Meeting Round-Up: Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee

Here’s a roundup of what was discussed at the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee’s Feb. 14 meeting:

Wheaton Library Renovation

Greg Ossont, deputy director of the Department of General Services, outlined the CIP process for the Wheaton Library and Recreation Center renovation project. If Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett’s CIP recommendations are adopted by the county council, construction will not begin until Fiscal Year 2018, or the summer of 2017. The county council’s Health and Human Services committee is holding a worksession on libraries on Feb. 15 at 3 p.m., but will look more closely at the Wheaton project on March 5 at a joint meeting of the Planning, Housing and Economic Development committee and the Health and Human Services committee.

Police Report

Sergeant Adam Currie of the Fourth District reported that public intoxication in Wheaton’s Central Business District, which was a problem last month, has significantly dropped this month after several nights of police officers working until 4 a.m. to patrol the area.

Clean and Safe Team

Joe Callaway gave an overview of Wheaton’s Clean and Safe Team. The Clean Team spends most of its time on litter collection and general maintenance. Callaway reported that the team does street sweeping three times a week and trash collection four times a week. You can learn more about the team 

Small Business Assistance

Adam Fogel, chief of staff for Councilmember Nancy Navarro, explained how Navarro’s proposed Small Business Assistance program would provide help adjusting to the changes Wheaton redevelopment will bring -- before construction begins. With the current programs in place, he said, “the cranes have to be outside your window before you’re eligible.”

Wheaton Redevelopment

WUDAC voted to prepare a letter to send to the Montgomery County Council in support of the Wheaton Redevelopment and the county executive’s proposed CIP funds.

Small Business Survey

Pete McGinnity, who manages the Wheaton Redevelopment Program for the county’s Department of General Services, reported to WUDAC that the county is preparing to release a survey in the next few weeks to ask business owners -- similar to a 2005 survey that gauged business performance, financial viability and expectations for redevelopment. Given the severe change in the economy since 2005, McGinnity said he expects very different responses this time.

Taste of Wheaton

Plans are already beginning for Wheaton’s biggest annual event, the Taste of Wheaton, on May 20. Applications are coming soon, according to Sidney Cooper, who manages Marketing & Events at the Mid-County Regional Services Center. “Every year the numbers go down,” Cooper said. She encouraged WUDAC members to urge their favorite Wheaton restaurants to participate this year.