Pat Loveless, 7620 Maple Avenue, spoke in support of the State Legislature overturning the death penalty in Maryland.

Linda Gunter, Grant Avenue, member of the Nuclear-Free Takoma Park Committee, thanked the Council for seeing that the City government had changed to 100% wind power. Ms. Gunter spoke in support of the City signing on to the Mayor’s for Peace Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol.

Rex Smith, President and CEO of Hearts and Homes for Youth, commented on the group home at 700 Hudson Avenue. He said that seven or eight youths stay at the home. He said he would like to be more engaged with the Council and the City. He assured the Council that there is no public safety issue created by the home. He said he would like to come back to make a full presentation to the Council.

Elijah Joy, Organic Soul, Inc., said he would like to partner with the City on a volunteer event he was organizing for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Mary Rooker, Larch Avenue, commented on the Task Force on Environmental Action interim report. She encouraged the Task Force and the Council to consider the implication of food choices on the environment and encouraged the elimination of meat products.

Ms. Matthews provided time for Public Works Director Daryl Braithwaite time to report on City construction work and WSSC work.

(1) Task Force on Environmental Action Interim Report

David Hunter, Sat Jiwan Ikle-Khalsa, Catherine Tunis, Emily Riddle, Milford Sprecher, Steve Davies and Joe Edgell were present. Joe Edgell presented the Task Force interim report (attached).

In response to Council questions, he indicated that the group was considering whether or not it would need more time, but no decision had been made.

Council provided comments in response to questions from Task Force members.  Mr. Snipper said he hoped the Task Force would lay out a road map for moving forward and identify tradeoffs.  Mr. Seamens said he hoped to see prioritized recommendations, taking into consideration the "biggest bang for the buck" and other criteria as well. He also urged the Task Force to prioritize recommendations, to not hold back. He also suggested that the report include things that residents can do.

In response to questions, Mr. Snipper indicated that he hoped the report would focus on what the City can do to reduce its environmental impact in whatever way possible, and on what residents can do in their own homes and in the community.

Ms. Clay indicated her interest in stormwater issues, the City’s energy use, and habitat. She said that climate change was important as well, but wanted a focus more on the localized issues.

Mr. Wright said he viewed climate change as the most important issue we face, and that it needs to be faced locally. However, all the issues are interrelated. If the final report did not address climate change, the Council would be disappointed. He suggested thinking about incentives and how to raise revenues to deal with climate change and environmental improvements.

Mr. Robinson concurred with other Council comments. He said he hoped the report could help the City figure out what it could afford, what is feasible, and what would be helpful for other cities.

Mr. Schultz indicated that he would love to see a report that boils down to practicality. The emphasis needs to be on our community and what we can do with other communities.

Mr. Williams suggested that it was important to have things in the report that people in the community could relate to.

The Council generally suggested that the Task Force think of preparing a long term plan.

(2) First Reading Ordinance Authorizing FY 2010 Budget Amendment No. 2

Motion to accept First Reading Ordinance 2010-1 Authorizing FY 2010 Budget Amendment No. 2. Moved by Councilmember Robinson, seconded by Councilmember Clay.    (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Schultz, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, and Councilmember Wright)

First Reading Ordinance 2010-1 (attached)

(3)  CONSENT AGENDA

B. Resolution 2010-2 Providing for an Appointment to the Arts and Humanities Commission (attached)

C. Resolution 2010-3 Providing for an Appointment to the Board of Elections (attached)

D. Resolution 2010-4 Providing for an Appointment to the Emergency Preparedness Committee (attached)

E. Resolution 2010-5 Providing for an Appointment to the Facade Advisory Board (attached)

F. Resolution 2010-6 Providing for an Appointment to the Recreation Committee (attached)

H. Single Reading Ordinances 2010-2 and 2010-3 Authorizing Contracts for Tree Maintenance and Pruning (attached)

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

A. Single Reading Ordinance Authorizing Purchase of E-Citation User Licenses and Equipment for Issuing State Traffic Citations

Mr. Wright requested that this item be pulled from the consent agenda. He said he would like to have more of an analysis of how the savings would be achieved. He also wanted to know if there would be an ongoing cost.

Lt. Bowers responded that there would be an additional cost for the maintenance contract.

Mr. Wright asked if the system could also be used for parking citations.

Chief Ricucci said he was looking into that.

Motion to adopt Single Reading Ordinance 2010-4 Authorizing Purchase of E-Citation User Licenses and Equipment for Issuing State Traffic Citations. Moved by Councilmember Wright, seconded by Councilmember Seamens.    (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Schultz, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, and Councilmember Wright)

Single Reading Ordinance 2010-4 (attached)

G. Resolution Endorsing the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol and Authorizing the Mayor to Sign the Mayors for Peace Cities Appeal in Support of the Protocol

Mr. Seamens requested that this item be pulled from the consent agenda to describe the Protocol and give residents the opportunity to comment.

Mr. Williams noted that the Protocol supported a nuclear weapon-free world by 2020.

Linda Gunter, Nuclear-Free Takoma Park Committee, explained that the Protocol was in parallel with the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. She said the actual nuclear weapons states have not engaged in meaningful and rapid disarmament. The goal was to see such a meaningful reduction.

Pat Loveless, 7620 Maple Avenue, spoke in support.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2010-7 Endorsing the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol and Authorizing the Mayor to Sign the Mayors for Peace Cities Appeal in Support of the Protocol. Moved by Councilmember Robinson, seconded by Councilmember Seamens.    (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Clay, Councilmember Robinson, Councilmember Schultz, Councilmember Seamens, Councilmember Snipper, and Councilmember Wright)

Resolution 2010-7 (attached)

(4) Discussion of Whether or Not to Solicit Public Input about Possible Request to the Legislature in the 2011 Session to Expand Permission for Off-Sale Alcoholic Beverages in Takoma Park

Mr. Williams explained that if the Council wished to move ahead to request a change to the alcoholic beverage laws to allow sale of beer and wine for off-site consumption, a legislative proposal would need to be put together by July 2010.

Council discussed the issue. Mr. Wright supported the approach of Kensington, where there are very specific boundaries where people can apply for licenses. He said he wanted more information on that. He commented that he had said in the past that he believed it would work for a business district in his ward. He said he had heard from some others that they do not want it in their ward.

Mr. Snipper said public input on the possible request was needed. He said he shared many of the concerns addressed.

Mr. Seamens stated that he continued to oppose off site sales of alcohol. He said the potential losses outweigh the potential gains. Mr. Seamens said he views his role as councilmember to represent his residents regarding the city as a whole, and to weigh in on issues related to the city as a whole.

Mr. Schultz asked if it was possible to add a tax to the sales.

Ms. Ludlow said that it was not possible without a change to State law. She said that may be a reasonable part of a proposal to the State, given the increased services that may be needed.

In response to a question from Mr. Schultz, Chief Ricucci said he has worked with the owners of businesses on problems. He said the bigger problem is the drinking in public in Ward 6.

In response to a question from Mr. Wright, Chief Ricucci said he has not heard any complaints about Roscoe’s on site sales. He said that some ethnic clubs in the Wheaton area have had problems. In regard to Prince George’s County laws, he said that Montgomery County has stronger laws. Prince George’s County has made a major effort in the county to strengthen their laws.

In response to a question from Mr. Seamens, Chief Ricucci said he tries to be proactive on the issue. He said there have been some problems with the liquor store on New Hampshire Avenue.

In response to a question from Mr. Schultz, Ms. Ludlow said that the only way to close a store once opened would be to take a recommendation to the Liquor Control Board. The State law regulates what can be sold and what can be prohibited. She also noted that there is not a way for the community or government to choose an owner or say no to an owner.

Mr. Robinson commented that he was a proponent of building community wealth, but not deteriorating community health. He indicated that drawing a line around an area would be an error. He was he was willing to have the conversation.

Roz Grigsby, Executive Director of the Old Takoma Business Association, encouraged Council to talk to its constituents. She said there are models and ways to do this and that the PEN neighborhood had given very positive feedback. She said it is not that residents don’t drink, it’s that they buy their alcohol elsewhere. She said the Association is working hard to fill the vacancies in Old Town and there is no conversation to have about this kind of business.

Mr. Seamens said he would be interested in hearing the OTBA vision for the business district and how this type of business would fit into that vision.

Council agreed to continue the discussion.

The Council adjourned for the evening at 10:23 p.m.