Weekly Status Report - 1/8/09

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:               City Council

FROM:         David J. Deutsch
                     City Manager

SUBJECT:  Status Report/Council Poll                                 DATE:  January 8, 2009

 

Status Report

1.  Town Hall Meetings

Listed below is the tentative schedule for 2009 for the Town Hall Meetings in each of the four Districts.

 District                     Location                                                 Date
District 1                    Huntington Community Center          March 9
District 2                    City Hall                                                  June 8
District 3                    Bowie Senior Center                           September 21
District 4                    Pointer Ridge Elementary School    November 9

All meetings will start at 7:30 p.m.

2.  Senior Center Coffees with Council

Listed below is the tentative schedule for these 10:00 a.m. events:

March 10
June 15
September 22
December 14

3.  Population/Housing Estimates and New Residential Construction Handouts

Attached are the latest updates to the referenced handout material produced by the City's Department of Planning and Economic Development.  The number of residential units in the City increased by only 24 units between 2008-2009 to a new estimated total of 20,711 dwelling units.  The current population estimate is 55,896 people.  New residential construction dropped to one of its lowest levels in the past decade (tying the 2002 figure).

4.  Insurance Values for Water Plant and Wastewater Plant

Attached is a memo from the City’s Risk Manager regarding insurance valuations for the Water and Wastewater Plants.  In October 2008, the Local Government Insurance Trust (LGIT) had a consultant value facilities at the City’s Water and Wastewater Plants and the amounts determined were significantly higher than the City has insured these facilities for in the past.  As a result of these higher valuations, the City would be required to pay $27,974 in additional premium costs.  City staff at the Water and Wastewater Plants has evaluated these proposals and recommends modified insured values for these facilities as shown on the attachment to the memo.  Since the values established by the LGIT consultant have nothing to do with the probability of loss or exposure to perils, and since the value for some of these structures represent the cost of in-ground concrete structures and metal piping that is unlikely to be damaged except by extreme events, staff is planning to apply for a Stated Value Endorsement to have values determined by staff applied to these facilities rather than the values established by the LGIT consultant.  Since the application for the Stated Value Endorsement will require the signature of the Mayor, we wanted to inform Council of this action.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns regarding this action.

5. Police Vehicle Equipment Acquisition and Installation

The Police Department is obtaining a new vendor for the purchase and installation of emergency equipment for their vehicles.  Equipment and installation includes light bars, sirens, vehicle striping, rear prisoner cages, consoles and mountings.  The services are available via an existing St. Mary’s County, MD contract SMC-08-SO-41050 at a cost of $8,493.39 per vehicle.  As provided by Section 62 of the City Charter, this will serve as the required seven (7) day notice of intent to issue a purchase order in the amount of $91,308, which is within budget, to Pelican Mobile. 

6. Green Branch Park

We have heard from M-NCPPC staff that the consultant for this project has indicated there was a slight delay in the schedule provided to the City a year ago (attached).  There were delays in the permit/review process.  The consultant also indicated that the bid will be advertised in mid-February, with construction beginning in mid/late spring 2009.  Phases I and II are fully funded.  Phases III and IV have not been funded, so engineering may not take place as soon as originally expected. 

The following is an itemized list of Park features:

Phases I and II
4 Adult Softball Fields
4 Soccer/Football Combo Fields
1 Lacrosse/Rugby Combo Field
Restroom/Concession Building
4 Small Picnic Shelters
2 Large Group Pavilions
2 Large (Regional) Playgrounds
Parking

Phases III and IV
2 Regulation Baseball Diamonds
1 Outdoor Batting Cage
1 Cricket Field (Regulation); 2 Lacrosse/Rugby Fields will overlay field.
1 Cricket Field (Practice); potential, however not on Master Plan dated 1/30/08.
3 Full Outdoor Basketball Courts
2 Large Picnic Pavilions

Phases III and IV (Conceptual)
Indoor Soccer Complex – M-NCPPC is looking for a public/private partnership.
Skatepark – Initial thoughts are to design and build a “plaza” park.  This type of design is based on an open plaza or urban area, and provides many street elements.  At this point, there are no bowls anticipated.  They want to offer a skatepark that is equally attractive, but provides a unique skating area that does not mirror the City’s.           

Post Construction Phases I – IV
Conceptual Plan for Park Maintenance Facility

M-NCPPC is interested in unique ideas that could be added to the Park in subsequent years, once Phases I – IV are completed.  Staff indicates there remains a good amount of open space on the property, allowing for flexibility for providing future facilities/amenities.  One possible feature being considered is a velodrome, which is a sports arena with a banked oval track for bicycle racing.    

DJD/asf

Attachments