Greenbelt · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Greenbelt, MD public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Recodification of the Greenbelt City Code
Staff expects the recodified city code within 30 days. The council agreed to accept it as-is — even with known outdated provisions like bike registration fees — so it can go online in a searchable format sooner, with fixes to follow.
Proposed EV charging stations at Buddy Attick Park
The city's electric trash truck arrives in September, and all eight EV charging ports at the Community Center/Library lot have been tested and work. Staff may limit public-facing ports to four to save money.
Improved constituent issue tracking system
Resident complaints are tracked in a basic SharePoint list, and Council Member Knesel wants to fund a real 311-style tracking system so issues get routed, tracked, and resolved faster.
Regional emergency alert system funding loss
Federal funding for the region's Everbridge emergency alert system is gone, so municipalities are now paying for it. Greenbelt plans to keep it and get more value out of it — possibly saving $10,000 by switching service tiers.
Streetlights and PEPCO LED conversion
The city has been trying to buy its streetlights from PEPCO and convert to LED for years. The city is now $113,000 in arrears on the bill as leverage, and council agreed to write a letter to the Public Utility Commission to force PEPCO to act.
Community Visioning and Public Development Working Group
Council stood up a new working group to shape a big-picture community vision — covering annexations, the armory, and other major properties — after a spat over whether to bundle in economic development. Economic development gets its own effort later.
Cherrywood Lane Bus Stop and Sidewalk Gap
A $231,000 CDBG grant will resurface Cherrywood Lane, but the money can't fund the long-planned green/complete street design. Staff said the Vision Zero plan must be finished first to unlock bigger grants for engineering.
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.
WAMADA bus fares and student transit safety
Youth advisory feedback says students are being charged on buses despite expectations of free rides, and bus stops on Cherrywood feel unsafe after dark. Council wants to raise this with WAMADA and possibly the county.
Curbside composting subsidy and incentives
Council agreed to accept a written report on the compost/food scraps program in lieu of a presentation at the October 19 Save As You Throw work session; Green Aces may seek funding incentives next budget cycle.
Greenbelt Post Office service concerns
A draft letter to Congressman Glenn Ivey would ask for help fixing ongoing service problems at the Greenbelt Post Office that have frustrated residents.
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.
Mail-in ballot options
Should every registered voter automatically get a ballot? Board data shows it would roughly 2.5x mailing costs (~$39,500 vs ~$14,600), but members pointed to Hyattsville doubling turnout and an 85% return rate among people who request ballots. Decision deferred to budget season.
State Transportation Priorities and Delayed 495 Interchange
Council wants to protect Greenbelt Metro interchange funding, push for restoring Route 193 improvements, and oppose the Transurban Beltway expansion — while coordinating with WMATA on Metro-area redevelopment.
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.
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.
Multilingual welcome signs
CRAB's 2024 plan for static welcome signs in up to 10 languages at Buddy Attick and Schrom Hills parks may be replaced by digital corridor signs and park kiosks. Council wants costs, better language data, and coordination with the city's existing wayfinding study before committing.
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.
PGCMLS Story Walk Removal
The library system's story walk was a temporary demo, and the Parks and Rec Advisory Board recommends removing it. Council sent the question to two more advisory boards with reports due by end of May.
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.
Election results certification timing
Counting ranked choice ballots may take longer than the current schedule allows, which could squeeze the time between certifying election results and swearing in new councilmembers. The schedule may need to change.
Lanham Boys Club annexation
Greenbelt officially annexed about 10 acres around the Lanham Boys Club near the Beltway and Good Luck Road, adding green space to the city without changing the club's taxes or identity. A future Hanover Apartments annexation may follow.
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.
Indian Creek Park Master Plan
The concept plan for the new park near Greenbelt Station was accepted: community garden, dog park, multi-sport court, pavilion, and passive space, with floodplain constraints shaping design. Stormwater feasibility from the county is still pending.
Capital Bikeshare coverage gap at Greenbelt Metro
Council formally asked the county to expand the bikeshare geofence to cover all of Greenbelt, so riders don't hit dead zones — including a safe route over the Spelman overpass. A low-income program offers free or discounted rides.
90th anniversary Labor Day Festival preparations
The all-volunteer 72nd Labor Day Festival isn't asking for cash — it needs in-kind city support: buses, police services, and Public Works help. A new carnival vendor, Snyder Amusements, brings electronic wristbands and four-hour unlimited-ride blocks.
GHI acquisition of 121 Centerway
GHI closed on the 121 Centerway property on August 26, leasing it to the Greenbelt Consumer Cooperative grocery and pharmacy, with the Greenbelt Arts Center as subtenant. Renovation of vacant lower-level space for new tenants is beginning.
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.
Roosevelt Center inlay square and crosswalk repairs
The sunken, shifting brick square at Roosevelt Center is a trip hazard and needs replacing — at least $74,000. Staff proposes saving money by swapping planned brick crosswalks for plain asphalt, freeing about $50,000.
Free Meeting Space for Community Groups and HOAs
The council examined how the city handles inactive groups and free meeting space, with Council Member Fritz suggesting tenants' associations get the same access homeowners' associations receive.
Greenbelt Road and Spelman Overpass maintenance concerns
Council flagged high grass, potholes under the Greenbelt Road overpass, and a deteriorating Spelman Overpass pathway — safety and accessibility issues for drivers and pedestrians.
Police contracts and vehicles (~$110,000)
Council quietly approved a five-year Axon camera contract renewal, the Year 4 payment, and new police vehicles — about $110,000 combined. Some residents asked for more detail before the vote.
Private schools in residential zones (CB-069-2026)
A county zoning change would let certain private schools open in residential zones without a special exception — the path for St. Jerome Institute to move into the former St. Hugh's school. Council supported it with a caveat about city oversight.
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.
Historic cemetery preservation (Hamilton, Turner, Walker)
The Turner Family Bible, found at a Hyattsville church, records births and deaths of enslaved people from 1825–1850. The council discussed a possible memorialization project in coordination with the Reparations Commission to honor those buried on the land.
Senate Bill 1005 - County Planning Board Restructuring
A late-filed bill would restructure the park commission's IT, legal, and HR functions, drawing heavy resident concern over its ~$10 million fiscal note. Lobbyist says it has minimal municipal impact but councilmembers worried about the agency's long-term independence.
Cell Phone Towers and City Operations
T-Mobile has been responsive on tower issues; Verizon has not, so the city is switching police vehicle hotspots to T-Mobile.
2025 Election Review and Turnout
Turnout jumped 21% to 3,344 ballots, but results were delayed hours after polls closed when provisional ballots were mistakenly scanned at some precincts. The Board wants better training for election judges and improved screening of experienced poll workers next cycle.
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.
The Space facility constraints
The Space cut its request to $25,000 but lost its upper-level space to a trampoline business, displacing sewing and yoga programs. It's a lifeline for Greenbelt West, with workforce development certification and school partnerships.
Greenbelt Labor Day Festival — 72nd year
The all-volunteer 72nd Labor Day Festival isn't asking for cash — it needs in-kind city support: buses, police services, and Public Works help. A new carnival vendor, Snyder Amusements, brings electronic wristbands and four-hour unlimited-ride blocks.
County Crime Trends
State's Attorney Tara Jackson reported violent crime down 19% and homicides down 40% in 2025, with new focus on repeat gun offenders and youth programs — though domestic violence assaults ticked up.
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.
Maintenance staffing and fire safety at Green Ridge House
The property hasn't been able to fill its full-time maintenance job for nearly a year, so a former employee is back through a temp agency — which could raise payroll costs if made permanent. Fire drills have slipped because no residents will volunteer as hall monitors, and council wants county fire response times documented.
Crisis Intervention Team Funding
The CIT's second position lost its ARPA funding, and the department is hunting for a grant to keep it. The clinician-coordinator pair handles a growing volume of mental health calls.
BARC Support and Program Relocation
Council is pushing back on the USDA's reorganization plan that affects the BARC facility, sending a letter and issuing a public statement.
Greenbelt Museum Funding and Renovation
The state has confirmed significant funding for the long-planned Museum Education Center renovation. Demolition and construction begin in FY2027, which means some museum programming will temporarily relocate and visitation will dip.