REGULAR MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL
HELD MONDAY, June 5, 2000



Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:04 p.m.

ROLL CALL was answered by Council members Rodney M. Roberts, Alan Turnbull, and Judith F. Davis, Mayor. Mr. Thomas X. White had indicated he would be out of town this week. Mr. Edward V.J. Putens arrived at 8:14 p.m.

ALSO PRESENT were Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; Robert Manzi, City Solicitor; and Kathleen Gallagher, City Clerk.

Mayor Davis observed a moment of silence for residents Kenneth Lee Brown, David E. Curtis, Joseph T. Mayhew, Walter F. Penney, Thomas A. Perry, and former residents Tara Mary Merritt and Wayne A. Roberts. She then led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

CONSENT AGENDA: Mr. Turnbull moved approval of the consent agenda, and Mr. Roberts seconded. The motion passed 3 to 0.

Council thereby took the following actions:

MINUTES:

- Work Session, May 31, 2000

- Work Session (Interviews), June 5, 2000

- Regular Meeting, June 5, 2000

- Work Session, June 7, 2000

- Work Session (Interviews), June 21, 2000

Approved as presented.

APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL LIAISON TO THE SENIOR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SCAC): In response to a request from Gerald Madison, vice-chair of SCAC, at the June 7 work session with the advisory group chairs, Council named Mr. White as its liaison to the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee.

APPOINTMENTS TO CITY ADVISORY GROUPS: Council appointed the following individuals to City advisory groups, with Mr. Trumbule moving from the Community Relations Advisory Board to the Committee on Trees. Council directed staff to send out the appointment letters and to follow up on the establishment of the Committee on Trees.

Charles H. Jackman Advisory Committee on Trees

Jennifer Sager Advisory Committee on Trees

Robert B. Trumbule Advisory Committee on Trees

Dea Zugby Community Relations Advisory Board

Danita Elkerson Employee Relations Board

Kelly P. Ivy, Sr. Park & Recreation Advisory Board

REAPPOINTMENTS TO CITY ADVISORY GROUPS: Council reappointed Lola Skolnik, Marc Siegel, and Carol Malveaux to the Park & Recreation Advisory Board and directed staff to prepare the appropriate letters.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mr. Turnbull moved that the agenda be approved. Mr. Roberts seconded. The motion passed 3-0.

PRESENTATIONS: Rena Hull, 3 Lakeside, outgoing president of Grad Night, reported on the success of this year’s event and thanked Council and City staff for their support and participation. This was the event’s seventh year, and 520 of the 680 Eleanor Roosevelt High School graduates attended. Council returned the thanks and complimented the volunteers and staff on the success of the event.

PETITIONS AND REQUESTS: None were presented.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: Mr. McLaughlin noted that comments had been faxed in by Mr. White on the Sector Plan response. He also reported briefly on the picnic held at Schrom Hill Park to mark the retirement of Pat Fitzenreiter and Shirley Waller, both of whom are retiring at the end this month. Mr. Turnbull and Mr. Roberts reported on their appearance, with Mr. White, at the public hearing on the Metro Area Sector Plan. On the same evening, Mayor Davis and Mr. Putens attended a retirement event for former-Mayor William Armistead of Berwyn Heights. Mr. Putens reported on the very successful presentation at the Maryland Municipal League (MML) conference by Corporal Burger and MPO Marty Parker on the Youth Academy. Mayor Davis noted that she had been reelected to the Board of MML at the conference. She represented the City at the retirement event held for Gerald Boarman and the sixth-grade graduation at Greenbelt Elementary School. She also attended a meeting at Windsor Green, which police officers Mesol and Rogers also attended.

A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE NEGOTIATED PURCHASE OF CERTAIN GOODS AND SERVICES FROM VARIOUS VENDORS AS ENUMERATED HEREIN WHEN TOTAL FISCAL YEAR PURCHASES FROM EACH VENDOR EXCEED TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($10,000)

Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Putens introduced the above-titled resolution for first reading. Mayor Davis asked Mr. McLaughlin to report back on the subject of summer uniforms for our police officers.

AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION IN THE TEMPORARY DISABILITY RESERVE (DISABILITY) FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2000, IN THE AMOUNT OF FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($15,000) FOR ADDITIONAL DISABILITY FUND EXPENDITURES OVER THE APPROPRIATED AMOUNT

The Mayor read the agenda comments. Mr. Turnbull introduced the above-titled resolution for first reading and moved that the standing rules be suspended. Mr. Putens seconded.

ROLL CALL: Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mr. Turnbull - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

Mr. Turnbull then introduced the above resolution for second reading and adoption. Mr. Putens seconded.

ROLL CALL: Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mr. Turnbull - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

The Ordinance was declared adopted. (Ordinance No. 1191, Book 11.)

AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION IN THE REPLACEMENT FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2000, IN THE AMOUNT OF FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($40,000) FOR ADDITIONAL REPLACEMENT FUND EXPENDITURES OVER THE APPROPRIATED AMOUNT

The Mayor read the agenda comments. Mr. Putens introduced the above-titled resolution for first reading and moved that the standing rules be suspended. Mr. Roberts seconded.

ROLL CALL: Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mr. Turnbull - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

Mr. Putens then introduced the above resolution for second reading and adoption. Mr. Roberts seconded.

ROLL CALL: Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mr. Turnbull - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

The Ordinance was declared adopted. (Ordinance No. 1192, Book 11.)

AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2000, IN THE AMOUNT OF NINETY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($90,000) FOR ADDITIONAL CDBG FUND EXPENDITURES OVER THE APPROPRIATED AMOUNT

The Mayor read the agenda comments. Mr. Roberts introduced the above-titled resolution for first reading and moved that the standing rules be suspended. Mr. Turnbull seconded.

ROLL CALL: Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mr. Turnbull - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

Mr. Roberts then introduced the above resolution for second reading and adoption. Mr. Turnbull seconded.

ROLL CALL: Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mr. Turnbull - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

The Ordinance was declared adopted. (Ordinance No. 1193, Book 11.)

A RESOLUTION FOR THE REAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS WITHIN DEPARTMENTS IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2000

The Mayor read the agenda comments. Mr. Putens introduced the above-titled resolution for first reading and moved that the standing rules be suspended. Mr. Turnbull seconded.

ROLL CALL: Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mr. Turnbull - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

Mr. Putens then introduced the above resolution for second reading and adoption. Mr. Turnbull seconded.

ROLL CALL: Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mr. Turnbull - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

The Resolution was declared adopted. (Resolution No. 915, Book No. 7.)

COUNTY BILL (CB) 8-2000: AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT OVERLAY ZONE CATEGORY: The Mayor read the agenda comments. Initially, Mr. Putens moved that the City support CB-8, with Mayor Davis seconding the motion for the sake of discussion. Citing a letter written to County Council by Lawrence Taub, Esq., on behalf of Quantum Management, Mr. Kap Kapistan of Quantum Management and Beltway Plaza presented objections to the county bill. He said its "standards" are in fact mandates and that it allows far too little flexibility. He said application of these standards would present marketing and leasing liabilities for Beltway Plaza. Barry Schlesinger of 155 Westway, #104, noted potential problems with some language in the bill as well as with its procedures for special exceptions. Mr. McLaughlin and Mr. Manzi indicated that CB-8 is mainly a mechanism for implementing the Metro Area Sector Plan; the Sector Plan can be implemented without it, but not as quickly. CB-8 would also be used with the Addison Road project and the Rt. 1 Sector Plan, which are on a faster track. Mr. Roberts expressed reluctance to move on this bill too quickly. The motion was withdrawn and the withdrawal accepted.

POSITION ON GREENBELT METRO AREA SECTOR PLAN: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Turnbull moved that the staff’s revised draft, with the incorporation of the comments and corrections faxed by Mr. White, be sent as the City’s opinion and that the cover letter indicate that although Greenbelt supports the vision and goals of the Sector Plan, it does not support the specifics proposed for implementation. Mr. Putens seconded. Mr. Schlesinger expressed agreement with this proposal, saying that the Sector Plan needs a lot of work and that the City’s position should not be ambiguous. Mr. Kapistan spoke in opposition to the Sector Plan, saying it is too inflexible. When the vote was called, the motion passed 4-0.

REQUEST FROM MARYLAND BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Turnbull said this committee was previously limited to advising on bicycle issues but was now expanding its scope and taking pedestrian issues quite seriously. Council requested staff to advertise the need in the News Review this week. The Mayor said she would mention it at Wednesday’s workshop with the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee as well.

CITY OF DISTRICT HEIGHTS - PROGRAM OPEN SPACE REQUEST: The Mayor read the agenda comments. Mr. Turnbull moved acceptance of the staff recommendation, to grant District Heights’ request to trade $157,000 of its Open Space acquisition dollars for the same amount of Greenbelt’s development dollars. Mr. Putens seconded. Mr. Roberts initially expressed some reservations, indicating that he would have preferred to see more justification for District Heights’ claim that no open space is available for purchase and that he did not think this kind of swapping was within the spirit of the Open Space program. Mr. Putens and Mr. Turnbull argued that the trail District Heights was proposing to develop was in fact a good use of funds to provide public access to open space. The motion passed 4-0.

MEETINGS: It was agreed to schedule Executive Sessions for immediately following this meeting; for July 10 from 7:30 - 8:00 p.m; and for 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. on July 12, thereby causing the July 12 work session on the City Playground Plan to be postponed from 8:00 to 8:30 p.m. In addition, Councilwoman Scott has agreed to meet with Council on Thursday, July 6, at 7:30 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Putens moved that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Turnbull seconded. The motion carried 4-0. Mayor Davis adjourned the regular meeting of June 26, 2000, at 10:08 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen Gallagher
City Clerk

"I hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct report of the regular meeting of the City Council of Greenbelt, Maryland, held June 26, 2000."

Judith F. Davis
Mayor

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