Weekly Status Report - 3/26/09

MEMORANDUM

TO:               City Council

FROM:         David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT:  Status Report/Council Poll   DATE:  March 26, 2009

Status Report

1.  Hearing on City Hall Project

The SDP Hearing on the City Hall project in front of the County Planning Board is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 2nd in the County Administration Hearing Room in Upper Marlboro.  Staff will be presenting some introductory remarks.  Grimm and Parker will present an overview of the project for the Planning Board and be available to answer any questions.  The engineer for the project, Adtek, will also be in attendance to answer any questions.  A representative from the Project Management firm, Arcadis, will also be present.  We have not yet received the County staff report on this project.  However, from previous meetings and discussions with M-NCPPC staff, we do not believe there are any significant issues.  Should your schedule allow you to attend, we would of course appreciate your support and acknowledge your attendance in remarks to the Planning Board.      

2.  Capital Grants for Nonprofits

Letters and application materials were recently sent to over 70 nonprofit organizations.  The application and staff contact information is available on the City website under News and Information -- click on Press Releases and then click on the Press Release dated 3/12/09.  Applications are due by April 24th. 

3.  MD 197 Open House and Public Hearing

On Tuesday, March 24th, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) conducted an Open House meeting at City Hall to show newly compiled information for MD 197, between Kenhill Drive and MD 450, which is under a project planning study.  Over 70 people attended the walk-through session, including Mayor Pro Tem Turner and Councilmembers Brady and Valentino-Smith.  SHA staff will attend the April 6th City Council public hearing to present Modified Alternative 4, a revision to the original 4-lane, divided cross section that attempts to address the issues identified in the March 4, 2008 City Council position letter.  SHA sent out more than
10,000 postcards advertising the Open House and City hearing to City residents and interested parties.  Councilmember Valentino-Smith requested that SHA staff send additional notification letters to the 66 lot owners whose land is anticipated to be within the project's limits of disturbance, prior to the City Council public hearing.  Councilmember Valentino-Smith also requested that SHA provide a database showing the specific impacts quantified for each of the 66 lots by April 6th.  SHA concurred with these requests.  Many attendees voiced positive comments regarding the revised plan, noting that it appears to be moving in the right direction.  A City staff report evaluating the proposed revisions will be in your package next week.

4.  Emergency Management Plan

The updated Emergency Management Plan is expected to be back before Council at your June 1, 2009 Council Meeting.  In compliance with a Council request, information will be provided at that time regarding emergency sirens.

DJD/asf