Greenbelt City Council Regular Meeting – January 12, 2026

The Greenbelt City Council held its regular meeting on January 12, 2026, at 7:30 PM. The meeting covered a range of legislative, operational, and planning matters, including adoption of a charter amendment granting collective bargaining rights to Public Works employees, approval of an ordinance regulating EV charging station parking, first readings of three annexation resolutions for BARC/NASA lands, and authorization of contracts for a red-light camera extension and community center elevator modernization. Public comments addressed the charter amendment process, technical issues in the council chamber, and parking concerns.

Consent Calendar

• Cold Storage Trailer Purchase: Authorized the City Manager to execute a contract for a cold storage trailer for food recovery programs.
• Power DMS Subscription: Approved $13,762.13 for PowerPolicy and PowerReady annual subscriptions.
• Collision Repair for Police Vehicle: Authorized $14,175.22 payment to Advanced Collision Center for repairs to Police Vehicle 627.
• Versaterm Subscription: Approved $11,591.60 for IAPro and BlueTeam software annual subscription.
• Standpipe Paint Selection: Authorized the City Manager to convey the City’s preference for Light Blue paint scheme to WSSC.
• Community Relations Advisory Board Member Removal: Accepted the board’s recommendation to remove Rev. Ray Raysor due to repeated absences.
• Minutes Approval: Approved work session minutes from March 31, 2025, and May 5, 2025, after removing the May 7, 2025, work session minutes for a correction (motion passed 7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Petitions and Requests:
  • Alexander Barnes, Jr. (resident): Requested removal of a parking space on Westway that obstructs driver and pedestrian views at the crosswalk.
  • Brian Ottems (resident): Expressed concerns about moving too fast on the charter amendment for Public Works collective bargaining; requested more time for public education and noted difficulty finding the proposed amendment text and notice details.
  • Susan Smithers (resident, reading a letter from a public works support group): Advocated for the charter amendment and urged the city to terminate its agreement with the law firm Jackson Lewis, citing high hourly rates and a focus on union avoidance.
  • Bill Orleans (resident): Questioned technical issues with the council room studio and criticized a closed session on December 8, 2025, for discussing an Open Meetings Act violation, which he argued should have been public.
• Public Hearing on Charter Amendment (Collective Bargaining for Public Works):
  • Trent Leonard (resident): Expressed full support, reading quotes from Public Works employees (Nate, Robbie, Luisa Robles, Rafael, DeWan) who desire union representation for better benefits, voice, and protection. Also read a letter from Greenbelt FOP Lodge 32 endorsing the effort.
  • Michael Canavan (resident, 40-year resident): Expressed excitement about the charter amendment, noting a shift in management openness and hoping for better compensation for snow emergencies and CDL requirements.
  • Bill Orleans (resident): Argued that the charter amendment should cover all city employees, not just Public Works, calling the limited scope “dumb” and wasteful; also reiterated concerns about retaining Jackson Lewis for bargaining.
  • Alexander Barnes (resident): Cautioned that unions are not always positive, citing personal experience with delayed benefits, and asked council to ensure the outcome is fair for all employees.

Discussion Items

• Charter Amendment – Collective Bargaining Rights for Public Works Employees (2nd Reading, Adoption):
  • Councilmember Pompi introduced the resolution. City Manager Salmerón explained the bifurcated approach: addressing Public Works now while scheduling a work session on January 21, 2026, to discuss a broader charter amendment for all city employees. Councilmember Fritz noted a typographical error in the strikeout language (not currently in the charter). Council debate included support for moving forward without delaying Public Works, while some members (Orleans, Barnes) expressed a preference for a single, all-encompassing amendment. Councilmembers Weaver and Pope argued that the “all employees” language was not complete, necessitating separate action. The resolution passed 7-0. Next steps include a 45-day waiting period, city code amendment, and a third-party vote among Public Works employees.
• Ordinance – Parking Regulations for Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (2nd Reading, Adoption):
  • Mayor Pro Tem Weaver introduced the ordinance. City Manager Salmerón explained it authorizes the city to cite non-EV vehicles (internal combustion engine) parked in EV charging spaces, aligning with state law. It also allows enforcement against EVs parked but not actively charging. The ordinance passed 7-0.
• Annexation Resolutions for BARC/NASA Areas 1, 2, and 3 (1st Reading):
  • Three separate resolutions were introduced to annex approximately 2,262 acres of federally owned, tax-exempt land: Area 1 (223 acres), Area 2 (843 acres), and Area 3 (1,196 acres). The annexations are intended to protect the public lands, strengthen partnerships with USDA and NASA, and influence future development. No consent from property owners is required under Maryland law. The resolutions were read and scheduled for second reading on February 23, 2026.
• Red-Light Camera Agreement Extension with Verra Mobility:
  • Authorized the City Manager to execute a one-year extension. The contract shifts from a per-citation to a per-site fee structure, providing fixed costs amid declining citation revenue. Council discussed the safety focus, declining fine revenues (from ~$650,000 in FY22 to an estimated $475,000 in FY26), and the value of year-to-year flexibility for technology updates and camera repositioning. Motion passed 7-0.
• Community Center Elevator Modernization Contract with Schindler:
  • Authorized a $222,271 contract funded by a $200,000 state bond bill and $22,271 from the capital budget. The elevator modernization is expected to take six weeks, with work beginning in June and completing by mid-September. Council discussed the need to relocate programs from the second floor during construction, as no alternative accessibility (e.g., stair lift) is funded. Motion passed 7-0.
• Administrative Reports:
  • City Manager Salmerón reported on upcoming events (Chickalicious ribbon-cutting Jan 15, Fresh Start Resource Fair Jan 18), the kickoff of the Charter Review Task Force, legislative consultant meetings, 2027 budget preparation, Save As You Throw program (500 stickers sold, 576 warnings issued, no monetary fines for first three weeks), strong EV charger usage after fee implementation, and citywide power fluctuations causing equipment failures. Staff is following up with PEPCO for a formal response.
• Closed Session Statement (December 8, 2025):
  • Council approved the statement of record for a closed session held to discuss personnel matters, obtain legal advice, and consult on pending litigation. Actions taken included removing a board member (6-0-1, Jordan abstaining), giving direction on an Open Meetings Act violation, and direction on a pending legal case. The motion passed 7-0.
• Council Reports and Meeting Schedule:
  • Mayor Pro Tem Weaver reported from the Transportation Planning Board meeting (Dec 17, 2025): the Visualize 2050 plan passed without South Side express lanes; enhanced mobility grant funding for older adults and people with disabilities was awarded, with next opportunity in 2027. Council approved the revised meeting schedule (January–June 2026) with an added legislative discussion on February 11, 2026. Council also discussed condensing budget work sessions and adding a legislative update after crossover.

Key Outcomes

• Charter Amendment Adopted (7-0): Resolution 2124 amends §3-22 of the City Charter to authorize collective bargaining with representatives of non-managerial Public Works employees. Effective after 45 days; city code amendment and employee vote to follow.
• EV Parking Ordinance Adopted (7-0): Ordinance 1408 authorizes regulation of plug-in parking, allowing fines for non-EV vehicles parking in EV charging spots and for EVs parked but not actively charging.
• Annexation Resolutions Introduced: Three resolutions (BARC Areas 1, 2, and 3) received first reading; second reading and adoption scheduled for February 23, 2026.
• Contracts Authorized (both 7-0): Red-light camera agreement extension with Verra Mobility (per-site fee structure) and elevator modernization contract with Schindler ($222,271) approved.
• Consent Agenda Approved (7-0): All routine items passed, including removal of May 7, 2025 work session minutes from approval.
• Meeting Schedule Approved: Includes a legislative discussion on February 11, 2026, and a work session on inclusive collective bargaining language on January 21, 2026.
• Next Steps: Work session on broader collective bargaining for all city employees (January 21, 2026); budget preparations continue; staff to follow up on power fluctuations with PEPCO.