Weekly Status Report - 2/19/09

MEMORANDUM

TO:               City Council

FROM:         David J. Deutsch
                     City Manager

SUBJECT:  Status Report                               DATE:  February 19, 2009

Status Report

1. City Hall Building Permit

The architect for the City Hall project filed for the building permit with Prince George’s County for this project on February 10th.  We are working to have this permit issued by July 2009.

2. Cooperative Purchase

The Council of Governments has decided to exercise its option to renew, for up to six months, the current gasoline contract which expires on February 28, 2009. The current vendor is Truman Arnold Company and the price for unleaded regular gasoline in truck transport quantities, as of February 16, 2009 is $1.434 per gallon.  As with other fuel purchases, the price will increase or decrease during the first and third week of each month based on the published Oil Price Information Sheet (OPIS) price.

The City Charter requires the City Council be given seven days notice prior to entering into a purchase agreement of this type.  This contract will be in effect through August 31, 2009.

3.  House Bill 1182

On Friday, February 13th, Delegate Sheila Hixson (District 20) introduced House Bill 1182.  The bill contains language that is detrimental to local governments by limiting their franchise negotiation rights and in essence creating an “umbrella State franchise agreement” to be negotiated by the Public Service Commission.  This bill not only affects the rights municipalities and counties have to negotiate franchise agreements, but it will affect the franchise fees and PEG fees that we receive from Comcast and Verizon.  This bill will hurt cities and counties across Maryland at a time when they can least afford it.  House Bill 1182 appears to be a bold attempt by state government to pre-empt local government’s authority to negotiate cable franchise contracts that ensure customer service standards, proper use of public rights-of-way and the collection of franchise fees.  Staff has been working closely with the County, many area jurisdictions and NATOA to decipher all of the elements of the bill.  PGCMA, MML and MACO have all been alerted.  We will keep Council updated on the progress of this bill. 

DJD/adf

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