WORK SESSION OF THE GREENBELT CITY COUNCIL held Wednesday, July 12, 2006, for the purpose of holding a stakeholder meeting with the Roosevelt Center Merchants.

Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:04 p.m. It was held in the Multipurpose Room of the Community Center.

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

STAFF PRESENT WERE: Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; Sgt. David Buerger and Cpl. Thomas Moreland, Police Department; and Kathleen Gallagher , City Clerk.

ALSO PRESENT WERE: Dorrie Bates, Bob Davis, and Joe Timer, Co-op Supermarket; Cindy Comproni, Greenbelt Federal Credit Union; Gwen Vaccaro, Pleasant Touch; Ellen Siegel, Bill Wilkerson, and Richard McMullin, New Deal Café; and Frank DeBernardo, Suzette Agans, Ed James, and Bill Orleans.

Following introductions, Mayor Davis asked to start with security issues and then deal with other topics..

Security Cameras : Mr. McLaughlin said the cameras are old and had never been enabled to full capacity because of technical issues in getting the picture to the Police Department. He said the quality of the picture has always been poor, and the cameras had never been able to tilt or zoom. Sgt. Buerger said it was his impression that the cameras were not currently operational. He said he did not think there was any live feed now. Mr. Putens asked for a written report on the status of the cameras. He said this was more extreme than what Council had heard in the past. Mayor Davis said Council was under the impression that it was a vendor problem but that it now sounded as though the system needed to be totally replaced. It was agreed that Council wanted to be in a position to discuss this at the Capital Projects work session.

Police Response: Ms. Siegel said that in the context of having called the Police Department regarding a drunk, she was told that the department was short-staffed and that, in comparison with more serious crime elsewhere in the City, Roosevelt Center was not likely to get much priority. She said she understood much of the problem at the Center involved relatively minor incidents but that she did not think a good message was being given to residents and merchants who called. Regarding vacant positions, Mr. McLaughlin said there were only one or two vacancies but that another 6-7 officers were on light duty. Sgt. Buerger said there is also a long period of front-end training, after which they lost one officer to another jurisdiction, and another was deployed to Iraq .

Mr. Wilkerson agreed the Center did not have much serious crime, but he said increased visibility of officers would go a long way toward deterring the petty crime. Mr. Timer said the problem is that there is unlimited need and demand but only limited resources.

Sgt. Buerger said unless police officers witness the crimes or behaviors, there is little traction in attempting to take cases to court.

Ms. Siegel asked about training and deputizing citizens. Sgt. Buerger said all they could do is observe, which is what a Neighborhood Watch group does. There was then discussion of the fact that a Roosevelt Center Watch group had begun but needed to work more closely with the merchants and keep the merchants informed.

Police Visibility at Center : Sgt. Buerger said there are foot patrols mandated for late afternoon and evening, though occasionally those officers may be pulled to go elsewhere. In response to Mayor Davis's question about other employees, Mr. McLaughlin said he had not stressed a need for Code Enforcement officers to check the Center this year as he had last year but that this request could be renewed. Mr. Putens said he thought the cameras were important and that there is a need to look at other types of officers or security than on-duty City police.

Mr. Herling said that private shopping centers in the City hire officers. He said there had been discussion of establishing a special taxing district for the Center for common needs, including security. He said he thought it was time to look at that seriously. Ms. Bates questioned how much good private security would be, given that Sgt. Buerger had explained that unless sworn police officers witnessed the crime, there was little point in trying to press charges. Sgt. Buerger said the difference was that other types of patrols could deter crime by their presence. Mr. Wilkerson questioned whether it was the merchants who should be taxed or the residents of the City who want a safe and viable Roosevelt Center . He asked who really owned Roosevelt Center and who benefits from it?

Cpl. Moreland suggested bringing the cruiser back and parking it at the Center as well.

Co-op Sale of "Singles" : Mr. Davis said in response to being asked, the Co-op had decided to stop selling singles of alcoholic beverages (e.g., 12-oz. cans) designed to be sold in a six-pack. He said they were skeptical that this would have much impact.

Trash/Refuse : There was considerable discussion of who should pick up what on the loading docks. There was particular concern regarding abandoned large appliances and pieces of equipment. Mr. McLaughlin said Public Works could pick these up as special trash if called. He said if the owner was not known, Code Enforcement could be called to see about beginning a citation process. Ms. Vaccaro said the dumpsters at the east end of the Center and the red brick apartments need some type of screening. Mr. Wilkerson said he believed there was a law requiring that. The Mayor asked Mr. McLaughlin for a memo from the Planning and Code Enforcement staff addressing the dumpster and trash regulations.

Pedestrian Access from Co-op Ramp : Mr. Wilkerson raised a question regarding an additional crosswalk in the area, but Ms. Bates suggested what was really needed was the repainting of the lines to stop traffic at the intersection.

Property Lines : There was considerable discussion of where the merchants' property lines begin. Mr. McMullin said the New Deal has designed a detailed map of the Center they would be happy to share with the City. The thinking was that if the merchants had a map and statement from the City showing the property line, it would be easier to enforce. Ms. Comproni said that the Labor Festival has produced maps for their vendors to use which show they are permitted to use non-City property, which creates problems of customer access to the business.

Bike Racks : Mayor Davis asked to refer to the Park & Recreation Advisory Board and the Advisory Planning Board the question of whether there should be more bike racks and, if so, where. The plan had been to put any racks at the periphery, but it is also the case that riders like to keep their bikes in view for security reasons. Mr. Wilkerson suggested the need for a bike rack in front of the branch library, although he added that the library had moved the one it had down to the parking lot because it was a hazard for children who were playing on it while waiting for their parents.

Former Pleasant Touch Space : Ms. Vaccaro described the bad condition of the now-vacant space she previously rented and suggested that City inspectors check the bathroom, the water in the basement, and the drainage problems that probably also impact the theater. She asked if the property could be "condemned" as not usable, since Mr. Christacos will not repair it.

Signage : There was discussion of the kiosk idea that had been raised previously, as well as other types of small signs that might be used to direct people to the Center businesses. Ms. Vaccaro said people have difficulty finding the door to her place.

Ownership : Mr. Wilkerson stressed that the health of Roosevelt Center is critical enough to Center City and GHI that the ownership of it is a public issue.

Roosevelt Center Group : Ms. Agans distributed a one-pager regarding an organization she and Mr. DeBernardo are initiating to address problems that have been identified on the Greenbelters Yahoo forum.

Other Business

Mr. McLaughlin asked anyone with agenda items for the Four Cities meeting next week to give them to him.

Mr. Putens asked for additional information on a report of gunshots at Greenway Village Apartments. Although the call was handled by county police, some damage was apparently also done in Hunting Ridge.

Mayor Davis noted branches down on Mandan Road north of Greenbelt Road and dumping of some sort at the lot on Crescent where people pick up firewood.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:05 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