Weekly Status Report - 5/21/09

MEMORANDUM

TO:               City Council

FROM:         David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT:  Status Report

DATE       :  May 14, 2009

Status Report

1.  Water Quality Report

Each year the City is required by the EPA and MDE to mail to all customers serviced by the City’s water system an Annual Water Quality Report that provides information about potential contaminants in the City’s water system.   Attached is a copy of the report that will be sent out this year.  There is nothing unusual in this year’s report.  We were required, as were other water systems, to add a paragraph regarding lead in the water system, that is a change from last year’s report.

  2. Rain Barrel Workshop

On Saturday, May 16th, the Planning Department co-hosted a Rain Barrel workshop with the Bowie Lions Club. The response to the workshop was overwhelming! Although as of Friday, 25 residents had registered for the workshop (registration was not mandatory), over 100 residents turned out to learn about stormwater and rain barrels. The Lions Club sold approximately 30 rain barrels (at a reduced cost of $65 each for workshop participants) and other participants flocked to the Patuxent Nursery after the workshop to purchase rain barrels there. The Planning Department plans to make this an annual event and will continue to promote rain barrel usage throughout the City, as recommended in Council's approved Environmental Infrastructure Action Strategy Plan.

3.  Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Traps

The Maryland Department of Agriculture has placed about 80 purple traps in the City of Bowie.  In the next few weeks, lure (which is harmless to people) will be added to the traps to see if there are any EABs in the City.  The Emerald Ash Borer is an exotic beetle from Asia that attacks ash trees and has been found in Prince George’s County.  The traps are intended to remain through the summer.  These traps are serviced (surveyed) every couple of weeks until removed.  Additional information is enclosed in your package.

4.  Bike to Work Day

Bike to Work Day in the Washington, D.C. region was last Friday, May 15th. Bowie had two (2) pit stops (Bowie Town Center and Old Town Bowie) of the four pit stops in Prince George’s County.  (The other two were in College Park and Hyattsville.)  The annual event is cosponsored by Commuter Connections (a transportation planning program and initiative within COG) and by WABA (Washington Area Bicyclists Association).  According to data provided by the cosponsors, more than 8,000 participants region-wide registered, a new record for the event, surpassing the goal of 7,500.  At the Bowie Town Center (BTC) pit stop, 32 folks preregistered, while three walk-ups registered at the pit stop the day of the event.  The total number of participants at the BTC pit stop was 16.  Thanks go again this year to Kristine Winternitz and The Simon Property Group in the Bowie Town Center for purchasing food and beverages for the riders, and for allowing the use of the Food Court and adjacent grounds for the pit stop.

In Old Town Bowie (OTB), there was a combination of 29 preregistrants and walk-ups, with a total of 18 of those attending the event.  The participation rate this year at the OTB pit stop significantly increased over last year’s attendance, when only one person showed up, most likely due to the inclement weather in 2008.  Appreciation is extended to John Clark, Glen Locker, and the officers and crew stationed at the Huntington Fire Station for opening their facility and assisting in setting-up the pit stop.

DJD/JLF/asf

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