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PRESENT: | ||
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Mayor Williams Councilmember Robinson Councilmember Seamens Councilmember Snipper Councilmember Victoria Councilmember Wright |
City Manager Matthews City Clerk Carpenter Police Chief Ricucci HCD Director Daines Public Works Director Braithwaite Finance Director Brooks Community Development Coordinator Blanchard | |
Mayor Williams noted that the Council would be meeting in the Azalea Room during the renovation of the Auditorium.
Councilmember Wright requested speed enforcement on Piney Branch Road between Philadelphia Avenue and the D.C. border. Mr. Wright also requested a review of the effectiveness of the speed cameras, consideration of possible other locations, and consideration of implementation of a mobile unit.
Mr. Wright commented on the issue of off-leash dogs in parks. He said he would like to come up with a forward-thinking way of dealing with it by creating multiple uses for parks, including some with fenced dog parks and some with off-leash hours. He cited the example of Brookline, Massachusetts.
Mr. Wright indicated that he would like to hold a meeting in Old Town to talk about liquor licenses (for carry out beer and wine).
Councilmember Robinson said he has spoken with residents who see the value of having a broader discussion about dog parks. He said he looked forward to having such a discussion.
Mr. Williams commented that the recent Takoma Park Folk Festival was as well run as usual. He noted that the work for next year’s festival begins now and there is always a need for more volunteers.
Mr. Williams noted that the Council had toured the Public Works facility on September 14, in anticipation of further review of the plans for renovation.
Mr. Williams reported that he had attended a meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania regarding further regulation of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.
Roz Grigsby, Executive Director of the Old Takoma Business Association, commented on business personal property tax. She said that reduction or exemption from the tax would be a way to strengthen the economic potential of the businesses. The Takoma Main Street Program is the only one in Maryland that does not offer this as a way to spur economic development.
Larry Silverman, S&A Beads, supported exemption from personal property tax for small businesses. He noted that the cash registers and vaults of banks are not taxed, but those items and inventory are taxed for the small local businesses. He said we need an activist City Council for small business.
Erwin Mack, Executive Director of the Crossroads Development Authority, supported the comments made. He said the CDA would like to work with the Council to avoid overburdening businesses. He noted the many vacancies in the Crossroads.
Bob Griffith, 108 Grant Avenue, submitted a petition signed by almost 30 dog owners asking for the City to work with dog owners to provide a time to allow dogs to be off leash in Takoma Piney Branch Park (Ed Wilhelm Field).
Christopher Victoria, President of the New Hampshire Gardens Association, commented on the traffic calming proposal. He said the organization has been working on the project for approximately two years and there was strong support. He said a traffic study had been done, there were a number of meetings to discuss options, and there had been localized polling by staff.
Michael Turner, Lockney Avenue, expressed concern about school buses. He asked that the speed humps be such that school buses can slow down and get over the humps without stopping.
Ron Flowers, Kirklyn Avenue, said he lived by the proposed circle at Kennewick and Kirklyn. He said the circle would change the landscape drastically. He said he hoped that the circle would not lead the foot traffic onto the traffic circle. He also expressed concern about one way traffic, the decrease in the amount of parking, and the problems for utility and emergency vehicles who would need access.
Erwin Mack, Executive Director of the Takoma/Langley Crossroads Development Authority, commented on the circle at Kennewick. He wanted to ensure that the circle would be designed with the needs of the significant amount of commercial traffic in mind.
Leon Brunson, Lockney and Anne, commented on the school bus and parent drop off and pick up points at Lockney and Anne. He expressed concern that someone would get hurt there and asked that the issue of cars parking right at the intersection be addressed.
Liz Moses, Merwood Drive, spoke in support of the traffic plan.
Elizabeth Kozel, Wildwood Drive, commented that she did not think that a circle was the best means to calm the traffic, and noted the expense of installing traffic circles.
Kevin Charles, Cole Avenue, said that he did not think the City should waste tax money on speed humps or traffic circles. He said he believed the City should first repave roads and add more sidewalks.
Fred Schultz, Wildwood Drive, commented that he had witnessed the traffic problems identified. He spoke in support of the plan, but indicated that he was not sure it would be sufficient.
Barrie Lee Howard, commented that in tough economic times it was untenable to spend the money for the project. He said that since the work on New Hampshire Avenue had been completed, small measures would make more sense. Mr. Howard also commented that he believed that there was not full representation of the neighborhood in the process.
Ms. Blanchard commented that there had been an extensive process to develop the plan, with several meetings held by the neighborhood. The association had expressed support for sidewalks as well, but they would be addressed in a separate process.
In response to questions, Ms. Blanchard said that staff had tested turning radiuses of standard and larger emergency vehicles and would be using a roll curb on the circles.
There was discussion about speed humps accommodating bicycles. Ms. Braithwaite said that the City Engineer had some concern about car safety with cutouts in speed bumps, but he was looking at what was being done in other parts of the country.
In response to a question about the type of speed bump to be used, Ms. Braithwaite said it would be a "bump on a hump," similar to Westmoreland Avenue, Hickory Avenue, and 4th Avenue.
Councilmember Victoria commented on issues raised at the public hearing. She indicated that the school bus issue raised should be okay. She agreed that sidewalks were needed, with Wildwood as a high priority. The fire trucks should be able to drive on the curb if necessary. She did not believe that the circle should affect business access. Ms. Victoria said that although the project was not inexpensive, the funding could only be used for limited things. She said there had been a long public process. She had tried to contact people in as many ways as she could and provided many opportunities to participate.
Ms. Victoria said that care of the landscape in the circles was an issue. She said she would be looking for volunteers to help maintain the plantings.
Motion to accept First Reading Ordinance 2009-50 Authorizing Installation of New Hampshire Gardens Traffic Calming Measures. Moved by Councilmember Victoria, seconded by Councilmember Snipper. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, Councilmember Victoria, and Councilmember Wright; ABSENT: Councilmember Clay)
First Reading Ordinance 2009-50 (attached)
Motion to adopt Second Reading Ordinance 2009-46 Providing for the 2009 City Election. Moved by Councilmember Wright, seconded by Councilmember Robinson. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, Councilmember Victoria, and Councilmember Wright; ABSENT: Councilmember Clay)
Second Reading Ordinance 2009-46 (attached)
Pat Rumbaugh, organizer of Play Day, commented in support of the resolution. Ms. Rumbaugh reported that the City has received the designation of "Playful City USA."
Motion to adopt Resolution 2009-54 Recognizing and Supporting Play Day 2009 in Takoma Park. Moved by Councilmember Wright, seconded by Councilmember Victoria. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, Councilmember Victoria, and Councilmember Wright; ABSENT: Councilmember Clay)
Resolution 2009-54 (attached)
Ms. Brooks commented that the State required that municipalities each adopt a debt management policy. In response to questions, she indicated that guidance in drafting the policy came from the Maryland Code, other municipalities, GFOA, and a review of where the City is in terms of its indebtedness.
In response to a question about investing in derivatives, Ms. Matthews noted that government funds are generally invested in more secure investments.
Councilmember Wright suggested that the words "strive to" be added in point 11. Council agreed.
Motion to adopt Resolution 2009-55 Adopting a Debt Management Policy. Moved by Councilmember Snipper, seconded by Councilmember Wright. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, Councilmember Victoria, and Councilmember Wright; ABSENT: Councilmember Clay)
Resolution 2009-55 (attached)
Motion to adopt Resolution 2009-56 Appointing Members to the Task Force on Environmental Action. Moved by Councilmember Robinson, seconded by Councilmember Seamens. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, Councilmember Victoria, and Councilmember Wright; ABSENT: Councilmember Clay)
Resolution 2009-56 (attached)
Ms. Braithwaite described her plan to install a raised crosswalk by the playground on Westmoreland, rather than reinstalling the speed hump after repaving the street. She indicated that she had communicated with the neighbors on the block and with the neighborhood association. Ms. Braithwaite noted that she recently learned that a metered parking space might be lost in the process. She said she would be getting more information on that.
The Council was generally supportive of the idea of installing a raised crosswalk.
Mr. Wright asked for an update on when SHA would be realigning the curb cuts and the crosswalks on Carroll Avenue. Ms. Braithwaite said she would check with the City planners.
Ms. Daines presented her recommendation to simplify the City Code language related to parking meters, removing the specific locations, times, and rates. Instead, the details would be incorporated into administrative regulations.
Mr. Wright was supportive, but he said he would like the Council to receive a 14 or 30 day notification.
Mr. Seamens was also supportive of adding flexibility, but said it was important that the Council be involved in the larger policy issues.
The Council supported the recommendation of staff.
The Council adjourned for the evening at 10:30 p.m.