Weekly Status Report - 2/26/09

MEMORANDUM

TO:               City Council

FROM:         David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT:  Status Report       

DATE:  February 26, 2009

Status Report

1.  Community Use of Days at BCPA

Each year the City of Bowie is allocated 14 priority use dates at the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts (BCPA).  Staff has developed an application process whereby some of these dates may be made available for use by eligible groups when they are not needed for official City use.  The City’s primary goals in making these dates available for use are:

• To provide quality family entertainment at a reasonable cost to the residents of the City of Bowie; and

• To provide a venue for educational events of interest to a significant number of Bowie residents.

Details informing the public how they can apply for these dates will be included in a future issue of the Bowie Spotlight. 

2.  City Exhibits At ICSC Mid Atlantic

On February 18 and 19, the City led an exhibit team with representatives from the  Prince George's County EDC and the City of Laurel at the annual International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Mid Atlantic Idea Exchange at the Washington (DC) Convention Center.  During the one-day exhibit portion of the event, Councilmember Marcos, Planning Director Joe Meinert, and Economic Development Director John Henry King met with retailers, restaurateurs, and others active in retail development.

Our target again this year was grocery stores and other retail tenants to support the efforts of Bowie Plaza, Collington Plaza, Hilltop Plaza, Main Street Market, and Pointer Ridge Plaza.  Two new grocery stores have identified sites in Bowie for their expansion, but both stated that it is not likely they will sign leases until the fourth quarter of 2009 at the earliest as they are waiting to see where the economy is headed.  Other retailers are looking at Bowie; staff will follow-up on all of the inquiries received.   All of  
Bowie's retail centers were actively marketing their properties at this event.

3.  Church Road Park Improvements

Staff is preparing a report for Council which will address the full range of Park improvements being sought by the South Bowie Boys and Girls Club.  The report will contain cost information on those items, as well as an estimate for an expanded parking area.  It is our plan to provide this report to Council one week from today. 

DJD/asf

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