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

Call to order

Mayor Wojahn called the meeting to order with a moment of silence for the shooting events throughout the country that occurred over the weekend of May 13th.

City Manager’s Report 

City Manager Kenny Young notified the Mayor and Council that in order to keep the Hollywood Farmers Market operational, it needs to be run and insured by the City. He said an item for Council’s consideration of creating two seasonal positions to run the market, along with covering insurance, would be on next week’s agenda.

Amendments to the agenda

Councilmember Mitchell made a motion to send letters of support to the municipalities that experienced gun violence during the weekend of May 13th in Buffalo, New York; Laguna Woods, California; and Houston, Texas. 

Recognition of the SGA Liaison and Deputy Liaison

Mayor Wojahn expressed his appreciation for the work of SGA Liaison Megha Sevalia and Deputy SGA Liaison Hayden Renaghan. He indicated they both took the ground running in the midst of the pandemic, provided information about neighborhood cleanups, and ensured student voices were heard.

Megha Sevalia thanked the staff and members of Council for their assistance throughout the year. Hayden Renaghan echoed Sevalia’s statements, acknowledged the recent article about her in the College Park Here and Now and indicated she looked forward to her work with SGA next year in a different capacity. 

Discussion of FY23 Strategic Plan One-Year Objective (Guests, Jeff Parks, and Jessica Brown from PBI)

Assistant City Manager Bill Gardiner introduced the discussion about the strategic plan. He acknowledged the City is one-year into the current strategic plan and the purpose of the discussion would be to review the strategic plan and determine what areas we would like to focus on in the upcoming year. He introduced Jessica Brown, who attended the meeting in person and facilitated the rest of the discussion. 

City Manager Kenny Young highlighted City accomplishments of the past year as outlined within the following OKRs (Objective/Key Results) the City decided to focus on:

• OKR 1 – Innovate and improve City services to enhance quality, value, and accessibility of all our residents. 
  • Accela program on target for July 1, 2022
  • Move into new City Hall

• OKR 2 – Celebrate our history and diversity to highlight our unique character and build on the strengths of our community. 
  • First meeting of Restorative Justice Commission
  •  Hired Race and Equity Officer
  • Held events including Winter Wonderland, Egg-ceptional Egg Hunt Egg-stravaganza, and first Friday Night Live

• OKR 3 – Preserve and enrich our environment and natural beauty to attract people and sustain our City’s future. 
  • Reducing the amount of waste delivered to landfill
  • Moved tree ordinance forward

• OKR 4 –Enhance safety and quality of enforcement to advance our reputation as a safe city.
  •  Filled Code supervisor position
  • Worked with Chief Keleti of PGPD to get more diverse contract officers in the City (increased minority representation by 25%)

• OKR 8 –Foster and sustain an affordable and stable City for individuals and families to live, work, play and retire here. 
  •  $3 million allocated for community preservation initiative   
  • An additional $50,000 allocated for homeownership grant program

• OKR10 – Cultivate an empowered and collaborative organizational culture that is high-performing, values employees, and is known for excellence. 
  • Ongoing implementation of leadership training sessions, employee wellness program, and equity and social justice training

Although there was not a specific focus on the following OKRs during the past year, progress in these areas has been made:

• OKR 5 – Plan and facilitate strategic economic development and smart growth to support a variety of businesses that can thrive and serve the diverse needs of our community. 
  • Significant ARPA $ provided to small businesses

• OKR 6 – Inspire and nurture a welcoming and inclusive community that encourages and embodies engagement, collaboration, and equity throughout our City. 
  • Held live events – some of which are specifically designed to target diverse members of our community 

• OKR 7- Expand and promote alternative transportation approaches to build a more interconnected and accessible City for all. 
  • Significant investment in new sidewalks
  • Renewal/Negotiation of VeoRide Contract

• OKR 9 – Advocate for improving the quality of education and learning opportunities for our residents’ and community’s future. 
  •  Literacy Lab Pilot Program 

Dr. Brown facilitated an exercise with Mayor and Council to identify Year 2 priorities. As a result of the exercise the following OKRs were identified as priorities for the upcoming year by Council:

OKR 5 – Plan and facilitate strategic economic development and smart growth to support a variety of businesses that can thrive and serve the diverse needs of our community. 

OKR 7 – Expand and promote alternative transportation approaches to build a more interconnected and accessible City for all. 

OKR 8 – Foster and sustain an affordable and stable City for individuals and families to live, work, play and retire here.

OKR 9 – OKR 9 – Advocate for improving the quality of education and learning opportunities for our residents’ and community’s future. 

SGA Liaison and Deputy SGA Liaison provided input to this exercise separately. They identified the following priorities, in this order:  OKR 8 (affordability), OKR 4 (safety), then OKR 3 (sustainability)

Mr. Young indicated he will meet with his leadership team to discuss objectives and follow up with Council later in June. He said the team has already been looking at resources to help determine strategy moving forward. 

Mr. Gardiner indicated the leadership team will determine one-year objectives and go back to their respective departments to identify specific objectives. 

Preliminary Plan of Subdivision Development for Terrapin House

Director of Planning Terry Schum and Senior Planner Miriam Bader introduced the discussion. Ms. Bader shared information about the previous review and acceptance of the Conceptual Site Plan (CSP) for the project by Council. She explained the proposed project will develop the parcel of land based upon the former zoning provisions. The proposal is to combine properties and create one parcel. There are no wetlands or flood plains in the designated area. Based upon the review of adequate facilities, schools will be over capacity, but this is no longer a criterion for subdivisions.

The applicant must provide improvements. There are two historic structures on the parcel including a house located at 4400 Hartwick Road built in 1915 and Yale House build in 1950. The Historic Preservation Commission was also meeting on May 17 to discuss the preservation of these properties. City staff is recommending relocation of the home located at 4400 Hartwick Road.

Mr. Tedesco, lawyer representing the developer, referenced the presentation of the Conceptual Site Plan in March 2021. He added that the Detailed Site Plan (DSP) has been approved by the County with conditions. 

The Mayor asked if there were any concerns about the conditions. Mr. Tedesco indicated that there were no concerns and that they have worked closely with staff. The Conceptual Site Plan did not include a lot of detail, so City staff provided input. 

Ms. Schum shared those factors contributing to traffic, use of police, use of fire fighters, and that use of schools is no longer a condition of approval for DSP. Developers are now required to pay a surcharge and the Board of Education will determine if additional schools are needed. 

Councilmember Rigg asked what the developer is trying to achieve with the projects, and what are they planning for the small, minority-owned businesses that currently exist there. Mr. Tedesco indicated the developer is working to accommodate the tenants. He acknowledged there are leases that will need to play out, but they do not have anything earmarked. 

Councilmember Rigg asked about the rebuff of the pocket park recommended by staff. Mr. Tedesco indicated the proposed development will provide private amenities. Park and Planning asked that space be dedicated to public usage. Mr. Tedesco said the developer has every intention to abide by the recommendation of park space, although it will not be dedicated. Mr. Tedesco referenced a plan to dedicate a portion of frontage on Hartwick to help save the existing trees. 

Councilmember Adams thanked the developers for what is proposed and asked about the four feet of right- of-way and frontage and exactly where that would be. Mr. Tedesco said it would be four feet from the existing property line. Councilmember Adams asked about bicycle parking on site. Mr. Tedesco expressed a commitment to provide what is required by the Bicycle Pedestrian Impact Statement (BPIS). Councilmember Adams asked about the process taken to relocate the single-family home. Mr. Tedesco indicated that consideration is being given to whether or not the home would survive movement. He indicated if the City identifies a location at no cost to the owner, it would be moved. Councilmember Adams asked when the feasibility analysis on moving the house would be available, and Mr. Tedesco said either with or prior to the approval of the Detailed Site Plan (DSP). 

Councilmember Adams asked about stormwater management. A member of the development team explained that completion of a stormwater management concept plan is part of the approval process. They are required to have a certain level of treatment plus underground flood management. The plan, he said, would improve upon existing stormwater management, aiming to provide the same level of management that would be achieved were a healthy meadow to exist on the site. Councilmember Adams asked whether the complete project would be the five-story building proposed or if it would be increased to six stories. Mr. Tedesco indicated there is every intention to maintain a five-story building. 

Councilmember Mackie asked the developer to consider all they can to save as many trees as possible and to consider the city has a shortage of affordable housing and grad student housing. 

Councilmember Kabir mentioned the concern about rezoning of the development during the preliminary site plan and expressed concerns about saving the historic home. Councilmember Kabir went on to ask about the existing businesses and if they are aware of the proposed development. He also asked that consideration be given to maintaining these businesses. Mr. Tedesco indicated that retaining the businesses would be in the developers’ best interest. 

Mayor Wojahn expressed concern about the transition period of construction and interest in aiding the businesses impacted.

Councilmember Whitney asked for an overview of what would occur to the small business owners given that they would break ground prior to 2025. Mr. Greenberg indicated that they would not be able to share details since they do not have a timeline. She then asked about maintaining the existing trees and possibly moving the trees to another area identified in the City. Mr. Tedesco says this is the first time that has been offered and if they are working to move a house, why wouldn’t they work with the City to move trees. 

Application for 5G Antenna on Rhode Island Ave at Edgewood Road

City Attorney Suellen Ferguson introduced this discussion of an application for 5G antenna. She provided background indicating that the FCC adopted its Declaratory Ruling on Third Report Order on the Wireless and Wireline in September 2018. The ruling limits the City’s ability to control placement of small wireless facilities in rights-of-way. The ruling also imposes the requirement to respond in sixty days to requests for co-location of a pole and ninety days to respond to a request for a new pole. According to Ms. Ferguson, Mayor and Council approved a revised license agreement and application process for small cell installations in December 2020. Based upon FCC ruling, applications for small cell antennas cannot be prohibited from going in the right-of-way, providing such installations abide by City ordinances. Mayor and Council can bring this to public hearing based upon city code. This is the first application for a 5G antenna in the city, and. James Crane, a representative from Columbia Telecommunications Corporation (CTC), said at least two more applications are expected in the vicinity of this one, saying they would probably be at least 150 feet apart. 

Ms. Ferguson explained this would be in a commercial area, which is where the City has encouraged such facilities to be, and will be co-located, meaning attached to a support structure owned or controlled by a third party, which the City also prefers. She went on to share that the City is requiring of Verizon a pre-construction site survey and certification of compliance with the City’s noise ordinance. 

Councilmember Kabir asked where the pole will be located, if there would be one pole, and the antenna would make noise. Mr. Crane said some can make noise because of how they’re powered but that such noise would have to fall below city ordinances.

Councilmember Kennedy asked what control we have. Ms. Ferguson explained the City cannot prevent a company from coming into the right-of-way if they follow the rules adopted. Councilmember Kennedy stressed the importance of letting residents know that this is happening, since it’s the first one in the city, advocating for a public hearing. Ms. Ferguson reiterated the City does not have a lot of freedom in what is adopted. She indicated a public hearing would only be to hear public comment. 

Mayor Wojahn said he would want to clarify the purpose of a public hearing. We do not want to create false hope among those participating when we have no control. Mr. Crane said the public hearing may provide information that could be useful. 

Councilmember Mitchell indicated she has heard from residents who have expressed health concerns and said that she has directed them to National Institute of Health (NIH) for more information. 

 Councilmember Mackie asked if a consideration has given to hurricanes and stressed the importance of informing residents about the pending installation.

Councilmember Mitchell suggested that we hold a public hearing for the first application and then determine what we do moving forward. 

Councilmember Esters suggested that rather than a hearing, that a presentation be done. She went on to say if we do not intend to conduct a hearing for each application it would not make sense to do it for one. 

Mayor Wojahn asked whether the presentation should be at a separate meeting or part of a work session. The Council agreed to hold the presentation as a freestanding meeting outside of the Council’s normal meeting schedule.

 Future Agenda Items

Councilmember Mitchell indicated that there are students from other institutions who are living in student housing and causing concern. Mr. Young acknowledged incidents in Mazza Galleria.

Councilmember Adams indicated he would like to bring forth the discussion on differential tax rates for vacant and blighted properties. 

Meeting Adjourned

Click here to see the meeting agenda for May 17, 2022

Click here to view the Mayor and Council Work Session held on May 17, 2022

Click here to see the Mayor and Council Regular Meeting agenda scheduled for May 24, 2022