Weekly Status Report - 12/10/09

MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council

FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT: Status Report

DATE: December 10, 2009

Status Report

1. Davidsonville Tree Maintenance Plan

During the public testimony pertaining to the right-of-way maintenance agenda item at the City Council Meeting on December 7th, it was suggested that the City investigate the approach taken in Davidsonville by BGE regarding the maintenance of trees in the public right-of-way. Staff contacted BGE to get more information about this program.

Attached is a summary of the program mentioned by the resident. This program pertains to the maintenance along transmission lines in Davidsonville and Columbia. This is a pilot program being conducted by BGE. The resident mentioned the Integrated Vegetation Management Plan (IVM) concept which is appropriate for rights-of-way (like transmission lines) where preventing tree growth is the aim. It employs herbicide use as a primary component. This program is not something that translates to roadside and backyard distribution, especially given that tree preservation is the aim of the resident. IVM is employed to eliminate trees and prevent their establishment. Staff has contacted the resident providing the testimony of this information.

Staff will be meeting shortly with BGE about the tree maintenance that is proposed on Race Track Road and report back to Council on the extent of this program. Once the potential impact of the tree maintenance required along Race Track Road is determined, staff will notify adjacent residents, as appropriate, to inform them of what is proposed.

2. Economic Development Committee (EDC)

The EDC held their regular monthly meeting Wednesday morning; that meeting focused on follow-up discussion about several previous meetings. One review was of the October bus tour. The EDC identified three areas of the City needing improvement: Old Town Bowie, West Bowie Village, and the Marketplace retail center. They further identified that the Marketplace retail center may offer the most immediate opportunities for improvement.

A second review was of the November tax increment financing (TIF) presentation. The EDC established a three member task force to outline the use of TIF for Marketplace, to contact the current center owners to see what their development and financing plans are, and to prepare the topic for an upcoming EDC agenda for discussion and possible action.

The EDC is also organizing a business retention effort; a work group is developing further information and actions for EDC consideration in January 2010.

Finally, the EDC is again working on a business recognition event for May 2010. The next regular meeting of the EDC will be Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 7:30 a.m.

3. Multi-City Environmental Meeting Held in Bowie

Last Thursday, the City's Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) hosted a multi-city meeting at City Hall to discuss environmental initiatives. Representatives of the following cities attended: the City of Gaithersburg (3), the City of Rockville (2) and the City of Annapolis (2). The meeting focused on examples of what is working well, and participants highlighted some of the most important projects their respective committees currently have underway. The discussion ranged widely from committee structure, staffing and budget, legal requirements, public outreach activities and sustainability strategies. Stream cleanups, energy conservation measures and green building are examples of such initiatives. The evening concluded with a commitment from all attendees to continue having additional multi-city meetings in the future.

4. Proposed BGE Reimbursement Request

The Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) discussed a possible Urban Tree Canopy goal for the City at their November 4th Regular Meeting. After much discussion concerning the amount of tree cover removed by BGE as part of the Electric Reliability Action Plan and the high number of unclaimed resident vouchers from the BGE program, the EAC passed a motion to adopt a statement to take to City Council. The statement endorses the concept of asking BGE to provide the City all, or a portion of, unredeemed vouchers. The EAC believes the resulting pool of funds could be used to support an incentive program for residents to plant trees on their lots. The Urban Tree Canopy study completed for the City this year indicated that the tree canopy goal cannot be met on public land alone and the most potential for implementing the goal is on private land.

The attached memo from Chairman Gary Allen explains the rationale for setting up a "Community Greening Fund" with unclaimed BGE reimbursements and further advises that the EAC will be undertaking a proposal to implement in 2010. The memo recommends a City request for direct reimbursement from BGE to the City for all eligible trees removed.

5. Home Depot Amended Annexation Agreement

For several months, staff has been working with corporate and local representatives of The Home Depot to amend the existing Annexation Agreement, which was adopted in 2001 and contains numerous site development restrictions. The proposed updated Agreement reflects how the store has come to operate, while tightening outdoor display areas. Specifically, the revised Agreement: restricts the maximum number of, and the location where, sheds may be displayed; describes the enclosure area, type, access and display time frames of seasonal items; describes the locations of where the permanent display of merchandise for sale may occur; and, confines the area and time frame for temporary tent sales and instructional clinics. The amended Agreement also prohibits site or building-mounted temporary or portable signage, except as permitted by the Prince George’s County Code.

A revised Detailed Site Plan (DSP), which accompanies the amended Agreement, identifies locations of several other site changes, to which Home Depot has agreed, including:

Proposed striping in front of the Garden Center and main entrance to the store to identify pedestrian crossings. Temporary signage will also be posted to call attention to the crossing in front of the Garden Center when seasonal merchandise is displayed.

Installation of signage around the western perimeter of the parking lot that prohibits the overnight parking of vehicles.

Installation of signage that identifies two (2) parking spaces for Home Depot trucks available for lease by store customers for the delivery of purchased items.

This Amended Annexation Agreement will be placed on the Consent Agenda of a Council meeting in early 2010.

6. Master Plan of Transportation (MPOT)

The City received a copy of CR-89-2009 (DR-2) regarding the Master Plan of Transportation approved by the Prince George's County Council on November 17, 2009. According to the County, there will be no one, consolidated document that constitutes the Approved Countywide Master Plan of Transportation available for some time, probably not until later in the winter. The City supported the MPOT, but recommended two (2) specific additions that were drafted as Amendment #22: the inclusion of language that would revaluate the conceptual road alignment known as "A-58" and the evaluation of a future interchange on US 50 at Melford Boulevard. The County Council's final action on CR-89-2009 approved the former but did not include the latter. Information relating to the MPOT can be found on the M-NCPPC website (www.mncppc.org).

7. Environmental Project Stakeholders Meetings

This week, staff conducted two (2) separate Stakeholder Meetings concerning environmental enhancements proposed in connection with the City's Forest Mitigation Sites program. The sites were discussed with Council at the October 26th Worksession on the Urban Tree Canopy goal and are supported by the Environmental Advisory Committee. Belair Meadows Park -- Staff mailed letters to 142 residents living within 500 feet of the property. Only one (1) resident of the Kenilworth section attended and enthusiastically supported the project. Glen Allen/Atlantis Drive Stormwater Management Pond -- Staff mailed letters to 235 residents living within 500 feet of the property. Five (5) residents, including the Glen Allen Homeowners Association President, attended the meeting. All were supportive of the project. Specific suggestions were made as input into the future project design. Staff will continue to work on refining the proposal for each site before bringing back some final recommendations to Council early next year.

8. Bowie Playhouse

Two rooftop heating and air conditioning units currently serve the Bowie Playhouse. Unfortunately, one of the two units at the Bowie Playhouse has failed and cannot be repaired. This specific unit serves the main auditorium seating area. Although there is heat in the lobby area, and also in the basement, there is no heat in the main seating area. These two units were originally anticipated by staff as a capital improvement project for the upcoming budget process. The facility is booked for “A Christmas Carol” by the Prince George’s Little Theatre during the next two weekends.

Staff has taken two steps to address this pressing problem. First, portable heating units will be brought in to heat the seating area for patrons so the scheduled shows may continue. Secondly, a replacement rooftop unit has been ordered which will take approximately two weeks to acquire and install at a cost of $26,625. This is being done as an emergency maintenance repair project. I have discussed this approach with the City Attorney. A cover memorandum and Resolution recognizing this emergency is being prepared and will be placed on the January 4, 2010 agenda. Funds for the rooftop unit will be used for this project from the Facility Preventative Maintenance capital account in the adopted Fiscal Year 2010 Budget.

Attachments