REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2005

CALL MEETING TO ORDER:

The Regular Meeting of the Bowie City Council was held on Tuesday, September 6, 2005 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Mayor Robinson called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m.

QUORUM:

In attendance were Mayor Robinson, Mayor Pro Tem Jenkins, Councilmembers Aleshire, Booker Jones, Brady, Kroemer and Lyles; City Manager Deutsch, Asst. City Manager Fitzwater, City Attorney Elissa Levan, Members of the Staff, the Press and the Public.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG:

The City Council led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS/AMENDMENTS:

A. Mayor Robinson added Resolution R-67-05 Supporting Local Franchising of Cable Communications Companies as Item J under Consent Agenda.

B. Mayor Robinson added consideration of a contribution to the Katrina Hurricane Relief efforts under New Business.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION:

A. Mr. Eugene Kiley, 3621 Melfa Lane, spoke about several methods of ways people can save on gasoline for their cars such as properly inflated tires, driving slower, and carpooling.

B. Ms. Brenda Kittles, President of a group called “Ladies With Class” at Bowie High School, which is primarily focused on community service and the betterment of the people of the community announced they are organizing a carwash in Landover; donations will go towards helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

C. Mr. Josh Drumwright, 1513 Madison Street, Hyattsville, said he wanted to help by providing ways to employ the Katrina victims, as well as educating them in the clean up process.

D. Ms. Heather Sell, 2705 Birdseye Lane, spoke about youth public awareness and what she had learned at a conference she had recently attended.

E. Joseph Mensah, 505 Jasper Ct., also spoke about the Katrina relief efforts and reported that the Student Government Association, along with clubs and organizations at Bowie High School have formed the United Relief Team of Bowie High School in conjunction with the Parent-Teachers-Student organization (PTSO); in order to help the victims the URT will sponsor a week-long coin drive; carwashes are also being scheduled with the hope that they can provide aide in the immediate and long-term needs of the victims.

F. Ms. Mary Nusser, 3031 Majestic Lane, said she was President of the Bowie High School PTSO and they supported the students efforts for the Katrina victims.

G. Mr. Kevin Alicia, Burke, Virginia, a teacher at Bowie High School, also spoke in support of the United Relief Fund. He asked the City to consider adopting a city in the disaster area.

H. Ms. Stephaney Newman, 15605 Peyton Ct., spoke about doing a supply drive for the Katrina victims; donating clothes, school supplies for students who will be coming to Bowie High School, cleaning supplies. She asked the City for their support.

Councilwoman Booker Jones arrived at this point.

I. Mr. Kevin Conroy, 12432 Shawmont Lane, spoke about Consent Agenda Item E, Dedicating the Black Sox Softball Field #1 in memory of Mr. William E. Davies. He said he serves on the City committee that voted unanimously against the issue. He said he felt the ballfield is located in Black Sox Park, which is dedicated to the Negro Leagues; felt it was insensitive for a field in this park to be named after a white man. He asked that Allen Pond fields be considered. Mr. Conroy then spoke about developing a committee for emergency preparedness in light of the recent hurricane disasters.

Mayor Robinson said he felt incredibly proud of the youth who addressed the City Council this evening; the presentation was compassionate, intelligent and reflects all the best traditions of the City. He added the City would take the Ladies of Class up on their offer.

Mayor Pro Tem Jenkins announced that Eleanor Roosevelt High School was holding a carwash for hurricane relief on September 10 and 24 at the Shell Station at Superior Lane and Route 450.

COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Mayor Robinson reminded everyone that September 11 is the anniversary of a tragic manmade disaster in this country; he said the City would be taking time out to reflect on the people of New York, the men and women in harm’s way, and for all the people that have pulled together to try to maintain one nation. He added that arrangements have been made for residents to contribute to the hurricane relief without intruding on the sense of evening. He encouraged all to attend.

Mayor Robinson then announced that the City recognized a young army soldier last year that served two tours in Iraq and was wounded twice, then came back to the United States where he was temporarily assigned to duty in Texas. His parents called to report that their son, Benjamin Czechanski, had been killed in an accident in Texas. Mayor Robinson spoke highly of this young man and said that on behalf of the City Council, they extend their condolences to his family and thanked him for his service to his Nation and community.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT:

City Manager Deutsch reported on the following items: 1) Katrina Relief Efforts - A press release was distributed to Council regarding some activities the City has been involved in which, to date, reflect urging residents to contribute to various efforts; the City is staying in close touch with the County and other agencies, and have been in touch with the Maryland Municipal League which is working with the municipal leagues from the affected states to determine the kind of assistance that municipalities in the unaffected regions can provide. 2) Police Report - On September 26, Council will hear the semi-annual District II Police Report. 3) Police Referendum Question - There are four public forums scheduled regarding the formation of a city police department. 4) Livable Communities Program - The County Executive has earmarked one million dollars in the County budget to promote the FY ’06 version of the Livable Communities Program; Bowie was involved last year, and a short list was submitted this year.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Mayor Pro Tem moved the approval of Consent Agenda Items: A) Approval of Minutes of July 5, 2005 Council Meeting; B. Approval of Resolution R-59-05, Waiving the Competitive Bidding Requirement in Accordance With Section 61 of the Charter of the City of Bowie to Allow for Issuance of a Contract to a U.S. Government Services Administration (GSA) Supplier for the Acquisition of a Senior Bus; C. Approval of Resolution R-60-05, Accepting a Bid for the Purchase of One (1) Stump Grinder; D. Introduction of Resolution R-61-05, Enlarging the Corporate Boundaries of the City of Bowie by Annexing Certain Residential Property and a Portion of the W.B. & A. Trail Parcel, Contiguous and Adjoining to the City’s Existing Corporate Boundaries, Known As the Colt’s Neck Subdivision, Consisting of Approximately 54.381 Acres of Land Located on the South Side of Race Track Road, at Its Intersection With Jericho Park Road Into the Corporate Limits of the City of Bowie; E. Approval of Resolution R-62-05, Dedicating the Black Sox Softball Field #1 in Memory of Mr. William E. “Bill” Davies at Black Sox Park; F. Approval of Resolution R-63-05, Awarding a Contract to Unitemp to Provide for the Installation of a New Cooling Tower at the Bowie Ice Arena; G. Approval of Resolution R-65-05, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Deed of Easement With Highbridge Commercial, LLC for a Woodland Conservation Easement on a Portion of City-Owned Property Known as Church Road Park; H. Approval of Proclamation P-15-05, Congratulating the South Bowie Boys & Girls Club U10 Boys Soccer Team on an Outstanding Season; and I. Approval of Resolution R-67-05, Supporting Local Franchising of Cable Communications Companies. Councilman Brady seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS:

A. Ordinance O-8-05 - Amending Chapter 14, Amending Chapter 14 of the Bowie City Code - City Attorney Elissa Levan summarized the ordinance and noted that it was prepared because of some concerns with respect to the enforcement of the provisions pertaining to parking of abandoned vehicles on City streets; the ordinance adds definitions to Section 14-1 that were previously missing and removes the term “unattended” in certain sections and replaced the term with vehicles that were be left for specific period of time need to be moved; the section becomes a municipal infraction in subsection (d); the new provisions in Section 14-15 circumvent the notice provisions, deleting them so that where a vehicle was previously parked unlawfully, the Code Compliance Officers can go directly to issuing a municipal infraction and speed up the process; the other changes to the ordinance are primarily grammatical or minor changes for efficiency.

Since there were no persons signed up to speak, Mayor Robinson declared the public hearing to have been held.

Mayor Pro Tem Jenkins moved the adoption of Ordinance O-8-05. Councilman Aleshire seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

A. Katrina Hurricane Relief -

Mayor Pro Tem Jenkins moved that the City contribute a sum of $10,000 to the American Red Cross towards the Katrina Hurricane Relief. Councilman Aleshire seconded the motion.

Councilwoman Booker Jones moved to amend the motion to increase the amount to $25,000. Since there was no second, the motion failed.

The motion to contribute $10,000 carried with a vote of 5-1-1 (Booker Jones - nay; Kroemer - abstain).

B. PNC Bank Site Plan - Ms. Cynthia Fenton, City Planning Staff, summarized the staff report dated August 25, 2005, a copy of which is on file at City Hall. She reported that the applicant is proposing a 3,395 sq. ft. bank located in the Southwest Quadrant of US 301 and Excalibur Road; the site is approximately 1 acre. She displayed a Power Point presentation showing the topography of the site, zoning which is C-S-C; the Preliminary Plan did require a Detailed Site Plan and the applicant would be required to go before the County Planning Board for approval. Ms. Fenton further reported that a Stakeholders meeting was held and the major concerns raised were traffic on Rte. 301 and access. She said the Bowie Advisory Planning Board recommended unanimous approval of the staff report and conditions. She then reviewed the architecture of the bank, the drive-thru lanes, landscaping, parking spaces including handicapped parking spaces. Ms. Fenton said there is one outstanding issue regarding the Site Plan which is that of stormwater management; a Concept Plan was submitted although it was found the applicant’s proposal was based on outdated information, and the City will need to look at a revision; staff does not believe approval for stormwater management will be a problem and is required by the City prior to the issuance of any County building permits; because the Site Plan represents a reasonable alternative for satisfying site design guidelines, staff is recommending approval of the proposal Site Plan subject to the conditions on Page 4 of the staff report.

Mr. Frank Walters, PNC Realty Services, said that they agree with the 9 conditions in the staff report.

Since there were no persons signed up to speak, Mayor Robinson declared the public hearing to have been held.

Councilman Lyles moved approval of the staff recommendation with regard to the PNC Bank Site Plan. Councilman Brady seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

COUNCIL COMMENTS:

A. Councilman Aleshire requested that a worksession be scheduled for the purchase of discussing the Emergency Preparedness Plan for the community. Council concurred.

Discussion was held regarding hurricane relief efforts. Mayor Robinson expressed, on behalf of the Council, his admiration for the American Red Cross and other organizations assisting with these efforts. It was the consensus of Council to explore the use of the White Plains house at Whitemarsh Park as a site to house a family that has been displaced because of Hurricane Katrina.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mayor Pro Tem Jenkins moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilman Lyles seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Pamela A. Fleming, CMC
City Clerk