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Weekly Status Report - 12/08/2011

MEMORANDUM

TO:               City Council

FROM:         David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT:  Status Report    

DATE:  December 8, 2011

Status Report

1.  Legislative Hearing

The Prince George's County House Delegation held a public hearing on Saturday, December 3, 2011.  I attended the hearing, along with Mayor Robinson, Council-member Turner and Mr. Lucchi.  The 23rd District Delegates in attendance included Marvin Holmes and Geraldine Valentino-Smith.  Mayor Robinson testified on four bills:  the prohibition on home delivery of liquor, alcoholic beverage licenses for supermarkets, land use authority for municipalities, and installment payments for property taxes.  The General Assembly Session begins on January 11th, and it is unlikely there will be much activity on these bills until late January at the earliest.  We will continue to work with other communities in the interim to encourage support on the Land Use Bill.  Councilmember Bob Catlin from College Park testified in support of the bill on Saturday.

2.  Change in Chair

Council Member Andrea Harrison has been selected as Chair of the Prince George’s County Council.  Council Member Eric Olson will continue as Vice-Chair. 

3.  Planning Board Results

On Thursday, December 1, 2011 the Prince George's County Planning Board took the following actions of interest to the City:

  • Cornerstone Assembly of God Church (DSP-05092/09) - Requesting to add a day care facility to an existing church and private school at 16010 Annapolis Road.  City Council recommended approval on September 6, 2011.  City staff spoke in favor of the revision to DSP-95092.  Commissioner Washington moved approval of the staff recommendation of approval with conditions.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Squire and passed unanimously.

  • Mills Property Access Reconsideration Request (Preliminary Plan #4-05148) -  Requesting reconsideration of the Planning Board's April 12, 2007 approval of the Preliminary Plan of subdivision to amend conditions relating to access from US 301.  The Mills property is located on the west side of US 301, north of Mitchellville Road.  City Council voted to support the applicant's request on November 21, 2011.  City staff spoke in favor of the reconsideration request.  In addition, City resident Clarence Brown of Alderwood Lane addressed the Planning Board concerning some site development impacts (noise, lighting) involving the Mills property.  Chairman Betty Hewlett explained that the purpose of the agenda item was for the Board to decide whether or not to re-review the Preliminary Plan approved in 2007.  If so, the issues relating to the property could be discussed at a scheduled public hearing.  Commissioner Squire moved to reconsider the Planning Board's approval of the Preliminary Plan.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Bailey and passed unanimously.

4.  Board of Education Hearing on Proposed Boundary Changes

Turnout was good for the Board of Education hearing at Bowie High on Tuesday, December 6th.  Before accepting comments from the public, school system staff reviewed the proposed changes and the number of students that would be affected by each change.  Mr. Johndel Jones-Brown explained that there were three goals driving the change at this time. They were enrollment imbalances, illogical boundary shapes, and reducing transportation costs by streamlining routes and increasing the number of walkers.

The Bowie area changes include the following:

  • Make Heather Hills a dedicated TAG center and move approximately 100 non-   TAG students out of Heather Hills ES and to Kenilworth ES.
  • Move approximately 50 students from Kenilworth to Tulip Grove.
  • Move approximately 100 students from Rockledge to Yorktown.
  • Move 2 students from Kingsford to Pointer Ridge.
  • Eliminate the ESOL Center at Samuel Ogle and send those students back to their neighborhood schools.
  • Eliminate ESOL Center at Central High and move ESOL students who live in Bowie and attend Central back to Bowie High, which is their neighborhood school.
  • Move <5 students on Bowie Farm Court (in Woodmore at Oakcreek) to Bowie area schools (Pointer Ridge, Tasker, and Bowie High).

About 20 individuals spoke, including Mayor Robinson on behalf of the Council, County Council Member Ingrid Turner, Delegate Geraldine Valentino-Smith, and Councilmember Todd Turner. Councilmembers Marcos and Trouth also attended.  A majority of the comments, including those by Mayor Robinson and the other elected officials, expressed opposition to the move of non-TAG students from Heather Hills, their neighborhood school, to Kenilworth Elementary, which will require a bus ride. Comments on the proposals may still be submitted via email to pasb.boundaries@pgcps.org.  The Board plans to vote on the various proposals at their meeting on January 5, 2012.