MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council

FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll

DATE: September 20, 2007

Status Report

1. Rockledge Elementary

Rockledge Elementary School is receiving some much-needed help in the way of traffic and parking improvements. Construction is currently underway in the front of the school for a “Kiss and Drop-off” style of traffic lane for parents and students. The construction will also provide 16 new parking spaces for the school. The current bus lanes and bus drop-off areas will remain the same. The new drop-off lane for parents will alleviate the traffic back-ups that currently occur on Route 197 in front of the school. According to Principal Pam Landry, the finish date should be within the next two weeks. At the request of the school, the City will conduct a mechanical speed and traffic volume survey on Rockledge Drive in the near future.

2. 2007 Election

As of today, the following have filed for office: Fred Robinson, Mike Lyles, Richard Dahms – Mayor; Jimmy Marcos – District 1; Diane Polangin, James Golato, Kevin Conroy, Katie Costello – District 2; Todd Turner, Mary Ellen Winlund, Henri Gardner – District 3; Isaac Trouth – District 4; Leon Buck, Jr., Geraldine Valentino-Smith, Dennis Brady – At-Large.

3. PZED Committee Results (CB-32-2007)

On Wednesday, September 19th, Council Member Turner's bill to increase the lot coverage allowance in the R-R (Rural Residential) zone, CB-32-2007, was reviewed by the County Council's Planning, Zoning and Economic Development (PZED) Committee. Several Committee members raised comments regarding the need for the amendment, especially given that the County is now in the process of examining development standards for small lots because of "mansionization" concerns. The City and one resident spoke in support of the bill. The Association of Realtors supported the legislation. The Planning Board recommended delaying any action. At the conclusion of the discussion, the members voted to hold CB-32-2007 in Committee.

4. Lane Marking of MD 450 Intersections

The attached information from the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is in response to the City's February 2, 2007 letter requesting a review of various intersections in the MD 450 corridor, per City Council comments. In July, the City received a letter from SHA indicating that they would reconcile any missing pavement markings or signage at the intersections of Moylan/Trinity, Stonybrook/
Millstream, and Superior/Free State Shopping Center. However, the July letter did not address the City's original reason for sending the letter, which was to seek a determination of the correctness of the turn lane markings. The recent email message from Brian Young, SHA's Assistant District Engineer for Traffic, indicates that all of the MD 450 intersections were studied and all existing turn lane markings are correct, based on turning volume counts (attached). However, SHA agreed to designate an additional left-turn movement from the current shared through-right turn lane at the Stonybrook approach to MD 450.

5. Solid Waste Transfer Station Public Meetings

Staff attended the September 6 public focus group meeting and September 19 summary meeting held by M-NCPPC and its consultants, SCS Engineers, concerning the Solid Waste Transfer Station Study. Participants at each public meeting rated and discussed various site selection criteria. At the summary meeting, the resulting list of criteria was presented, ranked from most important to least important: 1. Community Impact; 2. Environmental Impact; 3.Transportation; 4. Land Use; 5. Site Availability; 6. Land Area; 7. Economic Considerations; 8. Engineering Considerations. A copy of the focus group survey instrument is attached for your information. According to the consultant, some common themes that grew out of the focus group meetings include the following:

· Consider community impacts.
· Select large site.
· Consider rail access.
· Locate outside beltway.
· Use/don't use Brown Station Road site.
· Prohibit waste imports.
· Consider zoning carefully.
· Evaluate/control environmental impacts.
· Minimize bird/aircraft impact.
· Appreciate opportunity to provide input.
· Continue the input process.

The above findings were scheduled to be presented to the County Council today. The County Council is expected to review the criteria at least once more before the consultant begins a detailed examination of the entire County, using the criteria. For your information, State law already prohibits the siting of such facilities within two (2) miles of the Bowie State University campus. This prohibition makes the County-owned Sandy Hill Landfill and adjacent parcels ineligible for a transfer station.