tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42137064374070659052024-03-27T19:53:07.181-04:00Bowie LivingItems of interest in and near Bowie, Maryland.Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.comBlogger461125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-20260317945450823302023-07-28T14:37:00.001-04:002023-07-31T14:43:45.743-04:00Bowie area swim teams participate in Prince-Mont divisional meets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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July 28, 2023<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXm7LHEyLJmFcei8A1FCxt4pUd7MMsdwZ9TBlRPLBsn_F7Rv4bxF4COf6ZIke4XICOQCbIzyAik8c1BgMp-cd0o_cfvWJrfeLa21HB0f8vx4brYuGwsWbYMsQFxiV0ejs58XdKk9G2hTzQq8UaZlxwi-A9xQxy-WOMDRL-LXrLEr-LxoCc9bsGu4l3r9WS/s2048/BSR%20Divisionals%20Scoreboard.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXm7LHEyLJmFcei8A1FCxt4pUd7MMsdwZ9TBlRPLBsn_F7Rv4bxF4COf6ZIke4XICOQCbIzyAik8c1BgMp-cd0o_cfvWJrfeLa21HB0f8vx4brYuGwsWbYMsQFxiV0ejs58XdKk9G2hTzQq8UaZlxwi-A9xQxy-WOMDRL-LXrLEr-LxoCc9bsGu4l3r9WS/s320/BSR%20Divisionals%20Scoreboard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Six Prince-Mont Swim League (PMSL) divisional meets were held on Saturday to determine the final 2023 standings within each of the league’s divisions, and four of those meets took place in Bowie.<br /><br />The Prince-Mont Division A championships were held at Whitehall Pool & Tennis Club, the Division C championships were held at Belair Swim & Racquet Club, the Division D championships were held at the Northridge Community Pool, and the Pointer Ridge Swim & Racquet Club hosted the Division E championships.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><b>DIVISION A</b><br /><br />The Kingfish Swim Club (KSC) was victorious in Division A, winning all five of their dual meets and soundly beating all other teams during Saturday’s divisional meet. Kingfish remains the top team in the league, and they have not lost a meet since 2021.<br /><br />Although the Kingfish Swim Club hosts swim meets in Upper Marlboro, many of the team’s swimmers live in or near Bowie.<br /><br />Also in Division A, the Belair Bath & Tennis (BBT) swim team came out one point ahead of Whitehall Pool & Tennis (WPT) on Saturday, tying Whitehall and BBT for 5th place in Division A points. The league uses dual meet results to break ties in the standings. Since Whitehall beat BBT when the two teams met on July 8th, Whitehall finished 5th in Division A and BBT finished in 6th place.<br /><br />Eight swimmers won all three of their individual events including Trent Badrak of the Adelphi Dolphins (AR), Landon Abelende and Addy Donnick of the Hawthorne Country Club Gators (HCC), Layla Davy-Brown, Ginny Smith, and Zuri Wilson of Kingfish, Wesley Moncton of the Prince George's Pool Killer Whales (PGP), and Ethan Zurowski of the BBT Dolphins.<br /><br />Five swimmers won two of their individual events including Emma Henchcliffe from BBT, Gavin Abelende from Hawthorne, Alysa Bailey from Kingfish, Dmitry Mikhailov-Bakker from PGP, and Cecilia Saarinen from Whitehall.<br /><br />Addy Donnick from Hawthorne broke a Whitehall pool record by swimming 59.51 in the Girls 15-18 100 Meter Freestyle. The previous record had been in place since 2014.<br /><br />Two Kingfish team records were set, including Sophie Koroma’s 29.82 time in the Girls 15-18 50 Meter Butterfly and Alysa Bailey’s 37.33 time in the Girls 13-14 50 Meter Breaststroke.<br /><br />Levi Vars broke a BBT team record by swimming 32.07 in the Boys 15-18 50 Meter Breaststroke. The previous record had been in place since 2012.<br /><br /><br /><b>DIVISION C</b><br /><br />Belair Swim & Racquet (BSR) became the 2023 PMSL Division C Champions after finishing second behind the West Arundel Swim Team in Saturday’s Division C divisional meet. BSR was undefeated this season heading into Saturday’s meet, and the Bowie team finished the meet tied with West Arundel in division points. The tie was broken in favor of BSR because West Arundel lost to BSR by three points in a dual meet one week earlier.<br /><br />Six swimmers won all three of their individual events including Carlos Idol and Kazuki Reeves of the Montpelier Marlins (MC), Jacob Campbell and Sydney Campbell of the Russett Sharks (RST), Michael Venit from the West Arundel Ducks (WA), and BSR’s Camille Smith. Smith also helped the Barracudas to a first-place finish in the Girls 9-18 200 Meter Freestyle Relay.<br /><br />Nine swimmers won two of their individual events including Zoe Adams, Christopher Perkins, and DJ Theodore from BSR, Mia Moore from Greenbelt Municipal Swim Team (GM), Kaley Markovitz and Kylie Ritter from Russett, Yusuf Islam and Kitana Marroquin from West Arundel, and Maarja McCall from the West Laurel Swim Club (WLS).<br /><br />Kyle Smith tied a BSR team record set in 2011 by swimming a 32.07 in the Boys 15-18 50 Meter Breaststroke.<br /><br />Only 0.18 seconds separated DJ Theodore and Kyle Smith in an exciting finish as the pair took first and second place respectively for the Barracudas in the Boys 15-18 50 Meter Butterfly.<br /><br />Sydney Campbell from the Russett Sharks Swim Team broke a PMSL league record by swimming a 28.12 in the Girls 11-12 50 Meter Freestyle, and she broke a BSR pool record by swimming a 30.70 in the Girls 11-12 50 Meter Butterfly. Campbell teamed up with Julianna Rios, Kylie Ritter, and Kaley Markovitz to break a BSR pool record for the Sharks in the Girls 18 & Under 200 Meter Medley Relay with a time of 2:10.71.<br /><br />Michael Venit from the West Arundel Ducks broke a PMSL league record by swimming a 58.47 in the Boys 15-18 100 Meter IM, and he broke a BSR pool record by swimming a 29.18 in the Boys 15-18 50 Meter Breaststroke.<br /><br /><br /><b>DIVISION D</b><br /><br />The Accokeek Gator’s (AST) edged out the Indian Head Torpedoes (IH) to win first place in Division D for the 2023 season, despite the Torpedoes coming in first place in Saturday’s divisionals meet held at the Northridge Community Pool in Bowie.<br /><br />The Northridge Neptunes finished the season in fourth place in Division D.<br /><br />Five swimmers won all three of their individual events in the Division D Championships meet including Ashley Gruwell from Accokeek, Jason Johnson from the Fort Washington Sharks (FW), Naomi Dugan from Indian Head, and Cole Gilbert and Gianna San Juan from Northridge.<br /><br />Cole Gilbert broke three Northridge team records during his individual event swims, and Naomi Dugan and Jason Johnson both broke two Northridge pool records.<br /><br />Five swimmers won two of their individual events including Gambrell Bennett and Johannes Shotwell from Accokeek, Alexa Ampela from Fort Washington, Alexander Byrd from Northridge, and Rafa Borders from the Westlake Village Waves (WOW).<br /><br /><br /><b>DIVISION E</b><br /><br />The Prince George's Parks and Recreation Sharks Swim Team (PPR) were big winners in Division E, winning all five dual meets and coming in first in last Saturday’s divisionals meet held at Pointer Ridge Swim & Racquet in Bowie.<br /><br />The Pointer Ridge Porpoises finished the season in third place in Division E.<br /><br />This summer saw the return of the Takoma Park D.C. Swim Team (TP) to the league. Takoma Park didn’t have access to a pool for two years due to concerns about Covid, and the team was not able to regroup for the 2022 season. Takoma Park had been a solid Division A team for years prior to 2020.<br /><br />Six swimmers won all three of their individual events in the Division E Championships meet including Nicholas Karis, Bridget Kelly, and Jocelyn Turner of the Brandywine Blue Waves, and Allen Bui, An Bui, and Ari Jenkins of the Laurel City Kingfish.<br /><br />Three swimmers won two of their individual events including Azurah Coppock-Bey from Prince George’s Park and Rec, Aiden Morgan from the Takoma Park Allstars, and Anthony Davis of the Pointer Ridge Porpoises.<br /><br />Data on records broken for the Division E meet was not provided with the meet results.<br /><br /></span><div><br /></div>
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-80657573618515295782023-07-15T13:42:00.002-04:002023-07-28T14:25:10.861-04:00Whitehall Pool & Tennis wins 2023 Bowie City Meet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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July 15, 2023<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizo0YdlmHDS92NXSDueWszCykfB9e4fJ_0BTvREpiipb8nHmH37N6VVw7D8cBPfpmeQeLIkIC876X_-bjNmnov_a7VtfO0xfYjyatpxZqf_0iyJGky0DzGAYk7JyzqutnS8zqyEZQOH9H9baODTRsFyqQO3bNKHB3AQJ0YePi8WJOKW1IahOydwvyUInoX/s3885/A1-Bowie%20City%20Meet%20Trophy%2007-15-2023%20copy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3885" data-original-width="2914" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizo0YdlmHDS92NXSDueWszCykfB9e4fJ_0BTvREpiipb8nHmH37N6VVw7D8cBPfpmeQeLIkIC876X_-bjNmnov_a7VtfO0xfYjyatpxZqf_0iyJGky0DzGAYk7JyzqutnS8zqyEZQOH9H9baODTRsFyqQO3bNKHB3AQJ0YePi8WJOKW1IahOydwvyUInoX/s320/A1-Bowie%20City%20Meet%20Trophy%2007-15-2023%20copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The Whitehall Pool & Tennis Club swim team won its 7th consecutive Bowie City Meet Tuesday night in the closest match in nearly a decade, beating second place finisher Belair Bath & Tennis (BBT) by 16.5 points. The final score for the annual event had not been this close since BBT beat Whitehall by three points in a storm-shortened meet in 2014.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The final score of this week’s meet was Whitehall Pool & Tennis Club (WPT) 598, Belair Bath & Tennis (BBT) 581.5, Belair Swim & Racquet (BSR) 465.5, and Pointer Ridge Swim & Racquet Club (PR) 201.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The Girls 18 & Under 200 Meter Medley Relay event set the competitive tone for the meet early when Whitehall beat BBT by 0.04 seconds.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The winner beat the second-place finisher by less than one second in 12 out of 49 events Tuesday night.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />“Family” was one theme for the meet with cousins Joey Coleman and Ella Gannett from BBT combining to win two events, sisters Cecilia and Faith Saarinen from WPT winning three events, brothers Omar, Suleiman, and Ibrahim Mourad from WPT winning six events, and brothers Ethan, Ryan, and Thomas Zurowski from BBT winning seven events.<br /> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Seven swimmers won all three of their individual events including Cara Craig and Autumn Gaskins from BSR, Ryan Meledick, Ethan Zurowski, and Emma Henchcliffe from BBT, and Omar Mourad and Clare O’Keefe from WPT.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Five swimmers won two of their individual events including Kyle Smith from BSR, Ryan Zurowski and Thomas Zurowski from BBT, and Hayden Karasiewicz, Suleiman Mourad, and Cecilia Saarinen from WPT.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />No new City Meet records were set this year, but one BBT pool record and one BBT team record were broken.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />WPT’s Omar Mourad swam the Boys 15-18 50 Meter Butterfly in 27.29 seconds, breaking the previous BBT pool record time of 27.47 that had been in place since 2015.<br /> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">BBT’s Ryan Meledick swam the Boys 13-14 50 Meter Butterfly in 28.87 seconds, beating a BBT team record he set only three days earlier. Prior to Meledick’s record-breaking 2023 swims, the previous record of 29.10 had been in place since 1980.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Tuesday’s swim meet was the 50th time that Bowie pools came together for the annual City Meet. Whitehall, BSR, and BBT competed in the first Bowie City Meet in 1972, and Pointer Ridge began participating in the meet starting in 1973. The Bowie City Meet has been held annually since 1972 with the exception of 2020 and 2021 due to Covid concerns.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />The meet host team, Belair Bath & Tennis, decorated the venue to match the team’s 2023 Bowie City Meet theme, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Teams traditionally choose a different theme each year, and swimmers will dress in costume or wear t-shirts matching their team’s theme. Each team is formally introduced as they enter the venue, and swimmers march once around the pool, showing their costumes and team pride.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Whitehall Pool & Tennis will host the Bowie City Meet in 2024.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2fB9j7v7IdCjlMGDeVhK8C6kd9Xwg4L4l3G-fjyoNYXD_et54RwQDKokIgkGGnnZL4T_BjBV-V1Um-zAHvP4kguzNkfuWZvAyZbLNTnkWx255sj1nQwcyHc1im1LCgyvtyVzMo7WrlFXPYj15eUzGivGsgaIjoXOJid359QQfdv9IiebHBawki0EVnAz/s2048/A2-Whitehall%20Team%20Photo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2fB9j7v7IdCjlMGDeVhK8C6kd9Xwg4L4l3G-fjyoNYXD_et54RwQDKokIgkGGnnZL4T_BjBV-V1Um-zAHvP4kguzNkfuWZvAyZbLNTnkWx255sj1nQwcyHc1im1LCgyvtyVzMo7WrlFXPYj15eUzGivGsgaIjoXOJid359QQfdv9IiebHBawki0EVnAz/w640-h480/A2-Whitehall%20Team%20Photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-37037491733470475672021-10-05T12:29:00.000-04:002021-10-05T12:29:41.333-04:00Council sets parameters for future operation of golf course<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0HMGi5HCY2Ix9chrJZy4oxSlQQF5Qqy0cUQvRRi5IIqihk_yO6cd6Xks1cU5b0FrH6sF2g__SpcTVsu5kWTLkC0OiR4HiIfu3sv7OaJniodbSEqynRsVU-hfky64cVE2BDlZ1ugVxRsr/s2048/IMG_6835.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0HMGi5HCY2Ix9chrJZy4oxSlQQF5Qqy0cUQvRRi5IIqihk_yO6cd6Xks1cU5b0FrH6sF2g__SpcTVsu5kWTLkC0OiR4HiIfu3sv7OaJniodbSEqynRsVU-hfky64cVE2BDlZ1ugVxRsr/s320/IMG_6835.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></span><span style="font-size: medium;">The city gave Emerald Golf Management until Friday to accept the city’s terms for management of the Bowie Golf Club. If an agreement can’t be reached, the city will attempt to negotiate a contract with Indigo Golf Partners.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The council also directed the city manager to make all practical efforts to open the facility using contractors and city staff while negotiations continue.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The Bowie Golf Club closed Friday after the city was not able to reach an agreement with Emerald to operate the city-owned facility. A prior agreement with Bowie Golf Course Management expired last Thursday.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">An RFP process earlier in the year yielded two proposals to manage the golf course. City staff recommended a proposal from Indigo Golf Partners, but the council voted to pursue an agreement with Emerald.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Shirley Fletcher, president of Emerald Golf Management, addressed the council during the citizen participation portion of last night’s city council meeting. Fletcher was unhappy with the way the city handled negotiations, but she let the council know that Emerald is still interested in running the facility. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">“We’re still here. We still want to run and operate the Bowie golf course,” Fletcher said. We still believe that we’re a good fit. We’re local. We’re small business, and I think we’ll do the community a good job. The city will be very pleased with what we can do.”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">District 1 Councilmember Michael Estève indicated that the council has some non-negotiable terms that Emerald was not able to meet. “The final offer we received included illusions to some of the things that we wanted, but a lot of it was not in writing,” Estève said.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Estève said that he did not want to make the same mistakes that were made in the agreement with the previous management firm, Bowie Golf Course Management. “We discovered over time that much of our relationship with the previous company was largely built on trust.” </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Estève continued, “If we are going to invest a very large amount of public tax dollars into the course over the next several years, we want to make sure that there is 100% absolute financial transparency and accountability. We wanted to make sure in writing that the city council would have the final say over rates, and that we would be able to keep rates low.”</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">District 2 Councilmember Dufour Woolfley proposed that city staff permanently run the golf course as a last resort if an agreement cannot be reached with Emerald or Indigo Golf Partners. He received pushback from At-Large Councilmember Ingrid Harrison and District 4 Councilmember Roxy Ndebumadu, and the council agreed to take action at a later date if an agreement with a management company cannot be reached.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">According to Assistant City Manager Daniel Mears, the golf course remains closed, and eight contractors have been hired to maintain the facility. Crews were present at the course this morning.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Estève spent about seven minutes during last night’s meeting providing a thorough and detailed explanation of his position on the golf course. His comments are well worth the read, and they can be found below.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div></div></div><blockquote><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">So first off, I think I can safely say that all seven of us on the city council are committed to maintaining golf in Bowie. I think that goes without any question.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Over the last forty years since we’ve had a Bowie golf course, there’s been rumors that pop up, sometimes once every couple of years, sometimes once every couple of days, it feels, where there is a new plan to sell the property to a developer and build a bunch of homes. I can assure you, seven zero, that’s never been a controversial issue for this council or any previous ones. We bought the property specifically to maintain it, to protect it, to use it as a public amenity, and we are all committed to continuing to do that.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">This is not, unfortunately, a particularly new issue. It’s just the next stumbling block in a series that we’ve had with all of our recreational amenities in Bowie. We are one of the more amenitized communities in the region. We’re very proud of that.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">None of our facilities serve only Bowie residents. None of our facilities make a ton of money back. Most of our facilities lose money, and that’s largely by choice. We want them to be public. We want them to be affordable. We want them to be accessible. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The challenge that we have is reaching the point where all of our amenities are really beginning to age. Our golf course is a half century old, and the pictures that we get on what it looks like are increasingly bleak - when we see the wooden interior and the roof and the equipment that needs replacing. Our basketball courts, we’ve invested a lot money improving things there. That’s one of our newer facilities. Our golf course is, especially for many of our regular players, you know, I think someone referred to it as a dog track earlier, but our dog track. I think that’s how a lot of us feel as well. It’s not in the best shape. It definitely needs some TLC., and we’re committed to make that happen.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">On the last council, (we) visited the golf course, over a series of many meetings with a consulting firm, at the time, to look at all of the specific things that need improvements. We got on the phone with our state lawmakers about possible sources of funds to improve the historic property on the site. To start repairing the irrigation. And the city began on a long series of scheduling capital projects to improve the course, and we’re going to stick to those. We’re committed to making that happen. It will hopefully not be a dog track for very long. It won’t be able to all be done overnight. It’s a lot of money, but we can, over the course of several years, continue to make some improvements to it so that it can be a really great amenity. And with the closure of so many of the other golf courses in the area, as many of you wrote to us about, we totally recognize the importance of maintaining this particular amenity, and we also get that it can be very successful. I don’t think we’ll have any shortage of players any time soon for quite a while.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">So we’re all committed to keep it going.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Our only challenge is simply one of management.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The Bowie golf course is the only facility we have that is not directly run by city personnel. The gym is run by city employees. The ice rink is run by city employees. The senior center is run by city employees. The golf course is not.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">For forty years, we’ve had a private company, Bowie Golf Management, running the facility for us.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">For most of that time, I think the relationship was very fruitful for both sides. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">As the owners of the previous company approached retirement, I think the relationship changed a little bit - just from my perspective – just my observation.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We discovered over time that much of our relationship with the previous company was largely built on trust, and we specifically discovered that when we would go to our contract whenever there was an issue, and realize that a lot of this isn’t enforceable. So we quickly learned that trust was really important in that relationship.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Over the course of the last few months as we’ve gotten a closer look at the operations of the golf course, we’ve realized that there are a lot of things moving forward that we absolutely want to improve upon, and a lot of things that we want to do a little bit differently.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">As a result, the whole city council has been absolutely committed to the notion that if we are going to invest a very large amount of public tax dollars into the course over the next several years, we want to make sure that there is 100% absolute financial transparency and accountability.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">We want to make sure that if we’re doing all of the major capital improvement projects, that we’re able to set the pace of those projects. We recognize that there’s a lot of costs involved in this. We wanted to make sure in writing that the city council would have the final say over rates, and that we would be able to keep rates low.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">These were all non-negotiables for us from the beginning, and I think the challenge that we had is that at times – my observation – our negotiating partner simply had a different philosophy. I think they wanted to come in, were very proud of the fact that they had the potential to run a very independent facility – more similar to the arrangement we had with Bowie Golf Management. And throughout the process and throughout the negotiations, it just seemed to us as though there was an irreconcilable difference in philosophies about that. The final offer we received included illusions to some of the things that we wanted, but a lot of it was not in writing. There were things in the final offer that we received that were, from our perspective, not as great for the city as when we actually began. Overall, all of us felt that we were further apart in the end, in many ways, then when we started. And with the deadline looming, we were kind of stuck.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">And unfortunately, being a public body, we can’t just all seven of us hang out at the pub with our friends and our negotiating partners to sign a deal. We have to go through, unfortunately, this public process with public meetings, and deadlines and rules that we have to follow, unfortunately.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">So where we are is fairly straightforward. We are committed to maintaining public golf. We’re committed to throwing a lot of money at it in the next few years. A lot of these things are already scheduled in our capital improvements list. It’s just a matter of figuring out who’s going to run it day to day for us.</span></div></div><div></div></blockquote><div><br /></div>
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-81320380495214733062020-08-19T15:44:00.001-04:002020-08-19T16:50:08.697-04:00Is Bowie offering universal pre-k? Not exactly.<p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">By </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4213706437407065905/4288367704731848023" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Mike Rauck</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">“There’s about to be universal pre-k in
Bowie,” a Facebook user commented on a Bowie Living post about the future
of the Bowie Ice Arena. “Where’s the post about that? Spread the good
news too. I’m so over this obsession with a(n) ice rink.”</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEz5MPnpoxnuy0nVPFvUfQT7ryXbQKvgsP9RKLufDqlBfWLaDKlAQUxk1XrR0kOSVz1Hz_FG-nSNEXkwPBIhWJZtaOhNy8TkCL5D48rukAgRe6xMX3OeKD7_kKS7SW-yW1P0LzKfyI_JRS/s896/Where+is+the+post+v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="896" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEz5MPnpoxnuy0nVPFvUfQT7ryXbQKvgsP9RKLufDqlBfWLaDKlAQUxk1XrR0kOSVz1Hz_FG-nSNEXkwPBIhWJZtaOhNy8TkCL5D48rukAgRe6xMX3OeKD7_kKS7SW-yW1P0LzKfyI_JRS/s640/Where+is+the+post+v2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The comment came days after Bowie Mayor <a href="https://www.cityofbowie.org/directory.aspx?EID=6">Tim Adams</a> issued a <a href="https://www.timadams.org/newsreleases/bowie-supportive-housing-corporation-honored-by-city-council"><span style="color: blue;">press release</span></a> on his personal web page about
a publicly funded pre-k program coming to <a href="https://www.reidtempleacademy.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Reid Temple Christian Academy</span></a> in Glenn Dale.
Adams described a historic pre-k partnership that will significantly expand
pre-k access, “open to Prince George’s County residents, with a focus on
residents of Bowie.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">Several local television stations published
stories about the program. Mayor Adams shared a WUSA Channel 9 story on
his Facebook page with the headline, </span><a href="https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/bowie-offers-universal-pre-k/65-959d0d71-5d2b-4156-8678-913f4efb1484" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: blue;">“Bowie first Maryland city to offer universal Pre-K.”</span></a><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">
WJLA Channel 7 followed shortly with the headline, </span><span face="" style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><a href="https://wjla.com/news/local/bowie-universal-prek" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">“One local Md. jurisdiction will be the first in the state to offer free universal Pre-K</a></span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">,</span></span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">” </span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">and it was posted to Facebook with a caption that said, “One jurisdiction will become the first in the state to offer universal Pre-K to all residents!”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">News 4 Prince George's County
Bureau Chief </span><a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/author/tracee-wilkins-2/" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Tracee Wilkins</span></a><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"> published a </span><a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/maryland-church-offering-to-teach-pre-k-for-free/2358207/?fbclid=IwAR0ICc6FECI2gwKh7C4hNbBUa4QEXrcVNiS51WVR7pKfPXe5SKhYf991kLQ" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: blue;">very different report</span></a><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"> about a free pre-k
program with 40 seats available to county residents.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCP-ErlhsUJPlpq0gbhvmDBPI36rLSE7jQbCHqg_qJ9ZEERx48q0F_WcTyMbTgG7qq7ahyphenhyphenC1AyCBm2Iw9fC_N_2VMIqT9KvtEf6i5xWBIJk6VI5SCYQrCOq2B1hTfgQombZkoa5pB2v7w/s789/Mayor+Adams+Shared+WUSA+Story.jpg"><span face="" style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1026"
type="#_x0000_t75"
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbWlSEnWcLSpBEHFMQ0gTJuLTJMOhWXQ09RjtW4Z9qvmPJoe1GmYSQH0Y3u7E14KKwe-ggcq5QLsbo_nvacBxOhmg0E_AlQVaKdbV-7wI74hD8jQp_gYvFDRcQuicKfUPxl7HLDgEg8TE/s789/Mayor+Adams+Shared+WUSA+Story.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="783" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbWlSEnWcLSpBEHFMQ0gTJuLTJMOhWXQ09RjtW4Z9qvmPJoe1GmYSQH0Y3u7E14KKwe-ggcq5QLsbo_nvacBxOhmg0E_AlQVaKdbV-7wI74hD8jQp_gYvFDRcQuicKfUPxl7HLDgEg8TE/s640/Mayor+Adams+Shared+WUSA+Story.jpg" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The claims about the pre-k program were
contradictory and hard to believe. Was universal pre-k coming or was it 40 new seats? Implementing universal pre-k would be a heavy lift at
any time, and county and state budgets are currently under immense
pressure. Schools are run at the county level - not by the city.
Universal pre-k hasn't been discussed at any recent city council meetings, and
Adams' press release referred to a partnership with “the office of the
Mayor.” Why would a school in Glenn Dale focus on Bowie residents? The
reports were very confusing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVNEUspdswII7rL_Vo3G4LMxtUyyLdDIZcKYm74sLkot4FQLOlvCx2uu9CE8uB373YUJTmG5JBbuHSFA2WT4xWDft2peugFBJPs-lgowrBdmgj7YZsjZ3cauFhyNoBxxYf-CVULiag2K6/s777/WJLA+Story+-+universal+pre-k+for+all+residents.jpg"><span face="" style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025"
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrli4OGTp3AH1ItNuMaNO72yjQxaIQ-aFwVvQBKiyBwEireKZSfebtVZHc3fU6TAtzCORJEu-K7fJBIcupNwcTc7226w2waNW8XgsRkO9X3gDBTo_pvBvr6JP7KzY6hQ60y_yWwrtU9smn/s777/WJLA+Story+-+universal+pre-k+for+all+residents.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="777" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrli4OGTp3AH1ItNuMaNO72yjQxaIQ-aFwVvQBKiyBwEireKZSfebtVZHc3fU6TAtzCORJEu-K7fJBIcupNwcTc7226w2waNW8XgsRkO9X3gDBTo_pvBvr6JP7KzY6hQ60y_yWwrtU9smn/s640/WJLA+Story+-+universal+pre-k+for+all+residents.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
reached out to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Prince
George's County Public Schools (PGCPS), Mayor Adams, and Reid Temple
Church. I let them know that I was writing a story to clear up the
confusion created by conflicting news reports about publicly funded pre-k in
Bowie. I also reached out to City of Bowie staff.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">I never heard back from Mayor Adams or Reid Temple.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">I was able to determine that the news stories were related to a new pre-k program at Reid Temple Christian Academy in Glenn Dale that's offering 40 publicly funded pre-k seats to county residents</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> for the 2020-21 school year - one class for three-year-olds and one
class for four-year-olds. Eligibility for the program is based on household income or participation in an Individualized
Education Plan (IEP) or an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">According to MSDE, the program is a partnership between the
Maryland State Department of Education, Reid Temple Christian Academy, and
Prince George's County Public Schools. </span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">MSDE is providing the funding in the form of a one-year $400,000 grant made possible by state and federal funds. Reid Temple is responsible for running the program, and PGCPS has oversight responsibilities.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Funding for the program is not guaranteed for future years.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">City staff told Bowie Living that the city is </span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">not</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> part
of the partnership. The City of Bowie does not have responsibility for funding or operating schools for city residents.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">The claims that Bowie is offering universal pre-k are false, and the assertion that the new Reid Temple program focuses on Bowie residents is not supported by the grant application that Reid Temple Christian Academy filed with MSDE.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Mayor Adams bears some responsibility for the misinformation. Although the mayor's press release gets many of the details about the Reid Temple program right, it exaggerates the program's links to the city. The mayor also served as one of the</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> primary sources for the WUSA and WJLA news stories, and he shared misleading information on his Facebook page about Bowie becoming the first city in Maryland to offer universal pre-k.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">What's more concerning is that Mayor Adams announced plans to use city resources to support the expansion of the Reid Temple pre-k program to the exclusion of other area pre-k programs that have been serving city residents for decades. That's not only bad governance, but if those plans move forward, they have the potential to open the city to lawsuits.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Although the news about the 40 new pre-k seats at Reid Temple is encouraging, it must be put in the context of the broader effort to bring universal pre-k to the area.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is universal pre-k?</span></b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">lthough the programs described as universal pre-k vary from one jurisdiction to the next, universal pre-k programs share these common characteristics: publicly funded, free to parents, and wide-scale availability to residents.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><b><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Publicly funded pre-k in Prince George's County</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prince George's County Public Schools has a
long-term goal to offer publicly funded pre-k education to all families in the
county. Full implementation is difficult because it requires funding and
classroom space - two things that are harder to come by in recent years.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">The Maryland State Department of Education
(MSDE) also has a long-term goal to make publicly-funded pre-k widely available
throughout the state. Through MSDE's <a href="https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/">Division of Early Childhood</a>,
federal and state grant money has helped fund pre-k education in school
districts across Maryland. MSDE makes these funds available through
grants referred to as Pre-K Expansion Grants.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">PGCPS <a href="https://conduitstreet.mdcounties.org/2019/05/07/msde-awards-26-6-m-in-pre-k-expansion-grants/">received $3.1 million</a> in Pre-K Expansion
grants from MSDE for the 2019-2020 school year - a fraction of the program's
cost.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">Despite funding and resource challenges, PGCPS
offers pre-k at </span><a href="https://www.pgcps.org/prekindergarten/" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: blue;">dozens of locations</span></a><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"> throughout the
county. Both half-day and full-day programs are available. The
seats are reserved for four-year-olds with some exceptions granted to children about to turn four. Priority is
given to families falling below certain income thresholds.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Publicly funded pre-k in Bowie</span></b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">PGCPS has offered pre-k at different locations
in the city for years. According to an email sent to Bowie Living from PGCPS, a total of 160 publicly funded pre-k seats
are currently being offered at the following locations in the city.</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"> </span></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chapel Forge Early Childhood Center:</span></b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 80 seats; 4 classes; serves families
in school boundaries for High Bridge ES and Pointer Ridge ES<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Northview Elementary School:</span></b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 40 seats; 2 classes; serves families in school
boundaries for Northview ES<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rockledge Elementary School:</span></b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 40 seats; 2 classes; serves families
in school boundaries for Rockledge ES, Yorktown ES, Whitehall ES and Tulip
Grove ES<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pre-K Expansion Grants for non-public schools</span></b><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In an effort to access additional classroom space and other resources, t</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">he Maryland State Department of Education
issues Pre-K Expansion Grants to public charter schools, approved non-public schools, community-based child care programs, Head Start programs, and even home-based child care centers. When awarding grants, MSDE tries to achieve a mix of organization types and geographic locations. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Grants are awarded to religiously affiliated organizations, but those organizations cannot include any religious activity during the 6.5 hour portion of the school day that's funded by MSDE.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Organizations accepting MSDE Pre-K Expansion Grant money must enter into a memorandum of understanding with the local school district to define the curriculum and other details of the program. Grantees choose from a list of approved curriculum options.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How are Pre-K Expansion Grants awarded?</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">In order to be considered for a Pre-K Expansion Grant, an organization must submit <a href="https://earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org/prek-grade-2">an application</a> to MSDE that explains how it will meet the grant goals and must provide supporting documentation to help verify that it meets the grant requirements. All applications are then scored by multiple reviewers using a predetermined scoring methodology. Grantees are selected based on a combination of score, geographic location, and organization type so that MSDE can vary the locations and types of programs.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><b><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eligibility for the Reid Temple Christian Academy pre-k program</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The new pre-k expansion program at Reid Temple
is open to three-year-old and four year-old county residents only. Any
three year-old or four year-old student in the county with an Individualized
Education Plans (IEP) or an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is
eligible regardless of family income. Students without an IEP or IFSP are
only eligible if they are part of a household that has income up to 300 percent of
Federal Poverty Guidelines.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">The Federal Poverty Guidelines vary by the
number of persons in a household. According to </span><a href="https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: blue;">the U.S Department of Health and Human Services web site</span></a><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">,
a family of four making $26,200 or less is considered to be in poverty based on
2020 guidelines. A family of four would have to be making $78,600 or less
to be eligible for the pre-k expansion program at Reid Temple.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Status of the Reid Temple program</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">The memorandum of understanding between PGCPS and Reid Temple Christian Academy was signed earlier this summer, and applications are now being accepted.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">The City of Bowie recently <a href="https://www.cityofbowie.org/DocumentCenter/View/10141/Reid-Temple-Letter-and-Details">shared details</a> on how families can apply.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Implementation of the program may be affected by COVID-19 concerns, and Reid Temple should be contacted for the latest status.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><b style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Does the Reid Temple program give priority to Bowie residents?</span></b></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When asked
about recruiting goals in the MSDE grant application, Reid Temple stated that it intended
on “reaching families in our service area,” and “increasing the number of
children in our community who are ready for kindergarten,” according to an MSDE spokesperson. There was no mention of giving priority to Bowie residents.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">An MSDE spokesperson did say that if more
eligible applicants apply than the program supports, Reid Temple will be
choosing which students are accepted to the program.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Is the City of Bowie involved in the Reid Temple pre-k partnership?</span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">ccording to Mayor Adams' press release, the partnership that brought publicly funded pre-k seats to Reid Temple includes the “office of the Mayor,” which implies that the City of Bowie is involved in the program.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Reid Temple announced on Facebook that it is partnering with Bowie, Maryland.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">However, city staff told Bowie Living that the city is not involved in the Reid Temple pre-k partnership.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">The City of Bowie has a </span><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Council-manager_government" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">council/manager form of government</a><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">, and c</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">ity partnerships must be approved by the city council. Additionally, c</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">ities following the council/manager structure do not have an “office of the Mayor.</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Despite some claims that the city is involved in the partnership, those reports never included what the city's responsibilities to the partnership would be.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sweDNfxvvst8cutqXQjZKB6eyvFoY8rPJzCtJVQJONfKiwnF4NII_zMIjGvGhqjMNWYTfNESxirJKqHYaCTPE1ID4HcuhZFjsztU5QRbYs77c2QYdSXwRAnN0xQjaj2Edoxpwmv3MZbC/s1025/Reid+Temple+announces+partnership+with+Bowie+Maryland.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="1025" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sweDNfxvvst8cutqXQjZKB6eyvFoY8rPJzCtJVQJONfKiwnF4NII_zMIjGvGhqjMNWYTfNESxirJKqHYaCTPE1ID4HcuhZFjsztU5QRbYs77c2QYdSXwRAnN0xQjaj2Edoxpwmv3MZbC/s640/Reid+Temple+announces+partnership+with+Bowie+Maryland.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do Bowie residents have universal pre-k?</span></b></p><p><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">City residents currently have 160 publicly funded pre-k seats offered by PGCPS with limited availability based on age and household income. Bowie residents are also eligible to apply to programs offered by the following Pre-K Expansion Grant recipients in the county.</span></p><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.reidtempleacademy.com/">Reid Temple Christian Academy</a> in Glenn Dale</span></li><li><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.thembalc.com/">themba Creative Learning Center</a> in Lanham</span></li><li><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.greenbeltchildrenscenter.com/">Greenbelt Children's Center</a> in Greenbelt</span></li><li><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.thehaynesacademy.com">Largo Park Early Learning Center</a> in Largo (aka The Haynes Academy)</span></li></ul></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">The age groups supported by these programs may vary by location, but the eligibility requirements are the same as the Reid Temple program.</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Organizations offering pre-k classes funded by Pre-K Expansion Grants may also offer pre-k classes that require payment or tuition, so it's important that applicants specify that they are interested in the free publicly funded classes when applying.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">These pre-k seats represent progress by the county and state officials over time, but it's hard to imagine anyone describing the availability to Bowie residents as “universal.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif;">”</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A governance concern for city government</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p>According to Mayor Adams' <a href="https://www.timadams.org/newsreleases/bowie-supportive-housing-corporation-honored-by-city-council">press release</a>, the mayor, “has assigned Bowie City Council Member <a href="https://www.cityofbowie.org/directory.aspx?EID=8">Roxy Ndebumadu</a>, the Council’s Liaison to the <a href="https://www.cityofbowie.org/317/Education-Committee">Education Committee</a>, to coordinate with Reid Temple AME, Prince George’s County Public Schools, City staff, and the Bowie community to craft a strategic multi-year plan to move RELC (Reid Early Learning Center) into City limits and expand the program’s capacity towards the goal of universal Pre-K.</o:p></span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p>Regardless of the virtues of bringing additional publicly funded pre-k seats to the city, and regardless of quality of a Reid Temple Christian Academy pre-k education, the mayor's plan is a governance concern. Without debate, council vetting, and public input, Mayor Adams' plan assumes that the best way to increase publicly funded pre-k seats in the city is to support an expansion of the Reid Temple program.</o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">A <a href="https://youtu.be/7rpAb6BQuFI?t=5698">statement was read</a> during the Citizen Participation portion of the July 13</span><span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> city council meeting from Christin Vare, the Director of the St. Matthews Early Education Center in Bowie. Vare spoke of the importance of pre-k education, and she asked the mayor and city council to please consider expanding funding collaboration with pre-k programs to include schools that have been serving the Bowie community for decades. She mentioned </span><a href="https://htrinity.org/" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Holy Trinity</a><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">, </span><a href="https://www.stpiusbowie.org/" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">St. Pius</a><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">, the </span><a href="https://bowiechildrenscentre.com/" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Children's Centre</a><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">, </span><a href="https://ccabowie.com/" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Cornerstone Christian Academy</a><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">, and </span><a href="https://www.stmatthewseec.org" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">St. Matthews EEC</a><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p>If the city is favoring one pre-k program over another, that decision needs to be backed up by a policy that explains what makes a pre-k program eligible for city support. If only one pre-k program is eligible for city support, that needs to be backed up by a competitive application and review process. Any conflicts of interest need to be disclosed, including instances where a city official is a member of a church associated with a pre-k program seeking help from the city.</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Implementing the mayor's plan without a pre-k policy will create liability concerns for the Bowie.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="" style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p>The Maryland State Department of Education is clearly picking some programs over others when it assigns Pre-K Expansion Grants, but that process is supported by a well-defined scoring methodology and a mission to vary grant recipients geographically and by organization type. If asked, MSDE is prepared to answer why one program is selected over another.</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">During the August 3</span><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><sup><span face="" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">rd</span></sup> city council meeting, Mayor Adams <a href="https://youtu.be/kO9NEu9tnTY?t=12880">sought support</a> from the council to use city resources and communication channels to publicize the application process for 40 publicly funded pre-k seats at Reid Temple. That's obviously something that would be very helpful to some residents, and the council unanimously agreed to the mayor's motion.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">What the motion didn't include, however, was instructions to city staff to publicize the application process for the 160 publicly funded pre-k seats available to city resident through PGCPS. It seems like such a small oversight, but it illustrates the lack of a pre-k policy, possible ignorance of the existence of the PGCPS pre-k seats, and the council involving itself in a mission where it hasn't traditionally been involved.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p><b><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The future of publicly funded pre-k in Bowie</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">The primary impediments to having universal pre-k in the city are funding and classroom space.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">It's unlikely that universal pre-k could be funded by the city, so county, state, and federal dollars will continue to be needed to expand the number of pre-k seats.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">The MSDE Pre-K Expansion Grants initiative and the PGCPS pre-k program are equitable with their funds, spreading the benefits across their jurisdictions. It's unrealistic to think that either program could be used to concentrate funding in Bowie - especially when there's greater need in other parts of the county and other regions of the state.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">If city officials want to play a role in publicly funded pre-k programs, they should identify pre-k funding resources, and educate residents and area preschools on how best to obtain those resources. Having multiple and varied institutions apply for Pre-K Expansion Grants might increase the chances for more publicly funded pre-k seats in the city.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Mayor Adams deserves kudos for bringing the issue of universal pre-k to the forefront, but he needs to work closely with the council, he needs to practice good governance, and he needs to be honest with Bowie residents.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-71420426545085050532020-05-21T14:36:00.002-04:002020-05-21T17:27:16.800-04:00Adams’ explanation of ice arena vote contains some false and misleading information<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDiL-CAdBnGM2eaGYolAAmLhRDyThNFV64F-qIn8CNCobdM9083dEDUSXA49kl7BtMBIB6-CpjIlGThWKMAhi5VA-lcpKUYnqox7TYjzJfIS_zM2ZnP1NiSNJhxGBsRYq2xCaSOLYfFCt/s1600/Aerial+View.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="960" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDiL-CAdBnGM2eaGYolAAmLhRDyThNFV64F-qIn8CNCobdM9083dEDUSXA49kl7BtMBIB6-CpjIlGThWKMAhi5VA-lcpKUYnqox7TYjzJfIS_zM2ZnP1NiSNJhxGBsRYq2xCaSOLYfFCt/s320/Aerial+View.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">Reasonable people can disagree about the Bowie City Council’s vote to cancel the Bowie IcePlex project, but it’s important to note that the <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e59125092fc4d09f2923001/t/5ec489a16809327ebfaacdde/1589938594784/MayorTimothyAdams_IcePlexProjectLetter_Final.pdf">explanation provided by Mayor Tim Adams</a> for his vote contains some false and misleading information.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Adams claims that a 2013 feasibility study concluded that industry experts advised the city that local demand for ice facilities warranted spending no more than $10.66 million to construct a new ice arena. That’s not what the feasibility study concluded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The study concluded that there was sufficient demand for two sheets of ice in the city, and the estimated cost for a facility seven years ago was $10.66 million. The study did not say, as Adams claims, that the city should spend no more than $10.66 million. The estimate was for high-level planning purposes at a time when the city was evaluating multiple indoor sports options.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The consultants who provided the estimate did not provide a cost range, and they did not indicate a list of assumptions that went into the estimate. They did not say whether or not the estimate included costs for land acquisition, land improvements, and infrastructure improvements.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">For comparison purposes, the same 2013 study estimated the cost of a 61,400 square-foot facility featuring five hardwood basketball courts at $7.58 million. A 2018 feasibility study conducted by the city concluded that a much smaller two court facility would cost between $7.3 million and $12.9 million depending on the type of structure constructed. The study evaluated air domes, tension structures, metal buildings, and brick and mortar buildings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The conclusions of the 2013 feasibility study were presented to the Bowie City Council during a June 3, 2013 council meeting. Video of that meeting is available on the <a href="https://www.cityofbowie.org/626/View-Council-Meetings">city’s web site</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">In the same letter where Adams erroneously criticizes the previous council for not taking the advice of industry experts, Adams makes a case for cheaply renovating the current Bowie Ice Arena by citing advice from a different industry expert - Black Bear Sports Group (BBSG). According to Adams, BBSG criticized the Bowie IcePlex project, and the privately held company offered suggestions for how the existing Bowie Ice Arena at Allen Pond Park could be transformed into a world-class facility for less than $3 million.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The claim that the existing ice arena could be converted into a world-class facility for $3 million is ludicrous, and it gives reason to question Adams’ analysis. The irony is that city residents have never sought world-class sports facilities. Adams made an unfortunate choice of words.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The bigger issue is that Adams ignored previous studies of the state of the Allen Pond ice arena in favor of unvetted information contained in a letter from an industry expert who has a financial incentive to limit ice capacity in Bowie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">BBSG owns and operates multiple ice rinks, including the nearby two-sheet Piney Orchard facility in Odenton. The two-sheet Bowie IcePlex could have drawn paying customers away from the Piney Orchard facility in favor of new facilities and a more convenient location.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">It’s also important to note that as a private owner and operator of ice arenas, BBSG’s construction requirements may be very different than those needed for a municipal complex. Private companies are likely to build rinks with an eye towards short term profits, and the city has an interest in creating a sustainable facility that will last for 50 or more years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">BBSG’s analysis of the current Allen Pond ice arena may be correct. We don’t know. But because there is a conflict of interest and because the analysis hasn’t been vetted, the information can’t be considered reliable at this time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Although Adams can criticize the high cost of the Bowie IcePlex, the project did follow proper municipal governance, including independent third-party consultations, many open public hearings, a competitive bidding process for the construction contract, and transparency including <a href="https://www.cityofbowie.org/626/View-Council-Meetings">a video library of related council meetings</a>. The same cannot be said about the BBSG letter, which, according to Adams, helped guide his decision to cancel the IcePlex project.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Every councilmember, including Adams, who voted against the IcePlex project stated this week that they support the Bowie ice community. It’s clear, however, that none of those councilmembers know what that support will cost. That’s something that should have been determined before the IcePlex project was canceled.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, reasonable people can disagree about whether or not the Bowie IcePlex project should have been canceled, but it’s important that those decisions are guided by proper governance and vetted information.</span></div>
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-26976110797166887942020-05-19T09:43:00.002-04:002020-05-19T09:43:21.843-04:00Bowie Cancels Rink<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImH92UVOxNfRNHegBnS3o_QxWutZcwvM8JDeEfeXtprGmSt0n6JX6pspWTt8X7nUtkATd23swvZgX8Cj0wXEgb3BVhwGVp8J6w7SRkr2Rw6wMANvsE_9HzWEt4hAjJUkXU0XZk5HMsTL_/s1600/BowieCancelsIceRink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1600" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImH92UVOxNfRNHegBnS3o_QxWutZcwvM8JDeEfeXtprGmSt0n6JX6pspWTt8X7nUtkATd23swvZgX8Cj0wXEgb3BVhwGVp8J6w7SRkr2Rw6wMANvsE_9HzWEt4hAjJUkXU0XZk5HMsTL_/s400/BowieCancelsIceRink.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">It’s possible that the people who write headlines for the Bowie Blade-News have a crystal ball that allowed them to predict the Bowie City Council’s early morning vote today to cancel the ice rink project.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">In a 4 to 3 vote, the council approved a motion by District 2 Councilmember Dufour Woolfley that called for construction to stop at the Church Road site and for the contract with Costello Construction to be canceled. The motion also called for city staff to begin evaluating the same Church Road site for a future indoor court facility that’s already in the city’s capital improvement program. City staff were also instructed to begin evaluating options for the existing one-sheet ice arena at Allen Pond Park, including possible renovations and a public-private partnership.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The latest council meeting will likely be remembered as the longest and most contentious council gathering in the history of the city.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Both residents and non-residents submitted more than two hundred comments to be shared at the meeting, including 191 for the ice rink public hearing alone. City Clerk Awilda Hernandez read comments for most of the nine-hour meeting that began at 8:00pm on Monday and ended at 5:00am Tuesday morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Council debate was tense at times, highlighted by a fiery diatribe by At-Large Councilmember Henri Gardner. He hurled insults at other councilmembers and made the claim that some councilmembers had racial motivations behind their decisions to support cancelation of the ice arena project.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Mayor Pro Tem Adrian Boafo and District 4 Councilmember Roxy Ndebumadu offered similar reasons for supporting cancelation of the project. They both indicated that their votes were fiscally responsible and reflected the wishes of the majority of their respective constituents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">According to an estimate by the city’s finance department, the city stands to lose approximately $7 million by canceling the project. Woolfley insisted that despite that loss, the city should not continue to throw good money after bad on what would be the single most expensive project in the city’s history.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Mayor Tim Adams repeated his assertion that the ice arena project had to be canceled to prepare the city for expenses and lost revenue associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. He made the argument that it’s important to look out 18 months or longer because the city will likely be dealing with the effects of the virus for a long time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">All four councilmembers who voted in favor of canceling the project said that they support the ice community and are in favor of exploring plans for the Bowie Ice Arena at Allen Pond Park.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">At-Large Councilmember Ingrid Harrison disputed Adams’ claim that the ice arena project impacted the current and future financial stability of the city. Harrison also expressed concern about possible lawsuits stemming from the cancelation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">District 1 Councilmember Michael Estève told the rest of the council that canceling the project would be premature without having additional information, and he warned that the cancelation was something that could not be reversed. Estève indicated that he was willing to consider a pause in the construction to give the city some time to get more questions answered, including cost and options for the Allen Pond ice arena, and Estève is concerned that there are questions about the bond issuance and implications to the city’s AAA bond rating that haven’t been addressed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The new ice arena facility has long been criticized as a money-loser project being built for non-residents, and Estève took a few minutes to challenge those concerns. He pointed out that all Bowie facilities, including the senior center, the city gym, city parks, and the Bowie Ice Arena, are heavily used by non-residents. Estève quoted a recent city study that showed that 60% of South Bowie Boys and Girls Club members using city facilities are non-residents. The difference is that non-residents provide more than $200,000 in fees annually to offset expenses at the Bowie Ice Arena, and non-residents pay a tiny fraction of that amount in fees to support facilities like the Bowie City Gym. As a result, ice facilities can recoup 80% or more of annual expenses by collecting user fees, and court facilities typically recoup about 16% of annual expenses through user fees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Some citizen comments read during the council meeting were submitted by District 3 residents who are concerned about the proposed ice arena’s impact to traffic and safety along Church Road. Based on the direction set by the council this morning, those concerns will likely switch to the impact of a court facility instead of an ice facility in the same location.</span></div>
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-86874825511318243262020-05-17T18:00:00.004-04:002020-05-17T18:28:52.504-04:00History of the New Bowie Ice Arena Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Debate over the future of the new Bowie Ice Arena project reached a fevered pitch over the last couple of weeks as Councilmember Dufour Woolfley proposed that the council discuss the project’s future and Mayor Tim Adams penned an opinion piece claiming that financial impacts to the city related to COVID-19 make it necessary to stop the project. An overview of the history of the project might be helpful to review at this time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Although the project history described here is very detailed, it could have easily been twice as long. A lot of attention was given to the origins of the project as those details are probably not as well known as the more recent events.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">In the spring of 2012, the city council appropriated money for a feasibility study for the construction of an indoor sports facility. The goal of the study was to evaluate the need, determine what activities the facility should support, and determine where the facility should be located. After reviewing six proposals from consulting groups willing to conduct the study, the council selected The Sports Facility Advisory (SFA).</span><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The SFA study was conducted in the spring of 2013. Approximately 60 interviews were conducted with stakeholders including leaders representing various sports and organizations in the city. A survey of sports users in the city was conducted, sites were evaluated, construction costs were calculated, and SFA created a report detailing financial options for the city.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The city advertised the online survey through its web site, the city’s Facebook page, and through the Alert Bowie system in April 2013. A post on the Bowie Living Facebook page directed people to the survey as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">More than 900 people completed the survey, including some non-residents who participate in Bowie sports.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DQdhRJe29Y80CWAPvKqY5CdGWumcdO1cP22_ZFT9ugIpxBkjRDMlB4_nYCwv4c2hyphenhypheniKK5T_-vvynbSLpuLTmglaFWUoRXb_2AVo8Sez7MpsP-UV1G9sqDo0fPUPbohhfYmqIJDD7yYsY/s1600/Project+Milestones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1060" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DQdhRJe29Y80CWAPvKqY5CdGWumcdO1cP22_ZFT9ugIpxBkjRDMlB4_nYCwv4c2hyphenhypheniKK5T_-vvynbSLpuLTmglaFWUoRXb_2AVo8Sez7MpsP-UV1G9sqDo0fPUPbohhfYmqIJDD7yYsY/s400/Project+Milestones.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: medium;">SFA held a public briefing in May 2013 to present preliminary conclusions of the feasibility study and to provide an opportunity for public feedback. The meeting was advertised on the city’s web site, the city’s Facebook page, Alert Bowie, and Bowie Living.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">SFA delivered a lengthy report to the council at the end of May 2013, and the highlights of the feasibility study were presented during a Bowie City Council meeting during the first week of June 2013. The council meeting is available for viewing on the city’s web site (as are all council meetings since November 2008).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The study made conclusions about demand, construction cost, annual revenue, and annual operating costs for four types of indoor sports facilities: courts, swimming, ice, and turf. Assumptions were made that the Bowie City Gym will remain operational if the city constructs a new court facility and the Bowie Ice Arena at Allen Pond Park will be shuttered if a new ice facility is constructed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The study ranked the facility types based on need, construction cost, and operating cost in the following order from highest need to lowest:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: medium;">courts (five basketball courts reconfigurable as six volleyball courts)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">aquatics (50 meters by 25 yards)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">ice (one Olympic-size rink and one NHL-size rink)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">turf (two 200’ x 100’ turf fields, with four batting cages that can be setup on the turf as needed).</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The rankings assumed implementation of new fee structures, SFA’s understanding of the city’s priorities, and the city’s willingness to pay for construction cost and annual net operating costs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Each facility type represented unique challenges. The construction cost of the proposed aquatic center was the lowest, but it had the highest annual net operating loss. The construction cost of the proposed two-sheet ice arena was the greatest, but it had the lowest annual net operating loss because of the fees that groups in the ice community are willing to pay. The construction cost of the turf facility was the second lowest, but demand was not high enough to keep the facility utilized during the entire year. Staff requirements for the city to operate courts would have to nearly double because any new courts could not be co-located with the courts in the existing Bowie City Gym.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">SFA estimated construction cost based on work starting in 2015, and councilmembers acknowledged that the cost were higher than they had anticipated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">All facility types would result in the city having to pay net operating costs annually as user fees would not cover operating expenses. Neither the courts, ice sheets, aquatics center, or indoor turfs would be self-sustaining.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">SFA discussed the possibility of using public-private partnerships to fund and operate some facilities – a trend that was growing in 2013. The proposed ice facility represented the greatest opportunity for a public-private partnership due to the high fees that the ice community is willing to pay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">At the time of the June 2013 presentation, the city was facing an estimated $700,000 expense above and beyond standard operating costs to keep the existing ice arena at Allen Pond Park operational. The declining state of the current ice arena would continue to influence the council’s decisions for years to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Five possible locations for a new indoor sports facility were included in the 2013 study:</span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Annapolis Road (bordered by Old Annapolis Road, the Pope’s Creek train track, and Grenville Lane). This 61.5 acre site is in an ideal location, and it’s owned by the city of Bowie. Geographic features would make development of the property very expensive, and it’s possible that environmental concerns might prevent the project from being approved.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Glen Allen Park (off Mitchellville Road). The site is in an ideal location, and it’s owned by the city of Bowie. The size of the property would only allow one type of facility to be constructed (i.e., could not be the site of a combined court and ice facility).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Green Branch (behind Rip’s): The site is owned by Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning, and it has access issues that the county has been unsuccessful in resolving.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Mitchelville Road (current lacrosse fields): This property is owned by the Prince George’s County Board of Education, and it’s intended to eventually be the location of a new high school in the city.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Race Track: The Bowie Race Course is not currently available, but it could become available to the city at a later date.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">At the end of the June 2013 council meeting, city staff was looking for direction. The council asked city staff to review the feasibility study in greater detail, and to involve the city’s Community Recreation Committee and Financial Advisory Committee in the process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Mayor G. Fred Robinson (mayor from 1998 to 2019) concluded the meeting by issuing a statement about the city’s long history of commitment to quality recreation facilities. “The one thing that I’m comfortable with,” Robinson said, “is that in this city, there is strong consensus to build and maintain quality recreation, because there is a strong commitment. It’s part of the core of the city. It’s part of the dynamic of the city. It’s part of what brings and holds the city together.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Nearly a year later during a May 2014 budget worksession (also available for viewing online), the council announced that the focus for an indoor sports facility had been narrowed down to several options including a no-build option, an ice-only facility, a courts-only facility, a combined facility, and an option where an ice-only facility was built first followed by courts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Although it was clear why an indoor turf facility was dropped from consideration, there’s been a lot of debate about why an ice facility was prioritized over an aquatics facility, even though the feasibility study ranked an aquatics facility higher. The following were some of the points discussed at the time.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: medium;">An aquatics facility had a higher annual net operating cost that the city would have to fund. Estimates at the time were approximately $500,000 per year.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">The question of whether or not the city should build an aquatics center had previously been put to referendum, and the public failed to support it. Some people believe that the referendum question was to blame as it asked whether residents would be willing to pay for a tax increase to fund an indoor aquatics facility.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Although the feasibility study identified a high demand for an aquatics center, membership in local swim clubs in Bowie was declining at the time, suggesting to some that the demand might not be as high as the feasibility study suggested.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">The city was continuing to experience maintenance issues at the Bowie Ice Arena at Allen Pond Park. If the city wanted to continue offering ice facilities to the public, ice had to be prioritized over aquatics.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">During a May 19, 2014 council meeting, the FY2015 budget was approved with a recommendation for a combined ice and courts facility. This recommendation continued to be included in subsequent annual budgets, but the project was delayed because the city had trouble identifying a site that could accommodate the combined ice and court facility.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">In June 2016, the city purchased a 20-acre site on Church Road near the Route 50 overpass for the proposed indoor sports complex. The size of this parcel of land was believed to be large enough to support a dual-use ice and courts facility.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">In June of 2017, city staff announced that revised construction cost estimates for the indoor sports complex were much higher than previously calculated. Construction costs were now estimated to be $37 million.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">After much debate and a series of public hearings, the council decided to move forward with one of the original options that the council considered in 2014: an ice facility first followed by the construction of additional courts at some time in the future. The council believed at the time that the Church Road site would be able to accommodate courts in the future as an addition to an ice facility.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Based on councilmembers’ comments at the time, the following were some of the arguments that influenced the council’s decision.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Costly maintenance issues continued to plague the Bowie Ice Arena at Allen Pond Park, thus putting an ice facility at a higher priority.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Major renovations of the existing ice arena would cost almost as much as a new single-sheet facility.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Major renovations of the existing ice arena or construction of a new ice arena at Allen Pond Park would displace the ice community for a year or longer, potentially disrupting the revenue stream that net cost estimates were relying on.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Cost of a single-sheet ice facility was almost as expensive as a dual-sheet facility.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Dual-sheet facilities had an advantage over single-sheet facilities because the facility could host tournaments. The tournaments would help with cost recovery as well as attracting customers to area hotels and restaurants.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Although there was demand for additional court space, the city was already offering some indoor courts at the Bowie City Gym.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The following are some of the arguments that were raised against prioritizing ice over courts.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: medium;">There was a great demand for more court time.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Some court proponents felt that they hadn’t been included in the indoor sports facility planning process.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">There was a belief that many users of the ice arena at Allen Pond Park were not Bowie residents.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Some people believed that ice facilities draw users from a wider area, and therefore should be constructed and maintained by a regional entity like the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">At least one councilmember expressed doubt that the city should be in the business of providing indoor sports facilities given the overlap with the mission of the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Some people felt that building such an expensive facility was fiscally irresponsible. The estimated cost for the indoor ice arena was higher than any previous capital improvement project in the city’s history.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Some people expressed concern about the traffic impact to Church Road.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Some people felt that a project of that size should be put to referendum.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Although the council as a whole moved forward with the project over the two years following the decision to proceed with an ice-only facility first, the debate didn’t stop. Lower cost alternatives were discussed, including a “bubble” facility to host ice and courts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The city conducted a study during this time to determine the residency of members of user groups using existing ice, court, and outdoor field facilities in the city. The study has been used by some to conclude that the majority of users of the existing ice arena are not Bowie residents. The reality is much more complicated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The residency analysis was restricted to user groups that rent ice, court, and field time, and it did not include people who participate directly in city run programs, including lessons, open skate times, and camps.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The study also shows that non-residents are frequent users of other Bowie sponsored sports facilities including courts and fields. According to the results, roughly 40% of South Bowie Boys & Girls Club members using city facilities are city residents, and roughly 55% of Bowie Boys and Girls Club members are city residents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The “glass half empty” point of view is that the city is building facilities that are heavily used by non-residents. The “glass half full” point of view is that non-residents are subsidizing city owned facilities, making it possible for the city to make these services available to its residents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Although most user groups for all city owned facilities are split about 50/50 between Bowie residents and non-residents, two outliers exist. About 80% of the 500-member Bowie Hockey Club using the Bowie Ice Arena are non-residents, and about 80% of the 400-member Woodstream Christian Academy using courts are non-residents, according to the study. It’s important to note, however, that the Bowie Hockey Club contributes about $274,000 annually in fees to the Bowie Ice Arena, and roughly $219,000 of that is coming from non-residents. User groups paying for court time pay a tiny fraction of that amount.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">In 2018, the council allocated money for an indoor court feasibility study. The council was presented with options for one court and two court facilities. Multiple public-private partnerships were explored, including proposals by the Greater Mt. Nebo Church and the Community Housing Initiative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The council gave residents whiplash in June and July of 2019 as one month they voted to put the new ice complex up to a referendum vote, and the next month they overturned that decision and selected Costello Construction to build the arena.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">In the fall of 2019, the council approved a contract with Costello Construction and a municipal bond issuance to pay for the project.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">A groundbreaking ceremony was held in October 2019.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Final permits were issued in early 2020 after the city agreed to partially fund a new traffic light at the intersection of Church Road and Fairview Vista Drive. County officials hoped that the traffic light would improve safety along that stretch of church road. A 14-year-old boy was hit by a car and killed at that intersection in June 2019.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Construction on the new ice arena began in March 2020.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">During a council meeting in early May, Councilmember Dufour Woolfley proposed a discussion about the future of the ice arena project. He later explained in an email to constituents that this would give new members of the council a chance to voice their opinions on the project. Four new members joined the council last November, including Mayor Tim Adams, At-Large Councilmember Ingrid Harrison, District 3 Councilmember Adrian Boafo, and District 4 Councilmember Roxy Ndebumadu.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Last week, the Bowie Blade-News published an opinion piece by Mayor Tim Adams in which Adams said that the ice arena project must be stopped due to financial concerns brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Adams piece lacked detail, and his points relied on his own analysis of financials and the Costello Construction contracts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">As of this writing, two councilmembers (Esteve and Gardner) have publicly voiced support for allowing the new ice arena project to continue, two councilmembers (Woolfley and Adams) have voiced support for canceling the project, and three councilmembers (Boafo, Harrison, and Ndebumadu) have not yet taken a public stance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The next chapter to this story will be written during the council’s Monday, May 18th meeting. Stay tuned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Construction photos c/o Costello Construction:</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-9612529447519076262020-04-23T13:52:00.002-04:002020-04-23T17:43:31.474-04:00First bottle bill in the nation?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHavNR7AaEwUMSMFCCB8S1xr18jyJif8N18fLoCaAF8kmqHd3dF2YSeEEH35zjYgmoHEQjVfKCOy3jL9R5UmGDvA8kBql2VPcfzpsLF6MuYl0VRB79ZBKHMeudMcioibyz8aIhEBk4TJ0/s1600/Mayor+Leo+Green+Bottles0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1600" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHavNR7AaEwUMSMFCCB8S1xr18jyJif8N18fLoCaAF8kmqHd3dF2YSeEEH35zjYgmoHEQjVfKCOy3jL9R5UmGDvA8kBql2VPcfzpsLF6MuYl0VRB79ZBKHMeudMcioibyz8aIhEBk4TJ0/s320/Mayor+Leo+Green+Bottles0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In July 1970, three months after the first Earth Day celebration, the Bowie City Council passed an ordinance requiring all bottled beer and soda purchased in the city to be sold in returnable bottles. This was an attempt by city officials to address a growing litter problem in Bowie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The city changed the ordinance in early 1971 to instead require refundable deposits on all beer and soda bottles and cans. The modified ordinance matched state legislation being considered in Annapolis at the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bowie’s bottle bill was scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 1971, but area liquor dealers and soft drink bottlers challenged the city’s ordinance in court. The issue was finally settled in 1975 when the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled that municipalities like Bowie can implement and enforce legislation requiring consumers to pay refundable deposits on beverage containers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Bowie City Council chose to delay implementation of the bottle bill in 1975. The thinking at the time was that the bill would not be as effective unless the county or other nearby jurisdictions implemented similar legislation. Former Bowie Mayor Leo Green and some of his fellow councilmembers who passed the legislation were no longer on the council in 1975.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Although bottle bill legislation was considered multiple times by Maryland lawmakers, bottle and can deposits have never been required in Bowie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oregon passed bottle bill legislation in May 1971. The Oregon bill is frequently cited as the first bottle bill in the nation, but it was passed after the Bowie City Council passed similar legislation. Bowie’s ordinance, of course, was never implemented.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Former Bowie Mayor Leo Green is pictured here in November 1970 giving the thumbs-down sign in response to the 10,000 cans and 800 bottles collected by Bowie High School students along city roadways over a two-day period. The students were members of an ecology group organized at the high school by Don Murphy, a government teacher at the school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, and the Bowie City Council has proclaimed 2020 to be Earth Year in Bowie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">To recognize the anniversary, check out the city's <a href="https://www.cityofbowie.org/DocumentCenter/View/9688/Acts-of-Green-Earth-Year-2020-Tips?fbclid=IwAR1E3JKYJrbz3j22PNbZwVb-vcOw-OJWjUAWJSULX1QvvwXV0AM7lTaG7EE">100 Acts of Green</a> and see what you can do to help the environment, your health, your neighbors, and to save a little money while at it. Many of the acts are perfect for social distancing because they involve actions in your own home or being outside away from crowded areas. Click <a href="https://www.cityofbowie.org/DocumentCenter/View/9688/Acts-of-Green-Earth-Year-2020-Tips?fbclid=IwAR1E3JKYJrbz3j22PNbZwVb-vcOw-OJWjUAWJSULX1QvvwXV0AM7lTaG7EE">here</a> to see the city's 100 Acts of Green.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-17304304431956279802020-04-19T20:21:00.002-04:002020-04-19T20:32:24.402-04:00Bowie City Council to discuss alternate uses for portion of new IcePlex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMMaVDoC95hQb76KP3P80BrAn6tJhbF8mxbrqLT2049XTDBV8qCIsh-3l05-1dsQYK41qfL-VzBgPSyWF-I88hredRcruwu_MBT7zwSUwAbX3Hdu_lAYI_Vpjz7Q6P75W0JcJl0tTZj-L/s1600/IcePlex+04-19-2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="960" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMMaVDoC95hQb76KP3P80BrAn6tJhbF8mxbrqLT2049XTDBV8qCIsh-3l05-1dsQYK41qfL-VzBgPSyWF-I88hredRcruwu_MBT7zwSUwAbX3Hdu_lAYI_Vpjz7Q6P75W0JcJl0tTZj-L/s320/IcePlex+04-19-2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Alvin McNeal with the Maryland-National Capital Parks & Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) will present options to repurpose a portion of the new Bowie IcePlex for non-ice recreation uses during Monday’s Bowie City Council meeting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">According to <a href="https://www.cityofbowie.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/3411?fileID=8935&fbclid=IwAR0PWsyPKpqNv89eqgOqfKb1jfMiZvWmxSs7OsBE6LcsOZpb0ebTEzXUW94">an M-NCPPC proposal</a> provided to the council, one sheet of ice at the new IcePlex would be maintained year-round, and a second sheet of ice would only be maintained from October to April each year. Basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and indoor soccer are some of the sports that could be hosted on the “dry floor” at the facility from late spring to the end of the summer during a time of year that the proposal refers to as the “off-season.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">“There really is no off-season when it comes to skating,” local figure skating coach Abigail Snyder told Bowie Living. “During the time when there are no competitions or hockey tournaments is when our skaters do their most intense training.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">“On the figure skating side, we have national competitions that continue into June,” Snyder explained. “Many of our skaters are looking forward to finally being able to do that training in Bowie rather than having to travel far to other rinks that offer more expensive ice times.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">“We also have very popular summer camp programs that take kids out of the heat to experience something new,” Snyder shared. “Being able to have teams and skaters train on one sheet of ice while camps are running on the other sheet is a scheduling opportunity that we are eager to implement once we have availability.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">“I’m anxious to hear the proposal because it may address some of our recreation capacity issues, but there are a lot of unanswered questions,” District 3 Councilmember Adrian Boafo explained to Bowie Living. “We need to understand the cost to implement, the impact to the construction schedule, as well as changes to the anticipated annual operating cost and revenue for the new facility. We also need to determine if the change in use is permitted under the terms of the bonds that were issued to pay for construction of the IcePlex.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many Bowie residents have expressed concern about traffic and safety along Church Road and the potential impact that projects like the IcePlex will have on traffic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Church Road runs through and along portions of District 3,” Boafo said. “My constituents are going to want to know if the proposed changes will create more traffic.” </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The fact that M-NCPPC is presenting the proposal is significant. The city has relied on outside vendors in the past to study options and costs for recreational facilities, but M-NCPPC became involved because of possible partnership opportunities with the city over the management of the new facility.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">“We have to figure out how costs, revenue, and responsibilities are split in a partnership,” Boafo explained. “One opportunity I would like to explore is whether or not a partnership with the county might help bring additional road improvements to Church Road. That would be great for District 3 residents.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Construction of the Bowie IcePlex is expected to be complete by the fall of 2021.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Monday’s meeting will be hosted virtually for councilmembers and other participants. Residents can see the meeting live online, on Verizon Channel 10, and on Comcast Channels 71 and 996. Video of the meeting will be posted on YouTube (most likely by Tuesday).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Testimony for public hearings or comments for the Citizen Participation portion of the meeting will be accepted via email at cityclerk@cityofbowie.org or via text at 240-335-3282. Comments must be received by 7 p.m. Monday to be included in the meeting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Click <a href="https://www.cityofbowie.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/3411?fileID=8935&fbclid=IwAR0PWsyPKpqNv89eqgOqfKb1jfMiZvWmxSs7OsBE6LcsOZpb0ebTEzXUW94">here</a> to see the M-NCPPC presentation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Click <a href="https://www.cityofbowie.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/1034?html=true">here</a> to see the agenda for Monday’s Bowie City Council meeting.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-50272514624520896832020-04-14T15:28:00.002-04:002020-04-14T15:28:49.346-04:00500+ volunteers create cloth face masks for local organizations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV73C4PR7mw0N715q-aWFr_1N_8q8Ob9iSpVR-WTx7wIbrwrFpuN1ylDsT4KJCX-l9ENhGwDLY6ALlr5SPWiHlA6PW8cIWV9TtBagAtTywRvloCoXZv6dHxNMBsrTfvl7g4PSsWHmw6giP/s1600/Sew+Face+Masks+Maryland+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="834" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV73C4PR7mw0N715q-aWFr_1N_8q8Ob9iSpVR-WTx7wIbrwrFpuN1ylDsT4KJCX-l9ENhGwDLY6ALlr5SPWiHlA6PW8cIWV9TtBagAtTywRvloCoXZv6dHxNMBsrTfvl7g4PSsWHmw6giP/s320/Sew+Face+Masks+Maryland+2.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A group of volunteers calling themselves Sew Face Masks Maryland have created and delivered more than 2,400 cloth face masks to more than 40 area organizations including food banks, police departments, and hospice centers in Anne Arundel County and Prince George’s County. Volunteers coordinate their efforts using a Facebook group, Google Docs, and SignUpGenius.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Are you interested in helping? Patterns are available for those willing to sew, drivers are needed for contactless pickups and deliveries of masks, and supplies are needed (100% cotton woven fabrics - like quilters cotton and especially 1/8"-1/4" elastic). Click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/sewfacemasksmd/">here</a> to request to join the Facebook group to become a volunteer, and read the post at the top of the page for instructions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Representatives from organizations interested in requesting masks can click <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzyZuxXa3UbT6j6puOq3jpi4SqsUUBmDpq9tBvvM7jBPR7Cg/viewform?fbclid=IwAR0ACQEDpKLJigB7nZYM5XKsmrM6b9nTw7ZVAgfOB_a3ePhfqbK0cQWL2rs">here</a> to fill out a request form.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sew Face Masks Maryland only makes masks for organizations in Anne Arundel County and Prince George’s County, and the group does not make or sell masks to individuals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The group has strict rules for members that include no promotion of products, services, or political agendas, no hate speech, and no bullying. Members are expected to be kind, courteous, and respectful of the privacy of all members.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-61031698415997981782020-03-16T18:07:00.001-04:002020-03-16T18:08:41.924-04:00Local church donates money in wake of food pantry theft<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jlLdeissTW0vJTXzFbujeUlA89GRxhERXRgQctcNDuYoF9cJ-HQOcMEt2IpEwIdpeQa9jToONT8S43knusI8Tf2-TxL6AfYeryTsOr8HPcxlQzDVxIYsmr_CUhU1kefUCElGobC3gJol/s1600/Bowie+City+Church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jlLdeissTW0vJTXzFbujeUlA89GRxhERXRgQctcNDuYoF9cJ-HQOcMEt2IpEwIdpeQa9jToONT8S43knusI8Tf2-TxL6AfYeryTsOr8HPcxlQzDVxIYsmr_CUhU1kefUCElGobC3gJol/s320/Bowie+City+Church.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">During a week where the news is trending more negative than positive, members of our community continue to fight the trend. Senior Pastor Dione Bowlding from Bowie City Church announced in a weekly recorded message on YouTube Sunday that the church donated $1,000 to the Bowie Interfaith Food Pantry in response to a theft that occurred at the pantry early Friday evening. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">According to Bowlding, the church has a program to assist the Bowie Interfaith Food Pantry in every calendar month that has five Sundays. On the fifth Sunday of those months, the church budgets about $4,000 to give to church families to shop and deliver goods to the pantry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This month has five Sundays, but due to a scheduling conflict, the church donated to the food pantry on the first Sunday of the month. Bowlding said that the church happened to have $1,000 remaining in this month’s donation budget, and that money was delivered to Bowie Interfaith Food Pantry Director Debbie Langdon over the weekend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"The pantry is so fortunate to have such generous support from the community,” Langdon shared with Bowie Living. “We are overwhelmed by their kindness and compassion. These last few days have seen an increase in donations - some due to the pandemic and some due to the break in."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The pantry has had to make slight changes to their operations due to the temporary closure of city buildings where some of the pantry’s drop-off sites are located, but donations are still being accepted in the back of the Kenhill Center. Visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bowiefoodpantry/">Bowie Interfaith Pantry and Emergency Aid Fund Facebook page</a> for the drop off hours and list of items needed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Monetary donations can be made via the pantry’s web site by clicking <a href="http://bowiefoodpantry.org/donate_online">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The mandatory shutdown of some businesses due to concern about the Coronavirus will create a greater need for the pantry's services.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Bowie Police Department identified 57-year-old Michael James Treyfry this afternoon as a suspect in the pantry theft. Anyone with information about the theft or the whereabouts of Treyfry is encouraged to contact Detective Booth, Bowie Police Department Criminal Investigations Section at (240) 544-5700. Callers can leave anonymous tips by calling (240) 544-5770.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Have you supported the pantry in the past? Are you part of an organization that supports the pantry? Share your stories in the comments.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-51316729898909111552020-03-14T21:15:00.001-04:002020-03-15T12:20:03.831-04:00Sears property owner at Bowie Town Center takes steps to redevelop site<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMVd1olBKYnmM6V7euL9F4IHLmxBbPMhMe4Ev25q0nXN_JScl-i6dAr0ChgwLKXoRR-FVov-yi45NPVUrmetsdT3XDoTNtXeI10DQXvb-lRsEV5A-sKOabjiG15LnwfMnKIkt2tNbY5OR/s1600/Sears1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMVd1olBKYnmM6V7euL9F4IHLmxBbPMhMe4Ev25q0nXN_JScl-i6dAr0ChgwLKXoRR-FVov-yi45NPVUrmetsdT3XDoTNtXeI10DQXvb-lRsEV5A-sKOabjiG15LnwfMnKIkt2tNbY5OR/s320/Sears1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Seritage SRC Finance is seeking to increase the number of residential units allowed on the Sears property at the Bowie Town Center for a proposed mixed-use project that could include retail, office, hotel, and residential buildings. The 10.8-acre site is only one of several parcels that make up the 72-acre Bowie Town Center, and it currently includes the vacant Sears building, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, and several acres of parking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Seritage filed a zoning map amendment earlier this month to permit up to 800 multi-family units and up to 150 townhouses or assisted living beds on the property. The proposal represents a 670 unit increase over the 280 units that are permitted on the property under previously approved plans. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The application that Seritage filed with the county is one of three applications that require review and approval before any buildings are constructed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vaNW_gStYUNn2bITmpVQtf15k69pvLPt94B64oYhnlT7kIWyD8O2HjGF9ia7p9hMwh_rPzUQPZQnyLKzC0QKEBUZoePWc_AwSXPBVe3A1APh8ypuG4vA42zp8_ds1f-0riSeXfm9LQbI/s1600/Sears2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vaNW_gStYUNn2bITmpVQtf15k69pvLPt94B64oYhnlT7kIWyD8O2HjGF9ia7p9hMwh_rPzUQPZQnyLKzC0QKEBUZoePWc_AwSXPBVe3A1APh8ypuG4vA42zp8_ds1f-0riSeXfm9LQbI/s320/Sears2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The City of Bowie plans to review all three applications using the city’s development review guidelines. The guidelines call for a stakeholders’ meeting, a Bowie Advisor Planning Board public hearing, and a City Council public hearing for all three applications that Seritage anticipates submitting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Seritage is a 2015 spinoff of Sears, Roebuck and Company. Sears owned a considerable amount of real estate throughout the country, and those holdings were transferred to Seritage as part of the spinoff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Seritage has sold some of the former Sears properties, found tenants for others, and demolished some to make way for mixed-use projects.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYQo_I9Py43G8KtA19IkSQAId8JXfF64nNQOauLTAq6f3XxH5JoJKVymHknQmjADyFMDN6Vz-WDGR3KxzD_iDPN1yPzE9ald-6Tik6B-BhXIhwEgj5OSrehoZy01MaImVKISPPOMJmgxu/s1600/Sears3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="1024" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcYQo_I9Py43G8KtA19IkSQAId8JXfF64nNQOauLTAq6f3XxH5JoJKVymHknQmjADyFMDN6Vz-WDGR3KxzD_iDPN1yPzE9ald-6Tik6B-BhXIhwEgj5OSrehoZy01MaImVKISPPOMJmgxu/s320/Sears3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the company’s most recent earnings report published in February, Seritage detailed plans for three new projects to convert former Sears properties to mixed use sites – one each in Dallas, Chicago, and Redmond, Washington. The projects will be built in phases with an average of 500 residential units per property if all goes according to plans.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Multiple residents expressed concern about the current state of the Bowie Town Center during recent City Council listening sessions. The quality of the stores and the number of vacant units were mentioned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Traditional brick-and-mortar retail stores have suffered in the wake of increased online shopping, and retail properties are commonly repurposed for other uses including restaurants, fitness clubs, entertainment venues, and residential.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlRSM7guj7nGA1V8yt1CBTVToH681t8LIAZF4RYOtHP9MZTi_kK05PXiq2Knhyphenhyphen4SNIY0U-gkL7h2GBaf-AlokD6tiBaeL1NfCwe_2MuC_z1xRayKd-FFTl7N7MT-ATq79AqsGbC93IT8z/s1600/Sears+Proposal+03-13-2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="1179" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlRSM7guj7nGA1V8yt1CBTVToH681t8LIAZF4RYOtHP9MZTi_kK05PXiq2Knhyphenhyphen4SNIY0U-gkL7h2GBaf-AlokD6tiBaeL1NfCwe_2MuC_z1xRayKd-FFTl7N7MT-ATq79AqsGbC93IT8z/s320/Sears+Proposal+03-13-2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Sears property is part of collection of parcels that make up what is known as the Bowie New Town Center (BNTC) Comprehensive Design Zone (CDZ). Other properties in this CDZ include the rest of the Bowie Town Center, the Shoppes at Bowie Town Center, Bowie City Hall, the Palisades townhouses, Heather Ridge Apartments, and several commercial and residential properties across from the Bowie Town Center on the north side of Route 197.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A Comprehensive Design Zone is like a custom zone where residential density caps and other property restrictions are tailored for a cluster of properties – unlike more traditional zoning where density restrictions must be strictly followed. Planning officials have more flexibility when approving new and modified plans for CDZs, and approvals are handled on a case by case basis.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All property owners have the right to submit development applications for review, and the fact that the application is being reviewed by the city should not be seen as an endorsement by city staff, the Bowie Advisory Planning Board, or the City Council. City Council recommendations emanate from the review process. The city’s position should never be assumed just because a development application is being considered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">City review of the Seritage zoning map amendment application is expected to begin in late spring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Click <a href="https://youtu.be/MEwJtrj0JVc">here</a> to view a January 2019 video where the Sears property owners discuss possible uses for the site.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-11736057113205064872020-03-09T09:18:00.001-04:002020-03-09T09:18:15.543-04:00Bowie City Council divides over approach to South Lake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcF6xgGSRwL1yqH-1qSr8rKFoRIp7gsx463fAc4H2HE9qMAtVpYuh1afgi1gUO5SBXMYwSfrV8Vz_Kls59H6TXkx8RhOVW42J5waPzSULZOeNmRKY83OgIqQyYhTX2l0cHw07jsTOcYSbw/s1600/South+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="631" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcF6xgGSRwL1yqH-1qSr8rKFoRIp7gsx463fAc4H2HE9qMAtVpYuh1afgi1gUO5SBXMYwSfrV8Vz_Kls59H6TXkx8RhOVW42J5waPzSULZOeNmRKY83OgIqQyYhTX2l0cHw07jsTOcYSbw/s320/South+Lake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Three months after an election where the impact of development projects was considered a major concern for voters, members of the Bowie City Council divided into two camps for last Monday’s votes on two detailed site plans for the South Lake project – councilmembers who wanted to send a symbolic message and councilmembers who wanted to participate in the county’s process despite having a restricted role.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mayor Adams and councilmembers Boafo, Harrison, Nbdebumadu, and Turner voted to recommend approval of the South Lake plans, and councilmembers Estève and Woolfley voted against. The 5-2 split was reminiscent of vote tallies from the previous council where Estève and Woolfley typically voted against recommending development applications before the council.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">City Council development project votes generally have no binding authority. The decisions typically serve only as recommendations when the plans are considered by the Prince George’s County Planning Board and the District Council.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">City Council recommendations, however, typically include more than just an up or down vote on a project. City planning staff and the Bowie Advisory Planning Board generally provide the council a list of recommended conditions for approval. Common conditions for approval include widening of a road, adding a sidewalk, increasing parking spaces, adding a trash receptacle, changing the type of bike rack used, and installing signs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Developers seeking a positive recommendation from the Bowie City Council tend to accept staff’s conditions for approval, thus giving the city some limited leverage on development projects even though the city has no power to stop these projects. That leverage is lost when the city rejects a development application (e.g., Pecan Ridge), and that leverage is lost when the city decides to take no action on a development application (e.g., Amber Ridge).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A City Council recommendation to reject a development application can also affect a project, but only if the City Council provides reasons that are applicable to the criteria that the Planning Board and the District Council can consider by law for the particular type of application being considered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">School capacity was cited as a factor in the City Council’s decision to reject the Pecan Ridge proposal, but the county adopted rules years ago that prevent development applications from being rejected due to school capacity issues. The county instead charges a per-unit fee for new development projects to fund school capital improvement programs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> “South Lake is going to happen regardless of whether the Bowie City Council takes a stand or not,” District 4 Councilmember Roxy Ndebumadu explained during Monday’s meeting before voting to approve city staff’s recommendations for the project. “We need to have a seat at the table.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The South Lake development is being built in Ndebumadu’s district.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">District 2 Councilmember Dufour Woolfley argued that changes to the project recommended by city staff are minor in nature. “They really don’t address the overall concerns that the community has, and they’ve had for a long time, and that’s of course with traffic and the impact on education,” Woolfley pointed out. “Nor does it fairly represent the real world of retail and how it’s changing, and I don’t see how introducing new retail into our environment is all that helpful.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The council’s consideration of the two South Lake detailed site plans on Monday was constrained by commitments made by the previous council when the property was annexed into the city. Ndebumadu suggested that voting against the project could subject the city to a lawsuit from the applicant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">After consultation with the city attorney, Woolfley recommended indefinitely tabling a decision on the South Lake detailed site plans as a way of abiding by the terms of the annexation agreement without showing support for the project.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">District 1 Councilmember Michael Estève concurred with Woolfley’s approach. “We have to be careful about what we signal to residents, and we have to be careful about what we signal to the community at large,” Estève said. His comments were met with applause from a handful of people present Monday night who oppose the South Lake development.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">“We have to figure out the best way to be most effective given our restricted role,” Councilmember Boafo told Bowie Living. “We know that the City Council doesn’t have the power to stop development projects, but we do want to be able to influence plans. Someday the Sears property owner will submit a plan to redevelop that site, and we need to have our voices heard.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Boafo would like the City Council to work more closely with the Prince George’s County Planning Board to better understand how the council can best address future development. “I’m looking forward to spending time with the Planning Board in the near future,” Boafo said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Despite differences in how councilmembers voted on the South Lake applications, there is broad consensus in the council that traffic and the state of the schools in Bowie are major concerns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A public hearing for the two South Lake detailed site plans will be held by the Prince George’s County Planning Board on Thursday, March 19th.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-15525730800125357912020-03-03T11:14:00.000-05:002020-03-03T11:18:57.777-05:00Update for the Sardi's Bowie location after Monday's Fire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqvXSJB3eMtymzZARgwH2Xr9JUh0fy6fQZdKmxg_IbvY5H-stMds0FrouxdoRU10YD4uvtC0Y3NXuY_Tg1K0cxpYderolNxBTmqwMGornlk6tLlFc3jqE3tAo9lnjU0sYF7ENKXweBlVh/s1600/Sardis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="540" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqvXSJB3eMtymzZARgwH2Xr9JUh0fy6fQZdKmxg_IbvY5H-stMds0FrouxdoRU10YD4uvtC0Y3NXuY_Tg1K0cxpYderolNxBTmqwMGornlk6tLlFc3jqE3tAo9lnjU0sYF7ENKXweBlVh/s320/Sardis.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">As of 11am this morning (Tuesday, March 3rd), customers calling the phone number for Sardi's Bowie location will hear a recorded message indicating that the restaurant is closed after a recent fire. According to the message, the recording will be updated when the status of the restaurant changes, and no estimate was provided for the length of the closure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The phone number for Sardi's Bowie location is (301) 383-2167.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Please send Bowie Living a note if you hear any info. Thank you!</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-14509882234289077852020-03-02T13:56:00.000-05:002020-03-02T13:56:04.790-05:00Bowie City Council meeting tonight, March 2nd<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Bowie City Council will hold a meeting tonight, March 2nd, at 8:00pm in Bowie City Hall, 15901 Excalibur Rd.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Agenda items include review of two detailed site plans for the South Lake development, a briefing on the Countywide Sectional Map Amendment, and a proposal to honor former Bowie Mayor G. Fred Robinson.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Although the council is generally united in a goal to reduce development in the Bowie area, they have struggled to find an approach to handling development applications that come before the council. Past actions by this council have included postponing reviews (South Lake), recommending against projects (Pecan Ridge), and canceling council review without a recommendation to the county (Amber Ridge).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Councilmembers have expressed frustration that their recommendations have no affect on the outcome of development projects because the real power lies with county officials. The truth is a little more nuanced.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Although it’s true that the city doesn’t have the power to stop development projects, the city does have a role and responsibility to residents to improve or minimize the impact of development projects. The city frequently makes recommendations to developers and to the county about senior housing allocations, roadways, sidewalks, and walking paths that are accepted by developers, and the council should never give up that responsibility like it did with the Amber Ridge project.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Councilmembers may fear approving a recommendation for a development application because it has the appearance of support for development, but they need to explain to residents that what they’re doing is the most responsible path forward given what the law allows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Councilmembers should also resist the urge to perpetuate the myth that the path forward to limiting development is to simply stop county officials from voting “yes” on development applications. It’s much more complicated than that, although it is true in some situations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the heart of the development project approval process is the concept of property rights. If you own a piece of land, and you propose a development project that matches the use and density of the zoning for your property, and your proposal meets all other guidelines, including adherence to environmental regulations, you have the right to develop your property. You may have to make some roads improvements near your property, but by law, you have the right to build if you meet the criteria.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The second concept is equal treatment for all applicants. If project approvals are based on a County Council vote alone, we have the potential for decisions to be made arbitrarily and potentially subject to abuse and unwanted influence. It’s therefore important that approval for development projects be conditioned on a common set of rules and criteria, and all stakeholders, including the public, can participate in the process to show that a project does or doesn’t meet prescribed guidelines. Forcing projects to adhere to guidelines creates accountability in the approval process.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A corollary to the concept of equal treatment is that development project approvals are not made by plebiscite. In other words, when it comes to someone’s property rights in Maryland, a vote by the people can’t take those rights away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There have been plenty of times when residents have testified during public hearings where they said something like, “stop this development. The people don’t want it.” That sort of testimony has no effect with the county Planning Board because they can only consider the common criteria which all development projects are measured against. Public sentiment can be used, however, to influence the design of a project, but not to force rejection of a development application.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When it comes to school capacity, the county adopted rules years ago that prevent development applications from being rejected due to school capacity issues. School capacity numbers are still used by the county for planning purposes, but rather than rejecting applications, the county charges a per-unit fee for new development projects regardless of school capacity. The fee is assessed at the time a building permit is issued. The fee is adjusted each year for inflation, and the 2020 rate is $16,698 per unit. The fee is lower for construction inside the Beltway and in other areas where the county is promoting development.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some residents have testified at public hearings that the developer for this project or that project should be forced to build a new school. Although the sentiment may be right, it’s unfair to force a single development project to pay for 100% of the cost of a new school when the new development won’t have enough students to fill a new school. That’s what makes the school facilities surcharge ideal because every development, no matter how small or how large, contributes an amount that is proportional to the development’s size. It also gives the county the ability to use those fees where the need is the greatest rather than having developers construct schools in places where school capacity is not an issue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One common complaint is that the school facilities surcharges generated by Bowie development projects aren’t used for school improvements or school construction for Bowie area schools. The truth is that they don’t go directly to school improvements in other areas of the county either. They are generally used to service the debt obligation on money borrowed for multiple school capital improvement projects throughout the county, including projects in Bowie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When it comes to road capacity, development project applications are rarely, if ever, rejected due to capacity. The process does include an evaluation of road capacity, but if the adequacy tests fail, the developer is usually given the option of mitigating the traffic issue by making road improvements that are proportional to the additional traffic generated by the development.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Melford developers were required to make several changes to intersections along Route 301 and Route 3, but the improvements were considered to be proportional to the extra traffic that the development was anticipated to generate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some residents testified in public hearings that the Melford developers should fund an additional lane in each direction on Route 3. The truth is that the Melford development is not responsible for one third of the traffic on Route 3, and the road improvements that the developer was forced to make were more proportional to the impact that the development would have.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">One area where County Council members should be held accountable is for their approval of text amendments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We recently saw the County Council vote in favor of a text amendment that had the effect of changing the permitted residential density for the Freeway Airport property. The council was certainly within its authority to vote “no” without violating property rights and the principle of equal treatment.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-22914779869833788142020-02-29T13:31:00.002-05:002020-02-29T13:31:40.792-05:00City Council considering proposal to recognize former Bowie Mayor Robinson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Former Bowie Mayor G. Fred Robinson</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Councilman Henri Gardner will present a proposal during Monday’s city council meeting to recognize former Mayor G. Frederick Robinson by naming a road and the new ice arena after Robinson. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Although the council agenda doesn’t include a formal resolution, an email sent to some constituents by Gardner provided details of the proposal. The plan calls for the city to rename Excalibur Road in front of City Hall to Mayor Fred Robinson Road and to name the new ice complex Mayor G. Fred Robinson Ice Arena.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Robinson served as Bowie’s mayor from 1998 to 2019, and he served on the City Council from 1986 to 1994. The construction of the new City Hall and plans for the new ice complex were approved during Robinson’s tenure as mayor, and he was an active and vocal supporter of both projects.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">According to a recent city manager’s report to the council, the city is in the process of obtaining the building permits for the new ice complex, and construction is expected to begin in March.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The new ice complex is expected to open in 2021.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-49712237342307787522020-02-25T13:53:00.000-05:002020-02-25T14:07:21.333-05:00Bowie area projects moving forward after Planning Board approval<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19jE0XoDRa_r0PiDJWmkLAJg5ldtEON6m4wZujyq0Tctd-J1j2JNOc9ndl3wfI7JS4KgdkmufQtxUztZCFvnCl4uGx-f_oinUmKhU5i4jVVAR7AYjLLSeP05f7SP99QNbk6epy_9cyACn/s1600/Background2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="825" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh19jE0XoDRa_r0PiDJWmkLAJg5ldtEON6m4wZujyq0Tctd-J1j2JNOc9ndl3wfI7JS4KgdkmufQtxUztZCFvnCl4uGx-f_oinUmKhU5i4jVVAR7AYjLLSeP05f7SP99QNbk6epy_9cyACn/s320/Background2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">T</span><span style="font-size: large;">he Prince George’s County Planning Board approved applications for three Bowie area development projects after public hearings were held earlier this month. Approvals were given to the Amber Ridge, Pecan Ridge, and Melford Mansions projects.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Planning Board approved a conceptual site plan application for Amber Ridge, a 19-acre development just outside the city limits on Route 301 South – just north of Mitchellville Road. A total of 187 townhouses are planned, and space is being reserved for 20,000 square feet of retail space. A detailed site plan for the residential component of the property will still have to be approved prior to construction, but the remaining approvals are only contingent upon plans that follow development guidelines.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Retail space including a grocery store was originally planned for the Amber Ridge site decades ago, but property owners changed their focus to residential after they couldn’t secure an anchor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A traffic light and a cutover to Route 301 North were considered for the project, but the Maryland State Highway Authority determined that the expected traffic did not warrant the cutover.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Caruso Homes and Ryan Homes have been lined up to build the townhouses at Amber Ridge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A detailed site plan was approved for the Pecan Ridge subdivision, a development of 80 single-family homes located just outside the City of Bowie along the WB&A trail on a 41-acre horse farm currently operated as Temptation Farm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Developer Caruso Homes proposed a Public Benefit Conservation Subdivision for Pecan Ridge, which is meant to preserve open space and/or site features. According to county law, Public Benefit Conservation Subdivision developments in the Rural Residential Zone like Pecan Ridge must preserve at least 40% of the land, and developers can build on up to 60% of the property with minimum lot sizes of 6500 square feet (0.15 acres). Caruso will conserve 42% of the property for green space.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Among the areas of the property being conserved is a buffer with the Horsepen Hill Farm property, a buffer with the Blue Skys Stable property, and a grove of Pecan trees that dates back to the early 20th century.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A detailed site plan was approved by the Planning Board for the Mansions at Melford Town Center, an apartment complex that includes 435 units in nine separate residential buildings in the Melford section of Bowie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Melford Mansions complex is the second apartment complex approved for the Melford Town Center. A detailed site plan for the 389-unit <a href="http://www.theaspenmelford.com/">Aspen</a> apartment complex was approved in 2018.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">According to an <a href="https://www.bisnow.com/washington-dc/news/multifamily/st-john-properties-plans-435-unit-prince-georges-county-project-103104">article</a> in commercial real estate publication Bisnow, Andrew Roud from St. John Properties announced that ground will be broken on both the Aspen and Melford Mansion apartment complexes by the end of the summer. Some grading and work on the storm water system has already taken place.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-84037150497271796132020-02-24T19:43:00.000-05:002020-02-24T19:43:05.620-05:00Committees to hear testimony on race track bills tomorrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">T</span><span style="font-size: large;">he Maryland Senate and the House of Delegate both introduced versions of the Racing and Community Development Act of 2020 in the Maryland General Assembly earlier this month, and the two committees will hear testimony about the bills tomorrow (Tuesday) in Annapolis.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The House Ways and Means Committee will be in session starting at 1:00pm tomorrow to hear testimony on HB1056, among other bills, and the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee will be in session starting at 2:30pm to hear testimony on SB987. The House Ways and Means Committee meeting may go into the evening given the number of bills on the agenda.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Click <a href="http://bowieliving.blogspot.com/2020/02/two-bills-offer-different-approaches-to.html">here</a> for an overview of how the two bills affect the future of the former Bowie Race Course property.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The House Ways and Means Committee meeting will be taking place on Tuesday, February 25th at 1:00pm in Room 130 of the House Office Building, 6 Bladen St, Annapolis. Click <a href="http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/pubs-current/current-wam-faqs.pdf">here</a> for guidelines for providing oral and/or written testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee meeting will be taking place on Tuesday, February 25th at 2:30pm in Room 3 of the Miller Senate Building, 11 Bladen Street, Annapolis. Click <a href="http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/pubs-current/current-bat-faqs.pdf">here</a> for guidelines for providing oral and/or written testimony to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Click <a href="https://www.annapolisparking.com/parking-tips-for-2020-legislative-session/">here</a> for information on parking in Annapolis for the 2020 legislative session.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-47648961256855829342020-02-24T11:03:00.001-05:002020-02-24T11:03:43.305-05:00WMATA Bowie bus line cuts proposed; Metro public hearing tomorrow in New Carrollton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is holding open houses and public hearings to provide information and solicit feedback for the organization’s fiscal year 2021 budget. The closest event to Bowie is taking place Tuesday night, February 25th at 6:00pm, Metro Points Hotel, 8500 Annapolis Road, New Carrollton. An open house will begin at 6:00pm, and the public hearing will begin at 6:30pm.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The proposed plans include cutting two Bowie area bus lines: the C28 Pointer Ridge route and the B29 Crofton-New Carrollton line which includes stops on Northview Drive, including the commuter parking lot. A Metro report indicates that these bus lines are experiencing low ridership. The B21 and B22 bus lines will still service the Bowie Park & Ride Lot on Northview Drive i</span><span style="font-size: large;">f C28 and B29 lines are shut down</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Click <a href="https://www.wmata.com/initiatives/budget/upload/B20-01-and-B20-02-FY21-Budget-and-CIP-Notice-of-Public-Hearing-FINAL.pdf">here</a> for more information.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-3467579769987747362020-02-21T16:55:00.000-05:002020-02-21T16:55:29.680-05:00Renovations underway at Bowie High School Annex on Belair Drive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">By Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Work crews recently began the first phase of a multi-million-dollar partial renovation of the Bowie High School Annex on Belair Drive. Hess Construction was awarded a $15.8 million contract for the initial work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The first phase of renovations includes the following improvements, according to Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS):</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">1. Replacement of entire suspended ceiling system;</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2. Replacement of the 1989 roofing system & update to the failing drainage system;</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3. A new sprinkler system throughout the 1963 facility (includes service upgrade to the water main);</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. Replacement of all classroom unit ventilators and related piping;</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. Replacement of the entire steam system to a four-pipe hydronic system (includes two new chillers for full air conditioning capacity);</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. Educational enhancements/renovation to science classrooms 121, 122 & 123; computer lab 116; family & consumer room 114; and 9 standard classrooms along with corridors, restrooms and storage spaces;</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">7. Abatement & replacement of all asbestos-containing floor tiles throughout the school;</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">8. Painting throughout the school;</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">9. Repair of structural earthquake-related damage; and</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">10. Purchase & installation of six portable classrooms to remain after construction completion (option chosen to avoid moving the school to another location during construction).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A total of $23.4 million has been approved for the project, although school officials indicated that there are other costs for the renovation above and beyond the Hess Construction award.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Additional improvements have been identified for Phase 2 of the project, but PGCPS is waiting to announce those details until it’s clear how much money will be available after the completion of Phase 1.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-86957026342773661262020-02-19T14:32:00.001-05:002020-02-19T14:32:25.716-05:00City of Bowie courting Trader Joe’s<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCyj8UVpbpk3CK1fRtnowpKZl_9cdmMyDVRzKSaBVqN7B-zXbeQ7yv7x7ibQVhml8RnOHuLm4fgI9rGWlqNSU707y4v03wO6qOn2JG1Pism-SRut1KrP-yDhj_ovMCfqBtzIHJz4tohHW/s1600/TraderJoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="768" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCyj8UVpbpk3CK1fRtnowpKZl_9cdmMyDVRzKSaBVqN7B-zXbeQ7yv7x7ibQVhml8RnOHuLm4fgI9rGWlqNSU707y4v03wO6qOn2JG1Pism-SRut1KrP-yDhj_ovMCfqBtzIHJz4tohHW/s320/TraderJoes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bowie Mayor Tim Adams announced during last night’s City Council meeting that he sent a letter asking the Trader Joe’s CEO to consider Bowie for the store’s next Maryland location. “I also asked our federal, state, and county elected officials to send their own letters supporting Bowie’s request,” Adams said.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A link is now available on the city’s web site to allow residents to submit their own requests to Trader Joe’s. Click <a href="https://www.cityofbowie.org/777/Bowie-Trader-Joes">here</a> for the city’s web page for Trader Joe's.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">At least one resident suggested bringing Trader Joe’s to the city during the recent council listening sessions, and multiple residents expressed the need for better retail options in the city.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The latest initiative to bring a Trader Joe’s to Bowie is not the first.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Two Bowie residents created the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/We-Want-Trader-Joes-in-Bowie-MD-198887796910022/?tn-str=k*F">“We Want Trader Joe's in Bowie, MD” Facebook page</a> in 2012 after the Safeway grocery store in the Bowie Marketplace closed. The purpose of the page was to gather followers and show local support for Trader Joe’s. The page has been dormant for more than seven years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The closest Trader Joe’s to Bowie is in Annapolis, and Trader Joe’s has no stores in Prince George’s County.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-73526130274305948692020-02-19T09:22:00.001-05:002020-02-19T09:22:20.136-05:00Planning Board to hold hearings for two area development proposals on Thursday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pecan Ridge</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Prince George’s County Planning Board will conduct public hearings tomorrow (Thursday) for multiple development plans including applications for the proposed Pecan Ridge and Melford Mansions projects. The meeting starts at 10am in the Council Hearing Room in the County Administration Building, 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive in Upper Marlboro, and residents can sign up to speak during the hearings.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Pecan Ridge is a proposed 80-unit residential housing development located just outside the City of Bowie along the WB&A trail on a 41-acre horse farm currently operated as Temptation Farm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Developer Caruso Homes is proposing that the Pecan Ridge development be a Public Benefit Conservation Subdivision, which is meant to preserve open space and/or site features. According to county law, Public Benefit Conservation Subdivision developments in the Rural Residential Zone like Pecan Ridge must preserve at least 40% of the land, and developers can build on up to 60% of the property with minimum lot sizes of 6500 square feet (0.15 acres). Caruso is proposing to conserve 42% of the property.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Among the areas of the property identified for conservation is a buffer with the Horsepen Hill Farm property, a buffer with the Blue Skys Stable property, and a grove of Pecan trees that dates back to the early 20th century.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Bowie City Council voted unanimously last month to recommend that the county reject the preliminary plan of subdivision proposed by Caruso Homes for the Pecan Ridge development citing residents’ concerns about the environment, traffic safety, and school overcrowding. The Planning Board, however, will likely base their decision on less subjective criteria for school and traffic capacity as prescribed by law.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Planning Board will also conduct a hearing Thursday for a detailed site plan application for the Mansions at Melford Town Center, an apartment complex that includes 435 units in nine separate residential buildings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Melford Mansions complex is the second multi-family application being considered for the Melford Town Center. A detailed site plan for the 389-unit Aspen apartment complex was approved in 2018, although most of that project is still in th</span><span style="font-size: large;">e permitting phase.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Click <a href="http://mncppc.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=14&ID=1504&Inline=True">here</a> to see the agenda for Thursday’s meeting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Click <a href="http://www.pgplanning.org/1699/Testify-at-Public-Hearing">here</a> for instructions for signing up to speak during one of Thursday’s hearings.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-20628779074186812972020-02-10T07:50:00.003-05:002020-02-11T09:30:30.608-05:00Two bills offer different approaches to former Bowie Race Course property<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwVJ-YTwDCJfhNeEtELW_FFTNbj0LfpgWOota9cD_2f3qBBsSWktBA7mJM0FQ-jfezDgnYR7YwEkWBLyHD9rLE3u7wfp0Ydc2GqOjfx7bro2VvH6UlL6u9cqKQb-yBPGIrVsJr3uK2TWT/s1600/PG+County+Fair0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="1445" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwVJ-YTwDCJfhNeEtELW_FFTNbj0LfpgWOota9cD_2f3qBBsSWktBA7mJM0FQ-jfezDgnYR7YwEkWBLyHD9rLE3u7wfp0Ydc2GqOjfx7bro2VvH6UlL6u9cqKQb-yBPGIrVsJr3uK2TWT/s320/PG+County+Fair0003.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">The Maryland Senate and the House of Delegate both introduced a version of the Racing and Community Development Act of 2020 bill in the Maryland General Assembly last week, and each offers a different approach for dealing with the future of the former Bowie Race Course property. The House version of the bill establishes a task force to determine the future of the property, and the Senate version of the bill gifts the land to two entities: the City of Bowie and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Senate Bill 987 requires the property to convey on or before July 1, 2024. Land within 100 feet of the Patuxent River will be gifted to M-NCPPC for what the bill calls passive recreational activities, including hiking, wildlife viewing, picnicking, and walking. The remaining portion of the property will be gifted to the City of Bowie for what the bill calls active recreational activities, including baseball, football, soccer, and cricket. SB987 allows one structure to be built on the property that has up to 50,000 square feet of space (similar in size to the Bowie City Gym), and the bill requires that the city enter into a joint use agreement with Bowie State University for the use of the recreational facilities on the property.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">House Bill 1056 establishes that a task force be formed to determine the future of the race track property. The task force must conduct meetings and public hearings about future uses of the property, and input must be sought from state officials, county officials, elected and appointed municipal officials, neighborhood groups, civic, educational, and charitable organizations, and other interested parties. The task force must report to the Governor and General Assembly by October 1, 2021, and the task force findings must include the preferred public uses of the property, including estimated costs for land acquisition and development, along with possible funding sources for the plan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">HB1056 specified membership in the task force as follows: Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, three members of the House of Delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House, the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources or a designee, two members of the Prince George’s County Council appointed by the Chair of the Council (one must represent the district where the property is located), the Prince George’s County Executive or designee, the Mayor of the City of Bowie (Mayor Tim Adams), and the Bowie City Councilmember whose district the track resides (Councilman Michael Esteve). The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall appoint a Senator and Delegate to serve as cochairs).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Both SB987 and HB1056 specify that the land be transferred through the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Program Open Space. According to the agency’s web site, Program Open Space “provides financial and technical assistance to local subdivisions for the planning, acquisition, and/or development of recreation land or open space areas.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Restrictions exists for land gifted under Program Open Space, and such restrictions will prevent the former Bowie Race Course property from being sold for development.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hearing for the two bills will begin in Annapolis later this month, and the text of both bills may be amended. If both bills pass, the conflicting language will have to be reconciled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The 2020 session of the Maryland General Assembly ends in early April.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Click <a href="http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2020RS/bills/sb/sb0987f.pdf">here</a> to see the text of the Maryland Senate bill.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Click <a href="http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2020RS/bills/hb/hb1056f.pdf">here</a> to see the text of the House of Delegates bill.</span></div>
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-26867915305353796512020-02-09T15:56:00.003-05:002020-02-10T06:58:32.463-05:00Representatives for Maryland’s 23rd Legislative District meet with residents<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsMCFl-oURGd7w7MOuoS4JU_3HWRsJvzZUhGqTle_2MM3FBQ6aVjqwlxAODqHTLmqbhr4K5XVEThXX-PudTXRdx_Me1n3Da62S499SE56GbN0a4mEFJgSoD3Ma5ygAsPEuMMW50TVeMg2/s1600/A_IMG_1004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsMCFl-oURGd7w7MOuoS4JU_3HWRsJvzZUhGqTle_2MM3FBQ6aVjqwlxAODqHTLmqbhr4K5XVEThXX-PudTXRdx_Me1n3Da62S499SE56GbN0a4mEFJgSoD3Ma5ygAsPEuMMW50TVeMg2/s320/A_IMG_1004.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Three lawmakers from Maryland’s 23rd legislative district met with residents Saturday at the Kenhill Center in Bowie for coffee, doughnuts, and a Q&A session. Maryland Senator Douglas J.J. Peters, Delegate Marvin Holmes, and Delegate Geraldine Valentino-Smith hosted the event. Delegate Ron Watson wasn’t able to attend due to recent surgery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Prince George’s County Council Chair Todd Turner also joined the discussion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The 2020 Maryland General Assembly session began last month and runs through early April. Friday was the deadline for new bills to be submitted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Funding for schools, funding for school construction projects, and the future of the former Bowie Race Course were subjects of interest to many of the residents in attendance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Legislation to overhaul public education in Maryland was introduced this week. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, as it’s called, is based on recommendations that came out of a commission led by a former chancellor of the University of Maryland System, William Kirwan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The biggest hurdle to implementing the Kirwan recommendations is funding. The legislation includes a spending formula that would require Prince George’s County to increase spending on education by $360 million over 10 years. Delegate Valentino-Smith told constituents that the funding formula will be heavily debated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Built to Learn Act is legislation currently being considered in Annapolis to increase state funding for school construction and other capital improvement projects by $2.2 billion over five years. According to County Council Chair Todd Turner, state funding is critical to school construction projects.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Maryland Senate and House of Delegates both introduced bills last week that include language related to the future of the former Bowie Race Course. Maryland Senator Douglas J.J. Peters played an important part in drafting the Bowie Race Course text for the Senate version of the bill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Peters told constituents on Saturday that the Senate version of the Racing and Community Development Act of 2020 will divide ownership of the property between the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission and the City of Bowie, with the understanding that Bowie State University will have use of the property for recreational activities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">None of the lawmakers present during Saturday’s meeting were aware of the details in the House version of the bill as it was introduced late last week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Senate and House versions of the bills are likely to change as they are debated in committee, and the two versions of the bills will have to be reconciled if they both pass.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bowie Living will contrast the Senate and House versions of the bills in a future post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Delegate Marvin Holmes asked those present to make sure that they participate in the upcoming Census. Federal funding for the state and legislative districts will be affected by the results. When listing topics he was concerned about, Holmes told residents it was the, “Census, Census, Census and the Census.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">With regard to county initiatives, Turner encouraged those present to participate in upcoming hearings for the Bowie and Vicinity Master Plan, and he let residents know that the Countywide Map Amendment initiative to adopt new zoning categories for the county is still ongoing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Residents present on Saturday brought up concerns about the new traffic light planned for the intersection of Church Road and Fairview Vista Drive, the complexity of language in city code, and legislation currently being considered that would eliminate state income tax on the first $50,000 of income for retirees.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4213706437407065905.post-2932046723834150712020-02-06T01:00:00.002-05:002020-02-06T09:47:50.703-05:00City Council removes Amber Ridge public hearing and vote from agenda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By <a href="mailto:BowieLiving@gmail.com">Mike Rauck</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amber Ridge Illustrative Plan</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Bowie City Council was scheduled to host a public hearing and a vote on plans for the Amber Ridge development project during Monday night's council meeting, but councilmembers voted to remove the item from the agenda at the beginning of the meeting. The lack of a vote means that the Prince George’s County Planning Board will not have a Bowie City Council recommendation when it considers the project during its meeting today (Thursday), although Frank Stevens from the city’s Planning & Community Development Department stated that he plans on addressing the Planning Board on behalf of the city.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Amber Ridge is a proposed housing development for 200 townhouse and 20,000 square feet of retail space on Route 301 South near the intersection with Mitchellville Road, and the Bowie City Council was scheduled to make a recommendation on both a preliminary plan of subdivision and a detailed site plan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Two residents who signed up to speak during the Amber Ridge public hearing Monday night were permitted to address the council during the citizen participation portion of the meeting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bowie Mayor Tim Adams explained to residents Monday night that the city doesn’t make the final decisions on development projects, and the city needs to continue to fight to get zoning authority. He also shared with residents that it’s important for the council to not take any actions that might jeopardize the city’s ability to get zoning authority. With regard to the lack of action on Amber Ridge, Adams stated, “It was the best way for us at this time to address the issue.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In a phone call with Bowie Living, District 3 Councilman Adrian Baofo stated that the decision to cancel the Amber Ridge hearing and vote is not indicative of how the council will treat future development project recommendations. The council is concerned that its recommendations won’t be taken seriously if the development plans before the council are always rejected, according to Baofo, so the council is currently working on a new approach. Boafo indicated that a closer working relationship with the county Planning Board is likely part of that plan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Based on a memorandum of understanding between the City of Bowie and the Maryland-National Capital Parks and Planning Commission, the city has the right to review, comment, and make recommendations on all major development applications in the city or within one mile of the city limits. That includes reviews of conceptual site plans, preliminary plans of subdivision, and detailed site plans.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The city has adopted development review guidelines and policies for reviewing major development applications. The guidelines call for a stakeholders meeting to be held for an application, a review of the application by city planning staff, a public hearing and recommendation by the resident-lead Bowie Advisory Planning Board, and finally a public hearing and recommendation by the Bowie City Council. Council approved recommendations become part of the record when the county reviews a development application, and it’s common for city staff to address the county Planning Board, District Council, and County Council in support of Bowie City Council recommendations.</span><br />
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Bowie Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656054601003840365noreply@blogger.com0