gaithersblog.net

• Chris Robinson writes, Gaithersburg examines next year’s budget:
  

  The creation of a new emergency management coordinator position in the city manager’s office, funding for the proposed Olde Towne clock tower project and the relocation assistance program for residents displaced by redevelopment were sticking points for some council members.

  Monday’s meeting (agenda here, outcomes here, video here) was pretty interesting. Just before the public appearances segment (at about 13:45 into the video; in Windows Media Player you can scroll forward to that time without watching the whole thing), the City Manager read a statement to the effect that an error had been made regarding the funding for the clock tower. Even though the Council had specifically directed the City Manager to fully fund the clock tower in FY08, this had not been done. Mr. Humpton stated that the error stemmed from his reliance on the minutes of the February 5 meeting (video here, minutes here; the clock tower discussion is in Mr. Marraffa’s time during the From the Mayor and Council segment, at about 2:01:15 into the video, while the key phrase “fully fund” is contained in a motion that starts at 2:14:15), which said that the Council had directed the City Manager to “include funds for” the clock tower — which of course does not have the same connotation as the phrase “fully fund”.

  And in fact, in the public appearances — which start in earnest at about 19:30 into the Monday video, there was some discussion of the City’s approach to funding these projects.

• Chris Robinson writes, Gaithersburg OK’s travel rules for officials, spouses:
  

  The decision comes on the heels of several lengthy discussions after it was reported that most council members were reimbursed for costs associated with taking their spouses to out-of-town city-related functions.

• Chris Robinson writes, Committee mulls pay increase for mayor, council:
  

  The city’s Ad Hoc Compensation Committee is nearing making an official recommendation in support of the pay increase. The six members of the Planning Commission also could see their stipend double.

  ‘‘This is getting them up to speed,” said committee member Cathy Salgado, adding that she doesn’t anticipate another significant pay increase in 15 years.

• Sebastian Montes writes, Costs ballooning for day laborer center:
  

  County Executive Isiah Leggett had recommended $156,260 in next year’s budget to run the Shady Grove center, based in a doublewide trailer on county-owned land off Crabbs Branch Way.

  Saying that wasn’t enough, Casa asked for another $99,000 to fund a range of social services on top of its basic employment program.

  The County Council settled on adding $50,000 of that request, which it placed on a list of leftover budget initiatives typically approved without deliberation. The council is expected to approve that list Thursday.

• Sebastian Montes writes, Evidence is scarce in arson at day laborer center:
  

  ‘‘It’s unfortunate, but we don’t have anything solid at this point,” Capt. Sam Hsu, the county Fire Marshal’s lead investigator on the case, said during a meeting of Police Chief J. Thomas Manger’s Latino Liaison Committee in Gaithersburg Thursday afternoon.

• Sebastian Montes writes, City delays enforcement of anti-solicitation law:
  

  Gaithersburg leaders agreed Monday night to push back enforcement of its controversial anti-solicitation ordinance until Sept. 1 so that Attorney General Douglas Gansler can have time to render his opinion.

  Also in that item,

  • Chief wraps up last day
  • Contract approved for study of Nike Missile site
  • Fluid cleanup to begin soon

From the City’s website:

Agenda - Mayor and City Council Meeting, 5/21/2007

Posted 5/18/2007

City of Gaithersburg
AGENDA FOR A REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2007, 7:30 P.M.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. INVOCATION

Rick Price, First Church of Christ, Scientist

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council Held May 7, 2007

TBA - Background Material (pdf format)

V. CONSENT ITEMS
(resolutions for approval by the City Council that do not need discussion)

1. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Enter Into a Contract for the Installation of Decorative Crosswalks on Brookes and Maryland Avenues ($70,000)
   Background Material (pdf format)

2. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Enter Into a Contract to Provide Seven (7) Ornamental Entry Features to be Installed on Brookes and Maryland Avenues ($17,131)
   Background Material (pdf format)

3. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract for Environmental Assessment Services for the Nike Site ($61,822)

   Background Material (pdf format)

VI. PRESENTATIONS

1. Proclamation of the Mayor and City Council Designating May 27, 2007, as “Rachel Carson Day” in the City of Gaithersburg

2. Proclamation of the Mayor and City Council Designating June 9, 2007, as “Kentlands House & Garden Tour Day” in the City of Gaithersburg
3. Proclamation of the Mayor and City Council Designating 2007, as “COG’s 50th Anniversary Year” in the City of Gaithersburg

VII. PUBLIC APPEARANCES
(public is invited to speak on any subject that is not a public hearing topic on tonight’s agenda – each speaker three minutes)

VIII. FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL/ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Upcoming City Events

IX. FROM THE CITY MANAGER

X. PUBLIC HEARING

An Emergency Ordinance to Amend Section 15-9, Subsection (f) of the City Code, Entitled “Solicitation in Roadways,” so as to Amend the Effective Date of Ordinance O-4-07 Adopting Section 15-9(f), and Providing for Future Changes to the Effective Date by Resolution
Background Material (pdf format)

XI. RECESS MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

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HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of Minutes

Minutes of a Historic District Commission Meeting Held April 16, 2007

Background Material (pdf format)

3. Consent Items

Tax Credit Applications
TCE - 57 Warren and Elizabeth Johnson, 104 Chestnut Street

Background Material (pdf format)

TCE - 58 Robert and Cathy Drzyzgula, 16 Walker Avenue
Background Material (pdf format)

4. Policy Discussion

Applicant: KB Homes, 10000 and 9600 Fields Road, Demolition Request
Background Material (pdf format)

5. Adjournment

---

XII. RECONVENE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

XIII. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, AND REGULATIONS
(ordinances, resolutions, and regulations to be introduced or adopted following appropriate procedures required by the City Code, or resolutions that may require discussion by the Mayor and Council prior to approval)

1. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Reject All Medical Insurance Benefits Bids Received March 20, 2007, and to Enter Into a Contract to Provide Medical Insurance to Qualified Employees
   Background Material (pdf format)

2. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the Filing of an Application With the Federal Transit Administration for Federal Transportation Assistance and Authorizing the City Manager to Enter Into a Contract to Purchase Two Paratransit Vehicles for the Senior Center ($140,610)
   Background Material (pdf format)

3. RC-37 - Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Granting Approval of Road Code Waiver for Variable Road Sections, Radii, Intersection Spacing and Median Breaks for the Crown Farm Development, Schematic Development Plan SDP-06-005

   Background Material (pdf format)
   SDP-06-005 Exhibits

4. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Contract for Construction Quality Management Services and LEEDS Commissioning for the Gaithersburg Indoor Aquatic and Recreation Center ($140,000.00 annually)
   Background Material (pdf format)

5. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Memorandum of Understanding With Montgomery County Relating to Construction Funding for the Gaithersburg Aquatic/Recreation Center
   Background Material (pdf format)

6. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Establishing a Mayor and City Council Travel Policy for the City of Gaithersburg

   Background Material (pdf format)

7. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute Agreements Relating to the Proposed East Diamond Avenue Redevelopment Project (Archstone)
   Background Material (pdf format)

XIV. POLICY DISCUSSION AND STAFF GUIDANCE
(discussion by the Mayor and Council about previous public hearing topics and other policy matters)

SDP-06-005 – Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Gaithersburg Granting Approval of Schematic Development Plan SDP-06-005, Per Annexation X-182, Known as the Crown Property (Parcels 445, 600, 905, 883, & 820) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The property is Zoned MXD (Mixed-Use Development) (Ready for Final Action)

Background Material (pdf format)
SDP-06-005 Exhibits

XV. FROM THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS, CITY ATTORNEY AND OTHER STAFF

• Staff Recommendation to Close the Record on SDP-04-001, Schematic Development Plan for Quince Orchard Park, Parcel A – The Vistas, Winter Walk Drive and Quince Orchard Road

  Background Material (pdf format)

• Staff Recommendation to Close the Record on MP-1-07, Historic Preservation Element
  Background Material (pdf format)

• Guidance on a Memorandum Dated May 17, 2007 Concerning Proposed Resident Parking Restrictions for West Deer Park Road, Duvall Lane, and Deer Park Lane
  Background Material (pdf format)

• Guidance on a Memorandum Dated May 17, 2007 Concerning 2008 MML Legislative Priorities

  Background Material (pdf format)

• Guidance on a Memorandum Dated May 16, 2007 From the Chair of the Board of Supervisors of Elections
  Background Material (pdf format)

• Amended Testimony for 7-Eleven’s Alcoholic Beverage License Renewal Rehearing
  Background Material (pdf format)

XVI. ADJOURNMENT

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ANNOUNCEMENT

Notice to the general public is hereby given that the Mayor
and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg will NOT
conduct a work session on Tuesday, May 29, and will
NOT conduct regular meeting on Monday, June 4, 2007.

The Mayor and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg will
conduct a joint work session on Monday, June 11, 2007,
to discuss the Olde Towne Youth Center.

---

UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETING AND WORK SESSION ITEMS
This list is not all-inclusive, and does not reflect priorities or scheduling
But is intended to provide a glance at future items to come before the City Council.

June 18 Meeting:
Presentations:
- Swearing in of New Police Chief John King

- “If I Were Mayor”

Public Hearing
JOINT - Spectrum at Watkins Mill Town Center

Ord./Res./Reg.

- Adoption of the City’s FY-08 Budget and Establishing the Constant Yield Tax Rate

- Amended “Anti-Solicitation” Ordinance

The District 6 weekly report summary lists six aggrevated assaults, five commercial burglaries, twelve thefts from vehicles, two stolen vehicles, and four sex offenses.

• Saturday 5/12 at 2135 hours, 400 block of Muddy Branch Road: roommates of the apartment were drinking in the parking lot when an argument erupted. Defendant Serano cut the victim with a machete, the victim then hit the defendant with a bottle. Suspect arrested on the scene.

  Defendant: Jairo Serrano, H/M DOB/ 9-04-86

• The two sex offenses occurred in the Deer Park area. While they involved suspects of similar description they do not appear to be related; one suspect was known to the victim:

  • An adult female was walking at West Deer Park Road and Deer Park Lane before 8:00 the morning of Wednesday 5/09 when she was sexually assaulted. The suspect approached from behind and grabbed the victim’s buttocks; she screamed and he fled on Brighton Towards Gaithersburg High School.

    Suspect: B/M 18-20 years, 5’11”-6’1” & 170-175 lbs., thin build, black backpack

  • Just after midnight the morning of Friday 5/11 a female was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance asking for a ride at Deer Park Drive and 355. The suspect grabbed/choked the victim.

    Suspect: Jeff, B/M 22-28 years, 5’11” & 160 lbs.

• At 1610 on Thursday 5/10, a citizen flagged down an officer and advised of a subject shooting a pellet gun from his second-floor window at 9009 Centerway Road. The suspect said he was shooting at a pellet can; officers located a 15-year-old girl in the area who said she had been hit by a pellet in the chest. The gun was confiscated. Matter was referred to Department of Juvenile Justice for further consideration

  Suspect: Juvenile, W/M 14 years, 5’6” & 140 lbs.

• A residential burglary occurred between 1550 and 1615 hours on Tuesday 5/08 in the 400 block of W. Diamond Avenue. Entry was through an unlocked sliding glass door. Dresser drawers were searched and additional items of value in plain sight were not touched. Taken were money, jewelry and cologne.

• All of the vehicle-related thefts occurred along Muddy Branch Road; all incidents could have occurred overnight Thursday 5/10 to morning Friday 5/11. The vehicle on Pontiac Way was taken between 0620 and 0628 hours on 5/11.

  • 5/10 – 5/11 167 Crossbow Lane cut Jeep soft top window taken: coins

  • 5/10 – 5/11 367 Muddy Branch Road broke Chevy truck window searched, nothing taken

  • 5/10 – 5/11 710 Clifftop Drive unknown entry, unlocked? Taken: keys

  • 5/10 – 5/11 15 School Drive V dropped keys before theft Taken: ’06 Ford Fusion

  • 5/11 79 Pontiac Way vehicle running unattended att’d to take: ’99 Toyota

  The three thefts from vehicles do not appear to be related; they occurred on Bayswater, Dalamar St. and North Frederick Avenue.

• The burglary at 18237 Lost Knife Circle #301 was domestic in nature; the victim’s exboyfriend entered the unlocked front door. He broke the victim’s phone, struck her and fled, only to be arrested nearby.

  Defendant: Andrew Hobson, B/M, DOB/ 1-08-08, 6’1” & 230 lbs.; 18 Cottage Field Ct.

• A peeper looked through the window of an apartment in the 400 block of Christopher Avenue at 0040 hours on Tuesday 5/15; the suspect possibly climbed the tree. The victim could provide no further description.

• There were three thefts from automobiles in this area. All three had the windows broken out in order to obtain property inside. These occurred on La Bella Lane, Brookridge court and Brassie Place.

• An aggravated assault occurred, among other places, in the area of 355 and Cedar Avenue during the early morning hours of Friday 5/11; the result of a pursuit during which the defendant attempted to run head-on into multiple cruisers. In addition, he resisted arrest and may have been having mental issues.

  Defendant: Eugene Roesser, W/M, DOB/ 7-08-58; vehicle: blue Aston-Martin

• The residential burglary occurred during the day of Tuesday 5/08 in the 500 block of S. Frederick Avenue. The victim returned home to find the front door and sliding glass door both ajar. Items were moved around inside the apartment. A purse taken was probably used to carry the jewelry and cash away.

• On a suspicious situation call, Gaithersburg City units saw subjects looking into windows and garages along S. Frederick Avenue. The subjects fled when they spotted the officers and defendant #1 was seen throwing an object into the wood line, where a black semi-auto air gun was found. Defendant #2 also had empty baggies with CDS residue.

  Defendant: Juvenile, B/M 16 years, address: Spring Street

  Defendant: Juvenile, H/M 17 years, address: Brighton Lane

  Suspect: Juvenile, B/M 15 years, address: W. Deer Park Drive

  Suspect: Juvenile, B/M 17 years, address: Oakmont Avenue

• The residential burglaries each involved a lone code 2 suspect, but MO’s differed and they are not likely related.

  • Sunday 5/13 at 1330 hours, 18000 block of Fertile Meadow Court: the victim returned home and saw the suspect flee through the sliding glass door that had been left unlocked. Nothing was taken.

    Suspect: W/M, 6’-6’1” & 160-190 lbs., short brown hair, blue jean jacket, blue jeans

  • Tuesday 5/15 0250-0300 hours, Calypso Court: broke side garage door window, the victim thought it was her husband and went to check and yelled out. She then saw a hand holding a golf club come through the doorway; the inner door from the garage to the house had been left unlocked. The golf club was recovered in the yard and K9 tracked to Flower Hill Elementary.

    Suspect: W/M, 5’4”-5’6” 145-155 lbs., black clothing, white cotton gloves

Last night the Mayor and Council held a continuation of their budget work session; the topic covered was the Capital Improvement Program budget, or CIP. Once again I was not able to watch it, but the video is now available on the web and I will be watching it soon. In the mean time, I will (with permission) paste in here an email that Gaithersblog reader Cathy Drzyzgula sent out to a neighborhood mailing list, addressing some of what happened.

Keep in mind as you read this that the City has about $20 million dollars in the bank that is not allocated to anything except the possibility that they might need it for something someday. In the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, this fund balance is on a line labeled “Unreserved and Undesignated”, and at the end of FY06 it stood at $19.8 million. Note also that this is not the same as the money that the City puts aside to save up for large capital projects such as the aquatic center. That fund, at the end of FY06, stood at $13.3 million, or nearly $15 million if you count the set aside for current encumbrances. In FY08, they propose to add $6 million to the capital fund for the aquatic center alone. These numbers compare to total (audited) FY06 revenues of about $40 million, and FY06 expenditures of about $36 million. For FY08, the total proposed budget is $50 million, about $39 million of which is operating costs, and the remainder capital set-asides.

Finally, note that, according to the proposed FY08 CIP, by the end of FY07, they are supposed to have recieved a total of about $3.7 million from the State and County for the aquatic center, out of about $12 million total they are supposed to receive from those two sources by the end of FY10. The other $8.3 million is supposed to be received in FY08 through FY10 — mostly in FY09 and FY10. As far as I know the Council has not addressed what will happen with this project if those funds do not materialize — and keep in mind that Governor O’Malley is currently searching for $200 million in budget cuts. What other project funds will they raid to build this pool?

The proposed FY08 Capital budget was reviewed tonight. The clock tower/plaza project in Olde Towne was funded in the amount of $375,000. The plaza is expected to cost $500,000 and the clock tower $900,000. The Council voted in February to fully fund the clock tower in the FY08 budget. Obviously they didn’t really mean it. It was once again stated that the council fully supports this project, but obviously there are plenty of other projects that they in fact supported, by funding them in the budget. Another alternative would have been to put in $500,000 for the plaza, and start work on it this year. Residents and businesses would actually benefit from the plaza even if nothing happened with the Fishman building for 10 more years. This WOULD do something for Olde Towne. Mayor Katz quoted an email of mine that made this point, but then didn’t follow through by suggesting the plaza should actually be built. I bet it would even make it MORE likely that someone would want to redevelop the Fishman property (next to the train station parking lot).

The argument was made (particularly by Ms. Edens and Mr. Alster), that it didn’t make sense to put money in this project this year, because it will not be built this year. Of course putting money aside in advance is the usual way the City saves money for ALL projects it actually cares about. For example, the Aquatic Center account has $7,629,409 carried over from last year. The City is adding $5,300,000 of city money and $700,000 of state money to the project, even though construction on the pool will not take place until 2009-10. But the money will be needed eventually when it is built, and since the City actually intends to build the pool they are saving ahead for it. Olde Towne projects are different, all the other needs of the city are met first, including cushions for unknown costs and variables, and then if there are some crumbs available or they can get a grant to pay for it, they will give some to a project like this that has been waiting for 10 years. Even though there weren’t enough crumbs left over to keep their promise, we are supposed to believe that this project is somehow equal to other projects that got funding. NOT. Another year, another excuse is my reaction.

A Request for Proposals for redeveloping the Fishman building is supposed to be issued in December 2007 (7 months from now). It was stated that this would result in proposals being available in the fall, which doesn’t make sense to me. I can’t imagine a development plan will be in place for that property by the next budget cycle, so they already have an excuse in hand for next year too.

It was also stated that the purpose of the fund raising effort for the clock tower project was to build community. Have any of you ever been asked to support this project by making a donation? I wonder what community they are talking about.

Over and over the refrain was “money is tight, we need to be conservative, we have to be concerned about future spending”. I guess that explains why the city is building a $21 million dollar pool, which will serve county residents at the same price as city residents with no operating cost contribution from the county. How is that a “conservative fiscal policy”? I don’t see any language that says “Funding the aquatic center is contingent on receiving the budgeted state and county funds”. That would be a realistic caveat that should appear in the budget, if one was actually trying to be conservative.

Cathy D.

From the City’s website:

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Aggravated Assault

On 5/13/07, at 10:35 p.m., police responded to the 200 block of Gold Kettle Drive for a domestic dispute. During the dispute the suspect bit the victim and chased him with a knife. The suspect was arrested on the scene.

Gold Kettle Drive is near Muddy Branch & Diamondback.

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Aggravated Assault

On 5/12/07, at 9:51p.m., there was an aggravated assault in the 400 block of Muddy Branch Road. The victim received very minor cuts when a known subject stabbed him. The suspect was arrested on the scene.

Significant Events

On 05/12/07, at approximately 4:55 p.m., in the area of Chestertown Street and Midtown Road, a juvenile victim was struck with a paintball. The paintball had been fired from a passing vehicle, which was later located. The juvenile suspect, who was both the vehicle driver and owner of the paintball gun, was apprehended and charged with the offense.

Chestertown Street and Midtown Road are in Kentlands.

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Sexual Assault

On 05/09/07, at approximately 7:55 a.m., a woman was walking in the 100 block of West Deer Park Road when she was approached from behind by a male. The male sexually assaulted the woman. The woman screamed, and the male fled on foot towards Brighton Lane. The woman was not injured during the incident.

Suspect: Black male, 18-20 years of age, 5′11″-6′01″, 170-175 lbs, short hair, thin build, wearing a black shirt, dark blue jeans, and carrying a black nylon backpack.

Update: The video of this meeting is now online. Also, if you haven’t already you may want to read Cathy Drzyzgula’s comment, which summarizes last night’s meeting.

Finally, note that there will be one more budget work session tomorrow night, to discuss the capital budget.

I was not able to attend or watch tonight’s work session, but I’m hearing that it did not go perfectly smoothly — that there were multiple disagreements among the Council members concerning priorities and how they were reflected in the budget line items. One topic that I understand to have been particularly contentious was the new emergency management coordinator position, for which the City receives federal funding. The draft FY08 budget places this position in City Hall — reporting directly to Mr. Humpton — but several people believe that this position should be located in the Police Department.

I will attempt to find time tomorrow to watch the video once it is available on the City’s website, but in the mean time, if any readers did watch or attend the meeting, I encourage you to add your thoughts in the comments to this post. Thanks.

From the most recent District 6 Crime report; in summary there were six robberies, two commercial and fourteen residential burglaries, thirty-four thefts from vehicles, seven stolen vehicles and three sexual offenses.

• Gang-related graffiti was discovered at Archstone Incorporated, 9806 Mahogany Drive, sometime between Saturday 5/5 and Sunday 5/6. A black marker was used to write identical tags on several locations, but the report did not indicate what the tags were.

  This is actually a fairly fascinating report. In the first place, Mahogany Drive, which is near the Washingtonian Tower, does not seem like it would be a hotbed of gang activity (not that I’m any expert). Secondly, this is the second recent report of some sort of incident at this precise address; a couple of weeks ago there was an attempted burglary at that location. And third, Archstone Smith is the developer that is hoping to redevelop a stretch of East Diamond Ave; this project will require the demolition of a few existing, “affordable” apartment buildings, and the relocation of several tenants.

• An armed robbery occurred in the 18200 block of Flower Hill Way on Sunday 5/6 at 1700 hours. The suspects approached the victim and his friend in the parking lot. One suspect lifted his shirt to show a gun handle in his waistband and told the victim to “kick out the money”. The victim gave up cash and the suspects left. The victim called his mother to pick him up and saw the suspects waiting at the bus stop. Officers stopped the bus in the 5th District and the suspects were arrested. The gun turned out to be black air pistol and was found on the bus where the suspects had been sitting.

  Defendant: Juvenile, B/M, 17 yrs. old, 6’/165 lbs. , of Shady Spring Drive

  Defendant: Alphonzo Clark, B/M, 19 yrs. old, has priors for theft, possession of gun, CDS, of 12925 Pickering Drive (5D)

  Defendant: Antoine Ambush, B/M, 20 yrs. old, 5’8”/160 lbs., has priors for armed robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft, & CDS, of 8202 Shady Spring Drive

• A strong-armed robbery occurred in the 400 block of Christopher Avenue on Sunday 5/6 at 1632 hours. The suspect is the victim’s ex-boyfriend. He has been following the victim around for the last few months and has threatened to kill the victim if she didn’t get back with him. The suspect was arrested on the scene.

  Defendant: Mustapha Mboob, AKA Kabba Roberts, B/M, 23 yrs. old, 5’4”/130 lbs., has prior for assault, of 24 S. Frederick Avenue

• An adult female patient was the victim of a sexual assault at Shady Grove Hospital on Sunday 5/6 at 0115 hours. The suspect is a respiration therapist and came into the victim’s room to do “a breast examination”. He asked her if that was how the doctors did it and then left the room. He came back a few minutes later and fondled her pubic area on top of her nightgown. The suspect was arrested a few days later.

  Defendant: George Gravesande, B/M, 39 yrs. old, 5’11”/175 lbs. of 404 King Farm Boulevard

  Update: I just noticed that the police have issued a press release on this incident, with a picture of the attacker.

• A sex assault occurred on W. Deer Park Road on Wednesday 5/9 at 0811 hours. The victim was walking when the suspect came from behind, grabbed her buttocks and then fled on foot. He was last seen running towards Brighton Drive.

  Suspect: B/M, 18-20 yrs. old, 6’, thin build, black T-shirt, jeans, carrying a black backpack

• A sex assault occurred near the Olde Towne train station, 9 S. Summit Avenue on Saturday 5/5 at 2135 hours. A Gaithersburg City officer saw the suspect and the victim sitting on the bench and saw the suspect with his hand up the victim’s shirt while he was trying to kiss her. The victim did not look like a willing participant and the officer walked over to check her welfare. The victim said the suspect just sat down and started fondling her without her permission. The suspect claimed he was comforting the victim and was arrested on the scene.

  Defendant: Luchcristobal Castillo, H/M, 24 yrs. old, 5’5”/130 lbs., homeless

• A strong-armed robbery occurred at Watkins Mill Road and Stedwick Road on Friday 5/4 at 1440 hours. The suspects approached the victim, knocked him down and took the victim’s wallet. One suspect threw the victim’s cell phone in the grass nearby and threatened to “kick your face” if he called the police. The suspects fled on foot. The victim said he may recognize the first suspect from Watkins Mill HS. Investigation is being handled by the EFO at Watkins Mill High School.

  Suspect: B/M, 15 -16 yrs. old, 5’9”/140 lbs., black short-sleeved shirt, black pants

  Suspect: W/M, 15-16 yrs. old, NFD

  Suspect: B/M, 15-16 yrs. old, NFD

• The CVS at 9140 Rothbury Drive had an attempted robbery on Sunday 5/6 at 1654 hours. The suspect went to the counter and asked for cigarettes. He showed his ID to the employee to prove his age and then displayed a black semi-automatic gun in his waistband and ordered the employee to give him all of the $20’s. The employee refused and the suspect took the cigarettes and left. He left his cell phone and backpack behind and was quickly identified. He was arrested nearby in Stewartown Park.

  Defendant: Kenneth Bowen-Bah, B/M, 19 yrs. old, 5’7”/145 lbs., black hooded jacket, jeans, white sneakers

  Rothbury Drive is off Goshen Road, just south of Wightman/Snouffer’s School.

• An attempted robbery occurred on Muddy Branch Road on Sunday 5/6 at 1717 hours. The victim was walking when the suspect came from behind, pushed her and attempted to grab her purse. He fled, empty-handed, towards W. Deer Park Road.

  Suspect: B/M, 22 yrs. old, 6’/180 lbs., black T-shirt, black jeans

• A strong-armed robbery occurred outside the Chevy Chase Bank, 19610 Club House Road on Monday 5/7 at 1455 hours. The suspects surrounded the victim and demanded money. One suspect fled on the back of a bicycle towards Centerway. The other suspects fled on foot towards McDonalds.

  Suspects: five B/M’s, one in a black T-shirt, NFD

• A residential burglary occurred on Duvall Lane on Monday 5/7 between 0700 and 2030 hours. Entry was gained by breaking a rear window with a rock. The suspects are former residents and were seen in the area just prior to the victim leaving at 0700

  Suspect: Juan, H/M, 26 yr. old, 5’7”/150 lbs., possibly lives on W. Deer Park Road

  Suspect: Wilson, H/M, 21 yrs. old, 5’5”/175 lbs., possibly lives in Frederick, MD

  Duvall Lane is off W Deer Park, near I-270.

• For the second time in five days, a handgun was recovered on Lost Knife Road, following a traffic stop. Officers stopped the suspects at 9639 Lost Knife Road on Friday 5/4 for a seatbelt violation. Officers saw loose marijuana in plain view and arrested the suspects. A.45 revolver with a 6” barrel was found under the first suspect’s seat.

  Defendant: Antwan Beckwith, B/M, 20 yrs. old, 5’7”/145 lbs., has priors for robbery, aggravated assault, CDS, resisting arrest, of 13037 Clarksburg Square Road

  Defendant: Rico Johnson, B/M, 19 yrs. old, 5’7”/140 lbs., has priors for CDS, of Frederick, MD

  Vehicle: black ’96 Chevrolet Impala, MD/tags

• There were six thefts from vehicles the night of Thursday 5/3 to Friday 5/4. Four victims had the window broken, one had left the T-top open and one was ‘unknown entry’. Only loose property in the vehicles was targeted. See the map [below] for the thefts.

• 

• Two businesses on Oakmont Avenue were broken into on Sunday 5/6. The representative for 16624 Oakmont Avenue, Continental Restaurant Equipment, showed up after the alarm company called him, and found the front window broken and a previously locked office door was open. While checking the area, officers found the second victim, Mark Supply, 16628 Oakmont Avenue.

• There were several thefts from vehicles this week with at least four of them occurring the night of Monday 5/7 to Tuesday 5/8, and three of those occurred on Bayswater Road. The method of entry was either by an unlocked door or “unknown method of entry”. Only loose items in the vehicle were taken.

  Bayswater Road is on the south side of Great Seneca Highway, just west of Quince Orchard Road.

• The Abandoned Auto lot has had several thefts from vehicles recently. On Friday 5/4 at 0321 hours, an anonymous caller reported seeing a suspect in the lot, looking at vehicles. Officers found him hiding in a van and he fled on foot, before being arrested nearby. He had bolts in his pocket and numerous vehicle parts were found in his backpack in the van where he had been hiding. Property had been taken from at least six vehicles.

  Defendant: Douglas Parada, W/M, 19 yrs. old, 5’11”/175 lbs., homeless

• The burglary in the 9802 Walker House Road on Friday 5/4 between 0700 and 1850 hours is related to a vehicle theft in the 3rd District (see CR # S07-023869). The suspect is a former contractor for the victim. The victim contacted the suspect’s boss, who brought him up to the 6th District station on the pretext of a new job. The suspect confessed to the theft and some of the property has been recovered.

  Defendant: Rodney Santizo, H/M, 20 yrs. old, 5’4”/180 lbs., has priors for burglary, vehicle theft, CDS, and rogue & vagabond, of Woodbridge, VA

  Walker House Road is near Montgomery Village Ave, just north of Mid-County Highway.

• There were three thefts of Honda airbags on the night of Wednesday 5/2 to Thursday 5/3 on Lost Knife Circle. All of them had the window broken. Two of the victims had both airbags taken; one had only one airbag taken.

• There were ten thefts from vehicles the night of Wednesday 5/2 to Thursday 5/3. The thefts all occurred sometime after 1900 and were discovered by 0600 the next morning. Two victims admitted leaving the doors unlocked; the rest were ‘unknown method’. Only loose items were taken. See the map [below].

• 

From the City’s website:

FY 2008 Budget Public Hearing and Work Sessions

Posted 4/30/2007

The Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council will hold a public hearing on the Proposed FY 2008 Budget on Monday, May 14, 2007. A Budget Work Session is scheduled for Tuesday, May 15. Work Sessions will also be held on Thursday, May 17 and Tuesday, May 29 if needed. The hearing and the work sessions will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 31 South Summit Avenue. They will be televised live. Check the City’s website at for schedule updates.

These sessions allow the public an opportunity to comment on the City’s proposed operating and capital budgets for the coming year. Copies of the proposed budget will be available on May 7, 2007 at Gaithersburg City Hall. The budget is available electronically below.

The Mayor and Council will vote on the finalized budget at their regular meeting on June 4, 2007. The adopted budget for FY 2008 becomes effective July 1, 2007. For more information contact City of Gaithersburg Finance Director Harold Belton at 301-258-6320.

• FY 2008 Budget

Also from the City’s website:

City of Gaithersburg
AGENDA FOR A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, MAY 14, 2007, 7:30 P.M.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PUBLIC HEARINGS

1. An Ordinance to Adopt the City Budget for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2007, Through June 30, 2008, and Levying an Ad Valorem Tax on all Assessable Property Within the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland

   Background Material (pdf format)
   DRAFT Budget Presentation (pdf format)
   FY 2008 Proposed Budget

2. Public Hearing to Establish a Constant Yield Tax Rate and Proposed Property Tax Increase for the City of Gaithersburg for FY 2008
   Background Material (pdf format)

III. ADJOURNMENT

---

BUDGET MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

Notice to the general public is hereby given that the
Mayor and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg will
conduct the following budget work sessions in the
Council Chambers, City Hall beginning at 7:30 pm:

*Tuesday, May 15, 2007, Budget Work Session

Review of Department Budgets:
   - Office of the City Manager
   - Finance and Administration
   - Information and Technology

   - Parks, Recreation and Culture
   - Planning and Code Administration 
   - Police Department
   - Public Works Department 

Review of the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)

*Depending on deliberations, some topics may be continued on the following dates:

• Thursday, May 17, 2007, Budget Work Session (if necessary)
• Tuesday, May 29, 2007, Budget Work Session (if necessary)

THE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS WILL BE TELEVISED
LIVE ONCABLE CHANNEL 13 AND ON THE INTERNET AT www.gaithersburgmd.gov/tv

Happened across this on TV and it just seemed too relevant not to share.