Greenbelt · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Greenbelt, MD public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Delinquent waste collection accounts and tax liens
After a pause during COVID, the city is placing tax liens on properties with unpaid waste collection bills — homeowners then pay through their county property tax bill. A resident asked how the process works.
Bond bill and legislative priorities for 2027
Council's top state priorities are data center guardrails, municipal zoning authority, and fiscal capacity; top bond projects are Pepco street light upgrades, wayfinding, and Indian Creek Park. These go to Annapolis with District 22 municipalities.
Street Sweeper Replacement Engine Purchase
The city's street sweeper broke down, and staff sought authorization to buy a replacement engine and parts for up to $16,054.52 to get it back in service.
Maryland FAMLI — State vs. Private Plan Options
The city enrolled in the state's family leave insurance program after private alternatives fell through. Employees will see a payroll contribution; Councilmembers Knesel and McKinney want affected employees to have input on the final choice.
Save-As-You-Throw (SAYT) Program Fees
Trash fee decisions loom. The proposed 2027 base rate dropped from $2.60 to $2.40, which Councilmember Knesel says puts the whole financial burden on families. Expect a resolution at the next meeting with new financial scenarios.
Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Consulting Services RFP
Greenbelt is moving from isolated DEI programs to a citywide effort and plans to hire a consultant to assess where it stands, define roles, and set measurable goals. Council wants the work to measure both internal culture and community impact, and is considering a resident advisory committee on DEI and accessibility.
Ranked choice voting next steps
Council moved forward with drafting a charter amendment adding ranked choice voting, as voters backed in a 2025 referendum. Pope wants a test run and cost analysis first; the election is about a year away.
Temporary working groups (subcommittees)
Council created three new working groups and tabled a fourth. Longtime resident Bill Orleans argued small-group meetings shut the public out of council deliberations; Fritz defended the practice as compliant with the Open Meetings Act.
Bond Bill and Federal Earmark Projects
Indian Creek Park, PEPCO streetlight LED conversions, Armory demolition, and citywide wayfinding top the draft bond bill list. Staff will survey council to rank projects before submitting requests.
County Funding for Greenbelt Priorities
County Council Member Tim Adams announced more than $1.65 million secured in the FY2027 county budget for Greenbelt — parks, museum, lighting, and aquatic center maintenance.
Proactive community engagement strategies
CRAB floated ideas for reaching residents who don't attend traditional meetings: multilingual outreach, partnerships with schools and faith groups, pop-up feedback at events, online input, youth engagement, and telling residents how their feedback was used. Council was asked to set priorities for the year.
Community questionnaire and town hall
The every-two-years election-day questionnaire may get replaced with a shorter, mostly digital, annual survey timed to the budget cycle. CRAB will draft essential questions by early spring 2027.
Budget Process and Finance Working Group
A proposed council finance working group was tabled to Wednesday, with the city manager warning next year's budget faces a $700,000 adjustment for an under-budgeted abatement expense.
PGCMA Dues and Transparency
Council tabled its $1,884.78 dues payment to the Prince George's County Municipal Association, wanting answers from new leadership about the dues formula and how the money is spent before paying up.
FY 2026 Budget Closeout
The city closed FY 2026 with a $968,110 surplus back in the general fund, but tax abatements drained about $1.2 million from the abatement reserve (down from $2.5 million to roughly $1.5 million). Staff says future contingency covers up to $1.8 million in abatements.
FY 2027 balanced budget and $3 million deficit closed
The council finalized next year's city budget, raising revenue by about $261,000 and setting property, personal property, and utility tax rates for FY 2027. Most changes passed unanimously, but the FOGT subsidy and non-departmental spending split the council.
Campaign Finance Compliance and Reporting
Not all candidates filed final campaign finance reports last election, and the Board admits it lacks real enforcement tools. Council discussed whether fines make sense — several members argued the existing bar on running again is penalty enough.
Election Vendor Performance
Fort Orange Press performed well in 2023 but botched the 2025 election with late, disorganized work. The Board plans to switch vendors and explore print-on-demand ballots, with Council members urging contract penalties for missed deadlines.
Charter Amendment on Collective Bargaining
A proposal to give certain city workers union rights was tabled until May 11 after concerns about last-minute wording changes.
City Manager Directive on Anti-Union Activities
A resident petitioned to see the City Manager's directive prohibiting anti-union activity in the city. The request was received but not acted on.
Recognition Group Grant Policy Overhaul
Grant requests from local nonprofits have jumped 212% — over $77,000 — beyond what the city budgets. The new policy caps operating grants at $25,000, splits funding pools by organization type, and tightens eligibility; it passed 6-1.
August 10 Agenda Preview: Pool Rates, Landscaping Agreements, Leaf Blowers
The city has been getting surprise bills from HOAs for work on city property, with inconsistent deals negotiated by different people. Council put staff in charge of all these agreements going forward.
Use of Public Safety Surcharge Funds for Studies
The city recovered $546,000 in overdue public safety surcharge revenue. The manager plans to use $200,000 of it to cover budgeted police vehicles, freeing general fund money for DEI-related assessments and community visioning — trading off against playgrounds or vehicles.
City Manager's Performance Evaluation
The Council met privately to evaluate City Manager Josué Salmerón's performance. Details are confidential under Maryland's open meetings law, so residents won't see the substance unless the Council later takes public action.
Legislative advocacy priorities and municipal zoning authority
Council is deciding what to push for in Annapolis and at the county level — with more local permitting authority the top ask. The new contractor will track thousands of bills so Greenbelt doesn't get blindsided.
CARES Senior Services Funding and 501(c)(3)
CARES' nursing and senior programs may get $132,000 shifted from other budgets to stay alive for another year while the group becomes a nonprofit.
Labor Code ordinance amendment
The city is updating its labor code governing collective bargaining for designated employees. A first reading raised questions about how the language was changed by labor attorneys.
DEI Officer Role in the FY 2027 Budget
The city's first DEI officer role is up for restructuring. Residents pushed back hard in the budget hearing, and the council ultimately agreed to keep the position funded while weighing four restructuring options and promising more transparency.
FY2027 Budget Process Underway
The city manager kicked off the FY2027 budget process and reported on the Community Center elevator project, EV charging station permits, and the Save-As-You-Throw program's early results.
Position reclassifications and HR process
Budget-neutral reclassifications — including a new Operations Manager and a Grants Coordinator bump to Grade 11 — were reviewed, with the HR director flagging that one change skipped the standard process.
FY 2027 Grants and Contributions Funding
The council was set to review funding for community recognition groups like the Greenbelt Cinema, Swim Team, and Concert Band, plus outside organizations such as Meals on Wheels and Greater Washington Ear. The cinema's annual contribution was proposed to rise to $75,000, its first inflation adjustment in years.
GATe financial sustainability and possible streaming tax
Greenbelt Access Television has lost over half its cable PEG funding in five years ($180K to $85K) and cut staff from six full-timers to two part-timers. Council floated a dedicated work session to find new revenue, possibly including a streaming tax.
FY 2027 Public Works Budget
The final public hearing before the May 26 budget adoption drew comments on sidewalk funding, DEI transparency, and better budget accessibility. If you care about where your tax dollars go, adoption is May 26.
Grant Matching Fund
A new restricted fund would make sure the city can always cover its share of grant costs.
GRACE funding alignment dispute
Mayor Pro Tem Weaver proposed not funding the Greenbelt Refugee Aid Committee this year, arguing its sister-city idea and work with people outside Greenbelt don't fit the recognition-group program. Other council members echoed the concern.
Green Ridge House FY 2027 budget and operations
Green Ridge House is Greenbelt's federally subsidized Section 8 senior housing facility, and the FY 2027 budget funds continued HVAC riser replacement, erosion repairs, and resident amenities. Rent for residents actually went down a dollar a month thanks to a utility allowance increase, and HUD reimbursements are running smoothly.