Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL was answered by Council members 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; Robert A. Manzi, City Solicitor; David E. Moran, Assistant City Manager; and Kathleen Gallagher, City Clerk.

Mayor Davis asked for a moment of silence in honor of residents Joseph Hanyok, Edmond J. Lewis, and Carlton Sharpe. She then led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

CONSENT AGENDA: Mayor Davis asked to remove the minutes of both the interview and the work session of July 12, 2004, from the consent agenda. Mr. Putens moved that the consent agenda be approved with those changes. Mr. Herling seconded the motion, which passed 5-0.

Council thereby took the following actions:

MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS

- Regular Meeting, June 21, 2004

- Work Session, June 23, 2004

- Work Session, July 14, 2004

Approved as presented.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Community Relations Advisory Board Communication, 6/18/2004 (City Contribution Group Practice): Council accepted this communication and will consider it at a future meeting.

ACE READING TUTOR PROGRAM (ACE REPORT #03-2004): Council approved the plan presented in the report for continuing the program through 2004-2005.

REVISED LOCAL GOVERNMENT INSURANCE TRUST (LGIT) AGREEMENT: Council approved the amended LGIT agreement and authorized the City Manager and City Clerk to sign and convey it.

APPOINTMENT TO ADVISORY GROUP: Council appointed Elizabeth Gaines to the Employee Relations Board.

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

PRESENTATIONS: Mayor Davis introduced eight Mayors from Hungary, who had spent the day visiting the City under the aegis of the State Department.

PETITIONS AND REQUESTS: Sheldon Goldberg, 7848 Jacobs Drive, said he had lobbied so long for Comcast to provide the Turner Movie Classics channel that he wanted to thank them for finally doing so.

MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS: The Mayor noted typographical errors for correction in two set of minutes: for the advisory group interview of July 12, 2004, and for the work session of the same date. Mr. Putens moved acceptance of the interview minutes, as amended, with a second from Ms. Mach. Ms. Mach moved acceptance of the work session minutes, as amended, with a second from Mr. Putens. Both motions carried 5-0.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Mr. McLaughlin said that at the Prince George’s County Municipal Association meeting held in conjunction with the Maryland Municipal League (MML) annual conference, two items were distributed from County Executive Johnson: letters of commitment for homeland security funding and maps of storm-sewer systems for municipalities. Mr. Roberts asked if the $20,000 promised to Greenbelt for homeland security was all the City could expect. Mr. McLaughlin said he thought more would be forthcoming, since there was a total of $90 million promised to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. In response to Mr. Roberts’ question as to whether there was a formula for distribution of this funding, Mr. McLaughlin said he did not think so, since the allotments appeared to be more program-based.

Mayor Davis and Council members Putens, Mach, and Herling reported on their participation in the MML conference.

Mayor Davis reported on: a COG conference on hydrogen technology on June 24; a Commission on Crossroads Development meeting regarding Langley Park and Takoma Park on July 7; a Mayors meeting called by Schools CEO André Hornsby on July 8, regarding the high school achievement test and school expansion plans; a Creative Kids Camp performance on July 16; and the ribbon-cutting for the Compressed Natural Gas facility at Public Works prior to tonight’s meeting.

Mayor Davis also announced that it has been determined that there are no groups or organizations that have permits to solicit at intersections in Greenbelt and that residents should call the police to report such instances if they are concerned.

Mr. McLaughlin congratulated Mayor Davis on her re-election to the MML board and announced that she had tied with another candidate for the highest number of votes.

LEGISLATION

A Resolution of the City of Greenbelt, Maryland, to Authorize Acceptance of a Historic Preservation Grant from the Maryland Historical Trust and Acceptance of the Requirement for a Preservation Easement on the Property and to Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Necessary Documents

Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. McLaughlin commented that although this item was in the Capital Projects budget last year, it was not until now that the state was able to make the formal award. Mr. Roberts introduced the resolution for first reading and moved suspension of Council’s Standing Rules. Mr. Putens seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL: Mr. Herling - yes

Ms. Mach - yes

Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

Mr. Roberts introduced the resolution for second reading and moved its adoption. Mr. Putens seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL: Mr. Herling - yes

Ms. Mach - yes

Mr. Putens - yes

Mr. Roberts - yes

Mayor Davis - yes

The resolution was declared adopted (Resolution No. 975, Book 8.)

An Ordinance to Amend the Capital Projects Budget for Fiscal Year 2005

The Mayor read the agenda comments. She added that the Metro roundabout, which was not included in this year’s Capital Projects budget, has been deferred, not cancelled, and that the City would still like to pursue this project with at funding partner.

Ms. Mach asked about the cost of the $20,000 project proposed to be added to improve the inlets at the Greenbelt Plaza apartments, which was added to the list following recent flooding. Mr. McLaughlin said he expected the work to be completed for the $15,600 originally cited, but that the extra funds provided a cushion in case unexpected problems were discovered.

Mr. Roberts expressed some concern that in undertaking this work, the City might be admitting liability. He noted the owner had asked the City to pay for the damage. Mr. McLaughlin said doing the work would not have an impact on any request received from the owner in that regard.

Mr. Herling asked why the proposed work would fix the problem. Mr. McLaughlin said the basic problem was that the system was undersized for the water to be managed, and these improvements would permit capturing and moving more water.

Alan Turnbull, 45-H Ridge Road, requested additional explanation on the roundabout. He said the traffic backs up almost to the bus bays, and the project is needed. He asked what assurance there could be that the “deferring” of the project would not become indefinite. He asked why, after keeping it in the budget for two years, Council would choose to remove it now. Mayor Davis responded that Council had agreed to do this if the City could get financial support from WMATA. She said priorities can also change. Mr. Herling added that this item has continued to be a point of negotiation in discussions with the developers of Greenbelt Station. Mr. Turnbull said the City becomes irate if the county changes its priorities to impact negatively on City interests; he said this is similar, since many Greenbelt residents are being inconvenienced and put at risk. He said that since they often cannot turn left onto Cherrywood Lane, drivers instead proceed south on Cherrywood and make a U-turn at the first opportunity. He added that this roundabout should be easier to construct than those on Hanover Parkway because there are only three points of roadway entry.

Mayor Davis asked if the City should increase police presence there during the evening rush hour to discourage the behavior. Mr. Putens suggested a better use of police would be to help with traffic control at the intersection at rush hour. He asked Mr. Turnbull if he was representing only himself or a group, and he suggested that a petition or other display of dissatisfaction from Metro patrons directed at Metro rather than at the City might assist in convincing WMATA to partner with the City.

Mr. Putens introduced the ordinance for first reading, with the addition of the $20,000 item for the improvement of the inlets at the Greenbelt Plaza apartments. Council directed staff to give notice of a public hearing to be held on the Capital Projects ordinance at the August 9 regular meeting, prior to its scheduled adoption.

An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 17, ASolid Waste,@ of the Greenbelt City Code for the Purpose of Revising Article III, “Municipal or Private Collection and Disposal Services”

Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Ms. Mach introduced the ordinance for first reading. Mayor Davis asked staff to review whether the information was stated correctly throughout regarding the width of access routes to containers. She also asked if it should be codified that ivy and bamboo should not be included with yard debris for collection.

A Resolution to Authorize the Negotiated Purchase of Certain Goods and Services from Various Vendors as Enumerated Herein When Total Fiscal Year Purchases from Each Vendor Exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000)

Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Roberts introduced the resolution for first reading.

RECOGNITION GROUP APPLICATIONS: The Mayor read the agenda comments and added that it was her understanding that any group that wished to give lessons in City space would have to go through another process with the Recreation Department for that. Nicole DeWald, Arts Coordinator, confirmed that was the case.

It was moved by Mr. Putens and seconded by Mr. Herling that the following applicants be given status as City recognition groups: the Glass Guild, the Greenbelt Children’s Orchestra, Greenbelt Photo Club, the Greenbelt Pottery, the Greenbelt Writers Group, and Jayamangala, Inc. The motion passed 5-0. Council welcomed the representatives who were in the audience.

BRIEFING ON 2000 U.S. CENSUS: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Celia Craze, Director, Planning and Community Development, briefed Council on her findings from the 2000 Census data for Greenbelt. Among many items noted were the increasing diversity of the population combined with differences among the three major sections of the City; the increasing numbers of residents born outside the U.S. and those who speak languages other than English at home; a further change in family structure away from traditional nuclear-family households; a decline in both real and adjusted median household income in Springhill Lake; and a much lower level of long-term residence in the City than would have been expected.

After thanking Ms. Craze for doing such a good job on making this information comprehensible, Mr. Herling asked about figures on Hispanic residents. Ms. Craze said that because that is an ethnic, not racial, category in the Census, staff had not yet looked at those numbers but could do so.

Mayor Davis asked about trends in census tracts that impact the City’s eligibility for Community Development Block Grant money. Mr. Moran responded that the major issue is that the county raised the bar on eligibility to 51% of households with income at the cut-off level, with the result that the only area that will be eligible for this funding is Springhill Lake.

Council thanked Ms. Craze for her report.

AWARDS OF PURCHASE – REPLACEMENT VEHICLES, VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS: The Mayor read the agenda comments. Mr. McLaughlin said the Malibu requested under Administration should be withdrawn for now, since staff had learned that the state might be willing to pick up the difference in cost between a Malibu and a CNG vehicle. Mr. Putens moved, with a second from Mr. Herling, that Council approve the purchase of two Chevy Malibus from Criswell Chevrolet of Gaithersburg at a total cost of $24,188, for use by the Planning and Community Development Department. The motion passed 5-0. Mr. Putens then moved, for use by Public Works, the purchase of a Ford 550 chassis from Tyson’s Ford of Vienna, Virginia, at a cost of $28,012, and the purchase of a Chevy Blazer SUV from Criswell Chevrolet at a cost of $19,474. Mr. Herling seconded the motion, which passed 5-0.

MEETINGS: Council reviewed the schedule of upcoming meetings. Mr. McLaughlin said he had spoken with County Fire Chief Blackwell, who had agreed that the restoration of the career personnel made the work session scheduled for July 26 unnecessary. Chief Blackwell said he would still like to meet less formally with Mr. McLaughlin and possibly the Mayor. It was agreed that Mr. McLaughlin would set this meeting up and notify Council when it would be held.

ADJOURNMENT: A motion to adjourn was made by Ms. Mach and seconded by Mr. Putens. The motion carried 5-0. The Mayor adjourned the regular meeting of July 19, 2004, at 9:52 p.m

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen Gallaghe

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 July 19, 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