CITY OF GREENBELT
MARYLAND

  DATE:      January 10, 2013
TO:           City Council
RE:           Agenda Comments

The following are comments concerning the agenda for the January 14, 2013, regular meeting of the City Council.  The comments are a summary of background information and recommendations prepared by various staff and reviewed and approved by the City Manager.  The initials of the staff member preparing each section are noted after the comments. 

• Presentations
• Petitions and Requests

8.         Minutes of Council Meetings

Statement for the Record – Executive Session of December 12, 2012:  The following motion is needed:

In accordance with Section 10-509 (c)(2) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Public General Laws of Maryland, I move that the minutes of tonight’s meeting reflect that Council met in executive session on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at 8:08 p.m. in Room 201 of the Community Center.  Council held this closed meeting in accordance with Section 10-508 (a) (1) and (9) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Public General Laws of Maryland to discuss a personnel matter and matters related to collective bargaining negotiations.  

Vote to close session:

The following staff members were in attendance:  Michael McLaughlin, City Manager; Robert Manzi, City Solicitor; and Cindy Murray, City Clerk.

Other individuals in attendance:  None 

Council took no actions during this session. 

Minutes – Executive Session of December 12, 2012:  In order to approve these minutes, the following motion is needed.

I move that the minutes of the executive session of the City Council held Wednesday, December 12, 2012, be approved as presented.

Statement for the Record – Executive Session of December 17, 2012:  The following motion is needed:

In accordance with Section 10-509 (c)(2) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Public General Laws of Maryland, I move that the minutes of tonight’s meeting reflect that Council met in executive session on Monday, December 17, 2012, at 8:08 p.m. in the Council Room of the Municipal Building.  Council held this closed meeting in accordance with Section 10-508 (a) (4)  of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Public General Laws of Maryland to consider a matter concerning a proposal for a business to locate in the area.     

Vote to close session:

The following staff members were in attendance:  Michael McLaughlin, City Manager, and David Moran, Assistant City Manager.

Other individuals in attendance:  None 

Council took no actions during this session. 

 Minutes – Executive Session of December 17, 2012:  In order to approve these minutes, the following motion is needed.

I move that the minutes of the executive session of the City Council held Monday, December 17, 2012, be approved as presented.

• Administrative Reports
•  Council Reports

* 11.         Committee Reports

75th Anniversary Report to Council:  Staff recommends Council accept this report and consider it on the agenda of a future meeting.  One of the committee’s recommendations is to provide grants to seven groups or individuals from what is deemed “surplus” funds.  Staff recommends caution on this recommendation because a number of these groups already receive financial or other support from the city and, other than ticket sales for the gala, city funds of $17,500 constituted the largest source of funding for the celebration, so the “surplus” funds can be viewed as city funds.  (MM)

Advisory Committee on Education, Report #2013-1 (ACE Grant Proposals):  Staff recommends that Council accept this report and consider it on the agenda of the next meeting.  (CM) 

12. A Resolution to Negotiate the Purchase of a 2007 Ford Truck with Terex Aerial Unit from Utility Equipment Leasing Corporation of Waukesha, Wisconsin at a cost of $34,595

• 2nd Reading, Adoption

Reference:       Resolution
Memorandum, Lesley Riddle, 11/30/2012
Rental Agreement, 09/04/2012
Email, Ken Hall, 12/06/2012

The City’s aerial lift truck is over 23 years old and did not pass its last State required inspection.  Public Works staff conducted an extensive search for used trucks with aerial lift units and found the closest vendor was Utility Equipment Leasing Corporation (UELC) of Waukesha, Wisconsin with a dealership in York, PA. 

UELC offered the City a monthly rental option for a 2007 Ford Truck with Terex aerial unit with a portion of the monthly rental fee to be applied towards the future purchase of the unit if that occurred.  Public Works began renting the unit in September and staff has been pleased with its performance and ability to meet the needs of the City.   

Public Works staff is recommending purchase of this unit at a purchase cost of $39,275 less rental recapture fees of $4,680, making the total cost $34,595.  The City of College Park has agreed to pay 20% of the unit cost ($7,855) since the unit will be used by their City for hanging of banners.   UELC estimates the value of the City’s existing truck is $5,000 to $6,500.

Ms. Pope introduced the resolution for first reading at the last meeting.  It is recommended the ordinance be introduced for second reading and moved for adoption tonight.  (CM)

13. Award of Purchase - Treadmills

Reference:       Memorandum, J. McNeal, 12/17/2012

The FY12 Budget included $28,000 in the Replacement Fund for the purchase of five (5) new treadmills for the Aquatic and Fitness Center. The City solicited bids for treadmills in August 2012 however after careful review, it was determined that none of the five (5) bids received met the needs of the City. 

Recently, Recreation staff learned that the University of Maryland (UM) had issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) #84327G for the purchase of Cybex 770T treadmills in September 2012.  In November, the UM bid was awarded to Gymsource of Frederick, Maryland at a per unit cost of $4,995.  The Cybex 770T treadmill is a newly introduced commercial grade treadmill which is manufactured by a nationally known company with a very good reputation.  The City is able to cooperatively purchase (“piggy back”) on this bid.

A Gymsource representative met with Recreation staff to discuss the Cybex 770T treadmill, equipment specifications, warranty, etc. and provided a demonstration of the equipment.  Recreation staff found the equipment meets or exceeds the City’s needs.  Additionally, the UM IFB stipulates a 3 year parts and labor warranty which the vendor will honor for the City purchase. 

Staff recommends Council approve the purchase of five (5) Cybex 770T treadmills from Gymsource of Frederick, Maryland under the terms stipulated in the UM IFB #84327G at a total cost of $24,975.  (CM) 

14. City Position on Possible Relocation of FBI Headquarters

This item has been included on the agenda this evening for Council to take a formal position on the possible relocation of the FBI Headquarters to a Prince George’s County site.  (CM)

15.  Prince George’s County Fire Department Staffing Transfers

Reference:       Letter, City of College Park, 01/08/2013
Article, Sentinel, 01/03/2013
E-mail, K. Lawson, 01/03/2013

The Prince George’s County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department plans to eliminate career staffing at the Branchville Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad (Branchville) starting March 1, 2013.  County career firefighters and emergency medical technicians currently provide staffing Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and volunteer staffing is provided the remainder of the time.  Prince George’s County Deputy Fire Chief Barksdale has informed the Branchville volunteers that other stations would cover the area when Branchville volunteers were not available.

This action by the County is an effort to reduce overtime for career firefighters and to ensure that the Prince George’s County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department meets commitments that were made to the career fire service union for minimum staffing at other County fire stations.   The County also plans to eliminate career staffing at three other County Fire Departments – West Lanham Hills (on Route 450, not Good Luck Road), Seat Pleasant and Boulevard Heights.

Included in Council’s packet is a letter from the City of College Park to County Executive Baker strongly opposing this staffing cutback and requesting funding be provided for sufficient Fire/EMS staffing County-wide.  They note the extra burden this action will place on other local fire stations that are already burdened and delay response times by minutes, placing the lives of their residents, workers and visitors at stake. 

In addition to providing fire and EMS coverage to the College Park area, Branchville also provides coverage to a significant portion of Berwyn Heights and Greenbelt West including Beltway Plaza Mall, the Greenbelt Metro and Franklin Park.

Staff recommends this issue be included on the agenda of the Four Cities meeting scheduled for January 30, 2013, in College Park, so that a joint letter of opposition can be sent.  (CM)  

16. Other Reports

Councilmembers will present reports on meetings and conferences recently attended.  (CM)

* 17.      Reappointments to Advisory Groups

Reference:       Reappointment Surveys

The following individuals have indicated their willingness to continue to serve on their current advisory boards or committees.  Approval of this item on the consent agenda will indicate Council’s intent to appoint these individuals to new terms. 

Kathleen Gallagher     Board of Elections
Pamela Gregory          Board of Elections
Frank Pearlman           Senior Citizens Advisory Committee

(CM)

* 18.       Resignations from Advisory Groups

Reference:       Email, U. Shaw, 12/11/2012
Reappointment Survey

Urja Shaw has submitted her resignation from the Youth Advisory Committee and Herbert Reed has submitted his resignation from the Greenbelt Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability.  Approval of this item on the consent agenda will indicate Council’s intent to accept these resignations with regret.  (CM) 

V.        MEETINGS

Reference:       Chart, Stakeholder/Regular Meetings
Master Calendar

Ready to be scheduled:
Roosevelt Center Owner
Roosevelt Center Vacancies
Park & Planning (stakeholder)
Comcast/Verizon (stakeholder)
PEPCO (stakeholder)
Greenbelt Theater
University of Maryland
For later scheduling:
Hotels (stakeholder)
Zoning Enforcement
Parkway Apartment Owners/GHI (parking)
Northway Fields Master Plan
City Manager Updates (Jan-incl. pre-budget, June, & Sept/Oct)
Camp Fire USA proposal
Rental Apartments (stakeholder)
Cemetery Plans
Meeting with County on Transportation Plan
Information Technology Dept.
Council process for selection of members for COG
and City Advisory Boards

Respectfully Submitted,

Michael P. McLaughlin
City Manager