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Good evening everyone and welcome to the
Bladensburg town of Bladensburg. That is

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council work session for Monday, July
13, 2026. Thank you for joining us

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whether you're watching online or took
the time to brave the heat and join us

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in person. Glad to have you here. We are
now called to order. The next item on

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the agenda for today is the approval of
the agenda. Is there a motion to

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approve?
>> I so move.

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» Moved by council member Dixon. Is there
a second?

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» Second.
>> Seconded by council member McBride. Any

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corrections or amendments to the agenda
before calling the vote? Hearing none.

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All in favor? Let it be known by the
saying of I.

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» I. Any nays? The eyes have it. The
agenda is approved as presented.

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Next on the agenda, we'll move down to
the approval of meeting minutes for

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Monday, June 8th work session. Is there
a motion to approve?

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» Not all at once. So moved by Council
Member McBride. Is there a second?

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» I second.
>> Second. Oh, thank you. Seconded by

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Council Member Dixon. Any corrections or
comments regarding the um the minutes

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hearing? None. I'll call for the vote.
All in favor, let it be known by the

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saying of I.
>> I. Any naysay? The eyes have it the

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meeting minutes for June 8th are
approved. Tonight, we don't have any

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items under unfinished business. So,
we'll proceed into new business,

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beginning with item E regarding 52nd
Avenue update. and I'll turn it over to

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the town administrator at this time. All
>> right. Uh good evening, mayor and

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council. Uh before I jump in, I just
wanted um to uh take note. Uh obviously,

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you can see our finance director uh is
not here this evening. Um he had a

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family emergency come up this afternoon
um which required him to um uh to to

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head out a little bit early. Um but he
uh just wanted me to make sure everybody

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uh was aware and um when we get to the
council uh meeting portion of the

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evening um I'll just share a couple of
updates from him. Um so uh with that

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noted uh the next topic is 52nd Avenue
update. Um unfortunately this afternoon

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it was made known that um SHA was going
to be unavailable to come this evening.

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Um, so that does alter our uh plan a
little bit, but I did want to provide um

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a few updates to council about where we
are um since our last conversation on

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June 8th um which stemmed from uh a
pretty robust meeting um back in May

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with SHA. Um just a a very brief
overview for um those that might be

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watching. Um this uh part of the street
is or was part of a pilot project um a

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few years ago or a couple of years ago.
Um we're now at a point trying to

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determine what the best path uh moving
forward is and turning uh it was

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temporarily turned into a one-way uh
road. There was a substantial amount of

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work that needed to be done just to
maintain it. Um, I I want to take a a

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moment to um thank our team and SHA for
a tremendous effort um that took place

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starting last Thursday, July 9th, um and
then continued on Friday, July 10th, and

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then continued today on July 13th of a
joint cleanup um along 52nd uh Avenue.

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they uh brave the heat and uh realigned
barriers. Um thank you to SHA for um

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coming back out on Friday and putting up
uh the the flexi

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um
uh what am I trying to think of?

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» Flexibles. Thank you. Um which which
look fantastic. Um they cut down a

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tremendous amount of shrubbery removed
that uh trash

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um was was collected. Um and just this
afternoon I was driving up there and I

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saw a number of uh of people walking
that road again. Um and so uh I I just

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wanted to say thank you um to our team
and to SHA um for making that joint

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effort possible. Um it really was uh
much needed and and I know that the

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residents in that area uh truly
appreciate it and anybody that traverses

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that road. Um so next point uh we shared
with SHA um a draftou

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um and and for transparency. One of the
things that we were calling for and that

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I think we heard loud and clear from the
joint uh meeting was um while this is a

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stateowned road um to get us to um the
point of redesign and effectuating

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um the permanent transition to a one-way
road. We're about 2 years out. Um so

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what is the plan um moving forward? And
uh I think we're kind of at a crossroads

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of do we uh remove the barriers
completely or do we um continue with

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this program while we're trying to um uh
await the final design. Um

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so
I think while there are a number of

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different um options, one of the things
that we used as a starting point was uh

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quarterly joint cleanups. I think we saw
how effective they were. Um after

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speaking with Derek last week after he
reviewed the draftou,

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um I know that their team is is spread
pretty thin. Um there was some concern

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about um whether or not that would be
feasible. Um I think Pernell would agree

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one of the things that was u most
beneficial um and something that we are

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desperately in need of um are some of
the equipment um that they have. And so

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um I think we're still trying to hammer
out what those details will be exactly.

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Um but I think the effort um this past
week shows that there is um

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there are some opportunities to work
together to move forward. Uh so we don't

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know exactly what that will look like.
We hope to have a draft um response from

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them over the next couple of weeks. It's
with their in-house attorneys right now.

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Um so you know that's something that
we're going to continue to hammer

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through over the next several weeks um
to bring back to you. Um, but just

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wanted to give you guys kind of an
update on uh where we were, the effort

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that um both teams, the town and the
state uh made and and figuring out um

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what the next steps will be as we as we
move forward.

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» Thank you for that update. And um after
you let me know they couldn't make it, I

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want to confirm Senator Augustine said
he will plan to come to that next

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meeting when SHA is here. So, um, and he
was glad to hear that there's been

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progress with conversations. So, I think
having him as part of that in September

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will be really helpful. But any comments
or questions from the council before we

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move on? Council member Dixon.
>> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Brian, did they

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mention when will be ready?
>> Yes. So, um, it long before September.

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Um, so they are it's with legal right
now. he hopes to have a draft back um to

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us within the next uh couple of weeks.
Um so we'll we'll look over it. Um

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definitely we'll update council uh since
we have our retreat coming up. Hope to

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have some updates by then. Um I think
the benefit also of um unfortunately

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this being pushed back but um one of the
benefits is uh they also hope to have a

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30% complete design to present to
council as well um of of the redesign of

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52nd Street in September. So um we'll
kind of hopefully have a a two for one

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then.
>> Thank you.

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» Absolutely.
>> Council member Brown, you had a comment

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or question.
>> Uh thanks. I was going to ask the same

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thing about theou and hopefully we can,
you know, get it in time enough to

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review and look over it and make our
comments and stuff. But yeah,

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» absolutely. I'm uh pushing uh I did make
it clear when our retreat was, so really

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trying to have uh something for us to uh
respond to uh by then. So

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agreed,
>> that is all good. Um, and we'll look

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forward to that conversation coming up
in September. But now for another

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engaging conversation. Council member
Blunt, it's over to the Port Towns bus

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operations, which I know you are very
passionate about.

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» And uh, from the update in the packet,
it sounds like there's been some

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interesting conversations. It's really
not the Port Towns bus anymore. It's

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becoming more of the Bladensburg bus,
>> but that's

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» but you know, so I'll turn it over to
the administrator for the update.

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» It wasn't working, but I was like

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something, but I couldn't say anything.
So,

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» it's all right. That's why we're here.
You got You have the mic.

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» Do you want to lead off?
>> Your mic's not on, council member.

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» No, actually, you you can start off and
then I'll

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» I'll push my way in. fill in the blanks.
>> Yeah.

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» Okay.
>> All right. Sounds good. Um, so I think

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uh the mayor kind of teed it up uh
perfectly. This uh several years ago was

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a joint effort collaboration um with all
of the port towns. Um uh I think we're

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on bus number two now. Um and it's kind
of nearing end of life. Um

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uh so it you know it it was a great uh
collaborative effort. I think some of

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the other towns um you know the the uh
participation has decreased

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dramatically. Um I think we were
analyzing you know the last year or so

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of ridership and it's about 90 95% uh
Bladensburg usage. Um Kore Manor has a

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resident or two that hops on. Um but it
it is definitely um being utilized

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heaviest by us. We do all of the
coordination of the scheduling. Um we

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house uh the the the bus. Um and really
right now Commer Manor is really just

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doing the administrative piece. Um and
the two part-time drivers are on um are

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on their payroll. Um so what we had a
conversation about was uh understanding

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those realities. Um does it still make
sense for uh Kar Manor to um to to

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administer this program? um or does it
make more sense for uh Bladensburg to to

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take full ownership of the bus of the
two part-time personnel um and save uh

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the 10% administrative fee that we are
uh currently paying Comar Manor. um they

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are um eager I would say um to have this
kind of transition over um you know I

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think one of the logistical pieces that
we spoke about was um whatever the value

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of the bus currently is um you know we
could figure out a way to um to to

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rectify th those payments um whether
it's um with inkind rides for the comar

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manner residents for x amount of months
or until you know that uh value of the

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bus is paid off. Um you know they're
they're flexible there and and there's

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some uh wiggle room. Um I think the
other piece to this is it does give us

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um even more flexibility about how we
want to use the bus moving forward. Um

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both scheduling um and we would still
theoretically make it available to uh

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the other Porttown communities. Um, but
it it does give us more flexibility as a

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community um to determine what and how
we want to use it. Um, I think the other

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side is um this this gives us a little
bit of a runway. Um, I'd estimate we

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probably have
12 to 18 months um of of life left in

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that bus with um a few repairs here and
there. Um, so thinking about, you know,

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what do we want to do next? Um we did
receive a grant um this year for um

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replacement of a couple of vehicles.
Unfortunately um I think we we might

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have uh glossed over the fine print um
and the uh stipulations around the

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tonnage uh of the bus um that that we
would have to purchase um would require

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CDL um and would probably be bigger than
than what we would actually need. Um, so

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you know, we'll we'll go back to the
drawing board on that. But this gives us

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some runway and some flexibility. So,
um, I bring it to council um, as as I

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promised the the town manager. Um, I
would do and and have this kind of

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conversation and see where we want to go
from here.

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» Thank you for the update. And council
member Blunt, if you would also chime

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in, please.
>> Yeah. Um, well, I was shocked to know

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that we were paying them anything.
Honestly, that's just I was I I was

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shocked we were paying them anything.
But the six the $60,000 maybe I'm not

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understanding what is that used for.
>> Can you speak to what that goes to

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directly?
>> Sure. Um, so that goes towards uh

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predominantly the riders. Um we're
essentially paying

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we pay per rider right now even though
it it comes back to us in a sense. Um

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that also pays for maintenance gas um
and for the uh the two part-time

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drivers.
>> But so Coma man doesn't pay for the

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drivers. We pay for the drivers.
>> Correct.

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So,
>> but what what money was

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» Well, that's not all of the driver's
salary, but that's the majority of it.

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Yes.
>> But we pay for that.

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» Yes.
>> And because they were administering

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handling all the paperwork, right?
>> That's where the administrative fee came

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in that was paid to Kar Manor at the
time.

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This was, I think, before any of us got
on the council. It's just that's how it

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was set up. They would facilitate. You
call that number, they schedule, they

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are responsible for scheduling the rides
to pick up the seniors and then they're

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responsible for communicating with the
drivers and scheduling them. I don't

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believe we've ever had dispatch
responsibilities.

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» Well, we know we we didn't I just didn't
know we was paying them a fee until I I

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heard it.
>> But also, the money that the residents

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pay, where did that money go to?
So that goes towards the the the ride

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itself, but it's it's such a nominal
fee, it doesn't actually typically cover

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the overall cost of
>> because per person we're paying what

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» I think it's
>> 30 or 40 per ride or something. Yes.

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» So if they pay $2 or $3, it's not it's
something,

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» but it's not covering the full amount.
>> And I guess maybe I'm still

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understanding we're paying third. I
guess if you look at how much it cost

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like you as we said through co what we
were paying for for the ride but it's

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just the numbers just doesn't make sense
to me at I just doesn't make sense I

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mean so when they who collects the money
>> so right now com men is collecting the

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money
as part of their administrative

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process
>> so they keep the money they keep that

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money plus 10% %.
>> So they're using that money to pay for

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the bus drivers like their salary and
for any maintenance um above and beyond

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typically will have to go into our
pockets if you know maintenance required

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over a certain percentage or dollar
amount.

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» So
>> that mean that drivers are basically

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employed by Kar Manor.
>> They are they're on Kar Man's payroll.

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» Okay. And if Blad is
>> Go ahead.

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» Yeah. The 60,000. Okay. No, go ahead.
Make it make sense to me. That's all.

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» So, if we become the primary
>> for the bus.

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» Mhm.
>> Are we going to be employing these

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drivers?
>> We would take that on as a

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responsibility. Yes.
>> And also, the bus is going to be

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replaced within 12 to 18 months. Well, I
think that's a guesstimation on the life

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expectancy of the current bus, whether
we decide to replace it, whether we

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decide to discontinue the program
altogether, whether we I think that's

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kind of the decision point, but one that
we don't have to necessarily make

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tonight, but that's, you know, the
medium-term

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discussion that that will have to be
had. And I think the benefit is we can

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get better control over these rides
because honestly by us not having the

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dispatch piece of it, we don't know
what's being used, how many trips until

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the administrator gets the bill, reviews
everything, and is signing off on them.

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And I just think it goes back to
something council member Blunt, you said

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a couple years ago, which was we should
be more strategic and say on this day,

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this is where the bus goes. on this day,
it goes here because it's wasteful

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» to have two or three people on there and
taking it here, there, and everywhere

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and racking up those per person fees. I
think

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» we have to cut back. We've talked about
budget constraints. We can't afford to

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keep doing this. And when you look at
the number of people being served,

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there's other things that could be done
with that money. And remember, you even

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brought up Uber. What if we did um what
do you call them? Uber passes. Instead

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of that, I think another option is, and
like you said, we've got time to figure

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out the next step, but another option is
we have transportation companies right

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here in the business park. We could
easily contract with them to say twice a

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week, we need you to handle senior
rides.

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» And then we're not dealing with vehicle
maintenance. We're not dealing with

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part-time employees, payroll expenses,
and all the rest. and they're

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professionals at this. So we and they're
great when we use them for town events.

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So I feel like we could explore that.
>> So my ask would be council member Blunt,

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» if you wouldn't mind working with the
town administrator on this to put

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something together to say based on what
you see

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» at the senior, you know, resident level,
what is appropriate in terms of what

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this service could be?
>> And I did do that already.

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» Okay. I know that um the the trans the
senior transportation would take them

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anywhere they need to go within Prince
George's County and that's free.

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» So it's not I mean they're not losing
there. They can have transportation

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there.
>> Um

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» except for they do want to go to go to
the casinos and stuff. I'm I'm against

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it. I'm against it. So that's just me.
I'm against them going gambling. That's

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just me though. But
I I rather I rather go your route

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because Emerson House
that bus can pull up in front of Emerson

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House.
>> Drop one person off, turn around and

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come back and drop two off then go back
come back at Emerson House about seven

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times. Make it make sense. It doesn't
make sense to me. And I know Coa Mana do

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wants no control of at all.
>> I kind of heard him say, "No, y'all take

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it over." I got I heard that come out of
the administrative mouth um self. So my

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thing I think is I like the other other
way cuz we don't have to pay that

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00:20:54,880 --> 00:21:00,480
$60,000 can be be used for something
else.

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» And council member Blunt I don't know if
everyone caught it but the other service

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that she mentioned is the bus.
>> The bus is the one free goes all across

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the county. So to your point, even if we
have to scale back this resource, we're

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not leaving the seniors without because
that's already a service that

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» mic mayor mayor Mike.
>> Sorry, Mr. Gray.

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00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:31,120
» I didn't push the button hard enough. My
apologies, but I was just um tagging on

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00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:35,200
to say what council member Blunt
mentioned was a service called the bus,

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which is prevalent in Prince George's
County. So if we have to reduce services

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00:21:37,360 --> 00:21:44,159
with this formerly called Porttown's
bus, at least there's still a service

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available to the seniors and that's
actually free whereas with ours it's

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subsidized. They pay a few dollars and
the town pays the rest.

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» So um
>> I agree. I totally agree with um going

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00:21:55,360 --> 00:22:03,679
the route with Mayor James in terms of
contracting someone which cost less

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» and not only that looking at replacing
the bus 10 to 12 to 18 months.

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» What is the bus going to cost? That's
another thing. Can the town afford a new

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bus right now?
>> I just don't think they should even try

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00:22:15,919 --> 00:22:23,520
» or the you can get a grant too. And the
fetal brought this up before in terms of

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00:22:21,120 --> 00:22:31,360
your question about the replacement. So
we did get the MEA grant for um an

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electric bus, but it it's a there it's a
formula. So it doesn't cover everything.

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It covers up to what is it the cost of
what a combustion engine bus would be?

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00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:47,919
» I never quite that. The fine print.
>> Yeah, the fine print. It's 75% of the

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additional cost of an EV. So, let's say
a traditional bus cost 100,000, let's

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just for conversation sake, and an EV
bus cost $200,000.

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» The grant would pay the 75,000, which is
75% of the difference. So, the town

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would still be on the hook for $125,000.
>> Um, so beneficial in some respects, but

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also, but we also found out other fine
print pieces. um the categories of buses

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that are available. It's really looking
at larger vehicles that um require CDL

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00:23:21,120 --> 00:23:27,440
licenses and both public works and the
current bus drivers that we have right

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00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:30,720
now don't have CDL licenses.
>> Okay. We really don't want to leave the

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seniors stranded or anything like that.
We want to make sure you know that we're

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providing services to the residents of
Bladesburg, but at the same time we want

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to be careful how we are spending.
>> Right.

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00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:45,039
» Yeah.
>> Yeah. Um,

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» and as you said, we don't want to leave
them without services, but the bus is

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00:23:47,360 --> 00:23:53,039
there and
>> they're not out of service because they

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00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:56,960
a lot of metro access and also it takes
them wherever they want to go. I mean,

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00:23:54,799 --> 00:23:59,919
so they're they're not left out of any
services at all. And that's the good

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00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:05,600
thing about
>> the transportation now.

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00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:08,960
» I I just get get rid of it. I mean
honestly get just that's just what I'm

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00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:13,200
saying because I can't understand that
60,000 and they're paying and then he

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00:24:11,360 --> 00:24:18,320
doesn't well
>> I know co man co man probably listening

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00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:21,120
they don't want to pay for nothing
>> I agree

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00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:24,480
» I'm just sorry I had to say
>> I think yeah

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00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:29,679
» I'm sorry I just had to say it okay
council member hold on council member

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00:24:26,559 --> 00:24:33,840
Brown and then back to
>> she was waiting for a bit yeah thank

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00:24:31,679 --> 00:24:37,120
thanks but but yeah because we we've
been talking about this for for a while

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and it's like make it make sense you
know but and probably initially when you

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00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:48,240
know when the agreement you know came
into place it it did it didn't make

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00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:52,559
sense but now because um as we had
discussed before it's like you know you

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00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:57,200
have a companies here and and they have
different size buses and you know you

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00:24:55,200 --> 00:25:00,960
know we one and I don't know if you if
we will talk about that too but one week

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00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:04,960
we may need the big bus and next week we
may may need only a 10 passenger bus I

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00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:08,720
mean just having that flexibility
you know, working with the with the with

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00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:13,440
the company that that's their business.
It's what they do. So, that makes sense.

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00:25:11,360 --> 00:25:17,200
And like you said, we're not leaving the
um our seniors. We're not leaving them,

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00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:20,480
you know, stranded or whatever without
transportation,

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00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:24,400
» you know.
Absolutely. you know, and then and it

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00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:28,240
would provide, you know, provide better
service, you know, you know, I I believe

305
00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:32,559
to the to the residents and and then
from a budget standpoint, yeah, it

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00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:37,440
would, you know, you know, take that
that piece off of our books. Yeah. Off

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00:25:34,559 --> 00:25:40,320
of books for reduction and um and I
think that's yeah, would be wise. But

308
00:25:39,039 --> 00:25:42,720
although we're just kind of having a
conversation about it right now, but

309
00:25:41,679 --> 00:25:47,360
yeah.
>> And one thing that you said, council

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00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:51,679
member, it kind of sparked a thought. um
would it even be possible if we had some

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00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:56,559
sort of public private partnership with
a transportation company? So we say

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00:25:54,320 --> 00:26:01,440
we've gotten this grant. Could we pass
it through to them? So they pay the

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00:25:59,279 --> 00:26:05,039
difference toward the vehicle. So, we're
essentially donating the 75,000, let's

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00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:10,240
say,
>> and then they pay the difference because

315
00:26:07,279 --> 00:26:14,880
it's helping their fleet regardless
>> and giving them greater flexibility

316
00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:19,520
because it is an EV and then work out
some sort of contractual partnership for

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00:26:17,360 --> 00:26:24,880
X number of years and then we revisit it
after that point. So, that's where I'm

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00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:28,159
going. Save the town money, you know,
still be able to help the residents. We

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00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:31,600
don't want to give back grant money to
the state because that you can get

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00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:37,120
dinged when you go to apply the next
time. So, I don't want to lose that. But

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00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:42,559
maybe there's a path forward that just
doesn't have us paying for this and, you

322
00:26:40,159 --> 00:26:45,360
know, not using those resources more
wisely.

323
00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:50,720
» Yeah, cuz that fine print there's it
does, you know, it's still costing the

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00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:53,919
town more more money. So,
>> give us

325
00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:59,440
» Council Member McBride, thank you for
waiting your turn.

326
00:26:56,000 --> 00:27:05,840
Thank you. Um, my only question is, so
this is supposed to service the seniors

327
00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:08,480
or does it can it service the different
apartment complexes inside of

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00:27:07,679 --> 00:27:12,159
Leadensburg?
>> If they're senior,

329
00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:15,919
» as long as they're seniors, I mean,
>> traditionally, Sean and Pernell, you're

330
00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:21,679
going to have to help me, but I think it
was more so geared towards seniors.

331
00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:25,919
» Yes, it was. And um
I think there may have been special

332
00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:30,880
circumstances where if there was a town
event and we needed transportation then

333
00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:35,279
we could reach out and ask them to pick
up people but the way it was set up with

334
00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:37,919
the four towns back in the day was
primarily for senior

335
00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:40,880
» foren. Okay.
>> Mhm.

336
00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:43,919
» I had a question
I'll hold.

337
00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:48,080
» Okay. But you know like when I found out
that they were not paying to get on the

338
00:27:45,919 --> 00:27:53,840
bus it I was very upset. that I had to
call call

339
00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:58,799
Miss Blue. You know, y'all know I say I
like to say names. Um, Miss Blue and let

340
00:27:56,559 --> 00:28:04,080
her know why did this her senior club
didn't think that they had to pay

341
00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:07,520
» didn't Well, we was told No, I don't
know who told y'all that cuz y'all have

342
00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:11,679
to pay like everybody else cuz you're
riding the bus because she was under

343
00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:15,279
understanding by Ka Mana that they
didn't have to pay.

344
00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:19,919
» So, they start paying.
>> I have a

345
00:28:17,919 --> 00:28:23,840
Go ahead, council member Brown. Yeah,
because it was under membership

346
00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:28,720
» and um
>> um and and you know to that point with

347
00:28:26,799 --> 00:28:32,080
the council member McBry, you know, once
we look at it and restructure it or

348
00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:37,919
something, you know, it it may be able
to like special events occasions and you

349
00:28:35,919 --> 00:28:43,840
do put some modifications in there where
it can kind of service,

350
00:28:40,159 --> 00:28:46,799
you know, some of the other buildings
in the town as well. This one.

351
00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:51,440
» Yeah, that's going to be have to be
really restricted because

352
00:28:48,799 --> 00:28:55,440
» Yeah,
>> I'm just saying.

353
00:28:53,360 --> 00:29:00,080
» No, go ahead, Mr. Hall.
>> That's that's like microphone be a

354
00:28:57,919 --> 00:29:03,840
tricky thing. You can tell him no, but
you can tell him. I mean, you know, so

355
00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:09,279
that's I think that's why when it came
out years and years ago, it was strictly

356
00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:11,919
appointed to seniors.
>> Makes sense. And Mr. Wood,

357
00:29:10,799 --> 00:29:16,880
» well, I was just going to say so a
couple of things. one, yeah, this would

358
00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:21,440
have greater flexibility because when it
was initially purchased, it was used, I

359
00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:25,520
believe state money was used um and so
the requirements and covenants around it

360
00:29:23,520 --> 00:29:31,039
required that it be used predominantly
for seniors. But when we purchased the

361
00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:37,279
second bus, it was with local dollars
and so there's greater flexibility and

362
00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:41,760
those requirements no longer apply. Um,
so if the town were to take over

363
00:29:39,679 --> 00:29:49,120
ownership, we would be able to do with
it as we desired. I I think there would

364
00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:53,919
be a a desire to, you know, keep with
some spirit. If the other communities

365
00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:59,279
all of a sudden ridership spiked and
they wanted, then then that um would

366
00:29:57,039 --> 00:30:04,320
would be something to look at. Um, and
then two, um, I think to the point that

367
00:30:01,919 --> 00:30:10,080
the mayor made a while back about, um,
Uber and other ride shares, um, I was at

368
00:30:07,039 --> 00:30:14,080
a conference a few years ago, and I know
that there are some communities that,

369
00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:18,240
um, have done that and set up, um,
various different structures with Uber

370
00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:22,399
and and other types where, um,
individuals over a certain age can get x

371
00:30:20,159 --> 00:30:26,240
amount of dollars or an Uber will take
you within x amount of miles of a

372
00:30:24,159 --> 00:30:29,919
community for free or, you know, there's
a number of different arrangements. Um,

373
00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:33,679
so if that's something that the town
wanted to look at, we wouldn't be uh the

374
00:30:32,159 --> 00:30:38,159
first community to do that and they have
an infrastructure set up to partner with

375
00:30:36,159 --> 00:30:42,080
uh municipal organizations to set things
like that up. So, just wanted to

376
00:30:40,399 --> 00:30:46,880
» I know we we've been on this for a long
time, but um they will have like a

377
00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:51,679
setback because some Uber drivers do not
help you with your packages and seniors

378
00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:56,320
need help and I see they don't help with
the wheelchairs, the walkers, they don't

379
00:30:53,360 --> 00:31:00,159
help. They just it's it's crazy but it's
up to the Yeah. So that's the only thing

380
00:30:59,360 --> 00:31:05,200
I would say.
>> So um Brian what if um Kar mana decided

381
00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:08,000
to withdraw before we come to some
conclusion

382
00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:11,799
and
>> my other part question

383
00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:20,480
» and my other question is who covers the
insurance for the bus? Is it the town or

384
00:31:18,720 --> 00:31:25,360
Kar Manor?
>> Uh currently Coar Manor covers the

385
00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:27,760
insurance. um that's built into
>> okay

386
00:31:25,919 --> 00:31:31,200
» again all of it is kind of per rated
based on usage. So

387
00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:34,799
» there's the aggregate cost and then per
ride it's broken down. So we're still

388
00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:41,200
paying for a significant portion of the
insurance. Um and to your first point if

389
00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:46,559
commer
I'm not saying they basically said that

390
00:31:42,960 --> 00:31:48,960
they're walking away but they
>> sounds that way.

391
00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:53,279
» They basically said they're walking
away. So um

392
00:31:52,159 --> 00:31:56,480
yeah
>> but are they paying for the insurance or

393
00:31:55,200 --> 00:32:02,240
we paying for the insurance?
>> So the insurance is uh so the insurance

394
00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:06,880
is technically with com manner but
>> the aggregate cost of the bus per year

395
00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:10,640
is broken down per rider and so we're
still paying for a significant portion

396
00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:15,120
of the insurance. We're just paying it
through the per ride cost. Right.

397
00:32:13,039 --> 00:32:18,000
» Um so that's part of the 2,000
>> if I get that $60,000 still not making

398
00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:23,360
sense to me.
>> Yeah. So, I think we cuz we could talk

399
00:32:21,120 --> 00:32:27,919
about this in circles. I think we're at
the point where there's agreement that

400
00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:31,440
we want to re-evaluate this because we
don't think it's the best use of town

401
00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:36,000
dollars.
>> Getting it under the town's uh realm of

402
00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:41,519
responsibility makes sense while we're
figuring out with council member Blunt a

403
00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:48,960
path forward. phasing it out is
certainly an option given we have the

404
00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:53,200
bus, but also um an option is pursuing
the grant and possibility of partnering

405
00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:57,360
with a local business to see if that's
even possible. If the answer is no, then

406
00:32:55,519 --> 00:33:01,440
we just have to send a letter to MEA
saying we can't accept the grant, you

407
00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:07,440
know, due to financial constraints, we
can't keep our commitment and just again

408
00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:11,840
move forward with consolidating this
down and collapsing the service cuz it's

409
00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:15,600
just extremely expensive.
>> So I think that's where we are in terms

410
00:33:13,679 --> 00:33:20,320
of when you send us the summary from the
meeting, there's agreement that we

411
00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:26,399
cannot continue.
>> It's not you, it's us.

412
00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:32,960
So, I'll draft up um
>> a formal process with comar manner about

413
00:33:29,039 --> 00:33:36,399
how we're going to execute this um and
bring that before it would have to go

414
00:33:35,039 --> 00:33:40,159
before both councils.
>> Thank you, Council Member Blunt for the

415
00:33:38,399 --> 00:33:46,559
last word.
>> I like the um the idea that you said

416
00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:52,080
because for the lack of not saying
anything else,

417
00:33:48,799 --> 00:33:56,159
we done with that process. Let's do
something. Let's just do something new.

418
00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:59,760
We done with that.
>> I agree.

419
00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:03,760
» Yeah, I agree. There was a a higher
demand at the time. That demand just

420
00:34:01,519 --> 00:34:08,800
isn't there anymore to justify the cost.
So, yeah, we have young seniors who are

421
00:34:06,559 --> 00:34:13,760
driving themselves around and they're
walking through the community and all of

422
00:34:10,399 --> 00:34:18,000
that. So, we have to get with the times.
>> All right. So, speaking of getting with

423
00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:22,639
the times, PAL's project poster
presentation is next up on the agenda.

424
00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:27,599
Um I'll turn it over to you town
administrator Wood.

425
00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:32,560
» Yeah. So um they have been making their
way around the port towns. They were

426
00:34:29,359 --> 00:34:37,200
supposed to come up to us next. Um they
the boards have well they they've

427
00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:43,040
disappeared. We'll we'll find them. Uh
not from us. Uh they were recently with

428
00:34:39,119 --> 00:34:47,760
Cottage City. Um but are you guys
familiar with the PAL project that took

429
00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:54,879
place? Um
I guess was last semester, so last

430
00:34:50,800 --> 00:35:00,560
spring. Um and some of the designs um
for the Porttown communities.

431
00:34:57,440 --> 00:35:06,400
Uh maybe not. Okay. So, uh a recap of
what the PAL Project is um and and what

432
00:35:02,640 --> 00:35:10,960
they do. So, the PAL Project um is a
partnership with the University of

433
00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:16,160
Maryland um and they work with undergrad
and graduate students um on a number of

434
00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:25,599
different uh projects. Right. So um
towns, municipalities, yep, all across

435
00:35:19,839 --> 00:35:31,839
um uh the state can submit uh to um for
the PAL project for them to do any

436
00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:37,839
number of things. Um it can be um
something like we had they can do

437
00:35:34,480 --> 00:35:42,320
engineering, they can do um statistical
analysis, budget breakdowns. Um and they

438
00:35:40,720 --> 00:35:48,800
have students work on these projects
throughout um throughout the semester.

439
00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:52,960
Um each project typically costs um about
$10,000.

440
00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:56,960
Um and part of that goes towards the
cost of executing the project, whether

441
00:35:55,359 --> 00:36:01,119
they need to purchase data sets, if
there's travel required for the

442
00:35:59,119 --> 00:36:05,839
students, whatever they may be. Um and
then part of that goes to offset the um

443
00:36:03,359 --> 00:36:10,800
administrative uh cost for their adviser
whether that's um a professor or or

444
00:36:08,560 --> 00:36:18,160
whomever it may be. Um, one of the
projects that um was grant funded um

445
00:36:14,720 --> 00:36:25,920
last year was the uh placemaking and
design for uh the Port Towns communities

446
00:36:21,839 --> 00:36:32,320
um at different um I guess you could say
uh prominent locations um in in each

447
00:36:29,359 --> 00:36:38,079
community that connected each of each of
the communities. So, uh, for us, we had

448
00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:43,040
a couple of different bridges. Um, and
so what it was was, um, thinking about

449
00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:48,480
how do we denote these this as a
Porttown community. Um, and so, uh, they

450
00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:54,720
designed, uh, these kind of beautiful
pocket parks with, um, similar colors

451
00:36:51,839 --> 00:36:58,720
of, uh, yellow, orange, purple, and
blue, I believe it was. Um, and each

452
00:36:57,359 --> 00:37:02,480
community had a slightly different
design and a different location, but it

453
00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:06,320
created the through line that these were
all Porttown communities. Um, there's

454
00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:10,160
some beautiful renderings that are on
posters that we were supposed to get

455
00:37:08,079 --> 00:37:18,240
tonight. Um, unfortunately, they're not
here. Um, but the the reason that it's

456
00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:27,599
also um kind of timesensitive is um we
received uh grant funding again um from

457
00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:35,920
from the state. Um and part of what uh
BCC was looking at was do we want to

458
00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:41,599
invest some of those dollars um into the
next phase of um this placemaking and

459
00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:46,480
and and these designs which would be
kind of the engineering aspect of it um

460
00:37:44,720 --> 00:37:51,920
and and understanding what the
fabrication uh of these types of pocket

461
00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:56,560
parks um would cost. We know that each
one would be, you know, north of

462
00:37:54,480 --> 00:38:02,400
probably $100,000, but this would be the
next step in that in that process. Um,

463
00:37:59,280 --> 00:38:05,400
and so
>> h

464
00:38:06,079 --> 00:38:16,160
so um you know that PAL's project would
probably be a little bit more uh

465
00:38:12,480 --> 00:38:19,839
expensive, closer to $30,000. Um but
again, it's grant funded um and would

466
00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:24,960
kind of be the through line. there's
quite a bit of interest in it. Um so

467
00:38:22,720 --> 00:38:29,359
what I would propose is for the visuals
to you to actually be able to see um

468
00:38:27,359 --> 00:38:35,359
what was done by these young people
which was quite impressive um is to

469
00:38:32,000 --> 00:38:40,480
bring that to uh to the retreat. Um so
that you guys will be able to see that.

470
00:38:37,040 --> 00:38:44,560
Um each town is kind of talking about
the elements that they liked, what they

471
00:38:42,320 --> 00:38:52,560
may not like. Um, and so that will go
into the input um, as we prepare the

472
00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:54,720
next PAL's uh, request for this fall.
>> Hopefully,

473
00:38:53,040 --> 00:38:58,880
» thank you for that overview. Any
questions or comments for the town

474
00:38:56,480 --> 00:39:02,960
administrator?
>> I think we look forward to seeing the

475
00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:05,920
visuals at the retreat. Council member
Dixon.

476
00:39:04,480 --> 00:39:08,880
» Thank you, Madam Mayor. in regards to
this um pilot project.

477
00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:13,760
» Mhm.
>> Um what services the town has to offer?

478
00:39:11,119 --> 00:39:16,720
Does it has to provide public works,
public safety or anything like that?

479
00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:19,119
» Nope.
>> Okay.

480
00:39:17,119 --> 00:39:25,839
» Um completely. So the next phase would
be completely done by um the students.

481
00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:28,880
Um this would be uh for us is actually
in a in a public location already,

482
00:39:27,359 --> 00:39:32,560
something that we already take care of.
Um this would just be a redesign.

483
00:39:31,040 --> 00:39:37,920
» How is this how is this figure
determined?

484
00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:42,880
the $30,000 or the
>> the Yeah.

485
00:39:41,200 --> 00:39:47,440
» Uh that's not in the packet. I think
what you're looking at is for the Hamlet

486
00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:50,320
Woods project. The next item,
>> we're not there yet. Sorry.

487
00:39:49,119 --> 00:39:55,000
» Sorry. I think
>> almost there. Almost there. A couple

488
00:39:51,839 --> 00:39:55,000
more items.

489
00:39:55,440 --> 00:40:01,680
» Yes. Yes. We will we will get to that.
>> All right. Um,

490
00:39:59,839 --> 00:40:05,599
» so if there are no more questions, we
can drop down get closer to it under

491
00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:09,359
town managers report.
>> Yep.

492
00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:11,839
Um,
yeah. So, we can just we can jump down

493
00:40:11,040 --> 00:40:16,079
to that. Um,
>> Oh, yeah.

494
00:40:12,480 --> 00:40:23,119
» So, so the pilot program um
there's a briefing in your packet there.

495
00:40:19,680 --> 00:40:27,839
Um, so the Hamlet Woods project um
>> that's the one I was starting.

496
00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:33,680
» Yeah. So this has been one that has been
um ongoing for a number of years now.

497
00:40:31,599 --> 00:40:40,480
Um I think they originally came to the
town almost this time last year with a

498
00:40:36,640 --> 00:40:47,599
proposal um for payment in lie um just
to rehash this is uh 59 units of um

499
00:40:45,119 --> 00:40:52,640
workforce housing um that will be
available um and Sean correct me if I'm

500
00:40:50,480 --> 00:40:55,680
wrong but they're going to be ready end
of or mid August

501
00:40:54,000 --> 00:41:00,800
» mid August um actually I wrote through
the property today they're probably I'd

502
00:40:58,240 --> 00:41:06,960
say 85% complete
Um they're working on the last section

503
00:41:02,880 --> 00:41:12,560
and mid August is when their final grand
opening is supposed to be.

504
00:41:08,480 --> 00:41:17,440
» Okay. Um so they are um well on their
way and and well past uh substantial

505
00:41:15,119 --> 00:41:21,359
completion at this point um which is
very exciting. This gives a breakdown of

506
00:41:19,119 --> 00:41:26,880
kind of where the funding came from.
There's been um significant investment

507
00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:33,040
from the state, from the county uh and
private dollars. Um what they were

508
00:41:29,520 --> 00:41:39,839
looking for is um essentially a payment
in lie of taxes. Um they received um a

509
00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:46,640
similar deal or structured a similar
deal with the county um which was

510
00:41:43,839 --> 00:41:54,079
essentially a 50% reduction um in their
overall tax rate um and they have now

511
00:41:50,319 --> 00:42:00,400
come to the town asking for or proposing
something similar. Um

512
00:41:56,720 --> 00:42:04,400
what we have before us is um two
different options. Um what was proposed

513
00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:12,800
by
um HT Woods was essentially $500

514
00:42:09,359 --> 00:42:17,280
per unit. Um
and so sorry, let me back up a little

515
00:42:14,319 --> 00:42:23,200
bit. So looking at the assessed value,
um and this folds into uh the

516
00:42:20,480 --> 00:42:28,480
recommendation that I that I have. Um
these are based on 2023 numbers and so

517
00:42:26,720 --> 00:42:34,599
it was estimated that the project would
be assessed at approximately almost $8

518
00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:34,599
million $7,972,000.

519
00:42:34,640 --> 00:42:45,359
Um
what that was proposed was again 500

520
00:42:39,599 --> 00:42:51,119
unit or $500 per unit um a as a pilot
with an escalator of uh 2%

521
00:42:49,520 --> 00:42:58,400
um
at the 110 20 and 30 year mark. Um what

522
00:42:56,000 --> 00:43:06,720
we countered at or what we're proposing
to counter at is a 600 unit uh dollar

523
00:43:03,200 --> 00:43:12,079
per unit uh starting threshold um with
the same escalator. Um and so it

524
00:43:09,680 --> 00:43:16,160
essentially breaks down to um the
structure that they had with the county

525
00:43:13,359 --> 00:43:21,440
is about a 50% reduction. Um they're
asking for essentially the same thing

526
00:43:18,800 --> 00:43:26,880
from the town. uh the numbers that are
proposed here are closer to 43%

527
00:43:24,240 --> 00:43:34,640
reduction um which is still fairly
favorable. Um and the reason I think

528
00:43:29,680 --> 00:43:38,720
there's um value in what the town is
proposing is it goes back to the

529
00:43:36,800 --> 00:43:43,839
original assessed value dollar that
these numbers are generated off of uh

530
00:43:41,119 --> 00:43:49,440
which are 2023. We all know that the
assessed value since 2023 has gone up

531
00:43:46,480 --> 00:43:54,800
significantly more. Um we estimate that
the value is probably closer to $10 to

532
00:43:52,240 --> 00:43:59,040
$12 million at this point. Um which
would if we were to restructure this

533
00:43:56,880 --> 00:44:06,800
deal in today's terms would dramatically
increase the per unit cost um versus

534
00:44:02,480 --> 00:44:14,079
what you see here. So a 43%
um structured deal um is still um I

535
00:44:12,800 --> 00:44:18,160
think better than if they were to go out
and do a market assessment today. Um,

536
00:44:16,400 --> 00:44:23,520
and even if they even if we agreed to
50%, it would still probably be higher

537
00:44:20,240 --> 00:44:28,160
than um than what we're proposing here.
Um,

538
00:44:25,040 --> 00:44:33,920
so that's the the broad strokes of it.
Um, Suelan uh and part of the reason

539
00:44:30,960 --> 00:44:42,319
that this took a year to uh get to this
point is um Suelan had to dig through uh

540
00:44:38,800 --> 00:44:46,560
the state uh code to find where we would
be able to actually do this. um the

541
00:44:45,119 --> 00:44:50,800
language that was used at the county
level was specific to the county um and

542
00:44:48,880 --> 00:44:56,720
did not allow municipalities to set up a
pilot program. And so um there was a

543
00:44:54,480 --> 00:45:01,839
great deal of digging that was involved
um and and obviously with a number of

544
00:44:59,040 --> 00:45:07,599
other things that were um on our town
attorney's plate. Um this kept getting

545
00:45:04,160 --> 00:45:12,000
pushed back, but um we did eventually
find it or she did eventually find it.

546
00:45:09,440 --> 00:45:18,079
Um so that's what's here before you. Um
there is

547
00:45:14,240 --> 00:45:24,240
a little bit of a clock um given the the
uh status of the project at this point.

548
00:45:20,480 --> 00:45:30,079
Um but I wanted to bring this up for
conversation and discussion and then um

549
00:45:27,760 --> 00:45:38,079
we would use that as the final framework
and again um with a desire not to push

550
00:45:33,599 --> 00:45:41,680
this off to um September. um if we had
the final framework, if this is what

551
00:45:39,680 --> 00:45:47,119
council was okay with, we would draft
this and do a final vote um at at the

552
00:45:44,640 --> 00:45:52,400
retreat if that's something that council
wished to do.

553
00:45:49,520 --> 00:45:59,040
» So, thank you for that overview of the
pilot project. Council, any comments or

554
00:45:55,040 --> 00:46:01,119
questions regarding the um proposed
payment?

555
00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:06,079
» I have a question.
>> I have a few, but I'll let Go ahead,

556
00:46:03,280 --> 00:46:11,640
Council Member Dixon.
Thank you, Madame Mayor Brian. Um, in

557
00:46:08,160 --> 00:46:11,640
regards to

558
00:46:11,839 --> 00:46:18,880
um
what happen if a if a property sold to

559
00:46:16,319 --> 00:46:24,960
another owner, how would how would that
affect um the pilot? Would it be does it

560
00:46:22,079 --> 00:46:28,480
does the pilot still stay in effect?
>> Great question. Um that would be

561
00:46:27,040 --> 00:46:33,599
language that would be included in the
contract. Typically, it stays with the

562
00:46:30,800 --> 00:46:37,599
property, not the owners. um in in my
experience

563
00:46:34,560 --> 00:46:42,079
» and this is a full 30 years, right?
>> Correct.

564
00:46:38,319 --> 00:46:47,200
» Okay. And did you mention how how does
the 600 unit deter figure determined?

565
00:46:44,640 --> 00:46:55,839
Did you mention that how it was
determined? So, the $600 unit, $600 per

566
00:46:52,240 --> 00:47:02,160
unit, um to be honest, was determined uh
before I got here, but it is essentially

567
00:46:58,640 --> 00:47:09,440
it the idea behind it was um to kind of
find a middle ground between what um

568
00:47:05,760 --> 00:47:14,640
what Hamlet Woods was proposing um which
was 50% um reducing it but still

569
00:47:12,560 --> 00:47:18,079
allowing the project to go forward. Um
and I think at the time when it was

570
00:47:15,920 --> 00:47:22,319
originally proposed um they had built
their financial model around receiving

571
00:47:20,720 --> 00:47:29,920
um
a certain level of of uh relief in

572
00:47:25,599 --> 00:47:32,240
taxes. And so um yeah, so this I think
is that attempt at meeting the middle

573
00:47:31,359 --> 00:47:37,359
ground.
>> So council member, this is to tag on to

574
00:47:35,119 --> 00:47:42,319
that. So when they came to the meeting a
year or two ago, they were specifically

575
00:47:39,520 --> 00:47:47,839
advocating for more financial support
from the town. Um, we did not agree to

576
00:47:46,079 --> 00:47:51,839
that. We said we could be open and
discuss what the town could do, but they

577
00:47:50,240 --> 00:47:56,079
were trying to get their financing
together. So, the numbers you see here

578
00:47:54,160 --> 00:48:00,000
about how their financing is stacked
through Prince George's County Housing

579
00:47:58,000 --> 00:48:04,480
Investment Trust Fund loan, all those
things, those loans that you see in the

580
00:48:02,400 --> 00:48:07,920
um first paragraph
>> that those are the things that they

581
00:48:05,839 --> 00:48:15,040
worked on to line up their financing.
Okay. And then in going to the county,

582
00:48:10,720 --> 00:48:22,800
the county passed legislation CR--036
2023 giving them authority to also give

583
00:48:18,480 --> 00:48:27,200
them that 50% tax relief. And so given
that the county the county's budget is

584
00:48:25,200 --> 00:48:35,680
not Bladensburg's budget, so we cannot
afford a 50% you know reduction in that

585
00:48:31,280 --> 00:48:40,640
revenue um from taxes. I think what veto
and Mr. would put together here

586
00:48:38,480 --> 00:48:47,119
compromising saying we can't go as low
as 500. We could potentially consider

587
00:48:43,359 --> 00:48:54,319
600 per unit because now our services
have increased. This is a rental. Sorry,

588
00:48:50,079 --> 00:48:58,640
my sinuses are on 1,000 right now.
>> The um services that the town is

589
00:48:56,640 --> 00:49:02,800
offering are now what they cost two or
three years ago. That's one. Number two,

590
00:49:01,119 --> 00:49:06,880
we're now doing apartment rental
inspections that are led by code

591
00:49:04,559 --> 00:49:11,599
enforcement. That is another level of
service that we're providing. Typically,

592
00:49:09,200 --> 00:49:16,960
whenever there's multifamily housing in
the town, cost for service for public

593
00:49:13,839 --> 00:49:21,599
safety goes up. Same thing for emergency
services for the fire department. So,

594
00:49:19,359 --> 00:49:27,200
the reason we can't go as low as what
they're asking for in this first column

595
00:49:24,880 --> 00:49:30,800
» is because those services come at a cost
to us

596
00:49:28,160 --> 00:49:36,480
» and we can't provide them at a deficit.
And so I think and veto you know he's

597
00:49:34,000 --> 00:49:42,400
good with these numbers. Mr. Tanelli I
think and Mr. Wood did a good job of

598
00:49:38,960 --> 00:49:49,280
saying what we can do is offer you 10 or
2% for years 1 through 10. We can go up

599
00:49:45,599 --> 00:49:54,720
to 3% for you know years 11 through 20
and then the escalation would be 4% for

600
00:49:51,520 --> 00:50:00,880
years 21 to 30. And then they just broke
out. Here's what we would get over the

601
00:49:56,720 --> 00:50:06,079
30 years on our formula versus their
formula. Our formula, yes, they would be

602
00:50:03,440 --> 00:50:08,960
paying 1.5 almost 1.6.
>> Mhm.

603
00:50:07,119 --> 00:50:15,839
» But when you look at the services that
they're getting over 30 years, it more

604
00:50:12,400 --> 00:50:19,440
than justifies us coming in at that rate
to negotiate.

605
00:50:17,680 --> 00:50:22,880
Does that sort of help?
>> Thanks. Mhm.

606
00:50:20,559 --> 00:50:27,839
» And and the other absolutely everything
that the mayor said and typically these

607
00:50:24,960 --> 00:50:31,920
are these are agreed to at the outset.
And so that's why you see all the

608
00:50:29,040 --> 00:50:35,280
breakdown of where they're receiving the
dollar amounts because normally this

609
00:50:34,079 --> 00:50:40,319
kind of looks more like a credit
enhancement agreement. Um and so that

610
00:50:38,079 --> 00:50:47,440
helps with the lending on the private
side to see that um government entities

611
00:50:43,839 --> 00:50:49,760
are are backing this project. So, um I
think that was the original thought, but

612
00:50:48,720 --> 00:50:52,640
they were still able to get the
financing needed to to make this project

613
00:50:51,680 --> 00:51:03,000
a reality.
>> So, will the pilot will it cover the um

614
00:50:58,079 --> 00:51:03,000
public safety and code enforcement?

615
00:51:03,359 --> 00:51:05,760
» Over overall,
>> yeah.

616
00:51:05,359 --> 00:51:09,520
» No.
>> No. Okay.

617
00:51:06,880 --> 00:51:14,160
» No. But any new development
>> typically doesn't. That's

618
00:51:12,480 --> 00:51:18,640
» Yeah. when you're looking longterm,
that's why you always want that balance

619
00:51:15,599 --> 00:51:25,119
of businesses and and other things that
are that are not going to drive up calls

620
00:51:20,640 --> 00:51:28,480
for service um versus uh certain
residential.

621
00:51:26,400 --> 00:51:32,319
» Thank you. Back to you, Madame Mayor.
>> Thank you.

622
00:51:30,000 --> 00:51:38,720
» And just to clarify though, when you say
it won't cover services, so with the

623
00:51:35,520 --> 00:51:42,800
owner proposed amount, right,
>> that would not be enough. No. to justify

624
00:51:41,920 --> 00:51:47,040
» right
>> the services that we would still have to

625
00:51:44,640 --> 00:51:51,680
provide we'd be operating at a deficit.
So at least

626
00:51:48,640 --> 00:51:56,160
» we're coming in flat. It's not a revenue
generator obviously but at least it

627
00:51:53,760 --> 00:52:00,800
helps to cover those services for the
apartment inspections annually any work

628
00:51:58,880 --> 00:52:04,800
that has to be done by public works the
public safety services that they're

629
00:52:02,559 --> 00:52:08,640
going to get and even you know we
contribute to the fire department to

630
00:52:06,640 --> 00:52:14,400
help offset their expenses. And so
ambulance runs, firet truck runs, all of

631
00:52:11,440 --> 00:52:19,359
that. We're helping um to just cover
ourselves with those investments. So,

632
00:52:17,119 --> 00:52:25,040
» thank you so much. That will give the
residents more clarity. Thanks.

633
00:52:21,920 --> 00:52:29,119
» I think so. Um any other comments or
questions from award two council

634
00:52:27,280 --> 00:52:33,280
members?
It's been a long time coming, so it's

635
00:52:31,119 --> 00:52:39,040
good to see they're getting closer to
actually completing the construction.

636
00:52:35,760 --> 00:52:42,800
And I will admit, I snuck up in there uh
curiosity. I had to see it. I was like,

637
00:52:41,200 --> 00:52:48,079
it it's supposed to be ready this
summer. Um and they're close. They're

638
00:52:45,680 --> 00:52:55,119
close. So, I look forward to the um the
grand opening. Um and then Mr. Wood is

639
00:52:52,720 --> 00:53:00,240
so for this
um for a formal vote from council. Do we

640
00:52:57,839 --> 00:53:03,440
have this on the 7:00 agenda or do we
need to amend it to add this for

641
00:53:01,920 --> 00:53:08,559
approval or does it need to go back to
Suellen first?

642
00:53:04,800 --> 00:53:14,400
» No. Um, so there is uh specific language
that Swellen and a couple of pieces that

643
00:53:10,880 --> 00:53:19,760
Swellen and Veto are are finalizing. Um,
so I pulled it from the 7:00 agenda. Um,

644
00:53:17,839 --> 00:53:27,040
I have a draft resolution, but I want to
make sure it's right. So, um, it will

645
00:53:23,520 --> 00:53:31,280
come back before you. Um,
but now that I know that this is exactly

646
00:53:28,960 --> 00:53:36,720
what council is good with, we can
memorialize that in the resolution.

647
00:53:34,000 --> 00:53:41,599
And then the only challenge is I know
they are very anxious to get decisions

648
00:53:39,520 --> 00:53:46,480
sooner rather than later, but typically
anything financial the council has to

649
00:53:43,839 --> 00:53:52,480
vote on at the 7:00 p.m. council
meeting. So

650
00:53:48,720 --> 00:53:56,400
» that yeah, not unless we did a separate
meeting, but that's why we don't do

651
00:53:54,240 --> 00:54:00,160
financial decisions in the work session.
It's always in the actual council

652
00:53:58,720 --> 00:54:04,640
meeting. So, just want you to be mindful
of that so we can figure out if there's

653
00:54:02,720 --> 00:54:09,680
a separate meeting that we need to call.
Even if it's via Zoom to resolve this,

654
00:54:08,079 --> 00:54:14,480
we wouldn't be able to do it at a
retreat. It would have to be a formal

655
00:54:11,839 --> 00:54:16,160
meeting that's called to, you know,
address that.

656
00:54:15,760 --> 00:54:20,880
» Okay.
>> And not a work session, an actual

657
00:54:18,319 --> 00:54:23,119
» council meeting. Okay.
>> Just want to mention that.

658
00:54:22,400 --> 00:54:28,480
» Thank you.
>> No worries. And while you're off mute,

659
00:54:25,680 --> 00:54:32,800
did you want to touch on the next uh the
previous item, the gloves up, guns down

660
00:54:30,720 --> 00:54:36,880
grant?
>> Oh, uh yes. Sorry, I skipped over that.

661
00:54:35,200 --> 00:54:42,880
Um just wanted to provide council an
update. Um we're really excited with the

662
00:54:40,079 --> 00:54:50,559
progress. There was a kickoff in uh in
June. Um there is a camp coming up in

663
00:54:48,640 --> 00:54:56,160
the first week.
>> Thank you. Yes. was like, "Wait a

664
00:54:53,520 --> 00:55:03,119
minute. Blank dates are all Yeah.
blurring together." Um, so, um, we know

665
00:55:00,400 --> 00:55:08,720
that this has been, uh, a labor of love.
So, a major thanks to the chief, to, uh,

666
00:55:06,480 --> 00:55:14,079
Alicia who's been kind of spearheading
it, to our our county partners and other

667
00:55:11,040 --> 00:55:19,760
municipal partners, um, and merging this
with, um, some, uh, funding that we

668
00:55:17,280 --> 00:55:25,119
received from the state, uh, a grant for
$78,000.

669
00:55:21,359 --> 00:55:30,079
Um and for all of the volunteers um that
are uh that have gone through the

670
00:55:27,520 --> 00:55:37,760
fingerprinting process um to participate
with our young people. Um just to give

671
00:55:33,839 --> 00:55:44,720
an update, it will be uh twice a week um
starting in I believe September. Um, and

672
00:55:41,839 --> 00:55:50,960
we're hoping to have uh a total of I
believe it's 80 young people. 40 people

673
00:55:47,920 --> 00:55:55,599
for um great 40 people
>> right now there's 19 signed up.

674
00:55:52,880 --> 00:56:00,000
» Microphone chief.
>> Uh yes, right now um there's 19 youth

675
00:55:58,480 --> 00:56:02,240
that are signed up and there's six
additional spots. So I think they're

676
00:56:01,440 --> 00:56:08,480
doing 25.
>> Oh, 25. Okay. Sorry. I was like 80

677
00:56:04,559 --> 00:56:14,880
sounds like a lot. Um 25.
of half at the

678
00:56:12,400 --> 00:56:19,040
um why am I blinking? I'm thinking
stadium armory, but it's not stadium

679
00:56:16,240 --> 00:56:24,160
armory. Um
>> the Salvation Army. Thank you. Um and

680
00:56:21,680 --> 00:56:30,960
the other half of the students um will
be um at the county. Um the idea is that

681
00:56:27,760 --> 00:56:36,559
uh obviously those that are specific
Bladenberg residents um would able to

682
00:56:33,839 --> 00:56:42,000
would be um here at the Salvation Army.
Obviously, it's a little bit closer. Um,

683
00:56:39,359 --> 00:56:47,280
and so we're excited about the progress
that um that this program is making and

684
00:56:45,599 --> 00:56:51,599
just wanted to know if there are any
specific questions that council might

685
00:56:48,720 --> 00:56:56,960
have um that we'd be able to to bring
back and answer or any discussions.

686
00:56:53,920 --> 00:57:01,440
» Perfect. Thank you for that overview.
Chief First Corin, any additional

687
00:56:58,799 --> 00:57:06,319
context you want to add to that?
Yes, just that the uh boxing clinic is

688
00:57:04,079 --> 00:57:09,520
going to be from the 27th to the 31st at
the Salvation Army and then the year-

689
00:57:08,240 --> 00:57:14,160
round program is going to start
September 14th and run until June 30th

690
00:57:12,400 --> 00:57:17,520
of 27.
Um we're going to be using Prince

691
00:57:16,319 --> 00:57:22,799
George's County Police Department
District 3 as one location and over here

692
00:57:20,559 --> 00:57:27,920
on Edmonston Road at the Salvation Army
and then there's also a gym that we'll

693
00:57:24,480 --> 00:57:32,799
be using for the program itself.
Is the district three location Barlo

694
00:57:30,319 --> 00:57:35,839
Road or is that okay? Got it. Any
questions from the council council

695
00:57:34,240 --> 00:57:39,680
member Brown?
>> Thank you.

696
00:57:36,799 --> 00:57:45,280
» So, uh, interim chief. So, give me those
dates again. You said September the

697
00:57:42,079 --> 00:57:48,400
» September 14th, 2026 through June 30th,
2027. That's that's the actual program.

698
00:57:47,839 --> 00:57:51,599
» Ah, okay.
>> The clinic starts uh next week. That's

699
00:57:50,480 --> 00:57:54,960
going to be
>> uh just the boxing clinic itself, but

700
00:57:53,280 --> 00:58:01,599
the program runs a year long.
>> Ah, okay. What are the age group, Chief?

701
00:57:58,799 --> 00:58:06,079
» I'm not sure of what age it starts at. I
know when we went for the kickoff at the

702
00:58:03,440 --> 00:58:11,440
PAL program, there were really young
kids up to I think up to 18. Um, so we

703
00:58:09,920 --> 00:58:15,280
had the kickoff for this in the
registration at the at the PAL boxing

704
00:58:13,440 --> 00:58:20,160
program that the county had.
>> What percentage of um young people from

705
00:58:18,240 --> 00:58:26,000
Bladesburg signed up? Do you know?
>> I don't know the percentage.

706
00:58:23,280 --> 00:58:29,440
» Okay. Thank you. Any other questions?
Council member

707
00:58:26,640 --> 00:58:33,680
» BR in transportation, their parents will
be responsible for transporting them.

708
00:58:32,160 --> 00:58:37,760
» Yes, we're not transporting them.
>> Okay.

709
00:58:35,680 --> 00:58:40,480
» Uhuh. Council member Blunt, have you all
had the pleasure to meet um Shirley

710
00:58:39,359 --> 00:58:44,240
Lenn?
>> That was my question.

711
00:58:42,160 --> 00:58:49,520
» I haven't, but I know that that they've
been in talks to have have him and some

712
00:58:47,280 --> 00:58:54,400
others talk to the kids. I went on a
tour of the uh Salvation Army,

713
00:58:52,160 --> 00:58:57,839
» which I met the staff down there. It was
nice. And then I went up to the gym

714
00:58:56,079 --> 00:59:02,000
where they're doing it at and the guy
that's running the gym seems like he's

715
00:58:59,839 --> 00:59:06,280
perfect for for this to work with the
youth. They have a lot of experience.

716
00:59:06,480 --> 00:59:14,799
» Can we just be notified if there's Sugar
Ray Leonard sightings or Keith coming to

717
00:59:12,000 --> 00:59:19,680
a particular session? I felt something
over here when that question was raised.

718
00:59:17,760 --> 00:59:23,359
So, we need to make sure.
>> I went to school with

719
00:59:21,040 --> 00:59:31,240
» Okay. Gotcha. You know how old I am?
Salvation Army. A big space for this.

720
00:59:27,040 --> 00:59:31,240
Like the space is kind of

721
00:59:34,240 --> 00:59:41,200
» Okay.
>> Oh, my mic is on.

722
00:59:38,160 --> 00:59:42,960
» You couldn't hear the chief, Mr. Gray?
>> No.

723
00:59:41,520 --> 00:59:48,359
» Chief, they couldn't hear you. Can you
repeat the light? Can you repeat

724
00:59:44,960 --> 00:59:48,359
everything or

725
00:59:49,599 --> 00:59:55,680
» basketball
bags and and the ring set up in there?

726
00:59:54,079 --> 00:59:58,680
And that's just one of the couple
locations.

727
00:59:59,359 --> 01:00:07,680
» Exciting times and just look forward to
the impact of giving kids an alternative

728
01:00:05,040 --> 01:00:12,720
activity, something that's productive
and teaching them not to resort to

729
01:00:10,240 --> 01:00:16,000
violence in the street. just, you know,
putting that energy somewhere

730
01:00:14,079 --> 01:00:19,680
productive. So, look forward to being
able to come and check it out once it

731
01:00:17,599 --> 01:00:23,559
gets underway.
Uh, at this time,

732
01:00:24,640 --> 01:00:31,200
» so, um, Chief was saying there's a
clinic coming up and then after that,

733
01:00:28,880 --> 01:00:34,160
the actual session starts in September.
Do you want to give those dates one more

734
01:00:33,040 --> 01:00:39,520
time, Chief?
>> Yes. The clinic is the 27th of this

735
01:00:36,960 --> 01:00:46,319
month until the 31st at the Salvation
Army. And then the uh the program itself

736
01:00:43,040 --> 01:00:51,839
is September 14th, 2026 through June
30th, 2027. And the times for that 5:30

737
01:00:49,920 --> 01:00:56,960
p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
>> So 27 in September.

738
01:00:54,000 --> 01:01:01,280
» The the 14th of September through
through June of June 30th of 2027.

739
01:00:59,760 --> 01:01:05,359
» What's the time for this month? The
27th.

740
01:01:02,480 --> 01:01:10,000
» The the 27th. Let me check. I have the
uh

741
01:01:07,760 --> 01:01:16,400
» it might be in the report because I
think you had information about it in

742
01:01:12,480 --> 01:01:20,880
your uh monthly report, Chief.
>> Yes, I have the flyer. I'm just It's my

743
01:01:18,480 --> 01:01:24,400
computer's not bringing it up.
>> All right, we will get that information

744
01:01:22,319 --> 01:01:28,640
to you. We're going to keep moving. Uh
the next item is under financial

745
01:01:26,720 --> 01:01:33,680
business for consideration for the
council tonight is uh the decisions for

746
01:01:31,280 --> 01:01:37,040
grant and scholarship program
recommendation. So with that uh we'll

747
01:01:35,839 --> 01:01:41,119
turn it back over to the town
administrator.

748
01:01:38,640 --> 01:01:49,920
» All right. I will not speak too much on
this. Uh this is more for council. Um

749
01:01:45,200 --> 01:01:55,440
and I believe there should be um an
Excel spreadsheet in your binders. Um so

750
01:01:54,000 --> 01:02:02,640
this is bringing back the conversation
we had in June around

751
01:01:58,640 --> 01:02:11,200
um a number of our grant applicants. Um
and the recommendation from Rey was that

752
01:02:07,040 --> 01:02:17,040
this year um the three applicants that
applied for the uh educational

753
01:02:14,079 --> 01:02:23,200
scholarship um did not necessarily meet
the criteria. Um, so we could roll that

754
01:02:20,480 --> 01:02:32,799
money into this pot, which would take
the total uh amount available for um

755
01:02:28,720 --> 01:02:40,720
grants and grants uh to $15,000
um which would leave us about $3,000 shy

756
01:02:37,200 --> 01:02:46,480
of the total request um if all nine
applicants were funded at approximately

757
01:02:43,760 --> 01:02:53,040
$2,000.
Uh, so we just did a little rubric um as

758
01:02:50,240 --> 01:02:58,160
a conversational piece for you guys. Uh,
and I will turn it over.

759
01:02:55,440 --> 01:03:02,880
» So, we've been looking
appreciate the rubric. Um, one thing

760
01:03:00,880 --> 01:03:12,079
that I wanted to note is one of the
groups, I know they scored a 3.7, but I

761
01:03:06,799 --> 01:03:16,960
would consider um, swapping out GH with
Good Intentions because Good Intentions

762
01:03:14,160 --> 01:03:22,000
is based in the port towns. We did get
to see their youth program in action

763
01:03:19,280 --> 01:03:25,119
last year and they really made a huge
difference in the lives of those

764
01:03:23,359 --> 01:03:29,440
teenagers. I mean, things that we take
for granted were very impactful for

765
01:03:27,760 --> 01:03:33,440
them. Just thinking about when they took
the kids out on the river and how many

766
01:03:31,680 --> 01:03:38,319
of them grew up in this area and never
even had been in that kind of experience

767
01:03:36,720 --> 01:03:43,599
and got to see their community in a
whole different way and opened up to the

768
01:03:41,119 --> 01:03:49,119
sciences um through that connection with
AWS. So I think that would be my

769
01:03:46,240 --> 01:03:53,440
recommendation that we do Carrison um
particularly given their support for

770
01:03:51,200 --> 01:03:59,200
immigration issues and what some of our
residents are facing. They're an

771
01:03:56,000 --> 01:04:03,599
important partner. Anacostia Watershed
Society, another great partner. Eco

772
01:04:01,280 --> 01:04:08,000
City, it goes without saying, tremendous
partner. Um, End Time Harvest

773
01:04:05,920 --> 01:04:12,960
Ministries, which will allow us to touch
the youth. We lead by example is helping

774
01:04:11,039 --> 01:04:19,359
us touch the youth, but also older
residents as well. And then, um, uh,

775
01:04:17,039 --> 01:04:26,160
where is it? Good intentions. So that
gives us one, two, three, four, five,

776
01:04:24,160 --> 01:04:31,079
six.
Am I good with my math or did we go

777
01:04:28,079 --> 01:04:31,079
over?

778
01:04:32,400 --> 01:04:36,920
» I think we're good. We needed six.

779
01:04:37,599 --> 01:04:46,799
So, we're essentially swapping rank one
and

780
01:04:44,400 --> 01:04:54,000
seven
on the um top sheet.

781
01:04:51,680 --> 01:04:58,440
Does that putting it out there, but
council, let me know your thoughts.

782
01:05:00,319 --> 01:05:06,079
» I did hear some grumblings about the
tiny print. I'm just saying. I'm just

783
01:05:04,079 --> 01:05:10,079
the messenger.
It was fine.

784
01:05:08,240 --> 01:05:13,640
» I'm just the messenger. Don't shoot the
messenger, Brian.

785
01:05:15,520 --> 01:05:23,760
» I don't know who said it.
Look, I don't know who said it.

786
01:05:22,720 --> 01:05:29,119
» Heard through.
>> I heard through the grape vine. Oh. Oh,

787
01:05:26,079 --> 01:05:35,799
I'm sorry. It was both ways. I don't,
Mr. Wood. I have no idea. I can neither

788
01:05:32,079 --> 01:05:35,799
confirm nor deny.

789
01:05:35,839 --> 01:05:43,880
Noted, mayor. Noted. Thank you. I will
uh take that under advisement moving

790
01:05:40,880 --> 01:05:43,880
forward.

791
01:05:56,240 --> 01:06:00,240
» Thank you, Governor. That's exactly what
I

792
01:05:58,480 --> 01:06:02,559
» paper. I like it. It was very
sustainable. Thank you, council member.

793
01:06:02,160 --> 01:06:07,400
What?
>> We're a green community. I'll do my

794
01:06:04,400 --> 01:06:07,400
best.

795
01:06:11,359 --> 01:06:16,400
» You want me to run them back one more
time

796
01:06:14,559 --> 01:06:23,400
» or you think you got them all? Okay. So,
we've got Carrison

797
01:06:19,839 --> 01:06:23,400
and then AWS

798
01:06:23,440 --> 01:06:31,760
Eco City Farms
>> End Time Harvest Ministries.

799
01:06:29,200 --> 01:06:36,440
We lead by example
and then good intentions foundation

800
01:06:40,480 --> 01:06:46,640
» and the ones you didn't mention on that.
>> Yeah.

801
01:06:44,319 --> 01:06:50,880
» Because we we would have to pull money
from somewhere else to be able to cover

802
01:06:48,400 --> 01:06:55,039
all of them. Yeah.
>> And we just don't have the funding. But

803
01:06:53,119 --> 01:07:00,240
still we're doing more than we have
previously. So still making a good

804
01:06:57,839 --> 01:07:05,839
impact. She is.
>> All right. Copy that. Thank you.

805
01:07:04,079 --> 01:07:11,920
Thank you, Mayor and Council. So, I'll
send that out and we'll notify

806
01:07:08,799 --> 01:07:16,079
um the recipients and move forward
>> and then in the 7:00 meeting, we'll just

807
01:07:14,160 --> 01:07:19,359
need to do the formal vote.
>> Yep.

808
01:07:16,880 --> 01:07:25,520
» Sorry. Sorry, Mr. Gray. And we'll just
do the formal vote in the uh 7:00

809
01:07:22,079 --> 01:07:29,280
meeting since it's a financial um
decision of the council.

810
01:07:27,200 --> 01:07:35,359
» Okay. for for the ones that didn't make
it. We we have our discretionary funds.

811
01:07:32,880 --> 01:07:42,400
Can we give money to the Okay, great.
>> Oh, and speaking of, has there been an

812
01:07:38,400 --> 01:07:47,599
allocation of the FY26 discretionary
funds? Because if not, we need to do

813
01:07:43,760 --> 01:07:50,640
that at the next meeting as well.
>> Yeah,

814
01:07:48,079 --> 01:07:53,760
» we Yes.
>> So,

815
01:07:52,400 --> 01:07:55,039
» yes.
>> Okay.

816
01:07:54,400 --> 01:07:59,280
» Yes.
>> Okay.

817
01:07:56,880 --> 01:08:04,640
Got it. All right, we will wrap this up
quickly so we have time to prepare.

818
01:08:02,400 --> 01:08:09,200
Um, any other comments or questions
regarding the scholars, the grants?

819
01:08:07,280 --> 01:08:13,440
Okay. All right. So, with that, we have
come to the end of tonight's agenda.

820
01:08:11,280 --> 01:08:16,159
Council, is there a motion to adjurnn?
>> I move.

821
01:08:14,319 --> 01:08:17,679
» Moved by council member Dixon. Is there
a second?

822
01:08:16,880 --> 01:08:21,120
» A second.
>> Seconded by council member Blunt. Any

823
01:08:19,759 --> 01:08:24,239
comments or questions before
adjournment?

824
01:08:22,640 --> 01:08:29,759
Hearing none, I'll call for the vote.
All in favor, let it be known by the

825
01:08:25,839 --> 01:08:36,120
saying of I. I. Any nays? The eyes have
it. We're adjourned. And the time is

826
01:08:31,759 --> 01:08:36,120
6:40. Thank you.