity).

No council vote was recorded; staff requested and received general council feedback and will proceed with the public launch and outreach.","City staff demonstrated the new online residential parking permit system and outlined registration, visitor permits, payment methods and outreach to roughly 330 eligible addresses ahead of the July 1 effective date.","actionData","errors"]

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Gaithersburg proposes three legislative action requests to Maryland Municipal League, seeks endorsement

Council reviews 25% design for 12 South Summit building; plaza and public art highlighted

Gaithersburg to launch new permit-parking system July 1; residents must register, $25 per permit