REGULAR MEETING OF THE GREENBELT CITY COUNCIL held March 26, 2007.

Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:10 p.m.

ROLL CALL was answered by Councilmembers 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 Moran, Assistant City Manager; and Kathleen Gallagher, City Clerk.

Mayor Davis asked that everyone observe a moment of silence in memory of resident Suk Hur and former resident David E. Meadows. She also expressed thankfulness that there had been no loss of life resulting from the fires that had occurred at Springhill Lake. The Mayor then led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

CONSENT AGENDA : It was moved by Mr. Putens and seconded by Ms. Mach that the consent agenda be approved as presented. The motion passed 5-0.

Council thereby took the following actions:

MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS

- Work Session, March 1, 2007
- Legislative Dinner, March 8, 2007
- Regular Meeting, March 12, 2007
- Work Session, March 14, 2007
- Work Session, March 19, 2007
Approved as presented.

COMMITTEE REPORT - Board of Elections, Report #07-1 (Voting Machines): The City Council accepted this report.

RESIGNATION FROM ADVISORY GROUP : Council accepted with regret the resignation of Shawn Burke-Storer from the Arts Advisory Board.

REAPPOINTMENT TO ADVISORY GROUP : Council appointed Sudhanshu Sinha to a new term on the Advisory Committee on Education

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

PRESENTATIONS

Recognition of GHI Animal Companion Committee : The Washington region’s outstanding animal services professionals were honored on March 2 at the third annual Animal Services Awards program at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). This year, the Community Partnership Award was presented to the Companion Animal Committee of Greenbelt Homes, Inc. (GHI). Committee Chair Kris White and Committee Member Cam MacQueen were present. Ms. White said the committee had developed guidelines that are quite progressive and may serve as a model for other organizations. She added that they hoped the City would eventually adopt some of their regulations, such as the ban on tethering and chaining. She and Ms. MacQueen also talked about other programs the group had initiated for GHI, such as the red scarf program to identify animals that should not be approached and the acquisition of equipment for fire departments for use in aiding animals in case of fire. Mayor Davis thanked them for coming and said the entire community appreciated the work they were doing.

Introduction of Visitor : Clement Lau, 6 Greentree Place, introduced Sun Yingxiang, a third-year student from Shandong University Law School, who is affiliated with the University of Maryland School of Law this year, studying American Constitutional law and administrative law. He is writing a master’s thesis on the operation of local government in the United States and will use Greenbelt as a focus for the topic. Council welcomed Mr. Sun warmly.

Proposed FY 2008 City Budget : Mr. McLaughlin gave a presentation on his proposed FY 2008 budget, which will be completed by next week. He said there had been considerable good news during FY 2007, including the completion of the skateboard park, progress on the Community Center windows renovation project; a reduction in crime, and the adoption of a Labor Code. On the down side, he said there had been little contribution to the Fund Balance because of expenditures added to the Capital Projects budget, but that otherwise revenues and expenditures were in balance. The FY 2008 budget will be nearly 11% higher than the current year, funded mostly be the increase in property values but also including a two-cent tax increase. Much of the budget increase will go to the Public Safety portion of the budget, in part because that is the largest City budget but also to support the collective bargaining agreement that has been negotiated. In most of the other departments, the budget will cover existing services. He said it was of some concern that the City’s revenues were increasingly reliant upon property taxes but that this was not peculiar to Greenbelt at this point.

In discussion of a proposed addition to the City goals of a focus on energy sustainability, the Mayor noted that the goals had not been discussed since Mr. Herling and Ms. Mach had been elected to Council, and she asked Mr. McLaughlin that the document be supplied to them if they did not have it. Mr. Herling said he would continue to suggest that a marketing director would aid in bringing in additional revenues. Ms. Mach commented that the Advisory Committee on Education had suggested adding a full- or part-time grants person. Mr. McLaughlin responded that he was not convinced that these types of positions would adequately pay for themselves. In terms of the tax increase, Mr. Putens said the citizens would have to realize that there were increased costs. Mr. Roberts asked how much it would cost the City to fund the Strengthening Families program, which was dropped from this year’s budget because of lack of availability of the external funds that had previously supported it. Mr. McLaughlin said about $15,000 for four sessions.

The Mayor asked Councilmembers to put their wishes for making changes to the proposed budget on the table as early as possible so that these things could be taken into account.

Distinguished Budget Presentation Award : The City received the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its Fiscal Year 2007 budget. This award recognizes that Greenbelt publishes a budget document that satisfies national guidelines as a policy document, an operations guide, a financial plan, and a communications device. The City Manager accepted the award on behalf of the City.

PETITIONS AND REQUESTS : None.

MINUTES OF MEETINGS

Executive Session, March 14, 2007 : Mr. Roberts moved that the minutes of the executive session of the City Council held Wednesday, March 14, 2007, be approved as presented. He further requested that the minutes of this meeting reflect that the Council met in executive session at 7:15 p.m. in the Senior Classroom of the Community Center. Council held this closed meeting in accordance with Section 10-508 (a) (9) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Public General Laws of Maryland to consider matters related to collective bargaining negotiations. Mr. Putens seconded the motion.

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

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

At Mr. McLaughlin’s request, Capt. Thomas Kemp briefed Council on the situation at Springhill Lake, where a series of electrical fires had occurred since last night. The Mayor commended the cooperation that she had witnessed at the site among AIMCO and the various organizations, agencies, and City departments working on the problem.

Mr. McLaughlin announced that the Artful Afternoon program, initiated by Arts Supervisor Nicole DeWald, had won the Maryland Municipal League’s Award of Excellence. He said the City had notified its state delegation of concern regarding a proposed cut to the budget of the Community Parks & Playgrounds Program, which could impact Greenbelt. He said the Potomac Watershed Cleanups at Greenbelt Lake and the Springhill Lake stream would take place on March 31. He announced that Stephen Parks is the new supervisor of the Aquatic & Fitness Center.

Mayor Davis asked if the three newspaper vending boxes that had been placed on the sidewalk on Ora Glen Drive near the post office could be removed.

Mr. Putens commented on the recent public forum held by the Public Safety Advisory Committee, a meeting held by AIMCO for residents at Springhill Lake, and the Greenbelt Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad banquet.

Ms. Mach reported on the annual meeting of the Arts Center, the Prince George’s County Women’s History Month Luncheon, which she attended at the invitation of County Councilmember Ingrid Turner, and the Congressional City Conference in D.C. of the National League of Cities (NLC).

Mr. Herling announced that although the City’s initial application for funding from the COG Transportation Planning Board in support of a charrette on local transportation had not been successful, the City would receive the benefit of technical assistance to develop the plan further. He also announced that at its annual meeting, County Councilmember Turner had presented a $2,500 check to the Arts Center in support of its activities.

Mayor Davis also reported on attending the NLC Congressional City Conference in D.C.

LEGISLATION

A Resolution to Negotiate the Purchase of a Deep Tine Aerator from Finch Services, Inc., of Westminster, Maryland, at a Cost of $15,500

The Mayor read the agenda comments. Mr. Roberts introduced the resolution for second reading and moved that it be adopted. Mr. Putens seconded the motion. Mr. Roberts asked if the type of aeration this equipment would provide for the trees would be as good as the current method being used. Bill Phelan, Assistant Director, Public Works, responded that his expectation is that the aerator should work better because it will provide many more holes. The equipment will also permit Public Works staff to reach many more areas and perhaps to cover all parks on a three-year rotation.

ROLL CALL: Mr. Herling - yes
Ms. Mach - yes
Mr. Putens - yes
Mr. Roberts - yes
Mayor Davis - yes
The resolution was declared adopted (Resolution No. 1012, Book 8).

MEETINGS : Council reviewed the meeting schedule. A work session with the New Deal Café Board was scheduled for May 2, and an executive session to review a recommendation from the Employee Relations Board was scheduled for April 24.

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 March 26, 2007, at 10:05 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 March 26, 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