REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2008
CALL MEETING TO ORDER:
The Regular Meeting of the Bowie City Council was held on Monday, March 3, 2008 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 Turner, Councilmembers Brady, Marcos, Polangin, Trouth and Valentino-Smith; City Manager Deutsch, Assistant City Manager Fitzwater, City Attorney Karen Ruff, Members of the Staff, the Press and the Public.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG:
The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
AGENDA ADDITIONS/DELETIONS/AMENDMENTS:
Mayor Robinson added approval of a letter to Giant of Maryland regarding the vacant store at Bowie Plaza to the Consent Agenda.
CITY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES:
A. Mayor Robinson swore Mr. John Rouse and Mr. Eddie Pounds into office as members of the Election Task Force.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT:
City Manager Deutsch reported
on the following items: 1) The first planned “Town
Hall” meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 10, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at
the Huntington Community Center; and 2) The County is holding a program that
will provide advice for avoiding foreclosures on March 5, 2008 at the Show
Place Arena.
CONSENT AGENDA:
A. Mayor Pro Tem Turner moved approval of the following Consent Agenda: A. Approval of Minutes of February 4, 2008 Council Meeting; B. Approval of Resolution R-11-08, Approving the Purchase and Installation of a Radio Antenna on the Belair Drive Water Tower; C. Approval of Resolution R-13-08, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Temporary Grading Easement on Parcel 7B in Pin Oak Village; D. Approval of Resolution R-14-08, Accepting Bid for the Purchase and Installation of Laboratory Counters, Cabinets and Fume Hood at the Wastewater Treatment Plant; E. Approval of Resolution R-15-08, Accepting Bid for the Removal, Inspection and Replacement of the Pump Assembly on Wells 3 and 5; and F. Approval of Letter to Giant of Maryland LLC Regarding Bowie Plaza. Councilmember Brady seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
Charter Amendment CAR-1-08 – Amending Section 23 of the City Charter to Increase the Number of Members Who Serve on the Board of Elections – City Manager Deutsch summarized by saying that the amendment is to change the number of members from five to nine which will facilitate the proper management of elections and assist the City Clerk in carrying out important duties.
Since there were no persons signed up to speak, Mayor Robinson declared the public hearing to have been held.
Mayor Pro Tem Turner moved approval of CAR-1-08. Councilmember Trouth seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. Bowie Market Place – Mr. Carter Davis of JBG Rosenfeld, presented a PowerPoint which gave an overview of the plans for the shopping center and the conceptual plan which includes a reconfiguration of the center. Mr. Carter indicated that Safeway intends to submit a Special Exception application to allow gasoline sales along MD 450 in front of their future store location; the proposed plan reorients the center, with one principal access, to MD 450 and retains the Safeway grocery store and several other tenants. Mr. Carter then answered questions posed by the City Council.
B. MD Route 197 Project Planning Study Alternatives – City Planning Director Joe Meinert summarized the staff report dated February 28, 2008, a copy of which is on file at City Hall. He reported that the State Highway Administration conducted a public hearing on three alternatives for improving Rte. 197 between Kenhill Drive and Rte. 450 relocated; the alternatives under consideration include the No-Build Alternative, the Five-Lane Undivided Alternative (Alternative 3) and the Four-Lane Divided Alternative (Alternative 4). He said that the SHA will continue to receive input from the public beyond March 26th which is the last day to submit written comments. Mr. Meinert then read into the record the City Council’s current position: “The City Council believes that MD 197 should be designed to accommodate a maximum of our lanes. Except where added width is needed at intersections, a continuous 8- to 12-foot median should run between the northbound and southbound lanes of MD 197 between the intersection of MD 197 with Tulip Grove Drive and the intersection of MD 197 at Lerner Place. The alignment of the road should be configured for minimal roadbed and minimum disturbance of foliage on both sides of the new roadway. The project should maintain a hiker-biker trail on the east side of the road. Safe pedestrian crossing from the Long Ridge Section to Foxhill Park is also a goal.” He reported that the staff report contains a summary of comments from 30 persons who spoke at the public hearing. Mr. Meinert further reported that staff supports Alternative 4 in terms of safety.
Public Hearing:
1. Ms. Pat Reimer, 12150 Long Ridge Lane, spoke in favor of Alternative #4.
2. Ms. Laurie Thompson, 3006 Twisting Lane, spoke about an additional interchange at Rte. 50 and Rte. 193 to eliminate traffic into Bowie.
3. Mr. Jim Loftus, 2702 Federal Lane, said there was no need for a 13-20 foot median; existing trees should not be cut down.
4. Ms. Chris Hedman, 13404 Overbrook Lane, urged endorsement of widening Rte. 197 from Kenhill Drive to Rte. 450.
5. Ms. Janan Betts. 2704 Federal Lane, spoke in favor of widening Rte. 197.
6. Mr. Mitch Betts, 2704 Federal Lane, spoke in favor of a modest median and modest lanes for the widening of Rte. 197.
7. Mr. Tony Young, 12016 Long Ridge Lane, said he agreed with the City’s recommendations and also spoke in favor of an additional exit onto Rte. 50 from Rte. 193.
8. Mr. Max Groves, 12033 Twin Cedar Lane, asked that the footprint be as small as possible. He also spoke about the noise barriers and asked that an opening be provided so that pedestrians and bikers can pass through.
9. Ms. Saundra Mayo-Carr, 12124 Long Ridge Lane, said many people who live along Rte. 197 will be affected and the right decision is important for those people.
10. Ms. Frances Reed, 12107 Long Ridge Lane, said most of her concerns were addressed by other speakers. She also spoke about an overpass over Rte. 197.
11. Mr. Joe Lawrence, 12311 Keel Turn, said he agreed with the staff recommendations with the exception of condition #9 regarding the overpass.
12. Ms. Marlene Moll, 2605 Fair Lane, spoke about speed limits along Rte. 197 and asked that past mistakes not be ignored.
Following discussion by members of the Council, Mayor Pro Tem Turner moved to accept the staff recommendation and to request that SHA come back with an additional briefing and responses to the concerns of the residents. He then added the following recommendations: strongly support the placement of underground utility lines adjacent to Rte. 197; request review of speeding, traffic calming devices, speed enforcement cameras, and sequencing of traffic signals. Councilmember Brady seconded the motion but asked that another recommendation be added that the proposed 16-foot wide bicycle compatible lanes shall be reduced to standard size (11 foot) lanes. Mayor Pro Tem Turner concurred and the motion carried unanimously.
C. Legislative Update – Mayor Pro Tem Turner recused himself from the discussion on this matter based upon the opinion of the Ethics Commission.
Mr. Leonard Lucchi, City Lobbyist, summarized his report dated February 28, 2008, a copy of which is on file at City Hall. The legislation he spoke about included Speed Imaging, Municipal Building Excise Tax, Prince George’s Hospital System, Bond Bills, and Base Realignment and Closure. He also spoke about school construction and said that neither House has before it suggestions that the Governor’s school construction budget of $334 million be cut.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Pro Tem Turner moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Brady seconded
the motion and it carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Pamela A. Fleming, CMC
City Clerk