03 May 2014

Meeting Minutes for Tuesday March 11, 2014


Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee

Mid-County Services Center, 2424 Reedie Drive Wheaton MD 20902

Meeting Minutes, Tuesday March 11, 2014

 

Members Present: Henriot St. Gerard(Chair), Devala Janardan(Vice Chair), Tom Stanton, Mirza Donegan, Marian Fryer, William Moore, Jeannette Feldner, Nadia Sesay, Dan Thompson, Rick Kessler

Members Absent:  Luis Bonilla

Staff Present:  Pete McGinnity, Manager of Business Development DGS

Guests: Doug Duncan, Virginia Sheard

Call to Order:  6:07pm by Vice Chair Devala Janardan in the temporary absence of the Chair, followed by introductions and a motion to approve the February minutes.  Minutes approved with a name spelling change.(Leventhal). Devala introduced Doug Duncan, who in turn gave a little background on himself and stated he was there to listen to issues of concern to the Wheaton Urban District. Devala then turned the meeting over to Pete McGinnity for a RSC/Redevelopment report

Directors Report:  Pete McGinnity, in the absence of the Mid-County Service Center Director Ana Lopez van Balen, gave a combined RSC and Redevelopment report. He stated that Park and Planning will transfer Veteran’s Park to the County. Also, the RSC has started the planning for transfer of tenants from the Mid-County Center to other buildings.  He also noted that the County Council is waiting on the CIP agreement before providing funding.  Pete took questions from WUDAC members on Redevelopment issues.

Other topics touched on by Pete included an  MCCAB meeting with their concerns on the BRT, affordable housing, and State Highway projects as they relate to Georgia Ave, the new WUDAC business Awards which have received nine nominations, and a commendation to the Clean and Safe team for their great work during the winter storms.  He further touched on a Night Time Economy Task Force meeting with County Executive Ike Leggett and their proceeding toward an implementation report.

Other events noted included that Avalon Bay has asked for an extension with the Planning Board until April and the Solaire apartment grand opening is May 7th.

Lastly, Pete took questions about WRAC joining WUDAC.  He stated that this is not legally possible and that WRAC will dissolve at the end of June.

Sub-Committee Reports:

Design:  Dan Thompson reported on the committee’s work to design a brochure towards our goal of a walkable Wheaton.  He wants both sub-committees to meet together on March 24 to talk with County officials.  He hopes to include the issue of pedestrian safety at this meeting.

Economic:  Nadia Sesay reported on a meeting they had to plan an event for Veterans Park.  This event would include music, family activities and a contest for guests to visit area businesses.  They are unsure who should take lead, WUDAC or the Urban District staff.  After discussion a motion was made and passed to ask the Urban District to take the lead and for WUDAC to form a committee to plan the event.

Chair Report:  Henriot St. Gerard announced that the County Council voted not to give historic designation to the Youth Center.  He thanked WUDAC for their efforts on the letter we sent.  It was quoted during testimony.  He then turned attention to the WUDAC business awards.  He feels that the sub-committees should handle the nominating process.  The nominations are due March 17th.  He also briefly touched on a $1 million budget request from Parks to the County Council and hoped that we could get some money for Veteran’s Park.  Henriot then brought up the Walking Tour.  Discussion then followed about the organization, stops and the possibility of a Meet and Greet to end the tour.  Henriot stated that he will study the issue and we will talk about it further next month.

Other Business:  Dan Thompson questioned the new meeting format and asked whether it was working.  He said the agenda headings were confusing.

Adjourn:  7:27pm