Staff Report

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2010

CALL MEETING TO ORDER:

            The Regular Meeting of the Bowie City Council was held on Monday, August 2, 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, 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.   Councilmember Polangin could not be present.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG:

            The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.  

AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS/AMENDMENTS:

            Councilmember Turner requested that the draft letter regarding testimony before the Public Service Commission be added to New Business for discussion.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION:

            A.  Mr. Babatunde Alegeleye, member of the Diversity Committee, spoke about the celebration of freedom during the month of July and noted it is the month in which we mark America's independence according to history.  He added that with freedom comes responsibility because a lot of people have given their lives for each of us to call America "The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave".

            B.  Ms. Deborah Sell, 12906 Crickmore Trace, spoke about an out-of-state organization called "Noewait"; the organization's purpose is to try to end the wait list for adults with disabilities throughout the country; they are trying to get the State Legislature to add ten cents to the alcohol tax so that adults with disabilities can gain services.

COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

            Mayor Robinson announced that National Night Out is scheduled for August 3 at Allen Pond Park and urged all to attend.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT:

            City Manager Deutsch reported on the following items: 1) Speed Camera Program - Since the initial installation and after the 30 day grace period, almost 11,000 tickets have been issued; staff is hopeful that the installations will have an impact of lowering speeds in school zones.  He reported that as far as revenue is concerned, motorists pay a $40 fine, the company managing the program gets a portion and the City gets the majority; $90,367 has been collected as of last Friday; there have been several repeat offenders.  Mr. Deutsch further reported that the City has requested permission from the State to install cameras on Rte. 197 near Rockledge Elementary School and on Rte. 450 near Bowie High School; staff is working with SHA along with contractors and are hopeful installations will occur within 1-2 months.  He said a draft letter to the County Executive has been placed before Council which addresses the third jurisdictional component which is County roads, namely Race Track Road and Old Chapel Road; the message from the County officials that the earliest a program would be implemented if at all would be 2012.  He suggested that Council endorse the letter which suggests an alternate approach of rather than waiting, allow the City to install the cameras at these two locations and if at such time the County develops and implements a program, the proposal is that the City would cede those locations to the County.  Council concurred with adding the draft letter to the agenda under New Business.

2)  MML Resolution - Council received a draft resolution from the Maryland Municipal League which addresses the difficult revenue situation that cities have found themselves in over the last several years; staff proposes that Council give direction to modify the draft resolution and bring it back on September 7 for action; the resolution would then be transmitted to the 23rd District Delegation and the Governor.  Council concurred that staff proceed with modifying the resolution and transmittal to the State.

            3)  City Hall Project - The project is 45% complete; there is significant and visible progress inside the facility; structural steel, elevated concrete decks and exterior metal studs have been completed; the next sequence of exterior work is masonry veneer brick and block, curtain wall glazing and roofing; interior work includes ductwork, plumbing, sprinklers, and electrical; all site utilities are almost finished and parking lot paving is expected in a couple of weeks. 

CONSENT AGENDA:

              Mayor Pro Tem Marcos moved approval of Consent Agenda Items: A. Approval of Minutes of July 6, 2010 Council Meeting; B. Approval of Resolution R-47-10, Accepting Bid for the Purchase of Five (5) Refuse Trucks; C. Approval of Resolution R-48-10, Supporting the Projects and Participation of the Patuxent Riverkeeper in the State of Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's Community Investment Tax Credit Program (CITC); D. Approval of Resolution R-49-10, Awarding a Contract for Multipurpose Room Ceiling Repairs, Lighting Improvements and Miscellaneous Drywall Repair and Painting at the Bowie Senior Center; E. Approval of Resolution R-50-10, Accepting the Streets and Appurtenances at Ashleigh Station II Constructed Under Permit P-1-0607 and Releasing the Construction Securities Required Therewith.  F. Approval of Letter re: Federal Capital Improvement (FCIP) CSX Railroad Realignment NEPA Studies; and G. Introduction of Ordinance O-7-10, Amending the Adopted Budget for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2010, and Ending June 30, 2011, As Embodied in Ordinance O-3-10, As Amended, for the Purpose of Funding Senior Citizens Housing Rehabilitation and "Green" Technologies Demonstration Program.  Councilmember Brady seconded the motion and it carried unanimously by those members of the Council present.

NEW BUSINESS:

            A.  City Transportation Priority List - Mr. Joseph Meinert, Planning Director, summarized the staff report dated July 29, 2010, a copy of which is on file at City Hall; the staff report identifies the stages of the transportation improvement process.  He reported that under the State Transportation Projects, the U.S. 301 South Corridor is included under Right-of-Way Acquisition Projects, MD 450 from Stonybrook Drive to west of MD 3 is included under Design and Engineering Projects, and the U.S. 301/MD 197 interchange, MD 3, from MD 450 to Anne Arundel County line, and MD 197, from US 50 to MD 450 Relocated is included under Project Planning.  Mr. Meinert said it is staff recommendation that Council continue to advocate for of these projects.  He said that other categories reported in the staff report are the County Transportation Project which includes Mount Oak Road/Church Road/Woodmore Road intersection which is now under construction, the upgrading of the Horsepen Branch Pumping Station Trail Facility property, and funding for year two of the Collington Branch Stream Valley Park Hiker-Biker Trail; also, there are a number of projects on County rights-of-way.  Mr. Meinert reported that the Council has sent a letter to the County Executive in the past and recommended a number of numbers be added consistent with past City police which included a number of road projects; there has been a recommendation from Council in the past to upgrade the transit system in Bowie in accordance with the County's five-year Transit Service and Operation Plan; the staff recommendation is to continue to support those priorities; a draft letter will be provided to Council that can be sent to County and State officials.

            In response to a question posed by Councilmember Turner, Mr. Meinert said it was staff's recommendation to recycle the letter from last year.

            Councilmember Valentino-Smith asked about the proposed roadway connection from Bowie State University to Route 301.  Mr. Meinert replied that it is #6 on Page 2 of the staff report under Project Planning and it is staff's recommendation to add an amendment to last year's letter asking the County to take the next step and begin studies of the alignment working with Anne Arundel County.

            Councilmember Brady moved to approve the staff recommendation.  Councilmember Turner seconded the motion.

            Councilmember Trouth asked that the 3 items listed under Project Planning, as well as Item 6 mentioned by Councilmember Valentino-Smith, be formally added to the letter and that the items be moved to the Design and Engineering phase.  Council concurred and the motion as amended passed unanimously by those members of the Council present.

            B.  Solid Waste Collection Options - City Manager Deutsch reported that about a year ago when cuts in State funding were made, staff had prepared a memorandum for Council looking at ways for cost containment; one suggestion of the potential for cost saving was to examine once-a-week collection and look at what the results of such an examination might be; the Environmental Advisory Committee included a similar examination in its recommendations to Council in January; the report has been prepared.

            Mr. Jim Henrikson, Public Works Director, summarized the staff report dated July 29, 2010, a copy of which is on file at City Hall.  He said staff looked at costs and benefits.  He summarized personnel, equipment and fuel uses.  He reviewed the other jurisdictions of Rockville and Hyattsville that have switched to once-a-week pickups.  Mr. Henrikson summarized by saying that an analysis performed of the costs and benefits of switching to once-a-week trash pickup revealed that the potential cost savings appear relatively small; the only incentive to increase recycling would be to provide large recycling carts to residents and staff recommends that the focus be on analyzing the costs and benefits of providing large recycling cart program city-wide; if the program works in Bowie like it has in other jurisdictions, it would increase recycling significantly without undue inconvenience to residents.  He felt this would be preferable rather than trying to increase recycling by implementing a once-a-week trash pickup program which would likely disrupt the regular trash collection service of all Bowie residents.

            Mr. Deutsch said it is staff's recommendation to continue with the implementation of the test program with the large carts for recycling; do not feel that there is enough data for a shift to once-a-week refuse pickup.

            Mr. Gary Allen, Chairman of the Environmental Advisory Committee, spoke on the subject matter.  A copy of Mr. Allen's statement is attached.

            Following comments from Councilmembers, Councilmember Turner moved to accept the staff recommendation to continue with the implementation of the test program.  Councilmember Brady seconded the motion and it carried unanimously by those members of the Council present.

            C.  City Council Participation In Leadership Training Programs - Councilmember Turner said he had expressed his interest in participating in the Leadership Prince George's Program, which is a 9 month training program for a variety of community leaders.  He received notification that he has been accepted for the class of 2010-2011 which begins in September.  He has received some financial support from County Councilmember Ingrid Turner and the Prince George's County YMCA.  Mr. Turner said he was seeking the balance of $1250 from the City; in return, he would forgo participation in the Maryland Municipal League activities in the upcoming fiscal year and substitute the opportunity to participate in the leadership training program.

            Councilmember Brady expressed his support for Mr. Turner participating in this program; however, he was finishing a similar training program at his place of employment and believed that this is not an item that City taxpayers should be paying for; the training program is tied to Mr. Turner's primary job and is designed to benefit his employment at the County.   Mr. Brady then read a statement into the record from Councilmember Polangin who said she could not support Councilmember Turner's request.  She noted that she had paid for training sessions she had taken out of her own pocket. 

            Councilmember Trouth said he was in support of Mr. Turner's request.  He felt it would give additional information to bring back to the Council.  He did not feel that Mr. Turner should forego participation in the Maryland Municipal League activities.

            Mayor Pro Tem Marcos believed there is a benefit for attending the Maryland Municipal League conference; not sure taxpayer money should be used for certain training programs that might appear to be of benefit Councilmembers on a personal level.  He felt it was all right for the MML costs to be substituted for this particular training program.

            Councilmember Valentino-Smith asked several questions about employee training.  Mr. Deutsch explained that employee training has to be approved by the City Manager.   Ms. Valentino-Smith said she believed that the Leadership Training Program should be looked at to determine the benefit that it has.  She felt that acting this evening without having a set of criteria is premature.   She suggested this item be tabled and appropriate criteria for Council be established.

            Councilmember Valentino-Smith then moved to table action on the subject item until the September 7 Council meeting.  Councilmember Brady seconded the motion and it carried unanimously by those members of the Council present.

            D.  Draft Letter Re: Testimony Before the Public Service Commission - Mayor Robinson said that the letter contains language about the positive improvements in terms of electric reliability, tree removal, underground feeder improvements, the role of the PSC, where improvement is needed, tree reimbursement program, stump removal program, tree work along rights--of-way, aesthetic impact on residents yards, and discusses the outstanding issues that remain.

            Councilmember Valentino-Smith expressed concerns that there were some issues that BGE had not resolved.   Councilmember Turner asked that the follow-up email that was sent to BGE be attached to the letter so that the issues not resolved are included in the testimony. 

            Mayor Pro Tem Turner moved to approve the letter and to include the follow-up email as an attachment.  Councilmember Trouth seconded the motion and it carried unanimously by those members of the Council present.

            E.  Draft Letter Re: Speed Cameras on County Roads Within the City - Councilmember Turner moved to approve the letter to the County Executive regarding placement of speed cameras on County roads in Bowie.  Councilmember Brady seconded the motion and it carried unanimously by those members of the Council present.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mayor Pro Tem Marcos moved to adjourn the meeting and move into an Executive Session for the purpose of discussing a property matter with counsel.  Councilmember Brady seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:47 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Pamela A. Fleming, MMC
City Clerk