Status Report - 3/12/09

 

TO:               City Council

FROM:         David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT:  Status Report/Council Poll                 DATE:  March 12, 2009

 

Status Report

1.  Swearing-in of Police Officers

The following officers will be sworn in at your meeting Monday night: 

Private First Class Raford Moten of Baltimore was previously a member of the Baltimore City Police Department for 10 years.

Private First Class Mark Polk of Bowie was previously a member of the Baltimore City Police Department for 21 years.

Private Christopher Grimshaw of Crofton is an October 2008 graduate of the Prince George’s Community College Municipal Police Academy.

Private Andrew Thomas of Bowie is a May 2008 graduate of the Anne Arundel Community College Police Academy.

Private Michael Rounds of Bowie is a February 2009 graduate of the Howard County Police Academy.

Private Sean Schwartz of Bowie is a February 2009 graduate of the Howard County Police Academy.

Private Arie Neal of Crofton is an October 2008 graduate of the Prince George’s County Community College Municipal Police Academy.

The Police Department is now at full staffing of 45 authorized officers.

2.  BGE Final Open House

BGE will be hosting their fourth and final Open House pertaining to the improvements to the electric system in Bowie on Thursday, April 2, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room at City Hall.  Work planned for the areas impacted by this work will be vegetation management only.  As at prior events, BGE will have a series of information areas throughout the room with BGE staff at each area to discuss with residents the planned improvements.  Individual letters will be mailed by BGE to residents directly affected by this phase of improvements to make them aware of the Open House.  The areas affected are:

• Feeder 7436 – Forest Hills/Longleaf
• Feeder 7437 – Idlewild/Bowie Forest
• Feeder 7438 – Victoria Heights/Yorktown/Overbrook/Chapel Forge/Belair Town
• Feeder 7444 – Amber Meadows/Lake Village Manor/Oak Pond/Oak Tree/Mitchellville 
  

3.  Bowie 2009 Median Household Income Compared to Columbia and Annapolis

                                       2001              2005                2009
Bowie Area
ZIP Codes

20715                         $75,718          $86,464          $88,518
20716                         $72,587          $83,314          $88,397
20720                         $80,190          $96,611          $104,369
20721                         $85,240          $108,693       $122,133

Columbia Area ZIP Codes

21044                         $77,198          $83,205          $90,645
21045                         $79,170          $79,794          $94,440
21046                         $81,419          $86,978          $97,572

Annapolis Area ZIP Codes

21401                         $71,353          $75,629          $76,385
21402                         $51,195          $65,984          $72,136
21403                         $62,573          $69,831          $77,349

The 2001 data are extrapolated from City developed information.
The 2005 and 2009 numbers are from ESRI Tapestry data found at http://www.esri.com/data/esri_data/tapestry.html and are as of March 5, 2009. This analysis was prepared by the Economic Development Director.

4.  MD 197 Update (Kenhill Drive to MD 450)

This week, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) mailed public notice postcards to over 10,000 homes in the project corridor to advertise the upcoming Open House on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. and the City Council Public Hearing on April 6, 2009 for the MD 197 Project Planning Study.  In response to comments from City Council and the community, SHA developed a modified section using the 4-lane Divided Alternative previously shown at public meetings.  The new design proposal includes a narrower median (12 feet vs. 20 feet), a new 5-foot sidewalk along the entire western side of the corridor, and retention of the 16-feet wide "bicycle compatible" outside travel lanes.  The existing full-movement intersection at Faith Lane/Lyle Lane is recommended to be modified by extension of the MD 197 median, which will result in right-in/right-out traffic movements only.  (Traffic Levels-of-Service actually improve slightly at that intersection.)  A separate outbound right-turn lane is provided on Kenhill Drive at MD 197, and left turns will be maintained at the MD 197 intersection with Long Ridge Lane/Tulip Grove Drive, although the traffic Level-of-Service decreases slightly there.  A copy of the modified plan proposal has been posted on the City's website.  Please contact the Planning Department for further information.     

5.  Economic Development Committee (EDC)

The Bowie EDC held their regular meeting Wednesday morning.  Preparation for the May 1 Business Recognition Awards ceremony and luncheon is underway.  Nominations of awardees are due to the City or the Greater Bowie Chamber by March 20.  Details are available on the City's website.

The EDC also received a briefing on leasing and project activity at Melford from Planning Director Joe Meinert and St. John Properties representatives Rick Williamson, the Senior Vice President of Leasing, and Bill Holzman, the Director of Retail Leasing.  Most of the office and flex buildings are leased to at least 90% and they continue to prospect for additional tenants.  Melford II, the second tall office building, is an exception as it is currently empty.  To spark leasing activity, St. John Properties is offering increased commissions to brokers who bring them tenants, plus cash rewards for bringing qualified prospects to consider any of the available space at Melford; an example of those incentive offers is in your package.  They have also increased their advertising of Melford to the brokerage community.  St. John Properties is also actively seeking the right retail tenants for three 8,000 square foot buildings to be built in front of Melford II. 

Also at the meeting were Mayor Pro Tem Turner and Councilmember Marcos, plus Steve Gilbert from the Prince George's County Council office.

The next regular meeting of the EDC will be Friday, May 1, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Belair Mansion for the Business Recognition Awards Luncheon. 

6.  State Shared Revenues Update – Income Taxes

The second largest revenue source for the City is the State shared income tax distribution.  Staff recently obtained revised estimates from the State of Maryland for the remaining income tax distributions for this fiscal year.  Although the City has received $136,000 more in income taxes year to date as compared to the same time last year, the State is projecting declines in the remaining distributions for the year.  Staff estimates total income taxes for the year will be $6,112,000 or $188,000 less than originally budgeted.  Total expenditures for this year are projected to be less
than originally budgeted and will offset this revenue shortfall.  Staff will continue to monitor this major revenue source and provide updates as information becomes available.

7.  Recreation Facilities Planning

The Park and Planning Commission has initiated an effort called Parks & Recreation: 2010 and Beyond, which is a Countywide initiative to identify needs for parks, open space, trails and other amenities.  A series of six public meetings is being held across the County over the next several weeks.  Staff will attend the April 1, 7:00 p.m. meeting at the Bowie Community Center.