Mayor and Council Work Session, 11/22/2010

CITY OF GAITHERSBURG
MINUTES OF A CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2010

A work session of the Mayor and City Council was called to order at 7:30 p.m., Mayor Katz presiding.  Council Members present: Ashman, Drzyzgula, Marraffa, Sesma, and Spiegel.  Staff present: City Manager Jones, Deputy City Manager Tomasello, City Attorney Board, Planning and Code Administration Director Ossont, Planner Robinson, Parks, Recreation and Culture Director Potter, Senior Center Facility Director Whipple and Cultural Arts Director Kayser.  Committee Members presenting:  Leslie Shapiro and J. Persensky.

I. TOPIC(S) OF DISCUSSION

1. Annual Committee Briefings
   
   

   Cultural Arts Advisory Committee
   
   Cultural Arts Director, Denise Kayser, introduced members of the Committee.  J Persensky, Committee Chairman, presented the group’s accomplishments and priority goals; emphasizing partnership building and the role of the arts in economic development.  Mr. Persensky provided an overview of Art in Public Places sub-committee projects, artist selection process, and plans for a sculpture garden in Bohrer Park.  Council Member Jud Ashman, Chairman of the Gaithersburg Book Festival sub-committee, presented updates on the upcoming 2011 event.     
   
   Senior Advisory Committee
   
   Senior Center Director, Grace Whipple, introduced members of the Committee and Leslie Shapiro represented the group in the evening’s presentation.  Ms. Shapiro stated the Advisory Committee will provide support in the planning of the upcoming Active Aging Expo as well as the 2nd Annual Book Festival both planned for May of 2011.  In addition, the Advisory Committee will be the liaison between the staff and the membership and will assist with planning activities, special events, and diversity programs during the upcoming year.

2. West Riding Reforestation Project
   
   Director Ossont began with a brief presentation that discussed the technical and policy guidelines for forest conservation in the City. The Council then discussed issues such as how the City communicates with the public during reforestation plantings, possible removal and replanting of the trees, and exploring absorbing reforestation on private property. The Council gave guidance to review the public process for reforestation plans; to explore a potential compromise on the Diamond Drive site; and creating a working group with members of the West Riding Neighborhood to help develop this compromise.
   
   
3. Amendments to the Annexation Agreement  X-182, Crown Farm
   
   City Attorney Board began with a presentation that discussed the four policy questions for an amendment to the X-182 Annexation Agreement.
   
   
   1. Affordable housing-establishing an 80/20 unit split and replacing the 4 percent workforce housing requirement with a contribution to a Housing Initiative Fund (HIF).
      
      
   2. Future School Site-the Crown owner has decided to keep the school site at the previous 32 acres.
      
      
   3. Shuttle bus service-the Crown owner is proposing a different funding structure with implementation beginning earlier during development.
      
      
   4. Community Amenity- The Crown owner is proposing consolidating two HOA facilities into one centralized facility and construction would begin earlier during development.
   
   
   The Council provided the following guidance:
   
   
   1. The 80/20 unit split was acceptable as was the creation of a HIF, but the structure, implementation, and timing of contribution must be determined prior to any SDP approval.
      
      
   2. The shuttle bus program was acceptable
      
      
   3. The combined community amenity was acceptable, but the construction should coincide with any housing construction.

II. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before this session of the City Council, the meeting was duly adjourned at approximately 10 p.m.