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Mayor and Council

MAYOR AND COUNCIL
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND

Meeting No. 06-09
March 21, 2009

The Mayor and Council met on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. at the Gude Drive Maintenance Facility, 14625 Rothgeb Drive, 20850.

In attendance: City Manager Scott Ullery and City Clerk Claire F. Funkhouser

Re:    Overview of Gude Drive Maintenance Facility Improvements

The purpose of the meeting was for the Mayor and Council to receive a presentation of the overall improvements planned for the Gude Drive Maintenance Facility by managers in charge of various operations housed there.  As part of the meeting the Mayor and Council also toured the facility to see the improvements that were completed as part of Phase I of the project as well as areas of the facility scheduled for improvement over the next couple of years. 

City Manager Scott Ullery provided a brief overview of the breadth of the improvements, which was followed by introductions all around.  Next, Steve Mader, Superintendent of Parks and Facilities, provided a history of the facility, which consists of various buildings including some “temporary” trailers, which have been in place since 1986.  Mr. Mader stressed the phasing built into the current project.  The first phase consisted of the replacement of the old salt dome with a salt barn and the creation of a new stormwater management pond on the Redgate Golf Course property adjacent to the maintenance facility, which replaced storm water management on the site itself.   Regarding the breadth of the services housed at the maintenance facility, Mr. Mader said that it houses nine cost centers, with another cost center for air conditioning maintenance proposed to move there.

The Mayor and Council then heard from personnel whose cost centers are based at the facility including Pat Stroud, Vehicle Maintenance Fleet Manager, Steve Sokol, Operations Maintenance Superintendent, and Jonathan Pierson, Contracts Specialist.  The Mayor and Council also heard from Joey Pritchard, the President of the City’s union.  Mr. Pritchard spoke of the impact that the small and deteriorating condition of the locker room, lunchroom, showers, and bathrooms had on the workers at the facility.

In terms of the budget for the phases of the project, a total of 9.2 million has been included in the CIP over several fiscal years.  3 million was spent on Phase I, with 6 million allocated for Phase II.  The remainder for Phase III shows up as unfunded for FY 2011.

Rick Kleponis, from Wheeler Goodman and Masek, the City’s architectural and engineering consultant, described what would be accomplished in Phase II focusing on a new motor vehicle maintenance building and fuel island, which will create a new circulation pattern.  The current motor vehicle facility will be transformed into a new stockroom with expanded loading dock and new office space, enabling some smaller shops such as the HVAC maintenance to move from Glenview.  Additional parking will also be accommodated by a new small lot, which hopefully can incorporate pervious materials.

In Phase III, which is currently unfunded, a new administrative building with a parking deck is anticipated.  The building would house not only offices, but also a larger locker room, bathrooms, and shower rooms.  New kitchen and lunchroom facilities would be included as well as a fitness center and computer area.  There will also be room to house one of IT’s servers.  The building as planned would at least be LEED silver level with a vegetative roof, which will assist in the stormwater on site.

One of the biggest plusses of the building is that it would allow all of the staff of the Public Works Department who are currently in five different locations to be under one roof.  Director of Public Works Craig Simoneau stressed that this would certainly enhance daily interaction and collaboration.  Burt Hall, Director of Recreation and Parks, said that this would also positively impact City Hall, freeing up space and eliminating the need for expensive leases elsewhere.  Mr. Ullery said that staff would be working on how to budget for Phase III, which, although expensive, would result in a safe and modern facility that could serve the City well for the next thirty to forty years.

The Mayor and Council, accompanied by staff, then toured the facility.

Re: Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting concluded at 10:35 a.m.