Greenbelt City Council Work Session: ATHA and Legislative Priorities – February 2, 2026

The Greenbelt City Council held a work session on Monday, February 2, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers via Zoom, led by Mayor Emmett V. Jordan. The council received a presentation from the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area (ATHA), reviewed state and county legislative priorities and bill tracking, discussed snow and ice removal operations, and heard public comment opposing AI data centers. The meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m.

ATHA Presentation and Grants

• Meagan Baco, ATHA Executive Director, presented ATHA's countywide cultural tourism mission, recent service-area expansion, and evolving 'community tourism' approach. Grace Harness described 2026 U.S. Semiquincentennial activities, including genealogical workshops, bike rides, boat tours, a May 30 public block party in Bowie, and a passport program at Prince George's County historic sites.
• ATHA highlighted trail projects: Trolley Trail extension, a Colmar Manor trail connecting Dooling Creek to the Anacostia trail system, and feasibility planning with Friends of the Greenbelt East Trail.
• Baco discussed grant programs: the Maryland Heritage Areas grant pool, typically funded at just over $5 million annually, with intent-to-apply due that night at midnight; and ATHA Rocket Grants of $5,000 for small projects. Greenbelt has previously received heritage-area funding for historic cemetery documentation and the Old Greenbelt Theater, and Rocket Grants for Bike to Work Day, Greenbelt Online, the Greenbelt East Trail feasibility study, and Recreation and Arts programming.
• Councilmembers asked about recreation/youth programming and anniversary support. Councilmember Pope suggested seeking funding for Greenbelt's upcoming 90th anniversary. City Manager Josué Salmerón noted $300,000 had been secured toward the $500,000 Greenbelt Museum expansion, including $150,000 from the Maryland Historical Trust, leaving $200,000 to raise. Museum expansion, Greenbelt Armory feasibility, and the future of the Dora Kennedy French Immersion School were discussed.
• ATHA invited Greenbelt to join or appoint a liaison to its municipal advisory committee. Baco said ATHA is considering restructuring its governing board. Council emphasized improving coordination, communication, and calendar sharing with ATHA.

Legislative Priorities Discussion

• Council treated the Qualified Data Center Task Force report and the Department of Housing and Community Development's 2030 housing production targets as informational. Mayor Jordan noted Greenbelt lacks planning and zoning authority and has limited new-development space, but mentioned Quantum Corporation's approved plan for additional housing behind Beltway Plaza. Councilmember Fritz said there are opportunities for infill redevelopment, especially near the Metro, and supported more density and transit-connected housing.
• The council agreed to focus on the consolidated bill-tracking document rather than the full legislative packet. Councilmember Pompi led the review, with final positions to be considered for a vote at the next council meeting on Monday.
• Councilmember Pompi's flagged bills included support or support-with-amendment positions on HB032 (AEDs in police vehicles, with amendment concern), HB035 (Tree of Heaven regulation), HB0092 (plastic six-pack rings), HB0197 (Comprehensive Community Safety Funding Act, with amendment for municipal access to funds), and HB0331 (bottle bill, already supported in a prior vote); monitored bills included HB0071, HB0079, HB0085, HB0099, HB0104, HB0153, HB0155, HB0167, HB0168, HB0172, HB0224, HB0239, HB0345, HB0350, HB0351, HB0357, HB0368, HB0405, and HB709 (Good Cause Eviction, introduced that day by Delegate Williams). City Manager Salmerón noted staff support for HB0099.
• Councilmember McKinney flagged HB0235, HB0240, and HB0254 for monitoring. Mayor Jordan flagged HB0010 and suggested no position in deference to the Greenbelt News Review; Councilmember Weaver questioned that reasoning. Mayor Jordan also flagged HB0091 (support/amendment), HB0107 (monitor/support/amendment), HB0249, HB0256, HB0341, HB0353, HB0369 (monitor/support), HB0394, HB0402, HB0415 (hearing Feb. 4), HB0434, SB0349, and SB0351. Councilmember Fritz added support for HB0197.
• Council agreed to align where possible with Maryland Municipal League priorities, track local delegation bills, and use legislative contractors to assess which bills are timely and likely to move. Former Mayor Jay Davis, who monitors MML legislative committee meetings, advised the council to weigh MML positions and potential opposition or litigation risk.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Paul Howe, a Colmar Manor resident, spoke in opposition to the proposed Landover AI data center, citing air and noise pollution from 24/7 operations and diesel generators and health risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing conditions. He said hundreds opposed data centers at the Oct. 25 task force community meeting, but the task force report buried that opposition in an appendix. He asked the council to sign community letters and adopt a resolution opposing AI data center construction in Greenbelt. Mayor Jordan said the council has not taken a position and would review the materials; he also noted the task force had no municipal representative.
• Bill Orleans criticized the mayor and council members meeting privately with legislative contractors, saying such discussions should occur publicly. Mayor Jordan said the meetings were organizational, not deliberative. City Manager Salmerón said the meetings reduced administrative coordination burdens.

Snow Removal and Operations

• City Manager Salmerón reported continued snow and ice removal after crews worked 12 straight days. Safe Routes to School were cleared Friday, work continued Saturday, crews rested Sunday, and Monday they cleared Lake Crest and planned to work on Parkway. A movie, 'Over the Hedge,' was scheduled for Tuesday since schools were closed.
• Council raised concerns about impassable sidewalks on state-owned overpasses along Greenbelt Road, bus-stop clearing, Franklin Park, the sidewalk near Charlestown North on Prince James Way, and the crosswalk at Frankfort and Greenbelt Road. Staff reiterated the Prince George's County requirement that property owners clear sidewalks within 48 hours and said they were following up with property managers and the State Highway Administration.
• Council asked staff to monitor storm drains and culverts to prevent flooding as snow melts, and to watch a possible small storm Wednesday.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken; the council planned to vote on legislative positions at the next council meeting on Monday.
• Action items included: follow up with ATHA on the grant deadline and late submission options; schedule a brainstorming session with ATHA on collaborative projects and Rocket Grants; improve information and calendar sharing with ATHA; appoint a liaison to the ATHA municipal advisory committee; consolidate the bill tracking list with timing and next steps; contact MML for its priority lists; continue snow removal and sidewalk compliance; monitor storm drains and culverts; attend County Council Chair Oriata's listening tour and the swearing-in of County Councilmember Tim Adams; review community letters or a resolution opposing AI data centers in Greenbelt; and invite the new District 4 County Council representative to a future meeting.