REGULAR MEETING OF THE GREENBELT CITY COUNCIL held January 22, 2007.

Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:12 p.m.

ROLL CALL was answered by Councilmembers Konrad E. Herling, Leta M. Mach, Rodney M. Roberts, and Mayor Judith F. Davis. Councilmember Edward V. J. Putens arrived at 8:20 p.m.

ALSO PRESENT were Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; Robert A. Manzi, City Solicitor; David Moran, Assistant City Manager; and Kathleen Gallagher, City Clerk.

Mayor Davis asked that everyone observe a moment of silent meditation in memory of former resident Janet S. Brown and Greenbelt Police Corporal Luis A. Gonzalez. She then led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

CONSENT AGENDA: It was moved by Mr. Herling and seconded by Ms. Mach that the consent agenda be approved as presented. The motion passed 4-0.

Council thereby took the following actions:

MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS

- Interview, January 8, 2007
- Regular Meeting, January 8, 2007
Approved as presented.

REAPPOINTMENTS TO ADVISORY GROUPS: Council reappointed Betty Timer to the Senior Citizens Advisory Committee and Susan Gregersen to the Recycling & Environment Advisory Committee.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: It was moved by Mr. Herling and seconded by Ms. Mach that the agenda be approved as presented. The motion passed 4-0.

PRESENTATIONS: None.

PETITIONS AND REQUESTS: Mayor Davis said she had received a request from resident Jeanette Holman regarding the speed of cars in the area of 14-16 Courts Ridge Road and whether a crossing bollard could be placed at a crosswalk there. The matter will be referred to the Police Department and the Planning and Community Development Department.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Mr. McLaughlin announced the following. The “soft opening” of the Skate Park occurred, with about 40 skateboarders having registered. The formal opening will occur later. An electronics recycling will be held on January 27 from 9 a.m. until noon at Public Works. There is a March 7 deadline for submission of designs to the Earth Day t-shirt contest.

Mayor Davis commented on: an e-mail newsletter on youth activities that is being sent out by the Recreation Department; a meeting of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network she and Ms. Mach attended; the Maryland Municipal League and 22 nd Delegation receptions in Annapolis; a prayer breakfast for Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown at Martin’s Crosswinds; the School Board’s public hearing at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, at which she read a letter restating the City’s position on the Springhill Lake redevelopment; and a COG Chesapeake Bay Policy Committee meeting.

LEGISLATION

A n Ordinance to Amend Chapter 13, “Personnel,” of the Greenbelt City Code for the Purpose of Adding a New Article VIII, “Labor Code”

Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Putens introduced the ordinance for second reading and adoption. Mr. Herling seconded the motion. Noting the presence of representatives of the F.O.P., the Mayor asked them if they wished to speak. MPO Robert Dowling responded that they had no problem with the ordinance. The Mayor said that she hoped negotiations could now go forward as quickly as possible in order that there could be a contract in time for the next budget period. She also expressed condolences to the Police Department on the loss of Corporal Gonzalez.

ROLL CALL: Mr. Herling - yes
Ms. Mach - yes
Mr. Putens - yes
Mr. Roberts - yes
Mayor Davis - yes
The ordinance was declared adopted (Ordinance No. 1278, Book 12).

APPLICATION TO COG’S TLC TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. She thanked Mr. Herling for drafting the proposal, and Mr. Herling noted he had received assistance from the City Manager. He said that this kind of transportation planning was needed in Greenbelt even without the Greenbelt West development and that Greenbelters are all aware of the duplications and gaps in public transportation service within the City.

Mayor Davis suggested adding mention of the eventual need for a Greenbelt Circulator bus. Ms. Mach suggested emphasizing that this will be a model program. She also thanked Mr. Herling for having identified this opportunity.

It was moved by Mr. Herling and seconded by Mr. Putens that the City Council approve the submission of an application to the COG Transportation and Land Use Connections (TLC) Technical Assistance Program in support of a charette to be conducted on public transportation issues in Greenbelt. The motion carried 5-0.

PENDING STATE LEGISLATION

Senate Bill 51/House Bill 44 - Maryland Clean Cars Act of 2007: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. It was moved by Mr. Putens and seconded by Ms. Mach that the City Council support SB 51/HB 44. Susan Barnett, 51-C Ridge Road, indicated her support for this bill and also suggested that under the transportation grant discussed under the previous agenda item, the City look at alternative fuels. Steve Kane, 56-F Crescent, expressed support for the bill and also encouraged Council to take action soon on the Cool Cities initiative. When the vote was taken, the motion carried 5-0.

MC/PG 112 – Zoning Enforcement – Town of Kensington: The Mayor read the agenda comments and explained that this was a courtesy request, since municipalities in Prince George’s County already have this authority if they wish to adopt it. She asked Mr. Moran if Greenbelt was working on an agreement with the county for concurrent zoning enforcement authority. Mr. Moran said the City had never decided to pursue this authority, which does carry with it staffing and other resource implications. Ms. Mach made a motion, which was seconded by Mr. Putens, that Council support MC/PG 112. The motion passed 5-0. Mayor Davis mentioned that the Prince George’s County Municipal Association was still pursuing the anti-McMansion legislation that Montgomery County already has. Mr. McLaughlin suggested asking for Kensington’s support on the anti-McMansion legislation as quid pro quo for the City’s support of this bill. Mayor Davis said she had implied to Kensington that this should be the case, but Ms. Mach said she would revise her motion to include it, which amendment was accepted by Mr. Putens and the rest of Council.

MEETINGS: Council reviewed the meeting schedule. The Mayor noted that the memorial service for Corporal Gonzalez would be held at noon tomorrow. She asked that the meeting with the Youth Advisory Committee start at 7:30 p.m. Regarding the agenda for the upcoming Four Cities meeting, the Mayor suggested asking Berwyn Heights for a report on activity on Branchville Road. Mr. Herling asked that the group be surveyed on its interest in having the presentation on homelessness the City had received.

ADJOURNMENT: A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Ms. Mach and seconded by Mr. Putens. The motion carried 5-0. The Mayor adjourned the regular meeting of January 22, 2007, at 9:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen Gallagher
City Clerk

"I hereby the certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct report of the regular meeting of the City Council of Greenbelt, Maryland, held January 22, 2007.

Judith F. Davis
Mayor

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