MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager
SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll
DATE: November 2, 2006
Status Report
1. Bridge Over CSX Tracks
According to SHA, the base paving for the approaches to the new bridge over
the CSX tracks on old Route 450 is slated to begin November 6th. If the
weather cooperates, the bridge should be open to traffic by the end of
the year.
2. City Transportation Priorities and Policies
Councilman Lyles requested copies of the transportation priority letters
recently sent to the State and County (see attached). In addition, a copy
of Prince George's County's own
draft Priority List is provided for your
review. The list has been presented to the Prince George's County Council's
Transportation, Housing and Environment (THE) Committee, but has not yet
received final approval. A copy of the City's
current transportation policies from the Development Review Guidelines and Policies is also attached for
your information. These policies will be examined at the November 13th
City Council Worksession and, along with any updates Council desires, could
serve as a basis for a City position statement regarding the Countywide
Master Plan of Transportation, which is expected to go to public review
during 2007. Please let us know if you have any specific questions about
this material.
3. 2006 Maryland Top 100 Minority Business Enterprise Awards Ceremony
Special Secretary Sharon R. Pinder from the Governor's Office of Minority
Affairs invited the City's Economic Development Director to narrate last
Friday's 2006 Maryland TOP100 MBE Awards Ceremony held at the University
of Maryland University College in Adelphi. More than 800 people attended.
4. City To Host Training For Retail Merchants
The City will host a training session for our "main street" retailers
on Wednesday, November 15th starting at 8:00 a.m. The session will feature
Mr. Casey
Willson, the Retail Industry Manager from the Maryland Small Business Development
Center Network, who will address service, sales, cleanliness, signage,
merchandising, execution against systems, and motivation of staff. These
topics apply whether an attendee is a business owner or a manager of a
unit. The training session goal is to give Bowie's businesses knowledge
that can increase sales. Attendees must preregister. In addition to Bowie
businesses, the Cities of Greenbelt and Laurel are also inviting their
businesses to attend this session.
The session is provided in Bowie under the auspices of the Maryland Department
of Housing and Community Development's Catalyst program, the Maryland Downtown
Development Association, and the Maryland Small Business Development Center
Network. A copy of the informational
flyer is attached.
5. Leaf Collection
Curbside leaf collection begins on Monday, November 6th and runs through
December 21st. Every neighborhood will have two pickup dates. Crews will
work rain or shine, but service is suspended if there is snow or ice. The
full schedule is in the November/December issue of the Bowie Spotlight
and is also available on the City's website and on the Government channel
(Verizon 10/Comcast 71).
6. Blood Drive
The American Red Cross is holding a Blood Drive at the Bowie Senior Center
on Saturday, November 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Blood donations are
down this fall in comparison with previous years. The Red Cross is concerned
that supplies will reach critically low levels as the holidays approach.
As an incentive to encourage donors, all participants will receive a free
Red Cross t-shirt. Those wishing to schedule a donation appointment may call
1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543).
7. Verizon FiOS Update
Verizon's new fiber optic service (FiOS) consists of high speed internet,
telephone service via the internet, and cable television. FiOS is being offered
in the southern half of the City and will be offered to the rest of the City
over the next several months. Residents will have the opportunity to subscribe
to the service after fiber has been installed in their neighborhood and the
local hub is "lit". Verizon is carrying our local access channels
as part of the television service they provide.
Verizon Channel |
Comcast Channel |
|
| Government channel | 10 |
71 |
| Public access channel (Bowie Community Media Corp.) |
11 |
77 |
| Government/Baltimore news channel |
12 |
78 |
In addition, our government channel can be viewed live from the City's website if the user has a high speed internet connection. Prior Council meetings and other City-sponsored events are also available to view from the website as "video on demand".
8. Petroleum Management Board of Appeals Hearing
On Wednesday, November 1st, the Prince George's County Board of Appeals (BOA)
continued the hearing in the case of Petroleum Management Inc. (PMI) located
at 8333 Zug Road. This was the third hearing regarding Administrative Appeals
AA-1600 and AA-1601. Approximately ten residents attended the hearing in
addition to several PMI employees, City staff, Councilman Kroemer, and
Delegate Jim Hubbard. Two issues were acted upon: the first was VA-1600
relating to the Fire Code appeal; the second was AA-1601 regarding the
building code. After meeting with the attorneys for the applicant, the
Board ruled to approve a motion to dismiss AA -1600 on the grounds that
the BOA has no authority in this matter. The applicant's attorneys indicated
their intent to appeal the decision to the Circuit Court. The Board then
discussed whether to hear testimony on the matter of the building permit.
Attorneys for the applicant argued that the issue is moot until the Circuit
Court determines whether the BOA has jurisdiction to act on the Fire Code
variance. The attorney for the County argued that the BOA can still render
a decision on the building permit appeal because the permit was denied
for additional reasons not related to the fire code appeal. The Board members
then went into Executive Session. The Board, after returning from the Session,
approved a motion to postpone further testimony until a ruling is received
from the Circuit Court on AA-1600. However, if an appeal of the Motion
to Dismiss is not filed within the required 30 days, the Board will reschedule
the hearing for AA-1601.
9. Planning Board Results (Detailed Site Plan #06042 - Woodson Landing)
This morning, the Prince George's County Planning Board voted unanimously
to APPROVE the Woodson Landing Detailed Site Plan, with conditions recommended
by M-NCPPC staff. All of the City's conditions resulting from City Council's
October 16, 2006 public hearing were included in the Board's approval motion.
Woodson Landing is a proposed 15-lot subdivision located in a portion of
the former A-44 right-of-way at the end of Peppertree Drive, approximately
800 feet west of Pin Oak Parkway in the Tall Oaks Crossing subdivision.
The property includes 11.4 acres and is zoned R-R (Rural Residential).
The motion to approve was made by Commissioner Eley, seconded by Commissioner
Clark. (Commissioner Squire was absent.)
DJD/JLF/asf
Attachments
Transportation Policy (source:Bowie Development Review Guidelines
Draft County Transportation Priorities
City Transportation Priorities for Consolidated Transportation Plan
City Transportation Priorties for County Projects
Seminar Flyer