MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager
SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll
DATE: January 17, 2008
Status Report
1. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebrations
The Diversity Committee's program honoring Dr. Martin Luther King takes place
on Tuesday, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room. As in past
years, the program will focus on Dr. King's accomplishments through the
eyes of local students who have submitted entries in the City's "Visions
of the Dream" Art Contest. There were three contest categories: a
coloring contest (K-2), a poster contest (3-5), and a photography contest
(6-12). Over 700 entries were received. The Diversity Committee has narrowed
the entries down to about 40 finalists who will showcase their artwork
at Tuesday's program. The program is expected to end before the Council
Meeting begins at 8:00 p.m.
Included in your package is a schedule of events sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Committee of Bowie. The schedule has been provided by Joan Christian. Their events, which are spread over three days, will feature performances, discussions, and an ecumenical service. Note that each of the three days is at a different venue in the City.
2. City Hall Architectural and Engineering Kickoff Meeting
On January 16th, City staff held a kickoff meeting with Arcadis and Grimm
and Parker on the City Hall Project. At this meeting, public meeting dates
were established as follows:
It is anticipated that a third community meeting will also take place to allow for further architect interaction with the community. It is too early in the process and there are too many variables at this point, so the architect feels it would be more efficient to determine a date for this meeting at a later time.
It is proposed that for the follow-up meetings, the stakeholder and community meetings be merged into one meeting rather than continuing to have separate meetings for each group.
All three meetings would begin at 7:30 p.m. and would be held in the Multipurpose Room at City Hall.
Notices will be sent to surrounding properties for the stakeholder meetings. For the community meetings, separate letters will be sent to community organizations making them aware of this meeting. These meetings will also be advertised on the City's Web page and cable television channel, and staff will contact the Bowie Blade-News and Bowie Star to see if they will run articles on these meetings in next week's edition to promote these meetings. Staff will continue to keep City Council updated regarding the progress on this project.
3. Melford Phase 2 Preliminary Plan
This week, staff received a M-NCPPC referral of a Preliminary Plan of subdivision
for Phase 2 of Melford. According to the referral, 29 parcels are proposed
over the remaining undeveloped acreage (176 acres) at Melford. According
to Mr. Ramon Benitez of St. John Properties, the Preliminary Plan is intended
to accomplish several objectives, including: obtaining the necessary Adequate
Public Facilities approval for additional flex-office space proposed along
US 50 (a Detailed Site Plan for the flex-office space was previously submitted
but placed on hold until a Preliminary Plan is approved); platting the
road network shown on the approved Conceptual Site Plan (CSP); creating
separate parcels for the two (2) existing stormwater management ponds in
Phase 2; creating an open space parcel to transfer the 100-year floodplain
area to M-NCPPC per previous approval conditions; creating a new WSSC wastewater
pump station parcel so the facility serving Phase 2 can be transferred
to WSSC; and, creating multiple development parcels throughout the remainder
of the site for future development. Mr. Benitez stated that, at this time,
no more development than the maximum allowed under the approved CSP transportation
conditions allow is being proposed. Staff does have a concern, however,
with the Preliminary Plan including proposed streets in the residential
development portion of the CSP that was not approved and identifying a
maximum residential lot yield for parcels in these areas. The last day
for the County Planning Board to review the case is March 20, 2008. City
hearings are likely to be scheduled in March.
4. New Feature on City Website
A new feature will soon be added to the City's website which will allow residents
and other visitors to the site to pose questions about programs, services,
and facilities. The tool will search a database of frequently asked questions
and answers to find one that matches what is being asked. If there is no
match, the question will automatically be forwarded to a staff person who
can answer the question. This new service will allow our customers to access
more types of information 24 hours a day.
5. New Police Officer Swearing In (this was inadvertently omitted from the printed Status Report)
The following new Police Officers will be sworn in at your meeting on Tuesday evening:
PFC Robert Stevenson of Columbia was most recently a member of the Metropolitan Police Department for four years.
PFC William Jackson of Laurel was most recently a member of the Department of General Services Police Department for six years.
Private Aaron Williams of Millersville was most recently a member of the District Heights Police Department for two years.
Private Julius Simms of Bowie was most recently a member of the Baltimore Police Department for two years.
Private Eugene White of Landover has most recently graduated from the Prince George's Police Academy. He picked the Bowie Police Department to begin his Law Enforcement career.
Private Quincy Green of Upper Marlboro has most recently graduated from the Prince George's Police Academy. He also picked the Bowie Police Department to begin his Law Enforcement career.
The Bowie Police Department currently has 30 sworn police officers. We fully expect to meet the FY08 goal of 33 officers.