Weekly Status Report - 6/11/09

MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council

FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT: Status Report

DATE : June 11, 2009

Status Report

1. Prince George’s County Code Office at City Hall
The Prince George’s County Department of Environmental Resources is looking to place field offices throughout the County. Starting last week, County Code Officers will be in the City’s Code Compliance Office to answer questions and meet with residents on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. We look forward to working closely with these Officers in providing enhanced services to City residents.

2. Contract Street Tree Trimming
The Adopted Fiscal Year 2010 Budget has allocated $50,000.00 toward contracted tree trimming within the City right of way. In Fiscal Year 2009, the City piggybacked on an existing Prince George’s County contract with Lewis Tree Service, Inc. with satisfactory results. That contract has been renewed as bid S08-065 “Tree Trimming and Removal Service” on a County contract P-090684508065(123109)-O. All terms and conditions of the previous contract remain in place. As provided by Section 62 of the City Charter, this will serve as the required seven (7) day notice of intent to issue a purchase order to Lewis Tree Service, Inc. for a total amount of $35,000.00. The additional $15,000.00 budgeted will be used for necessary ash tree removals in FY10.

3. Election 2009
As of today, the following have filed for re-election: Mayor Robinson – Mayor; Councilmember Trouth – District 4; Councilmember Marcos – District 1; Councilmember Turner – District 3; Councilmember Polangin – District 2.

4. Master Plan of Transportation (MPOT) Worksession
On Tuesday, June 9th, the County Council's Committee-of-the-Whole held their first worksession to review the County Planning Board's recommendation and public hearing transcript analysis relating to the Master Plan of Transportation. A City Council position statement was sent for the Joint Public Hearing held on January 27, 2009. As a result of your action of June 1st, a subsequent letter was sent to Council Members Turner and Dean highlighting the City's major recommendations. Council Member Turner asked how traffic between MD 197 and MD 3 would be addressed. M-NCPPC staff replied that the Bowie and Vicinity Area Master Plan removed A-44 from the map, generating a need to upgrade MD 197 to a 4 to 6-lane arterial road. It was noted that there appeared to be no other options available to address this traffic, and that any environmental issues would be thoroughly investigated as part of the normal NEPA review process. Council Member Turner also asked M-NCPPC staff to explain how they are addressing the subject of a new interchange on US 50 at MD 193. M-NCPPC staff noted that numerous residents objected to an interchange when hearings were held in the 1980s and that, during the 1990s, former County Council Member Audrey Scott had asked for an examination of a US 50 interchange between MD 197 and MD 704. After study, it was determined that the intersecting roads would have to be widened beyond the number of lanes recommended in the Area Master Plan and upgrading MD 193 might have detrimental land use consequences. At the conclusion of the worksession, Chairperson Marilynn Bland encouraged Council Members to forward any requested amendments to the Council's legal staff for incorporation into an approval resolution. Given these actions, we expect that the District Council will approve the MPOT sometime within the next month.

5. BGE Pole Relocation
On Wednesday, June 10th, Mayor Robinson, Councilmembers Polangin and Valentino-Smith, and City staff met with Mike Fowler and Rodney Oddoye of BGE to discuss the status of the front yard pole installations associated with the Bowie Electric Reliability Action Plan (BERAP). BGE has currently relocated 48 poles to front yard areas. They have evaluated these poles and have determined that 21 of the poles can be relocated to their original location. The remaining 27 poles are proposed to stay as front yard poles because of the amount of equipment located on these poles and the need to access these poles. No additional front yard poles are intended to be relocated to front yard areas going forward. It is anticipated that the work associated with relocating the 21 poles from the front yard back to their original location will occur in January or February of 2010. This is after the BERAP program will be substantially completed. Several customers have been contacted already about moving these poles back to their original location from the front yard area. Some of these customers have indicated that they would like to leave these poles in the front yard area. It was agreed at the meeting that the City position in these cases will be that the City supports the relocation of these poles back to their original location. There is a broader City interest in having these poles relocated in terms of improving the streetscape. There will be no additional splice boxes added as a result of the relocation of the 21 poles.

Council Poll

1. Invitation List
Attached is a list of invitations received. Please advise if you can attend.

Proposed Community Wildlife Habitat Certification

The Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) recommends that the City Council support the effort to have the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) designate Bowie as a Community Wildlife Habitat. The Habitat Subgroup of the EAC is preparing an
application and has requested a support letter from the City. A copy of the registration form and summary, as well as a draft letter of support, are attached. Does Council concur with sending the attached letter to the NWF in support of registering the City for certification as a Community Wildlife Habitat?

Yes ___ No ___

DJD/asf

Attachments