This episode and later ones will provide information and transparency as the Town Council prepares the FY 26 budget, which includes the operating budget, enterprise budget (water, sewer, trash/sanitation, stormwater management), and capital improvement plan (CIP).

References:

• Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Town Budget
• Adopted Town of La Plata Calendar of Events Preparation and adoption on the Town FY 2026 Budget

This episode provides the results from La Plata’s 2024 National Community Survey, presented to the Town Council at our September 20, 2024, meeting.

In April 2024, the Town engaged Polco to conduct the National Community Survey (NCS) to ascertain public perceptions of La Plata and its general livability. The NCS consists of standard questions asked of all municipalities and a limited number of custom questions provided by the client which may be tailored to ongoing or anticipated conditions affecting the municipality. The last such survey was conducted for La Plata by Polco’s parent company, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), in 2016. The questions were largely the same in both surveys.

Polco randomly identified 3,500 residents for initial survey participation, after which the survey was opened to the general public. Between online surveys and paper surveys, Polco received 426 responses. Results were weighted to reflect La Plata’s adult demographic profile (see p. 2 of the 2024 survey analysis).

Possible applications for data collected in this survey:

• Clearer perspective on community priorities

• Review and adjustment of Town FY 26 and future budgets, staffing, and operations to better address community priorities

• Guidance for Town Council following the May 2025 Town elections

• Revision of 2022 Town Strategic Plan to foster community sustainability

YouTube Video Link

La Plata, MD The National Community Survey Report of Results 2024

This is David Jenkins, La Plata Town Council member from Ward 4 and your host for this podcast and videos, now available on YouTube, and YouTube Music.

This episode is about questions and frustration from many Town and County residents about a new 7-11 gas station starting construction at Rosewick Corner.

Future podcasts/videos:

• Why La Plata should have an economic development/placemaking function
• Best practices by other towns in Maryland, from my attendance at the Maryland Municipal League’s (MML) Fall Leadership Conference, November 6-8th, Cambridge Maryland.

YouTube Link

Reference: “The City Should Put a Trader Joe’s There” (and Other Muddled Thinking About Development)

This is a follow-up to my August 13, 2024, podcast and video – Speed and Traffic, and the article in the latest Town newsletter. There is a need for traffic calming options and a community/town cooperative program in our residential neighborhoods. This is needed to reduce speeding and prevent a tragedy from happening.

Two recent incidents in Clarks Run - first, last week, a car did not stop when a school bus deployed its STOP sign as children got on the bus at Scarlet Oak and East Patuxent, and the second Tuesday morning, October 29th, two cars both ran the to stop at STOP sign at Scarlet Oak/East Patuexnt. These recent incidents again highlight the persistent and real speeding and safety concerns by residents in CR and all La Plata neighborhoods.

I’ve reached out to the Clarks Run Citizen Association (CRCA) with this information and to the Town Council and LP Police Chief, hoping we can initiate a quick, and cost-effective safety program in La Plata’s neighborhoods.

Thanks again for listening and watching.

YouTube Link

Streets and Sidewalks, People and Cars THE CITIZENS’ GUIDE TO TRAFFIC CALMING -

Tactical Urbanism Short-Term Action | Long-Term Change

How to Calm a Street, Starting with Your Own Anger -

Smart Growth America - Quick Build Demonstration Projects -
South Bend, IN demonstration project: Neighborhood traffic calming -

A Safer Intersection in 80 Minutes

I want to follow up on my October 8th podcast/video, La Plata 2025 Election, why I’m not running for re-election, and my greatest regrets comments – the lack of a Town citizen participation/engagement program, and little resident participation with their town government.

I want to tell you a different perspective about citizen engagement/participation learned from my recent Facebook post and then a citizen response.

YouTube Link

Reference: Staying Strong, Chuck Marhon, November 3, 2017

This is David Jenkins, La Plata Town Council member from Ward 4 and your host for this podcast and videos, now available on YouTube, and YouTube Music.

The 2025 Town election schedule and new Town Ward Maps are provided in this episode. This also includes my intentions about the 2025 La Plata Town election.

YouTube Video Link

Reference Links:

• Candidate Information, Nomination for Candidacy - Town Election 2025
• Candidate Certificate of Nomination Package
• Town of La Plata Council Ward Map 2024
• So You Want To Be An Elected Official Maryland Municipal League
• 2025 Election Schedule

This is an update to my September 23 video and September 25 podcast about The Housing Shortage - Charles County.

The monthly Charles County Strong Towns Local Conversation on September 26th discussed affordable housing in Charles County, providing additional information about the County’s work for affordable housing.

Please note the town has or will shortly post the new Town Ward Map, adopted by the Council at our September 10 meeting. According to the Town Code, the Town’s Election Board will recommend ward map changes to the Council every odd year, based on population change and development/growth patterns. Town Council review and approval is required.

The ward maps were approved in advance of the May 2025 Town elections. The election schedule will be posted shortly on the Town website and other social media. I will post a podcast/video about the ward maps and the 2025 election schedule.

Links:
YouTube Video

Charles County Affordable Housing Work Group

Charles County Affordable Housing Workgroup Housing Survey

The Town needs to improve our citizen outreach and information sharing. This is a critical need, as seen from feedback from our FY 25 budget process. There were many negative comments about the lack of budget information, other than the minimal and required two-week public hearing notices and materials included on Town Council agendas.

Let’s look at a better way from Strong Towns (Community Engagement That Works).

Now here are examples from different communities, including Charles County.

Upcoming podcasts/videos: 2025 La Plata Election schedule, MDOT 2025 Transporation Consolidated Transporation Program (CTP), and La Plata Priorities.

YouTube Video Link

References:

• Holly Springs, NC - Strategic Plan/Dashboard
• Chapel Hill, NC - 2024-2025 Budget Development
• Charles County, MD Stay Engaged
• Frederick County, MD - Budget Portal