The meeting began at 7:40 p.m. It was held in the Windsor Green Community Building.

PRESENT WERE: Council members Rodney M. Roberts, Alan Turnbull, Edward V.J. Putens, Thomas X. White and Mayor Judith F. Davis.

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

ALSO PRESENT WERE: Sheldon Goldberg, Dorothy Pyles, Kay Moomey, Charlene MacAdams, Ron Dean, and a reporter from the Gazette.

Metroland/Greenbelt Station Status
Mayor Davis reported that court dates had not been scheduled for the City’s appeal. Mr. Goldberg asked if the Westfields company was still involved. Mayor Davis responded that this was unknown.

Post Office/Sunrise
The Mayor noted that the trial date had been set for August. Council said that there was hope that the case would be settled.

Playgrounds Equity
Mayor Davis noted that a report was being drafted and was expected by summer. There was considerable discussion regarding the Playground Agreement. Ms. MacAdams noted that GEAC had made this request because Greenbelt East wanted a similar agreement to the one between GHI and the City.

Council indicated that GEAC would be involved in the discussion and consideration process once the report was finished.

Hanover Parkway Study
The Mayor stated that this study was underway. Ms. Moomey indicated that she had already met with Ms. Craze and the design for the Hunting Ridge roundabout was underway.

NASA & Soil Conservation Road
Mayor Davis reported that NASA was now leaning towards the eastern alignment, and noted the new road would emerge on Good Luck Road near the shooting range.

SHA Neighborhood Conservation
The Mayor indicated she had attended some of the meetings and that SHA has now developed concept plans. She said work would begin on the connector road (430) between Route 193 and Route 1.

Safeway Entrance - Repaint Hump
Mr. Moran noted that Brian Miller (Property Manager for Greenway Center) had indicated that the paint had washed off the speed bump but would be repainted. The Mayor announced that Royal Gourmet would become a CVS.

Electric Power Aggregation Bills/PEPCO
Mr. Moran gave a brief report on these bills, indicating that the Opt-In bill had passed the Senate. He reported that the Opt-Out bill would likely fail this year.

Lien Law
Ms. Pyles noted that Condominium Associations Institute (CAI) had sent a letter to Senator Green thanking him for his past support and indicating that CAI planned to spend this year regrouping. Mr. White suggested a task force or summer-study type of mechanism.

Police/Fireman Manning
Mayor Davis reported that the Fire Department had funding problems and now there was a shortage of career firefighters. She noted that there are places in the County where there are not enough firefighters at certain stations. The Mayor indicated that the County was proposing to remove the career firefighters from Greenbelt. She reported that the City had sent letters and was talking to other government officials about the problem.

Mr. Roberts stated that now is a time when we should be strengthening our Fire Department.

Mr. Goldberg asked about the shortage of City police officers. Mayor Davis indicated that the City was short by five officers.

Senior Citizen Program
Mayor Davis reported that Ann Mac Kenzie had been to several meetings in Greenbelt East.

Mandan Basketball Courts
Mr. Goldberg stated that the basketball hoops needed to be removed. Mayor Davis noted that the City needed letters to be able to act on the request.

Comcast Service/Programming
Mr. Goldberg said he had added this to the agenda before Comcast had added additional channels to their digital lineup. Mr. Dean reported on a reception problem with his cable. He distributed a handout indicating what steps to take when reporting a problem.

REAC Awards Program
Mr. Goldberg suggested that the City consider including non-City recycling customers in the City’s award program.

Newspaper Vending Boxes
Mayor Davis noted that it had been some time since the City dealt with this issue. Mr. McLaughlin indicated that the City needed to meet with Newspaper representatives.

FY 2003 Budget Issues
Council noted that the budget document was available. Mr. McLaughlin indicated that copies were being mailed out to Homeowner Associations.

The meeting ended at 9:34 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
David E. Moran
Assistant to the City Manager

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