Jimmy's Ward Report - Friday, June 19, 2009

New Businesses Coming to Mt. Rainier: I’m excited that there are a few new businesses planning to open in the next few months. ZZ Pizza, on the corner of 34th and Bunker Hill, were painting their outside last weekend and told me they were planning on opening by July 4th. I’ve been told there is a coffee shop that just leased the space that used to be the Artmosphere Cafe at the circle and the owner of a new store selling deserts told me he was planning on opening by the end of summer in the space next to H&F Fine Arts on Rhode Island Ave. Meanwhile Circa 34, a consignment store, has recently opened across the street from the Glut Co-op and we are all waiting for the opening of the Brentwood Arts Center on Rhode Island North of 38th St. It’s great when new businesses come to our community. Let’s all try and support these businesses when they open.

Skateboard Park Under Construction: They have started construction on the mini-skateboard park on the corner of Otis and Wells. The old basketball court has been taken down. I was told that the next steps are to put in the gravel pad, then the footings and then the actual ramps. They are hoping to be finished by mid-July so some of our young residents will be able to use the park during the summer break.

Centennial Celebration Committee Report – Next year, 2010, will be the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of Mt. Rainier. The City is planning a bunch of events to commemorate the anniversary and I have been appointed as the chairperson of our Centennial Celebration Committee. We held our first meeting on June 9th and there were a lot of good ideas which I would like to share with the community and ask that people write back with suggestions.

The Committee felt that each month we should highlight a different aspect of our city. The twelve months might include: public safety, the Latino community, African-Americans in our City, our religious institutions, women in our community, our artists, our peace activists, our environmental community, the gay community, religious institutions, young people, and our rental community. This is not a hard list but just our thoughts.

We discussed having three or four big events spread out throughout the year. A bigger and better Mount Rainier Day, an artist studio tour, a tour of historic houses in our city, and a taste of Mount Rainier. The year might start with some dignitaries unveiling flags and banners that would be up all year and end with a big dinner dance in December. Perhaps we could have commemorative items, like a Mount Rainier 100th anniversary souvenir key chain.


We are looking for your ideas and participation to turn next year into a great celebration of our city. Please e-mail me if you would like to be on our committee. The next meeting is Tuesday July 14th.

PS: Let me know if you have any old pictures of Mount Rainier. We want to borrow them so we can make a copy and eventually put them up on our web site.

Speed Camera Legislation Passes City Council: The Council passed legislation that would allow speed camera to be placed at different places within the city. This local legislation follows the state legislation that was passed earlier this year in Annapolis. It allows municipalities “to use photo speed monitoring systems in school zones to issue citations or warnings to vehicle owners who speed at least 12 miles above the posted speed limit.”

Since 95% of Mount Rainier is within ½ mile of an elementary school, almost the whole City is covered by this legislation. The bill does not become effective until October 1 and the speed cameras can only be used between 6 AM and 8 PM. During the first thirty days of the program, violators would only be given a warning (after, a violation incurs a $40 fine with no points). Before activating a speed camera, the City would have to publish the notice of the camera on the City website and put up a sign that indicates that speed monitoring systems are in use.



Crime Statistics Show Decrease: The Chief presented crime statistics at the June meeting that showed a 25% decrease in criminal offenses for the first five months of this year. There were decreases in auto theft, burglaries and aggravated assaults. The totals for the first five months were homicide: 0, rapes: 2, robberies: 30, aggravated assault: 5, burglaries: 15, larceny: 69, auto theft: 17 and arson: 0.


Bass Liquor: Going, going, almost gone: They started demolition on the former Bass liquor property last week and it is now nearly 2/3 demolished. The City hopes to pave the lot for some needed downtown parking and hold onto it for awhile until we can get a developer to build on all the properties between Eastern and 33rd St. on the North side of Rhode Island Ave.

Economic Assistance Fair: County Council Member Will Campos has organized an Economic Assistance Fair on Thursday, June 25, 2009 from 7p.m. to 9p.m. at Northwestern High School, located at 7000 Adelphi Road, in Hyattsville, MD. The Economic Assistance Fair is designed to assist residents of Prince George's County who have been impacted by the downturn of our country's economy.
The Economic Assistance Fair will prove beneficial to persons who have lost their job, face foreclosure, whose utility bills are becoming overwhelming, who are interested in home weatherization and for those interested in programs funded by the Federal Stimulus package.
Council Member Campos has invited Maryland state agencies, Prince George’s County agencies, and nonprofit organizations that are equipped to assist participants that have been affected by the economy. A representative from each agency or nonprofit will be available for participants to have a one-on-one session.
Stimulus Money Starts Coming Into Mt. Rainier: The Council received good news at its last meeting. The City had received two grants and an interest free loan totalling close to $300,000. One grant for $98,000 is for the city sidewalks near Kaywood Gardens, which are badly in need of repair. Another grant the City received is $100,000 to oversee energy-efficient repairs in units at Rainier Manor, the senior citizen facility on Queens Chapel Road. The money will be used for retrofitting patio doors and making window repairs in at least 25 units. There is also a $100,000 interest free loan (that we do not have to start to pay back until the end of 2011) to do needed energy related repairs on City Hall.
Council Hears Presentation on Library Building – Maryland Construction Inc. made a presentation on how to finance the proposed redevelopment of the current library building (3409 Rhode Island Ave.). The options included 100% financing by the city, financing by the builder with a 25 year lease to the City (after which the building ownership would revert to the City), and financing by the builder with the builder retaining ownership of the building at the end of a 25 year lease period. The proposed cost for the redevelopment is $5 million and the financing options would cost the city between $400,000 and $500,000 a year. That is a lot of money out of our annual budget (even with renting out the top two floors), and the Council will have to have some serious discussions on how we can afford to finance the project.
Façade Program Moving Ahead – The City appropriated $10,000 and this amount was matched by the Mount Rainier Business Association in order to move ahead with some of the signs and façade improvements that have been promised to our downtown businesses. The details have not been worked out but hopefully we will see some new signs and façade improvements in time for our 100th anniversary celebration.