Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. It was held in the Senior Classroom of the Community Center.

PRESENT were Mayor Judith F. Davis, Council members Rodney Roberts and Thomas X. White. Edward Putens arrived at 8:10 p.m.

ALSO PRESENT were Michael McLaughlin, City Manager; Josef Nathanson, Janet Goldberg, and Pete Carney of Urban Information Associates; Sheldon Goldberg, Advisory Planning Board; Cindy Comproni, the Greenbelt Credit Union; Gwen Vaccaro, Pleasant Touch; Jim Cassels, Coop Supermarket; Paul Sanchez and Bob Haupt, Old Greenbelt Theatre; Ray Stevens and Terri Rutledge, New Deal Café; Barbara Simon; other merchants; Amy Boyes of the Gazette and Judy Bell of the Greenbelt News Review.

Kick off Meeting for Market Study for Roosevelt Center: Mayor Davis began the meeting by noting that the purpose of the meeting was to introduce the consultants under contract to do a market study of Roosevelt Center. Those in attendance introduced themselves.

Mr. Nathanson introduced the consultant team and each member described his or her background and role on the team. He outlined the approach and timeline for the work. Ms. Goldberg will conduct a survey of the Center merchants in the month of June. Shopper surveys will occur at various times over the next few months. Mr. Carney will focus on the movie theater operation and assist with the analysis of the Center’s business.

It was suggested that the consultants look to do surveys at other shopping centers to determine whether they know about the Center. The survey will be put on the City’s Web site and could go elsewhere if people want to volunteer to do it. Surveys can be left with the merchants and other locations in the Center. It was suggested that the survey be sent out on e-mail to the Friends of Old Greenbelt Theatre.

There were a number of questions and suggestions about the work to be done. Mayor Davis noted there will be additional stakeholder meetings over the next few months.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Michael McLaughlin
City Manager

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