Council Approves Smoking Ban on County Property

Under a bill passed unanimously by the County Council, smoking will be banned on most County-owned or -leased properties, including bus stops and bus shelters.

The County�s director of Health and Human Services will be allowed to designate outdoor smoking areas on certain County properties. This change was made with concerns on the impact Bill 33-12 could have on County-owned and -leased facilities that house programs used to treat people with addictions. It was pointed out that prohibiting smoking in these types of facilities could negatively impact the treatment of people who are stepping down from hard drugs.

The Health and Human Services Committee recommended that smoking should not be prohibited on County-owned golf courses. The only public course that would be currently impacted is the Falls Road course in Potomac.

• Read more in news release.
• Read the law.

County�s Nonprofit Sector -- Nearly $4 Billion in Purchasing Power, Employs 43,000

A new report just released by County officials reveals that 10% of the County�s workforce is employed by nonprofits, with total wages of $2.2 billion.

Entitled Beyond Charity: Nonprofit Business in Montgomery County, the report looks at nonprofits from several economic vantage points, starting with the fact that nonprofit businesses, like their for-profit counterparts, are employers and purchasers of goods and services.

Supporting data include:

• Montgomery County�s 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits paid $2.2 billion to 43,371 employees in 2011 and have nearly $4 billion in combined purchasing power.
• Nonprofits employ one in 10 workers in the County.
• Nonprofit employment in the County grew 9.1% between 2007 and 2011, while overall employment in the County decreased by 2.5%.

The report was funded by the departments of Economic Development and Health and Human Services.

Read more about the report.

Nominations Open for Montgomery Serves Awards

Nominations are being accepted for the Montgomery Serves Awards and the Neal Potter Path of Achievement Awards that recognize some of the County�s most outstanding community leaders and dedicated volunteers. All nominations must be received by February 25 at 5 p.m.

The awards, along with the Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Award, will be presented on April 29 at Imagination Stage in Bethesda at an event organized by the Montgomery County Volunteer Center, Fund for Montgomery and the Corporate Volunteer Council of Montgomery County.

• Neal Potter Path of Achievement Awards � presented in partnership with the Commission on Aging and �The Beacon� newspaper to two residents, aged 60 and above, for their lifetimes of volunteer service to the County.
• 2012 Montgomery Serves Awards � given in recognition of special volunteer accomplishments during the calendar year 2012 in three categories: Youth Service (individuals 18 years and under and/or youth groups); Business Service (businesses or corporations that engage employees as community volunteers); and Community Service (exemplary volunteer service by individuals or community organizations).

Additional information and nomination forms are found at www.montgomeryserves.org or by calling the Montgomery County Volunteer Center at 240-777-2600.

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited and pre-registration is required. Pre-register at www.montgomeryserves.org.

County�s Share of Hotel/Motel Tax to Increase; Will Allow for Wider Promotion of Local Assets, Attractions

Thanks to a bill just passed by the County Council, there will be additional money to promote the County as a good place for business travelers, for tourists to stay while they enjoy the Capital Region and for visitors and residents to enjoy the many exciting events and amenities the County has to offer.

Bill 36-12 increases the amount of the hotel/motel tax collected by the County and directed to the County�s Conference and Visitors Bureau from 3.5 to 7%.

Public testimony about the bill revealed that Montgomery County spends less overall on promotions than all neighboring jurisdictions other than Arlington County in Virginia.

Looking ahead, it was noted that the County must be ready to more aggressively compete for tourism and conventions with Prince George�s County and other Maryland jurisdictions that have, or will have, casinos.

Read more in news release.

Holiday Schedule for Presidents� Day

Montgomery County government will observe the following holiday schedule for Presidents� Day on Monday, February 18:

• County Offices � closed
• Public Libraries � closed
• County liquor stores � closed
• Recreation � aquatics programs open, aquatic facilities and community centers open; all other classes and programs canceled; administrative office and senior centers closed
• Montgomery Parks � for holiday operating schedule on Parks� facilities, including Brookside Gardens, ice rinks, tennis centers, trains and carousels, visit www.MontgomeryParks.org.
• Ride On � Special modified holiday schedule
• Metrobus � Saturday schedule with supplemental service
• Metrorail � Saturday Holiday schedule
• TRiPS Commuter Stores (Silver Spring and Friendship Heights) � closed
• Refuse/recycling pickup � no collection*
• Transfer Station � open
• Parking at public garages, lots, curbside meters � free 
• MCPS Administrative Offices � closed
• State offices & courts � closed

*Collection provided one day later for remainder of week (last collection day is Saturday).

Check County's Calendar for more information.