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REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010

 

CALL MEETING TO ORDER:

            The Regular Meeting of the Bowie City Council was held on Monday, April 19, 2010 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 Turner, and Valentino-Smith; City Manager Deutsch, Asst. City Manager Fitzwater, City Attorney Robert Levan, City Clerk Fleming, Members of the Staff, the Press and the Public.   

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG:

            The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.  

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION:

            A.  Mr. Tony Slaughter, resident of the Buckingham section, spoke about hiring of illegal aliens.

PRESENTATIONS:

            A.   Proclamation P-7-10 - Declaring May 2010 As Business Appreciation Month in Bowie - Councilmember Valentino-Smith read and moved approval of P-7-10.  Mayor Pro Tem Marcos seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.   Ms. Valentino-Smith presented the proclamation to Mr. Boyd Campbell, Chairman of the Bowie Economic Development Committee and Ms. Kelly Pierce, Executive Director of the Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce.  Mr. Campbell thanked the Council for the recognition and for the Council's support of the EDC.

            B.  Teacher of the Month Recognition - Dr. Dawn Brodus-Yougha, Chairperson of the Education Committee, said the Committee would like to thank BBT Bank for donating a $100 Savings Bond and Main Street Caterers who provided a lunch for the Teachers of the Month and Principals.  She then announced the Teacher of the Month for February is Sarah Earwicker from Old Chapel Early Childhood Center.  Mayor Pro Tem Marcos presented a Certificate of Recognition from the City as well as the Savings Bond from BBT Bank to Ms. Earwicker and congratulated her on behalf of the Council.

            Dr. Brodus-Yougha then announced the Teacher of the Month for March is Lynn Moreno from Kenilworth Elementary School.  Councilmember Polangin presented a Certificate of Recognition and the Savings Bond to Ms. Moreno and congratulated her on behalf of the entire Council.

CITY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES:

            Councilmember Valentino-Smith moved the appointment of Ms. Aundrea McCall as a member of the Education Committee.  Councilmember Brady seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

            Mayor Robinson swore Ms. McCall into office in accordance with Sec. 92A of the City Charter.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT:

            City Manager Deutsch reported that speed camera enforcement has begun on Northview Drive; in accordance with state law, there is a 30-day period in which warning notices will be given; following the 30 days, motorists who exceed the speed limit by 12 mph will receive a citation which will cost $40; the program operates 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Mr. Deutsch said Council will be kept informed as the program moves ahead.  In response to a question posed by Councilmember Turner, Mr. Deutsch said the program is in effect in accordance with the posted speed limit at the time; for example, there are set times for the flashing signals to be operating indicating a school zone with a lower limit of 20 mph; during those times someone exceeding the limit by 12 mph will be subject to an enforcement action; at the rest of time the stated speed limit will be in effect.

CONSENT AGENDA:

              Mayor Pro Tem Marcos moved approval of Consent Agenda Items: A. Approval of Minutes of April 12, 2010 Council Meeting; B. Approval of Proclamation P-8-10, Proclaiming the Month of May 2010 "Poppy Month"; C. Approval of Proclamati0n P-9-10, Declaring May As National Bike Month; D. Approval of Proclamation P-10-10, Proclaiming May 21, 2010 As Bike to Work Month in Bowie; E. Approval of Letters Re: FY 2011 Prince George's County Budget; F. Approval of Letter Re: County Bill CB-16-2010 (Land Use Authority); and Approval of Proclamation P-11-10, Proclaiming April 22, 2010 As Earth Day in Bowie and Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the First Earth Day.  Councilmember Brady seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS:

            A.  Ordinance O-3-10 - Approving and Adopting a Budget for the Fiscal year Beginning July 1, 2010 and Ending June 30, 2011 -

Public Hearing:

            1.  Ms. Rebecca Neilson, 4514 Oaklyn Lane, spoke in favor of a stand alone animal shelter and spoke about a budget for the shelter.

            2.  Ms. Agnes Bowersox, 3429 Memphis Lane, presented letters for the record which had been collected from residents in support of an animal shelter.

            3.  Ms. Jill Hochman, 6202 Gideon Street, spoke about forming a standing committee on pet and animal welfare.

            4.  Mr. Michael Semeniuk, 13913 Amberly Court, expressed his support for the animal shelter and described what the dimensions should be.

            B.  Resolution R-22-10 - Adopting a Capital Improvement Program for the Fiscal Years 2011-2016 - Since there were no persons signed up to speak, Mayor Robinson declared the public hearing to have been held.

            Mayor Robinson announced that because of illness in the family he would be turning the meeting over to Mayor Pro Tem Marcos at this point.

NEW BUSINESS:

            A.  Legislative Update - Mr. Leonard Lucchi, City Lobbyist, presented a report on legislative actions of interest to the City of Bowie, a copy of which is attached. 

            B.  Non-Profit Capital Matching Grants - City Manager Deutsch summarized the staff report dated January 28, 2010, a copy of which is on file at City Hall.  He provided some background and reported that Council has a program that was funded to provide matching grants for local non-profits; staff solicited applications and received a response from the community; there is $10,000 in the current budget and the funds allocated in 2009 were not spent so Council could conceivably go to $20,000 if Council chooses to go forward.  The Council, because of economic and budgetary implications, can choose not to move forward and scrap the program.   Mr. Deutsch said if the program is implemented, staff has recommended 3 recipients:  The Bowie Lions Club, the Gabriel Network and ARC of Prince George's County; each of the 3 organizations has a facility in the community that would be improved and would match their own organizational expenditures by using the allocations. 

            Since there were no persons signed up to speak, Mayor Robinson declared the public hearing to have been held.

            Following discussion, Councilmember Turner moved to direct staff to go forward with $5,000 in FY 10, retain $5,000 for FY 11 for continuation of program and new applications, and to reduce the recipients to the two top recommended recipients noted in the staff report.  Councilmember Trouth seconded the motion and it carried unanimously by those members of the Council present:  Marcos, Brady, Polangin, Trouth, Turner and Valentino-Smith.

            C.  Use of Old City Hall - Mr. Larry Pierce, Director of the Community Services Department, summarized the staff report dated April 14, 2010, a copy of which is on file at City Hall.   He reported the staff report recommends keeping a municipal presence at the existing City Hall which would allow the City to keep ownership of the property, keeps a significant asset within the control of the City, satisfies the surrounding neighbors since the current use does not change, allows for the future expansion of the City and community services in the unused portion, creates design flexibility, and helps prevent vandalism by maintaining occupancy.  He said that ads were placed in the media and the Spotlight about this process and many suggestions were received from many groups and organizations; none of the suggested uses would result in additional revenue to the City.    Mr. Pierce then reported that the Youth Services Bureau, City Studio, Comcast Cable, and the Multipurpose Room for large meetings will remain at the existing City Hall; staff recommends that the approval of new uses at this location be done slowly and with considerable discussion; the first step is to reposition the existing services in the building and to consolidate the uses into one main hallway.  Mr. Pierce referred to the colored map attached to the staff report which clearly indicates what areas are to be used and in what manner.

            Councilmember Brady submitted emails he had received from constituents for the record which provided some suggested uses. 

            In response to several questions posed by Councilmember Turner, Mr. Pierce said there are no funds allocated and the goal is to address a major space problem in Youth Services, take care of a City division, create foot traffic pattern in the main hall rather than having it scattered and turn down the thermostats in the sections not being used; the multipurpose room needs to be kept open because there is no other place that holds the number of people needed in one place, and there will be 7 other rooms available for meetings; staff is looking for revenue for the City as well.

            Councilmember Valentino-Smith voiced her concern of running two municipal buildings, and felt more review and design could be made in terms of what could be done with the current building to anticipate future costs.  She said she continued to be an advocate for a review of new, creative municipal services and to look at whether or not to develop the back of the building to accommodate the indoor facility need that groups have indicated is needed.

            Mayor Pro Tem Marcos said he was sure the community is relieved to know that this building will stay as a City-run building. 

ADJOURNMENT:

Councilmember Brady moved to adjourn the meeting.  Councilmember Trouth seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:29 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Pamela A. Fleming, MMC
City Clerk