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MCP Press release via Connected Communities:

Police Arrest Suspect in Stabbing

Detectives from the 5th District Investigative Section have been investigating a first-degree assault that occurred on Friday, April 17, in the shopping center parking lot of 12123 Darnestown Road in Gaithersburg. The suspect was apprehended this afternoon.

At approximately 8:46 p.m., officers from the 5th District responded to the shopping center parking lot for the report of a stabbing that just occurred. The preliminary investigation revealed the adult male victim and suspect were arguing in the kitchen of the Bubble Café Pho. The manager was able to separate them, however, the argument continued in the parking lot where the suspect assaulted and struck the victim in the back with a meat cleaver. The suspect then fled the scene. The victim was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Further investigation revealed the suspect’s identification as Yuan Jun Li, age 48, and detectives obtained an arrest warrant for attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault. Yesterday, at 2:00 p.m., Yuan Jun Li was apprehended at the Rockville Metro Station without incident. He is currently being held without bond.

See also the article by Dan Morse in the Washington Post:

A cook at a restaurant in Gaithersburg stabbed another employee in the back with a meat cleaver after an argument, police said today.

According to police, on the night of April 17, Yuan Jun Li and the victim argued in Bubble Cafe Pho, in a shopping center parking lot on Darnestown Road.

From the City’s website:

Monday, April 27, 2009

Attempted Rape

On 04/27/09 at 11:00 a.m., an attempted rape was reported in the 400 block of West Deer Park Road. The victim reported that on 04/26/09 between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 1:30 a.m., they were physically assaulted and inappropriately touched, by a known suspect. Police were notified and the victim was treated for minor injuries. Investigation continues.

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Saturday, April 25, 2009

Burglary

On 04/25/2009 at 11:28 p.m. units responded to the unit block of School Drive for a burglary in progress. Suspect was climbing in window when the resident saw them and they fled on foot. Investigation to continue.

Suspect described as black male, mid twenties, yellow baseball hat

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Friday, April 24, 2009

Attempted Burglary

On 04/24/09, at 10:00 a.m., police responded to the unit block of Timber Rock Road for an attempted burglary that occurred earlier. There was damage to the rear sliding glass door. No entry was made.

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Thursday, April 23, 2009

Burglary

Sometime between 04/17/2009 and 04/23/2009 unknown suspect(s) entered Direct Buy, located at 202 Perry Pkwy, suite 3, and stole 4 TVs and 3 TV mounts, totaling over $3000.00. No sign of forced entry was found. Investigation to continue.

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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Arrest

On 04/21/2009 at 2:39 a.m., police responded to the 200 block of Summit Hall Road, for the report of two men stealing the wheels off of a car. They fled the area in a sport utility vehicle and wrecked into a tree at the Festival Shopping Center. One suspect was located at the shopping Center and arrested after a brief foot chase.

Mr. Goldstein was an important factor in many aspects of civic life in Montgomery County, and will be greatly missed.

Janel Davis writes:

Longtime civic activist Wayne Goldstein died of a heart attack Monday morning in Rockville on the way to testify in a hearing before the county’s Board of Appeals, family members said Monday afternoon.

Family members and friends reported that Goldstein, 56, was scheduled to appear for the hearing at 9:30 a.m. but never showed up. A card belonging to his cousin, a dentist in the county, was found in his pocket. A call to Goldstein’s cousin set off a round of calls to family members, said Goldstein’s mother Terry, who lives in Chevy Chase.

A few months ago the Mayor and Council formed the Ad Hoc Elections Ordinance Review Committee to consider whether any changes should be made to the City’s elections ordinance, and if so, what changes should be made. This committee has now submitted their report, which is transcribed from the PDF below. This report will be presented to the Mayor and Council at a work session Monday night. The full agenda for this work session follows at the end of this post.

From the supporting background on the elections ordinance:

On May 19, 2008 the Mayor and City Council appointed the Ad Hoc Elections Ordinance Review Committee with the charge to review the City’s election ordinance and to provide recommendations to improve our elections process. The Committee has met regularly since being appointed.

From the onset, the committee’s key goal has been to make Gaithersburg’s elections process as transparent as possible by ensuring potential voters knew what individuals and organizations were financing the various campaigns.

After considerable discussion and debate, the committee is unanimously recommending certain changes to the elections ordinance, the City Charter, and City policies:

Elections Ordinance

Campaign Finance

1. Add two additional pre-election campaign finance reports.
2. Require campaign finance reports to be filed electronically utilizing software specified by the Board of Supervisors of Elections.
3. Allow candidate to keep campaign finance account open between election cycles and require annual report on the account.
4. Require estimated reporting of expenditure if actual data (invoice) is not available when finance report is due.

Political Committees

1. Define political committees as “any combination of two or more persons formed in any manner, which independently collects or expends a cumulative amount of $250 or more to assist in the promotion of the success or defeat of any candidate or slate of candidates for City elective office.
2. Political committees must act independently and may not coordinate with any candidate or group of candidates.
3. Political committees must file a campaign finance report within three days of collecting or expending the first $250. Thereafter, they must file on the same schedule as candidates for office.
4. Any literature or signage paid for by a political committee must have language clearly identifying what organization paid for it.

Independent Expenditures

1. Define independent expenditure as “a cumulative expenditure of $250 or more by an individual to assist in the promotion of the success or defeat of any candidate or slate of candidates for city elective office that is not coordinated with any candidate or group of candidates.”
2. Individuals who independently expend $250 or more would be required to file a campaign finance report within three days of the first. Thereafter, they must file the same pre-election schedule as candidates for office. The final report of any individual making expenditures of $250 or more is due on the last day of the day following the month in which the election was conducted.
3. Any literature or signage paid for by an individual must have language clearly identifying who paid for it.

Contributions

1. No person shall contribute more than $500 (including in kind donations) to any candidate or political committee.
2. No person may contribute a cumulative total of more than $1,000 (including in kind contributions) during any election cycle.
3. Candidates or political committees may not accept anonymous contributions. Any anonymous contribution received by a candidate or political committee shall be given to the City for any lawful purpose.

BOSE Powers/Violations

1. In addition to having the authority to require respondents to cease and desist, the board would have the authority to order corrective action.
2. Respondents subject to BOSE orders would have the right to appeal to Circuit Court within 14 days.
3. Failure to comply with an order of the BOSE would be a misdemeanor rather than a municipal infraction.

Charter Amendment

1. Section 32 of the City Charter mandates that the board of supervisors of elections shall keep the polls open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM unless the Council, by resolution, shall fix longer or shorter hours. The Committee believes the BOSE should have the ability to extend the hours of the polls on Election Day if extraordinary circumstances warrant an extension.

City Policies

1. All campaign finance reports should be placed on the City’s website in a searchable format as soon as possible after being filed.
2. The City should have a qualified lawyer on retainer to assist the BOSE in investigating complaints and interpreting the elections ordinance if the City Attorney should determine that it would be a conflict for the City Attorney to provide advice on a given matter.

From the City’s website:

Agenda - Work Session: 2009 Legislative Session, Elections, 4/27/2009

Posted 4/21/2009

City of Gaithersburg
WORK SESSION

Mayor and City Council
Monday, April 27, 2009
7:30 P.M.
Full Meeting Package (pdf format)

I. Call to Order

II. Work Session Topics

1. Report from District 17 Delegation (Senator Jennie Forehand, Delegates Kumar Barve, Jim Gilchrist and Luiz Simmons) and District 39 (Senator Nancy King) on the 2009 Legislative Session
   Background Material (pdf format)
2. Report from the Ad Hoc Elections Ordinance Review Committee
   Background Material (pdf format)

3. Approval of Board of Supervisors of Elections Recommendations on the Number and Locations of Polling Places
   Background Material (pdf format)

• Patricia M. Murret writes, City revenue drop brings hard decisions:
  

  Gaithersburg’s $48 million proposed fiscal 2010 budget, which outlines the city’s capital improvement plan and operating budgets, shows new priorities in capital spending, changes in community events and increased fees for senior center classes. It also includes changes to city officials’ pay, benefits and overtime, reflecting restructuring at City Hall by City Manager Angel Jones.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Federal probe ends of former county chiefs:
  

  Federal prosecutors will not file charges in the county disability retirement cases of Gaithersburg Police Chief John A. King or William C. O’Toole, Jr., both former assistant chiefs with Montgomery County Police, according to letters sent to both men last week.

  King and O’Toole receive disability retirement given to county officers injured in the line of duty.

• Sebastian Montes writes, Five of six police stations may close to overnight visits:
  

  Montgomery County officials are now considering eliminating overnight front-desk staff at five of the county’s six district police stations to save about $800,000 in the fiscal 2010 budget.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Olde Towne Youth Center progressing:
  

  Construction of the Olde Towne Youth Center is 30 percent complete, reports Michele Potter, city parks and recreation director. Block and framing are finished, and the building, at the future 301 Teacher’s Way across from Gaithersburg Middle School, is due to open Oct. 10.

• Sebastian Montes writes, Cities add questions to Gaithersburg West:
  

  Gaithersburg and Rockville are poised to reap vast economic and cultural benefits at their borders over the next 30-plus-years as envisioned in the Gaithersburg West master plan. But leaders from both cities fear that the county’s efforts so far in creating the blueprint to manage that growth falls short in considering its neighbors.

• writes, Municipal Growth Plan is approved:
  

  City leaders voted April 6 to approve a controversial planning document expected to guide city development for decades. The new municipal growth plan, required by state law, identifies maximum potential population, job growth and physical expansion boundaries — thus, any annexation opportunities — until 2030. A draft came under attack earlier this spring by neighboring communities and Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, who asked city leaders to remove property slated the Belward farm, Shady Grove Life Sciences Center and other large parcels in the county’s technology corridor. The properties remain in the document.

From the City’s website:

Monday, April 20, 2009

Attempted Burglary

On 04-20-2009 at 3:20 AM in the 800 block of Russell Avenue unknown subjects attempted a smash and grab burlary.

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Friday, April 17, 2009

Aggravated Assault

Today at 12137 Darnestown Road there was an assault with a knife. Both victim and suspect were known to each other.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Attempted Burglary

On 04/15/09 at 8:05 a.m., a burglary was reported in the unit block of Orchard Drive. The complainant advised that sometime between 04/14/09 at 9:00 p.m. and 04/15/09 at 7:30 a.m., an unknown suspect(s) attempted to gain entry into the residence, through the living room window. The suspect was unsuccessful in gaining entry. However, the complainant did report damage to the property. The residence was occupied during the time of the incident. There is no additional information at this time.

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

P1 Beat:

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 300 block of Alderwood Drive in Gaithersburg overnight between Friday, 4/3 and Saturday, 4/4. Suspects broke the window and removed an iPod.

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 100 block of Alderwood Drive in
  Gaithersburg overnight between Friday, 4/3 and Saturday, 4/4. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit.

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 300 block of Alderwood Drive in Gaithersburg overnight between Friday, 4/3 and Saturday, 4/4. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit, an iPod and a DVD stereo.

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 100 block of Fox Trail Terrace in Gaithersburg overnight between Friday, 4/3 and Saturday, 4/4. Suspects broke the window and removed an iPod.

• An attempted theft from a vehicle occurred in the 100 block of Smoothleaf Lane in Gaithersburg overnight between Thursday, 4/2 and Friday, 4/3. Suspects broke the window but nothing was removed.

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 9600 block of Athens Place in Gaithersburg overnight between Friday, 4/3 and Saturday, 4/4. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit.

P2 Beat:

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 400 block of Phelps Mews in Gaithersburg on Sunday, 4/5 between 12:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit.

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 100 block of Summer Walk Drive in Gaithersburg on Sunday, 4/5 at 9:30 a.m. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit.

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 300 block of Swanton Lane in Gaithersburg on Sunday, 4/5 at 9:30 a.m. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit.

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 700 block of Summer Walk Drive in Gaithersburg on Sunday, 4/5 9:30 a.m. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit.

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 700 block of Quince Orchard Boulevard. in Gaithersburg between 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, 4/5 and 9:00 a.m. on Monday, 4/6. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit and a cell phone.

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 200 block of North Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg on Friday, 4/3 between noon and 12;30 p.m. Suspects entered an unlocked vehicle and removed a GPS unit.

R1 Beat:

• A residential burglary occurred in the 19300 block of Rock Elm Way in Gaithersburg on Wednesday, 4/1 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Forced used and property was removed.

• The aggravated assault that occurred in the 18400 block of Lost Knife Circle in Montgomery Village on Monday, 4/6 was domestic. The 22-year-old female victim was physically struck and cut with a knife by the 31-year-old male suspect during a dispute and struggle.

R2 Beat:

• The aggravated assault that occurred in the 9500 block of Tippett Lane in Gaithersburg on Sunday, 4/5 at 10:53 p.m. was domestic. The 31-year-old male suspect knocked down and came at the 43 year-old victim with a knife. She was not injured.

• An aggravated assault occurred on Monday, 4/6 at 2:00 a.m. in the 8600 block of Welbeck Way in Montgomery Village. A dispute occurred at the nearby Goshen 7-11. One man reported that the other man tried to run him over with his car. The other man reported he was threatened with a bat.

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 20200 block of Harbor Tree Road in Montgomery Village on Friday, 4/3 at 12:50 a.m. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit.

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 1000 block of Southern Night Lane in Gaithersburg at an unknown time between Saturday, 4/4 and Monday, 4/6. Suspects entered an unlocked vehicle and removed a wallet.

S1 Beat:

• No significant activity.

S2 Beat:

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 17800 block of Muncaster Road in Derwood between 4:45 p.m. on Thursday 4/2 and 8:00 a.m. on Friday 4/3. Suspects broke the window and removed clothing, jewelry and change.

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 18000 block of Muncaster Road in Derwood between 10:00 p.m. Thursday 4/2 and 8:30 a.m. on Friday 4/3. Suspects entered an unlocked vehicle and removed clothing and change.

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 7900 block of Spiceberry Circle in Gaithersburg between 9:30 p.m. on Thursday 4/2 and 9:25 a.m. on Friday 4/3. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit.

• A theft from a vehicle occurred in the 7400 block of Brennish Drive in Gaithersburg between Thursday 4/2 at 7:00 p.m. and Friday 4/3 at 11:30 a.m. Suspects broke the window and removed a GPS unit.

From the City’s website:

Agenda - Mayor and City Council Meeting, 4/20/2009

Posted 4/16/2009

City of Gaithersburg
AGENDA FOR A REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009, 7:30 P.M.
Full Meeting Package (pdf format - Large File:20M )

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. INVOCATION

Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, Shaare Torah Congregation

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council Held March 16, 2009
   Background Material (pdf format)

2. Minutes of a Work Session of the Mayor and City Council Held March 23, 2009

   Background Material (pdf format)

3. Minutes of a Work Session of the Mayor and City Council Held March 30, 2009
   Background Material (pdf format)

V. CONSENT ITEM

Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract to Pave Sections of the Green Park Paths and the Parking Lot at the Dog Exercise Area ($52,145)
Background Material (pdf format)

VI. PRESENTATIONS

1. Certificate of Appreciation to Warren Johnson, Member of the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee
   Background Material (pdf format)

2. Proclamation of the Mayor and City Council Designating April 19-26, 2009 as “Days of Remembrance” in the City of Gaithersburg

   Background Material (pdf format)

3. Proclamation of the Mayor and City Council Designating April 17-27 as “Gaithersburg Green Week” and April 21, 2009, as “Arbor Day” in the City of Gaithersburg
   Background Material (pdf format)

4. Proclamation of the Mayor and City Council Designating April 2009, as “Arab-American Heritage Month” in the City of Gaithersburg
   Background Material (pdf format)

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

1. Upcoming City Events
2. Work Session Announcement

IX. FROM THE CITY MANAGER

X. PUBLIC HEARING

An Ordinance to Award a Cable Franchise to Verizon Maryland, Inc., Pursuant to Section 6-4 of the City Code
Background Material (pdf format)

XI. RECESS MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

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HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

I. Call to Order

II. Approval of Minutes

Minutes of a Historic District Commission Meeting Held April 6, 2009
Background Material (pdf format)

III. Certificate of Approval

1. HAWP-52C, Applicant: Dan and Eydie Searles, Request for Tree Removal, 18 Walker Avenue
   Background Material (pdf format)

2. HAWP-102B, Applicant: Dr. Rashid Levi, Request to Add Signage, 20 South Summit Avenue

   Background Material (pdf format)

IV. Adjournment

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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 Negotiate and Execute a Contract for the Purchase of Public Art for Market Square Plaza ($25,000)
   Background Material (pdf format)

2. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract for a Street Resurfacing Project ($431,000)
   Background Material (pdf format)

3. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract for a Street Reconstruction Project ($623,000)
   Background Material (pdf format)

4. Resolution of the Mayor and City Council Supporting Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Neighborhood BusinessWorks Program Financing to Inter-Continental Group, LLC

   Background Material (pdf format)

5. Introduction of an Ordinance to Adopt the City Budget for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2009, Through June 30, 2010, and Levying an Ad Valorem Tax on all Assessable Property Within the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland (public hearing - 5/4)
   Background Material (pdf format)

6. Notification of a Public Hearing to Establish a Constant Yield Tax Rate for the City of Gaithersburg for Tax Year Beginning July 1, 2009 (Fiscal Year 2010) (public hearing - 5/4)
   Background Material (pdf format)

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

Guidance on a Memorandum Dated April 13, 2009, Regarding Proposed Criteria Relating to Location of Telecommunications Facilities on City Property
Background Material (pdf format)

XV. 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 conduct a work session on Monday, April 27, 2009, for the following topics:

• Report from the Ad Hoc Elections Ordinance Review Committee
• Approval of Board of Supervisors of Elections Recommendations on the Number and Locations of Polling Places
• Report from District 17 Delegation (Senator Jennie Forehand, Delegates Kumar Barve, Jim Gilchrist and Luiz Simmons) and

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THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF
THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD
MONDAY, MAY 4, 2009, 7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 31 SOUTH SUMMIT AVENUE

• Patricia M. Murret writes, New anchor slated for Frederick Avenue Corridor:
  

  A two-story medical office building could soon anchor the Frederick Avenue corridor near Olde Towne, where Gaithersburg leaders have made improvements a priority, but a city councilwoman is worried about historic preservation.

  City officials moved too quickly by allowing site plans for the proposed complex at the intersection of Frederick and DeSellum avenues to get so close to completion without a site visit and review by the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee, said Councilwoman Cathy Drzyzgula.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, Feds close inquiry into former officers:
  

  Federal prosecutors will not file charges in the county disability retirement cases of Gaithersburg Police Chief John A. King or William O’Toole, both former assistant chiefs with Montgomery County Police, according to the city attorney and O’Toole, who received the news this morning.

• Alan Brody writes, Funding waivers drive wedge between counties, schools:
  

  Requests to waive the maintenance-of-effort funding requirement for fiscal 2010 are creating a new fault line in some counties, pitting local governments against school officials and boards and teachers’ unions.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, City tries reaching displaced residents:
  

  Three years ago, Jennifer Jones was forced along with 197 other families from West Deer Park Apartments in Gaithersburg to make way for what was supposed to become an upscale townhome community.

  Now Jones, 45, plans to apply for one of 10 moderately-priced dwelling units in Amber Commons, the apartment complex the developer built there instead.

  City officials have advertised and say they cannot find former West Deer Park residents, who should have first dibs on those affordable apartments.

• Sebastian Montes writes, Concessions made in Webb Tract plans:
  

  As envisioned by Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, the police and fire rescue training academy that will in a few years be built at the Webb Tract near Montgomery Village would get the county’s emergency personnel out of cramped, 36-year-old quarters and into digs that feature state-of-the-art equipment.

• Sebastian Montes writes, Water fee woes resurface for HOAs:
  

  On the heels of a 40 percent increase last fiscal year, Montgomery County is planning a 26 percent increase in the fee it charges to keep its stormwater management system up to grade.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, City bans paving over front yards:
  

  Gaithersburg leaders on Monday approved an ordinance change that will prevent city homeowners from paving over their yards to create parking pads.

  Leaders called for the measure when discussing mansionization legislation in fall.

• Patricia M. Murret writes, City wants residents to bank on it:
  

  A recent study found that 5,000 Gaithersburg residents stow their money at home, just like Charles Herman Rabbitt, a wealthy city landowner who died in 1972.

From the City’s website:

Agenda - Planning Commission Meeting, 4/15/2009

Posted 4/6/2009

City of Gaithersburg
31 South Summit Avenue

Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877
Telephone: 301-258-6330

PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA [subject to change]
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
7:30 P.M.
City Hall Council Chambers

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

March 18, 2009, Planning Commission Meeting
TBA - Background Material (pdf format)

RECORD PLATS

CONSENT ITEMS

SP-07-0002 — Camson Property
CBD Zone
13 Park Avenue
9,000-Sq.Ft. 3-Story Office Building

EXTENSION OF APPROVAL
Background Material (pdf format)

AFP-08-013 –  Bohrer Park Hillside Pavilion at Summit Hall Farm
R-A Zone

506 South Frederick Avenue
Enlarging Pavilion Area and Handicapped Parking
AMENDMENT TO FINAL PLAN REVIEW
Background Material (pdf format)

RECOMMENDATION TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL

Olde Towne Guidelines - Design Guidelines for Future Development and Redevelopment in accordance with the Gaithersburg Olde Towne District Master Plan: MP-1-05
Background Material (pdf format)

FROM THE COMMISSION

FROM STAFF

Annual Planning Report

Background Material (pdf format)

ADJOURNMENT