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From the City’s website:

Agenda - Mayor and City Council Meeting, 12/15/2008

Posted 12/12/2008

City of Gaithersburg
AGENDA FOR A REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2008, 7:30 P.M.
Full Meeting Package (pdf format - Large File: 17M)

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. INVOCATION

Reverend Mark Derby, Grace United Methodist Church, Gaithersburg, Maryland

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Minutes of a Work Session of the Mayor and City Council Held November 24, 2008
   Background Material (pdf format)

2. Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council Held December 1, 2008
   Background Material (pdf format)

V. PRESENTATIONS

1. Presentation from the 2008 Kentlands/Lakelands 5K Race Committee to the City of Gaithersburg
   Background Material (pdf format)

2. GREAT Award Presented to Ridgeview Middle School
   Background Material (pdf format)

3. Certificates of Recognition Presented to the Help the Homeless Walk-A-Thon Coordinators
   Background Material (pdf format)

VI. 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)

VII. FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL/ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Upcoming City Events

VIII. FROM THE CITY MANAGER

IX. PUBLIC HEARINGS

1. Application to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development under its Neighborhood Conservation Initiative Program for Federal Neighborhood Stabilization Funds

   Background Material (pdf format)

2. Proposed Amendment to Section 57 of the City Charter and Adoption of a Resolution Establishing New Administrative Purchasing Procedures
   Background Material (pdf format)

3. Proposed Amendment to Section 61 of the Charter Entitled “Prohibitions and Restrictions Regarding Persons in Classified Service”
   Background Material (pdf format)

X. RECESS MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

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HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

I. Call to Order

II. Election of Commission Vice Chair

III. Approval of Minutes

Minutes of a Historic District Commission Meeting Held November 17, 2008

Background Material (pdf format)

IV. Certificate of Approval

HAWP-104A, Applicant: Pete Geiling, for the City of Gaithersburg, B&O Train Station and Freight Shed, 5-7 South Summit Avenue, Gutter Installation

Background Material (pdf format)

V. Adjournment

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XI. RECONVENE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

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

XIII. ADJOURNMENT

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Executive Session Announcement
Notice to the general public is hereby given that the Mayor and City Council of Gaithersburg plan to conduct a closed Executive Session at City Hall, Monday, December 15, 2008, immediately following the scheduled regular meeting of the Mayor and City Council, pursuant to Section 10-508(a)(3) and (a)(7), State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, to discuss property acquisitions and a legal matter. The purpose of the session is to discuss whether staff should initiate discussions and negotiations of parcels within the City and to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice about pending litigation. The closed executive session will be conducted pursuant to a motion properly adopted during the meeting of the Mayor and City Council on Monday, December 15, 2008.

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Work Session Announcement

Notice to the general public is hereby given that the Mayor and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg will NOT conduct Work Sessions on Monday, December 22 and 29, 2008.

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From the City’s website:

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Burglary

On 12/13/08 at 5:37 P.M. there was a burglary in the unit block of Goodport Lane. The suspects were arrested near the scene.

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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Burglary

On 12/10/08, at 2:45 a.m., police responded to Absolute Mac located at 895 Quince Orchard Road for a commercial alarm. The front glass door had been broken out and property was taken. The investigation is ongoing.

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Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Attempted Burglary

On 12/08/08, at 7:48 p.m., police responded to the 200 block of Lee Street for the report of a burglary. No entry was gained. Investigation to continue

Burglary

Between 11/19/08 and 12/01/08, an unknown suspect (s) entered an apartment in the 700 block of Clopper Rd, removed clothing and drank some liquor. There were no signs of forced entry. Investigation to continue.

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Sunday, December 07, 2008

Attempted Burglary

On 12/07/08, at 1:16 p.m., police responded to the Absolute Mac store, 895 Quince Orchard Road, for the business alarm. Glass in the back door was found to be broken out. The investigation is continuing.

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Saturday, December 06, 2008

Burglary

On 12/06/08, at approximately 7:28 p.m., police responded to the 400 block of Belle Grove Road for a residential alarm. A basement window had been broken and the rear basement door was open. There was no property taken.

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Friday, December 05, 2008

Burglary

On 12/05/08, at approximately 2:40 p.m., police responded to the 300 block of Tannery Drive for the report of a burglary. The front door had been kicked in and property was taken. There are no suspects at this time.

On 12/05/08, at 10:40 a.m., police responded to the unit block of Blazing Star Way for the report of a burglary. The resident said there was a knock at her door and she did not answer. The suspect then forced the front door open. When the resident called out the suspect fled. No property was taken.

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Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Armed Robbery

On 12/02/08, at 11:47 a.m., police responded to the 500 block of Quince Orchard Road for a robbery which just occurred. The suspect displayed a handgun and took cash. The investigation is continuing and charges are pending.

Burglary

On 12/02/08, at 4:45 a. m., police responded to the 200 block of Muddy Branch Road for an alarm. Upon arrival, police found the front door to a business smashed. Property was taken.

Suspect #1 - White male, wearing all black with a white shirt under a black hooded shirt.
Suspect #2 - Unknown race male, wearing a black hooded shirt.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, City leaders mull future growth plan:
  

  Owners of a coveted 80-acre wooded tract near the future Watkins Mill Town Center told city leaders last week that they are interested in annexing the property into Gaithersburg.

  Also on Dec. 1, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett made a pre-emptive strike on city ambitions, asking the mayor and the City Council to remove the Belward farm, Shady Grove Life Sciences Center, the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University and other large parcels in the county’s technology corridor from Gaithersburg’s proposed growth plan.

• Erin Donaghue writes, City’s expansion stirs worry in and around Potomac:
  

  North Potomac and Potomac residents are raising concerns about the expansion limits that the City of Gaithersburg has set forth in the draft of its municipal growth plan.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Sentencing odyssey prompts call for reform:
  

  The April killing of a Gaithersburg woman, allegedly by a felon who was released from prison early with a reduced sentence and good behavior credits, is prompting renewed scrutiny of state laws that allow such leniency.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Campaign rule goes to public hearing:
  

  At a Dec. 1 public hearing, city officials proposed changing a city ordinance regarding political campaign signs on private property following criticism by the American Civil Liberties Union and a decision by the city attorney that the rule is “unconstitutional.”

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Complaints lead to reform of City’s grant program:
  

  Gaithersburg officials are scrambling to overhaul an annual neighborhood matching grant program after money depleted early the past three years, to the detriment of larger and less affluent communities.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Park planned for city’s rare latitude observatory:
  

  For 26 years, 80-year-old Mac Currin used a telescope to peer through a transom roof at the Gaithersburg International Latitude Observatory and recorded miniscule movements of 36 stars to help determine the wobble of the earth. A park commemorating the historic significance of the approximately 170-square-foot wooden structure is planned so visitors can learn more about this national landmark.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Give a little, help a lot:
  

  Interfaith Works, a non-sectarian nonprofit coordinating more than 140 member and affiliated congregations toward a goal of helping the needy, has taken over Montgomery County’s Holiday Giving Project this year. The project, long run by the Montgomery Volunteer Center, has been aiding lower income families for 30 years and this year aims to help 9,000 county families.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, City seeks community legacy grants:
  

  Gaithersburg leaders are vying for $150,000 from a state grant program to help improve building facades in Olde Towne and adjacent historic districts, according to Louise Kauffmann, the city’s grant administrator

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Gaithersburg proposes several charter changes:
  

  More problems with the Gaithersburg city code are surfacing following the city’s first campaign finance investigation, as a new ad hoc election advisory committee explores needed changes.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, 74-year-old woman saved from freezing creek:
  

  A 74-year-old woman reported missing by her family was rescued Friday night by Gaithersburg Police who found her next to a stream near her home, drenched and suffering from hypothermia.

• Bradford Pearson writes, Gaithersburg woman killed in Rockville Pike crash:
  

  A multi-car traffic collision in White Flint last night took the life of a Gaithersburg woman, according to Montgomery County Police.

  Ngoc Xuan Thi Lai, 18, of the 9300 block of Chadburn Place, was pronounced dead on the scene of the collision at about 8 p.m. Tuesday, at the intersection of Rockville Pike and Nicholson Lane.

• Sebastian Montes writes, Residential truck parking ban expected to pass:
  

  After months of tinkering and a deluge of community comment, the County Council is set for a Jan. 13 vote on a bill that would bar “heavy commercial vehicles,” buses, trailers and RVs from parking on residential streets for more than 24 hours.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Germantown man killed while crossing Quince Orchard Road:
  

  A Germantown man was killed Dec. 3 when he was struck by a sport utility vehicle on Quince Orchard Road in Gaithersburg.

  Juan De Dios Gomez, 27, of the 20000 block of Summer Sweet Terrace, was crossing Quince Orchard Road north of Firstfield Road at 6 a.m. when he was hit by a silver 2007 Honda CR-V that was traveling south, according to a statement from Montgomery County Police. Gomez was pronounced dead at the scene.

• Janel Davis writes, Council member’s rapid bus system on transit table:
  

  Some area officials seem to be warming to the possibility of a rapid bus system in the county as another method of relieving congestion on some of the county’s most clogged roadways.

Via Connected Communites, where reports for all six districts are available.

P1 Beat:

• A residential burglary occurred in the 200 block of Shadow Glen Court in Gaithersburg on Tuesday, 11/18 between 5:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Forced entry and property taken.
• A commercial burglary occurred at a medical office in 9715 Medical Center Drive in Rockville sometime between Friday, 11/21 and Monday, 11/24. No sign of forced entry, but property was stolen.

P2 Beat:

• A residential burglary occurred in the 100 block of Hart Road in Gaithersburg on Friday, 11/21 between 8:00 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. No sign of forced entry, but property was stolen.

R1 Beat:

• A residential burglary occurred in the 18600 block of Phoebe Way in Gaithersburg on Tuesday, 11/18. No sign of forced entry, but property was stolen. Investigation led to the arrest of three juveniles.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 9700 block of Lake Shore Drive in Montgomery Village between 9:30 p.m. on Monday, 11/17 and 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 11/18. No signs of forced entry, an IPod was stolen.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 18500 block of Boysenberry Drive in Montgomery Village between 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, 11/22 and 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, 11/23. No signs of forced entry, CD’s, clothing and a car stereo were stolen.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the1500 block of Tanyard Drive in Gaithersburg between 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, 11/23 and 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 11/25. No signs of forced entry, CD’s, DVD’s and a portable DVD player were stolen.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 18400 block of Lost Knife Circle in Montgomery Village between 7:00 p.m. on Friday, 11/21 and 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, 11/22. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the18400 block of Lost Knife Circle in Montgomery Village on Saturday, 11/22 at 4:25 p.m.. Suspects broke the window and removed a cell phone and charger.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 18300 block of Lost Knife in Montgomery Village between 8:30 p.m. on Friday, 11/21 and 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, 11/22. Suspects broke the window and removed property.

R2 Beat:

• A residential burglary occurred in the 20400 block of Watkins Meadow Terrace in Gaithersburg on Tuesday, 11/25 around 2:50 a.m. The residents heard a noise in the home and saw three suspects standing on their rear deck. The suspects ran and were stopped and detained. Three juveniles were arrested.

S1 Beat:

• A strong-arm robbery occurred in the 400 block of East Diamond Avenue in Gaithersburg on Tuesday, 11/18 around 3:00 p.m. Two suspects ran up, grabbed him by the coat, and threatened him with physical harm. They demanded his property and then fled toward Gaithersburg Middle School.

  Suspect: B/M 20-25 years, 5’6” to 5’7” tall, 130-140 pounds, black knit hat, black Northface jacket
  Suspect: B/M 15-17 years, 5’4” to 5’6” tall, 120-130 pounds, black knit hat, black Northface jacket

• A strong-arm robbery occurred on South Summit Avenue and Hutton Street in Gaithersburg on Wednesday,11/19 around 8:15 p.m. The two suspects assaulted the victim and stole her property. The suspects spoke only Spanish.
  Suspects: Two H/M’s about 6’ tall, one wearing a black mask, both in black coats.
• A residential burglary occurred in the 17800 block of Hazelcrest Drive in Gaithersburg on Sunday, 11/23 around 7:30 p.m. No force, but resident found suspect inside. Suspect fled the scene without obtaining anything.

  Suspect: B/M, blue long sleeve shirt

S2 Beat:

• A residential burglary occurred in the 18000 block of Fence Post Court in Gaithersburg on Monday, 11/24 sometime between 7:00 a.m. and 7:20 p.m. Forced entry, property was taken.
• A residential burglary occurred in the 18300 block of Streamside Drive in Gaithersburg on Thursday, 11/20 between 8:20 p.m. and 10:10 p.m. Forced entry, property was taken.
• A residential burglary occurred in the 8200 block of Whispering Oaks Way in Gaithersburg between 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, 11/22 and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, 11/23. Forced entry, nothing was taken.
• A residential burglary occurred in the 8900 block of Emory Grove Road in Gaithersburg on Tuesday, 11/18 between 5:00 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. The front door was unlocked and property was taken. Investigation led to three juvenile arrests.

Via Connected Communites, where reports for all six districts are available.

P1 Beat:

• A robbery occurred in the 100 block of Deer Park Way in Gaithersburg on Friday, 11/14. The 17-year-old male victim arrived at the scene and was confronted by three suspects, who demanded cash. The victim was beaten and his cash taken. Investigation has revealed a drug connection to this robbery. All the suspects have been identified and warrants are pending.

  Suspect: H/M 16-17 years 5’6”, 170-180 lbs., black Toyota 4-door
  Suspect: H/M 16-17 years 5’5”, 165 lbs.
  Suspect: H/M 16-17 years, 5’6”, 185 lbs.
  Suspect: H/M 17-18 years, 6’0”, 180 lbs.

• A residential burglary occurred on Duvall Lane in Gaithersburg on Thursday, 11/13 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. No force but property was removed.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 400 block of W. Diamond Avenue in Gaithersburg between Thursday, 11/13 at 10:30 p.m. and Friday, 11/14 at 1:15 a.m. Suspects broke out the window and removed a wallet and GPS unit.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 400 block of W. Diamond Avenue in Gaithersburg between Thursday, 11/13 at 10:30 p.m. and Friday, 11/14 at 1:15 a.m. Suspects broke out the window and removed a GPS unit.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 400 block of W. Diamond Avenue in Gaithersburg between Thursday, 11/13 at 10:30 p.m. and Friday, 11/14 at 1:15 a.m. Suspects broke out the window and removed a checkbook and GPS unit.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 17100 block of Downing Street in Gaithersburg between Thursday, 11/13 at 10:30 p.m. and Friday, 11/14 at 1:15 a.m. Suspects broke out the window and removed a passport and GPS unit.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 17100 block of Downing Street in Gaithersburg between Thursday, 11/13 at 10:30 p.m. and Friday, 11/14 at 1:15 a.m. Suspects broke out the window and removed a GPS unit.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 200 block of Alderwood Drive in Gaithersburg between Sunday, 11/16 at 7:00 p.m. and Monday, 11/17 at 7:15 a.m. Suspects broke out the window and removed a DVD player.

• A sexual assault occurred on Thursday, 11/13 between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in the 9900 block of Gable Ridge Terrace in Gaithersburg. The babysitter was assaulted by the male known to her.

P2 Beat:

• A robbery occurred near the intersection of Fountain Green Lane and Church Gate Lane in Gaithersburg on Wednesday, 11/12. The 19-year-old victim claimed he and a friend were sitting in their vehicle when four suspects approached them. One suspect racked the slide of a handgun and forced them out of the car where they were patted down. Nothing was taken.

  Suspect: B/M 16-19 years, 5’11” to 6’0”, red bandana, black hoody, black sweatpants
  Suspect: B/M 15-17 years, 5’8” to 5’9”, black hoody, blue jeans
  Suspect: B/M 15-17 years, 5’5” to 5’7”, 160-170, black hoody, blue jeans
  Suspect: B/M 15-17 years, 5’5” to 5’6”, 160-175, black hoody, blue jeans

• A residential burglary occurred on Keystone Drive in Gaithersburg between Saturday, 11/15 at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday, 11/16 at 12:30 p.m. No sign of forced entry, but property was reported missing.

R1 Beat:

• A sexual assault was reported in the 19800 block of Chesley Knoll Drive on Sunday, 11/16 between 3:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. The suspects are known to the victim.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 18700 block of Barn Swallow Terrace in Gaithersburg between Monday, 11/10 and Tuesday, 11/12 Suspects broke out the window and removed a GPS unit.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 400 block of Christopher Avenue in Montgomery Village between Monday, 11/10 and Tuesday, 11/12 Suspects broke out the window and removed a paint ball gun and sneakers.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 18700 block of Pier Point Place in Montgomery Village between Monday, 11/10 and Tuesday, 11/12 Suspects broke out the window and removed a GPS unit.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 18500 block of Boysenberry Drive in Montgomery Village between Monday, 11/10 and Tuesday, 11/12 Suspects broke out the window and removed a purse, cash , jewelry and cell phone.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 800 block of Russell Avenue in Gaithersburg between Thursday, 11/13 and Friday, 11/14. Suspects broke out the window and removed a GPS unit and cash.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 9800 block of Feathertree Terrace in Montgomery Village between Thursday, 11/13 and Friday, 11/14. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit and sunglasses
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 9800 block of Feathertree Terrace in Montgomery Village between Thursday, 11/13 and Friday, 11/14. Suspects broke the window and removed a iPod and computer software.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred on Montgomery Village Avenue in Montgomery Village between Thursday, 11/13 and Friday, 11/14. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit and mounting system.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 9700 block of Leatherfern Terrace in Montgomery Village between Thursday, 11/13 and Friday, 11/14. Suspects broke the window and removed a radar detector, Sirius stereo system, blackberry, HP digital camera, iPod, and a laptop computer.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 9800 block of Leatherfern Terrace in Montgomery Village between Thursday, 11/13 and Friday, 11/14. Suspects broke the window and removed property.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 9700 block of Leatherfern Terrace in Montgomery Village between Thursday, 11/13 and Monday, 11/17. Suspects broke the window and removed a cell phone, CD’s and MP3 player.

R2 Beat:

• A residential garage burglary occurred in the 21300 block of Bourdeaux Place in Montgomery Village between Wednesday, 11/12 at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, 11/13 at 7:30 a.m. Two unlocked vehicles in the open garage were searched and an iPod was stolen.
• A street robbery occurred in the 10300 block of Ridgeline Drive in Montgomery Village on Monday, 11/17 just before 8:30 p.m. The adult male victim was approached by a suspect who punched him in the face. The suspect fled with the victim’s property.

  Suspect: B/M 5’8” to 5’9”, grey hoodie

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 19600 block of LaBelle Court in Montgomery Village overnight between Monday, 11/10 and Tuesday, 11/11. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit and maglite.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 20300 block of Oyster Cove Terrace in Montgomery Village between Wednesday, 11/12 and Thursday, 11/13. Suspects entered an unlocked vehicle and removed an umbrella.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 20300 block of Oyster Cove Terrace in Montgomery Village between Wednesday, 11/12 and Thursday, 11/13. Suspects entered an unlocked vehicle and removed money, two iPods, sunglasses and cash.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 20300 block of Trolley Crossing Court in Montgomery Village between Thursday, 11/13 and Friday, 11/14. Suspects entered an unlocked vehicle and removed candy, gifts cards, and coins.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 20400 block of Studio Place in Montgomery Village between Friday, 11/14 and Saturday, 11/15. Suspects entered an unlocked vehicle and removed CD’s, money, and a GPS unit.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 7700 block of Heritage Farm Drive in Gaithersburg between Sunday, 11/16 and Monday, 11/17. Suspects entered an unlocked vehicle and removed jewelry and a GPS unit.

S1 Beat:

• A commercial burglary occurred at the Mohini Palace, 8945 North Westland Drive in Gaithersburg between Tuesday, 11/11 at 8:15 p.m. and Wednesday, 11/12 at 7:55 a.m. Forced entry and property taken. He was later arrested.
• A commercial burglary occurred at the Parkeeza Market at 117 North Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg between Monday, 11/10 at 10:00 p.m. and Tuesday, 11/11 at 9:00 a.m. Forced entry and property was removed.
• A residential apartment burglary occurred in the 500 block of South Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg on Wednesday, 11/12 between 9:00 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. There was no sign of forced entry and property was stolen.
• A residential burglary occurred in the 100 block of Bowsprit Court in Gaithersburg on Monday, 11/10 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Forced entry but nothing was reported missing.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 17600 block of Larchmont Terrace in Gaithersburg between Monday, 11/10 and Tuesday, 11/11. Suspects broke the window and removed tools.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 17600 block of Larchmont Terrace in Gaithersburg between Monday, 11/10 and Tuesday, 11/11. Suspects broke the window and removed a digital camera and a GPS unit.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 8700 block of Kelso Terrace in Gaithersburg Tuesday, 11/11 between 12:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit.

S2 Beat:

• A commercial burglary occurred at Speedy Appliances, 18822 Woodfield Road in Gaithersburg between Thursday, 11/13 at 6 p.m. and Friday, 11/14 at 10 a.m. Forced entry but nothing was taken.
• A stolen motorcycle occurred in the 18800 block of Muncaster Road in Derwood between Friday, 11/14 and Saturday. 11/15.
  Stolen Vehicle: 2005 Suzuki MC, yellow, MD/tags
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 6000 block of Sunwood Lane in Derwood between Thursday, 11/13 and Friday, 11/14. Vehicle was unlocked and suspects removed a wallet, cash, cell phone and gift cards.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 19900 block of Drexel Hill Circle in Gaithersburg between Friday, 11/14 and Saturday, 11/15. Vehicle was left unlocked and an umbrella was removed.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 8400 block of St. Regis Way in Gaithersburg between Sunday, 11/16 and Monday, 11/17. Vehicle was left unlocked and unknown property was removed.
• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 8500 block of Fountain Valley Drive in Montgomery Village between Sunday, 11/16 and Monday, 11/17. Vehicle was left unlocked and money was removed.

Note that the background materials document here does again contain a fair number of materials beyond just the specific work session topic. There are several memos and letters both to and from the City. One letter is of particular interest: On December 1, County Executive Ike Leggett wrote to Mayor Katz expressing great displeasure over the recently-discussed Municipal Growth Element. In that letter, Mr. Leggett says (transcribed from the OCR’d PDF):

The Master Plan Element, once approved, will pave the way for the City to annex properties in the Maximum Expansion Limits (MEL) shown throughout the document. Some properties depicted in the MEL represent enclaves of development, which for a variety of reasons, may make sense for the City to want to annex. However, I remain extremely concerned about the inclusion of prime commercial and institutional assets in the MEL which comprise the heart of the County’s technology corridor, most notably the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center, the Belward campus. the campuses of the University of Maryland and the John Hopkins University, the Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology, the Maryland Technology Development Center, the Human Genome Sciences headquarters complex, and the Public Services Training Academy site.

and

For all of these reasons, I strongly encourage the City of Gaithersburg, at a minimum, to remove the following tracts of land from the Maximum Expansion Limits in the draft Master Plan Element: the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center, the Belward campus, the campuses of the University of Maryland and The John Hopkins University, the Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology, the Maryland Technology Development Center, the Human Genome Sciences headquarters complex and the Public Services Training Academy site. The investment we have, and will continue to make in these properties and the enhancement of this life sciences hub dictates that these parcels remain within the County’s boundaries.

As made clear in the public hearing last week, the Maximum Expansion Limits as identified in this document are a formality; the City is required by the State to identify any land that the City could theoretically annex over the next several years. None of the identified properties could be annexed by the City unless the owners of those properties specifically request that the City do so. But what this means is that, for any property in the MEL, developers have more options than just working with the County — were they to successfully pursue annexation into the City, they would then be able to work with Gaithersburg’s Mayor and Council and Planning Commission, and simply walk away from the County’s process, taking with them the eventual permit fees and some amount of property tax revenue (about ten cents per hundred dollars of assessed value).

Clearly the County would prefer that developers not have this option for several of their high-profile projects such as those identified in Mr. Leggett’s letter. It is already well-known that the City is interested in annexing the Belward property, and this letter is a clear message that the County would very much like the City to back off.

From the City’s website:

Agenda - Work Session: Council Packages and Cable TV, 12/8/2008

Posted 11/26/2008

City of Gaithersburg
WORK SESSION

Mayor and City Council
Monday, December 8, 2008
7:30 P.M.

• Discuss the Proposed Mayor and City Council Paperless Package System and Associated Physical Changes to the Council Chambers (receive staff presentation and recommendations, and provide guidance)
  Full Meeting Package (pdf format - 2M)

I was recently forwarded a link to a website containing a series of historical pictures of Gaithersburg alongside modern-day images taken from the same angles. It’s well worth taking a look. Here’s a couple of images from the site, these from East Diamond Ave, just east of Summit:

• Sebastian Montes writes, Slayings spur look at added powers:
  

  In the wake of public outcry over three recent homicides allegedly committed by illegal immigrants, Montgomery County State’s Attorney John J. McCarthy, the county police chief and other county leaders are looking closely at stricter guidelines for handling suspects of serious crimes who are in the country illegally.

• Joe Beck writes, Boy, 16, charged with driving SUV into officer:
  

  The 16-year-old Clarksburg boy charged as an adult with first-degree assault after striking a police officer with his sports utility vehicle last week abandoned the vehicle after the incident and told his mother it had a flat tire, according to police charging documents filed in court.

  The off-duty county officer who was directing traffic outside a church service on Nov. 26 fired his gun at Joseph W. Nelson, who was driving erratically in the parking lot, after he didn’t heed two calls to stop and hit the officer.

• Sebastian Montes writes, County, four officers sued for $6.4M after alleged beating:
  

  The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt in April, stems from an October 2006 incident in which Melissa Dent of Lea Pond Place, a 40-year-old mother of two, says that three or four officers kicked, beat and stunned her with a Taser in her living room after she was handcuffed.

  The officers — Adam Siegelbaum, Kimberly Wilson, John Mullaney and Jennifer Phoenix — have been sued for $1.5 million each. Siegelbaum is the officer accused of hitting a man with a bottle in the Nov. 15 incident at Bailey’s Bar & Grille in Germantown, according to a police report.

• Meghan Tierney writes, Teen gets community service for role in death:
  

  A Gaithersburg teen pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment for his role in the death of a man who was beaten, left lying in the road and then fatally struck by a car in January.

  The teen was charged as a juvenile and sentenced to community service in connection with the death of Manuel Antonio Ramirez-Gavarete, 38, of Gaithersburg. The teen, now 18, was 17 at the time, according to Assistant State’s Attorney George Simms.

• Sebastian Montes writes, Man found dead six days after he was reported missing:
  

  After a six-day search by county police, a 58-year-old Gaithersburg man who had threatened suicide was found dead Nov. 26 on Fieldcrest Road, barely more than a mile from his home, according to county police.

  A woman walking her dog just before 9 a.m. found Timothy Houston Neal’s body on the ground next to his 1988 Chevrolet Blazer, which had been pulled off Fieldcrest Road about a half-mile east of Woodfield Road, according to a Montgomery County Police statement.

• Joe Beck writes, Man convicted in shooting that paralyzed drug dealer:
  

  A Gaithersburg man faces more than 100 years in prison after a jury convicted him in a shooting that left a Germantown man paralyzed from the waist down during a home invasion robbery.

  Court documents say three Gaithersburg men, including Arthur A. Phillips, 28, were looking for cocaine when they entered the Crystal Rock Drive apartment on Sept. 28, 2007, and accosted three victims.

• Amber Parcher writes, Three suspected illegal immigrants charged in death of Wheaton woman, 83:
  

  The three Wheaton residents charged in connection with the death of an 83-year-old woman last week are suspected illegal immigrants, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official said today.

  ICE officials filed detainers this week for Jose Antonio Alvarado, 37, his wife, Ana Lilian Rodas, 33, and his cousin, Ramon Alberto Alvarado, 32, all of the 12300 block of Downer Drive in Wheaton.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Jones overhauls personnel rules and regulations:
  

  Gaithersburg City Manager Angel Jones is working with the city’s human resources department to overhaul internal procedures, and create and revise personnel rules and regulations, including the city’s first clearly delineated discrimination and sexual harassment policy.

• Douglas Tallman writes, Could county do without helicopter?:
  

  An expert panel last week called on Maryland to review its medevac program, which could lead to a smaller helicopter fleet with fewer flights at a time when Montgomery County still lacks a helicopter at the Maryland State Police hangar in Norwood.

• Janel Davis writes, Council upset with role in talks:
  

  As county leaders gear up for another round of budget talks and possible renegotiations with the county’s employee unions, frustrated County Council members Tuesday reviewed their role in those negotiations.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Woman rescued from ditch:
  

  Several dozen rescue workers worked for 90 minutes in the rain Sunday evening to excavate a Montgomery Village woman trapped in a construction ditch near her home, according to rescue officials.

  The 47-year-old woman was walking her dog with family in the 19400 block of Brassie Place near the Thomas Choice Gardens Condominiums complex when she lost her footing, stepped off the sidewalk and fell six to eight feet, according to Pete Piringer, a spokesman for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services.

• Kevin James Shay writes, Borders in Gaithersburg to close in January:
  

  After 13 years in Gaithersburg, bookstore operator Borders Group is closing its Borders Books and Music store at Gaithersburg Square, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.

• Jen Beasley writes, Police urge buyers to beware:
  

  Police are warning county residents they’d better watch out, but it’s not Santa’s eyes they should be mindful of.

  Thefts from automobiles are already the most prevalent crime in the county and the potential for thieves to shakedown a sleigh for goodies inside may increase with the arrival of the holiday season, especially if gifts are in the car said Lucille Baur, a police spokeswoman.