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Community Liaison Council Meeting
Minutes
July 19, 2007, 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Visitor Information Center, Building 45 (Natcher Building)
Conference Room D
National Institutes of Health
CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dennis Coleman, Community Liaison Director and
CLC Co-Chair opened the meeting at 4:05 and welcomed the
attendees.
Brad Moss of ORS had two announcements.
There will be a tour of the Commercial Vehicle Inspection
Facility (CVIF) at the beginning of the September 20 CLC
meeting. Participants should meet in front of Building
45 (Natcher) at 3:45 for a shuttle trip to the facility. Since
the CVIF is a small, special purpose facility, the tour will
take less than 30 minutes.
The CVIF’s red and green lane movement lights have
remained on after hours due to a malfunctioning lighting
control system. The lights will be manually shut off
at night until the system is fixed.
PRESENTATIONS
FACILITIES - Ron Wilson, Acting Director,
Facilities Planning Division, ORF
Dead trees along SR355 Frontage: The 4 dead
trees in front of the CVIF have been replaced. The
plan for additional plantings between Wilson Drive and the
entrance to the CVIF now includes dozens of small trees and
shrubs. In addition, the purchase of 12 larger trees
(18-24 ft. white pines) is moving forward. Lynn Mueller
wants to plant the white pines by the end of the year, if
possible. If not, the target becomes Spring 2008.
CVIF Construction Trailer: The trailer used
by the CVIF construction team will be removed soon.
SR355 Streetscape Plan: Mr. Wilson plans
to meet with the involved contractor and landscape architect
within a month.
BRAC: The Montgomery County BRAC Implementation
Committee has requested a briefing on the NIH Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) and Master Plan so they can use it
as a model for evaluating the same documents expected to
be released by the Navy in September. Mr. Coleman considers
the request to be recognition of NIH’s land use planning
and environmental analysis expertise. The County committee
could have used Ft. Belvoir’s recently released BRAC
EIS and Master Plan as a model, but chose to use the NIH
documents instead.
ENVIRONMENT
Environment—Shah Saleh & Gary Cooper (Capital
Project Management Division, ORF); Ed Pfister (Environmental
Protection Division, ORF)
Gateway Center, an Example of NIH’s Green
Design Initiative for New Buildings
Ed Pfister began the presentation by explaining
that NIH offsets construction of new impervious surfaces
by implementing best-management practices (BMPs) for storm
water control. NIH has implemented more than 50 different
BMPs on the Bethesda campus. These include flow splitters,
bioretention ponds and filters, underground detention, sand
filters, curbless gutters (to allow for sheet flow of water
rather than a concentrated flow onto roadways), and open
pipe disconnects to level spreaders. All of these measures
are intended to diminish pollution from runoff.
For example, in the northeast of the campus, a “temporary” parking
lot has been converted to a green space of more than 2-acres,
which is not mowed to prevent runoff. ORF is keeping
a riparian area on both sides of the nearby stream and has
created pools to encourage growth of beneficial microorganisms.
Mr. Pfister then showed a map of dozens of current
BMP sites on the campus. The most recent of these is
a vegetated green roof on the new Gateway Visitors’ Center. The
green roof covers about 20% of what would have otherwise
been an impervious area. The rest of the presentation
concerned the green roof and was given by Shah Saleh.
The green roof has been installed over the 2-level parking
garage and a portion of the roof of the Gateway Visitors’ Center. No
development is now permitted by the County or State without
sufficient storm water management capacity, and NIH, as all
federal facilities in Maryland, are regulated by the State. A
green roof provides storm water management by containing
and utilizing the precipitation that falls on it. From
bottom to top, a green roof consists of the impervious roof
structure, a waterproof membrane, a water-retention layer,
a drainage layer, a light and porous soil layer (known as “Solite”),
and a layer of living plant material. The consultant recommended
hardy plants that can withstand constant exposure to the
area’s weather conditions. The shape of the planted
area accommodates the architectural elements of the building
and blends in with the surrounding natural contour of land.
This is essentially a pilot project, but more plants can
be added later if desired and additional ‘green roof” projects
are under review.
Marilyn Mazuzan noted that the City of Chicago
has made a commitment to green roofs. They are finding
that green roofs protect the underlying roof structure from
heat, cold and ultraviolet light and also provide habitat
for wildflowers and butterflies. In response to George
Oberlander’s question, Mr. Saleh said the soil
depth is about 6 inches, adding that the plants are not necessarily
native to Maryland, but are alpine and accustomed to high
and dry conditions.
Gary Cooper then described the green roof construction.
The deck is concrete. Conventionally the insulation is at
the bottom of the roof, with asphalt in several layers, which
ultraviolet light eventually breaks down, ensuring that the
roof will leak. The green roof is built in reverse. A drainage
board (usually put on the side of a house for waterproofing)
is turned upside-down so the indentations hold water. Fabric
is laid on top of that to allow water to trickle into the
indentations. Then porous and light soil, which has been
fired at high temperatures and mixed with mushroom mulch,
is laid on top, and the plants are placed in an alternating
grid. Traditional green roof plants include varieties of
Sedum, Delosperma, and Talinum, all of which are hardy and
thrive in sunlight. A border is used for access to the roof
itself for maintenance. With this roof, 50% less water should
go into the drains than with a conventional roof.
Eleanor Rice asked whether a water storage system
was part of the plan, so it could be used to mitigate drought. Mr
Cooper responded that this is a pilot program for green roof
elements only but that the plants are selected partially
based on there ability to withstand environmental estrems. George
Oberlander asked about additional construction costs. Mr.
Cooper said that green roofs are initially more expensive
than conventional roofs, but extended life, avoidance of
increased retention pond requirements, and decreased energy
use due to a green roof’s added insulation effect would
tend to balance this out over time. Ralph Schofer added
that membrane waterproofing, as is being used here, has been
used extensively for a hundred years, a long-lived example
being the Lincoln Tunnel.
Mr. Saleh is studying the feasibility of putting
a green roof on another new building, and the building 10
library is studying retrofit green roof to an existing building,
patio area. The bottom line is that NIH has 2 types
of roofs: those that leak and those that will leak.
In Chicago, the city and the county share many buildings,
so the Courthouse was retrofitted over half of its roof,
thus providing a sound basis for comparison. Mr. Wilson added
that they are planning a couple of garages that will have
green roofs as well. Mr. Coleman said that since
the Navy will be doing $2 billion worth of BRAC construction,
NIH could recommend green roofs in its comments on the Navy’s
EIS. At Fort Belvoir, the Army now plans to put a green
roof on only 1 of 23 BRAC-affected buildings.
Ralph Schofer asked about the effect of heavy rainfall
on a green roof. Mr. Pfister said that roof drains
would still be present whether the rest of the roof was green
or not. Also, the roof slopes to allow water to run off,
but the plants chosen will develop strong root systems, so
they won’t wash away.
Mr. Cooper concluded by saying that the Gateway
Visitors’ Center is expected to open in the first quarter
of 2008.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation—Tom Hayden, Director, Travel & Transportation
Services, ORS
Traffic & Parking Trends
Mr. Hayden reviewed the types and numbers of NIH parking
spaces as these have changed in recent years during the
course of various construction projects. Currently,
NIH has 6832 general spaces for employees and contractors;
452 spaces for 166 registered carpools (2 or more persons
each) for a total of 368 carpoolers; 22 spaces reserved
for van pools (7 or more persons each) for a total of 180
van-poolers; 1008 spaces reserved for GS-15 or higher level
employees; and 313 spaces for disabled drivers. Carpool
spaces in preferred areas are reserved until 9:30 AM, and
both carpoolers and vanpoolers are eligible to participate
in subsidy programs.
Once the Gateway Center becomes available, visitor parking
inside the fence will be phased out, except for patient parking. Visitors
will be screened at Gateway Center and take a shuttle bus
from there to wherever on campus they need to go. In
answer to George Oberlander’s question about
the daily number of visitors, Mr. Hayden said he will find
out for the next meeting, but recalls a number of ~2000.
Currently the 5367 people who participate in Transhare (the
subsidy program for Metro users) are being transferred from
Metrochek to SmarTrip, with the goal of 60% of Metrochek
participants becoming SmarTrip participants.
NIH is and expects to remain below the agreed-upon 0.50
ratio of employees to available parking spaces. In
2002, the ratio was 0.48, and by 2020 it is expected to be
between 0.40 and 0.45. The Department of Transportation
wants the ratio to be 0.33 for employment centers near Metro
stations. Mr. Coleman pointed out that NIH
has taken issue in the past with the 0.33 target because
of the unpredictable schedules of researchers who may have
to work odd hours when Metro is not open. Furthermore, Mr.
Oberlander said that many employees must now travel
East-West (where transit options are limited), rather than
North-South, although the Purple Line may remove that limitation
if it was ever built.
Kira Leuders said that people on the National Capital
Planning Commission (NCPC) have never understood the needs
of bench scientists, whose workday depends on the requirements
of research projects that do not always follow the clock. They
cannot work regular business hours and often cannot even
predict when they can go home. This makes carpooling
difficult. Mr. Wilson thought Ms Leuders should
communicate this information to NCPC. Mr. Oberlander thought
it would help if someone could document the number of NIH
staff whose work requires such open schedules.
National Bike Month and Bike to Work Day
For 2 years in a row the NIH Bicycle Club has won the DC
area award for having the largest number of Bike-to-Work
participants. This year, more than 400 people biked
to the NIH campus. NIH has about 600 bicycle racks
on the campus, so even more bikers could be accommodated
in the future. Ralph Schofer noted that
adequate shower facilities are a key requirement of success
in the bike to work area.
NIH Traffic Management Plan—Parking
It is possible that NIH may not be able to reach the 0.33%
goal without reducing the number of available parking spaces. Semi-annual
traffic counts show that in 1992, peak hours were 7:45
to 8:45 AM and 4:30 to 5:30 PM. By 2006, the hours
had changed little, but there were about a third fewer
cars. NIH’s MoU with NCPC calls for NIH traffic
to remain below 1992 levels. Tony Clifford said
that 2 things account for this encouraging trend; namely,
more people work alternative schedules and telecommuting
has become more common. Both situations are due to
technology improvements and to supervisors’ becoming
accustomed to the possibilities. For example, some
Patent and Trademark Office employees now come to work
1 day a week. Participation takes grade level and
seniority into account and requires training on how work
is best accomplished and delivered from remote locations
and how performance is best judged.
Mr. Oberlander asked about progress on the installation
of a pedestrian light at Wilson Drive; Mr. Hayden said
there has been some progress, but the work has slowed lately,
and he will find out why.
In closing this item, Mr. Coleman noted that the
traffic figures presented indicate that quality planning
had taken place because the reality in 2007 matches what
was planned in 1995.
SPECIAL PROJECTS - Tony Clifford, Chief Engineer, ORF
South Lawn Contacts with County Staff
Mr. Clifford sent a letter to Arthur Holmes (Director of
the Department of Public Works and Transportation) summarizing
the South Lawn drainage situation and asking for a meeting. To
illustrate the problem, he attached photos of rain water
flowing and pooling on the South Lawn. Kira Leuders
also wrote a letter to Mr. Holmes, but sent it by e-mail
and copied the County Executive. The latter responded
saying that NIH is responsible for water on its property
because there is no channel to convey runoff from the county
pipe to the NIH drain, and because NIH has a fence in front
of the drain pipe. He recommended a meeting to consider
a joint project and referred Mr. Clifford to Mr. Compton,
Chief of Maintenance. The Department of Public Works
needs at least 10 feet to work in, and the offending fence
is 3 feet from the pipe, so any County work would require
at least temporary fence removal.
Ralph Schofer wondered whether riparian rights
exist for water that has been flowing over property for a
long time, but Mr. Clifford hasn’t consulted an attorney
about this. Harvey Eisen mentioned that an
adjacent property owner has asked the county to abandon the
small triangle of land occupied by the open pipe, but some
Camelot Mews residents are objecting to the transfer. If
the county transfers the property, it could complicate resolution
of the problem, unless the transfer was made contingent on
such resolution.
Information Forum
Because of time constraints, Mr. Coleman did not
go through this month’s information handout, but rather
referred attendees to the outline, which identified what
was included.
Round Robin
Nancy Hoos asked about tree well repair along OG
Road. Mr. Coleman said he had forwarded the
question to Lynn Mueller, who had responded. Mr.
Coleman will get back to Mrs. Hoos with that
information.
Marilyn Mazuzan recounted a recent late morning
bus trip on the J-2 route to the Metro station. For
unknown reasons, it took almost 15 minutes to get from the
CVIF to South Drive (a distance of less than 1000 ft.), which
made her late. She would like to know what caused the
backup and for bus drivers to be informed ahead of time if
NIH knows about impending backups.
Randy Schofer reported that he has a list of about
50 restaurants offering special summer menus and prices in
downtown Bethesda. He has also been informed that a movie, “Resurrecting
the Champ,” will be premiered on August 16 at the Bethesda
Draft House, which has undergone extensive renovation for
use as a community theater.
Adjournment
Dennis Coleman adjourned the meeting at 6:04. The
next meeting will be on September 20, 2007.
CLC Members Present
Marian Bradford, Camelot Mews
Harvey Eisen, Edgewood Glenwood
Jean Harnish, Whitehall Condominium
Nancy Hoos, Sonoma
Marilyn Mazuzan, Oakmont
George Oberlander, Huntington Parkway
Eleanor Rice, Locust Hill
Ralph Schofer, Maplewood
NIH Staff Present
Kira Leuders, Alumni Assn
Randy Schools, R&W Assn
Guests
Dennis Coleman, OCL
Tony Clifford, ORF
Gary Cooper, ORF
Ed Drummond, ORS
Tom Hayden, ORS
Howard Hochman, ORF
Brad Moss, ORS
Ed Pfister, ORF
Sharon Robinson, OCL
Shah Saleh, ORF
Ron Wilson, ORF
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