REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2008

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting of the Bowie City Council was held on Monday, October 20, 2008 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Mayor Robinson called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m.

QUORUM

In attendance were Mayor Robinson, Councilmembers Brady, Marcos, Polangin, Trouth and Valentino-Smith; City Manager Deutsch, Assistant City Manager Fitzwater, City Attorney Karen Ruff, Members of the Staff, the Press, and the Public.

The Mayor indicated that Mayor Pro Tem Turner was in Largo representing the City at a School Board meeting and would be late for this meeting.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS/AMENDMENTS

The City Manager added item A. under New Business, a Draft Letter to Kenneth E. Glover, Chair, Prince George’s Hospital Authority.

Mayor Pro Tem Turner, moved with Council approval, Consent Agenda item D. Approval of Resolution R-74-08 Supporting Expansion of the Maryland History Day Participation in Schools in Prince George’s County to New Business, item B. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Trouth and carried unanimously.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION

Mr. Richard Stein, 2712 Filbert Lane, suggested that to reduce the number of lost and stray animals in Bowie the City Council declare the month of December as “Adopt A Homeless Pet Month”. He also suggested that Council encourage residents to adopt a pet from the County shelter or other locally recognized shelter rather than purchasing a pet during the holidays. The Mayor asked staff to handle.

Ms. Elveeda Dixon, Chair of the Diversity Committee, recognized Spanish Heritage Month and Disabilities Awareness Month. She spoke on behalf of Committee member Jennie Guilbaud, who is Latino and a person with a disability. The Hispanic population in Maryland is the 20th largest in the nation, with more than 341,000 residents; this population in Prince George’s County has increased by over 10,000 residents in the past decade. She shared biographical information on Baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente and also recognized Bowie’s Chief of Police Perez. Ms. Dixon mentioned the Americans with Disabilties Act enacted in 1990, and highlighted two distinguished persons with disabilities, David Paterson, Governor of New York and our 32nd President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Ms. Mary Nusser, 3631 Majestic Lane, President of the Bowie High School PTSO thanked Councilmembers Polangin and Trouth for representing the City during the recent Anti-Truancy Walk. The Anti-Truancy Initiative was started in 2005 by then Bowie Contract Officer Corporal Wilson. Since the Bowie Police Department began operation, Deputy Chief Nesky has been involved. Ms. Nusser distributed a map showing the creek that runs behind Bowie High School, along which there has been a problem with assaults, drug dealing, fights, and robberies. The Prince George’s County Police Department and Sheriff’s Department and the Bowie Police Department have been very responsive. About two days after the Anti-Truancy Walk, there was a mass arrest for drug distribution at the creek. In response to a question from Councilmember Valentino-Smith, the City Manager responded that staff has done some preliminary investigation on the issue of fencing around the creek and a report will be provided to City Council.

Ms. Deborah Sell, 2705 Birdseye Lane, spoke about the recent CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Walk she participated in. Church World Services presented a walking stick to communities organizing walks; there are peace bells on it representing the 11 years that Bowie has participated. Online donations may be made until the end of the year at www.cropwalkonline. Bowie receives 25% of the money raised, which has historically gone to the Bowie Interfaith Pantry and Emergency Aid Fund. They are partnering with Bowie High School to get teenage volunteers for the Capital Area Food Bank on the third Saturday of each month.

Mr. Tony Young, 12016 Long Ridge Lane, spoke about Bowie’s Senior Center which he feels is one of Bowie’s greatest assets. Mr. Young volunteers at the reception desk and noted that the Center staff is terrific. He noted the Center is about to seek national accreditation. Mr. Young extended his thanks to the City administration.

CITY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

Councilmember Polangin moved appointment of Mr. John Gabel as a regular member of the Environmental Advisory Committee; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

Councilmember Brady moved appointment of Ms. Girale Takahashi as a regular member of the Bowie Arts Committee; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner and carried unanimously.

Councilmember Marcos moved appointment of Ms. Kimberly LeBlanc as a regular member of the Economic Development Committee; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Trouth and carried unanimously.

Mayor Robinson swore Mr. Gabel and Ms. LeBlanc into office in accordance with Sec. 92A of the City Charter.

CONSENT AGENDA

Mayor Pro Tem Turner moved approval of the following Consent Agenda items: A) Approval of Minutes of October 6, 2008 Council Meeting; B) Approval of Resolution R-72-08 Approving the Fourth Amendment to Option to Lease Agreement and Memorandum of Fourth Amendment to Option to Lease Agreement Between the City of Bowie and Crown Castle Atlantic Company LLC to Extend the Cellular Equipment Lease at Jericho Park Located Off Jericho Park Road; C) Approval of Resolution R-73-08 Waiving the Competitive Bidding Requirement of Section 61 of the Charter of the City of Bowie by Two Thirds Vote and Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract with Paris Designs, Inc. for Consulting and Fabrication Services to Construct a Permanent History Exhibit at the Bowie Railroad Museum; E) Approval of Resolution R-75-08 Awarding a Contract for the Repair of Gutters, Slate Shingle Replacements, and New Snow Cleats at the Belair Stables Museum to Citiroof Corp.; and F) Approval of Resolution R-76-08 Accepting Bid Proposal for Four Replacement Doors at the Water Plant. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Trouth and carried unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

A. Resolution R-71-08 – Adopting a Traffic Calming Program. City Manager Deutsch noted that two weeks ago, staff presented an overview of traffic calming status. Council had included funds in the FY09 Budget and staff had been working toward moving forward with a program initially focused on speed humps in a couple of areas. After significant research, staff found that the program guidelines that Prince George’s County has were among the best seen in a review that was conducted of not just area municipalities and jurisdictions but those across the country, and staff thought it would be appropriate to adopt those guidelines to provide a framework for a City traffic calming program. A draft Resolution to adopt that program was brought to Council two weeks ago, and Council suggested at that time to come back with the Resolution for the actual adoption of the program during tonight’s meeting.

The Resolution before Council merely indicates that speeding is a problem and adopts the guidelines of the County’s Neighborhood Traffic Management Program; a copy of the staff report dated October 15, 2008 is on file at City Hall. If Council acts favorably, it will give staff the direction needed to move toward implementation. As in the case of Pin Oak Parkway, Public Works Director Henrikson would begin to initiate discussions with the neighbors to actually see whether the City gets the support from the majority of the residents there for speed humps in their neighborhood. The outcome is unpredictable, but staff will be able to give those residents the opportunity to participate in that decision.

The traffic calming program has a number of elements, all of which in one form or another are ongoing. Traffic enforcement has been stepped up since the City has its own Police Department. The Police Department expects to launch a traffic safety unit with at least two officers in January 2009. Two electronic speed signs that Council authorized in the Budget have been installed. A Speed Awareness Day was held on Pin Oak Parkway and staff expects to hold another one at a different location shortly. On two or three streets, the City has installed lane edge striping to narrow the street with the intended result of lowering speed by at least two miles per hour and this has worked. City Manager Deutsch noted that this program will need constant attention and staff will continue to report to Council. Staff knows that there will continue to be significant community interest. Mr. Deutsch urged Council’s adoption of R-71-08 so staff can begin the program on Pin Oak Parkway.

Public Hearing:

Monica James, 13101 Idlewild Drive, Chair of the Public Safety Committee addressed the Council; she acknowledged the presence of Committee members Rich O’Brien and Kelly Anderson. In September 2007, the Public Safety Committee presented to Council a proposal for a traffic safety study; the proposal stated three objectives: (1) identify major existing traffic safety hazards and options for corrective action; (2) insure that the City benefits from the full range of traffic safety best practices available; and (3) provide Bowie residents with a transparent and predictable system for reporting traffic safety hazards and anticipating the City’s response. The Committee understands that R-71-08 addresses the need for a process for citizen input by emulating the County’s Neighborhood Traffic Management Program.

Ms. James noted that the Committee also recommended in September 2007 that the City should solicit citizen input for a Citywide traffic safety review. For that reason, the Committee understood Councilmember Brady’s call for a traffic safety summit and Councilmember Valentino-Smith’s recommendation for citizen input on her recommendations for traffic calming measures. Ms. James went on to say that the Committee remains concerned however that the City would greatly benefit from a more comprehensive approach than is now being contemplated. Therefore, the Public Safety Committee respectfully requests an opportunity to return before the Council on November 3rd to present a formal comment by the Committee based on their research on these relevant issues.

Mayor Robinson thanked the Public Safety Committee for working with staff and the community.

Councilmember Trouth mentioned an email (discussed at the October 13th Special Meeting) received from City resident Mary Van Duyne regarding two recent accidents that occurred at Belair Drive and Stonybrook Drive. City Manager Deutsch noted that both accidents were single vehicle accidents and both drivers were intoxicated; cannot assume that any specific physical traffic calming measures could have prevented those accidents. Mr. Deutsch indicated that staff needs to get updated traffic data on Belair Drive to respond to the resident.

Responding to Councilmember Valentino-Smith, City Manager Deutsch indicated he will provide Council with statistics from the Police Department on speed enforcement. He indicated that the Police Chief is now working on a quarterly report that will contain some of that detail.

City Manager Deutsch said staff needs to spend some time with the Public Safety Committee, discussing what their vision is and sharing data that City staff has so we can move forward together.

Responding to a question from Councilmember Trouth, Public Safety Committee Chair James indicated she would like for the Committee to have an opportunity to review and comment on the County’s Neighborhood Traffic Management Program. City Manager Deutsch indicated that the document was sent to the Committee Chair and noted that it can also be accessed on the City’s website.

City Manager Deutsch indicated staff will provide to Council, as requested by Mayor Pro Tem Turner, the locations where speed trailers have been placed and for what length of time.

Councilmember Marcos requested the speed awareness trailer be set up in Old Town and around Rocklege Elementary School in the near future.

Councilmember Brady said he’s looking forward to input from colleagues on the traffic safety summit, perhaps focusing less on infrastructure and more on attitude and education.

Following questions posed by members of Council and discussion, Councilmember Valentino-Smith moved that Council adopt R-71-08 Adopting a Traffic Calming Program and indicated that Council looks forward to the Public Safety Committee reporting back to them. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Brady and carried unanimously.

Mayor Robinson thanked the Public Works Director for the engineering studies and acknowledged the enforcement being done by the Police Department.

Councilmember Valentino-Smith requested an update from staff on whether any of the pedestrian areas identified in the City’s March 2008 letter have received attention from Prince George’s County.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Draft Letter to Mr. Ken Glover, Chair of the Prince George’s Hospital Authority. Mayor Robinson highlighted contents of the letter. The letter basically thanks the Hospital Authority for its efforts and expresses the City’s interest in making sure the process continues; expresses concern about keeping the Bowie Health Campus open as an emergency and non-emergency facility; that the buyer be committed to investing in the long-term viability of that facility and be willing to make improvements and upgrades to the facility; and as part of the buyer(s) long-term vision for the Health Center, a willingness to explore the possibility of implementing the Certificate of Need and making the Bowie Health Center a 100-bed, 24-hour, full service medical care facility.

Mayor Pro Tem Turner moved approval of the letter; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Trouth and carried unanimously.

B. Resolution R-74-08 – Supporting the Expansion of Maryland History Day Participation in Schools in Prince George’s County. Councilmember Brady moved approval of Resolution R-74-08; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner and carried by a vote of 6-0-1 (Turner abstaining).

Mayor Pro Tem Turner noted that his reason for moving this Resolution from the Consent Agenda to New Business was that he learned today that he may work on this in his County position, so therefore consistent with Council’s ruling, he recused himself from the vote on this item.

ADJOURNMENT

Mayor Pro Tem Turner moved to adjourn; the motion was seconded by Councilmember Brady and carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:21 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Anne S. Ford
Acting City Clerk