Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m. It was held in the Multipurpose Room of the Community Center.

PRESENT WERE: Councilmembers Konrad E. Herling, Leta M. Mach, Edward V. J. Putens, Rodney M. Roberts, and Mayor Judith F. Davis.

STAFF PRESENT WERE: Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; Bill Phelan, Assistant Director, Public Works; and Kathleen Gallagher, City Clerk.

Mr. Phelan said that several years ago, obvious problems at Greenbelt Lake, such as algae, provoked interest in further investigation. In summer 2002, Council authorized a study; in summer 2003 the consultants, ESA, presented their report. Staff looked at their recommendations and ranked them for cost and environmental impact. The report was then taken to the Recycling & Environment Advisory Committee and to a joint meeting of the Advisory Planning Board and the Park & Recreation Advisory Committee. Mr. Phelan said that the advisory groups were generally supportive of the staff review and that the recommendations made by APB/PRAB were items that staff either agrees with or have already been taken care of.

Mr. Phelan then reviewed the report and the slide show that was presented to the advisory groups, with reference to Terri Hruby’s memo dated November 25, 2004.

More water testing: He said the highest priority project is additional water testing to address the high level of fecal coliform found by the consultants in the Lakewood/Woodland Hills stream. He said having these results is essential to determining the course of most of the other tasks. Testing would determine whether the fecal coliform is still present and, if so, where it is coming from. Depending on the level of detail the City wants, ESA could do this for $2,250- $7,000. Mayor Davis asked why this does not appear in the FY 2005 budget. Mr. McLaughlin responded that some of this work overlaps items that appear in the Capital Projects budget.

Canada geese: Mr. Phelan noted the dramatic decrease in their number on the lake, which he thinks is probably attributable to the plantings of higher grasses on the north shoreline.

Greenhill/Hillside outfall stabilization project: There was considerable discussion of this project, which ESA estimated at $37,000 (±10%) for the stream work and planting from the outfall to the bridge. Mr. Phelan said that since much of this is GHI land, there should be some cost-sharing, and this may also be an area where grant funding is available.

Retrofitting Candy Cane City for bioretention: Mr. Phelan said this project is really a series of storm water management facilities within the Roosevelt Center/Braden watershed. He thinks some grant funding might be feasible. There are also applicable new technologies that have come on the market even since this study was done. Staff suggests holding off on this project not so much because of its cost but because of its complexity.

Lakewood Stream: Mr. Phelan reviewed removing the concrete spoil at Lakewood/Woodland Hills and creating an elongated storm water management facility between Northway and Greendale Place. He also described a number of the lesser priorities. He said the general principle is to work with the higher water-level projects and then reevaluate the conditions at the lake level to determine whether everything there still needs to be done.

Mayor Davis expressed concern about the pooling of water in many of the stream reconstruction projects, which she thought might stand long enough to allow mosquitoes to breed.

Mr. McLaughlin asked Mr. Phelan to get the cost of design for the Lakewood/Woodland Hills project.

Other Business

Mr. McLaughline suggested rescheduling the CNG ribbon-cutting at 7 p.m. on July 19, preceding the regular Council meeting. There was also agreement to set a time to walk around and look at the boundary issues around the Lake. Since the only date free is June 16, this may have to wait until August.

Mayor Davis announced County Councilmember Peters has $2,000 he would like to give to the Boys & Girls Club.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathleen Gallagher

City Clerk

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