REGULAR MEETING OF THE GREENBELT CITY COUNCIL held March 10, 2008.

Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:03 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; John F. Shay, Jr. City Solicitor; David E. Moran, Assistant City Manager; and Kathleen Gallagher, City Clerk.

Mayor Davis asked for a moment of silence in memory of Greenbelt resident Robert Warren Barnett, Jr.; former resident Lt. Commander (Ret.) Charles (“Carroll”) Barcus (USN), who was the oldest son of Greenbelt Pioneers James and Margaret Connelly Barcus; and former Chief of Police Francis (“Frank”) Hutson. She then led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS : Mayor Davis introduced County Councilmember Ingrid Turner and Tricia Myers, a former teacher and legislative aide to Delegate Tawanna Gaines, who was also representing Senator Pinsky and Delegates Healey and Ross. The Mayor noted that Rosalind Johnson, School Board Member for District 1, was unable to attend and that Councilmember Mach would present the certificates from the School Board.

CONSENT AGENDA : It was moved by Mr. Putens and seconded by Mr. Herling 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, February 20, 2008

- Regular Meeting, February 25, 2008

Approved as presented.

RESOLUTION OF THE ADVISORY PLANNING BOARD FOR DEPARTURE REQUEST 08-001-DPLS : The City Council adopted this resolution to approve a departure to waive the parking requirements for medical practitioner and general business office space within the Greenbriar Community Building.

RESIGNATION FROM ADVISORY GROUP : Council accepted the resignation of Shalom Fisher from the Recycling & Environment Advisory Committee.

REAPPOINTMENT TO ADVISORY GROUP : Council appointed Kathy Lewis to a new term on the Advisory Committee on Education.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA : Mayor Davis asked to add an item of federal legislation to the agenda following the item on state and county legislation. It was moved by Mr. Putens and seconded by Mr. Herling that the agenda be approved as amended. The motion carried 5-0.

PRESENTATIONS

ACE Educator Awards Ceremony : Mayor Davis introduced Advisory Committee on Education (ACE) Chair Jeffrey Morisette, who discussed the purpose of the ACE Awards, gave an overview of ACE's other activities, and described the gifts and certificates to be presented tonight. He said this was the 13 th consecutive year that ACE awards had been presented, and he thanked the City Council for its support over that period. He introduced the other ACE members present: Alla Lake, Jon Gardner, and Theresa Bugg. He also recognized Councilmember Mach as the council liaison to ACE and Wendy Wexler, staff liaison.

The following 2008 award recipients were recognized, and gifts and citations were presented from ACE, the City Council, the County Council, the General Assembly, and the Board of Education:

Greenbelt Elementary School Dara Case – Vocal Music Teacher

Springhill Lake Elementary School Virginia Walker – Before & After Care Coordinator

Magnolia Elementary School Bridgette Johnson – 5 th Grade Teacher

Turning Point Academy Peggy Branch-McCaskill – Secretary II

St. Hugh = s School Susan O'Brien – Librarian & Reading Specialist

Greenbelt Middle School Patricia Perry – International Baccalaureate Coordinator

Eleanor Roosevelt High School Barbara Baker – Vocal Music Teacher/Music Dept. Chair

Presentation of Grants for City Programs : A number of City and community organizations will benefit from grants given this year by County Councilmember Ingrid M. Turner, who announced the awards she was providing to both City government projects and private non-profit organizations. Those going to City government projects included: Greenbelt CARES, $2,000; Advisory Committee on Education, $2,000; Recreation Department (Greenbelt Gets Active), $1,500; and the Greenbelt theater building, $1,000. Mayor Davis thanked her for the level of her support, particularly in light of the stress on the county's budget. Councilmember Turner said she had been disappointed that the budget had been cut in the area that would have supported the School Resource Officer at Eleanor Roosevelt High School and that she hoped to find additional grant money for that item by the end of the fiscal year, even though it was unlikely that the full $20,000 could be found. Mr. Putens complimented Ms. Turner on the breadth and fairness of her support throughout her district, and other Councilmembers expressed their thanks.

PETITIONS AND REQUESTS : William Orleans said he had wished to object to the Advisory Planning Board resolution adopted on the consent agenda but had arrived too late to file a request for oral argument with the City Clerk. The Mayor said Council's action had already been taken on the consent agenda but that he was welcome to make brief comments. He talked about having had his car towed from the area of the Greenbriar Community Building a couple of years ago; he said there are not enough parking places for existing activities and that, at a minimum, cars should not be towed. Mayor Davis replied that the resolution granted a departure related to daytime uses of the building, when there is not the competition for spaces that exists during the evening.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Ms. Mach commented on attending the March Artful Afternoon, a women's history breakfast at Springhill Lake Elementary School, a COG Air Quality Committee meeting, and the NLC Congressional City Conference taking place this week in Washington. She provided information on the Safe Routes to School Program, a partnership between the federal and state departments of transportation that provides funding to communities and schools for items like striping, sidewalks, and improved lighting. She suggested the City look into whether it can support speed cameras.

Mr. Herling said Greenbelt Baseball needs more registrations; their draft is Saturday at McDonald Field at 10 a.m. He said GATE's annual meeting will be at 3 p.m. at the GATE studio.

Mayor Davis noted that the so-called “serial litterer” had struck again over the weekend, dumping newspaper clippings on Crescent Road. She commented on the ATHA annual meeting, the March Artful Afternoon, a briefing provided by Congressman Steny Hoyer on his grant to the Joint Communication Center in Hyattsville, which she attended with Mr. McLaughlin and Capt. Dan O'Neil, a global warming rally in Annapolis, the City Council's mid-term legislative dinner in Annapolis with its state delegation and County Councilmember Dernoga, the women's history breakfast at Springhill Lake Elementary School, the NLC Congressional City Conference, and an Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Steering Committee meeting. She also announced an April 10 deadline for scholarships available from State Senator Pinsky for students from the 22 nd District attending state colleges.

LEGISLATION

A Resolution to Negotiate the Purchase of a Public Restroom to Be Located in Buddy Attick Park with Romtec, Inc., of Roseburg, Oregon, at a Lump Sum Cost of $101,584

The Mayor read the agenda comments. Mr. Putens introduced the resolution for first reading. Ms. Mach asked if Public Works would be installing the facility. Terri Hruby, Assistant Director for Planning, said, no, the vendor had referred them to local contractors. Mr. Roberts expressed concern that there were no local vendors for such a product. He said that having to ship the structure from the west coast nullifies the green benefits being cited. He asked that staff find out what the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge had done on their site prior to the second reading of the resolution.

A Resolution of the City of Greenbelt, Maryland, to Endorse and Participate in the Cool Capital Challenge

Mayor Davis read the agenda comments and introduced the resolution for first reading. She noted that this action was merely a first step in the process and that participating in the Cool Capital Challenge did not affect Greenbelt's ability to join with Cool Cities. She said the Cool Capital Challenge was a regional effort that the Council of Governments was encouraging business, industry, commercial enterprises, and local governments to join. She added that in the big picture, municipalities were playing only a small part in contributing to the problem.

Ed James, 56-D Crescent Road, spoke on behalf of the Recycling & Environment Advisory Committee (REAC), which he said endorsed the resolution but had some concerns, particularly that the deadline being stated for 2008 was overly ambitious. He asked if the resolution would be referred to REAC. Mr. McLaughlin said the resolution itself probably would not come to REAC but that other aspects of the issue would be more appropriate and meaningful for the committee to review: for example, the City's specific plan for contributing to the challenge, or the new management objective he is developing on sustainability for next year. The Mayor added that she could also see REAC taking a role in the education and publicity efforts that would be needed to bring community participation and support for the measures in the future. She thanked Mr. James for coming.

PROPOSAL FOR GREENBELT FARMERS MARKET : The Mayor read the agenda comments. Kim Kash spoke on behalf of the organization and introduced several others who were present. The Mayor asked how many vendors were interested, and Ms. Kash said four were ready to commit and a number of others were interested. She said they could not yet ask for commitments since the plan had not been approved. It was confirmed that the staff criticisms had been resolved. Ms. Kash said vendors would remove their own trash, and Ms. Hruby had suggested that the barricades be left out by Public Works for market staff to put up and remove, as a way of not incurring staff overtime. Mr. Roberts made a motion that the City partner with the Greenbelt Farmers Market, with the commitments they had requested, for a year's period. Mr. Putens seconded the motion.

Mayor Davis provided a lengthy checklist of requirements to be aware of and merchants to talk with, noting particularly that both the Old Greenbelt Theatre and the Greenbelt Arts Center have Sunday matinees. She thanked them for undertaking this project, which she said the community had wanted for a long time. Dorrie Bates spoke on behalf of the Coop Supermarket to confirm their strong support. Mr. Putens and Mr. Herling spoke of the potential for merchant interactions and the other links that might be made. When the vote was taken, the motion carried 5-0.

SELECTION OF AUDIT SERVICES FOR FY 2008 : The Mayor read the agenda comments. Ms. Mach said that continuing to retain Clifton Gunderson for the next audit appeared to be the desirable option and made this motion. Mr. Putens seconded, and the motion carried 5-0.

STATE AND COUNTY LEGISLATION : The Mayor read the agenda comments for the items below, which the City's delegation requested the City Council to consider supporting.

HB 921 - Unauthorized Signs on State Highway Administration Rights-of-Way : It was moved by Mayor Davis and seconded by Mr. Putens that Council support HB 921. Ms. Mach clarified that the municipality may collect up to a $1,000 penalty in addition to any costs it incurs. It was noted that certain exceptions have been added by amendment, including campaign signs and temporary weekend realtor signs. The motion carried 5-0.

HB 684 – Task Force to Study Towing Practices : It was moved by Mr. Putens and seconded by Mr. Herling that Council support HB 684. The motion carried 5-0.

FEDERAL LEGISLATION : Mayor Davis moved that, in support of a request from the NLC, the City send a letter urging the funding of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. Mr. Putens seconded, and the motion carried 5-0.

MEETINGS : Council reviewed the schedule of upcoming meetings, including the budget work session schedule. It was also moved by Mayor Davis and seconded by Mr. Herling to move the June regular Council meetings to the first and third Mondays. The motion carried 5-0.

ADJOURNMENT : A motion to adjourn the meeting was then made by Ms. Mach and seconded by Mr. Putens. The motion carried 5-0. The Mayor adjourned the regular meeting of March 10, 2008, at 10:45 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 March 10, 2008. @

Judith F. Davis

Mayor

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