The Council convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Center Auditorium, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland.
Councilmember Austin-Lane
Councilmember Barry
Councilmember Clay
Councilmember Seamens
Councilmember Snipper
Councilmember Williams
City Clerk Carpenter
Public Works Director Braithwaite
City Engineer Khalilian
City Arborist Bolton
Mayor Porter announced that the Council would not be meeting on April 2, which was the first night of Passover. She said regular meetings would resume on April 9.
Ms. Porter also noted the passing of Judge Ruben, retired judge and husband of State Senator Ida Ruben.
Ms. Clay announced a meeting regarding the Sligo Creek Parkway and New Hampshire Avenue intersection. Ms. Clay also noted the postponement of the meeting regarding Jackson Boyd Park. Finally, Ms. Clay requested a copy of the City employee handbook and personnel policies.
Minutes of March 5, 2007 were unanimously adopted as corrected, upon motion by Councilmember Williams. The motion was seconded.
Students from Piney Branch Elementary School, the Young Activists, commented on global warming (Dylan Goldvale, Javier Lopez-Casertano, Ben Miller, Liza Curcio-Rudy, Haki Johnson, Heather DeMocker, and Japneet Kaur). Also commenting were Students to Stop Global Warming from Takoma Park Middle School (Esperanza Loaiza and Casey Goldvale).
The students asked Councilmembers to sign a petition to be sent to Congress.
Pat Loveless, 7620 Maple Avenue, commented on military recruiters in the schools and upcoming antiwar activities.
Hallie Enyetti, 7603 Wildwood Drive, expressed concern about commercial vehicles parked on makeshift gravel driveways.
Sheryl Brough, 1115 Jackson Avenue, commented on issues of concern with commercial vehicles in the neighborhoods, and requested Council support to clarify the code and make it enforceable.
Scott Sillet, 1108 Jackson, commented on the impact of commercial vehicles. He noted that one house had five commercial vehicles, and another had three vehicles. He said that it crowds the street, creates loitering, and impacts property values.
Mr. Hobbs announced new passport acceptance hours, Monday through Thursday, 9:00 to 1:30 and Wednesdays 9:00 to 4:00.
The Council interviewed Bevlyn Washington and Anne Sergeant.
The Council interviewed Diane Berkeley.
Ms. Braithwaite described the plans for Arbor Day 2007, to be held outside the Library on April 14.
Pat Loveless, 7620 Maple Avenue, commented in support of the resolution.
Motion to adopt Resolution 2007-2 Recognizing Arbor Day in Takoma Park. Moved by Councilmember Austin-Lane, seconded by Councilmember Barry. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Porter, Councilmember Austin-Lane, Councilmember Barry, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, and Councilmember Williams)
Resolution 2007-2 (attached).
Ms. Porter explained the purpose of the climate protection agreement.
Mr. Williams supported the resolution. He commented that the City needs to do a better job with green building promotion and work to ensure that any future renovations of City buildings are as sustainable as possible in the long term.
Ms. Clay asked what is known about Takoma Park’s carbon emissions.
Catherine Tunis, Chair of the Committee on the Environment, commented on research done in the past. She said the Committee would be trying to update that inventory, perhaps in conjunction with work being done by Montgomery County. Mr. Williams noted the work done in the past to quantify emissions. Ms. Austin-Lane said she would like to see the Council use green principles in future renovation projects. She noted that the Center for a New American Dream does office audits and could advise the City Manager. She said she hoped the City could reduce the size of its vehicle fleet.Mr. Seamens asked the City Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to the Young Activists at Piney Branch Elementary.
Catherine Tunis noted that Ms. Braithwaite was a leader in using biodiesel fuels and was instrumental in getting the County to move in that direction.
Pat Loveless commented in support of the resolution.
Motion to adopt Resolution 2007-3, Authorizing the Mayor to Sign the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Moved by Councilmember Williams, seconded by Councilmember Austin-Lane. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Porter, Councilmember Austin-Lane, Councilmember Barry, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, and Councilmember Williams)
Resolution 2007-3 (attached).
Motion to adopt Second Reading Ordinance 2007-13 by roll-call vote, Authorizing the FY07 AFSCME Pay Plan. Moved by Councilmember Austin-Lane, seconded by Councilmember Williams. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Porter, Councilmember Austin-Lane, Councilmember Barry, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, and Councilmember Williams)
Second Reading Ordinance 2007-13 (attached).
Motion to adopt Resolution 2007-4 with the addition of Diane Berkley, Providing for Appointments to the 2007 Council Compensation Committee. Moved by Councilmember Clay, seconded by Councilmember Snipper. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Porter, Councilmember Austin-Lane, Councilmember Barry, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, and Councilmember Williams)
Resolution 2007-4 (attached).
The Council recessed for a scheduled break at 8:24 p.m. and reconvened in Worksession at 8:30 p.m.
The City Arborist, Todd Bolton, provided his annual report to Council (attached) and made a presentation related to tree removals and replacements. He suggested that the City find ways to create incentives for tree planting, such as allowing preplanting replacements before removal of trees and looking at providing discounted installation and purchase of trees by use of bulk discounts.
Council discussed the loss of tree canopy overall, in the Old Town business district, the health of trees along Sligo Creek, and the need for an educational effort on tree planting. Council was supportive of the Arborist's suggestions and asked him to return with a plan.
City Engineer Ali Khalalian made a presentation on the street restoration project. Council questioned Mr. Khalalian and Ms. Braithwaite about the cost sharing arrangements with WSSC after water line replacement work. Ms. Braithwaite indicated that WSSC will pay 50% of the street resurfacing cost if a street was rated at good or better before construction. She described the WSSC patching process.
In response to questions from Council, Ms. Braithwaite spoke about the cost of the street restoration project, explained that the loan funds would be exhausted in the current year and additional work funding will come from the CIP. Ms. Braithwaite also commented on the warranty and inspection process.
Council had questions and comments about specific streets, Palmer Lane, Elm, Larch, Glenside near Merwood.
Council discussed issues arising from the parking of commercial vehicles in neighborhoods. Issues mentioned included the number of commercial vehicles associated with each house, parking on lawns by creating a gravel surface, driving over curb to access the makeshift parking area, damage to trees near such parked vehicles from soil compaction, whether the problem is related to size of vehicle, and noise. There was a consensus on the need to create a balanced approach, to be sensitive to those who need their vehicles for their livelihood and the neighbors who are negatively impacted by them.
A number of ideas were discussed: tightening the Code in an enforceable, balanced way; consideration of screening requirements for oversize vehicles; review and enforcement of curb cut requirements; speaking to business owners about the problem.
Staff was asked to do more research and come back to Council with recommendations.
ADJOURN
The Council adjourned for the evening at 10:30 p.m.