REGULAR MEETING OF THE GREENBELT CITY COUNCIL
Held Monday, March 8, 2004.

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

ROLL CALL was answered by Councilmembers Konrad E. Herling, Leta M. Mach, Edward V. J. Putens, Rodney M. Roberts, and Mayor Judith F. Davis.

ALSO PRESENT were Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; John F. Shay, 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 residents Rudolph Brlansky, Ruth M. Mathes, and Esther Millman-Sun. She then led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

CONSENT AGENDA: Ms. Mach asked to remove the minutes from the work session of February 18 from the consent agenda. It was then moved by Mr. Putens and seconded by Mr. Herling that the consent agenda be approved as amended. The motion carried 5-0.

Council thereby took the following actions:

MINUTES

- Interview Meeting, February 23, 2004

- Regular Meeting, February 23, 2004

- Interview Meeting, March 1, 2004

- Interview Meeting, March 3, 2004

Approved as presented.

PROGRAM OPEN SPACE FUNDING: Council approved sending a letter to the Governor and the City’s state delegation opposing proposed cuts to Program Open Space.

REAPPOINTMENT TO ADVISORY GROUP: Council reappointed Kevin Hammett to the Community Relations Advisory Board.

APPOINTMENT TO ADVISORY GROUP: Council appointed Tim Wedig to the Advisory Committee on Education.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: It was moved by Mr. Putens and seconded by Ms. Mach that the agenda be approved as presented. The motion carried 5-0.

PRESENTATION - ACE Educator Awards Ceremony: Mayor Davis introduced Eva Griffin, chair of the Advisory Committee on Education (ACE). After thanking Councilmember Mach for her years of work on behalf of ACE, Dr. Griffin noted that County Councilmember Douglas Peters was present and that Senator Pinsky and Delegates Healey, Gaines, and Ross, who were unable to come because of the legislative session, had sent representatives. Pat Unger of the Democratic Central Committee appeared for Senator Pinsky, and Josh Berman, a legislative aide to Delegate Justin Ross, represented the delegates. Dr. Griffin gave an overview of the programs supported by ACE and described the awards to be presented to the ACE Educators. Dr. Griffin presented awards to the following people, and their families and school representatives and principals were acknowledged:

Greenbelt Elementary School Pam Bauer, Fifth Grade Teacher

Springhill Lake Elementary School Trena White, Fourth Grade Teacher

Magnolia Elementary School Annie Haber, ESOL Liaison

St. Hugh=s School Paula Beaver, Receptionist & Extended Day Care Director

Greenbelt Middle School Fay Jackson, Dept. Chair, Mathematics – Grade 7/8 Math Teacher

Eleanor Roosevelt High School Constance Davis, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry Teacher

A certificate of appreciation was also presented to Liz Murray, coordinator of the ACE Reading Club program.

Dr. Griffin introduced the ACE member in attendance: La Shelle Ferguson, Sudhanshu Sinha, Ray Peterson, Alla Lake, Jeff Morisette, and Kathy Lewis. Mayor Davis acknowledged Dr. Griffin and ACE Staff Liaison Wendy Wexler, as well as thanking the teachers on behalf of Council and the community.

PETITIONS AND REQUESTS: Jay Evans, 105 Northway, and Alan Turnbull, 45-H Ridge Road, appeared to ask for an update on the status of various areas of safety concern on Crescent Road, including the curve west of 7 Court, the visibility at the crosswalk at the library, and the area in the vicinity of the crosswalk at St. Hugh’s. Mr. Turnbull said the latter area has been the site of multiple accidents and should be reassessed for the layout of the road and the crosswalk. Mayor Davis asked Mr. McLaughlin if any design issues had been identified for that part of the road. He said there had not been so far, but it was still under study. He also said the City’s crosswalk study would be completed later in the spring. Mr. Turnbull asked if Crescent Road is on the list for traffic-calming. Mr. McLaughlin said he would have to check. Mr. Putens agreed that there must be a flaw in the design of the road near St. Hugh’s that could be addressed. He also mentioned having noticed an apparently effective crosswalk in Rockville that had lights in the asphalt that came on if a pedestrian pushed a crossing button. Mr. Turnbull asked that he and Mr. Evans be kept informed. He added that the problems on Crescent Road should be within the realm of the fixable, unlike problems with drunken drivers or multi-lane highways.

MINUTES OF MEETINGS: Ms. Mach made a correction to the minutes of the work session of February 18, 2004, regarding a bill introduced at the General Assembly by the Frederick delegation. It was moved by Mr. Putens and seconded by Mr. Herling that the minutes be approved with that correction. The motion carried 5-0.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Mr. McLaughlin reported that he had been present to testify on SB 12 on March 5, that the municipal planning and zoning bill was scheduled to be heard before the Bi-County Committee March 9, and the City’s lawsuit on Greenbelt Station was scheduled to begin March 10.

Mayor Davis, Mr. Putens, and Ms. Mach reported on their attendance at the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference this week.

Mayor Davis complimented the Arts Center and Christopher Cherry on the production of his play Homeward Bound. She also noted an upcoming Chevy’s benefit for Grad Night on March 23 and an Electricity Power Summit to be held by the Metropolitan Area Council of Governments on March 31.

Mr. Putens said he would like information on why the City’s electronic recycling program cannot take large televisions or large stereos.

LEGISLATION

A Resolution for the Negotiated Purchase of Kennels for Use in the Greenbelt Animal Control Facility

Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Herling introduced the resolution for first reading. Ms. Mach said the Boxwood Civic Association had received the draft plan and was scheduled to review it.

UPDATE ON SKATEBOARD PARK: The Mayor read the agenda comments, indicating that the purpose of this item was to brief Council. Joe McNeal, Assistant Director, Recreation, said there had been several issues to be pursued following the most recent work session on the skateboard park. He said the area had been marked out. The Skateboard Coalition had been consulted and would be submitting a report. Based on the mark-out, the Coalition would like the park to be bigger. Staff has looked into various possibilities for fencing. Several reports are also still needed on the property.

With reference to a letter sent to the City by Ed Kapplinger, 104 Julian Court, Mr. Putens asked if the structure would be compatible with use by BMX bikes. Mr. McNeal said it would but that it could not be used for both at the same time.

Mayor Davis said based on the mark-out, she too thought the area should be bigger if possible. She asked Mr. McNeal about plans to let the boarders meet with the designers. Mr. McNeal said the designers typically have two meetings with groups and can do more at additional cost.

Mr. Roberts said he thought paving 7,200 square feet was enough and that there should be clear limits.

In response to a question from Mr. Herling about the choices for fencing, Mr. McNeal said the City needed to determine its purpose in fencing the area—whether it is to keep people out or merely to prohibit accidentally leaving or entering the area.

RENAMING WINDSOR GREEN FIELD: The Mayor read the agenda comments. Mr. Roberts asked who had initiated this request. Sheldon Goldberg, 7848 Jacobs Drive, said it had been initiated by the board of the Windsor Green Homeowners Association. Mayor Davis said the Greenbelt East Advisory Committee had been discussing this topic for a couple of years and that the residents of Windsor Green want the change. Mr. Putens agreed that people do assume the field belongs to Windsor Green. He made a motion to change the name of Windsor Green Field to Mandan Field. Mr. Roberts seconded the motion, which passed 5-0.

PENDING STATE LEGISLATION: The Mayor read the agenda comments for the following items as they came up.

House Bill 1388/Senate Bill 861 – Speed Cameras: It was moved by Mr. Roberts and seconded by Mr. Herling that Council support House Bill 1388/Senate Bill 861 and communicate that support to the City’s state delegation. In response to a question from Mr. Herling, Mr. Moran said it was unlikely that this bill had a better chance of passing this year than last, since the Governor’s office has said he will veto it, but sometimes it takes several years to build adequate momentum. Mr. Putens said he was concerned that speed cameras and red light cameras are little more than a revenue source if they cannot change people’s behavior and that they cannot change people’s behavior as long as points cannot be attached. The motion passed 4-1 (Putens).

House Bill 1205 – Fire Alarm Modifications for Hearing Impaired Condominium Owners: Mayor Davis said there was a misapprehension that a condo association was a profit-making business that could pay for such modifications out of profits. In reality, she said, the costs would simply be borne by other homeowners. Ms. Mach agreed and added that setting a fixed amount of money as a limit for the requesting homeowner but not the association was not equitable either. She suggested that setting a proportion of the cost would be a better way to do it, with perhaps 90% being borne by the requesting homeowner and 10% by the other owners. She also questioned why this bill was targeted at condominiums and did not include apartments or cooperatives.

Mr. Putens stated that a key problem with the bill as drafted was that it should not be necessary to rewire the whole building to achieve this goal. Mr. Roberts agreed. He also suggested that if there were to be a fixed cost, that should be assigned to the association: e.g., the association would pay $200, and the requesting owner would pay the balance of the cost. He said he thought if there was a need to alter a hallway system, that cost should possibly be borne by the association. He added that the drafters of the bill had not researched it adequately and that it needed to be rewritten. Mr. Putens concurred, adding that “the details are lacking.”

Council discussed directing staff to take its concerns and suggestions for amending the bill back to the delegates. It was then moved by Ms. Mach and seconded by Mr. Herling that Council support the concept of House Bill 1205 but not support the bill as currently drafted because of concerns regarding the extent of rewiring to be required and the need to limit financial impact on condominium associations. The motion passed 5-0.

MEETINGS: Council reviewed the meeting schedule. Council agreed to hold the public hearing on the proposed lights at McDonald Field during the regular meeting of April 12. Mayor Davis asked to add the following executive sessions: March 17, appointments to Forest Preserve Task Force; March 31, April 19, May 3, and June 2, City Manager evaluation. She suggested that the following work sessions be scheduled during available dates in May and June: the Lake Watershed Assessment Study and the stakeholder meetings with GEAC, the GHI board, NASA, and the clergy.

ADJOURNMENT: A motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Putens and seconded by Mr. Roberts. The motion carried 5-0. The Mayor adjourned the regular meeting of March 8, 2004, at 10:20 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 March 8, 2004.

Judith F. Davis
Mayor

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