Recommendation
Mayor and Council approve the attached MML Geocache Participant Resolution and direct staff to have Rockville become a member of the MML Geocache Trail, and maintain a cache in Rockville.

Discussion
The purpose of the MML Geocache Trail is to promote awareness of and visits to Maryland’s municipalities. Geocache is a rapidly growing hi-tech tourist trade that has appeal to all age groups. Geocache tourism is similar to going on a treasure hunt using a hand-held GPS (Global Positioning System) to plot map coordinates to locate the treasure or “cache.” MML is implementing this program in partnership with the Maryland Geocaching Society. The program is a way to attract visitors to municipalities and to guide them to places of interest. To participate, the only requirement is that the visitor have access to a hand-held GPS device.

The program costs are minimal, as the only funding needed is to purchase a plastic container with a locking lid (Rubbermaid or similar type of container), a log book (spiral notebook), and a special rubber stamp. The estimated cost is $30.00. Optional items that can also be placed in the cache are memorabilia, pamphlets, coupons, or other information that the municipality chooses to include. The only municipal responsibility is to properly maintain the cache. MML will provide each participant municipality with a designated stamp for their respective district (there are 11 MML districts). MML will provide cache boxes, log books, and rubber stamps to the first two participants in each district. At present, thirteen Maryland municipalities have become members.

The Maryland Geocache Society will work with each participating municipality to assist in the selection of the best location to hide the cache and determine its map coordinates. They will also review the contents of the cache to make sure they are in accordance with geocaching rules, and will assist in writing the description of the cache for the official geocaching web site (www.geocache.com). Geocachers will log their discoveries on the geocaching Web Site. MML will track the numbers of visitors to all of the municipal cache locations, and municipalities can set up an account to have this same ability.

For a municipality to participate, the attached Geocache Participant Resolution must be approved that commits the municipality to hosting and maintaining a geocache. The municipality must maintain the geocache by ensuring that it is properly hidden, its contents remain inside the cache, and remains in good condition.

Mayor and Council History
This is the first time this item has been brought before the Mayor and Council.

Fiscal Impact
This program has minimal fiscal impact, as the only funding needed is to purchase a plastic container with a locking lid (Rubbermaid or similar type of container), a log book (spiral notebook), and a special rubber stamp. The estimated cost is $30.00.

Next Steps
Once adopted, the Resolution will be sent to the Maryland Municipal League for Rockville to be included as a participant for the January 2009 debut of the program. MML will need to receive the Resolution by October 30, 2008.

Attachments

Deputy City Manager:


Catherine Tuck Parrish, Deputy City Manager
Approved on: 09/18/2008

City Manager:

Scott Ullery, City Manager
Approved on: 09/18/2008