MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Held Monday, February 1, 1999,
for the purpose of discussing the Roosevelt Center Renovation Project.



The meeting began at 8:06 p.m. It was held in the Council Room of the Municipal Building.

PRESENT WERE: Council members Rodney M. Roberts, Thomas X. White and Mayor Judith F. Davis. Mr. Putens arrived at 8:30 p.m.

STAFF PRESENT WERE: Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; David E. Moran, City Clerk and Celia Craze, Director of Planning and Community Development

ALSO PRESENT WERE: Sandra Lange, Sharon Bradley-Papp, Barbara Simon, Andrew Nitz, Eileen Peterson, Sandra Morris (Greenbelt Post Office), Kevin Hammett, Dianne Oberg, News Review and Karl Hille, Gazette

Ms. Craze began by summarizing the estimated costs of the project. She stressed that staff was recommending that Council complete the renovation and the statue at the same time.

Mr. White asked if security camera funding was included in the Public Safety budget. Mr. McLaughlin responded no, they were in the Capital Projects Budget. Mr. White also favored completion of both projects at the same time. Mr. Roberts asked about the use of a crane to remove the statue. Ms. Bradley-Papp indicated that the crane would approach the statue from the rear.

Mayor Davis asked about the cost savings. Ms Craze explained some of the cost savings proposals. In response to a question from Mr. Roberts, Ms. Bradley-Papp explained that 8 foot tree grates were chosen because of their compatibility with the 1937 design and their ability to allow air and water to get to the tree roots. Mr. Roberts did not believe the grates were necessary.

Several Council members expressed a desire to maintain the pavers. Council discussed the structural soil. Ms. Bradley-Papp believed the soil could be reduced without a significant impact to the trees. Council did not favor reducing the structural soil.

There was some discussion regarding payphones. Three members of Council did not favor phones in the Center. Ms. Peterson expressed concern about the need for phones for emergency purposes.

Next, Council discussed the marquee replacement. Ms. Craze believed it should be deferred until funding could be found either through capital funds or other sources. Ms. Lange believed there might be funds available through the State.

Mr. White suggested that the city prepare a presentation/video for the statue and marquee using these estimates and pursue funding with the State delegation. Mr. Roberts was not in favor of deferring the marquee. Ms. Peterson suggested that Friends of the Greenbelt Theater (FOGT) put up matching funds. Mr. Putens favored pursuing the marquee as soon as possible.

Ms. Craze shared some design proposals for the marquee. Mr. Roberts stressed that the marquee needed to be historically accurate. Ms. Peterson noted that a set of original marquee letters existed.

Next, Council discussed the statue renovation. Ms. Bradley-Papp noted that there were two proposals and that the committee favored the Koehler proposal. Mayor Davis expressed concern about reliefs on the Community Center. Ms. Bradley-Papp suggested that these might need to be preserved as well.

Mr. Putens suggested that as a courtesy staff advise the Lenore Thomas Strauss family. Mr. Roberts liked that there was no recarving. Mr. Roberts wanted to get information on the track record of the material that Ms. Koehler was proposing to use.

Mr. Moran referenced a conversation with Council Member Turnbull, where he indicated a desire for independent verification of Ms. Koehler’s proposal. Ms. Bradley-Papp noted that Save Outdoor Sculptures (SOS) had provided her name. She indicated that the city had applied for an SOS grant and SOS would not approve the grant unless the proposal was sound. Ms. Craze noted that SOS had given a $1,000 grant for Ms. Koehler’s proposal and she viewed this as a endorsement of her work.

Mayor Davis asked about the benches proposed for the Center. Ms. Bradley-Papp noted that the benches would have backs and were copied from the 1936 design.

Next Council discussed funding options for the renovation project. Fundraising ideas were discussed. Council expressed some support for the tree adoption. Ms. Peterson expressed opposition to brick pavers with names on them. Mr. Roberts believed brick pavers with names was tacky. Mr. Putens also expressed opposition to names on pavers. Ms. Simon liked the idea and stated that an inexpensive program might give people a sense of ownership of the Center.

Ms. Bradley-Papp indicated she thought the pavers would be a very Greenbelt idea. Mr. Hammett liked the pavers because it democratized the memorialization process. Mr. Putens suggested a drawing for free pavers. Ms. Peterson suggested anonymous donations. Council favored allowing people to purchase the pavers without individual memorialization. A plaque could exist elsewhere noting all who donated.

Ms. Davis and Mr. Roberts did not favor corporate sponsorship of the statue. Mr. White noted that if a corporate benefactor wanted to underwrite the cost of the renovation, he wouldn’t have a problem recognizing this with a plaque. Ms. Simon suggested that a set of postcards could be developed from some of the original photographs of the statue and these postcards could be sold to raise funds.

Mayor Davis asked who would manage the project. Mr. McLaughlin indicated that this would take considerable time and he would have to return to Council with a proposal for project management. Mayor Davis asked that the fundraising proposals appear on an upcoming agenda.

Mr. Putens believed the key to the project was communicating to all the groups involved and suggested the possibility of employing a consultant. Ms Peterson offered the help of advisory groups.

Mr. McLaughlin asked Council for additional direction on the Capital Projects Fund. He noted that Council could fund the renovation project by drawing down on funds slated for other projects. Council agreed to seeking funds from other sources, but agreed to use the Capital Projects Fund as needed.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:13 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
David E. Moran, CMC
City Clerk

City of Greenbelt, Maryland
City Offices, 25 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770
Phone: 301-474-8000 FAX: 301-441-8248