Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:03 p.m.

ROLL CALL was answered by Councilmembers Edward V. J. Putens, Rodney M. Roberts, Thomas X. White, and Mayor Judith F. Davis. Councilmember Alan Turnbull arrived shortly thereafter.

ALSO PRESENT were Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; John Shay, Jr., City Solicitor; David E. Moran, Assistant to the City Manager; and Kathleen Gallagher, City Clerk.

Mayor Davis asked for a moment of silence in memory of former residents James Andrew White and Ruth Madge Dee, and the astronauts who lost their lives in the Columbia Space Shuttle tragedy. She then led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

CONSENT AGENDA: With regard to agenda item #15, Mr. McLaughlin noted that a revised copy of the draft letter to the County Executive had been provided to Council. It was then moved by Mr. Putens and seconded by Mr. White that the consent agenda be approved. The motion passed 4-0.

Council thereby took the following actions:

MINUTES

- Regular Meeting, January 13, 2003

- Work Session, January 15, 2003

- Work Session, January 22, 2003

- Work Session, January 29, 2003

Approved as presented.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Advisory Committee on Education, Report #01-2003 (ACE Reading Club): Council accepted this report.

Advisory Committee on Trees, Report #2003-1 (Trees & Vegetation Policy): Council received this report and will consider it on the agenda of a future agenda.

Advisory Committee on Trees, Report #2003-2 (Proposed Greenlands Ordinance): Council received this report and will consider it with this topic on a future agenda.

City Co-Sponsorship of 2003 USO Benefit: Council approved the request from American Legion Post 136 for City co-sponsorship of the USO benefit event and authorized use of the City logo with the American Legion logo on publicity materials, in keeping with its use in conjunction with the 2002 event.

LETTERS IN SUPPORT OF RENOVATION OF GREENBELT MIDDLE SCHOOL: Council authorized sending letters to the County Executive and others to urge the approval of funding for the planning phase of the renovation of Greenbelt Middle School.

REQUEST FOR USE OF FACILITIES: Council approved a waiver of facility rental fees in response to a request for May 27, 2003.

ADOPTION OF ADVISORY PLANNING BOARD RESOLUTION FOR DEPARTURE #02-0001-DSDS: Council adopted Advisory Planning Board Resolution for Departure #02-0001-DSDS.

RESIGNATION FROM ADVISORY GROUP: Council accepted with regret the resignation of Konrad Herling from the Community Relations Advisory Board.

REAPPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS: Council reappointed Steven Skolnik to a new term on the Board of Appeals and Jeffrey Morisette to a new term on the Advisory Committee on Education.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mr. Putens moved approval of the agenda, with a second from Mr. White. The motion passed 4-0.

PRESENTATION: Julia Eichhorst presented to the City a check for $500 from the Greenbelt Home and Garden Club in support of the lakeside improvement work at Greenbelt Lake. Council asked her to extend thanks to the club members for their generosity.

PETITIONS AND REQUESTS: Christopher Shuman, 1E Gardenway, gave Council an update on trash and erosion issues in the park areas near the underpass closest to the Mobil Station and asked for more action in this area. The Mayor said the matter would be referred to staff for response.

County Councilman Doug Peters appeared to alert the City that the County Council will be taking public comment and information on CB-40 on Tuesday, February 18, at 6:00 p.m. in the County Administration Building. Council thanked him for coming.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Mr. McLaughlin reported that he and Celia Craze, Director, Planning and Community Development, attended a meeting held by Obie Pinckney, County Executive Johnson’s Municipal Liaison, on the Livable Communities Initiative. He and the Mayor met again with Mr. Pinckney to discuss the agenda for the upcoming stakeholder meeting with Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Roberts reported on attending a hearing with Mr. Moran on SB 161, introduced by Senator Pinsky, to allow municipalities to reduce speed limits on certain streets.

Mr. Putens passed on a request from the Greenbelt East Advisory Committee that they would still like to receive the City’s playground study. Mr. McLaughlin said it was still in process.

Mr. White asked regarding response to a request presented at the January 13 meeting by a citizen raising questions about due process. Mr. McLaughlin said a letter of response had been drafted but was still being circulated for review. Mr. White requested, with Mr. Putens stating agreement, that the draft letter be circulated for Council prior to its being sent.

Mayor Davis reported on attending the Chinese New Year event at Springhill Lake Elementary School and a Community Council meeting regarding the Goddard Master Plan.

SITE FOR SKATEBOARD PARK: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Joe McNeal, Assistant Director, Recreation, said he had met with representatives of the Greenbelt Nursery School, and his understanding was that the site being identified tonight as Alternative B (located between the Community Center and the Youth Center but closer to the Youth Center than Alternative A, the site discussed at the last Council meeting) is acceptable to the Nursery School. It is also preferred by the Recreation Department over Alternative C (the rebound wall area), which staff would like to retain for its current uses. Council had requested that the Nursery School provide specific language and information to Mr. McNeal regarding accreditation issues, but it was not possible for them to get that information.

Mr. Putens said he thought additional expertise was needed to evaluate the site, since there is no specific expertise on Council or staff in this area. Mr. McNeal agreed but said he wanted to have the site targeted first. Mr. Roberts said he did not think B was a good choice, since it is on a major hill that is part of the landscaping. Why, he asked would Council want to go to a lot of extra expense to flatten a hill? Mr. McNeal responded that if the site is leveled at that location, the surrounding hill will provide both a visual and sound barrier to the skateboard park from the perspective of the Nursery School and the homes on Lakeside Drive. Mr. Turnbull said he found it difficult to evaluate Site B because of the snow on the ground.

Mr. White said he thought Council should move ahead with this tonight, and he moved that Council approve Site B (adjacent to the service road by the Youth Center) for development as the skateboard park. Mr. Putens seconded the motion and added that he thought delay was not a good idea, because of budget issues and possible use of Program Open Space money. Mayor Davis said it would be workable for the City to phase in equipment if necessary to help cover the higher costs associated with this site. She then opened the discussion to public comment.

Several people addressed the character of the skateboarders, emphasizing that they are good kids and good citizens (Thelma Sweeney, 10E Plateau; Elizabeth Gaines and John and Joel Mason, 13 Lakeside Drive). Charlie Kendall, 6E Ridge, said he too encouraged respect for different age groups in Greenbelt but that teenagers are not necessarily good models for three-year-olds, and for that reason Council should not consider Site A. Mr. Roberts questioned that boarders are not good examples for little children, who begin to participate in other sports, like football, while very young. Mr. Kendall stated that three-year-olds do not typically play football. Amy Hanson, 2 Maplewood Court, agreed with Mr. Kendall, adding that this age group is much too young to try to play sports like soccer and football. Molly Lester, 6 Court Hillside, said she was concerned with taking down mature trees on Site B, as well as with the idea of using Program Open Space money for recreational facilities. A resident of Lakeside asked about using the area currently used for dog training at the northwest edge of Greenbelt Lake. Mr. McLaughlin said it was too close to the dam area, and Mr. Roberts said the Buddy Attick Park Master Plan rules out active recreation facilities at the lake.

Mr. Turnbull said he did not think Council should act tonight but rather should give the public time to consider this site, which had just been proposed publicly tonight. Mr. Putens again said he felt the need for more expert evaluation in the site selection process. Mayor Davis responded that she thought Council could choose a preferred site and then get the input of the experts. She added that she liked site B and, even aside from the Nursery School’s objections, had thought site A would block the vista. Mr. Roberts said he would like to see consideration of rotating the orientation of site B 90º and also of planning landscaping to replace trees at the same caliper. Mr. White said his motion did not preclude any of these things, since choosing a site for further development did not mean that Council and staff would not have the opportunity to fully consider and examine the landscaping, equipment, engineering, and every other aspect of the skateboard park. Mr. Turnbull disagreed, saying there should be expert consultation prior to Council’s picking the site. Mayor Davis and Mr. Putens agreed with Mr. White, saying the list had been broadened and now they wished to narrow it, with the understanding that if Council finds there are issues or problems that have not been adequately considered, Council can deal with it at the time. The motion to select Site B passed 4-1 (Turnbull).

PENDING STATE LEGISLATION – SENATE BILL 246: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Turnbull moved that Council opposition to Senate Bill 246 (prohibition of red light cameras) be conveyed to the City’s state delegation. Mr. Putens seconded. The motion passed 4-0.

APPROVAL OF COG REGIONAL EMERGENCY COORDINATION PLAN AND MOU: The Mayor read the agenda comments. Mr. Putens moved Council approval of the COG Regional Emergency Coordination Plan and authorized the Mayor to sign the MOU on behalf of the City. Mr. White seconded the motion, which passed 5-0. Mr. White remarked that he has some concerns about these types of plans, which in some circumstances may have potential for invading individuals’ privacy, profiling individuals inappropriately, or otherwise denying people their rights. Mayor Davis said in the case of this plan, all that was being addressed was communication among jurisdictions, not an expansion of authorities regarding citizens. Mr. Turnbull agreed with the Mayor, adding that this MOU also permits members to withdraw with a week’s notice.

MEETINGS: Council reviewed the meeting schedule. The Mayor noted that the Legislative Dinner had been rescheduled for March 6, with an earlier starting time of 5:30 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT: A motion to adjourn was made by Mr. White and seconded by Mr. Putens. The motion carried 5-0. The Mayor adjourned the regular meeting of February 10, 2003, at 9:45 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 February 10, 2003.@

Judith F. Davis
Mayor

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