PRESENT:
Mayor Williams Councilmember Daniels-Cohen Councilmember Grimes Councilmember Male Councilmember Schultz Councilmember Seamens Councilmember Snipper		City Manager Matthews City Clerk Carpenter Deputy City Manager Ludlow City Arborist Bolton Public Works Director Braithwaite Police Chief Ricucci

 

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.

Mayor Williams provided an update.

Pat Loveless, Maple Avenue, urged support for the the Occupy D.C. movement and various peace and justice issues.

Joe Edgell, Elm Avenue, spoke in support of the Tree Ordinance. He urged the Council to work to stabilize the tree canopy and ensure that the Ordinance is efficient. He said that citizens should be able to expect a high level of service and be able to hear responses to applications quickly and based on sound information.

Michele Levy, Crossroads Community Food Network, spoke in support of the grant application submitted by the organization.

Mr. Williams reported that he had attended the State of the State speech, met with County Executive Ike Leggett, and briefed the House Ways and Means Committee on revenue issues.

Ms. Daniels-Cohen announced the Mid-Winter Play Day scheduled for February 9 and noted the recognition received by Tebabu Assefa from the White House.

Mr. Male commented on PEPCO’s criteria for undergrounding power lines. He asked that the Council send a letter requesting that power lines in the City be considered.

Mr. Schultz announced that he would miss the next two City Council meeting. He stated his support for the resolution that would be considered on February 13 supporting the Takoma/Langley Sector Plan Design Guidelines.

Mr. Schultz suggested that the Council consider setting aside time on agendas several times a year to have members make reports on what is going on with the COG committees they are working on.

Mr. Seamens announced that the organizers of the Martin Luther King event in Takoma Park were planning a Memorial Day event. Anyone interested in helping with the planning should contact him.

Mr. Seamens asked the City Manager to include in her proposed budget funding estimates for reformatting the newsletter and making it appear more like a newsletter and less like a newspaper. He also suggested exploring putting ads for local businesses in the newsletter to assist those that are struggling because of the economy.

Ms. Matthews suggested that the Council may wish to have a work session to review the newsletter guidelines.

Chief Ricucci provided information in response to a resident’s concerns about communications with other police agencies. He assured the Council that communications were good, despite the lack of radio interoperability between the City and the Metropolitan Police Department and Prince George’s County. He indicated that text messages are used to provide real time information.

(1) Tree Commission Annual Report

Melanie Fosnaught, Chair of the Tree Commission, summarized the information in the written report and noted the Commission’s plans to increase enthusiasm about the trees in the City and encourage better care of the trees. The Commission has discussed the possibility of doing a mailing and creating a guide to historic trees in the City.

Ms. Daniels-Cohen suggested that the Tree Commission have a presence at the Jazz Fest in addition to the Folk Festival and Street Festival.

Mr. Snipper expressed interest in the guide to historic trees idea.

Ms. Male suggested that the Commission consider what steps would need to be taken to increase the tree canopy from 59% to 65% without becoming less equitable and making the City’s tree policy less popular. He suggested that the Commission promote the pre-planting credit option.

Mr. Schultz indicated that he was looking for ways to get people to identify more with their trees.

Mr. Grimes noted that preservation of existing trees is almost more important than planting new trees. He asked that the Council request the Tree Commission to formulate plans to increase the City’s tree canopy.

The Council supported Mr. Grimes’ proposal.

(2) City Arborist's Annual Report

Mr. Bolton presented information.

In response to Council’s questions, he indicated that it is difficult to find new places to plant trees. Some of the open space is open play areas not appropriate for trees. In addition, street trees are best planted around eight trees in a row to ensure ease of maintenance.

Mr. Bolton noted the PEPCO tree work in the City. He said that PEPCO is offering to take down trees that appear hazardous at no cost to the homeowner. When appropriate based on the condition of the tree, he is approving requests to take down those trees. He said he has turned down 25-30% of the requests.

Mr. Seamens said he would like to see the Tree Commission think about working with residents to plant more of the longer growing trees in back yards.

Mr. Grimes asked about the process for neighborhood approval of street trees.

Mr. Bolton explained that the process of a block voting on which trees to plan was established after a prior Council discussion.
 
Mr. Grimes wondered why individuals get to exercise their influence over something that affects public land and the public good.

Mr. Male noted that he had just put solar panels on his house and had declined having a street tree planted. He said he appreciated the process.

Mr. Male asked if the City should consider a program to plant trees on private property where people are willing to accept a tree.

Mr. Male asked why the City’s tree planting policy is set up to focus exclusively on canopy trees rather than including other trees as well. He noted that another challenge will occur with maintaining tree cover in the border areas as the residential and commercial zones get built out.

Mr. Williams suggested that the Council consider a tree tour of the City to better understand the issues.

Ms. Daniels-Cohen suggested partnering with neighborhood associations on planting and tree care.

Mr. Schultz said that a volunteer effort is needed. He supported finding a way to get trees planted on private property.

Ms. Ludlow noted that several articles in the contract needed attention and were held over for discussion this past year. Articles 21, 24 and 25 were amended. Article 30 was amended and a side letter of agreement provided for the FY 2012 wage adjustment. She indicated that management was satisfied with the results.

Motion to adopt Resolution 2012-5 Ratifying Modifications to a Collective Bargaining Agreement with AFSCME Local 3399. Moved by Councilmember Snipper, seconded by Councilmember Male.    (VOTING FOR: Mayor Williams, Councilmember Daniels-Cohen, Councilmember Grimes, Councilmember Male, Councilmember Schultz, Councilmember Seamens, and Councilmember Snipper)

Resolution 2012-5 (attached)

(5) Discussion of Large Grant Applications

Ms. Matthews explained that she was seeking guidance from the Council on the funding for the proposals to be included in the FY 2013 budget. No formal action would be taken by the Council until the budget is adopted in May.

Mr. Grimes noted criteria he would apply in his review of the applications:

- How is the proposed use of funds aligned with the interests of Takoma Park residents and other stakeholders?
- How wide is the reach, and how deep is the potential impact, of the proposed use of funds?
- Does the proposed use serve more needful, underserved segments of community?
- What’s the "bang for the buck," the ratio of impact to requested amount?
- Is the proposed use duplicative of programming or services offered by the city or another organization? If it is, what is the justification for funding despite the duplication?
- Does the proposed use (by contrast) relieve the city of responsibility for delivery of needed services that the city would otherwise deliver?
- Does the proposing organization have its own resources that could fund the project?
- Could the applicant tap non-city funding that would be more appropriate than city funding given project goals, reach, and city impact?

Mr. Male commented that it would be helpful to have a sense of how much the Council would choose to spend and whether providing partial funding would be an option.

The Council discussed the various applications.

Halcyon Hall Rain Garden:

Mr. Grimes said he would not fund the project because it is for the improvement of a Washington Adventist University facility and the University should fund the improvement. It would have limited importance City-wide.

Mr. Schultz said he would need to know what the big picture is. He would be willing to provide a nominal amount of money because the University is a good neighbor.

Mr. Snipper noted the work that the Adventists do for the community. He said he could support the funding.

Ms. Daniels said she would like to learn more about the project.

Mr. Williams said he would support no funding or a nominal amount of funding.

Womens Business Network:

Mr. Grimes indicated that he would need to learn more about the organization. The proposal does not provide evidence that women business owners in less economically advantaged neighborhoods would be part of the outreach. He said he would like to interview them about their goals and perhaps provide seed funding or nominal funding.

Mr. Schultz concurred. He said he feels that the proposal is duplicative of services already offered by the Small Business Administration, the Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations. He said he might support a nominal amount of funding as a goodwill gesture.

Mr. Male said he felt the proposal lacked detail and substance, but it was a promising area for investment.

Mr. Snipper agreed with Mr. Schultz. He said he could support a small amount of funding.

Mr. Williams said he would not support funding.

Takoma Park Independence Day Committee, Old Takoma Business Association, Takoma Park Folk Festival:

Mr. Grimes noted that he had resigned from the Board of the Old Takoma Business Association out of concern for creating a perception of conflict of interest.
 
Mr. Grimes said he supports funding the Independence Day Committee, the Folk Festival, and the Old Takoma Business Association. He commented that the City’s contribution is only a fraction of what is put in by the community.

Mr. Snipper supported funding for all three, but said he would like to reduce funding for OTBA and provide support for some of the other commercial areas of the City.

Ms. Daniels-Cohen agreed with Mr. Snipper.

Mr. Male agreed with Mr. Snipper. He said if reduction of funding for OTBA would provide a hardship, then the funding could be reduced the following year instead.

Mr. Schultz agreed with funding for the Independence Day Committee, OTBA, and the Folk Festival. He said that rather than reduce funding for OTBA, he would urge the Association to reach out to other commercial areas that are not well organized.

Mr. Williams supported funding for all three. He noted that the other commercial areas did not request funding from the City. They should have to step up and provide some the organization and volunteer effort that OTBA has provided.

Music from Maple View and the Dance Exchange:

Mr. Snipper said he would support both requests, but at a reduced level. For example, $5,000 for the Music from Maple View and $10,000 for the Dance Exchange.

Mr. Grimes commented that the Maple View proposal is duplicative of the We Are Takoma series. The program could be incorporated within the existing City program. He said he would need to learn more about the Dance Exchange before commenting on its request.

Mr. Male indicated his opposition for funding either of the requests.

Mr. Schultz said he took no position on the Music from Maple View application. He needed more information. He did support funding for the Dance Exchange, which is trying to refocus its energy locally. He noted that it is one of the City’s more famous organizations and worthy of support.

Mr. Williams did not support the Music from Maple View proposal, but did support the proposal submitted by the Dance Exchange.

Mr. Male said he could support the Dance Exchange proposal if it pitched reaching out the particular groups in Takoma Park.

Crossroads Community Food Network and Adventist Community Services Pool Proposal:

Mr. Grimes noted that both proposals would serve needful communities. He supported funding the proposals.

Mr. Snipper agreed. He added that he would suggest reducing the amount of money provided as the need declines.

Mr. Male supported both projects. He indicated that the Crossroads proposal would be more compelling if the farmers gave a 10% discount to increase the purchasing power of the program.

Mr. Schultz also supported funding both programs.

The Council adjourned for the evening at 11:25 p.m.