Wheaton Urban
District Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes Tuesday
September 11, 2012
Mid-County Regional
Center 2424 Reedie drive,
Wheaton MD
20902
Members Present: Jim Onder,
William Moore, Janet Yu, Henriot St. Gerard, Marian
Fryer,
Jeannette
Feldner, Devala Janardan
Staff Present: Ana
Lopez van Balen, Director, Mid-County
Regional Center
Pete
McGinnity, Manager, Business development
Joe
Callaway, Wheaton Urban District Operations Manager
Sidney
Cooper, Manager, Marketing and events
Guests:
Sgt. Currie and Lt. Sullivan 4th District police dept.
Bertha
Flores, assistant to Councilmember Navarro
Esther French, Wheaton Patch
Call to Order: Chair Henriot St.
Gerard called the meeting to order at 5:32
pm
Henriot St. Gerard introduced himself as
the new Chairman of WUDAC and
presented the minutes of the July meeting for review. Motion to approve, Devala
1st, Marian 2nd, Minutes approved. St. Gerard expressed appreciation for police
in reflection on 9-11.
4th District Report: Sgt. Currie reported 6 robberies in CBD with all but one closed with arrest, 4
residential burglary attempts with one successful due to unlocked window. Sgt.
Currie reminded everyone to lock windows and doors. There were also 6 thefts
from autos and one auto theft.
Directors Report: Ana Lopez van Balen thanked Janet and Henriot for
their help in filling WUDAC
positions. She reported on a series of Small Business Meetings, with Devala
representing WUDAC at a recent
meeting. Future meetings will be the 1st Thursday of every month at
the Mid-County center. She mentioned MCCAB
will host County Executive Ike Leggett
on Sept. 20, and a meeting in Rockville on 9-22 for proposed Ride-On bus
changes. Also advised that a hearing on accessory apts was scheduled today,
9-11. She briefly touched on a Berliner/Ervin initiative for Bike Sharing.
Urban District Operations:
Joe Callaway commented on the FY 2014 budget and the need to include funding to
maintain streetscape while funding other projects such as the Dark Sky
initiative and new light pole banners. Also noted need for funding now for a
vehicle shortage. He reported that the Wheaton Gateway signs need upgrading.
Joe believes WUDAC can help with
support letters when needed in the budget process.
Sidney Cooper, Marketing report: New logo is still not ready but is close. She agrees
with Joe and looks forward to new light pole banners. She is also planning
meetings with vendors for new Gateway Signs. She noted that the Night Hawks was
the most popular summer concert but other concert attendance was not up to
expectations. She said World of Montgomery Festival is Oct. 21 and will feature
an International Village. The Farmers Market is looking
for more farmers and a firm that specializes in these events is being brought
in. She stressed the need for support or the money will go elsewhere. They will
promote October 28th market.
Other Business:
Henriot St. Gerard, Chair, stated that
the priority for last term was redevelopment. This term’s theme will be
Re-energize and Re-engage. He called for: 1.Find activities for arts and
entertainment 2. Engage the community 3. Energize business ties.
Luis Bonilla, MCCAB
representative, stated that small business thinks they are alone after they
open and that MCCAB has same goals
as WUDAC but serves a larger area.
Stated MCCAB meets 9-20 and then
every 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Mid-County Regional
Center.
Jim Onder, Chamber of Commerce representative handed out the
new community guide and a list of Chamber members. He talked about their
monthly mixers and other member benefits.
Redevelopment Report: Pete McGinnity briefly reviewed recent council
actions with regard to redevelopment and steps being taken to ascertain needs
for that development. He reported Costco was reviewing its plans for gas
station in light of council actions and Safeway hopes to have outer shell
completed by December. Also, Lowe Enterprise’s Site review goes to Planning
Board on Sept. 20 and Washington Properties has demolished the former Wheaton Baptist Church
in preparation for their apt. project. Pete also submitted a written report.
Report from Council: Bertha Flores, assistant to Councilmember Navarro
presented news of a Proclamation by Navarro to students and administrators from
the Berman Hebrew Academy
and Harmony Hills Elementary School
to honor the Chesed Ambassadors program, a cultural exchange program that
strengthens the Aspen Hill community.
Other Business:
Devala
Janardan commented that
the WUDAC Bylaws are outdated and
there is a need to review. Marian Fryer
agreed to assist with the review.
Ana Lopez van Balen presented Jeannette
Feldner with a Proclamation from County Executive Ike
Leggett, recognizing her for her work with WUDAC.
Adjourn: 7:03pm
