REGULAR MEETING OF THE GREENBELT CITY COUNCIL
held Monday, April 27, 2009.
Mayor Davis called the meeting to order at 8:17 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 McLaughlin, City Manager; David E. Moran, Assistant City Manager; Robert Manzi, City Solicitor; and Cindy Murray, City Clerk.
Mayor Davis asked for a moment of silence in memory of resident James M. Williamson and former resident Audrey Zoellner Stewart. She then led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
CONSENT AGENDA: Mayor Davis asked to remove the minutes of the March 30, 2009 work session. It was moved by Mr. Putens and seconded by Mr. Herling that the consent agenda be approved as amended. The motion passed 5-0.
MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS
Work Session, April 6, 2009
Interviews, April 13, 2009
Work Session, April 15, 2009
Approved as presented.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Arts Advisory Board Report #09-001 (Contribution Groups): Council accepted this report, which had been discussed at the budget work session for Contribution Groups.
Community Relations Advisory Board Report #2009-1: Council accepted this report and will discuss it later on the agenda.
Green Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability Report #2009-01: Council accepted this report and agreed to add it to the May 11 agenda.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT INSURANCE TRUST (LGIT) BOARD OF TRUSTEES BALLOT: The City Council authorized the City Clerk to respond affirmatively on LGIT’s four candidates for nomination to the board to serve three-year terms beginning July 1: David E. Carey, John Miller, F. Gary Mullich, and Wilson Parran.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Ms. Mach requested “Appointment to Advisory Group” be added as Item # 20. It was moved by Mr. Putens and seconded by Mr. Herling that the agenda be approved as amended. The motion carried 5-0.
PRESENTATIONS:
Click It or Ticket Month – Proclamation: Click It or Ticket Month, recognized in the month of May, is part of the year-long Maryland Chiefs' Challenge. Mayor Davis presented a proclamation to MPO Scott Kaiser and Lt. David Buerger. MPO Kaiser reported on the numerous traffic safety programs the Police Department will focus on during the next few months.
Playful City USA: Greenbelt has been named a 2008 Playful City USA for the City’s commitment to the value and power of play. The City was one of the founding Playful City USA communities to receive the first awards in 2007. Mayor Davis presented the award to Ms. Mach. Ms. Mach stated that Greenbelt has a playground within walking distance of every person in the City.
Maryland Municipal League (MML)Appreciation Certificates: Ms. Mach announced MML had issued appreciation certificates to Mayor Davis and Joe McNeal, Assistant Director of Recreation, for service on the Board of Directors and to Councilmember Putens for his service on the Convention Committee. She also announced that she had received a certificate for her service on the Communications Committee.
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED FY 2010 BUDGET: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments and announced that the regular meeting was recessed and the public hearing was open. Mr. Lange, 12 Pinecrest Court, said he was speaking on behalf of the Greenbelt Neighbors Alliance (GNA) to request sufficient funds be included in the proposed budget to address changes to the voting system. Mr. McLaughlin said $10,000 was included to cover any changes recommended by Council. Mayor Davis thanked Mr. Lange for his comments. Since no one else asked to speak, the Mayor declared the public hearing to be over.
PETITIONS AND REQUESTS:
Ms. Barber, 16-Z-1 Ridge Road, presented a petition signed by 62 residents requesting the historic entrance sign on Southway be repaired and repainted and a trash can and bench be installed by the bus stop. Mr. McLaughlin said funds are included in the proposed budget for this sign, as well as other signs proposed as part of the gateway sign project.
MINUTES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS:
Work Session of March 30, 2009: Mayor Davis asked to change the words “no tax increase” to “no tax rate increase” in the minutes of the work session of March 30, 2009. With these changes, the minutes were approved 5-0 on a motion by Mayor Davis, seconded by Mr. Herling.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
Mr. McLaughlin announced that Mr. Moran had been named President of the Maryland City and County Management Association.
Mr. Herling commented on the 90th Birthday celebration for Mary Linstrom and the Public Works Open House, Earth Day and Arbor Day events which were attended by all members of Council.
Ms. Mach commented on the annual luncheon of the Golden Age Club, the Celebration of Spring and the graduation ceremony for the Strengthening Families Program at Springhill Lake Elementary School.
Mayor Davis commented on the symposium for the Science and Technology program at Eleanor Roosevelt High School and the Golden Age Club annual luncheon. She also congratulated Jenae Addison and Djavana Cameron, the winners of the Green Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability Earth Day T-Shirt contest.
LEGISLATION
An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 16 “Public Safety Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions” of the
Greenbelt City Code by Adding a New Section 16-4 “Emergency Call Boxes”:
Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Roberts introduced the ordinance for first reading.
community relations advisory board report #2009-1 (peace month): Mayor Davis read the agenda comments.
Mr. Roberts moved that Peace Month be switched from October to June, with the understanding that there is not much time to plan this year’s event. Mr. Herling seconded. The motion passed
5-0.
Bert and Marj Donn, 19 Woodland Way, representing the Prince George’s Peace and Justice Coalition, said they would promote Peace Month this year with Greenbelt groups they already have a connection with, and hope to expand to other groups next year.
Mayor Davis said the City could promote Peace Month also, as part of the planned activities scheduled for Greenbelt Day weekend. Ms. Mach suggested Council issue a Peace Month proclamation.
Council thanked the Community Relations Advisory Board for their report.
empirian village briefing: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments.
Fred Brinn, Senior Vice President for Empirian Village, thanked Council for the opportunity to present their plans for the property. He introduced Empirian Village staff members and contractors present: Sharon Thames, Don Allen, Sandy Christian, Vivian Lowndes, Bill Caprio and Jack Shelby. Mr. Brinn said renovations were being done to improve both the interior and exterior of the units. He also commented on the planned renovation to convert the old Giant training facility into a fitness, play, business, laundry and clubhouse facility. He said their goal is to modernize the property for the benefit of residents.
Mr. Brinn said new individual HVAC units were being installed to allow for residents to have control of heat and air conditioning in their own units. Mayor Davis questioned why the units were placed on balconies. Mr. Shelby said it was determined the safest place for the units was on the balconies, noting units in congregated areas were often damaged and posed safety hazards. Mayor Davis and Ms. Mach questioned the safety hazards of the units placed on balconies.
Mr. Roberts questioned why washers and dryers were not being installed in each unit. Mr. Brinn said the existing plumbing is not sufficient to handle washers in individual units. He commented that with new central laundry facility, there would still be washers and dryers in each of the buildings, but the number of machines will be reduced.
Ms. Thames said that all of the issues raised by Council at the work session on February 4 had been taken under consideration by management. She reported that window guards were now being offered to all residents. Ms. Thames and Ms. Lowndes announced that the first newsletter would be sent in May to all residents in both English and Spanish. They also discussed the work being done on establishing programs for children. Ms. Lowndes said that three laptop computers had been donated by Empirian Village to three seniors from Eleanor Roosevelt High School who will be attending college in the fall.
Mr. Putens asked why the storefronts were being removed. Mr. Caprio noted broken glass from the doors created safety concerns, and were costly to replace. He said he is meeting with Ms. Craze and Mr. Sterling regarding the code issues that must be addressed before proceeding with this work. Mr. Allen noted the individual unit doors were designed for exterior exposure.
Mayor Davis asked the status of Empirian Village’s use and occupancy permit. Mr. Brinn said they are currently operating on a temporary use and occupancy.
Mr. Herling commented on the confusion with similar building numbers and street names within Empirian Village. Mr. McLaughlin said this issue would have to be taken up with the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
Council thanked Mr. Brinn for the briefing. Mayor Davis suggested Empirian Village include a City of Greenbelt flag on one of their flagpoles. Mr. Brinn said Empirian Village would be interested in contributing to the City gateway signage project.
Che Sayles, President of the Greenbelt West Residents Association (GWRA), said residents would like to see more attention focused on modernizing individual units than on the development of new facilities. He also requested management communicate proposed plans to the residents and encouraged them to attend GWRA meetings.
Mr. Orleans, Greenbelt, questioned the number of current code violations. Mr. Brinn said there were over 1,000 violations when Empirian Village purchased the property and the violations were brought down to zero. He said he was unsure of the current number of violations but said they are working to address all violations in a prompt manner.
Mr. Lange, 12 Pinecrest, commented that the Empirian Village discussion was on internal issues only, and issues such as Greenbelt Middle School, transportation, election reform and encouraging residents to become more involved in city activities had not been addressed. Mayor Davis said the briefing this evening was on property updates in Empirian Village but noted the City is working on improving transportation and communications. She said that once a decision on election system reform was made by Council, the City would work with all residents on this issue. Mayor Davis said meetings regarding Greenbelt Middle School were held by the Board of Education.
REPORT ON GREEN CITIES CONFERENCE: Mayor Davis reported on the National League of Cities (NLC) Green Cities Conference and Expo she attended on April 18 – 21st in Portland, Oregon, along with the NLC Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy Steering Committee meeting on April 17 – 18, 2009.
Mayor Davis described Portland’s Sustainability Plan and suggested this may be something Greenbelt should consider. Portland’s plan included the following issues: buildings and energy, land use and mobility, food and agriculture, consumption and solid waste, urban forestry, community engagement, climate change preparations and local government operations.
She commented on the keynote address given by Doug Farr, an architect and author promoting sustainable urbanism, who was featured in a recent National Cities Weekly paper.
Mayor Davis said she brought back many ideas that she would share with the City staff as well as the Green Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability. These ideas include: bike corrals, 20 minute walkability plans, proper thermostat disposal/recycling, energy efficiency block grants, rooftop and balcony gardens, and developing sustainability plans.
She also noted she had attended the Portland Farmers’ Market and would share information she gathered with the Greenbelt Farmers’ Market.
selection of audit services for fy 2009: The Mayor read the agenda comments. Ms. Putens moved the City retain the firm of Clifton Gunderson for audit services for Fiscal Year 2009. Ms. Mach seconded. The motion passed 5-0.
APpointment of councilmember to metropolitan washington council of governments (cog) committee: Mayor Davis read the agenda comments. Mr. Putens moved that Mayor Davis be appointed to the new COG Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee and Ms. Mach be appointed as the alternate. Mr. Herling seconded. The motion passed 5-0.
appointment to advisory groups: Ms. Mach moved to appoint Michele Crosby to the Youth Advisory Committee and Veronica Martin-Frederick to the Advisory Committee on Education. Mr. Putens seconded. The motion passed 5-0.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mayor Davis moved that Council conduct an Executive Session in accordance with Section 10-508 (a) (7) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of the Public General Laws of Maryland to consult with legal counsel. Mr. Putens seconded.
ROLL CALL: Mr. Herling - yes
Ms. Mach - yes
Mr. Putens - yes
Mr. Roberts - yes
Mayor Davis - yes
MEETINGS: Council reviewed the meeting schedule.
ADJOURNMENT: A motion to adjourn the regular meeting was made by Ms. Mach. Mr. Putens seconded. The motion passed 5-0.
Mayor Davis adjourned the regular meeting of Monday, April 27, 2009, at 11:07 p.m. Council then moved into Executive Session in the Library.
Respectfully submitted,
Cindy Murray
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 April 27, 2009.”
Judith F. Davis
Mayor