Rock Creek Hills Citizens' Association Meeting
Wednesday, May 10, 2000

Shannon Hamm, President, called the meeting to order at 7:38 PM.

Old Business:

1. Motion Approve minutes of the January 29, 2000 meeting.

Vote:  Approved, with no objections.

2. Treasurer’s report by Deanna Marcum:

Balance February 1, 2000                                                                    $9046.22

Income (dues)                                                                                                 $1463.70

Expenses                                                                                              $  721.04

Balance May 1, 2000                                                                        $9761.60

My calculations                                                                                         $9788.88

Motion to accept the Treasurer’s report.

Vote:  Approved

3.        Additional members have volunteered to serve on the committees.  The new volunteers are in bold:

·         Building and Covenants – Mark Schweitzer

·         Communications – Sam Hoxie

·         Community Police Liaison – Steve Steinberg

·         Health, Safety and Environment - Jacqui Stevens

·         Legislative, Planning and Zoning – John Mangan

·         Special Events – Betsy Greaney with Irene Glowinski

·         Transportation - John Robinson

·         Welcoming - Ruth Silverstein

4.        Transportation Committee Report – John Robinson

Both the State and County are currently conducting transportation planning activities, which may impact Rock Creek Hills.  Some current thinking about the study is:

·         There will be an emphasis on mass transit.

·         It appears that there is Countywide opposition to widening the beltway.  The estimated cost of widening the beltway is two to three billion dollars.

·         The results of the noise study are not yet available.  When they are available, they will be posted on the RCHCA web site (http://www.RCHCA.org).

·         There is no Draft Environmental Impact Statement for widening the beltway.

·         Congestion in the area is up, especially on the weekends.

Q&A/Discussion:

§         The County has a Traffic Watch program.  Anyone interested in participating/starting a watch  should contact a member of the RCHCA Board..

Speakers:

Bridge Construction Status – Ken Kendall, Montgomery County Department of Public Works

The work on the Jones Mill Road Bridge is 50% complete.  However, more work than originally planned will be required.  The estimated complete date has slipped by two weeks to late August.

The County expects to advertise for bids on Stoneybrook Drive Bridge over the CSX tracks in June.  Construction is scheduled to begin in September.  Construction is expected to take 11 months.  The County expects the bridge to be closed 11 months.  Relocation of utility poles is expected to start in August.

Q&A/Discussion Highlights

§       The bridge will have a 4-foot wide sidewalk (on the west side), two 11‑foot travel lanes, and two four foot shoulders/bike paths.

§       The current bridge is 18 feet wide.  The new bridge will be 34 feet wide.

Planning – Fred Boyd, Planner MNCPPC

MNCPPC is currently working on the Concept Plan for the Town of Kensington.  The last Master Plan for the Town of Kensington was done in 1978.  The Concept Plan precedes the Master Plan. Some of the areas of concern and thoughts are:

• Bring back/enhance the small town look and feel.
• Improve the look and function of the main intersection (Knowles and Connecticut).  Some of the thoughts for the intersection are: green area in the median of Connecticut; sidewalk improvements (sidewalk on the north side of Knowles); improved pedestrian crossing.
• Reduce vehicular congestion – Some of the thoughts in this area are: divert some of the traffic from the Knowles and Connecticut intersection to Metropolitan and Connecticut via Summit; improved traffic flow at Knowles and Summit; improved demarcation of travel and parking areas on Summit; and more lanes on Summit.

Note: They are attempting to improve the demarcation of the travel and parking areas on Metropolitan Ave.

• The concrete plant is scheduled to close in the January/February 2001 timeframe.  Some potential uses of the land currently occupied by the concrete plant are: additional parking for the train station; walkways and paths to cross the CSX tracks; and possibly a small park.

Q&A/Discussion Highlights

§         Rock Creek Hills is in the Greater Kensington planning area.  The last Master Plan for the Greater Kensington area was done in 1989.  Master Plans have a “life expectancy” of twenty years. 

§         What can be done to make Connecticut Avenue look less like Route 1?  The County may pursue having the power lines placed underground.  Signs are a major issue and there may not be anything that can be done to improve the signs.

§         Metropolitan Avenue improvement plans include sidewalks.  There may also be sidewalks installed on a section of Plyers Mill Road.

§         What are the regulations regarding CSX, specifically in the areas of speed and noise?  During discussion the following responses were offered.  The federal government regulates train safety.  The Surface Transportation Board may have input, during mergers.  The Maryland State Department of Transportation would be responsible for land use issues.

§         The timing of the traffic light at the intersection of Kensington Parkway and Connecticut Avenue does not allow enough time for traffic on Kensington Parkway.  During discussion, it was suggested that Scott Wainwright at DPWT should be contacted.

§         Master Plans are re‑evaluated every 10 years.  The Planning Commission has problems keeping the plans current in the “down county” area.  Members of the County Council set priorities and the emphasis has been on the growth areas in the northern part of the County.

§         There may be both advantages and disadvantages to updating the Master Plan.

§         John Mangan volunteered to get a copy of the current Master Plan for the Greater Kensington Area.

Police Liaison – Officer Logan, Montgomery County Police Department

1. Burglaries – There have been a number of commercial burglaries in the commercial area of Kensington.

§         Lock your doors and windows, including second floor windows.

§         Most crimes in the neighborhood are solved based on tips.

§         Keep your eyes open.

2. Indecent exposures

§         Watch out for a black pickup truck with tinted windows and a peace symbol in the rear window.

§         Officer Logan passed out information that every parent of school age children should consider.

§         Teach your children that there are trusted adults and other adults.  It is ok for them to be rude to adults that are not trusted adults.

3. Theft from vehicles – There were a number of cases recently in a nearby neighborhood.

§         Close the windows in your car, and lock the doors.  Of the recent thefts from vehicles, in the nearby neighborhood, all but one involved vehicles with unlocked doors.  The one vehicle with a locked door was a Jeep with a vinyl roof.

§         Possessions are not secure in your car.  Leaving something in your car is like leaving it on the sidewalk.

4. Identity theft

§         Your social security number is a major key to your identity.  You shouldn’t carry your social security number with you, if possible.

§         You may not be libel for credit card charges related to identity theft, but you will be impacted by the credit history problems.

§         You can have your credit history flagged, so you will be notified whenever a credit card is issued in your name.

§         Shred pre‑approved credit card applications.  They can be used to get credit cards in your name.

§         Cut up old credit cards.

§         Rental car contracts contain a lot of valuable personal information.  Make sure that they are handled and disposed of properly.

§         Don’t provide extra information on applications.

§         Check your credit rating once or twice a year.

§         Identity theft will be a misdemeanor starting in October.

§         Don’t count on the system protecting you.

5. It is legal for adults to carry pepper spray.  If you do carry it, keep it in your hand or on your key ring.
6. Giving money to telephone solicitors gets you on a sucker list.  If you want to contribute, have them mail you the information.
7. Don’t hesitate to call the police (non-emergency number), if you see an suspicious activity.

Q&A/Discussion Highlights

• What about screens versus bars on the windows?  You need to weigh safety issues (i.e., fire escape) versus security.  Would recommend keeping all windows locked.  How you lock the windows again is a tradeoff between evacuating the house in case of fire versus security.

§         Several traffic issues were raised.  The timing of the traffic light at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue, Jones Mill Bridge and Kensington Parkway was discussed.  Cars frequently turn south onto Connecticut Avenue from the lanes designated for northbound traffic.  The State program addressing aggressive drivers was also discussed.

Officer Logan expressed the opinion that traffic enforcement, including the aggressive driver program, is hampered by the inability to prove the offense in the courts.

§         Officer Logan provided both her phone number and email address.  Her phone number is 301 657-0119.  Her email address is BethesdaCSO@aol.com.

New Business:

1.        Motion:  Authorize the Association undertake to improve the [traffic] triangles and circles [in Rock Creek Hills] and so maintain those improvements at an expense not to exceed one thousand dollars for the next calendar year.

Vote: Approved with no objections

2.        Motion to adjourn

Vote:  Accepted