Weekly Status Report - 5/6/10

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:               City Council

FROM:         David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT:  Status Report/Council Poll 

DATE:  May 6, 2010

Status Report

1.  County Recovery Zone Facility Bond (RFZB) Program

On Tuesday, April 20, the County Council passed a Resolution approving the Recovery Zone Facility Bond Program.  Attached is a copy of the policies and procedures for the program.  All of Prince George's County has been designated a Recovery Zone based on the number of home foreclosures experienced County- wide.   County EDC staff emphasizes that this is not a grant or loan program.  The County EDC will host a meeting in mid-May for the business community to talk about the program and to encourage qualified applicants.  Projects must be shovel ready.  Preference will be given to projects with $5 million or more of capital requirements.

As explained to City staff by the County EDC, RZFBs are tax-exempt qualified activity bonds designed to support trades or businesses in the Zone.  The proceeds of RZFBs may be used by taxpayers to finance depreciable property, the original use of which commences in the recovery zone with the taxpayer.  Land may not be financed with the bonds, because it is not depreciable.  Substantially all of the use of the property must occur in the Zone, and the property must be constructed, reconstructed, renovated or acquired by the taxpayer after the zone is designated.  Generally any capital asset used in any trade or business will qualify for financing except residential rental property, golf courses, country clubs, massage parlors, hot tub facilities, suntan facilities, racetracks or other gambling facilities or stores that principally sell alcoholic beverages for offsite consumption. 

City staff will continue to learn about this program and will report back to Council with any relevant information.  

2. Stream Cleanup Final Report

All sites from this spring's stream cleanup on April 17, 2010 have reported final counts.  A total of 242 volunteers worked at six different sites removing, literally, tons of litter – a family that worked the Upper Collington Branch, Kenilworth section was not previously reported.  Cumulatively, our dedicated Stream Team members removed approximately 4,700 pounds of assorted scrap metal and "bulk" items, including a riding lawnmower leaking oil and gas, a car muffler, a sofa, 30+ tires, a no dumping sign, and HVAC ducts, to name just a few. In addition to these large items, 130 bags of trash (~3,250 pounds) and 140 bags of recycling (~3,500 pounds) were collected.  All items removed from the six streams weighed in at an estimated 8,950 pounds.  Details from each site are provided in the attached table.

3.  Land Use Authority (CB-16-2010)

The attached letter to County Council Chair Dernoga indicates City Council support for CB-16.  The City will engage its lobbyist in the effort to secure County Council passage of this measure.  We urge City Council to contact various County Council Members to seek their support.  A date for County Council action has not been established. 

4.  Whitemarsh Park Master Plan

On Tuesday, May 4th at 7:00 p.m., a kickoff meeting was held at City Hall in Room 204 for the preparation of a Whitemarsh Park Master Plan. 

In attendance were:  Elisabeth Lardner and Jacob Clark of Lardner/Klein Landscape Architects PC; Charlie Jacobs of the Community Recreation Committee (CRC); Pete Cipolla of Bowie Sport Fit; Jason Craddock and Fred Phipps of the Bowie Boys and Girls Club Football program; Ryan Metzbower (Park Management Intern); and the following City Staff: Sally Hein, Frank Stevens, Annette Esterheld, Nick Spurgeon, and Matt Reno.

Representatives from the following athletic organizations were asked to participate on the steering committee and invited to attend the meeting, however were not in attendance:  BBGC Football Commissioner; BBGC Lacrosse Commissioner; BBGC Baseball Commissioner; St. Pius X CYO Baseball; Grace Christian Baseball; Bowie Kickball League.

The Steering Committee also plans to add a representative from the City’s Environmental Advisory Committee (representative to be determined at the May 5 EAC meeting).

The meeting included (1) introductions, (2) an overview of Scope of Services and milestones for the Master Plan, (3) brief discussion on needs and desires of attendees, (4) a brief discussion on best time to hold future meetings, and (5) a discussion on data needing to be provided to the Consultant.

Meeting attendees were asked to compile the information listed below and submit to City staff by May 19:

1)  Total participants in their respective athletic program.
2)  Current number of teams in their respective athletic program.
3)  Current number of participants on each team in their respective athletic program.
4)  Estimated number of vehicles associated with each team on both practice and game days.
5)  Number and practices and games held each week and time frame for each.
6)  Estimate of program size in 2015 and 2020, if capacity of park was not a limitation.
7)  List of needs and desires for their respective athletic programs.

The next meeting is expected to take place in early June (date, time, and location to be determined; however it looks like those in attendance prefer to meet in early morning or afternoon, rather than the evening, as this would conflict with practice schedules).

DJD/asf

Attachments