Council grants Greenbelt Cinema insurance and tax exceptions, citing community role

Greenbelt — After hearing from Greenbelt Cinema leadership, the City Council approved several policy exceptions and clarifications to reduce the nonprofit operator’s administrative costs:

• Lowering general-liability coverage from $2,000,000 to $1,000,000 (council asked staff to obtain premium-difference estimates before formal contract edits),
• Removing the separate fidelity-bond requirement where director-and-officer coverage already provides comparable protection, and
• Allowing the cinema to claim the state’s existing exemption for the amusement/admissions tax under the terms of its operating agreement with the city.

Why it matters: The cinema is a city-owned facility operated by a nonprofit partner. Council members and residents emphasized the cinema’s role as a cultural anchor for Roosevelt Center and noted the request would reduce operating costs for the nonprofit, while staff and some councilmembers asked for premium comparisons and documentation to ensure the city’s liability exposure remains protected.

Formal action: Council moved to approve the three exceptions; the motion passed by voice vote. Staff will update the operating contract language where necessary and requested a follow-up showing the insurance premium difference for the $1 million versus $2 million coverage scenarios.

Public comments: A resident who said she had worked with the cinema and others urged support, noting the cinema’s community value and volunteer-driven programming.