PRESENT:
Mayor Williams Council Member Wright Council Member Clay Council Member Robinson Council Member Seamens Council Member Snipper Council Member Schultz		City Manager Matthews City Clerk Carpenter Deputy City Manager Ludlow Police Chief Ricucci HCD Director Daines Public Works Director Braithwaite Housing Manager Walker

 

Ms. Clay commented that she was still interested in addressing the issue of traffic calming for Auburn and Devonshire. She said that the Police Chief had met with them and made suggestions, and now the community is looking for someone on staff to meet with them to discuss options.

Ms. Clay noted a letter writing campaign going on about Ethan Allen Avenue. A major challenge to the repair has been who owns the road. The State has acted like it owns the road. It has issued utility permits for the road and has not followed up. It has not been legally possible for the City to just go in and fix the problem. Now, the State has decided that it is our road and has proposed that it be transferred. We’ve asked to have it put back into good condition before the road is transferred. At this point, the City is negotiating with the State to determine who controls utility permitting, who controls widening of the road, who controls repainting of the crosswalks. We want to ensure that they will continue to maintain the road and ensure proper permitting control.
 
Ms. Clay commented about the Morning and Afternoon Addition program. She expressed concern that the children are taken to school too early in the morning and if they are leaving early, the program should advertise an earlier end time to the morning program.

Mr. Wright noted concern from his constituents about burglaries and street robberies. He requested follow up from staff on the Ride On bus issue to limit the size of buses on Maple Avenue. Mr. Wright commented on the replacement of street trees on Maple Avenue. He said it is important to put the right trees in the right place to take overhead utilities into account.

Mr. Wright asked staff to follow up on the landscaping of Takoma Park Elementary School. MCPS had suggested that there would be evergreen trees installed to screen the school driveway from residents on Philadelphia Avenue.

Mr. Schultz noted trash overflowing onto the slope in front of 7676 New Hampshire Avenue. He asked who was responsible for cleaning the area. Mr. Schultz thanked Public Works for cleaning up another area where homeless people were congregating.

Mr. Schultz commented on new residents at the Takoma Overlook condominium and the importance of reaching out to them so that they know they are residents of Takoma Park.

Mr. Seamens announced fall hours for the Piney Branch Pool. Additional information is available online.

Mr. Williams noted the passing of Darhyl Lyons who had worked at TPSS Co-op.

Mr. Williams announced upcoming events: Takoma Park Play Day on Saturday, September 25 and the Antique and Classic Car Show on Sunday, September 26.

April Kissel, Lee Avenue, thanked Sherri from the Co-op for providing snacks to election judges in Precinct 1310. She also complimented a pharmacist at the Shoppers Food Warehouse on New Hampshire Avenue for assisting her with a prescription issue.

Mark Verschell, Baltimore Avenue, commented on issuance of permits for Belle Ziegler Park and indicated that he felt the City Manager was not following the City Code to require permits for use of the park. Mr. Verschell also reported on an incident that occurred between residents walking by the park and park users that had blocked the sidewalk with their vehicles. He submitted written comments (attached).

Larry Hershman also commented on issues at Belle Ziegler Park.

Kay Daniels-Cohen, S.S. Carroll Citizens Association, commented on the importance of emergency preparedness.

Colleen Cordes, New York and Baltimore Avenue, commented on the issues at Belle Ziegler Park. Ms. Cordes also commented on oak trees on her corner that were dying. She indicated that she wanted the City to be aware of the situation as it prepares to install sidewalks there.

Jim DiLuigi, 13th Avenue, commented on the new $50 payment required to determine whether a tree can be moved. He requested that the City reconsider this fee.

Chief Ricucci reported on recent robberies and burglaries and what the Police Department was doing to address them.

Chief Ricucci commented on the issues raised about use of Belle Ziegler Park and the incident that was reported by residents.

(1) Sherman Avenue Traffic Calming

Erwin Mack, Chairman of the Montgomery County Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee, noted that his comments were not official comments of the Committee. Mr. Mack suggested that the City look into use of a new type of traffic control device, a "speed lump" that has channels to accommodate bikes and motorcycles. He noted that the structures would also help ensure that emergency vehicles can pass over them.

A number of Councilmembers expressed interest in learning more about the speed lumps. Mr. Mack offered to provide additional information.

Jeff Trunzo, Sherman Avenue, spoke in support of the proposed speed hump. He noted the pressures of cut through traffic on the street and the street’s use as a desirable route from Maple Avenue to Carroll Avenue. He said he was not the primary advocate for the speed hump, but had offered to put together the process for the neighborhood. He noted that everyone was in favor of traffic calming, but some residents have a strong opinion that speed humps are not desirable.

Kay Daniels-Cohen, President of S.S. Carroll Neighborhood Association, advocated for slowing traffic on the street because of the number of children and the amount of cut-through traffic.

David Schmoltz, Sherman Avenue, said he has not lived on the street long, but he has not seen much evidence of the need for the proposed speed hump on the lower part of the street. He noted the steepness of the hill and suggested it might be a good place for a speed trap. He said he was not sure he could get up the hill with a speed hump. He noted the use of "optical" speed bumps in the western part of the U.S.

Mark Verschell, Baltimore Avenue, commented that the City should look at the intersection of Philadelphia and Holly Avenue, where there has been a number of close calls.

(2) Grant Avenue Traffic Calming

Rebecca Bjork, Grant Avenue, commented that she had volunteered to organize the effort to have a speed hump on the block. She said there was an overwhelming and unique need for traffic calming, overwhelming support for the speed hump, and the arguments in opposition to the speed hump were not as compelling as the need to preserve safety on the street. Ms. Bjork noted the three public schools, the Community Center and the Piney Branch Pool, all of which border the street. She said the arguments she heard in opposition were that they create hazards in icy conditions and that they do not work to slow speed. Ms. Bjork said that the City does install them and therefore they must be considered to work.

Shannon Earle, commented that she has observed that people try to cut through on Grant Avenue to avoid the light. She noted the number of school children who use the street in addition to the 17 young children who live on the 200 block of Grant Avenue.

Ray Cummings commented that he was the lone objector. He said he really does not like speed humps. He said he hears the trash trucks stop at the speed humps and sees the black smoke the trucks emit. He said it would be helpful to find a way to reduce traffic on the street. He said it would be helpful if people could access the park from below. He also noted that a random number of cars drive down Grant Avenue only to learn there is no outlet and then have to turn around.

Glenda Kapsalis, Grant Avenue, spoke in support of the speed hump.

(3) Sherman Avenue Traffic Calming

Ms. Braithwaite provided information from staff regarding the speed hump request. She noted concern with the steep slope of the hill, which goes from 13 percent to 18 percent.

Mr. Robinson said he was sensitive to the issue of the slope. He asked about options for measuring speed.

Ms. Braithwaite said that Public Works does not have equipment to measure speed, only traffic counts.
 
Mr. Snipper commented on the speed hump on a slope on Maple Avenue in Ward 5. He said he has not heard complaints about the slope and that speed hump.

Mr. Wright agreed that having speed data would be helpful, but given that residents have requested the speed hump, the Council was likely to support it. Residents’ perception of speed can be different than what is shown by the data.

Mr. Seamens asked about any particular issues that might arise for standard transmission vehicles. He asked if the City had worked with the neighborhood. Mr. Seamens also asked if the City had made any progress in looking at alternatives to speed humps.

Ms. Braithwaite said that staff had spoken with the neighborhood. She said we don’t have empirical evidence on standard versus automatic shifts with speed humps. It depends on the driver, the car, and the weather. Ms. Braithwaite said that alternatives to speed humps do exist, but people tend to be more comfortable with speed humps.

Mr. Schultz said that Sherman Avenue is an extraordinarily steep hill. He said he did not see how a speed hump at that location would solve any problems. He commented that, from a technical point of view, putting a speed hump there is not a good idea.

Mr. Williams said he wished the Council had discussed what grade was acceptable for a speed hump. He noted that even if that discussion had taken place, the Council would probably deviate from the standard anyway. He said no Takoma Park City Council has ever said no to a speed hump.

Mr. Schultz commented that if the Council is always going to agree to put in the requested speed humps, it could simply be an administrative process.

Ms. Clay noted that the Council does talk about placing them at different locations than requested.

(4) Grant Avenue Traffic Calming

Ms. Braithwaite reported that Public Works was waiting to resurface Grant Avenue until the park renovation is completed. During construction, there will be construction traffic and the park will be closed, so there would be less park traffic. She noted that construction traffic over speed humps is quite loud and if the speed hump were installed before construction, there would be some damage to it. She noted that when the City does the milling and paving, the speed hump would have to be replaced afterward.

Mr. Wright said his inclination was to wait until after construction to install the speed hump.

Mr. Seamens concurred. He asked if there is a sign at the entrance to Grant Avenue that says "no outlet."

Ms. Braithwaite said there is a sign.

Mr. Snipper supported waiting to install the speed hump until the construction and resurfacing is done.

Mr. Schultz commented that he was struck by the testimony about the location of the three schools, a public park, and the Community Center. He said he wondered if we could use some other type of surface on Grant Avenue to create more of a pedestrian mall or do something so that drivers know it is not a regular street.

(5) Discussion of Whether to Request a Change to Alcoholic Beverage Laws

The Council discussed whether to proceed with requesting the State Legislature to change laws regarding alcoholic beverage sales in Takoma Park and, if so, what options to pursue.

Mr. Seamens expressed his continued opposition to the change.

Mr. Snipper said that although veto authority would be an improvement, he was not convinced that a change to the law is necessary.

A majority of the Council supported requesting that off-sale licenses be permitted and supported requesting veto authority.

(6) Discussion of Montgomery Housing Partnership's Request for a PILOT for 7513 Maple Avenue (Edinburgh House)

Rob Goldman, MHP President, and Praj Kasbecker, Project Manager, presented the PILOT request for 7513 Maple Avenue. The request was for a 10-year PILOT with a 100 percent reduction in City property taxes, to support rehabilitation of the property.

The Council discussed the request and asked questions. Concerns were expressed about the lost tax revenue.
 
Ms. Clay noted that fully half of the City’s housing is affordable housing and so it is a smaller pool of people who bear the cost.
 
Mr. Seamens asked what makes MHP different from any landowner who is under rent stabilization and must maintain a building without relief from taxes and the rent stabilization requirements.

Mr. Wright asked for additional financing information and clarification on the income limitations.

Mr. Snipper indicated his preference for MHP to do more of a minimal renovation to keep the cost down and therefore be able to ask for less relief from the City.

Mr. Robinson asked questions about the assessed value of the property before and after renovation. He indicated that he needed more information before he could make a decision.

Mr. Schultz noted that the building was in obvious need of renovation and the difficulty of finding another buyer for the property. He indicated his support for only a partial PILOT.

Mr. Goldman was asked to return to the Council with additional information.

(7) Discussion of Proposed Housing Code Amendments

This item was postponed due to the lateness of the hour.

The Council adjourned for the evening at 11:32 p.m.