Comments by Councilmembers Llatetra Brown Esters and Susan Whitney and are not approved or sanctioned by the City of College Park.
City Manager’s Report
To celebrate black history month, the City will give away 60 copies of Hair Love, a children’s book by Matthew A. Cherry; 50 copies of Dr. Annaliese Singh’s The Racial Healing Handbook will be offered to adults. Click here to reserve your copy and read the prompts staff have created to aid in critical thinking. City residents may reserve up to one copy per book per household.
Consideration of Request by Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation for City support for 2021 RISE Zone Renewal Application
The Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise (RISE) Zone was created by the State in 2014 to encourage investment and job creation near universities committed to economic development in their communities. It offers incentives to qualifying businesses, including local tax credits for new investment.
During the 2021 session, the Maryland General Assembly passed house bill 1279, which expanded the purposes of the RISE Zone Program such that the City, and other qualified institutions, could provide rental assistance to qualified business entities with matching amounts from the State’s RISE Zone fund. Subject to availability, the Maryland Department of Commerce will provide three times the amount of funding provided by the RISE Zone entity’s rental assistance program.
On April 25, 2016, the Mayor and City Council of College Park adopted resolution 16-R-10 which authorized the City’s participation in the Greater College Park Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise Zone for a period five-years. Currently, the City is working with UMD, Prince Georges County Economic Development Corporation and Riverdale Park on a renewal application to be submitted to the Maryland Department of Commerce in March 2022. Since the inception of the RISE Zone designation in 2016, no participants have received incentives in the City of College Park nor in the entire state of Maryland.
Council discussion focused on choosing one of three options:
- Authorize participation in the Greater College Park RISE Zone and provide the minimum City tax credit level (first year, 50%; years 2-5, 10%) for eligible commercial and industrial development, and a five-year 75% credit for specific high technology development only in the Innovation District and the Research Park.
- Authorize participation in the Greater College Park RISE Zone and provide the minimum City tax credit level (first year, 50%; years 2-5, 10%) for eligible commercial and industrial development, and a five-year 50% credit for specific high technology development only in the Innovation District and the Research Park.
- Decline to participate in the Greater College Park RISE Zone.
Councilmember Rigg asked Mr. Williams why he thinks there’s been no uptake in our RISE zone. Mr. Williams said more marketing would be helpful but the main reason seems to be that many start-ups aren’t looking to purchase a building or office. They don’t have a lot of capital and don’t want to spend their money that way. He thinks the rental component will make the program more enticing to start-ups similar to IonQ, and he believes that supporting the 75% five-year tax credit will be a more powerful draw for any companies that are looking to purchase real estate.
Councilmember Whitney pointed out that the Stone Straw property is in the RISE Zone and asked Mr. Williams if he thought the City might be able to use incentives to proactively attract a technology company to the property that might have a low impact on the residential neighborhood. Mr. Williams agreed that that would be a good topic to explore.
Councilmember Esters asked how long companies that were to take advantage of the program would have to stick around after the tax incentives expire in 5 years. Mr. Williams said that companies stay in the program for 7 years and that the City would reevaluate the situation that that point, saying many companies merge or go away after a few years. He said he plans to periodically report to Council on the health of any companies we support to evaluate the impact and metrics for this program.
Councilmember Mitchell asked that the City reach out to Morgan State to discuss their experiences with the program, and Mr. Williams said they would do so.
Council came to an agreement to participate in the program and go with option #1, which would provide for the five-year 75% credit for specific high technology development only in the Innovation District and the Research Park. Discussion around funding rental assistance would occur during budget negotiations.
City Clerk Janeen Miller said a public hearing is required and that she would advertise that it would happen on March 8th.
Discussion of a budget amendment ordinance (FY 2022 Budget Amendment #2) for introduction next week to transfer the recovery of lost revenue of $10M from the ARPA allocation
Last month, Treasury issued their final rule for State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF). One of the major changes was simplification of the process of determining the amount of revenue loss by allowing recipients to elect a “standard allowance” of $10 million to spend on government services through the period of performance. Director of Finance Gary Fields explained that taking the standard allowance would allow the City to get the money in a lump sum, which is always better than getting it slowly over time. Since ARPA money transferred to lost revenue can be put toward any government services, it gives the City greater flexibility in the use of ARPA funds. He said it also greatly simplifies the accounting process regarding the funds. Finally, he pointed out that electing to move the $10 million into lost revenue will not limit Council’s ability to address its priorities for ARPA funds. On the contrary, it opens up its options for using those funds.
The Council unanimously approved putting on the February 22nd Council Meeting agenda an Ordinance to amend the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget (FY 2022 Budget Amendment #2) to transfer the recovery of lost revenue of $10M from the ARPA allocation. If the Ordinance passes, it will be followed by a Public Hearing.
Discussion of proposed grants from ARPA funding for College Park’s first due fire stations: Branchville Volunteer Fire Company & Rescue Squad; College Park Volunteer Fire Department; and Berwyn Heights Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad, Inc.
Mr. Fields explained that the grants would come out of the FY22 budget. After Mayor Wojahn confirmed that issuing these grants would not preclude additional ARPA grants to the departments in the future, were Council to decide further support was needed, the Council unanimously voted to put the item on the Feb. 22nd Consent Agenda.
Review of draft resolution to establish the 2022 College Park Redistricting Commission
Assistant City Manager Bill Gardiner introduced the discussion, saying that the Council had already stated its support for forming a Redistricting Commission rather than handling redistricting itself. He said the last two matters staff need guidance on were:
- Does Council wish to require members of the commission to be qualified voters of the City?
Councilmembers and SGA representative Megha Sevalia stated that it would be good for grad students to have the opportunity to serve on the commission. It was pointed out that requiring participants to be registered voters might disqualify some graduate students, because changing one’s voter registration can jeopardize some students’ financial aid. In addition, College Park is home to many non-citizens who are, nonetheless, active and involved in the City. Councilmembers agreed not to require participants to be registered voters and stated that the commission as a whole should reflect the City’s diversity. The Mayor asked that the City advertise broadly that we’re looking for people to serve on the commission. - Does Council wish to issue a directive that a consultant be hired to assist the commission, or does Council wish to leave it to the commission to request the assistance of a consultant if they think they need one?
On the topic of hiring a consultant, Councilmember Kennedy felt strongly that we should do so, saying we should have an unemotional, unconnected person in room. The Mayor thought it best to wait to see what experience the commission was bringing to the table and to allow them the freedom to request a consultant if they think one necessary. Staff will work with the Commission and can offer suggestions for seeking consulting services if they feel the commission will benefit from them. In the end, Council landed on making $50 thousand available in case the commission determines a consultant is needed.
The Council’s decisions regarding the Redistricting Commission will be placed under Action Items on the Feb. 22nd agenda to give residents the opportunity to weigh in.
Some dates to keep in mind:
Council makes appointments by 4/12/22
Commission meets with Council on 4/26/22
Report due from Commission to Council by 9/13/22
Council must finalize redistricting by 11/15/22.
Review of legislation (Possible Special Session to consider time sensitive matters)
Maryland HB259 and SB871 (Accessory Dwelling Unit Authorization)
Assistant City Manager Gardiner says City lobbyists haven’t provided feedback yet. He doesn’t have any assessments. It’s still in committee. Bill wouldn’t advise taking a position now. He could provide pros and cons and hearing dates on March 3rd.
HB1083, County and Municipal Street Lighting Investment Act
Gardiner says Council has supported this in the past. It had a hearing in the Senate on 2/15. The hearing on the House side is on 3/10.
Councilmember Rigg stated that he was surprised by the bill, saying he didn’t know this was a problem.
Gardiner says that legislation was passed in 2007 allowing municipalities to purchase street lights from utilities, but he doesn’t believe that has ever occurred. Since municipalities would often benefit from having control over their own street lights, it’s thought there are roadblocks in place making that difficult which HB1083 is intended to address.
HB 594 State Government MD Reparations Commission – Harriet Tubman Bill
This has a broad scope, might take time for it to pass through the General Assembly. Assistant City Manager Gardiner has a call in with Del. Fischer to see what her intents are with the Bill.
SB275 Labor and Employment – Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program
The House Chair may be supporting it now, but it’s still a big challenge to get it enacted. Counsel Ferguson says the current bill is supposed to make offering such leave easier for businesses. It’s been impossible to get it through the Legislature.
SB528 Climate Solutions Now
This will pass this year in some form.
HB708 Comprehensive Climate Solutions
This bill is a piece of SB528 – both presiding officers are committed to passing the whole package.
HB1057 Prince George’s County – Recreation Authority
This has passed the Prince George’s County House delegation 18-0. M-NCPPC is now fighting it in the Senate. This is for creating a commission that will carve recreation authority for Prince George’s away from M-NCPPC, including M-NCPPC staff that run those programs.
Councilmember Kabir says PG406 is the same bill at county level. The PG County delegation had a hearing and supported it unanimously. He said the bill hasn’t been cross-filed in the Senate. The City pays a lot of money in taxes toward recreation currently handled by M-NCPPC. He’d like to have more data on the impact of this.
Gardiner says there’s a lot of interest in the County in having greater control of recreation and programming. Most counties have control over their own recreation department, but Prince George’s doesn’t. There is the belief that the County could better serve residents if it had direct control.
Both the Mayor and Councilmember Kabir are hesitant to take a position on this either way.
HB103 Property Tax Credit for Disabled Veterans
Councilmember Mitchell asked for an update on this and another property tax credit bill for veterans. Staff will provide an update.
HB537 Homeowner’s Extreme Weather 3 Mitigation and Preparation Grant Program
Councilmember Adams asked that we monitor this income-based grant program that would allow the City to apply for funding from state to offer income-based grants for climate-resilience solutions. He noted that MML is supporting the bill.
Went into special session
The Council voted unanimously to send a letter in support of HB1083, County and Municipal Street Lighting Investment Act.
Came out of special session
Requests for/Status of Future Agenda Items
Councilmember Mitchell said she wants to have future worksession discussion about proper use of the city seal, but the Mayor and Counsel Ferguson stated that a legal opinion might have to be shared and that some issues might have to be handled in closed session. Councilmember Mitchell said she could wait.
Mayor and Councilmember Comments
Stu says we really need to try to do more about the modified vehicles and thanked the resident who testified last week.
Maria pointed out the Route One Corridor Conversation about Lakeland at 2pm on Saturday, 2/26.
Patrick announced that Prince George’s County Municipal Association meets on 2/17, and the April 21st meeting will be in person at City Hall. The topic of the 2/17 meeting is the importance about caring for our own mental health and that of others in our community.
Click here to see the meeting agenda for February 15, 2022
Click here to view the Mayor and Council Regular Meeting held on February 15, 2022
Click here to see the Mayor and Council Work session scheduled for February 22, 2022
The College Park District 2 Digest 