MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION,
held Monday, January 7, 2002, for the purpose of discussing City Goals.

Mayor Davis started the meeting at 8:05 p.m. It was held in the Council Room of the Municipal Building.

PRESENT WERE: Council members Edward V. J. Putens, Rodney M. Roberts, Thomas X. White, and Mayor Judith F. Davis. Councilmember Alan Turnbull arrived shortly after the meeting began.

STAFF PRESENT WERE: Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; David E. Moran, Assistant to the City Manager; and Kathleen Gallagher, City Clerk.

ALSO PRESENT WERE: Sylvia Lewis; and Amy Boyes, the Gazette.

City Manager’s Goals

Mr. McLaughlin first gave an update on the City Manager’s goals as presented in his January 2, 2002, memo to Council. Mr. White suggested that Council could use a "roadmap" for the specific stages of implementation of the projects that were defined in the bond issue. In response to a question from Mr. Turnbull, Mr. McLaughlin said property was last assessed in Greenbelt in 2000, so the City will not see an impact next year from the rise in property values. That being the case, Mr. White asked staff to find out why there were cards from the assessor left at households in the fall of 2001.

Management Objectives

Mr. Putens asked that a summary grid be provided on the order of that done for the Council Action Request Report. In terms of content of information, Mr. White commented, and other Council members agreed, that the format of the report from the Planning & Community Development Department was best, providing the most useful information in a compact form. Noting the imminent bidding to take place on the Buddy Attick Park restroom project, Mr. Roberts asked for a status report, saying he thought there had been sitting problems that needed resolution, and he did not think information on this had come back to Council.

Police Department: Noting that staff availability was holding up progress on the accreditation process, Mr. White asked if a retired staff member could fill that role. Mr. McLaughlin said he would raise the question but that it was necessary to have an ongoing accreditation manager on the staff.

Public Works: There was discussion of using barcodes for maintaining accountability on tools and parts. Mr. Roberts objected to the suggestion that diesel vehicles be purchased. He said this would be a "regression" and that the goal should be acquiring a quick-fueling station and expanding the natural gas fleet since natural gas is a better value, extends the life of the vehicle, and enhances air quality. Mr. White said, and Mr. Turnbull and other Council members agreed that the City should go ahead with the project to place lane reflectors on Cherrywood Lane. Mayor Davis asked for further information on the issue of requiring residents to have proof of refuse collection service. Sylvia Lewis asked if the City could do anything about the lack of waste recycling in the schools, noting that this sets a bad example for children. Mr. Turnbull asked that the matter be referred to the Recycling & Environment Advisory Committee for an evaluation of costs, and it was agreed this should be coordinated with the Advisory Committee on Education.

Recreation: In response to a question from Mr. White, Mr. McLaughlin said he would be discussing the question of restructuring the department with Recreation staff at budget meetings. Mr. White also noted that the arts and dance items were too descriptive and needed to contain more measurable components. He also asked how many Greenbelt residents participated in the ceramics program held in the fall for participants in the Leisure skills and Development program of the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission. With regard to delivering Food and Friendship meals, it was clarified that the effect of doing this would be to establish a Greenbelt Meals on Wheels on Program. In response to a question from Mr. Turnbull, Mr. McLaughlin reported the Youth Center and the Springhill Lake Recreation Center were now using the same photo ID cards. Mayor Davis asked for a report on who responded to the deadline for proposals for Arts and Entertainment District designation.

Community Center Windows: Mr. Roberts said he believed the vendors who have bid on renovating the windows have unnecessarily complicated the project. He said it should be capable of being done much more cheaply. Mr. McLaughlin said the estimates have been for about $30,000 per window except for one bid which is dramatically lower. He said he believes consultation with the Maryland Historical Trust is appropriate before going any further. Mr. White and Mr. Turnbull thought it would be better to hold a work session before consulting with the Trust.

Council Goals

After considerable discussion of possible formats and whether Council Goals should be dealt with before or after the Community Visioning effort, Council agreed to hold a Saturday meeting from about 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to review Council’s goals, with department heads participating in the morning (from 10 - noon) and Council and the City Manager continuing in the afternoon. Department heads should speak for about 15 minutes on what the changes have been since the last goal-setting in 1998, what is happening now, and what their expectations are for the future. It was generally agreed to start with the assumption that the previously stated goals were still viable but subject to revision. Mr. White said he still maintained there should be an arts goal added. Mr. Turnbull said he did not think Council should add goals prior to Community Visioning. Mayor Davis expressed reservations about that premise, saying she thought that at least the arts goal should be an exception. Mr. Putens suggested that input should be solicited from Council’s advisory groups as well, but Mr. White suggested that should wait till after Council’s Saturday meeting. It was agreed that the Saturday meeting would be a public meeting and did not require a facilitator but that a facilitator would be sought for the Community Visioning.

Other Business

Four Cities Meeting: Mr. White suggested the Jaeger Tract and Mr. Roberts suggested the Maglev project as agenda items for the Four Cities meeting to be held in College Park.

Mr. Putens asked if there had been a response from the City Solicitor regarding restraining orders for individuals engaging in threatening behaviors in public places. He asked if staff had tested the light at the Credit Union to see if the problem was only a burned-out bulb.

Mayor Davis mentioned the upcoming Martin Luther King commemoration in College Park on January 19 from 3-5. She noted that the PGCMA legislative dinner is being held on the same night as the meeting on Community Development Block Grant priorities. Mr. McLaughlin said staff would call the County Executive’s office to see if the latter time could be changed. Mayor Davis asked that any Council members with a strongly held opinion on the changing of the name of the Redskins let her know before she attends the COG board meeting on Wednesday. Mayor Davis also raised the issue of the announcement from the County Executive regarding the possible sale of surplus county land, two parcels of which are in Greenbelt (the Windsor Green ball field and a piece on Mandan Road in Glen Oaks). It was agreed Mr. McLaughlin would write a letter stating the City objects to this plan but that if it is implemented the County should follow procedures on offering it to local government first. Mayor Davis announced she had spoken with both Senator Pinsky and Delegate Gaines regarding state assistance on the purchase of the Jaeger Tract, as suggested by Senator Green at the legislative dinner. She also passed on to staff a complaint from Glen Oaks regarding a major electrical outage.

The meeting ended at 10:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Gallagher
City Clerk

Council interviewed the following individuals for appointment to City advisory groups:
Clement Lau -Park & Recreation Advisory Board
Sharon Anderson - Arts Advisory Board
The meeting was adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Gallagher
City Clerk

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