The City Council convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Takoma Park Community Center -- Sam Abbott Citizens' Center, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland.
Councilmember Barry
Councilmember Clay
Councilmember Robinson
Councilmember Seamens
Councilmember Snipper
Councilmember Wright
Public Works Director Braithwaite
Community Development Coordinator Blanchard
City Clerk Carpenter
Deputy City Manager Ludlow
Ms. Clay reported on her attendance at a meeting of the Transportation Planning Board, where she heard a presentation from a group commissioned by the federal government to look at the Highway User Trust Fund. She noted that the group is arguing for an increase in the gas tax, which has not been raised since 1982.
Ms. Clay requested that a sign be posted at Jackson Boyd Park to provide information about the construction for residents.
Ms. Clay reported on a meeting of residents in the Devonshire, Auburn, Glaizewood area neighborhood to discuss traffic issues. She said implementation of their plan would resolve a number of issues. Ms. Clay noted a good conversation about the difference between speeding and the perception of speeding, and whether 25 mph is an appropriate speed limit.
Mr. Williams noted that the speed limit is 30 mph by Maryland law, unless posted lower.
Mr. Wright requested that the City Manager and Public Works Director look at the repaving plan for Baltimore Avenue, to consider doing both sections at the same time.
Mr. Wright asked the City Manager if there was any update on the plans for the Chicago/Philadelphia Avenue intersection.
Ms. Matthews said she would follow up and report back.
Mr. Snipper asked about progress on having the Maple Avenue bridge walkway surface roughed up to prevent slippage.
Ms. Matthews said she would check on the status.
Mr. Wright asked the City Manager to look into having the bridge railing paint checked to ensure that it was done properly.
Mr. Seamens noted that he had attended the COG Board retreat.
Mr. Seamens thanked the City Manager for staff work with the Ritchie Citizens Association regarding the proposed Sligo Hills traffic calming.
Mr. Seamens noted a recent meeting at Takoma Park Middle School, facilitated by the Takoma Park Community Action Group, which brought together approximately 30 organizations that work with, or could work with, youth in the community.
Mr. Williams commented on news reports regarding Maryland State Police spying on groups around the state, including some in Takoma Park. He said he was relieved to learn that Chief Ricucci had determined that no one in the City was advised of the State Police activities.
Mr. Williams noted his attendance at the COG Board retreat, which brought together more than 20 elected officials from around the region. He said it provided a recognition that we have to do more in the area of sustainability, a theme which the City wishes to pursue.
Minutes of May 27, 2008 were adopted, upon motion by Mr. Seamens; second by Mr. Snipper.
Mayor Williams noted a Council schedule change. The meeting to discuss Recreation Department programming would be held on Wednesday, July 30.
Mr. Williams added a brief agenda item to discuss the request of the day laborers to keep the current day laborer site open.
Pat Loveless, 7620 Maple Avenue, expressed concern about the reports of State Police spying on community activists.
Seth Grimes, 7300 Willow Avenue, President of the Old Takoma Residents Association and President of Safe Takoma, Inc., announced a National Night Out event to be held on Tuesday, August 5, at the Takoma Metro. He said the event would be timed to target commuters. Mr. Grimes reported that the owners of the Ecco Park property had indicated that construction would begin in September; they had agreed to put up additional screening of the site and clean up the site in the meantime.
Mr. Grimes reported that he had done a straw poll on support for the proposed pizza restaurant. He said 12 households responded. They were uniformly in support of the parking waiver and were not opposed to the granting of a liquor license.
Nancy Abbott Young thanked the City for installation of the "Sam Abbott Citizens' Center" sign asked the Mayor to confirm that the City did not participate in any way in the State Police spying.
Mayor Williams said that the Police Chief had checked and the universal information was that no one here, at the City, was contacted.
Ms. Matthews noted distribution of her quarterly report for the period April 1 - June 30, 2008. (Report attached.)
Mayor Williams noted that the Council had made a decision on May 27 to fund the day laborer trailer until July 31, and to provide some funding for transitioning to the new site. He said the Council recognized that there would be a period between the closing of the existing site and the opening of the new site. He said that CASA representatives had met with him the previous Tuesday to request a two-month extension.
Ms. Matthews stated that based on Council’s direction on May 27, the staff had taken logistical steps to close the site at the end of July.
Ms. Ludlow noted the potential difficulty of obtaining an extension of the courtesy that had been granted by Montgomery County for use of the site without going through a mandatory referral process. She noted that the lease on the site had been terminated, arrangements had been made to remove the trailer and portable toilets. She said she would check with Montgomery County but was not optimistic that a request would be granted.
Ellen Mitchell, Project Manager, CASA de Maryland, updated the Council on progress of construction at the new site.
Marino Cordoba, CASA Worker Organizer, provided information on worker programs at the current site. He asked the Council to extend the trailer for an additional two and a half months.
Councilmembers asked questions about use of the current site and transitioning the workers to other existing sites.
Kim Propreack, CASA Director of Advocacy and Community Organizing, commented on the process for the workers to develop a common set of rules and norms. She said if the existing site closes, CASA would invite the workers to come to the University Boulevard center but they may not be comfortable coming to that site.
CASA representatives described the workers’ desire to remain at the current location and explained their reluctance to move.
After discussion, the Council encouraged CASA to continue to work with the City to find the best way to resolve the situation.
Ms. Blanchard introduced the presentation. She noted that the City had contract with TND Planning to work with the City and community to develop a vision and concept plan for the New Hampshire Avenue Corridor. Ms. Blanchard said the plan would be put online and the public would have an opportunity to comment. A resolution adopting the plan would be scheduled in the fall.
Stuart Sirota provided a Power Point presentation (attached).
After the presentation Mr. Williams asked for clarification about implementation.
Mr. Sirota noted the importance in the short term of holding discussions with property owners and businesses about how this plan can help them and to begin to improve the overall image of the corridor.
Mr. Snipper expressed concern that the plan was car and pedestrian focused, and felt that it was lacking a plan for bike and transit.
Mr. Seamens asked whether parking was adequate, how the slope of Sligo Mill would be accommodated and whether undergrounding utility poles was part of the plan.
Mr. Sirota indicated that the plan sought to create a "park once and walk" district. He said they looked at cutting a new road at Sligo Mill, where homes could be built at the street level of Sligo Mill with parking underneath. He said the plan did not address utility poles, it just showed what it could look like without them.
Mr. Wright asked what it might take to make the area a 24/7 community.
Mr. Sirota said he did not quantify how many people would have to live there to make that a reality.
Ms. Clay commented that she has been happy with the process and thought that the charrette went well. She asked what SHA thought about the plan.
Mr. Sirota indicated that SHA has only heard about the plan informally.
Mr. Barry commented on the importance of marketing the projects to the legislature as a package, noting that funding would be a challenge. He said he liked the phased approach to begin with small but not insignificant things such as trees and facade improvements. Mr. Barry asked if consideration had been given as to what package of infrastructure improvements would be needed to attract private financing.
Mr. Sirota noted that the multiway boulevard is the centerpiece of the plan and it would be critical to get SHA to buy into the project, which would then set the tone for redevelopment to finish the process.
Merat Uzuntepe and Cenk Duzturk were present to request the Council's support.
Councilmembers asked questions about the applicants' background in restaurant management, the nature of the parking waiver, and details about the liquor license. Mr. Seamens expressed reservations about the liquor license.
The Council was supportive of the applicants' requests.
Ms. Roz Grigsby commented that the Board of Directors of the Old Takoma Business Association supported the project. She said they have reviewed the parking and did not anticipate a problem with parking in the evening hours.
The Council recessed for a scheduled break at 10:32 p.m. and reconvened to conduct the regular meeting.
Motion to adopt Second Reading Ordinance 2008-32 Adopting the FY09 Pay Plan for Police (by roll-call vote). Moved by Councilmember Clay, seconded by Councilmember Barry. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Barry, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, and Councilmember Wright)
Second Reading Ordinance 2008-32 (attached).
(4) Consent Agenda
A. Single Reading Ordinance 2008-33 Authorizing the Purchase of a Combination Miller and Paver (attached)
B. Single Reading Ordinance 2008-34 Awarding a Contract for Purchase and Installation of a Stormwater Filtration Chamber System for the Public Works Yard (attached)
C. Single Reading Ordinance 2008-35 Approving the Purchase of a Leaf Collection Vacuum (attached)
D. Resolution 2008-59, Supporting Proposed Specialty Restaurant at 7040 Carroll Avenue (attached)
E. Resolution 2008-61 Appointing Andy Kelemen as the PSCAC Representative to the Safe Roadways Committee (attached)
F. Resolution 2008-61, Providing for the City Council’s Summer Recess (July 31 - September 2, 2008) (attached)
Motion to adopt the Consent Agenda (roll-call vote). Moved by Councilmember Barry, seconded by Councilmember Clay. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Barry, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, and Councilmember Wright)
Mr. Williams noted two versions of the resolution, one prepared by staff based upon Council’s prior direction and one draft prepared based on further input from the community. He suggested that the second draft be put forward for consideration.
Mr. Wright moved for adoption of the amended resolution. He suggested several additional amendments. The Council concurred.
Mr. Wright said he believed the resolution was what the community wanted. He said we want the College here long term and support a community college in the community. He said there is a need to plan to meet the College’s projected enrollment figures, to expand to the Burlington Avenue site and generally support westward expansion of the College.
Lorraine Pearsall presented a petition with over 60 signatures. She supported the amended resolution. Ms. Pearsall said she supported keeping buildings at the current size and scale. (Petition attached.)
Sabrina Baron, President of Historic Takoma, Inc., read a letter from the State Historic Preservation Officer to David Capp, Associate Vice President for College Facilities. The letter addressed the need to carefully design new and remodeled projects on the campus so as not diminish the character and setting of the nearby historic places. (Letter attached.) Ms. Baron said that HTI supported the amended resolution.
John Hannon, Arlene Markowitz, and Kathy Jentz, members of the Montgomery College Neighbors Advisory Committee, supported MCNAC’s recommendations on the College to take a long term view, look to expansion westward, and consider the character of the neighborhood in any building or renovation project.
Larry Hershman, 7713 Takoma Avenue, supported the amended resolution. He said the day care center has not been a good neighbor and he expressed strong support for returning the day care center to residential use.
John Hume, Carroll Avenue, HTI Board Member, supported the amended resolution.
Lisa Sommers, 708 Philadelphia, supported the amended resolution. She said she lived next door to one of the buildings that is planned to double in size. She said she believed it was critical that the College abides by the suggestion in the resolution.
Steve Cook, 7709 Takoma Avenue, supported the amended resolution. He supported taking advantage of the Burlington Avenue site. He supported demolition of Pavilion 3 and creation of a park.
Jim Evans, President of the North Takoma Citizens Association, strongly supported the resolution. He said it might be appropriate for the Council to address the College Board of Trustees. He said he would like to see the good relationship maintained between the College and the City.
Joy Austin-Lane supported the amended resolution.
Walter ______, Takoma Avenue, commented on stormwater problems created for his property as a result of Pavilion 3. He encouraged building on the Burlington Avenue site.
Wayne Goldstein, Montgomery Preservation, Inc., presented written comments. (Comments attached.) He encouraged scrutiny of the College’s relationship with the Foundation.
Beverly ________, commented on an issue in the Carroll Knolls neighborhood with the Foundation.
Frances Phipps, 7210 Holly Avenue, supported the amended resolution. She commented on decisions that were made by planners in the 1970s and noted the continuing day to day impact of those decisions. She said that there are now good alternatives but the problem is money. She encouraged supporting the College’s efforts to get funding to implement the kind of expansion supported in the resolution.
Nancy Abbott Young, Holly Avenue, supported the amended resolution.
Mr. Wright thanked those who came to testify. He thanked Brad Stewart for attending and said he appreciated the work he has done.
Motion to adopt Resolution 2008-62 (as amended) Providing Comments on the Montgomery College Facilities Master Plan. Moved by Councilmember Wright, seconded by Councilmember Seamens. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Barry, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, and Councilmember Wright)
Resolution 2008-62 (attached).
The Council discussed several issues related to committees as part of its ongoing review of committee policies.
There was a discussion about the role of the staff liaison. Mr. Seamens expressed concern about the potential for staff to have too much control over committees. Ms. Matthews said the intention was to indicate that she would appoint the staff liaison. It was agreed to clarify that the staff liaison does not serve as a voting member or actively participate in deliberations.
The Council briefly discussed the residency issue. Mr. Wright noted that a code amendment may be necessary if the Council wished to make an exception to appoint nonresidents to certain committees.
Mr. Wright noted the importance of ensuring that committee chairs receive training, if needed, in order to be effective. He suggested that former chairs who have been particularly effective could assist with that role.
Mr. Williams suggested that this be rolled into a training on ethics and anything else that is needed.
Ms. Clay suggested that training be offered in a variety of ways, noting that it may be more functional to provide materials that people could access as needed.
The Council agreed that a variety of resources should be made available to committees and committee chairs to provide them training if needed.
Mr. Robinson commented that he wanted the Council to eventually address the terms board, commission, and committee to ensure that the structure and name were appropriate for each.
The Council agreed that committee applicants should be current or in good standing on City fines, fees, penalties and taxes and in good standing with the Takoma Park Maryland Library.
The Council agreed that the Council liaison to the committee and/or ward Councilmember would speak with applicants as part of the appointment process.
The Council adjourned for the evening at 11:49 p.m.