MEMORANDUM


TO: City Council

FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll

DATE: May 24, 2007


Status Report

1. Vehicle Acquisitions

The Community Services Department’s Parks and Grounds Division has several new vehicles scheduled for acquisition in FY08. Acceptable vehicles have been located per the following:

$73,000.00 was appropriated in the FY08 Equipment Acquisition and Replacement Fund to cover these costs. As provided in Section 62 of the City Charter, this will serve as the required seven-day notice of intent to purchase this vehicle. If Council has no objection, we will issue a purchase order with delivery scheduled after July 1, 2007.

2. Election 2007

As of today, the following have filed for office: Fred Robinson, Mike Lyles – Mayor; Diane Polangin – District 2; Todd Turner – District 3; Isaac Trouth – District 4; Kevin Conroy, Leon Buck, Jr., Geraldine Valentino-Smith – At-Large.

3. Melford CSP

At its June 11, 2007 meeting, the Prince George’s District Council is expected to consider a proposed Order of Remand to the Planning Board of the Melford Conceptual Site Plan (SP-06002). A copy of the draft Order of Remand is attached for your review. The Remand Order is being requested by County Council Member Ingrid Turner. At this time it is too early to tell when this item might appear on the
agenda of the Planning Board. It seems a bit odd that part of the Remand seeks to obtain the “position of the City of Bowie as to interpretation and enforcement of restrictive covenants”. Bowie City Council’s position on the covenants has been clear and consistent, and on May 4th that position was validated by the Maryland Court of Appeals.

4. Bike to Work Day

Last Friday, May 18th, Bike to Work Day was held in the Washington, DC region. Again, the City was a participant, having two pit stops: Bowie Town Center Food Court (fourth year) and the Old Town Bowie Fire Station (second year). Twenty-five riders attended the Town Center pit stop, including several students from St. Pius X School. (This was the third year these students participated.) Two young students from the Bowie Christian School, accompanied by their dad, also biked to the Town Center pit stop, then onto their school. This was the first year for their participation. Numerous familiar faces from previous years also took part in the event. Special thanks to The Simon Property Group for providing food and beverages at the Town Center pit stop for the fourth consecutive year.

Fourteen riders attended the Old Town Bowie pit stop. Beverages and food were donated by Bob Thompson of the Old Bowie Town Grille. A representative of REI was in attendance to assist in distributing T-shirts, water bottles and information. Special thanks are extended to Mike DeNardo (A & M Cycle) for donating gift certificates and to the firefighters at the Huntington Fire Station for being Old Town pit stop hosts.

More than 12 different types of biking and walking maps, Bowie brochures, Fun Meters, key chains and other knickknacks were available at each pit stop. Participants in attendance at each pit stop were eligible for a drawing of donated prizes. Special thanks are also extended to the officers from the City of Bowie Police Department who attended each pit stop to talk about bicycle safety and distribute information. Planning for next year's event will begin in September.

Attachment - Draft Order to Remand