march 2021 news - cityofbowie.org
TRANSCRIPT
March 2021 NEWS City Council Meetings to Note
• March 1 Regular City Council Meeting, 8 p.m. Public Health Officer, Economic Development Strategy*
• March 15 Regular City Council Meeting, 8 p.m. Housing and Development CARES Act City Council meetings are being held virtually during the pandemic. View them at www.cityofbowie.org/viewmeetings on FIOS Channel 10 or Comcast Channels 71 and 996 or on YouTube @CityofBowieMD. Those wishing to submit comments for public hearings, or the Citizen Participation portion of Regular Meetings may do so by emailing written testimony to [email protected]. Testimony must be received by 7 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Meeting agendas are posted at www.cityofbowie.org/agenda. For assistance or more information, contact City Clerk Awilda Hernandez at 301-809-3029. *Please note that the Jesuit Retreat Center proposal has been removed from the March 1 agenda at the request of the property owner. Did you know that Bowie has a Climate Action Plan? The Bowie Climate Action Plan was created by the Environmental Advisory Committee, the Green Team’s Energy subgroup and City staff to create a framework for talking about how climate change affects us and what we can do to mitigate it as a community. The latest five-year plan was adopted by City Council on July 6, 2020. It addresses four broad sectors: city, residential, commercial, and intergovernmental. For each sector, that are actions that can be taken to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The plan is aggressive in its goal of 50% reduction of greenhouse gases by 2030 from our 2015 levels. In Bowie, one of the largest sources of emissions comes from transportation, opening doors of opportunity in new and emerging technology like electric vehicles and alternative forms of transportation. Emissions have decreased since we began tracking in 2005, but there is still a great deal of work to be done in order to reach the overarching goal. It will take residents, businesses, and governments at all levels working together to create momentum, and to make a difference.
Residents can do their part by increasing their home energy efficiency, increasing installation and use of renewables (i.e. solar), promoting and using transportation that reduces greenhouse gas
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emissions and oil dependency, modifying diet and food handling, to work towards more sustainable consumption and use of goods and services. Some steps you can take are to compost, use less plastic, recycle smarter, explore local walking trails, and obtain a home energy audit.
Read about this and much more in our Climate Action Plan. And when you’re done reading that, check out the City’s Sustainability Plan. It discusses more actions that we can all undertake to live a more environmentally sustainable life. You will find that there is some overlap between the two plans, but they are both useful tools in understanding the whole picture. (Bowie’s first five-year climate plan was adopted in 2015.)
Contact our Sustainability Planner Ashleigh Armentrout ([email protected] or 301-809-3044) to learn how you can get more involved in this effort and also look for upcoming events sponsored by the Bowie Green Team and the Environmental Advisory Committee.
Youth Council The Bowie Youth Council will provide an opportunity for local students to learn about local government and have a voice in city affairs. The Council will consist of 11 City of Bowie students from grades 6 - 12, who will have the opportunity to influence policy, provide positive leadership and service, and engage the community. The City Council is seeking representation from each of the four Bowie districts. If you might be interested in serving, please visit www.cityofbowie.org/youthcouncil to learn more. Application deadline is April 30. Get Involved in Your Community – Join a City Committee In addition to the new Youth Council being formed, there are 16 committees made up of community volunteers, providing advice and support to the City Council and city government on a variety of subjects, from environmental issues, to development, to public safety, and much more. Serving on a city committee is also a great way to learn more about city government, share your talents with the Bowie community, and meet others with similar interests. Committees are meeting virtually during the pandemic and the meetings are open to the public. The list of upcoming meetings can be found at www.cityofbowie.org/calendar.aspx. Current vacancies include seats on the following committees: Administrative Review Board, Arts, Board of Elections, Community Outreach, Education, Ethics, Community Recreation, Green Team, Environmental Advisory, and Information Technology. Read about the work of all city committees and how to apply at www.cityofbowie.org/committees. Bowie Business Recovery Assistance Program Offers Help to Local Businesses In January 2021, the Bowie Business COVID Recovery Assistance Program was launched to provide online technical assistance activities, such as webinars, roundtables and one-on-one counseling to Bowie businesses. This vital service is being provided through a collaboration with the Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce and is being funded by the City of Bowie. The initial focus of the program has been on helping small businesses gain access to all of the federal, state and local assistance that they are eligible for and on making sure they’re keeping up with the changes and expansions in these aid programs. Roderick Johnson, a Lending Relations
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Specialist with the Small Business Administration will talk about the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program on March 4, from 4 – 5:30 p.m. and will be available for one on one counseling sessions on the afternoon of March 11. Visit the Bowie BIC’s website: www.bowiebusinessrecovery.com to learn more about these programs and other upcoming activities. #Bowie Speaks – Conversations about Social Justice Thank you to all who participated in the second #BowieSpeaks Community Conversation about social justice last week. The topic of the session was The Role of Religious Organizations in the Quest for Social Justice and our panelists, from multiple Bowie faith communities, provided their unique perspectives and prompted an insightful dialogue on the intersection of religion and social justice. If you missed out on the conversation, you still have the opportunity to hear the message. Watch the entire discussion at https://youtu.be/3c20ouv19xg. Look for information about our third #BowieSpeaks session next month. Hall of Honor Accepting Nominations In 1991, the Hall of Honor was created to recognize those citizens of Bowie who made “major and lasting contributions” to the City. The first inductees were honored in 1994. In order to be nominated to the Hall of Honor, a nominee must be deceased for at least one year as of the nomination deadline, have made both a major and lasting contribution to the City of Bowie, and have been a resident of the City of Bowie, either during the time of his/her contribution or at the time of death.
Once a nomination is received, the submission is reviewed by the City’s Community Outreach Committee. The committee recommendation is then forwarded to City Council for final approval. Following approval, the honoree’s name is added to the Wall of Honor at City Hall and a reception is held in memory of that person and their contributions to Bowie.
The deadline to submit an application is Monday, March 8, 2021. For more information, email Matt Corley, Special Events Manager at [email protected] or call30 1-809-3078. 2021 Hall of Honor Nomination Form Arts Scholarships The City of Bowie offers scholarships to graduating high school seniors who will be pursuing studies in art-related fields. Applicants must be residents of the City of Bowie. Submission instructions and eligibility requirements are provided on the application linked below. The application deadline is March 19, 2021.
How to apply for the 2021 Arts Scholarship: Confirm City residency 2021 Arts Scholarship Application
Malcolm “Skip” Popp Award Nominations
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The Community Outreach Committee is accepting nominations for the Malcolm “Skip” Popp Award. This award recognizes Scouts and/or Scout Leaders who have rendered “extraordinary and distinguished” community service within Scout organizations in the City of Bowie during calendar year 2020. To be eligible for this award, Scouts or Scout Leaders must be affiliated with a Scouting group within the limits of the City of Bowie, and/or a Scouting group for which 50% or more of their youth members are City of Bowie residents. They must also be registered with the Boy Scouts of America or Girl Scouts, USA. Please see the nomination form for details regarding eligibility criteria and information required. The deadline is Friday, March 19, 2021. For more information, please contact Sharon Hunt at [email protected] or 301-802-0714, or Lori Cunningham at [email protected]. Workforce Development Program for Residents Aged 15 - 25 The City of Bowie is offering residents a free online Workforce Development and Life Skills Training Program in April 2021 for young adults and youth between the ages of 15 and 25. The online program will cover life skills topics such as effective communication, stress management, and decision-making, as well as highlighting careers in STEM industries. The application can be found at www.cityofbowie.org/worktraining and the deadline is March 19, 2021. For additional information, please contact [email protected] or 301-809-3009. Spring Crafts for Kids Hop into spring with the City’s Spring Crafts for Kids. Join us on March 20 at 9 a.m. on FIOS 10, Xfinity 71 or 996, at www.cityofbowie.org/viewevents or YouTube @cityofbowieMD. Enjoy a reading of Jan Brett’s Town Mouse Country Mouse, then create three spring crafts. Pick up free craft kits starting March 8 at City Hall, Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., while supplies last. After March 20, the video will be available for viewing at www.cityofbowie.org/springcrafts and on YouTube. Craft instructions and patterns will also be available at this link. Dogs Running Loose A loose dog in the neighborhood may be harmful to others or become injured. Dogs running loose in the City of Bowie are a violation of the City Code Chapter 4, Section 4-6, paragraph (a). If this is a problem in your neighborhood, we encourage you to contact the dog’s owner or call Bowie Animal Control at 301-809-3002 and request that an Animal Control Officer respond. If possible, please provide a description of the dog, owner’s address, and the last known direction of travel). Animal Control will take appropriate enforcement action. New Rental License Requirements. The City Council passed an amendment to the City Code on January 4, 2021 removing the exemptions from the rental license requirements. All rental situations now require the property to have a valid City of Bowie rental license and inspection. This includes rentals where the owner or a family member live at the property, basement or partial rental and short-term rentals like Airbnb®, VRBO® or Home Away®. The annual license costs $110 and a satisfactory inspection is a
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condition of the license and renewal. For information, visit www.cityofbowie.org/rentalhousing or call 301-809-3008. Planning a Home Improvement? Are you planning a home improvement? Many common home improvements require Prince George’s County and City of Bowie building permits to ensure proper construction and community standards. Even when replacing an existing structure, both permits may be required. Projects requiring permits include additions, decks, driveway extension or replacement with different material, fences, porches (new or enclosing), signs, sheds, and solar panels. Failing to obtain permits can be very expensive and frustrating, especially when a structure has to be removed because it does not comply with County or City standards. Don’t take a chance--check before you build. You’ll need to allow time for permit review from the County and the City prior to beginning work. For more information, please contact the Code Compliance Office at 301-809-3008 or visit https://www.cityofbowie.org/116/Building-Permits. Learn More About the Bowie Master Plan Update If you are interested in knowing what is being planned for our community’s future, look for the complete “Playbook of Strategies” document, which will be posted soon on the M-NCPPC project website: http://www.mncppc.org/3390/Bowie-Mitchellville-Master-Plan. The Playbook of Strategies recommends a broad of range of proposed strategies for three key areas: Old Town Bowie, Free State Shopping Center/Bowie Marketplace on MD 450, and parcels along US 301 in Bowie Local Town Center, in addition to the corridors of US 301, MD 450, and MD 197. Be sure to let us know what you think by calling 301- 809-3045 or emailing [email protected]. The City’s public review of the Preliminary Master Plan will take place this summer. Prince George’s County is Developing a New Plan for Youth Sports The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s, Department of Parks and Recreation is working to create more opportunities for sports and recreation. The department will be developing a Youth Sports Strategic Plan to create new programs and strengthen existing ones while improving facilities for the next generation. They are asking for input from youth, adults, families, coaches, athletes, and community leaders. If you are interested in this effort, visit http://www.pgparks.com/4987/Game-On-Plan to complete an online survey and sign up to receive updates about the development of the Youth Sports Strategic Plan. Arts Committee Virtual Galleries The City of Bowie Arts Committee celebrates local artists by sharing the artwork they curated. To view the Diversity, Unity and Inclusion Gallery, please visit www.cityofbowie.org/unitygallery. Bowie Senior Center The Senior Center is closed to the public. Staff is available Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., to answer questions and assist with referrals; call 301-809-2300.
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• March Activity Packet Giveaway – March 10, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Drive by and pick up a packet.
• Herb Gardening – Videos on how to plant, propagate, prune, and harvest herbs. Contact the Center for details.
• Spring Chorale Cabaret - Be a performer! Contact the Center for details. • See the Center's March Newsletter at www.cityofbowie.org/seniorcenter.
City Gym The City of Bowie Gym will be closed from March 1 to March 15 for minor renovations and routine maintenance. After the 15th, regular hours will be Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
When it reopens, COVID restrictions will still be in place. The Gym will be open to resident members with up to two guests. Members are encouraged to call ahead to reserve a time slot.
• The only activities currently permitted at the Gym are walking, volleyball and pickleball. Basketball is prohibited at this time.
• Capacity limits, face masks, and social distancing required.
The Bowie Gymnasium is located at 4100 Northview Drive. For more information, visit http://www.cityofbowie.org/gym or call 301-809-2388. Bowie Ice Arena A new series of group lessons will begin March 11 for ages 3 and older. Space is limited. Registration can be made over the phone or in person. The Ice Arena is open for public skating, pick up figure skating, stick and puck. Due to capacity limits, please call ahead to make reservations. The Bowie Ice Arena is located at 3330 Northview Drive in Allen Pond Park. For more information, visit www.cityofbowie.org/icearena or call 301-809-3090. Security Camera Rebate Program The City of Bowie and the Bowie Police Department are pleased to offer a Bowie Security Camera Rebate Program. The program offers a $50 rebate for the purchase and installation of one (1) outdoor video camera. The camera must be installed on a residential property within the City of Bowie. The camera must have been purchased and installed on the residential property on or after November 17, 2020. The camera must be installed on the exterior of the home or residential property fence/shed/garage (as long as the camera is installed outdoors and within the residential property).For more information on the Bowie Security Camera Rebate Program, please visit www.cityofbowie.org/camerarebates. Mental Health Matters Life can be challenging and sometimes stressful. When you add the many strains of a pandemic on top of everything else, it can be overwhelming. Bowie Youth & Family Services wants you to know that confidential help is available.
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If you or a loved one are experiencing some of these signs of stress, it may be time to ask for help: • Changes in mood • Lack of interest in once-loved activities • Changes in friendships • Changes in eating and sleep patterns • Less attention to personal hygiene • Alcohol or other drug abuse Resources: • City of Bowie Youth & Family Services: 1-513-817-3158 • Prince George’s County Hotline: 301-864-7161 • Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE • Prince George’s County Crisis Response Hotline: 301-429-2185 Bowie Youth & Family Services Offers Counseling Counselors at Bowie Youth & Family Services (BYFS) are available to help families and individuals during this stressful time! BYFS serves individuals, families and groups in the Bowie community. They offer counseling and stress management groups for all families in the City who have children in the home who are high school age or younger through our new, confidential online platform. They are also available to offer referrals and support by phone to all residents who are experiencing stress and who need assistance. Staff members are licensed clinicians who each hold a graduate degree in a mental health specialty and who have years of training and experience in treating individuals and families. Call 1-513-817-3158 for assistance, or to arrange for an appointment. For more information, please visit www.cityofbowie.org/youthservices. Streetlight Outages Help us to keep the lights on Bowie. Please report streetlight outages or other problems with streetlights to our Public Works Department. We depend on the public to let us know when there is a problem with a streetlight. Please do not assume that the problem has been reported You can report an outage by contacting Robert Holt, [email protected] 240-544-5690 or by visiting www.cityofbowie.org/servicerequest to report the problem using our service request system. Jobs The City of Bowie is currently seeking candidates for the following positions:
• Temporary Laborer – Streets Division (closes 3/10/2021) • Temporary Laborer – Stormwater Management (closes 3/8/2021) • Utility Service Worker – Public Works Department (closes 3/8/2021) • Temporary Laborer – Parks & Grounds Division (closes 3/12/2021) • Police Officer – Entry Level (open)
For more information and to apply, visit www.cityofbowie.org/jobs.
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COVID-19 NEWS To keep up with the latest news about COVID-19 and the restrictions in place, please sign up for Alert Bowie at www.cityofbowie.org/alerts. You will receive updates each weekday containing current metrics about the spread of the virus, the latest restrictions imposed, updates to CDC guidance, resources for those impacted by the pandemic, and more. These updates are also posted on the City website (www.cityofbowie.org) by 5 p.m. daily. COVID-19 Vaccine Update Individuals in Phase 1A, 1B and 1C are eligible to be vaccinated now, however vaccine supplies remain very limited. The Maryland vaccination website, http://covidvax.maryland.gov provides links to all of the vaccination sites in the State. The registration and distribution process is a very decentralized one. Retail pharmacies, hospital systems, the State mass vaccination sites, and local health departments each have their own appointment scheduling process. Until vaccines are more widely available, it makes sense to explore all of these options when trying to schedule an appointment. Receive updates from the State of Maryland about vaccine appointments at Six Flags and other mass vaccination sites by texting “MDready” to 898-211. Maryland’s new COVID-19 Vaccination Support Center is now available at 1-855-MDGOVAX (1-855-634-6829) to help those without internet access schedule appointments. Hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Prince George’s County urges all residents to pre-register for a vaccination on its website (see link below). Pre-registration adds you to the waiting list to receive your vaccine through the County Health Department. It does not pre-register you for a vaccine at pharmacy or hospital locations. All Prince George’s County residents should pre-register on the County vaccine site (below), no matter what phase of the vaccination plan you are in. When you are eligible for vaccination and supplies allow, you will receive an email inviting you to schedule your appointment at a Health Department location in the County. Health Department appointments are currently being scheduled for those in Phase 1A and 1B. They hope to begin scheduling 1C appointments in the next few weeks. Pre-registration help is available for seniors or others who need help; call 3-1-1 and press #. Please persist in your efforts to make an appointment. And stay informed. The City sends out COVID updates each weekday via text and email. Sign up for Alert Bowie (www.cityofbowie.org/alerts) to receive it. Links to vaccine information may be found below: State of Maryland: https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/vaccine Prince George’s County: https://mypgc.us/covidvaccine COVID-19 Testing
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COVID testing is no longer being done at Six Flags. Call the Prince George’s County Health Department testing line for information about County testing locations or visit https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/3472/COVID-19-Testing. Prince George’s County Health Department COVID-19 Hotline: 301-883- 6627 Maryland Department of Health Hotline: 410-767-6871 Food Programs There are a variety of programs underway in Bowie and in the surrounding community to help make sure that no one goes hungry during these uncertain times. We have gathered the information together on a new page on our website so that it easy to find and easy to navigate. If you are in need of food or know someone who is experiencing food insecurity, we encourage you to visit www.cityofbowie.org/food. Bowie Pantry & Emergency Aid Fund Visit the Pantry website for information about the services offered at www.bowiefoodpantry.org. Neighbors Helping Neighbors In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City has expanded the volunteer-based Neighbors Helping Neighbors program to offer free grocery and medication delivery for seniors (65+) and disabled residents of the City of Bowie. Those most vulnerable can stay home and allow volunteers to shop for groceries and deliver goods to their home. Seniors are only responsible for reimbursing the volunteer for the cost of the groceries. There is no delivery fee. Also, there is limited transportation available for important medical appointments. If you are a City of Bowie senior or disabled person in need of assistance, please complete the NHN Senior or Disabled Application at www.cityofbowie.org/nhn. If you would like to volunteer to help seniors or disabled residents, please complete the NHN Volunteer Application at www.cityofbowie.org/nhn. If you have any questions or know of a senior that may benefit from this program, please contact Lori Cunningham at [email protected] or 240-544-5601. State Programs Accepting Applications for Electric, Gas, and Utility Bill Assistance Maryland Energy Assistance Program provides financial assistance with home heating bills, natural gas arrearage assistance, crisis assistance, and furnace repair or replacement. Payments are made to the fuel supplier and utility company on the customer’s behalf. Learn more on the Office of Home Energy Programs website Bowie Business Recovery Program The new Bowie COVID-19 Business Recovery Assistance Program kicked off in January 2021 with eight months of technical assistance programs and online resources to help Bowie businesses meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, build resilience and accelerate the post COVID-19 economic recovery. This program is a collaboration between the Bowie Business Innovation Center and the Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce, funded by the City of Bowie. For information, please visit https://bowiebusinessrecovery.com
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All COVID-19 information provided is subject to change based on the status of the pandemic. To obtain the most up to date information, please visit www.cityofbowie.org/corona. Please share the flyer on the next page with others who may need help with securing a vaccine appointment.
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