Recycling
America Recycles Day is recognized nationally on November 15 but Greenbelt extends the celebration to America Recycles Month. The city’s recycling coordinator, Luisa Robles, accepted the proclamation from Mayor Emmett Jordan on behalf of the city and reviewed some of the activities undertaken over the month.
Next up was the introduction of this year’s winners of the ever-popular Recycle Right, Win with Your Bin contest, which the Public Works Department sponsors every year. Winners for good practice in weekly recycling are chosen by Robles and city crews for the four, Monday through Thursday, city collection routes. Representatives of the contractor select the winner for the one private route in the city.
Winners for the Monday through Wednesday routes attended the meeting to receive their customized new bins and a number of gifts and prizes. Arjuna and Sarojabai Rajagura of Spring Manor Drive were the Monday winners. Rosanne and Sean Douglas of 49 Court Ridge Road were the Tuesday victors. Earl Bailey of 1 Court Southway took the honors for the Wednesday route. Not present at the meeting were Thursday’s winner, Thomas Stephanos of 26 Court Ridge and, for the contractual route, Sophia Ra of Emilys Way.
Municipal Government
November is also Municipal Government Month, which focuses on the many services and activities provided to residents by their cities and towns. Beverly Palau, Greenbelt’s public information and communications coordinator, was chosen to receive the proclamation from the mayor in recognition of her work in promoting many of the city’s events and programs.
Attick Parking Lot
A resolution to negotiate design services with Bradley Site Design, Inc., of Washington, D.C. for the redesign and incorporation of stormwater best management practices for the parking lot at Buddy Attick Park was introduced for first reading.
The city received a $187,700 grant through the Chesapeake Bay Trust to incorporate low impact development practices into the redesign of the parking lot. The grant allows up to $19,100 to be used for design services on this project. An additional $15,000 was earmarked and included in the city’s FY 2016 budget. The resolution will return to the agenda of the December 14 meeting for discussion and decision.
Pepco Tree Work
Subsequent to two rather contentious worksessions held with representatives of Pepco about their plans for vegetation management work to be done prior to this winter, the city council approved at its September 15 meeting plans to do tree work in the areas of five feeder lines in Greenbelt. Permission was withheld on two other feeder lines (15741 and 15742) pending further staff evaluation.
Taking into account the recommendations of the city’s Advisory Committee on Trees, as well as comment from neighborhood associations and homeowners, council approved with conditions the plans for the last two feeders. The vote was 6-1 with Councilmember Rodney Roberts strongly opposed to letting Pepco do any tree work. He maintained that more worksessions should be held because there were still too many questions unanswered. Jordan responded that everyone involved had reviewed the plans and that it was time for council to move forward. Other councilmembers agreed, praising the detailed work undertaken by city staff, the Advisory Committee on Trees and other resident volunteers.
The two conditions placed on the approval were that no work be undertaken in the Belle Pointe Forest Preserve area at this time and that 91 trees on the list not be removed, though those trees may be trimmed. With regard to the first condition, the thinking is that by the time Pepco makes its next round of tree trimming and removal, the management and maintenance guidelines for the Forest Preserve will have received further evaluation, with decisions possibly being made on the handling of this type of work.
Pepco told the city this approval might be coming too late to allow them to work prior to this winter, but Acting Director of Public Works Jim Sterling said he believed the goal was still to complete work in Greenbelt by the end of December. The city’s approvals and refusals apply only to trees on city property. Pepco has been visibly doing tree trimming and removal on private property, including areas in Greenbelt Homes, Inc. (GHI) on Ridge Road and Westway, parts of Lakeside Drive in University Square and other areas as well. Like the city, GHI engaged in extensive evaluation of the Pepco plan for its trees.
Zipcar Is Back
The City of Greenbelt worked with Zipcar in its early years, providing space for two cars beginning in 2002: one at Green Ridge House and the other in the parking lot behind Roosevelt Center near the Municipal Building. Eventually both cars were removed since they were not generating enough revenue for Zipcar. The company says it has received numerous requests from city residents to make a Zipcar available, with the result that it would like to give Greenbelt another go.
The first time around, the city provided a subsidy to encourage use. This time no subsidy would be required and there would be no other costs. The city’s only commitment is to provide one parking spot in the Municipal Building parking lot. Zipcar will provide the signs. Council voted to support the staff recommendation to provide a designated parking space.
Green Ridge House residents are interested in reviving the program there. Staff members are reviewing that possibility but believe a city subsidy would probably be needed. Zipcars are also available at Beltway Plaza and at the University of Maryland.
Public Works Vehicles
City council approved purchase of a Ford utility vehicle at a cost of $25,794 and a Ford F-150 4×4 pickup truck with extended cab at a cost of $25,509 for use by the Public Works Department. Funding in the amount of $51,000 was included in the FY 2016 city budget to replace a 2005 Chevy Blazer, as well as a 2000 Ford Ranger in use by the city parks crew. Both purchases will be made from Apple Ford using a State of Maryland bid.
GAFC Equipment
Council also approved purchase of strength training equipment for the Greenbelt Aquatic and Fitness Center (GAFC) to replace outdated equipment acquired in 1993. The carpeting in the strength training room is also more than 20 years old and will be replaced.
City staff undertook considerable research and conducted site visits to look at equipment and flooring at various peer facilities. The result was a strong recommendation for purchase of CYBEX equipment for $44,595 from a Fairfax County bid and Everlast Sports Surfacing at $6,927 to replace the flooring. The project will run about $3,500 over the amount budgeted but the difference can be covered through the Replacement Fund.
Legislative Agenda
In December of each year, prior to the opening of the General Assembly session, the city council holds a legislative dinner with the city’s state and county delegations to review its priorities for legislation.
The three top priorities recommended by staff were support for locating the new FBI headquarters at Greenbelt Station, funding for the Greenbelt Road Streetscape Improvement projects that were proposed years ago but never funded and the city’s perennial tax reimbursement issue with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Because of its extensive recreational offerings and facilities, the city receives a rebate on taxes collected from its residents on behalf of Park and Planning. Whether the amount refunded is as much as it should be is an ongoing thorn in the city’s side.