Petition for security camera at Greenbelt Metro

Friends,
A group of local residents has started a petition campaign to ask Metro to install safety cameras at the west exit to the Greenbelt Metro.

Click here to sign on.

Patrick

Opportunity to View County Council Forum

Neighbors- The City is currently airing the July 11 County Council District 1 Candidates Forum on its cable channels on the following schedule, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. The program runs about 85 minutes and will continue through September 5.

All five candidates for County Council District participated in the Forum. The Forum was moderated by Mayor Andrew Fellows. Each candidate answered eight questions and provided opening and closing remarks.

Look for the Forum and news about the City on Comcast @ 71 and on Verizon @ 25.

Christine Nagle
District 1 Council Member
City of College Park

Tomorrow Night’s Council Meeting

Hope you all are having a good summer! This is our last month of the summer schedule before we go back to having a Council meeting or worksession every week. As always, though, the schedule this week is pretty full.

Please note that, due to National Night Out, our meeting is tomorrow night instead of tonight. Also, because of the packed agenda, we will be meeting at 7 pm.

Here’s a review of what we’ll be discussing this week:

1. PROPOSED CONSENT AGENDA – We have two proposed variances up for the consent agenda, both of which were recommended for approval by the Advisory Planning Commission. One, at 4911 Ruatan Street in Berwyn, is for replacement of an existing awning that infringes on the front yard setback. Since the existing awning has been in place since before zoning was in place and is now falling apart, the APC voted unanimously in support of recommending approval.

The second set of variances up for consideration is in Hollywood, at 9814 53rd Avenue. The property owners are requesting two variances – for a driveway that encroaches slightly on the front yard of the property, and for a porch awning that encroaches on the front-yard setback. The property is small, with little room for a driveway or any addition to the house, and this would be only a minor infringement on the zoning requirements, with 1 foot of the driveway in front of the house and 2.5 feet of the foyer encroaching on the required 25-foot front yard setback. Although I am not sure that the property has exceptional conditions that would usually merit a variance, I understand that this is only a very small variance. Also, many streets on the block have driveways and most have covered entryways, so I do not believe it would make the house an outlier on the street. After much consideration, I decided not to bring this variance up for review, and it will go to the consent agenda.

2. REVIEW OF DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN 2010-2015 AND ACTION PLAN FOR FY 2011. The Council will be considering the draft FY 2011 action plan once more before its final consideration for adoption next week. We’ve received a large number of comments from residents from all around the City, regarding a variety of different issues, over the past two months. The current draft of the action plan is online at http://collegeparkmd.gov/temp/Temp%20Docs/CCP%20Draft%20Action%20Plan-6-10-10v3%5B1%5D.pdf, and the strategic plan is online at http://collegeparkmd.gov/temp/Temp%20Docs/College%20Park%20Draft%20Strategic%20Planv6-5-12-10%5B1%5D.pdf. Based on comments I’ve received and conversations I’ve had with residents, I’ve decided to propose the following additions:

1) Add the State Highway Administration to the list of entities we will lobby to allocate funding to rebuild Route 1 (Goal II, Objective 1, Action Step a.)

2) Add the following strategies under Goal III, Objective 1 to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions:
i. Establish LEED-based or equivalent sustainability standards for all new development projects within City jurisdiction.
j. Supply the energy needs of all government facilities with 100% renewable energy through the purchase of renewable energy credits (REC’s).

3) Add the following strategies under Goal III, Objective 2 to effectively manager local water resources and storm water runoff:
g. Incorporate, to the extent possible, best practices regarding stormwater management into City projects . (Responsible party – City Planning and Development staff, Engineering, CBE)
h. Hold at least one education workshop to educate residents about effective ways to reduce water pollution in and around their homes. (Responsible party – CBE)
i. Work with the Prince George’s County police and develop education materials to discourage illegal dumping and enforce anti-dumping laws in the City. (Responsible party – Contract police)

4) Under Goal III, Objective 3, Action Step a., add the phrase “including increased use of and more activities at existing facilities.”

5) Under Goal V, Objective 1, Action Step a., including the State Highway Administration as a responsible party.

3. AMENDMENT OF DECLARATION OF COVENANTS FOR COLLEGE PARK GATEWAY, LLC. In 2009, the City entered into an agreement with College Park Gateway, LLC, developer of the Varsity student housing project, located just north of the Campus Drive entrance to the University of Maryland and the Paint Branch, requiring them, as a condition for the development, to devote $10,000 to a bike-sharing program at the University of Maryland, and enter into an agreement with the University to help develop such a program. The City just recently became part of a grant proposal with the Council of Governments to bring bike-sharing here (see http://collegepark.patch.com/articles/college-park-hopes-to-land-bike-sharing-program for more information on this), and it will be a number of months before we hear about this grant. If this is successful, we would like the developer to support this program – therefore, we would like to amend the Declaration of Covenants to postpone the time when it has to devote the funds to the Bike Share program until September 30, 2010.

4. COLLEGE PARK HOUSING AUTHORITY ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. At the last Council meeting, the Council discussed the approval of new Articles of Incorporation for the College Park Housing Authority, a quasi-independent City agency that oversees Attick Towers and distribution of Section 8 vouchers within the City. Councilmember Nagle, noting that no resident of north College Park has served on the College Park Housing Authority board for a number of years, proposed adding two additional members of the Housing Authority. At its last meeting, however, the Housing Authority discovered that it is not legally necessary for it to adopt new Articles of Incorporation, and a member of the CPHA has moved to rescind the proposed Articles of Incorporation. The CPHA will consider this at their next meeting.

A related issue is a recent concern that has developed about younger people with disabilities residing at Attick Towers. Although the extent of the problem is not clear, some concern has arisen about seniors at the building not feeling safe. A similar concern has arisen regarding Spellman House, which is not under the purview of the Housing Authority. The City Council requested that the Housing Authority look into a preference system that would give a preference to seniors at Attick Towers, but the Department of Housing and Urban Development opined that this would be discriminatory against younger people with disabilities and therefore illegal. I recently met with a couple members of the Housing Authority and with Regina Stone-Mitchell, the director. I discussed with them the extent of this problem and asked that they work with the City to conduct a survey of residents in order to determine how much of a problem actually exists. I would like Spellman House to conduct a similar survey. I believe the Council will also discuss the possibility of a survey at tomorrow night’s meeting.

5. MEETING WITH PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES. As many of you may know, two individuals have announced their intention to run for the Prince George’s County Board of Education – Peggy Higgins, the City’s current Director of Youth, Family and Senior Services, and Mark Cook, City Councilmember from District 3. The Council has asked both of these candidates to come before us to discuss their plans and answer questions. I plan to ask questions about their plans to address overcrowding at Hollywood Elementary School and around the region generally, and also plan to ask how they intend to improve the special education system in the Prince George’s County Public Schools. If you have other questions you would like to ask these candidates, please let me know. There will also be a couple of public candidate forums announced soon, so that you will have a chance to ask them questions yourself!

6. DETAILED SITE PLAN FOR COLLEGE PARK MARKETPLACE (BEST BUY) Michael Companies, the developer of the College Park Marketplace (the shopping center at the corner of Cherry Hill Road and US 1) has proposed renting the former site of Linens ‘n’ Things to Best Buy. The Planning Director from M-NCPPC previously approved modifications for vehicular access to allow a location for installation of car stereos in the back of the development. Michael Companies now is requesting approval of the standard Best Buy sign package, which exceeds the signage area permitted by the Prince George’s County Zoning Ordinance. Our planning staff says it has “concerns” about the sign, but has not yet said what those concerns are. We will discuss those concerns tomorrow and consider sending a letter supporting the signs.

7. ANNUAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT. Every year, the planning staff prepares a development report, detailing recent trends, ongoing developments, and priorities for the upcoming year. They will present this report to the Council tomorrow night and give us a chance to ask questions. Typically, we receive power point slides summarizing the presentation – I will send this around after the meeting tomorrow.

8. APPLICATION TO COMMUNITY PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS FOR A HANDICAPPED-ACCESSIBLE CONCESSION BUILDING AT DUVALL FIELD. The City planning staff has proposed applying for a grant from Maryland’s Community Parks & Playgrounds Program for renovation of Duvall Field. The application is due to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources by August 19, 2010. Although the plans for the Duvall Field renovation are already complete, the rehabilitation of the field is expensive – planned cost is over $4 million – and we have not received a planned contribution from the developer of the South Core of the Greenbelt Station development. Therefore, the staff is looking at a phased renovation project. The first phase would be to develop a new modular concession building with handicapped-accessible restrooms and storage space, which would cost approximately $520,000. In order to do this, an additional $180,000 Community Parks & Playgrounds grant is necessary – this would supplement $84,000 of City funds already set aside, $35,000 in Program Open Space funds, $75,000 from a State Bond Bill, and $146,000 of Community Parks and Playgrounds Grant funding already received. I would like to see this project move forward, and hope that we will be able to obtain this grant.

9. CONTRACT FOR AUDITOR SERVICES. Every year, a contractor performs an audit of the City’s finances, pursuant to Maryland state law. We have to hire a new contractor at least every four years, and it’s time for us now to hire a new one. The City finance staff issued a request for proposals to find a new auditor, and then graded the four proposals it received. The staff recommended giving the contract to Barbacane, Thornton & Company LLP, the lowest bidder, which has received favorable recommendations from the City of Salisbury and the Town of North Beach, Maryland. The City Attorney has drafted a contract that the Council will likely consider next week, which would have Barbacane conduct the audit for the next three years, with an option for a fourth, at a rate of about $16,300 per year.

10. EXTENSION OF CONCRETE CONTRACT. The City has contracted for the past two years with NZI Construction Corporation to do its street repair work. Although much of that work has been cut off because of a 90% cut in the Highway User Fund revenue the City receives from the State, we are still patching streets and maintaining our concrete infrastructure. The staff has proposed that we extend the contract with NZI Construction Corporation through FY 2011, and staff also notes that it has been very satisfied with NZI’s work over the past two years.

11. APPLICATION FOR A FY 2011 COMMUNITY LEGACY GRANT FOR THE HOLLYWOOD GATEWAY PARK. The City recently acquired the property at the southeast corner of Edgewood and US 1, currently the site of a rental property, to build a “gateway park.” The hope is to make this a passive recreation facility, with a monument sign or other significant landmark indicating the entryway to the City and offering a pedestrian thoroughfare. The City applied for a Maryland Heritage Areas Authority grant to build a park, but did not receive it. The staff is now proposing applying for Community Legacy grant funding for the park, with a theme of conservation landscaping for the park. Staff has proposed creating an educational resource for the community that would provide examples and instruction for homeowners looking to incorporate native or edible plants, rain gardens, pervious pavement, or other environmentally friendly techniques into their landscape. The grant application is due by September 1, 2010.

There has been much discussion about the Gateway Park, and I understand that residents are divided on this project. I personally believe that a Gateway Park of this nature would improve one of the most prominent entryways into north College Park, and would encourage more people to see what north College Park has to offer. I want to make sure that, as we proceed with the design of this park, there are numerous opportunities for public input, so that the project is something that we can be proud of in north College Park. I am intrigued by the staff’s idea of a conservation landscaping theme in the park, and I believe this is an option that could create a real landmark for north College Park and something that could attract the attention of people from outside the City, while providing an actual resource for residents. Although the City doesn’t have much time before the grant application is due, I’m eager to hear residents’ thoughts on this proposal, and I’m happy to answer any questions and listen to comments that people have.

12. BOARDS AND COMMITTEES. We currently have vacancies for District 1 residents on the following Boards and Committees: Airport Authority, Animal Control Board, Animal Welfare Committee, Cable Television Commission, Citizen Corps Council, Committee for a Better Environment, Education Advisory Committee, and the Veterans Memorial Improvement Committee. Let me know if you’re interested in any of these or would like more information.

As always, please let me know if you have any thoughts or comments about any of the issues we will be discussing tomorrow night. Thanks for reading!!!

Patrick

Storm Clean-up Update

The Public Works Department is aware that there are still tree limbs from last week’s storm awaiting pick-up throughout North College Park. The City Manager was out today making a list of all the locations that still need pick up.

Public Works has been grinding limbs almost non-stop and they will be out on the street again tomorrow morning. If they haven’t been to your street yet they will be there soon.

Thanks for your patience.
Christine Nagle