City Council Meeting - Monday, June 30, 2008

CITY OF TAKOMA PARK, MARYLAND
REGULAR MEETING AND WORKSESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Monday, June 30, 2008

Minutes adopted September 2, 2008.

Administrative Function Session of June 30, 2008

The Council met at 6:00 p.m. on June 30, 2008, in administrative function session to hold ongoing discussions involving the sharing of information with the City Manager and promotion of the City Manager/City Council relationship. (Present: Mayor Williams; Councilmembers Barry, Clay, Robinson, Seamens, Snipper, Wright, City Manager Matthews)

PRESENT:
Mayor Williams Councilmember Barry Councilmember Clay Councilmember Robinson Councilmember Seamens Councilmember Snipper Councilmember Wright		City Manager Matthews Public Works Director Braithwaite City Clerk Carpenter Recreation Director Haiduven

The City Council convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Takoma Park Community Center -- Sam Abbott Citizens’ Center, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland.

COUNCIL COMMENTS

Mr. Wright asked the City Manager if staff had any update on D.C. Planning and EYA plans for the Takoma Metro.

Ms. Matthews said she would ask Ms. Ludlow to follow up on Mr. Wright’s question.

Mr. Wright requested the City Manager to have staff look at the Montgomery County rainscapes initiative. He said he had learned at the MML Convention that the County may be interested in partnering with the City on the program.

Mr. Wright also suggested that the City should consider requiring apartments and businesses to recycle. He noted that Montgomery County has this requirement. Mr. Wright requested that the City officially ask Montgomery College to go through the mandatory referral process with their facilities master plan. He asked for Council support for his request.

The Council was supportive.

Mr. Seamens noted that he had learned at the MML Convention of an opportunity to partner with the State Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services in a program to provide inexpensive trees to the City. He noted that there are some questions about these programs and he would want to know more before agreeing to the plan.

Mr. Seamens also noted that he had attended a Department of Justice presentation on emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities and special needs. He said they had offered to make a presentation to the Emergency Preparedness Committee and City police and other staff.

Ms. Clay requested that the City communicate with residents about the delay in the Jackson Boyd Playground renovation, beyond sending out announcements on the listserv.

Mr. Williams suggested posting a sign in the park.

Ms. Clay commented on the City’s recycling program. She said that a lot of residents believe the program is behind state of the art. Ms. Clay asked that the City either address the perception or make an investment to bring the program up to speed.

Ms. Matthews said she would get more information on the issue.

Ms. Clay requested that the City Manager follow up on the crosswalk that was to be installed at Jackson Avenue and Rt. 410.

Ms. Clay also commented on traffic issues at 410 and Carroll in Takoma Junction, and its impact in the neighborhoods resulting in residents talking about the need for traffic calming and speed humps. She suggested a community information session or kickoff on the City’s campaign to make the Junction function.

Mr. Robinson commented that Public Works Director Braithwaite had some good suggestions about rainscapes but expressed concern about funding because she does not have money in her budget for that now.

Mr. Robinson noted that all the businesses along Sligo Mill and Orchard Avenue are doing recycling.

Mr. Robinson noted the need for additional raffle ticket sales to help the Independence Day Committee pay their expenses.

Mr. Robinson said he had also enjoyed the MML Convention. He said he would be pursuing relationships with some of the many Prince George’s County municipalities. Mr. Robinson also noted the recent Police Department Banquet.

Mr. Williams commented that the City was ahead of others on recycling of compact fluorescent bulbs. Mr. Williams noted an article in the Washington Post about bottled water and said that he had signed on to the U.S. Conference of Mayors resolution to encourage people not to use bottled water.

Mr. Williams thanked staff for the installation of the signage inside and outside the Community Center building.

Mr. Wright asked the Mayor to be sure to keep the mansionization issue on the radar screen, for possible discussion in September.

Mr. Barry noted the New Hampshire Avenue promotional t-shirts which had been procured by the staff. He also noted the Crossroads Farmers Market held each Wednesday.

Mr. Barry commented on the number of foreclosed properties in Ward 6. He requested the City Manager’s assistance concerning complaints from residents about high grass on some of the foreclosed properties.

Mayor Williams reordered the agenda and introduced County Councilmember Valerie Ervin.

Ms. Ervin introduced two of her staff members. Ms. Ervin commented on a number of issues. She said she agreed that the City should push Montgomery College to go through the mandatory referral process. She commented on the Piney Branch Pool. Ms. Ervin reported on her efforts to secure funding for the Hillendale Fire Station so the County would not pull support from the City’s station.

Ms. Ervin commented on the proposed traffic restriction plan for the Sligo Hills neighborhood. She noted her efforts to ensure better communication between the City, DPWT, and the neighbors.

Ms. Ervin said that two crosswalks had been recommended for Sligo Creek Parkway between Maple Avenue and New Hampshire Avenue. The addition of speed tables at the crosswalks would need to be recommended through Park and Planning, for implementation by DPWT.

Ms. Clay stressed the importance of installation of the speed tables on Sligo Creek Parkway.

Mr. Seamens thanked Ms. Ervin for her work on the Piney Branch Pool and the Sligo Hills traffic calming issue. He asked for information about the summer lunch program.

Ms. Ervin reported on a summer school lunch program that had been started, using mostly federal funds, with additional funding from DPWT for a bus.

Mr. Seamens requested that a similar program be brought to our school cluster and offered his support.

Mr. Robinson asked for support for the shop locally program. Ms. Ervin agreed she would like to work with the City on the program.

Mr. Wright thanked Ms. Ervin for her support of the Main Street Economic Committee and for her advocacy on behalf of the residents of Victory Tower.

Mr. Snipper thanked Ms. Ervin for her efforts to have a sidewalk for the other side of Flower Avenue included in the County CIP.

Mr. Williams noted that he anticipated a problem having the ladder truck returned to Takoma Park after the fire station renovation.

Ms. Ervin indicated that the City would have a lot of support from the County Council on this issue.

ADOPTION OF MINUTES

Minutes of May 5, 8, 12 and 15, 2008 were adopted unanimously, upon motion by Mr. Robinson, second by Mr. Snipper.

Pat Loveless, 7620 Maple Avenue, encouraged people to speak out in opposition to the death penalty and to the war in Iraq. He also encouraged people to register to vote and to participate in the City's Independence Day activities.

Frances Phipps, 7210 Holly Avenue, thanked Mr. Wright for his comments on the mandatory referral process for Montgomery College. Ms. Phipps provided an update based on a community briefing held by Montgomery College.

Ms. Matthews thanked residents who participated in the New Hampshire Avenue cleanup. She referenced a recent newspaper article about the Bathroom Poetry Project. Ms. Matthews also updated the Council on Police Department efforts to combat crime in Ward 6.

Jeanne Booth and Linda Gore from Montgomery County Forster and Adoptive Parent Services, made a presentation of the work of the agency. They provided information on becoming a foster parent in Montgomery County.

Mr. Williams noted that he had brought the issue forward at the request of Takoma Park residents.

Mr. Wright asked if it would be possible to make it illegal to sell foie gras in Takoma Park and illegal to consume it.

Ms. Matthews said she was not sure the City had the authority to ban foie gras but would research the question.

Ms. Clay supported Councilmember Wright’s sentiment, but said she did not want to pass a law regarding consumption knowing that the City did not intend to enforce it.

Mr. Robinson said he supported the resolution, even though he knew it would not have much direct impact in Takoma Park.

Erica Meyer, 7131 Sycamore, Executive Director of Compassion Over Killing, supported the resolution.

Paul Shapiro, Ward 3 resident and spokesperson for the Humane Society, supported the resolution. He noted its educational value.

Resident, 222 Park Avenue, commended the Council for considering adoption of the resolution.

Resident, supported the resolution.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2008-49, Opposing the Abusive Factory Farming Practice of Force Feeding Ducks and Geese for Foie Gras. Moved by Councilmember Snipper, seconded by Councilmember Wright. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Barry, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, and Councilmember Wright)

Resolution 2008-49 (attached).

A. Resolution 2008-50, Reappointing Joanne Hill, Kelly A. O’Brien, and Robert A. Liebreich to the Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs (attached)

B. Resolution 2008-51, Reappointing Jillian Aldebron and Jane Johnson to the Board of Elections (attached)

C. Resolution 2008-52, Supporting Montgomery County Bill 23-08, Creating a Veterans Commission in Montgomery County (attached)

Motion to adopt the Consent Agenda. Moved by Councilmember Seamens, seconded by Councilmember Clay. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Barry, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, and Councilmember Wright)

The Council recessed for a scheduled break at 9:08 p.m. and reconvened in worksession at 9:19 p.m.

Anne Sergeant, Chair, and Board members Jillian Aldebron and Bevlyn Washington were present.

Ms. Sergeant presented the work plan prepared by the Board. She noted the Board’s interest in having the City Code amended to provide for provisional voting and no-fault absentee voting. She indicated that the Board is working to increase voter registration.

Ms. Aldebron reported that the Board was recommending that the Council consider Scantegrity for use as the voting system for the 2009 election.

The Council was supportive of the request. The City Clerk agreed to arrange a presentation on the system for the Council and the public.

The workplan and recommendation are attached.

Kay Daniels-Cohen, Chair, and Vice Chair Jay Keller were present for the discussion. Also present were Alice Sims and Peter Munger.

Ms. Daniels-Cohen provided the report to the Council. She noted two projects that the Committee wished to focus on marketing the Piney Branch Pool, and to work on the Winter Basketball League and the Mosaic Project. (Report attached.)

The Council discussed the report. The Council was supportive of many of the ideas of the Committee. Councilmembers emphasized the need to be inclusive of all wards and socioeconomic groups, and advised the committee to not try to focus on too many things at once.

The Council adjourned for the evening at 10:27 p.m.