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CITY OF GREENBELT
25 Crescent Road
Greenbelt, MD 20770
CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
NOVEMBER 12, 2025
AGENDA
7:30 PM
I. WORK SESSION
1. Administrative Work Session and Legislative Priorities
Suggested Action:
1. Introductions — 10 minutes (7:30–7:40 p.m.)
2. Council Discussion — 60 minutes (7:40–8:40 p.m.)
3. Question and Answers — 15 minutes (8:40–8:55 p.m.)
4. Other Items — 15 minutes (8:55–9:10 p.m.)
- Informational Items
Topics for Administrative Session – Pending Topics
• Review and Adoption of Council Standing Rules
• Scheduling of Quarterly Administrative Work Session to Schedule and Plan Council and
Legislative Activities
• Legislative priorities planning and goal setting for the new council session
• Review of Council Retreat – December 6th.
• Parliamentary procedures training
• Standardizing communication protocols for council business, including external letters and
resident correspondence
• Budget process preparation and timeline coordination
• Stakeholder engagement scheduling and meeting coordination with homeowners
associations and external entities
• Community calendar maintenance and event posting procedures
• Council Liaison Roles
II. SPECIAL MEETING/CLOSED SESSION
2. Special Meeting/Closed Session — City Manager's Goal Setting
Suggested Action:
25 CRESCENT ROAD | GREENBELT, MD 20770
CITY OF GREENBELT, MARYLAND WWW.GREENBELTMD.GOV | (3P01a) g47e4- 8100 0of 30

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STANDING RULES
FOR THE
CITY COUNCIL
EFFECTIVE: January 8, 2024
25 CRESCENT ROAD
GREENBELT, MD 20770-1886
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STANDING RULES FOR THE COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF GREENBELT, MARYLAND
January 8, 2024
I. Council Meetings
1. Regular Council Meetings
a. In accordance with the City Charter, which prescribes that the City Council shall
meet not less frequently than once each month, the following schedule is hereby
established for Council to meet in regular session: Regular meetings shall be held
on the second and fourth Mondays, except for the months of July, August, and
December when Council shall meet on the second Monday only. When any
regularly scheduled meeting falls on a declared city or religious holiday the
meeting shall be held on the following Tuesday at the same hour unless otherwise
provided by motion of the City Council. By agreement of a majority, the Council
may dispense with or reschedule any regular meeting provided that at least one
meeting of Council shall be held in each calendar month. Such action shall be
taken by motion at a regular meeting preceding the one to be changed where time
permits.
b. Regular meetings of the Council shall be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room
of the Municipal Building unless Council, by motion, designates another time or
another public place within the corporate limits of the City of Greenbelt.
2. First Meeting Following Council Election
a. At 7:30 p.m. on the first Monday following a regular Council election or run-off
election, the Council shall meet at the usual place for holding its meetings, and the
newly elected members shall, upon taking the oath of office, assume the duties of
office. If an emergency meeting needs to be held between the election and the
first meeting, the newly elected members shall take the oath of office at this
meeting, and assume the duties of the office.
b. At the organizational meeting following a Council election, the newly elected
members shall, before entering upon the duties of their office, take or subscribe to
the oath or affirmation prescribed by City Charter. Such oaths or affirmations
shall be made before the retiring Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem, except for the Mayor
who, upon being elected, shall take the same oath before the Clerk of the Circuit
Court for Prince George's County or before one of the Clerk's sworn deputies
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c. At the organizational meeting following a regular Council election, a majority of
the members of Council shall choose one of its members as Mayor and shall also
choose one of its members as Mayor Pro Tem. If a vacancy occurs in the office
of Mayor, or in case of the Mayor’s absence or disability, the Mayor Pro Tem
shall act as Mayor for the unexpired term or during the continuance of the absence
or disability of the Mayor.
3. Committee-of-the-Whole Meetings (Work Sessions)
Committee-of-the-whole meetings (work sessions) of the City Council may be held for
the purpose of receiving and discussing information on such matters as deemed desirable
and to request staff to obtain such other information as Council may request, provided
that no formal actions shall be taken at such meetings and provided further that such
meetings shall be open to the public. Work sessions are scheduled at convenient times
based upon availability of Councilmembers. Informational items to be discussed at a
work session shall be identified at the beginning of the meeting. Councilmembers may
report such informational items at the end of the meeting. These informational items
shall be recorded in the minutes under Other Business.
4. Closed Sessions
The Council shall have the right to meet in closed sessions, which shall be closed to the
public, to consider items of a sensitive nature. Such meetings shall be held in accordance
with the applicable provisions of the General Provisions Article, Section 3-305 of the
Annotated Code of Public General Laws of Maryland. Closed sessions shall be called by
the City Clerk upon the written request of the Mayor, the City Manager, or four members
of Council.
5. Special Meetings
Special meetings shall be called by the City Clerk upon the written request of the Mayor,
the City Manager, or four members of Council. The City Clerk shall prepare a notice of
the special meeting, stating the time and place of the meeting and the subjects to be
considered at the special meeting. No subjects other than stated in the notice shall be
considered at the special meeting, except by unanimous consent of all members of
Council. Notices of special meetings shall be served upon each member of Council and
the City Manager, or left at their usual places of residence, at least two hours before the
time of the meeting. It shall also be the duty of the City Clerk, immediately upon receipt
of a written request for a special meeting, to make diligent effort to notify each member
of Council and the City Manager, by email, text, telephone or otherwise, of such special
meeting.
6. Attendance at Meetings
Members shall attend all regular and special meetings, and work sessions of the Council.
If a Councilmember cannot attend a regular or special meeting of the Council because of
illness or other unavoidable circumstance, the Council shall be so advised. The Council
shall have the power to compel the attendance of any absent member by a majority vote
of the members present at any meeting.
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In the event that a councilmember is unable to physically attend the meeting and desires
to participate in the meeting (including voting) by electronic means (telephone, etc.), the
councilmember may do so with the approval of a majority of the Councilmembers
physically present providing:
a. The councilmember has all the materials for the meeting in his/her possession;
b. The councilmember can be clearly heard and understood by all those present
at the meeting; and
c. The councilmember can clearly hear and understand all those present at the
meeting.
d. If the meeting is a closed session, participation must be done in a private and
confidential manner.
7. Notice of Meetings of the Council
Written notice of all public meetings of the City Council shall be posted on the bulletin
board at the Municipal Building, listed on the city's cable television access channels,
listed on the city Website, and shared to the City’s Social Media showing the date, time,
place, and topic(s) of such meetings. Notice of regular meetings of the Council, public
hearings and, insofar as possible, work sessions and special meetings shall be published
in the Greenbelt News Review the week preceding the Council meeting and shall include
a preliminary agenda or, in the case of work sessions, the topic(s) to be considered.
8. Meetings of Council Open to the Public
All meetings of the Council, with the exception of closed sessions authorized by
applicable state law, shall be open to the public. Residents of the city and others shall
have a reasonable opportunity to be heard on any matter being considered at the
meeting. This should be read at the beginning of each meeting and added to the top of
each agenda. Persons desiring to speak on a matter being considered by the Council shall
raise their hands, physically or virtually, or if not able to do so, otherwise indicate their
wish to speak in an alternate fashion. After being recognized by the presiding officer, the
speaker shall identify themselves and their place of residence. Speakers shall confine
themselves to the question under debate, avoid personalities, and refrain from impugning
the motives of any Councilmember's argument or vote or the statements of any other
resident or person. Residents of Greenbelt shall have precedence over others in being
recognized. No person shall speak more than once upon any one subject until every other
person choosing to speak thereon shall have spoken, and no person shall speak for a
longer than five minutes at any one time without the consent of Council.
II. Presiding Officer
1. Presiding Officer
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The Mayor or, in the Mayor’s absence, the Mayor Pro Tem shall preside at all meetings
of the Council. At the hour appointed for the Council to meet, the Mayor or, in the
Mayor’s absence, the Mayor Pro Tem shall take the chair and immediately call the
members to order. At all regular meetings of Council, the roll shall be called by the City
Clerk. The City Clerk shall enter in the minutes of all meetings the names of the
members present.
2. Temporary Chair
In case of the absence of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem at a meeting of Council, the City
Clerk shall call the Council to order. If a quorum is found to be present, the Council shall
proceed to elect, by majority vote of those present, a Chair of the meeting who shall
preside until the arrival of the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem. The temporary Chair shall not
preside beyond the adjournment of the meeting for which he or she was elected.
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[PAGE 7]
III. Quorum
A majority of the members elected to the Council shall constitute a quorum to conduct
business. However, any number of members present may convene to compel the
attendance of absent members.
IV. City Manager and Members of Staff
The City Manager shall have the right to take part in the discussion of all matters coming
before the Council, and other members of staff shall be entitled to take part in discussions
of the Council relating to their respective offices.
V. Minutes
1. Minutes of Meetings
The proceedings of the Council shall be briefly and accurately stated in the minutes.
Titles of all ordinances and resolutions with their designated numbers shall be entered in
the minutes and shall be preserved in a book for that purpose. The City Clerk shall keep
minutes of all meetings, including special meetings, work sessions and closed sessions,
and not less than three days before a regular meeting shall furnish each member of
Council and the City Manager with copies of minutes of preceding meetings. Minutes of
regular meetings should be presented for Council’s approval within 30 days, unless there
are mitigating circumstances reported to Council.
Under the General Provisions Article 3-306(B)(2)(i) of State Law which states that
minutes of meetings are not required if live and archived video is available, the video of
Council meetings will serve as meeting minutes until the written minutes of the meetings
are approved by Council.
2. Minutes Open to Public Review
Minutes of regular meetings, special meetings, public hearings, public meetings, and
work sessions shall be available for review in the City Clerk's office during regular office
hours. However, minutes shall not be available until approved by the Council in regular
meeting. Approved minutes are also posted on the City website. Minutes of closed
sessions of the Council held in accordance with applicable state law shall not be open to
public inspection.
3. List of Action Items
Following each work session, a list of action items shall be prepared and provided to
Council. A thank-you letter should be sent out after all stakeholder meetings listing the
three top action items that was discussed.
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[PAGE 8]
VI. Duties and Privileges of Members
1. Seating Arrangement
Members shall occupy the respective seats at the Council table assigned by the Mayor at
the organizational (Charter) meeting. Any two or more members may exchange seats by
joining in a written notice to the Mayor to that effect.
2. Right to Floor
a. Before speaking on any matter, a member shall seek the floor by addressing the
presiding officer and, once recognized by the chair, shall confine comments to the
question under debate, avoid personalities, and refrain from impugning the
motives of any other member's argument or vote. No member of Council shall
interrupt another without that member's consent. To obtain such consent, the
member shall first address the presiding officer.
b. Members of Council shall not raise personnel matters pertaining to alleged
improper performance or conduct of any city employee(s) or Council appointee(s)
at a public Council meeting. Any concerns about the conduct or performance of
any city employee(s) or Council appointee(s) shall be brought to the attention of
the City Manager, or a closed session of Council may be requested to discuss the
personnel matter.
c. As a practice City Council sets policy and budget priorities within the scope of its
local jurisdictional authority and on matters directly related to its local sphere of
influence. As a body, City Council shall not generally take positions on foreign,
national, or regional issues that do not directly affect the conduct of the City’s
business.
3. Right of Appeal
Any member may appeal to the Council for a ruling on a decision of the presiding officer.
The member making the appeal may briefly state the reason for the appeal, and the
presiding officer may explain the ruling. However, there shall be no debate on the
appeal. The presiding officer shall put the question: “Shall the decision of the Chair be
sustained?” If a majority of the members present vote “yes,” the ruling of the Chair is
sustained; otherwise, it is overruled.
4. Limitation of Debate
No member shall be allowed to speak more than once upon any one subject until every
other member choosing to speak thereon shall have spoken, and no member shall speak
for a longer time than five minutes without consent of Council.
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[PAGE 9]
5. Voting
a. When a question is put, every member present or attending remotely by electronic
means shall vote either in the affirmative, the negative or abstain. Any member
shall be entitled to abstain so long as such member gives a reason for abstaining
and such reason falls within one of the following:
1. When to vote would or could be considered improper pursuant to the
City and State Ethics Laws.
2. When to vote could or may show bias for or against a person,
organization or business that the member has a close personal
relationship with thus reflecting poorly on the member and the office
such member holds.
3. When for any other reason a member is not comfortable voting and has
given the Chair a reason for requesting to abstain so long as excused
by the Chair or Council by vote as provided for herein below.
Application to be excused from voting shall be made to the Chair before the votes
are called for. After the member has briefly stated the reason for the request to be
excused, the decision thereon shall be made by a super-majority of
councilmembers present without debate.
Except as provided in the City Charter or these rules, all voting shall be by voice
vote or by such other method as a majority of the Council shall decide for any
particular vote.
b. The “yeas” and “nays” (i.e., a vote by roll call) shall be taken upon the passage of
all ordinances and resolutions and upon demand of any member made before the
negative vote has been called for. Each Councilmember’s name shall be called in
alphabetical order, except that the presiding officer shall be called to vote last. It
shall not be in order for members to explain or comment upon their votes during
roll call. A record of the “yeas” and “nays” and not voting on any roll call vote
shall be entered upon the minutes of the proceedings of the Council.
6. Personal Privilege
The right of a member to address the Council on a question of personal privilege shall be
limited to cases in which his or her integrity, character, or motives are assailed,
questioned, or impugned.
7. Dissents and Protests
Any member shall have the right to express dissent from or protest against any ordinance,
resolution, or act of Council and have the reason therefor entered upon the minutes. Such
dissent or protest must be filed in writing, couched in respectful language, and presented
to Council no later than the next regular meeting following the date of passage of the
ordinance or resolution or action objected to.
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[PAGE 10]
8. Disorderly Conduct or Violation of Rules
A member of Council indulging in any language or conduct unbecoming a
Councilmember shall be called to order by the presiding officer and, in such case, the
offending member shall lose the floor and shall not proceed without the approval of a
majority of members present. The Council may, by a vote of not fewer than six
members, expel a member from a meeting for disorderly conduct or the violation of
Council rules.
9. Demonstration or Disorder Among Bystanders
If any confusion, demonstration or disorder arises in the Council chamber, the presiding
officer may, upon his or her initiative or upon the request of any member, enforce order.
If the offending person or persons be a spectator, such person or persons may be ejected
from the chamber. If any member of Council shall object to the ruling of the presiding
officer, such member shall have the right to appeal to the Council.
VII. Council Procedure
1. Order of Business
The business of all regular meetings of Council shall be transacted in the following order,
with items under “Other Business” to be listed in the order of greatest public interest. For
the printed agenda, such determination shall be made by the City Manager, provided that,
as an organizational matter, the order of business may be modified at the meeting by the
presiding officer, with the consent of Council or by a motion of Council.
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[PAGE 11]
2. Agenda
I. Organization
Call to Order
Roll Call
Meditation and Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Petitions and Requests
Consent Agenda – Council and Staff Recommendations
Approval of Agenda and Additions
II. Communications
Presentations
Public Hearings
Minutes of Council Meetings
Administrative Reports
Committee Reports
III. Legislation
Ordinances – Second Reading
Resolutions – Second Reading
Ordinances – First Reading
Resolutions – First Reading
IV. Other Business
Council Activities *
Council Reports *
Meetings *
* Council Reports and Council Activities will be done at the regular meeting only if time
allows. Council Reports and Council Activities may also be done at any work session.
No member shall speak for more than five minutes without the consent of a simple
majority of Council.
* The discussion of scheduling Meetings will be held at the Work Session preceding the
next Regular Meeting.
VIII. Agenda
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1. The Printed Agenda
a. The City Manager shall include on the agenda any item at the request of any
member of Council, provided that the member of Council shall have furnished to
the City Manager a proposal in writing of the item for Council to enact or take
other action on, and all relevant background and supporting documents to be
shared with City Council and members of the public in time for inclusion with the
printed agenda. The City Manager shall notify Council of this addition.
b. At least two days before each regular meeting, the City Manager shall provide
each member of Council at his or her home a copy of the agenda for the
forthcoming meeting, together with copies of all ordinances, resolutions, and
background material of matters to be considered at the meeting. Members of
Council who do not wish to have such material delivered to their homes may so
inform the City Manager and make other arrangements.
c. Copies of the agenda and agenda comments shall be posted on the City website
and on the bulletin board in the Municipal Building the Friday prior to each
regular meeting. A reasonable number of copies of the agenda and agenda
comments shall be available to the public at the Council meeting or earlier upon
request, as available. If requested by candidates, printed copies of the agenda
packet—less any material of a confidential nature but including the agenda,
agenda comments, minutes of previous meetings, and background and briefing
materials—shall be provided to certified candidates
2. Approval of Agenda; Consent Agenda
a. As an item of business under Section I, Organization, the Council shall review the
agenda and the consent agenda. Any member of Council or the City Manager
may request the addition of an item to the agenda, or may request the removal of
an item from the consent agenda so that it may be considered as a separate item of
business. A request for the addition of an item to the agenda, or the removal of an
item from the consent agenda, shall be a matter of consideration and shall be
voted upon at the time the Council considers approval of the agenda or consent
agenda, and Council action shall be reflected in the minutes of the meeting.
b. Any member of Council who will be absent from a meeting may request that an
agenda item or consent agenda item be postponed. Such a request for deferral,
giving the reasons for the request, shall be submitted in writing, email or by
telephone to the City Clerk, City Manager and Council. A request for deferral
shall be a matter of consideration and shall be voted upon at the time the Council
considers approval of the agenda or consent agenda, and Council action shall be
reflected in the minutes of the meeting.
c. The consent agenda shall be used for the group disposition of routine and minor
items of business, such as approval of minutes, acceptance of board/committee
reports, and such other items as designated by the City Manager. Consent agenda
items will be specially identified as such. For each item of the consent agenda,
Council will receive a written staff recommendation.
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[PAGE 13]
d. Ordinances and resolutions, matters requiring a roll call vote or the consent of six
members of Council, and items added to the agenda at the meeting shall not be
placed on the consent agenda.
e. Unless an item set forth in the consent agenda is requested to be considered
separately by any member of Council or is postponed (see above), the Council, by
a single motion, shall adopt the recommendations of the City Manager as set forth
in writing for each item included in the consent agenda. The approved
recommendations for each consent agenda item, however, shall be set forth
separately in the minutes of the meeting.
3. Minutes
Reading of the minutes of the preceding meeting shall not be required unless so requested
by a member of Council or unless written copies have not been provided each member of
Council.
4. Petitions and Requests
Petitions and requests are defined to include any communication addressed to the City,
City Manager, Council (as a body) or all individual members of Council, making any
specific or general request requiring Council action. Written communications shall be
first received by the Council, after which the Council shall receive petitions and requests
from residents of the City present physically or virtually at the meeting. Such petitions
and requests shall be heard by the Council as communications and shall not be subject to
consideration or deliberations at that time. Each petitioner shall be allowed five minutes
in which to state the nature of the petition and may submit such additional written
information as the petitioner deems appropriate. The petitioner may be granted
additional time with the consent of the Council. Where more than one person is present
on behalf of the same petition, one person shall be designated principal spokesperson,
and other persons shall be recognized only for the purpose of clarifying the request being
made. Upon a petition or request being presented, the Council shall take one of the
following actions:
 Refer to city staff for handling and disposition. The petitioner and Council
shall be apprised of the disposition made within 90 days if possible.
 Refer to city staff or to an advisory board or committee for investigation,
evaluation, and report to the Council at a future meeting.
 Add to the agenda of a subsequent meeting.
 By motion duly adopted, place the matter on the agenda of the current
meeting.
A listing of Petitions and their status shall be posted on the City website.
5. Communications Not Requiring Council Action
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If a written communication addressed to the Council does not require Council action, the
City Clerk shall send copies to the members of Council, together with copies of any
replies made to the communication, and the matter shall not be placed on the agenda
unless a member of the Council or the City Manager requests that it be considered.
6. Anonymous Communications
Anonymous communications shall not be considered by the Council.
IX. Ordinances and Resolutions
1. Introduction
Ordinances and resolutions shall be introduced in the Council only in printed or in written
form. All ordinances—except ordinances making appropriations and ordinances codify-
ing or rearranging existing ordinances or enacting a code of ordinances—shall be
confined to one subject, and the subject or subjects of all ordinances shall be clearly
expressed in the title. An ordinance or resolution may be introduced for first reading by
the reading of its title by any member of Council and a second is not required.
a. Resolutions are used to set forth legal decisions and official positions of the
City Council, to approve contracts, to set policy and to implement programs.
b. Ordinances are used to update the City Code and Charter and to adopt
measures as required by State law.
2. Distribution of Copies
Copies of all ordinances and resolutions shall be prepared for distribution to all members
of Council, the City Manager, and the City Clerk at the meeting at which the ordinance or
resolution is introduced. Whenever any member of the Council is absent from such
meeting, the City Clerk shall arrange to have copies delivered.
3. First Reading
The first reading of an ordinance or resolution shall be for information. If there is no
objection, the proposed ordinance or resolution shall go on the calendar for the next
meeting of Council. There will generally be no public debate or testimony on the first
reading of an ordinance or resolution. Council may ask questions or for clarification as to
intent.
4. Review and Referral
a. All proposed ordinances and resolutions shall be reviewed by the City Manager
and/or City Solicitor before being presented for second reading and adoption.
The City Manager shall provide a brief digest of the provisions thereof, and,
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[PAGE 15]
where it is proposed to amend an existing ordinance or resolution, such digest
shall indicate the changes sought to be made.
b. If the Council so desires, any pending ordinance or resolution may be referred to
any standing or special committee for study and recommendation or to the City
Manager for study, recommendations, redrafting, etc.
5. Amendments
When a proposed ordinance or resolution is substantively amended upon either its first or
second reading, the amended ordinance or resolution shall be considered to have had its
first reading only and must be read on a second day, unless the requirement for reading it
on two separate days shall be dispensed with by a vote of not fewer than six members of
Council, as prescribed by the City Charter (see 8 b.).
6. Appropriation Ordinances
Ordinances making appropriations shall be confined to the subject of appropriations.
Each proposed ordinance providing for an appropriation shall show fully the purpose of
the appropriation and the source from which the funds are to be derived. The City
Manager shall submit a written recommendation on each appropriation ordinance
showing what effect the ordinance would have on the annual budget.
7. Ordinance to Issue Bonds
Ordinances to issue bonds shall meet all the requirements of the City Charter and
applicable statutes.
8. Adoption
a. After an ordinance or resolution has received a first reading, it shall be placed on
the agenda for second reading at the next meeting of Council. When a proposed
ordinance or resolution comes up for second reading, it may be deferred for
further study, deferred to a future meeting of Council, amended, or adopted. No
ordinance or resolution shall be adopted until it has been read on two separate
days, unless the requirement for reading it on two separate days shall be dispensed
with by a vote of not fewer than six members of Council. The final reading of
each ordinance and resolution shall be in full unless a written or printed copy
thereof shall have been furnished to each member of Council prior to such
reading. The "yeas" and "nays" shall be taken upon the adoption of all ordinances
and resolutions and entered in the minutes of the proceedings of the Council.
b. Dispensing of Reading on Separate Days
A roll call of the "yeas" and "nays" shall be taken on a motion to dispense with
the requirement of reading an ordinance or resolution on two separate days
(Charter ref. Sec. 9). When a motion to suspend the rules to dispense with the
requirement for reading of an ordinance or resolution on two separate days fails to
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[PAGE 16]
receive an affirmative vote of six members, the ordinance or resolution shall go
over to the next regular meeting of the Council.
c. Vote on Ordinances Revising Appropriations and Resolutions to Transfer Funds
As required by Maryland law, ordinances revising appropriations and resolutions
transferring funds shall require a vote of not fewer than six members of Council.
9. Enacting Clauses
The enacting clause of all ordinances shall be "Be It Ordained by the Council of the City
of Greenbelt, Maryland." The enacting clause of all resolutions shall be “Be It Resolved
by the Council of the City of Greenbelt, Maryland.”
10. Effective Date
All ordinances and resolutions passed by the Council shall take effect at the time
indicated therein, but not less than ten days after the date of their adoption, except
ordinances and resolutions of an urgent nature, which may by direction of Council
become effective on date of adoption.
11. Authentication and Publication
Upon its adoption, each ordinance or resolution shall be authenticated by the signature of
the Mayor and the City Clerk and shall be recorded upon a book kept for that purpose.
Each ordinance and resolution shall be published as soon as possible after its adoption by
posting it in a public place or places for ten days or, when required, by publishing it once
within ten days in a newspaper of general circulation in the city, or both.
X. Rules of Order
1. Precedence of Motions
When a question is before the Council, motions shall have the following precedence and
no motion of lesser precedence may be addressed until the motion of higher precedence is
voted upon. The order from highest to lowest precedence is: a) to adjourn which is not
debatable; b) to fix the hour of adjournment; c) to lay the question or issue on the table
indefinitely or to a time certain; d) to call for the previous question; e) to refer; f) to
amend. All motions noted herein shall be addressed to the Mayor (or Chairperson of the
meeting if the Mayor is absent) and shall be voted upon by the Council after discussion
by the Council and interested members of the public. Comments by the public regarding
the above motions (except a motion to adjourn) shall be limited to five (5) minutes.
2. Motions to Be Stated by Chair
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[PAGE 17]
When a motion is made and seconded, it shall be stated by the Chair before debate. Any
member may demand that it be put in writing.
3. Withdrawal of Motion
A motion may not be withdrawn by the mover without the consent of the member
seconding it.
4. Motions Made Out of Order
The Chair may, at any time, with the approval of at least six members of Council permit a
member to introduce an ordinance, resolution, or motion out of the regular order.
5. Motion to Adjourn - When Not in Order - Not Debatable
A motion to adjourn shall be in order at any time, except as follows: a) when repeated
without intervening business or discussion; b) when made as an interruption of a member
while speaking; c) when the previous question has been ordered; and d) while a vote is
being taken. A motion to adjourn is not debatable.
6. Motion to Lay on the Table
A motion to lay on the table shall preclude all amendments or debate on the subject under
consideration. If the motion shall prevail, the consideration of the subject may be re-
sumed at any time by a majority vote under other business, at the same or at a subsequent
meeting. A motion to table is not debatable.
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[PAGE 18]
7. Call the Question
Any member of Council may at any time Call the Question on a motion previously made
which has had any number of proposed amendments thereto so long as such motion
receives a second. Once a second to this motion is received all debate shall cease
regarding any proposed amendments and the Council shall vote on the Call the Question
motion without debate. If approved by a majority of a quorum of the Council, then
Council shall immediately and without debate or public comment vote on only the
motion previously made with the last amendment. All other amendments shall be
considered as failed. If such vote passes by a majority, the Council shall move to the
next item on its agenda. If the main motion fails, the secondary motion and all
subsequent amendments will again be before the Council for debate and possible action.
Any motions still pending at this time will be deemed lost.
8. Division of Question
If a question contains two or more divisible propositions, the presiding officer, upon
request of a member, may divide the same.
9. Amend - Strike Out, etc.
On an amendment to "strike out and insert," the words to be struck out and those to be
inserted shall be read, and finally the sentence or paragraph, as it would stand if so
amended, shall be read.
10. Amend an Amendment
A motion to amend an amendment shall be in order, but one to amend an amendment to
an amendment shall not be introduced. An amendment modifying the intention of a
motion shall be in order, but an amendment relating to a different matter shall not be in
order.
11. Motion to Postpone
All motions to postpone to a certain time, excepting a motion to postpone indefinitely,
may only be amended as to time. If a motion to postpone indefinitely is carried, the
principal question shall be declared lost.
12. Reconsideration
After the decision on any question, any member who voted with the prevailing side may
move a reconsideration of any action at the same or the next meeting. A motion to
reconsider shall require the approval of at least four members of Council. After a motion
for reconsideration has once been acted on, no other motion for reconsideration thereof
shall be made without unanimous consent of all members of Council.
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[PAGE 19]
13. Suspension of Rules
Any provisions of these rules not governed by the Charter, state law, or ordinance may be
temporarily suspended at any meeting of the Council by a vote of not fewer than six
members of Council. The vote on any question to suspend the rules shall be by "yeas"
and "nays" and shall be entered in the minutes.
A motion to suspend the rule requiring two readings on separate days shall be debatable
and, upon such motion, the main question shall be open for debate.
14. Procedure in Absence of Rule
In the absence of a rule to govern a point of procedure, reference shall be had to the
approved practice in parliamentary bodies.
15. Special Order
To make any subject a special order of business shall require the consent of the majority
of members of Council present.
16. Tie Vote
In case of a tie in the vote on any proposal, the proposal shall be considered lost.
17. Special Committees
a. From time to time, the Council may set up Special Committees to act on special
occasions or to perform other duties. Special committees may be created only by
adoption of a resolution, which resolution shall clearly outline the function,
authority, and responsibility of the committee, the number of persons to be on the
committee, method of selection or appointment of members of the committee,
reports to be required of committee, expiration date of committee, and any other
pertinent information necessary for the proper functioning of the committee.
Such Special Committees may also be called Task Forces.
b. Powers
No committee of any kind shall have the power of employing any person for, or
on behalf of, the city or incurring any expense without prior authorization of the
City Manager. The committee may request the City Manager to furnish
information and assistance which may be granted, provided it is pertinent to the
matter before the committee and is not in violation of provisions of the Charter or
policies established by the Council.
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[PAGE 20]
c. Report of Committees
Committees shall submit reports from time to time as requested by the Council or
the City Manager. All reports shall be in writing, and sufficient copies shall be
made available for each member of Council, the City Manager, and the City
Clerk.
XI. Miscellaneous
1. To Amend Rules
These rules may be amended or new rules adopted in the same manner as any other
resolution is passed, except that the requirement for reading may not be waived except by
unanimous consent, with a recorded vote of all members.
2. Request for Meetings by Other Parties
The Mayor and members of Council often encounter requests for meetings related to City
business either with the Mayor, a member of Council, or more than one member of
Council from outside parties (developers, stakeholders, elected officials, etc.). Such
requests should be made known to the entire Council prior to any meeting taking place.
Notification of such a request can be at a scheduled work session or meeting of the City
Council or, in the case of an emergency, by direct communication from the Mayor or
member of Council who was requested to meet. Unless agreed upon by a majority of
Council, all members of Council may attend any such requested meeting. Further, any
such meeting including four or more members of Council shall be publicized and open to
the public unless a Closed Session has been properly requested.
Nothing herein shall apply to contacts made by outside parties with members of Council
at a political or social function. It is understood that contacts of this type need not be
reported to the entire City Council at the next regularly scheduled meeting or work
session unless a request is made by such party that requires Council action.
3. Council Recognitions
Council may issue Proclamations or Letters in recognition of certain events or causes
with local implications, etc. It will be the decision of the Mayor whether to issue a
Proclamation or a Letter.
Generally, proclamations are official (formal) declarations by City Council and letters are
official recognitions by City Council.
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[PAGE 21]
4. Virtual Council Meetings
Members of Council are required to be visible for the majority of the meeting, barring technical
constraints or physical illness.
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[PAGE 22]
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[PAGE 23]
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[PAGE 24]
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[PAGE 25]
LEGISLATIVE PRORITIES
November 12, 2025
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[PAGE 26]
TOC
1. Legislative Priorities and Issues
2. Bond Bill Ideas and Tracking
3. Legislative Survey results
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[PAGE 27]
I. Legislative Interests & Concerns
In the legislative retreat in 2024 City Council developed a long list of legislative priorities. A
number of these priorities are reflected in the 2024 Legislative Priorities.
Legislative Priorities
• Juvenile justice reform and funding
• Lack of development requirement to include affordable or senior housing
• Need for inclusionary zoning, perhaps as a condition of TIF
• Ban gas-powered blowers
• Require compostable take-away utensils
• Ban modified mufflers, (can we include loud car stereos)
• Food truck policies, registration
• Civilian staff authorization to approve speed camera citations
• Removal of the restaurant exemption from the Plastic Bag Ban
• Allow for HOA parking enforcement on private property
• Business registration and licensing for Home-occupation businesses
• Promote legislative advocacy days with County and State legislators
Concerns/Issues
• How can Council best advance legislation not being proposed by our delegation?
• Reworking the Legislative Consultancy to a multi-consultant approach.
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[PAGE 28]
III. Bond Bills
The table below highlights potential bond bill projects for the 2026 request, presents bond bills
received and several bond bill projects that were unsuccessful or were passed on.
No. Project Description Requested
Amount
1 Buddy Attick Park Walking Trail, Walking trail, path and performance $350,000
and Path Stage A&E stage at Buddy Attick Park
2 Lights at Schrom Hills Park Lights at Schrom Hills park for the new TBD
soccer field and park area
3 Community Center Gym Stage floor Rebuild and refurbish the Community TBD
Center stage (in the main gym)
4 2nd Community Center elevator (moved to earmarks) $300,000
They funded one elevator, it is unlikely
they will fund another.
5 SHLRC Addition (earmark FY2026)
6 Springhill Lake RC Pocket Park We only own a portion of the land and
would need a use agreement from
PGCPS.
7 PEPCO Street Light Upgrade to Purchase and upgrade Pepco-owned $300,000
LEDs street lights to LEDs.
Funded
Year Project Description Funded
Amount
2025 CC Elevators $200,000
2024 Greenbelt Cinema $350,000
2023 EVSE Projects $150,000
2023 Greenbelt Museum $100,000
2022 Buddy Attick Park Playground $150,000
2022 WMATA Trail $500,000
2021 WMATA Trail $250,000
2020 WMATA Trail (G189, G115) $250,000
2018 WMATA Trail $75,000
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[PAGE 29]
Considered but not viable or not approved
2024 Armory Site Feasibility Study Bond bills won’t cover studies $150,000
n/a GAFC Splash Pad Too much money $1,600,000
n/a New Municipal Building Design Bond bills won’t cover studies $1,155,000
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[PAGE 30]
A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
OFFICIAL NOTICE
In accordance with Section 3-305(b)(1) of the General Provisions Article of
the Annotated Code of the Public General Laws of Maryland, a closed
session of the Greenbelt City Council will be held on Wednesday, November
12th, 2025, immediately following the Council Work Session –
Administrative Work Session and Legislative Priorities: 1) to discuss the
appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion,
compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of
appointees, employees, or officials over whom this public body has
jurisdiction; any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific
individuals.
The purpose of this meeting is 1) to discuss the City Manager’s Goal Setting.
* The public may attend the Council Work Session prior to the closed session and observe the vote
of the Council to move into the closed session on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Bonita Anderson
City Clerk
25 CRESCENT ROAD | GREENBELT, MD 20770
CITY OF GREENBELT, MARYLAND Page 30 of 30
WWW.GREENBELTMD.GOV | (301) 474-8000