Jimmy's Ward Report - Saturday, March 8, 2008
Lighting Planned On NW Branch TrailAt a February 28th meeting Park Police told about 20 community residents that lighting would be installed on the trail between Queens Chapel Road and the trail bridge over the NW Branch. It should be installed by the end of the year. Park Police maintained that the crime had gone down along the path in the last couple of years. But a number of us were quite skeptical about the claim. We all believe that coming home from the Metro at night is dangerous and more has to be done to make it safer. People in the audience suggested cameras and emergency call boxes at certain locations. The park police said all this was being discussed but made no commitments. At least they have agreed to put in the lights, which was a big step for Park and Planning, since the general policy of Park and Planning is not to light trails because people are not supposed to be on the trail after dark. Of course we have all made it clear that this part of the trail, which is a regular commuter path between our town and the Metro station, should not be treated like a normal park trail.
Urban Renewal/Eminent Domain Resolution Is Passed by Council
City Council passed a resolution that enables the City to take eminent domain action (condemning and purchasing properties) on the North side of Rhode Island Avenue between Eastern Ave and 34th St. Before the vote, the City staff presented a detailed report describing the deteriorating conditions on the properties.
The resolution initiates an Urban Renewal Project for the rehabilitation and redevelopment of the Rhode Island Area and it authorizes the acquisition of the properties in this area including, if necessary, taking these properties by the power of eminent domain.
I voted for the Resolution because I believe that the City has to do something to get things moving on Rhode Island. Landmark Atlantic (the group the City is partnering with) has not been able to purchase any of the properties, and Bob Holland (the person with the hotel/mixed use proposal) has also not been moving ahead with his proposal.
The City can now write the owners a letter threatening legal action if they do not sell the properties to Landmark so Landmark can develop the site. If they refuse to sell to Landmark the City can take legal action to condemn and purchase the properties at a fair market value. The City does not have the money for expensive legal proceedings and the millions of dollars necessary to purchase all the properties outright, and it is my understanding that Landmark Atlantic will foot the bill for the legal proceedings and purchases. I feel this will have to be spelled out before we take any legal action.
I proposed an amendment to the resolution that would have made the city hold another public hearing and have a formal vote before we initiate any legal action or attempts to purchase properties. My proposed amendment did not have any support and I voted for the bill anyway since I think it is time for us to all move forward to see what can be done about developing these two blocks of Rhode Island Avenue.
Update on Plans for Skate Park at Otis and Wells Avenues
The Council voted in March 2007 to authorize the building of a skate park at Otis and Wells Avenues. The County has $175,000 budgeted for construction of this specific park.
A number of years ago there was a basketball court at the lower part of the park. The court was taken down because of a number of problems connected to some of the people hanging out at the court. The lower part of the park has remained abandoned since that time. (There is an upper part of the park, which faces 37th St, that has play equipment for small children, and there is a stairway that connects the two parts of the park.)
Margaret Boozer, an artist with a studio on Otis Avenue, has been working with a number of our young skateboard enthusiasts to come up with a plan for a skate park. The skate park would be on the lower part of the park on top of the remains of the basketball court. The stairway between the upper and lower parts of the park would be taken down.
An initial model was designed and a community meeting was held on February 21st for people in the neighborhood. On March 4th the Council listened to resident comments about the park.
A number of the residents who live in the immediate vicinity of the park spoke in opposition to the park because of concerns about the increased noise from the park, safety concerns for the children who might get hurt at the park, the possibility of the park attracting people engaged in criminal activity, and the effect on the values of the properties in the area. Other residents spoke in favor of the park, citing the need for recreational facilities in our town, the desirability of our skate boarders using a park instead of the street, and the need to move ahead with some plans for the abandoned park.
The Council listened to all the comments and decided to go ahead with the skate park. I support the skate park. Our town is in serious need of recreational facilities for our young people. Hopefully we can address some of the concerns of the people living close to the park as more detailed plans of the park are developed. Furthermore, the County will not keep the money in the budget forever and if we do not actually use the money, we could lose it.
The next step is that the County will be working with a community skate park committee to write up specifications for the park that will be sent out for bid to a design-build contractor. After the detailed designs are developed, the plans will go back to the Council for a final review.
What are your budget priorities?
The Council has started the process of discussing the budget for the next fiscal year starting in July. The final vote on next year’s budget will be on June 17th after a bunch of meetings and public hearings.
Last week we received a report from our auditors and our city is in good financial shape.
We now have to decide what our priorities should be. We cannot do everything, but I would like people e-mail me what they think are the top three things the Council should be doing that are different from what has been done in the past.
Here are some of the potential new programs for next year:
1. Extra staff for street cleaning downtown (especially on the weekends)
2. Increased funds for tree and tree stump removal
3. Reducing the tax rate
4. A new trash truck for public works
5. Year-round basketball program at Thomas Stone Elementary School
6. Comfort station to replace portable toilets
7. Additional summer recreational programs
8. Additional funds for street/curb work
9. Legal resources to clean up some of our vacant properties
10. Additional staff to keep the police station open 24/7
11. Money to make the new fire truck operational
12. Additional collections of electronic and hazardous waste.
13. Money to prepare for Mt. Rainier’s centennial (2010)
Let me know what your top three priorities are for next year. Please add another priority if it is not listed. Remember, we cannot do everything, especially if we try and lower the tax rate. You can e-mail me by replying to this e-mail or call me at 301-335-6099.
Gateway CDC Meeting Scheduled for Saturday March 15th
11 AM to 1 PM at Joe’s Movement Emporium (3309 Bunker Hill Road). Guest speaker: County Councilman Will Campos. Agenda items include a report on the new business signs that are part of the Gateway Facade Improvement program, the new Brentwood Arts Center, and other new projects that are being planned for our community. There will also be a slide show program on the history of development along Rhode Island Ave. (and other areas of our towns) over the past 10 years. Lunch will be provided!
Jodi Beder (my wife) and her band, Zen For Primates, will return to Artmosphere Cafe (3311 Mt. Rainier Ave.) On Saturday March 22nd at 9 PM
If you have not heard the band you should check them out. They are a very unusual group of skilled musicians. My wife plays an electric cello in the group. Cost is $15. You can check out their videos at: http://bummertent.com/ZenVidWholeLottaLove.htm. The performance is part of Artmosphere's "Women's History Month" celebration. Pick up a schedule at the cafe, or check online (www.artmospherecafe.com) for their schedule of music, poetry, and film events all month.