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National Institutes of Health |
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Community
Liaison Council Meeting Minutes Draft WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Ms. Hedetniemi welcomed members and guests. Mr. Konig introduced Lou D'Addio, the new representative from East Bethesda. HANDOUTS:
ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms Hedetniemi asked whether Council members had noted the article in the Bethesda Gazette about the MRI Center at Suburban Hospital. She had toured the center and suggested that a tour would interest the Council. The group said they would like such a tour. Ms. Hedetniemi attended the ceremony on June 9 at which the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) was dedicated to Senator Dale Bumpers and his wife Betty. President Clinton attended and spoke, as did Senator Harkin, who gave a history of the Bumpers' long-time commitment to childhood immunization. A member of the Council mentioned reading an article about the head of the VRC, Dr. Gary Nabel, in press coverage of the event. Northwest Quad Master Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): Stella Serras-Fiotes, NIH Master Planner Ms. Serras-Fiotes had mailed copies of the draft EIS supplement to all Council members for review. Her office decided to follow the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process and write an EIS, though the scope of the project is small enough not to require this. The draft EIS supplement was mailed to all who had reviewed the original complete EIS. A 45-day review period is in effect, after which any revisions to the draft will be included in a final document, which will then be subject to a 30-day review period. Comments on the final EIS supplement will be included in a Record of Decision to be submitted to the NCPC. There are no plans for a public hearing, because the project is small. In a brief review of the EIS process, Ms. Serras-Fiotes said she had presented the plans to the CLC two months ago. The northwest quad master plan was changed because the final design of the Clinical Research Center had a larger footprint than anticipated. This necessitated changing the path of Center Drive and affected the location of the Fire Station, the Day Care Center, a parking facility, and the Adult Guest House, and resulted in the need for a third PEPCO substation to accommodate greater power requirements. In reviewing the plan that had been distributed to the Council, Ms. Serras-Fiotes pointed out that the first few pages were devoted to a description of the buildings and alternative sites for them that had been considered. She then described the environmental consequences of the changes, several of which concerned transportation issues. She also mentioned cultural issues to be considered, because of the proximity of the Adult Guest House to the Convent, which is protected under the Historic Preservation Act. To deal with this concern, Ms. Serras-Fiotes said care would be taken that the design of the Adult Guest House be compatible with the Convent. The final area of concern was impact on the natural environment. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said the report includes drawings of the anticipated impact on the trees. Most of the structures included in this EIS will be built on parking lots or areas that are already without trees. Only 6 to 8 large trees and a few smaller ones near the Convent are expected to be affected. The final part of the report outlines the dates of group presentations the office has made on the project and requests comments be sent to Ms. Hedetniemi by July 23. In response to a question from Mr. Schofer, Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that without having final plans for building designs, she could not say exactly how many trees would be affected. Ms. Rice asked about the house on the corner by the Convent and was told it used for the patient recruitment staff. Because it is in the "buffer zone," it cannot be changed in size or razed, but it has been extensively remodeled and renovated recently. Dr. Goldman had a question about one of the drawings, which he had found unintelligible. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that one of the drawings was misprinted and was, in fact, a mistake. General Discussion
Ms. Hedetniemi explained that she considers the members of the CLC to be the official representatives of the Boards of Directors of their neighborhood associations and that, in turn, she considers the Boards of Directors of the neighborhood associations to be the official voices of community associations. She said that when a person from a neighborhood association who is not a Council member comes to her with a request, she contacts the CLC representative from that association to learn his/her understanding of whatever situation was in question. She brought this up because in addressing the question of moving the opening of the fence near Whitehall, she was asked by members of the Whitehall community to have NIH do something contrary to the decision of the Whitehall Board of Directors. Ms. Hedetniemi said NIH cannot become involved in issues within a community and asked for the Council's comments or suggestions. Mr. Konig said he thought Ms. Hedetniemi's position was sensible and correct, and without further discussion, the Council agreed with her assessment of the situation.
Ms. Hedetniemi expects a report in July on the Maryland Department of the Environment's response to the stormwater management proposal. She also expects to report on the new clinical trials database, which is designed to broaden the public's understanding of what is involved in these trials. Following the August break, Ms. Hedetniemi would like the September meeting to be a joint meeting of the CLC, the Montgomery County Council, county delegates to the Maryland House of Delegates and Senate, and the mayor of Rockville. She would like to include a campus tour and plans to consult with Marilyn Goldwater and Jenny Forehand to invite local and state representatives and encourage them to interact with the Council and observe how NIH works with neighborhood representatives. Mr. Konig suggested the tour be conducted with the minimum of acronyms, saying he had found much of what went on at CLC meetings difficult to understand because of the language employed. Ms. Hedetniemi accepted this suggestion and added she planned to give new Council members an orientation to terms and issues. She also said she would produce a glossary of terms. Ms. Des Roches asked whether other neighborhood members could be invited to the tour, and Ms. Hedetniemi replied that she saw this particular tour as an opportunity for Council members to meet with the delegates and thus wanted to limit the scope of the meeting. In a brief recap of the CLC's history, Ms. Hedetniemi explained that the group began as a Core Community Working Group that oversaw development of the Master Plan. Following the January 1995 approval of the Master Plan, the group continued to meet with NIH to form an on- going vehicle for communication with the surrounding neighborhoods.
Ms. Hedetniemi asked for suggestions to improve the Update. Ms. Ozarin observed that she frequently received it late, after many events had already taken place. Others agreed, and Ms. Hedetniemi said she would consider changing the mailing method. Mr. Konig uses information in the Update to write articles for his neighborhood newsletter, although he did think it might be written in a lighter tone to reach a broader audience. Ms. Des Roches suggested a "What's New for Neighbors" section and possibly some eye-catching graphics. Ms. Rice asked that the Update include an article about the critical need for blood donations at NIH. Ms. Hedetniemi concurred that this should be a regular feature.
Ms. Rice brought up a proposal she and Ben Ross of the Campaign for Better Mobility have spearheaded for free bus shuttles to run between NIH, the Naval Center, Suburban Hospital, and downtown Bethesda. Ms. Hedetniemi said she was aware of this proposal and planned to discuss it with NIH traffic officials. When there are further developments to report, Ms. Hedetniemi will include them in a future agenda. Ms. Hedetniemi inquired about the Council's interest in a presentation by Bonnie Fogel, Director of the Bethesda Academy of the Performing Arts (BAPA), concerning the plans for the new theater in downtown Bethesda and/or a presentation by Eliot Pfansteihl about expansion of Strathmore Hall. The Council indicated an interest in both projects. Mr. Konig said he had read an article in the New York Times about the new head of the National Institute of Mental Health, and Ms. Hedetniemi said she would try to find copies to distribute to the Council. Ms. Hedetniemi said NIH is considering constructing a pathway at the corner of McKinley and Rosewood streets, where there is a set of stepping stones in an area that is frequently muddy or flooded following a rain. She asked Ms. Des Roches whether the Edgewood Glenwood Association would be interested in formally requesting NIH to do this and whether the association would take responsibility for landscaping. Ms. Des Roches said Edgewood Glenwood had planned to approach NIH concerning this matter and would be sending an official request soon. Mr. D'Addio was thanked for attending his first meeting. Ms. Hedetniemi said the Council's role is both informal, in assisting her in outreach to the community, and formal, in representing community interests at NIH. She said NIH relies on the Council's advice and consultation on all matters concerning the nearby neighborhoods. ACTION ITEMS: All comments on the draft supplemental EIS must be submitted to Ms. Hedetniemi by July 23 Ms. Hedetniemi will ask for a tour of the MRI Center at Suburban Hospital for the CLC. Ms. Hedetniemi will arrange for an orientation for new members of the CLC. and a glossary of terms will be created for use by the CLC. The Update will be reviewed to include more graphics. A new mailing method will be considered. Requests for blood donations will be included regularly in the Update. Ms. Hedetniemi will report on the development of the bus shuttle as the project progresses. Ms. Hedetniemi will inquire about presentations to the CLC on BAPA and Strathmore Hall construction plans. Palladian will find copies of the recent New York Times article on the director of NIMH. Edgewood Glenwood will make a formal request for a pathway at the intersection of McKinley and Rosewood streets NEXT MEETING: THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1999, AT 4:00 P.M. IN THE NATCHER CONFERENCE CENTER, ROOM D. Attendees: |
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