City Council Meeting - Monday, October 5, 2009

CITY OF TAKOMA PARK, MARYLAND
SPECIAL SESSION AND WORKSESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Monday, October 05, 2009

(Minutes adopted January 4, 2010)

PRESENT:
Mayor Williams Councilmember Clay Councilmember Robinson Councilmember Seamens Councilmember Snipper Councilmember Victoria Councilmember Wright		City Manager Matthews City Clerk Carpenter City Attorney Silber Deputy City Manager Ludlow

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

Mr. Robinson commented on the Street Festival, dog parks, and the need for traffic calming on the stretch of Carroll Avenue between Takoma Junction and Sligo Creek.

Mr. Wright thanked Roz Grigsby and the volunteers for their work on the Street Festival.

Mr. Wright commented on the Public Works facility. He said he thought the Council needed to reassess whether some of the services should be provided by the County, and whether this review should be completed before the funds were committed to the renovation of the facility.

Mr. Wright requested information on the City’s purchase of 100% wind power. He also asked whether the City had learned more about what it would take to purchase the street lights.

Ms. Matthews responded that the street light purchase would be a fairly complicated matter. She said if a majority of the Council wanted to look at a purchase, some technical assistance would be needed.

Mr. Wright suggested that the regulation that provided for half price parking permits for hybrid vehicles be revisited to take miles per gallon into consideration so that any vehicle over a certain threshold would receive a discounted or free permit.

Mr. Wright also commented on polystyrene and styrofoam and said he did not see why the City should not ban its use at restaurants.

Mr. Robinson said there had been discussion about the Street Festival banning nonrecyclables at the event. He said he was in favor of banning plastic bags in City stores.

Mr. Robinson said he would like feedback on the possibility of imposing an energy tax on Pepco bills in the community (a carbon tax). He also said he would like to look at the Public Works yard to see if it could support the Green Guild biodiesel mix co-op.

Mr. Seamens suggested that the Task Force on Environmental Action come back to Council with recommendations on the green initiatives proposed by Councilmembers Wright and Robinson.

Mr. Williams commented that he had been talking to a vendor who is working on conversion of garbage into electricity.

Mr. Williams commented on the recent tour of the New Hampshire Avenue corridor provided by City staff for state, federal, and county agencies and representatives. He noted the unveiling of the New Ave website.

Pat Loveless, 7620 Maple Avenue, commented on the street festival and encouraged the Council to try to get schools more active in the community.

Terrill North, Kennebeck Avenue, commented on how the City could do more to keep young people from joining gangs. He said that when he made comments the previous week, he did not mean to say that gangs were operating out of City facilities or that the Police and Recreation Department were not doing their jobs. He said he just meant that the City could do more.

John Hume, Carroll Avenue, noted that his firm had completed the tile installation at B.Y. Morrison Park. He thanked the City for providing opportunities for local artists.

Mickey McGuire, Carroll Avenue near Manor Circle and Sherman Avenue, commented on parking problems. He said only one of his cars could park in his driveway. He suggested that the City take down the "no parking" sign on Manor Circle to allow more parking.

City Attorney Silber provided background information. Washington Adventist Hospital has submitted its application to relocate from Takoma Park to White Oak. The deadline for submission of comments to the Maryland Health Care Commission is October 13. The resolution would allow Takoma Park to submit comments and request interested party status. Seeking interested party status will allow the City to fully participate in the process, and will provide the right to appeal in Circuit Court if the City does not agree with the Commission’s decision.

Mr. Snipper suggested one change to the resolution, substituting the word "adequate" for the word "convenient" in the second whereas clause. The resolution was adopted with the amendment.

Motion Moved by , seconded by . (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, Councilmember Victoria, and Councilmember Wright)

Resolution 2009-59 (attached)

Ms. Matthews noted the revisions to the ordinance since first reading.

Mr. Seamens commented that he wanted to delay adoption to provide the community to have an additional week to review the revisions made since first reading.

Motion to table Second Reading Ordinance 2009-47 Authorizing FY10 Budget Amendment No. 1 (until October 12). Moved by Councilmember Seamens, seconded by Councilmember Wright. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, Councilmember Victoria, and Councilmember Wright)

A. Resolution 2009-60 Providing for Appointments to the Task Force on Environmental Action (attached)

B. Resolution 2009-61 Providing for Appointments to the Ethics Commission (attached)

C. Resolution 2009-62 Providing for Appointments to the Tree Commission (attached)

D. Resolution 2009-63 Providing for Appointments to the Arts and Humanities Commission (attached)

Motion to adopt the consent agenda. Moved by Councilmember Seamens, seconded by Councilmember Wright. (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, Councilmember Victoria, and Councilmember Wright)

Ms. Ludlow and the architects presented the design for the Community Center lobby area. The Council discussed specific design elements: loss of the second set of double doors to the atrium, the Corian countertop extension, the acoustic panel behind the desk, handicapped access, seating in the lobby, and exits for staff from the desk area. The Mayor took a straw poll. The majority was willing to sacrifice the second set of double doors if necessary. The majority supported removing the Corian countertop extension from the design, instead opting for literature/information racks.

Ms. Ludlow requested the Council to think about ways to ensure a good census count on April 1. She said the Census Bureau was suggesting use of "trusted ambassadors" to reach out to the community to encourage residents to fill out the census forms.

Council supported the idea of creation of a "complete count committee." Other suggestions included partnering with businesses and PTA's to access the immigrant population, partnering with CASA, and working with the faith community.

Ms. Ludlow agreed to provide additional information to the Council on census data (more granular). Councilmembers were requested to contact her with suggestions for "trusted ambassadors" and other ideas.

The Council adjourned for the evening at 10:06 p.m.