Jimmy Tarlau's Ward 1 Report for February

Rhode Island Avenue Development Update:  The City has reissued another RFP (Request for Proposal) for companies interested in developing the 3200 Block of Rhode Island Avenue (former Funeral Home and Bass Liquor properties).  We did not get any proposals turned in when we sent it out in December but we have been told that a number of developers are interested in investing in Mount Rainier.  The deadline is the beginning of March.  The City is also working with a development consultant who will give us some guidance about how to move the process along.

Better Block Project:  Save the date: April 28^th.  Brooke Kidd, representing the Mount Rainier Business Association (MRBA), and Mike Gumpert, from the Gateway CDC, came to the last Council meeting and presented an exciting project which involves painting over the former funeral home on Eastern and Rhode Island Avenue to make it an exciting entrance to Mount Rainier and the Gateway Arts District.   Many people don’t even know when they’re in the Gateway Art District.  When the designs are available I’ll pass them along. 

New Parking Lot Opens - There is now a new parking lot across the street from City Hall (3500 Block of Perry Street).  It is free and ready to be used.  Hopefully there won’t be any more complaints about the lack of parking downtown.

Farmers Market Opens Saturday May 5^th – At City Hall Plaza

Interview with Doyle Niemann:  As many of you know, I've been conducting interviews with longtime residents of Mount Rainier for the series "Mount Rainier Then and Now".

I had the opportunity to interview our own State Delegate Doyle Niemann about his coming to our city and how it has changed and not changed in the years he's lived here. I hope you enjoy it.

Rainier Manor:  The Council held its February meeting at the senior citizen facility, Rainier Manor (3100 Queens Chapel Road).  It was a chance for people from the Northern section of the City to attend a Council meeting.  The senior citizen facility was recently renovated and is now one of the best facilities in the area.

TeamMavs:  I’m often struck by how much we enjoy the diversity of our city but also how different groups in our city co-exist but do not share the same experiences.  In the last few months two of our Black youth were shot and killed in our City.  I attended a very emotional memorial service at the house of one of the young people on Upshur Street.   

I thought about how the groups of young men who sometimes make us nervous as they share our  streets are often  students coming home from school or looking for something to do in our City.  There obviously is a real need in Mount Rainier for recreational programs for our older youth.

I really must applaud the leadership of Mayor Miles in mentoring the creation of an organization of young adults, Team Mavs (Team Mount Rainier Against Violence In Society), which is trying to keep young people off the streets and involve them in doing something positive and effective for the community.

Our whole community should do everything possible to make this organization work. They meet at the Mount Rainier Nature Center.  If you would like to help it succeed, write Mayor Miles at mayormiles@gmail.com . 

History in the Making:  Community Conversations: Wed. Feb 22, 2012 6:30 – 8 PM - Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier

Prince George’s County is a diverse community with a rich culture and history, but how can we present it in a way that is meaningful for everyone?  At this event, special guests will present views of the county's past, including the War of 1812, and give perspectives from the history of African Americans and indigenous peoples. Then we invite you to join the conversation to explore how this relates to you and the significant events and places in your neighborhood.

A community conversation with hosts State Senator Victor Ramirez, Delegate Jolene Ivey, Delegate Doyle Niemann, Delegate Michael Summers and Council Member Will Campos in the first in a series of four open forums on the history of our area and how to reveal, present and share it.

Please RSVP: info@marylandmilestones.org  http://www.marylandmilestones.org/making-history

The event is free and light refreshments will be served.

Next Electronic Recycling Event – Saturday March 17 from 9 AM to 1 PM  at MR Public Works on Wells Ave (and Otis Street)

City Homeowner’s Tax Credit   - The City has issued checks to forty eight (48) residents for the City Homeowner’s tax credit for a total of $12,289.26.  The checks were sent to the PO this morning.  The City issues the checks based on the list received from the State of Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.  The City provides a tax credit of 10% of the amount allowed by the State as a State Homeowners Tax Credit.  The City Homeowner’s Tax credit is in addition to what residents get from the State.

Green Home Energy Program:  The City of Mount Rainier was selected as one of a few municipalities to implement a new statewide home energy efficiency program being offered by the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA).

The EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities grant program will provide energy efficiency grants to 5 homeowners (within the income requirements) in Mount Rainier to purchase and install energy efficient equipment/appliances as part of the pilot program. The caveat is that anyone who participated in a similar program within the last 6 months is ineligible.

All appliances purchased through the grant program must be ENERGY STAR qualified'.  The proposed allocation is $3000 - $5,000 per home energy retrofit, with an $8,000 per home maximum if an HVAC upgrade is necessary. For projects involving whole home energy retrofits, non-energy related health and safety repairs are capped at $500 per home.

Projects are to be completed by May 31, 2012.

Please contact City Hall at 301-985-6585 if you are interested in participating.

Income Requirement:

# of people in Household                      Income

1                                                       up to 63,150

2                                                       up to 72,150

3                                                       up to 81,200                                                                                                       

4                                                       up to 90,200

5                                                       up to 47,400

6                                                       up to 104,650 

     

any household over 6 people should inquire with City staff for income limits.

City Councilmember Jimmy Tarlau's Ward [1] Report

I bumped into Councilmember Tarlau at ZZ Pizza the other day and he mentioned that I could use items from his regular Jimmy's Ward Report e-mail for this blog. Although it is aimed at Ward 1 residents the Report will interest anyone living in Mount Rainier. I would link to it if it were online, but as far as I know it's not. And because all the items are essential, here is the whole thing. Thanks, Jimmy! And if you want me to link to your report in the future instead of posting the whole thing just give me the URL.

Neighborhood Watch Activities– As a result of the recent rash of burglaries, a new neighborhood watch organization has been formed in our City. Over 35 people came to a Neighborhood Watch meeting on February 27th. The meeting was organized by Rick Ruggles and John Campanile. On Sunday March 13th they led over 20 residents in a neighborhood walk through the center part of Mount Rainier. Their next walk is scheduled for Sunday April 10th . They plan on doing these walks the second Sunday of every month. They are looking for block captains to help out in different parts of the city. If you are interested in participating, send me an e-mail and I’ll forward it on to John and Rick.

John Campanile also has an engraver that you can use to id valuables (electronics, bikes, cameras, et al) using your driver's license number. The deterrent: Pawn shops will not accept id'd items. If you would like to borrow the engraver , email me John at jbelltower@yahoo.com .

Senator Ramirez Submits State Bond Bill to Help with Civic Center – State Senator Victor Ramirez introduced in the MD State Legislature a bond bill that would give the city $250,000 to complete the detailed architectural drawings for the Civic Center planned at the current City Hall, the Eastern Starr Building and the library. Council members Knedler, Updike, and Thompson went to Annapolis last Saturday (March 12th) to testify in support of the bill. We do not know yet if it will pass in its entirety or the amount will be reduced.

Council Begins Budget Deliberations – On Tuesday March 1st the Council received a presentation from the City Manager and City Treasurer on next year’s proposed budget. Because of the cut-back of $200,000 in State Highway User Fees and the bond payment for the properties purchased by the City over the last few years, it has been proposed that the City take close to $400,000 out of its reserves to maintain its operations and not have to increase taxes. We will be continuing the discussions on March 24th and April 5th and there will be a public hearing on the budget on April 19th. I am basically in support of the transfer of the money out of the reserves. There is right now $1.6 million in the reserves and there will still be $1.2 million after the transfer. The reserves are being depleted and in the next two years we will need to get a developer to purchase the properties on Rhode Island Avenue or we will have to make some hard decisions on operations cut-backs or an increased revenue stream. You can see the whole budget presentation on our City web-site: (http://mrtv.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=ec7db10fa37366938e34d2b64a72e3a8 )

Spotlight Café Space – We were all saddened to see the close of the Spotlight Café. The owners were community minded and we were hopeful that it would succeed. Unfortunately they did not get the business they needed. The good news is that the City Manager reported that three potential tenants are interested in the spot and are in discussions with Artspace, the owners of the building. I’m crossing my fingers that we’ll get a well-run coffee place in the spot.

RFP Proposals for Downtown Properties – We were disappointed that no developer submitted a proposal by the March 11th deadline to develop the former Bass Liquor/Funeral Home lot. We know there still are people interested in investing in the City and we have a meeting planned with our consultant to discuss why we received no bids and to see if the RFP can be re-worked to be more attractive to potential developers.

Vacant Buildings – The City is aggressively going after abandoned property but it is a long and difficult process to get the owners to pay the fines. The City has requested $27,000 in property tax liens for failure of property owners to register vacant buildings.

Mount Rainier Day – May 21st - Save the Date

Better Block Project Coming on Saturday April 9th – 34th Street between Bunker Hill and Rhode Island Ave. Check it out!

Discussions on Noise Problems at Skate Park Continue – The City met with representatives of park and planning to discuss the continuing noise problems for the neighbors of the Skate Park at Otis and Wells Avenues. Park and Planning has budgeted $150,000 for park improvements and proposed an 8 foot sound barrier on two sides of the park but it is unclear whether that will actually improve the situation. The Council is considering all alternatives: restricting the hours, possibly turning it into a pump track (you can check it out on you-tube – it’s a bicycle track), a community garden, the proposed sound barrier, demolish the park, or keep it the way it is and improve the upper part of the park). The discussions will continue.

Revenue from Speed Cameras Decreasing which Means They are Working – The City has seen a dramatic decline in the revenue from the speed camera on Rhode Island Avenue. I do not consider this a bad development. It means that the speed cameras are working and people are slowing down. I do not believe that fines and fees should be used as a revenue generator but as a means to change behavior.

Electronic Recycling Set for April 19th - The next scheduled electronic recycling event is scheduled for Saturday April 16, 2011 between the hours of 9 AM to 1 PM. Bring stuff down to public works on Wells Avenue.

Singer Building – Resident Jack Priestly came to our Council meeting and discussed his plans for rehabilitating the Singer Building (on the corner of 33rd Street and Rhode Island Avenue). He has a working partnership with the owner, Mr. Butler. We wish him a good luck in getting financing for the project.

New Welcome Packets – The City Hall staff has developed a packet of materials for new residents. If you are new to the City and would like a ‘Welcome Packet’ please let me know and I will get you one.

City Works On Plan for Going Green – Mayor Miles has taken the initiative of developing a Mount Rainier Plan for Going Green. The plan is now being discussed with the City’s Environmental Protection Board. The Council had a first reading of an ordinance that mandates that the City look at “green” solutions for all infrastructure problems. The ordinance calls for preserving open space, promoting ‘green streets’ as a strategy for transforming the City’s transportation infrastructure, and encouraging even more recycling. This will be a main City priority over the next few years.