ARClogo Alliance of Rockville Citizens


 ARC has morphed into the      Rockville Community Coalition

                                           “We can either slouch into the future, or march in with all flags flying.”

The Rockville Community Coalition believes that for Rockville to thrive, it is vital that our residents and the business community be engaged in and actively participate in resolving the issues facing our community.   Rockville’s diversity enriches us, but to sustain Rockville as the best place in the Greater DC Region to live and work, to raise and educate our kids, and to enjoy a rich and fulfilling life, we must elicit the vision of all stakeholders.  To accomplish these goals:

•    We will encourage greater civic participation by all members of our community by voting, serving on Commissions and Boards, and by running as candidates for Mayor and Council. 

•    We will promote greater cross-cultural exchanges that celebrate the richness of Rockville’s cultural diversity.  If you are white, Asian, Hispanic, African American, European, Jewish, Muslim, or any other heritage, we invite you to be part of our group and for you to share your heritage with the whole community.

•    We will provide factual information and objective analyses to supplement staff analyses and to serve as the basis for decisions by the public and by the Mayor and Council.

•    We will stimulate public discussion of the significant issues facing our city by sponsoring forums where a wide range of views can be presented and debated.

•    We will press for a discourse on the City's tax base and need for a comprehensive financial plan geared toward the long-term financial stability of the City .

•    We will advocate and support policies that make Rockville the best place to live in the Greater DC region, while preserving and building on the best of Rockville’s history.

•    We will advocate for effective, efficient, and responsible City policies and resource allocation decisions that represent the public interest. 

•    We will support and work with local organizations to better serve the most vulnerable individuals and families in our community.

•    We will encourage Mayor and Council to cultivate strong partnerships with officials of the Federal, State, and County governments, the Montgomery County School Board, and Montgomery College. 

•    We will promote understanding of our City Manager form of government, cooperation between the Mayor and Council and City staff, and respect for City employees.

If you agree with our agenda, and you want to help make Rockville the best place to live, please  email    rschrack @verizon.net

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Meanwhile Roald Schrack has been appointed to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Committee formed by the Planning Commission to consider possible revision of the ordinance. Because of one of the provisions of the ordinance, all residential construction in the city  is now in moritorium.

For the ordinance see: The Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance
For the committee see: The APFO Committee
As part of his work on the committee Roald Schrack has developed a number of papers that consider topics that are important in understanding  problems that Rockville faces. Click on the underlined blue to see the report.

1.) Rockville Population     This report shows the growth of the adult and student population and its increasing diversity.
2.) Portable Classrooms      Shows the distribution of Portable Classrooms and utilization in Rockville.
3.) Rockville Schools          Gives statistics and location for Rockville schools.
4.) Births and Deaths in Rockville   Displays births and deaths for white, Asian, Hispanic and Afro-Americans in Rockville
5.) The Rockville Voter List 2011   The current voter list is compared to previous voter lists
6.) Analysis of Voter List    Gain of new voters and loss of old voters analyzed.
7.) Leaving Rockville          Shows how different factors influence length of  time in Rockville.
8.) Rockville Housing          Discusses the housing bubble the effects of it on the City Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance
9.) The Last Ten Years        Shows the student growth and results of residential construction 2000 to 2010
10.) Student Yields               Shows student yields for 16 selected housing units                                               
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Recent ARC actions:

    •  To see an analysis of the 2009 Election Finances, click HERE

    •  To see an analysis of the 2009  Election, click HERE


      • The Alliance of Rockville Citizens (ARC) is a non-partisan civic organization open to all citizens of Rockville. Its main focus is on Rockville and does not deal with County, State, or National questions unless there is a direct effect on the City. ARC was formed to provide citizens like yourself a more effective voice in city government. There are 49 local civic and homeowner associations that deal with concerns affecting particular neighborhoods in the city. ARC deals with city-wide concerns.
      • Rockville, unlike most of the communities in Montgomery County, is an independent incorporated municipality. Rockville government provides the services that most affect your home and your neighborhood. The city controls the use of land and zoning within it's boundaries. How this power is used depends on you.
      • The services Rockville provides are funded by a budget of $108 million dollars (FY 2011). How this money is spent depends on you.
      • ARC was organized to assure that you as a citizen of Rockville, have the opportunity to influence the way the city is run.
      • ARC promotes efficient and responsive government by taking positions on issues of importance to Rockville and it's citizens.
        •

      To accomplish these goals, ARC .....

      • Monitors Council and Commission meetings,
      • Informs its members of City issues through newsletters and forums,
      • Forms committees of concerned citizens to develop testimony on major legislation,
      • Meets monthly to maintain a current overview of city activities,
      • Holds a convention in election years to seek out and endorse capable citizens for elected office.
        •

      Rockville Election Law provides for non-partisan elections in the City. This was done to:

      1. Keep the pressures of partisan politics from distorting City affairs.
      2. Allow for the full participation of federal government employees, which make up a large fraction of the city population.
        3.

      To maintain its independent status ARC does not collect or disburse funds in Rockville elections. A separate campaign committee is formed by candidates for office to collect and disburse funds.

      ARC and other non-partisan organizations have played a vital role in keeping Rockville government responsive and representative for forty years. The continuation of this record depends on maintaining and strengthening our non-partisan tradition. Your participation is cordially invited. Questions about ARC can be answered by Roald Schrack, rschrack@verizon.net