WORK SESSION OF THE GREENBELT CITY COUNCIL held Monday, July 16, 2007, for the purpose of reviewing the Capital Projects budget for FY 2008.

 Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m. It was held in the Council Room of the Municipal Building.

 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 McLaughlin, City Manager; Jeff Williams, City Treasurer; Celia W. Craze, Director, Planning and Community Development; David E. Moran, Assistant City Manager; and Kathleen Gallagher, City Clerk.

 ALSO PRESENT WERE: Sheldon Goldberg, Advisory Planning Board; and Thomas X. White, Greenbelt News Review.

 Mr. McLaughlin said what was before Council for review for the most part represented only minor adjustments in what had been presented earlier, in addition to changes resulting from adjustments in funding sources. He said that at this point it appears there will be about $124,000 in fund balance at the end of the fiscal year. He said he would suggest simply holding that money as a start for FY 2009, since the program for Capital Projects is already big enough for the upcoming year, and there will be other big projects (e.g., Public Works facility, theater building) coming around the corner next year.

Mayor Davis said she was concerned at the references to attempting to cut costs on both the theater and Public Works projects since she would prefer to try to find sources of additional funding rather than sacrifice the quality or environmental standards intended for those projects. Ms. Craze assured her that staff’s intention was not to propose skimping but rather that in some instances different approaches had been identified to achieve the same ends at lower cost.

 Mr. Moran reviewed the changes between the proposed and adopted budgets. Mr. McLaughlin pointed out that the $5,000 grant from KaBoom! was shown in the budget even though it will not be paid directly to the City.

 Ms. Mach asked about the decline in funding shown for the City’s drainage problems. Mr. McLaughlin said it was because, so far, matters had been resolved with little cost to the City because they were the problems of other agencies.

 Regarding the Hillside outfall stabilization project, Mr. Moran said these figures were Terri Hruby’s current estimate. Mr. Roberts asked if there was a plan yet. Ms. Craze replied that they have 30% drawings. It was noted that Ms. Hruby was making a presentation to the GHI Board at their July meeting, and the topic was expected to be on Council’s September 10 agenda.

 Council then reviewed the Summary of Projects. Regarding the lights for McDonald Field, the Mayor said Greenbelt Baseball had asked them to make a decision on whether lighting would be approved so that they could initiate fundraising. Mr. Putens said he thought Council should make a decision on this. Mr. Roberts said he did not think that consideration of whether to light the field at Schrom Hills should halt discussion of this project. The Mayor asked that it be added to the list of work sessions to be scheduled. Mr. McLaughlin asked if Council wanted the neighborhood resurveyed. It was agreed that this should be done prior to the work session and that the survey should be broader than just the adjacent area.

 The Mayor asked what had happened to the water line for the dog park. Ms. Craze said the cost of it would be too high in the absence of other construction and that it had been understood at the time the lighting was put in that users would continue to bring their own water.

 Mr. Roberts asked about the lake water quality item. Mr. McLaughlin discussed the sequencing of the parts of this project, which he said he expected to present as part of the FY 2009 budget.

 The Mayor asked if the Bond Fund would be zeroed out this year. Mr. Moran said it would.

 The Mayor asked Ms. Craze for an update on the Public Works facility and the theater. Ms. Craze said since only one bid for Public Works had been received, it could not be opened. Staff has begun to talk with Gardiner & Gardiner General Contractors in Crofton, which has successful experience in green building. She said they have some ideas on economies and increased green components (e.g., on-site recycling). The Mayor asked if revising the plan would require going back to the county for revised permits. Ms. Craze said they would not do anything that required revisiting the county. Mayor Davis asked if the project would be certified as green. Ms. Craze said although the contractor would be certified as a LEEDS contractor, she thought the cost and paperwork of seeking certification for the building would be prohibitive for the City.

 Regarding the restrooms for the park, Ms. Craze distributed brochures on prefab structures that would cost about 60% less than actual construction. Council agreed in general that the options were more attractive than they would have thought and were worth exploring. Ms. Craze said that once they knew what the cost of utility extension to the site would be, options could defined for the project.

 Regarding the theater building, Ms. Craze said they are hoping for permits by mid-fall.

 Mayor Davis said she wanted to add a project #17 to be called “Spellman Overpass Public Safety Improvements” to include $20,000 for a surveillance camera or other improvements that might be suggested and approved as a result of further evaluation of this problem in thepcoming year. Mr. McLaughlin noted that because of the printing schedule, this would not appear in the printed budget.

 

Other Business

 After some discussion, it was concluded that the revision to the City Charter to increase Council salaries would not include provision for any automatic future increase. Council asked that, for future reference, staff provide information on how other municipalities deal with this.

 There was discussion of the cover for the MML magazine. Informational items were also announced.

 The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 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