MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager
SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll
DATE: September 6, 2007
Status Report
1. Salute to America Concert
Next week marks the sixth anniversary of the events of September 11, 2001.
In recognition of those events and in celebration of our country, the Sunday
Sunset Concert Series at Allen Pond Park will conclude this weekend with
a "Salute to America" Concert. The program, which is a more expanded
version of the regular weekly concerts, will include the presentation of
the colors by the Bowie High NJROTC, brief remarks by the Mayor, a selection
of patriotic music played by the United States Naval Academy Concert Band,
a musical salute to armed forces, and a candle lighting and sing-along.
The concert begins at 7 p.m. and is expected to conclude by 8:15 p.m. A
parking pass is included in your package.
2. Contractual Tree Trimming
The Adopted Fiscal Year 2008 Budget has allocated $25,000 for contractual
pruning of street trees. The City has over 15,000 trees in its inventory.
Our pruning program continues to be achieved via a combination of both
City staff and private firms to cover all the areas that need to be maintained
annually.
Prince George’s County has a recently let contract with Lewis Tree Service to perform tree trimming and removal services for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. City staff recommends that this firm be used to perform needed street tree pruning in a purchase order for $25,000.
As provided by Section 62 of the City Charter, this will serve as the required seven (7) day notice of intent to sign a contract to provide these services. If Council has no objection, we will proceed with the purchase order after seven days.
3. Prince George's County BRAC Committee
Staff attended the August 30 meeting of the Prince George's County BRAC Committee
of the Whole. This committee is chaired by Deputy County Administrative Officer David Byrd and is coordinated by the County Executive's
office working through the Prince George's County Economic Development
Corporation.
During this meeting, M-NCPPC staff presented a briefing on the first draft
of the Prince George's County BRAC Plan. The plan focuses primarily on the
impacts to the County of various BRAC related increases at Andrews Air Force
Base. It takes a slight look at the impacts to the North County area from
increases at Fort Meade.
The DRAFT is an “Impact” study, not a “Master Plan” according
to the M-NCPPC briefing.
Additionally, WSSC reported they have capacity in Prince George’s County
that will last until 2030 unless the South County area is opened for development.
County staff was asked to look closer at impacts on K thru 12 education,
and the impacts on healthcare and medical facilities – neither topic
was addressed in the first draft.
The County wants County staff comments by September 15 and will accept comments
from other agencies until then. The County intends to have a final product
ready to give to Lieutenant Governor Brown when the Lieutenant Governor visits
the County on October 30.
City staff will continue participation in this and other BRAC related committee
meetings.
4. 2007 Election
As of today, the following have filed for office: Fred Robinson, Mike Lyles – Mayor;
Jimmy Marcos – District 1; Diane Polangin, James Golato, Kevin Conroy,
Katie Costello – District 2; Todd Turner, Mary Ellen Winlund – District
3; Isaac Trouth, Steven Walton – District 4; Leon Buck, Jr., Geraldine
Valentino-Smith, Dennis Brady – At-Large.
5. Stakeholders Meeting - Navy Federal Credit Union Detailed Site Plan
On Wednesday, September 5th, a Stakeholders Meeting was held for the above-
referenced project. The Navy Federal Credit Union, the applicant in this
case, has submitted a Detailed Site Plan application for the purpose of
constructing a one-story/3,500 sq. ft. bank building with a drive-through
facility and 72 on-site parking spaces on a 2.23-acre site. The subject
property is located next to the On the Border restaurant, at the intersection
of U.S. Route 301 and MD Route 197, and is zoned C-M (Commercial Miscellaneous),
where the proposed use is permitted by right under the Prince George’s
County Zoning Ordinance. Attendees at the Stakeholders Meeting included
the applicant's engineer and local and corporate attorneys, and City staff.
A total of 84 public notices were distributed advertising the meeting.
No one from the public or press was present at the meeting. Public hearings for this Detailed Site Plan application are scheduled for Tuesday,
September 25th (BAPB), and Monday, October 1st (City Council).
6. County Public Safety Facilities Master Plan
The Preliminary Public Safety Facilities Master Plan was released last week
by M-NCPPC. A joint public hearing of the County Planning Board and District
Council will be held at the County Administration Building on October 2,
2007 at 7:00 p.m. The City previously provided comments subsequent to the
Public Forum held in 2003, advocating the need for a comprehensive approach
to resolving both facility and service time deficiencies. The Preliminary
Public Safety Facilities Master Plan includes one new proposal affecting
the City. A proposed future Fire/EMS Station is recommended for the Church
Road corridor in the vicinity of Mount Oak and Woodmore Roads. The rationale
for this recommended station is that it would help
to provide emergency services within the current 7-minute response time standard
(the Plan's goal is to achieve a 5-minute response time across the County).
Because the City has been particularly vigilant about inadequate response
times during review of development plans, it is recommended that Council
specifically support this recommendation. Other recommendations of the Plan
include endorsement of the Northview Drive Fire/EMS Station and retaining
a recommendation for a future County police station on Glenn Dale Boulevard.
Staff will draft a City position statement for your review prior to the October
2 hearing.