MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager
SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll
DATE: April 12, 2007
Status Report
1.
Old Town Bowie Commercial Façade Program Seeks Architectural Services
The City's Economic Development office is seeking an architect to provide
services as part of the commercial façade improvement grant program.
When the program was created, the services were provided under the umbrella
of the Faux Group's contract with the City. With the potential for up to
nine buildings to seek services under the program, staff initiated a wide
solicitation effort under the City's "Notice of Intent to Negotiate" process
to find an appropriate architect. Any contract resulting from staff's efforts
will be brought to Council for approval.
2. Election 2007
As of today, the following have filed for office: D. Michael Lyles - Mayor;
Diane Polangin - District 2; Todd Turner - District 3; Isaac Trouth - District
4.
3. Economic Development Committee (EDC)
The Bowie EDC held its regular meeting today. Chairman Leyden provided a
report on the Maryland Economic Development Association meeting he attended
earlier in the week. That meeting focused on meeting the challenges of
BRAC and featured expert speakers who had met the challenges posed in Southern
Maryland from the growth at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Of particular
concern today, with the expected growth at Fort Meade, is where will the
workers needed come from -- there is not currently a supply pool of skilled
and cleared workers in Maryland. Mr. Leyden suggested that perhaps the
most memorable quote from any of the speakers came from Congressman Hoyer
who said, "Maryland's character must define future development, future
development must not define Maryland's character".
The EDC will ask the Council to issue a proclamation in May proclaiming Business
Recognition Month 2007 in Bowie; this proclamation will be the starting point
for the planning of a major business recognition event to be held in May
2008. An EDC task force has begun coordination with the Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce
and is reaching out to other County business organizations.
The EDC also continued discussions about business incubators but determined
they do not yet have enough information with which to craft their statement
to the Council. Mr. Leyden and the members will continue to gather that needed
information.
The meeting concluded with a vigorous discussion about the pending hospital
system closure and the adverse effects it will have on the City and the County;
the members determined to individually convey their concerns to various elected
officials.
4. Sport Fit Tennis Courts
Sport Fit is proposing to construct three (3) outdoor tennis courts behind
the Williams Plains House in Whitemarsh Park. The proposal will be reviewed
by the Prince George's
County Historic Preservation Commission on Tuesday,
April 17th. The Commission had reviewed an earlier proposal for the tennis
courts to be located on the eastern side of the Plains house (between the
house and the Sport Fit main building), but requested that they be relocated
to the area behind the house. Sport Fit had received approval from the
City approximately two (2) years ago for these courts, although in the
side yard location. Staff is reviewing the latest proposal and will advise
the Commission and Council of its recommendation.
5. Swearing-in of Officers
The following Officers will be sworn in during the Council Meeting Monday
night:
6. Proposed FY 2008-2013 County Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
The attached packet summarizes the County CIP projects proposed in the Bowie
area. As you can see, there are a lot of projects moving forward. This
year appears to be unprecedented in the dollar value of proposed Year 1
appropriations for our area. The major projects for which appropriations
in Year 1 are requested include Bowie Area High School ($8.652 million),
Bowie Fire/EMS Station ($3.050 million), Library Facility ($6.365 million),
Green Branch Park ($1.450 million) and Church Road/Mount Oak/Woodmore Intersection
($1.535 million), among others. New Projects this year include: a future
conversion of Tall Oaks Vocational School to Tall Oaks Career and Technology
Center, addition of 30 new parking spaces at Enfield Chase Neighborhood
Park, rehabilitation of Queen Anne Bridge on the Patuxent River as a public
fishing spot, and development of two (2) soccer fields with lighting in
Sandy Hill Neighborhood Park. The only major deletion is a CIP project
to upgrade and widen Race Track Road to a four-lane collector road between
MD 450 and Old Chapel Road. As usual, staff is preparing draft position
statements regarding both the M-NCPPC budget/CIP and the County budget/CIP,
which will be transmitted to you for your endorsement shortly.
7. County Council Communication
Attached is a copy of an email regarding the hospital matter from Council
Member Ingrid Turner. The same statement was received from Councilman Knotts’ office.
Attachments:
Prince George's County Proposed Budget - CIP Projects for Bowie
Historic Preservation Commission Review of Proposal at White Marsh Park
Email from County Councilwoman Ingrid Turner re: Prince George's Hospital System