REGULAR MEETING OF THE GREENBELT CITY COUNCIL held February 27, 2006.

Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m.

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

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 that everyone observe a moment of silence in memory of the following residents: Robert William Hurst, who served on the 10th and 11th City Councils and served as Mayor Pro Tem during his second term; and Millard (“Buddy”) Beall, David L. Evans, and Mary Jane (“Terri”) Gates. She then led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

CONSENT AGENDA: It was moved by Ms. Mach and seconded by Mr. Roberts that the consent agenda be approved as presented. The motion passed 3-0.

Council thereby took the following actions:

MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS
- Regular Meeting, January 23, 2006
- Work Session, February 6, 2006
- Work Session, February 8, 2006
- Interview for Advisory Group, February 13, 2006
- Regular Meeting, February 13, 2006
Approved as presented.

REQUEST FOR USE OF FACILITIES: Council approved the request from the Grad Night Committee for waiver of facility fees.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mayor Davis asked to add “State Legislation” to the agenda as item #18. It was then moved by Ms. Mach and seconded by Mr. Roberts that the agenda be approved as amended. The motion passed 3-0.

PRESENTATIONS

Chesapeake Bay Partner Community Award: The Chesapeake Bay Partner Community Award is sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Program and its Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC). It was established to recognize local governments in the Chesapeake Bay watershed whose actions demonstrate their commitment to protecting and restoring the Chesapeake Bay, its rivers, and its streams. Greenbelt has previously been in the silver award category. This year, the City was honored with a gold award, which is the highest level. Seat Pleasant Councilmember Kelly Porter presented the award on behalf of the LGAC.

GVFD – Presentation of Equipment by Greenbelt Rotary: On behalf of the Greenbelt Rotary, Jennifer Jones presented to Chief Brian Rudy and President Chris Fleshman a sample of the generous amount of water rescue equipment being donated to the Greenbelt Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad. The Rotary was thanked by all.

Twenty-Year Pin: Mayor Davis presented a pin to Mr. Manzi to note the 20 years he has served as Greenbelt’s City Solicitor.

PETITIONS AND REQUESTS: None.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Ms. Mach commented on a presentation by National League of Cities President Jim Hunt at a conference she attended. She also attended the open house at the animal control facility and the kick-off for new Greenbelt Assistance-in-Living programs.

Mayor Davis commented on attending several events held in conjunction with Black History Month, a retirement event for Public Works employee Richard Mills, and a Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Breakfast.

LEGISLATION

Closing of the Unemployment Compensation Reserve and Temporary Disability Reserve Funds: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments for the following resolutions.

An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 2, “Administration,” of the Greenbelt City Code for the Purpose of Repealing Section 2-26, “Unemployment Compensation Reserve Fund”

Mr. Roberts introduced the ordinance for second reading and moved that it be adopted. Ms. Mach seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL: Ms. Mach - yes
Mr. Roberts - yes
Mayor Davis - yes

The ordinance was declared adopted (Ordinance No. 1263, Book 12).

An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 2, “Administration,” of the Greenbelt City Code for the Purpose of Repealing Section 2-28, “Temporary Disability Reserve Fund”

Ms. Mach introduced the ordinance for second reading and moved its adoption. Mr. Roberts seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL:
Ms. Mach - yes
Mr. Roberts - yes
Mayor Davis - yes

The ordinance was declared adopted (Ordinance No. 1264, Book 12).

An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 2, “Administration,” of the Greenbelt City Code in Order to Revise Sections 2-41 and 2-42 for the Purpose of Increasing the Maximum Amount for Minor Purchases

Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Ms. Mach introduced the ordinance for second reading and moved its adoption. Mr. Roberts seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL: Ms. Mach - yes
Mr. Roberts - yes
Mayor Davis - yes

The ordinance was declared adopted (Ordinance No. 1265, Book 12).

A Resolution of Negotiated Purchase for Repair of the Hydraulic Arm on the Aerial Lift Truck by RMS of Westminster, Maryland

The Mayor read the agenda comments. Mr. Roberts introduced the ordinance for second reading and moved its adoption. Ms. Mach seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL:
Ms. Mach - yes
Mr. Roberts - yes
Mayor Davis - yes

The resolution was declared adopted (Resolution No. 998, Book 8.).

A Resolution to Negotiate the Purchase of a Two-Ton Truck Chassis from Tysons Ford of Vienna, Virginia

The Mayor read the agenda comments. Mr. Roberts introduced the resolution for first reading but added that he did have some concerns about the $7,000 cited in the agenda comments as the cost for transferring the dump body to the new chassis. He said this should be a relatively simple process, and the price was not justified. Mr. McLaughlin said staff would bring back more information on this; since the hydraulics involved a separate vendor, however, he asked that Council go ahead with this resolution.

GREENBELT CROSSING – DETAILED SITE PLAN: The Mayor read the agenda comments. Ethan Bindernagel, Community Planner, gave a slide presentation on the detailed site plan (DSP). He addressed Council’s previous concerns with environmental impacts, noise, and pedestrian and vehicular circulation. He said the only woodland area being disturbed was an already-disturbed area for WSSC to lay a pipe, and this could be partially replanted. He said the State Highway Administration would be closing the median-cut on Greenbelt Road, which would require eastbound traffic to make a U-turn at Southway. He said the owner would be paying for the completion of the sidewalk around the corner on which the Armory is located, which would provide another route to Roosevelt Center. Regarding noise, he noted that the street noise from Greenbelt Road was being taken into account.

Thomas Haller, attorney for the owner, Baier Properties, added that by shifting the building more to the angle of the original nursing home, non-pervious space had been further reduced. He said that with regard to noise attenuation, Mr. Putens had been concerned with interior, as well as exterior, noise levels. In response, they are using the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s standards for luxury development, which take into account different types of adjacencies and are more rigorous than county standards.

Mr. Roberts told Mr. Haller that although he appreciated the fact that they had kept their promises regarding the trees and woodlands, he still thought this project should be senior housing. Mr. Haller said they would be delighted to fill the building with seniors and would target seniors with advertising, but they did not want to restrict the marketing. Mr. Roberts said then he could not vote for the project. Mayor Davis suggested that they provide as an option a package of modifications that would appeal to seniors, and she asked if they could advertise to reach Greenbelt residents first. Mr. Haller said they could do that. Ms. Mach agreed that the project would appeal to seniors. She once again encouraged them to consider cooperative ownership. Mr. Haller said they were still open to discussion.

Mr. Roberts said he was still not satisfied and thought the City deserved a senior facility, especially since it had supported a zoning text amendment to allow higher density. Mr. Haller and Mr. Bindernagel said there had been no increase in density.

In response to Ms. Mach’s question about timing, Mr. Haller said they expected to start construction by the end of this year and have units available in 2008. It was moved by Ms. Mach and seconded by Mayor Davis that the detailed site plan for Greenbelt Crossing be approved with the five conditions presented in the staff recommendation. The motion carried 2-1 (Roberts).

AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR DESIGN SERVICES– GREENHILL/HILLSIDE ROADS OUTFALL STABILIZATION AND STREAM RESTORATION: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Terri Hruby, Assistant Director, Planning, made a presentation on the conditions that need to be addressed. The Mayor asked her if Greenbelt Homes, Inc. (GHI) had made any commitment to assist with funding. Ms. Hruby said about 200 linear feet of the project falls on GHI property and that, while GHI had been amenable to assisting, at the time of the discussion the City had no specific cost figures to work with. She added that staff thought the implementation of the project would be competitive for grant funding if the planning and design had been completed. The Mayor suggested referring the results of the planning and design to the Recycling & Environment Advisory Committee, as well as to the Advisory Planning Board. Mr. Roberts made a motion that the City Council award a contract for design services to Environmental Systems Analysis, Inc., for the Greenhill/Hillside Roads Outfall Stabilization and Stream Restoration Plan at a lump sum, not to exceed $31,700. Ms. Mach seconded the motion, which passed 3-0.

STATE LEGISLATION: Mr. Moran gave an overview of two bills. He said HB-659 would require the University of Maryland-College Park to undertake a comprehensive analysis of alternative transportation methods as a way of reducing university traffic before the state or county provided any further funding, permits, or approvals for the UM Connector Road. It was moved by Ms. Mach and seconded by Mr. Roberts that the City support this bill. Ms. Mach asked that specific mention be made of development of the Purple Line and that the requirement be extended in the event that the study was not completed in a year. The motion passed 3-0.

The other bill was the Maryland Growth Management Act of 2006, developed by the Maryland Municipal League (MML) in reaction to the bill developed by the Maryland Association of Counties to severely restrict annexation by municipalities without similarly restricting counties. Mayor Davis commented that the MML-supported bill would require cooperation between the municipalities and the counties. She further noted that neither of these bills would directly impact Greenbelt, which does not have planning and zoning authority, but that the MML bill is sponsored by Senator Pinsky and Delegates Tawanna Gaines and Anne Healey. Ms. Mach moved support of the bill. Mr. Roberts seconded the motion, which passed 3-0.

MEETINGS: Council reviewed the meeting schedule and the draft schedule for budget meetings. It was moved by Mr. Roberts and seconded by Ms. Mach that the regular City Council meetings in June be held on the first and third Mondays instead of the second and fourth Mondays. The motion passed 3-0.

ADJOURNMENT: A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Ms. Mach and seconded by Mr. Roberts. The motion carried 3-0. The Mayor adjourned the regular meeting of February 27, 2006, at 10:05 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 27, 2006."

Judith F. Davis
Mayor

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