Comments are by Councilmembers Llatetra Brown Esters and Susan Whitney and are not approved or sanctioned by the City of College Park.

Announcements

Hayden Renaghan, SGA Liaison, announced the College Park Cleanup form is up and running and the student organized cleanups are happening. She encouraged councilmembers to share the form with residents.

The city manager did not have any announcement this week

Councilmember Kabir shared information about the cleanup to be held in North College Park on April 16 from 9am – 11am. Supplies will be provided by Public Works and free breakfast and t-shirts will be available to volunteers. 

Councilmember Esters – Thanked those who joined the District 2 Community Forum that she and Councilmember Whitney held on April 9. She also announced the Lakeland Civic Association meeting scheduled for April 14 at 6:30pm. 

Councilmember Mitchell recognized Delegate Joseline Melnyk and Delegate Benjamin Barnes for their leadership appointments to the Health & Government Operations Committee and the Appropriations Committee, respectively. 

Mayor Wojahn acknowledged the attendance of former Councilmember Peter King and Dr. Bernache, Education Advisory Committee (EAC) Chair. 

Amendments to the Agenda

The following items were added to the agenda: 

Request to sign letter of support for Climate Change Action Plan to be submitted to the PG Board of Education – Councilmember Esters

Easter Proclamation – Councilmember Mackie

National Public Health Day – Councilmember Whitney  

Passover Proclamation– Councilmember Mackie 

Dr. Kabir requested that the Commemorative Bench Policy action item be moved to the Consent Agenda. 

Public Comments (Consent or Non-Consent Agenda Items)

Mary King – Next week’s work session will re-introduce the tree canopy discussion. She researched the tree canopy discussion, which began in 2017. When the discussion was initiated, development in the city had started to take off and tax credits were offered to developers. Developers cut down numerous trees, yet they were not held to the same standard as residents will be with the proposed ordinance, which places the burden on the residents. 

Presentations 

Employee of the Year

Jacob Vassaloti was recognized as employee of the year. Mr. Vassaloti was hired on June 14, 2021, as the GIS analyst right after college. He played an integral part of in the development of a Bulk Trash database and has assisted with concrete maintenance and street paving. He works closely with the city engineer to perform traffic investigations. His parents joined him for the recognition. 

Economic Development Report 2022

Michael Williams, Director of Economic Development, introduced his presentation by sharing the economic development webpage, which shows the progress of projects in the City. The data provides information about companies as they apply for permits. He also acknowledged IonQ , a company headquartered in College Park that was recently recognized as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential companies. 

Mr. Williams went on the share a few other notable mentions:

• Deal of the year – City Hall (Moody’s Bond Rating Aa1)
• Most Valuable Deal – Terrapin Row 
• Notable transactions – Southern Gateway, Acquisition of 4704 Calvert Road property, Shop Made in Maryland, Brandywine Trust (Triple AAA rating), and the Hollywood Farmers Market at Hollywood Shopping Center
• Mr. Williams discussed the ARPA Grants offered by the city to individuals and businesses. He indicated the majority of the small business grants have been given to women-owned businesses. Mr. Williams is currently working with Gary Fields, Director of Finance, on compliance reporting to the US Treasury. 

A major business development incentive mentioned by Mr. Williams was the Regional Institution Strategic Enterprise (RISE) Zone, an incentive that offers a 5-year tax credit or rental assistance. He also mentioned the revitalization tax-credit, ARPA business assistance grants, and the Business Assistance and Façade Improvement grants as other ways the City is encouraging economic development. 

Mr. Williams talked about a few businesses we should expect to see in the City soon, including Trader Joe’s which is planned to be a 14,000 sq ft project and Kettle Korn, a small business that will open at the Hollywood Shopping Center. He also mentioned Shop Made in Maryland which is slated to open in fall when students return to campus. 

When discussing the revenues received by the city from businesses, Mr. Williams mentioned both the admission/amusement and property taxes. In his review of City population, Mr. Williams noted we are seeing more graduates stay in the city and become part of the community.

Councilmember Kabir thanked Mr. Williams for his presentation and expressed his appreciation for the economic development information online. He asked Mr. Williams if data about student apartment vacancy rates could be made available. Councilmember Kabir also inquired about economic development opportunities in Hollywood. Mr. Williams acknowledged the councilmember’s comments and shared that 30% of the ARPA funds were to businesses in Hollywood.

Councilmember Mitchell asked about the establishment of a city-wide business roundtable. She acknowledged Councilmember Kabir’s comment about apartment vacancies and indicated that information about apartment vacancy rate could provide an opportunity to talk to management and determine how we can utilize the apartments differently. Councilmember Mitchell also asked if

there had been a focus on identifying small businesses to encourage to locate in the city. 

Councilmember Kennedy asked Mr. Williams about the City’s strategic goal related to attracting small businesses (15%) and the property tax base. She acknowledged that small businesses have barriers. She also mentioned that many people will not be going back downtown to work, due to the pandemic, and are looking for more options close to home.

Councilmember Adams asked about the possibility of FBI relocation to the area and if the City was positioning itself to benefit from that were it to occur. Mr. Williams talked about preparing for spillover. Councilmember Adams also asked how we could bring more walkable commerce to the City and mentioned the need for more social activities, which he considers to be part of economic development. 

Councilmember Esters indicated how she was struck by the data regarding our populations. She said based upon the numbers, it appears that we have more children, more individuals between the ages of 25 – 34 (which may be indicative of more young families), more individuals between 65-85. It appears that we are losing residents between the ages of 45-65. She asked how population data factored into economic development. What is being done to keep those who are here and attract those we are losing?

Councilmember Whitney said that she thinks we’re losing the 45-65 group due to people with high school-aged children choosing to move out of the county. She mentioned a conversation with a resident who would like to stay in College Park, but their children are getting older, and they want them to get a good education. She said she talked to the resident at length about how one can get a good, public education for their children in College Park, and she said a lot of people aren’t aware of those options. She also noted how some city residents are looking to move out of their single-family homes and into a senior-oriented middle-to-high income development in College Park, but no such options exist. She said the city needs to find developers who want to provide housing options that will work for that population.

Councilmember Mitchell reiterated the importance of education and collaborating with the school system to keep people here. 

Councilmember Adams mentioned that we want to consider annexation for some unincorporated areas of Adelphi.  

Consent Agenda 

22-G-62 Approval of Minutes from the February 15, 2022, Work session; the February 22, 2022 Regular Meeting; and the February 22, 2022 Special Session. 

22-G-63 Approval of a letter of support for CB-014-2022 – Accessory Disposable Food Service Ware   

22-G-64 Approval of a three-year contract with VeoRide for Mobility Share Services in substantially the form attached. 

 22-G-65 Approval of an on-call contract for engineering services to Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP in substantially the form attached– Steve Halpern, City Engineer   

 22-G-66 Approval of an on-call contract for engineering services to Charles P. Johnson, and Associates, Inc. in substantially the form attached – Steve Halpern, City Engineer    

22-G-67 Approval of an on-call contract for engineering services to Greenman-Pedersen, Inc.in substantially the form attached – Steve Halpern, City Engineer   

 22-G-68 Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with WSSC to reimburse the City for resurfacing of Edmonston Road due to water main work, and a related amendment to the contract with NZI Construction Corporation to include construction of the Edmonston Road Sidewalk and resurfacing Edmonston Road, in substantially the form attached– Steve Halpern, City Engineer

22-R-07 Approval of a Commemorative Bench Policy – Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works

Action Items

Approval of a change in purpose for the public-school education grant awarded in December 2021 to Paint Branch Elementary School – The school no longer needs support for Chromebooks as they are able to meet those needs through other sources. They wish to instead use the grant to support the school’s Chinese immersion focus through the incorporation of visual artifacts, plants, and student art projects. The EAC approved of the change in purpose. Council approved this request. 

Closed Session

Council met in closed session after the meeting to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice; and to consult with staff, consultants, or other individuals about pending or potential litigation. Mayor and Council received legal advice about an MPIA complaint, discussed the status of a contract dispute, and discussed a settlement agreement. Council did not return to open session after the closed session ended. 

Click here to see the meeting agenda for April 12, 2022

Click here to view the Mayor and Council Regular Meeting held on April 12, 2022

Click here to see the Mayor and Council Work session scheduled for April 19, 2022