MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Held Thursday, April 1, 1999,
For the purpose of reviewing the Planning and Community Development & Capital Projects sections of the FY 2000 Budget.

The meeting began at 8:15 p.m. It was held in the Council Room of the Municipal Building.

PRESENT WERE: Council members Rodney M. Roberts and Alan Turnbull and Mayor Judith F. Davis. Mr. Putens arrived at 8:27 p.m.

STAFF PRESENT WERE: Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; David E. Moran, City Clerk; W. Boman Ferguson, Management Analyst; Jeff Williams, City Treasurer; Anne Marie Belton, Office Assistant III and Celia Craze, Director of Planning and Community Development

ALSO PRESENT WERE: Sylvia Lewis, Sheldon Goldberg, Larry Jackson and Betsy Likowski, News Review

Planning and Community Development

Ms. Craze reviewed the department’s accomplishments over the past year. She noted that the half-time office assistant had reduced the paperwork volume for professional and technical staff. She also reviewed changes to the inspection program.

Ms. Craze stated that the department was responsible for the dog park and had begun enforcing the permit requirements at the dog park. She summarized the planning projects that were currently underway.

Next, Ms. Craze outlined the issues and services for the next fiscal year. These included: computer upgrade, implementation of a geographic information system (GIS), historic districting, and Greenbelt West planning. She stressed the proposal for a new inspector for Springhill Lake, funded by an increase in licensing fees.

Mr. Turnbull suggested that positions be listed as a full position with a footnote if they weren’t going to be filled for the entire year. Mayor Davis asked about the Parking Enforcement Officer’s workload. Ms. Craze responded that in addition to parking enforcement he was responsible for dog park, handbills, and burglar alarms. She noted however, that these areas were more paperwork intensive and did not require a significant amount of the parking enforcement officer’s time.

Ms. Craze reviewed the Management Objectives.

Mayor Davis asked about handbill violations. Ms. Craze noted that the city needed to increase municipal infraction fines and establish a process to follow-up on court judgments that are not paid.

Mr. Roberts asked about Ms. Craze’s concerns about the Historic District study. Ms. Craze responded that city facilities, streets, etc. would fall under the district and be subject to County review (no review exists currently) and this was a subject of concern to city staff.

Ms. Craze reviewed the fee increase proposal. She distributed documents comparing rental unit license fees and median rental values. Ms. Craze noted that the fees were designed to cover the cost of the program and currently this was not happening.

Mr. Putens stated that fees should be even higher. Mayor Davis expressed concern about the fee increases driving the rents up and forcing some lower income residents out. Mr. Roberts asked if the fee increases would allow more units to be inspected. Ms. Craze responded that it was her intention to assign the new inspector to Springhill Lake full-time, where only about 1/9 of the units were inspected annually.

Mr. McLaughlin noted that the fee increase was significant to some property owners ($50,000 to Springhill Lake). He indicated the awards program proposal was an attempt to balance this increase.

Capital Projects

Mr. McLaughlin summarized the sources of revenue for the Capital Fund budget.

Mr. Roberts wanted to keep the overpasses on Route 193 at Frankfort and MD 201 at Crescent because he believed the city needed to continue to pursue these items. Mr. Putens and Mayor Davis agreed that these could remain on the long-term list. Mayor Davis also wanted the 193 and Greenbelt Middle School overpass to remain on the long-term list.

Mayor Davis expressed concern about conditions at the Public Works facility and had hoped it could be funded sooner.

Mr. Goldberg asked about the memorial garden. Mr. Ferguson responded that CRAB was not recommending the Schrom Hills Memorial Garden. Mayor Davis wanted to move the project along. Mr. McLaughlin suggested a referral to PRAB. Mr. Putens expressed concern that GEAC had not been included in the meetings.

Council agreed to approve a detailed list at another time.

The meeting ended at 10:08 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