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Montgomery County Council to Hold ‘Shaping Our Future’ Briefings Over the Next 3 Months

Release ID: 12-007
Release Date: 1/23/2012
Contact: Neil Greenberger 240-777-7939 or Delphine Harriston240-777-7931
From: Council Office

ROCKVILLE, Md., January 23, 2012—Montgomery County Council President Roger Berliner and Vice President Nancy Navarro announced today that the Council over the next three months will host a series of briefings addressing some of the most significant issues confronting the County and its future.

The "Shaping Our Future: Adapting to Change" series will get started as part of the Council’s regular meeting agenda on Tuesday, Jan. 31. The briefing, addressing “Changing Demographic Trends and the Impact on Services,” will look at the County's changing demographics and how they may particularly impact educational needs. Rollin Stanley, planning director for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, will lead the panel. Among those expected to participate are Joshua Starr, the superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools, and DeRionne Pollard, president of Montgomery College.

“Our County is at an inflection point,” said Council President Berliner. “The combination of less federal government spending, changing demographics, the challenges to our competitiveness in the region and the shifting needs of the new economy all require our County to adapt to change. This series of briefings is designed to address some of the overarching issues that will significantly determine our capacity to secure a prosperous future for our residents. We will bring in national thought leaders and engage in a constructive dialogue with the Leggett Administration to assess the prospects and potential of new approaches to these defining public policy issues."

Said Council Vice President Navarro: “We have long known that our County is changing in many ways. Over the past few years, the demographic trends shown in the 2010 Census and the revised master plans the Council has approved have given us considerable information on where our County is headed. These panel discussions will provide valuable additional information so we can make decisions that will enable us to meet the future look of Montgomery County.”

After the kickoff presentation on the changing demographics and its implications for our education system, the Council, on dates yet to be determined, will explore:

· Economic Growth—Less federal government spending will require the County to build on its core economic strengths and support entrepreneurial efforts.

· Training the Workforce of the Future—40 percent of the workforce of the future will require technical skills and two years of post secondary education.

· County Service Delivery Models and the Needs of a Changing Montgomery County—In what ways does the County need to alter our service delivery model to meet the needs of our residents?

· Creating More Affordable Housing—While the County's MPDU program is praised nationwide, the County, like many other jurisdictions, does not have enough affordable housing options.

· Our Growing Senior Population — How can we transform Montgomery County into a “Community of a Lifetime?”

· Rapid Transit—Congestion is the number one quality of life issue in Montgomery County and it significantly impacts our competitiveness. Rapid Transit has quickly emerged as a potential game changer for our County. The Transit Task Force will report on its recommendations for our County.

The briefings will be held at the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. They will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM—Cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon). The broadcasts also will be available via streaming through the County Web site at www.montgomerycountymd.gov and will be rebroadcast at various times on CCM.

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Last edited: 12/23/2009