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APPROVED: Meeting No. 7-00
ATTEST:
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND
Meeting No. 36-99
October 11,1999
The Mayor and Council of Rockville, Maryland met in General Session in the Mayor and Council Chambers, Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Avenue, on October 11, 1999 at 7: 56 p.m.
Prior to the meeting, the Mayor and Council convened at 6:40 p.m. in Executive Session, pursuant to Section 508-10 (a) (4) of the State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, to consider a matter concerning the proposal for a business to locate or expand in the City.
Present at the Executive Session were Mayor Rose Krasnow, Councilmember Robert Dorsey, Councilmember Glennon Harrison, Councilmember James Marrinan, City Manager Mark Pentz, City Attorney Paul Glasgow and City Clerk Claire Funkhouser.
Also in attendance were the following individuals: Deputy City Manager Julia Novak; Director of Community Planning and Development Services, Kathleen Mitchell; Ron Cohen; Craig Cohen; Richard Rimen; Barbara Sears, Esquire; and Costco Representatives, Jeff Long, Margaret Mc Culla, and Yorum Rubanenko.
The Mayor and Council discussed the proposed expansion of Congressional Plaza South and the impact that any moratorium on "big box" retail would have on development at the site.
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 to immediately reconvene in General Session.
PRESENT
Mayor Rose G. Krasnow
Councilmember Robert E. Dorsey Councilmember James T. Marrinan
Councilmember Glennon J. Harrison
ABSENT
Councilmember Robert J. Wright (Due to travel)
In attendance: City Manager Mark Pentz, City Attorney Paul Glasgow and City Clerk Claire Funkhouser
Re: Mayor's Remarks
Mayor Rose Krasnow opened the meeting. She apologized for the late starting time due to a lengthy Executive Session.
Re: Agenda Review
City Manager Mark Pentz said that a set of minutes from April 26, 1999 had been added to the Consent Agenda.
Re: City Manager's Report
City Manager Mark Pentz gave his report on current and upcoming events in Rockville.
Re: Introduction of Students and
Faculty from the Theodore- Heuss-Schule in Pinneberg, Germany,
Rockville’s Sister City.
The Mayor introduced the group of twelve students and their teachers, Renate Korth and Susanna Becker. The students, who were spending a week in Rockville as part of an ongoing exchange program between Rockville and Pinneberg, received certificates of welcome from the Mayor and Council. After remarks from the Mayor about the strength of the relationship between the two cities, Ms. Korth spoke, thanking the Mayor and Council and the host families from Wootton and Richard Montgomery High Schools, for their hospitality.
Re: Presentation by Keri Schrader, Miss Maryland 2000.
In introducing Ms. Schrader, Mayor Krasnow commented that not every city could claim a third runner up in the Miss America Pageant. Ms. Schrader addressed the Mayor and Council on the importance of the awareness of the issue of domestic violence, her platform in the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City in September. Mr. Dorsey commented on the meaning of the purple ribbon Ms. Schrader was wearing as a symbol for the prevention of domestic violence.
Re: Presentation by Jack A. Gullo, Jr., President of the Maryland
Municipal League.
Mr. Gullo said that, as the new President of the Maryland Municipal League (MML), he wanted to visit all of the municipalities in Maryland. He updated the Mayor and Council on activities of MML and recognized members of the Mayor and Council who have volunteered their time and talents by serving on the organization's committees.
Mr. Gullo hailed Rockville as a leader among the municipalities in Maryland. Mr. Gullo highlighted the upcoming legislative conference to take place in Easton in November. Scott Hancock, Executive Director of MML, also attended the meeting.
Re: Appointments
Upon motion by Councilmember Harrison, duly seconded by Councilmember Marrinan, and unanimously passed by the Mayor and Council, Paul Gilman was appointed to the Greater Rockville Partnership, Inc.
Upon motion by Councilmember Dorsey, duly seconded by Councilmember Harrison,
and unanimously passed by the Mayor and Council, Andrea Hartranft was appointed to the Historic District Commission.
Upon motion by Councilmember Marrinan, duly seconded by Councilmember Dorsey,
and unanimously passed by the Mayor and Council, Vincent “Chip” Boylan was appointed to the Recreation and Park Advisory Board.
Re: Citizens' Forum-
1. Lih Young spoke about issues in the some of her concerns with the City.
2. Ruth Hanessian invited the Mayor and Council to the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast on the morning of October 30. Proceeds will be used for a variety of charitable needs that Kiwanis supports. Ms. Hanessian also asked if there was a way to get the "Blessing of the Animals", an event in May, on the City's Millenium Calendar.
3. Tom Curtis, a resident of the King Farm development, said he supported the idea of a moratorium on the "Big Box" stores. He also said his primary reason for speaking at Citizens' Forum was regarding trash collection in his neighborhood. In response to Mr. Curtis' concerns, Director of Public Works Hal Cranor said that he is working on a letter to the residents of King Farm.
4. Ron Cohen, one of the owners of the Congressional North and South, asked the Mayor and council to reconsider their proposed moratorium on "Big Box" development along Rockville Pike.
Re: Consent Agenda
Upon motion by Councilmember Dorsey, duly seconded by Councilmember Marrinan, and unanimously passed by the Mayor and Council, the following items on the Consent Agenda were approved:
(A) Approval of Minutes
Meeting No. 17- 99 (General Session, April 26, 1999)
(B) Award of Bid No. 24-2000
To: Atlantic Technical Sales, Inc.
Of: Chantilly, Virginia
In the Amount of: $63,800.00
For: Decorative Bases and Finials
(C) Introduction of Ordinance to Grant Text Amendment Application TXT99-0174, Patricia Harris, Esq., Attorney for Applicant for JGB Properties and TA Associates.
To amend the Zoning Ordinance to create a new Optional Method of Development for certain properties within the I-3, Industrial Park Zone.
(D) Introduction of Ordinance to Amend Certain Provisions of Chapter 17 of the Rockville City Code, Entitled “Purchasing”, Pertaining to Procurement Contracts and Procurement Methods so as to Increase the Monetary Threshold for Procurements Requiring Written Contracts, to Increase the Monetary Threshold for Certain Procurements Requiring Formal Two Party Contracts, to Increase the Monetary Limit for Procurements Made in Accordance with Open Market Procedures, and to Increase the Monetary Limit for Petty Expenditures.
Re: Adoption of Resolution to Establish a Moratorium on the Filing, Processing, and Approval of Any Applications for Use Permits or Amendments to Use Permits for Retail Stores of 60,000 or More Square Feet until April 10, 2000.
Resolution No. 17-99
City Manager Mark Pentz discussed the definition of "big box" retail. He stated that a number of communities in the United States have enacted ordinances because of the impact this kind of development has had on communities in terms of appearance and traffic. He explained that the Mayor and Council had three choices before them this evening: 1) hold off on passing the proposed resolution, 2) enact the resolution, or 3) enact the moratorium retroactively.
Councilmember Dorsey discussed the implications if the moratorium were enacted according to Option 3. The Mayor and Council briefly discussed the reason for the proposed resolution including the tremendous increase in traffic on Rockville Pike and their concern that continued development of this type would continue to make things worse.
The Mayor and Council discussed the building permit that Ron Cohen had submitted for a Costco store in Congressional Plaza South. His development would be immediately affected by the moratorium, but the Mayor and Council decided that making an exclusion would not be in the City’s best interest.
Upon motion by Councilmember Marrinan, duly seconded by Councilmember Harrison, and unanimously passed by the Mayor and Council, the resolution was adopted.
Re: FYI/Correspondence
Councilmember Harrison commented on the wonderful design of the Twinbrook Recreation Center. Mayor Krasnow mentioned that the National League of Cities is sponsoring Youth Education events at the National Press Club.
Re: Adjourn to Executive Session
Mayor Krasnow announced that the Worksession, scheduled to be held after the meeting, had been postponed. Upon motion by Councilmember Dorsey, duly seconded by Councilmember Harrison, and unanimously passed by the Mayor and Council, the meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m., to immediately reconvene in Executive Session, pursuant to Section 10-508 (a) (1) (ii) of the State Government Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, at 9:45p.m. to discuss personnel matters.
Present at the Executive Session were Mayor Rose Krasnow, Councilmember Robert Dorsey, Councilmember Glennon Harrison, Councilmember James Marrinan, City Manager Mark Pentz and Deputy City Manager Julia Novak.
At the Executive Session, the Mayor and Council discussed personnel issues related to the Departments of Public Works and Community Planning and Development Services. They authorized staff to bring forward a proposal to conduct a complete management study of the City's development review process. The Mayor and Council agreed to authorize some additional positions in both departments.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m.