Council Reviews Budget and Tax Issues: As I wrote in my last report, the City is facing a serious budget shortfall as a result of lower assessments on houses in Mount Rainier (the good news is that prices of houses being sold are going up in our city). Tax revenues will decrease by 14.8% or over $450,000. The City Manager has proposed and the Mayor and Council are looking at a 7 cent tax increase. This will bring in about $230,000. Even with the proposed tax increase, most residents will see a decrease in the property taxes next year.
We are also looking at increasing the fees on rental units by 50% from $100/unit to $150/per unit per year and raising other fees and licenses that have not been raised in a number of years. The increased rental charges will put us in line with other cities in our area. The big apartment complexes in our City (Kaywood, Queenstown and Queens Manor) also pay a lot of property taxes. Last year they paid over $660,000 in property taxes and with the proposed increases in property taxes and rental fees, they will be paying over $1 million in revenue to the City next year.
Last year we eliminated a code enforcement position and did not fill a police officer position. We will be taking some money out of our reserves (which are over $1 million) but that is not the solution. We cannot continue to cut back positions without risking the basic services in our city, and I believe we must raise the tax rate. The City will be holding a Public Hearing on the budget and tax increase on Tuesday April 23rd. Please come and let us know what you feel the City should be doing to deal with the revenue shortfall.
Utilities Reach Agreement on Removal of Double Poles: In the past few months, Pepco has been upgrading its electrical system by installing new utility poles. I have become increasingly irritated that the old utility poles are not removed. I think they are unsightly and a nuisance in places where there already is a limited sidewalk. I have been driving around the area and have found close to 100 double poles in Mount Rainier. There are probably thousands in Prince George’s County and throughout the state.
In doing some investigation, I have found the issue to be a little complicated. First, Pepco does not tell the other utility companies that they have installed the new poles. The utility companies, even when they are informed, take their time (years!) to transfer the wires from the old poles to the new poles. Pepco can’t take out the old poles because the cable and telephone wires are still on them.
Last month the utility companies finally came to a written agreement to remove the poles. Senator Victor Ramirez and Delegate Tom Hucker had introduced legislation that would give the utility companies time limits to inform each other of what they’re doing and deadlines to transfer the wires and remove the old poles.
Under the new agreement the telephone and cable companies will transfer their wires from the old poles to the new poles in 60 to 90 days and all the existing double poles will be removed by the end of next year. I want to thank Senator Ramirez for keeping the pressure on the utility companies to get them to come to an agreement.
City Reviews Residential Parking Issue: The City is discussing whether to set a policy on issuing residential permits on certain streets where there is tight parking and residents submit a petition requesting that permit parking be implemented.
Zeke's Coffee to Open Facility, Coffee Bar in Northeast - Northeast D.C. is about to get a caffeine boost from Baltimore-based Zeke's Coffee. Rhode Island Avenue Insider reports that the company is planning a "roastery and coffee lab" for the for the 2300 block of Rhode Island Ave. NE. The company's website confirms the plans, saying it will open this year. From the blog:
“This new location [will] fulfill the wholesale side of his DC operations and to experiment with new flavors and mixes of coffee, hence the "coffee lab" concept.… but no worries, local coffee lovers, because the front 2/3 of the shop will be retail, a coffee bar, and seating (counter and bar stools) so you can pick up your favorite flavor of bean, try samples of the coffee, or just go all in with a cup of Zeke's and enjoy it on site. In fact, they are planning to have outdoor seating.”
Negotiations on Rhode Island Avenue Development Continuing - The City is continuing its discussions with Streetsense to finalize the sale of the properties on the 3200 Block of Rhode Island. We are negotiating over the terms of the sale and expect a conclusion to the discussions in the next couple of months. Meanwhile the Streetsense and Neighborhood Development Company (their partner) are moving ahead with design preparations for their project.
A Lot Is Happening This Spring In Mount Rainier
1 - Mount Rainier Candidates Forum: Thursday April 18th 6 to 8 PM at the Mount Rainier Nature Center – 4701 31stPlace. [Election is on May 6th]
2 - Neighborhood Watch Spring Into Action – April 21st 2 PM - PLEASE JOIN NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH AS WE SPRING INTO ACTION. LOCATION: MOUNT RAINIER SKATE PARK, THE CORNER OF OTIS ST. AND WELLS AVE. Bring your family to join Neighborhood Watch, a community-based crime prevention program where neighbors look out for each other’s safety, property and homes in a systematic and sustained way. It is based on the idea of residents, businesses, police and other partners looking out for the safety of the neighborhood, establishing and maintaining open lines of communication, and collaborating to resolve problems of crime and disorder. Feel free to bring light refreshments to share.
3 - Clothing Swap at Joe's Sunday April 21, 3- 5 pm, 3309 Bunker Hill Road:
Bring clothes and accessories to share and reuse. Clean out your closet and inherit a new wardrobe. Clothes can be dropped off the day of the event, or at Joe's from April 14 to 21. All remaining clothes will be donated to the ARC Thrift Store in Beltsville, MD that benefits programs serving adults with developmental disabilities. (As many folks in our hood are artists, feel free to bring items that are slightly stained or discolored but otherwise wearable, as the artists & gardeners can often use these items. Torn items made of interesting fabrics may also be of interest to the sewers/quilters/crafters in the group.)
4 - Tuesday April 23 – Public Hearing and public Comment on Budget and Tax Rate
5 - Better Block Night - April 26, 2013 –Mount Rainier Circle – 6pm to 10pm
Come down and enjoy a clean and vibrant Mount Rainier Circle. Visit local shops, hear live music, and discover art on the street and in store windows. In this sneak peek of our ideal downtown, local artists fill vacant commercial buildings with pop-up arts, give business facades a facelift, and bring the streets and sidewalks to life!
6 - Mount Rainier-Gateway 5K Run Set for Saturday April 27th - You can now register online by going to http://www.racepacket.com/
7 - Farmer’s Market Opening Day – Saturday May 4th
8 - 2013 Mount Rainier Home Tour Set for Sunday May 5th - We now have 8 houses committed to participate, so the Tour is a definite go. It will be from 1 to 5 PM. To take the tour, register that day at Joe’s Movement Emporium (3309 Bunker Hill Road). The fee for the Tour is $5.
9 - Election Day in Mount Rainier: Monday May 6 from 8 AM to 7 PM at the Star Potts Hall Building (next to the City Municipal Building) 3405 Rhode Island Avenue. The election will be for Mayor, one Councilmember in Ward 1, and one Councilmember in Ward 2.
10 - Mayor and Council Vote on Budget and Tax Rate: Tuesday May 7th at 7 PM
11 - Gateway Arts District Open Studio Tour Saturday, May 11, 2013 12:00 - 5:00pm After-Party 5:30 - 8:00 PM - 17 Venues. 70 Studios. Over 130 Artists. Tour begins at Gateway Arts Center 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood, MD 20722. Mark your calendar for the one of the best events in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area - the 9th Annual Open Studio Tour, presented by the Gateway Community Development Corporation! This highly popular event showcases professional artists representing nearly every visual arts medium. You'll have access to art galleries, studios, cultural centers and performing spaces throughout the Prince George's County Gateway Arts District.
A free shuttle bus, with limited seating, is available to transport art enthusiasts between locations, with some studios within walking distance.
For more information, visit www.gatewayopenstudios.org or call 301.864.3860.
12 - Mount Rainier Day - Saturday May 19th - 11 ARE to 6 PM Persons interested in participating contact Janis Lomax at City Hall(301-985-6585)
13 – Electronic Recycling – Saturday June 15th at Mount Rainier Public Works from 9 AM to 1 PM
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