MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council

FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll

DATE: March 22, 2007

Status Report

1. City Council Workforce Housing Presentation

On March 12th, four panelists gave PowerPoint presentations to the City Council regarding workforce housing. At the conclusion of the meeting, Council requested that copies of the presentations be made available. On March 16th, staff posted the four PowerPoint presentations on the City website under “What’s New”.

2. Melford CSP-06002 Appeal

Several parties of record have filed an appeal of the County Planning Board's February 20, 2007 approval of CSP-06002 for Melford to the District Council (see attached letter). The appeal is filed jointly by the Sherwood Manor Civic Association, the Prince George's County Sierra Club, and the Patuxent Riverkeeper (Mr. Fred Tutman). According to the Zoning Ordinance, the Planning Board must now transmit a copy of the Conceptual Site Plan, all written evidence and materials submitted for consideration by the Planning Board, a transcript of the public hearing and any additional information deemed appropriate. The District Council will then schedule a public hearing, giving at least 14 days notice to all persons of record. Within 60 days after the close of the Council's hearing, the Council can choose to affirm, reverse or modify the decision of the Planning Board, or return the Conceptual Site Plan to the Planning Board to take further testimony or reconsider its decision. If the District Council fails to act within the specified time, the Planning Board's decision is automatically affirmed. Although there is some variability in the exact schedule due to the time needed for preparation of the transcript, assembly of materials, scheduling of hearing dates, etc. as noted above, the appeal will likely be heard by the District Council in May or June, with a final decision being released by the end of the summer.

3. MD 197 Signal Warrant Analyses

The attached email response from SHA was sent to Planning Director Joe Meinert regarding traffic signals on MD 197, north of MD 450. At the October 21, 2002 City Council hearing on the proposal to provide median improvements within the section of MD 197, north of MD 450, by the Route 197 North Task Force, SHA staff indicated that the intersections along MD 197, north of MD 450, would be monitored for traffic signalization upon completion and opening of the new, improved MD 450. (A signal warrant analysis study was previously undertaken in 2001 and none of the intersections warranted traffic signals.) Staff recently reminded SHA of their offer to review the situation subsequent to the opening of reconstructed MD 450 and requested that SHA conduct this investigation. According to the attached email message, traffic signals are not currently warranted at any of the intersections studied.

4. Legislation

In February, Council discussed two bills aimed at helping the financially troubled Prince George's Hospital. PG 418 which would have authorized the Maryland Medical System to purchase the hospital, has stalled, having never received a favorable vote from the County Delegation.

On the other hand, a bill to create a Prince George's Hospital Authority cleared the House of Delegates last week and is now under consideration in the Senate. The bill directs the Hospital Authority to develop a long-term strategy for delivering hospital services in Prince George's County. The Authority would have the power to sell the facilities to another entity and could issue revenue bonds. In addition, in January 2008 the Authority would be required to impose a supplemental property tax sufficient to retire long-term bond indebtedness and satisfy any long-term pension liability held by Dimensions. The tax would also need to cover the costs of acquiring the hospital system facilities, much of which are owned by Prince George's County.

Before the bill passed the House, it was amended to incorporate a $10 million annual grant to the Hospital Authority from the Health Care Coverage Fund for 2008 - 2012. The fund is being established as part of the Children and Families Health Care Act of 2007 and will be financed primarily through a $1 increase in the tobacco tax. Both the Hospital Authority bill and the Children and Families Health Care Act of 2007 would need to pass in order implement the financial rescue plan for the hospital system. The bill was also amended to exempt any future property tax levies for the benefit of the Hospital Authority, from the charter limits on property tax rates.