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Bowie council actions: charter amendment raising maximum municipal fine, bamboo ordinance, subdivision approval and consent agenda
Summary
Council voted to approve a charter amendment permitting higher maximum fines for city code violations, adopted an ordinance prohibiting planting invasive bamboo, approved a preliminary subdivision for a Genesis dealership on US 301, and approved the consent agenda.
The Bowie City Council on Monday took several formal actions after public hearings and staff presentations.
- Charter amendment (CAR-1-25): The council adopted a charter amendment resolution to raise the maximum fine that can be assessed for a violation of the city code from $1,000 to $5,000. The city attorney said the change conforms Bowie’s charter to recently updated state law and will give the city additional flexibility in setting fines for misdemeanor crimes and commercial property code violations. No public speakers registered. The amendment was moved, seconded and adopted by voice vote.
- Ordinance O-7-25 (invasive bamboo): The council adopted Ordinance O-7-25 amending Chapter 5 (building and property maintenance) of the city code to add a definition of "invasive bamboo," to prohibit planting it, and to require property owners who currently maintain bamboo to contain it on their property. The staff presentation said the law implements a 2023 state law that took effect Oct. 1, 2024. No one signed up to speak at the public hearing. The ordinance was moved, seconded and adopted by voice vote.
- Preliminary plan of subdivision (PPS-4-24006 and related parcels): The council approved a preliminary plan of subdivision for a proposed Genesis vehicle sales and service dealership on a median parcel of US 301 (Crane Highway). Staff recommended approval and the Bowie Advisory Planning Board had unanimously recommended approval. Council discussed access, truck circulation and traffic-signal coordination; staff and the applicant said site access will be shifted off of mainline 301 to a crossover lane controlled by a proposed signal. The motion to approve was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote.
- Consent agenda: The council approved the consent agenda without recorded roll-call dissents.
Votes were taken by voice and recorded as "aye" with no recorded opposition in the public hearing record. The meeting record did not show roll-call tallies with names for each 'aye' or any recorded "no" votes or abstentions for these items.
Ending: Council indicated staff will return with implementation details where needed (e.g., specific fine schedule under the charter amendment and engineering for the 301 crossover signal).
