Weekly Status Report - 1/15/09

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:               City Council

FROM:         David J. Deutsch
                     City Manager

SUBJECT:  Status Report/Council Poll                                 DATE:  January 15, 2009

Status Report

1.  Town Hall Meetings
Listed below is the revised schedule for the 2009 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               October 6

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

2.  Senior Center Coffees with Council
Listed below is the revised schedule for these 10:00 a.m. events:

March 10
June 16
September 22
December 15

3.  Proposed Climate Change Resolution
Attached for Council's information is a draft Climate Change Resolution endorsed by the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) at their November meeting.  At the January 26th City Council Worksession, Chairman Gary Allen of the EAC will make a presentation about the effects of climate change and will provide further details on the Resolution, which was formulated independently by EAC members after the group reviewed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, the Council of Governments' Cool Capital Challenge Resolution, and examples from other communities.  The EAC will be requesting approval of the attached as Council policy.

4.  Economic Development Committee (EDC) 
At the regular meeting for January 2009, the EDC received a briefing from staff on Bowie's existing business base and on the basic ideas and components of business retention programs in general.  They want to consider the topic of business retention for greater examination in their FY 2010 Issues and Work Plan.  They also heard an update on the 2009 Bowie Business Recognition awards to be held May 1, 2009 at the Belair Mansion; the event is jointly sponsored by the City of Bowie and the Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce.  The EDC will hold a special meeting on January 21, 2009 at 7:30 a.m. to hear a briefing on and to discuss implementation of the Bowie Business Incubator.

According to the US Census Bureau’s latest data (for 2006), there are 1,510 businesses employing a total of 18,772 people in the seven Zip Codes that comprise the Bowie area.  Bowie’s business base represents 10% of the total Prince George’s County business base (15,000) and 7% of the total employees (266,938) in the County.  Small businesses abound in Bowie with 820 or 54% having four or fewer employees.  Compare that with the County total, with 7,302 or 49% having four or fewer employees.  Roughly 11% of all County businesses with four or fewer employees are in the Bowie area.

Slightly more than 51% of all Bowie area businesses are south of US Highway 50.  Slightly more than 65% of all Bowie area employment is south of Highway 50.  Keep in mind that “south of Highway 50” includes all of Zip Code 20721 which has more commercial outside the portion within the City limits. 

Building upon last year’s successful first event, the City of Bowie through the EDC and in partnership with the Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce, is sponsoring the 2nd Annual Business Recognition program to be held May 1, 2009.  Nominations are now being sought in the following categories:

Members of the community are encouraged to submit the name of a local business, along with a one page narrative describing why the business is being nominated.  Nominations must be received no later than Friday, March 20, 2009, and should be sent to the City of Bowie, Department of Economic Development, 2614 Kenhill Drive, Bowie, MD 20715.  Inquiries may be directed to the Economic Development Director at jhking@cityofbowie.org.  Businesses selected will be honored at a luncheon at the Belair Mansion on Friday, May 1, 2009.  Tickets for the event will be available from the Chamber of Commerce in the spring.

7.  Code Compliance Update on Fire Damaged Properties
During the past year, seven properties in the City have sustained significant fire induced damage.  The following table provides information regarding the status of those properties.  Be assured that the Code Compliance Division is working diligently with the property owners and/or the Court to return the properties to an acceptable condition.

8.  West New Bridge - Preliminary Plan #4-07102
Today, the County Planning Board held a public hearing on Preliminary Plan #4-07102 to build a new 14,482 square foot multipurpose banquet facility and associated parking, as well as retain an existing 2,600 square foot, two-story building currently used for a catering business.   The site is located at 14207 Old Annapolis Road on the south side, approximately 300 feet east of Woodcliff Road.   The subject property is comprised of 2.76 acres, is zoned C-M (Commercial Miscellaneous), and is located in the Developing Tier.

Staff presented the City’s position letter stating that the Council had recommended approval of the plan with the condition that a Detailed Site Plan be required to address the Spring Meadows HOA concerns regarding on-street parking, noise, event capacity, hours of operation, and public safety issues.  Attorney Mike Nagy, representing the applicant, stated that he had exchanged e-mails with Ms. Utokia Langley of the Spring Meadows HOA regarding the issues, but had not heard back from her since last evening.  City Staff answered some questions regarding the HOA concerns since no HOA representatives were present at the hearing. 

Attorney Nagy noted that many of the HOA concerns regarding public safety and the use of alcohol on the premises could be addressed during the hearing before the liquor board after the applicant applies for a license.  The Planning Board agreed with the County Staff and the applicant that the alcohol and public safety issues raised by the HOA could not be addressed during a Detailed Site Plan.  Commissioner Squire motioned approval of the project with the conditions as presented in the County Staff report and Commissioner Clark seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

DJD/asf

Attachments