Highlights of Council Meeting – January 11, 2022

/ District 2 Councilmembers - College Park, MD

(All Statements below are from District 2 Councilmembers Llatetra Brown Esters and Susan Whitney and are not approved or sanctioned by the City of College Park.)

Proclamation – Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Click here to read the proclamation.

Consent Agenda included the following items:

  • Approval of a letter to be sent to Prince George’s County requesting funding for a sidewalk on Rhode Island Avenue between Paducah Road and Sunnyside Avenue in North College Park. 
  • Interim authorization for the City to pay its portion of operating expenses for the One College Park Condominium (New City Hall) to a bonded operating account in the name of Lincoln Property Management, LLC, building property manager, until the Board of Directors is appointed and functional, in accordance with an agreement to be reviewed and approved by the City Attorney. 
  • Approval of the appointment of the city manager, assistant city manager, and finance director as the city’s representatives to the Board of Directors for the Council of Unit Owners of One College Park Condominium (New City Hall) effective January 11, 2022, for a three-year term starting from the first annual Membership meeting of the Board. 
  • Approval of Council Meeting minutes from the following dates:
    • Emergency Session on October 18
    • Work session on October 19
    • Regular meeting on November 9
    • Regular meeting/Work session on November 16
    • Work session on January 4

There were no public comments on consent agenda items.

Presentation – College Park Neighborhood Stabilization and Housing Trust. Click here to view the presentation.

  • Presented by Kate Kennedy, Committee Chair
  • The following individuals from the Committee were also in attendance:
    • Ken Ulman Vice Chair of the Committee
    • Ed McGinnis, Assistant Vice President, UMD Office of Real Estate – legal guidance
    • Eric Olson, Executive Director, CPCUP – envisioned the project
    • Robert Wagner, CPCUP Chair
    • Robert Day – former City Councilmember
    • Robert Thurston – Lakeland Civic Association, President 
    • Maxine Gross – former City Councilmember, Chair of  the Lakeland Community Heritage Project, Inc.
    • Melissa Bondi of Enterprise Community Partners – Working with CPCUP on plans and affordable rental housing

“The goal of the Trust is to preserve and enhance quality of our community and neighborhoods, address affordability for graduate students, young professionals, families, seniors, people who want to live, work and go to school here, with a commitment to equitable access and environmental sustainability. 

The Trust will operate City-wide. But it will begin by focusing on neighborhoods that our University Community Vision 2030 data showed either a low percentage to begin with, or a precipitous drop in owner-occupied properties. Initial targets that should be considered: Lakeland, Old Town, Berwyn, Daniels Park, Calvert Hills, College Park Woods, and Crystal Springs neighborhoods.”

  • Excited by the work on the Community Preservation Trust 
  • The ask will be for dedication of $3 million in ARPA Funds
  • Why such a project? – affordable housing and sustainability 
    • College Park Strategic Plan/CPCUP Strategic Plan 
    • We want to continue to attract diverse members of our community 
    • We want to increase the number of owner-occupied properties in the city
      • Timeline – Long-term investment. It will take many years to see the change we want to see. 
      • Could use as a tool for aging-in-place. Trust could provide money for upgrades or repairs needed in exchange for executing a ground lease 
      • There is a need for affordable rental housing as well, although this program will not focus on rentals. 
  • Major Components of the Program  
    • Shared Equity
      • Both the homeowner and the Trust buy into the property. When the property is sold both the homeowner and trust will receive a portion of the profits.
      • Owner will need to qualify.
      • Will be based on income – sliding scale 
    • Ground Lease
      • Ensures that the properly remains owner-occupied and the Trust has the first right to purchase the property.
      • Will detail what happens if buyer defaults, whether improvements can be bequeathed to family (yes), maintenance, etc
    • Homeowner Education – to ensure homeowner is ready to take on the responsibility
  • Estimate for annual operating costs?
    $300,000 per year
  • What would help the trust be self-sustaining?
    • $9 million initial capital funding 
    • Twenty homes
    • Eventual proceeds from home sales
  • Funding for this program 
    • In addition to the $3 million request from the City, CPCUP is in conversations with UMD, and affordable housing funds will be sought at local, state and federal levels.
    • When Trust homes sell, the Trust’s portion of profits are folded back into the program.
    • Fees from the home sale or monthly fees might also help with operating costs, but must balance with affordability.
  • Questions from Council included:
    • Will the trust need to come back to the city for financial support?
    • How will the trust be protected? 
    • How long will it take for the trust to reach the purchase target of 20 homes?
    • Is affordable student housing being considered as part of the program?
    • Could Section 8 homeownership vouchers (HCV) be used by buyer?
    • Could incentives for green initiatives be included?
  • Comments from the Council included:
    • A need to focus on the Lakeland Community.
    • Education of owners will be vital to the success of the program.
    • Consider purchasing blighted or abandoned properties.
    • Encourage current homeowners to pledge to sell home to Trust in future.

Action Items

  • Approval of an amendment to the Duvall Field Park Design contract with KCI Technologies, Inc. to include a flood plain area study as required by Prince George’s County Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE), in the amount of $35,000. 
    • Terry Schum, Planning Director for the City of College Park explained that the City came to Council to receive approval for funding for a floodplain study that KCI Technologies was advised would be necessary. However, just prior to the Council meeting DPIE information was received indicating that the requirement for the flood plain study may be waived. Duvall Field is not in a flood plain and the development project is already required to address storm water impacts it creates.
    • KCI will come back to the city with 60% design.
    • FYI – The scope of work for the city-wide flood plain study will be brought to Council during the 1/18 work session.  
  • Discussion of January 22 Council Advance/Orientation 
    • Given the current surge of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, Mayor and council revisited the modality of the Council orientation/advance scheduled for January 22. Mayor Wojahn spoke of the importance of conducting portions of the meeting in-person. However, he acknowledged concern for health and safety and asked if the meeting should be rescheduled, held virtually, or if it should be held over the course of multiple days with a portion held virtually and a portion held in-person. After discussion, the council agreed to move forward with holding a virtual meeting on January 22 focused on portions of the agenda. An in-person meeting will be scheduled for a later date. 

The next City Council Worksession is on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 7:30 pm. Due to the upward trend of Covid-19 cases in the region, it will be virtual. Click here for information on how to join. You can review the agenda here.