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

ANNOUNCEMENTS/COMMENTS – MAYOR, COUNCIL, STUDENT LIAISON 

Councilmember Kabir thanked Officer Lobin for his assistance with recent car-related crimes. 

Councilmember Esters acknowledged the start of Women’s History Month.

Councilmember Adams thanked staff for their work coordinating the Edmonston Sidewalk Project Community Meeting.  

SGA Liaison Andriessens mentioned the day of service and acknowledgement of Officer Richard Collins III, the Bowie State University student killed on University of Maryland campus.  

City Manager’s Report

The City Manager had no comments.

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA 

Motion and second to add closed session to the agenda.  

PUBLIC COMMENT on CONSENT AGENDA and NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Ethan Sweep, Community Liaison for Congressman Glenn Ivey, said Ivey’s office wants to help municipalities. He announced the release of their grants newsletter and encouraged councilmembers to email, call or visit their district office in Largo anytime. 

CONSENT AGENDA 

Click here to see meeting agenda.

23-G-41 Award of Miscellaneous Concrete Maintenance and Asphalt Resurfacing Contract CP-24-01 to NZI Construction Corporation, in the amount of $800,000, riding the competitively-bid Prince George’s County Asphalt Resurfacing and Related Roadway Improvements Contract # 932-H(F)D – Steve Halpern, City Engineer

23-G-24 Approval of contract price of $103,800 for Contract SP Arch agreement for College Park Woods Clubhouse architect and engineering services, to include structural design, permitting and contract administration

The Consent Agenda was unanimously approved. 

PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS 

Discussion of amendments to the City Zoning Chapter to conform to the new County ordinance = Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney and Terry Schum Director of Planning 

Ms. Ferguson said the City needs to make changes to its ordinances in response to the new county zoning requirements that went into effect in April 2022. City codes cannot be less stringent than the county codes, but they can be more stringent. Until changes are codified, we will need to follow the county’s zoning ordinances. Ms. Schum said the county fence code has become less restrictive in some ways (side yards on corners no longer considered front yards) and more restrictive in others (Chain link fencing no longer allowed). We may maintain our current city code that is more restrictive than the county regarding side yards, but our code has to be changed to reflect that chain link fencing is no longer allowed. The City Planning Department is still combing through what other changes might be needed.

Councilmember Rigg said the variance decisions look more stringent and asked if it will be more difficult for residents to receive variances. Ms. Schum indicated that the city’s ability to have some control in the variance process has made it easier, but the new zoning requirements will make it more difficult.  

Councilmember Kabir said some of the provisions in our code were more restrictive than the county and asked if we need to make changes. 

Ms. Ferguson said there are other changes to the County zoning requirements that will not be in the City code. For instance, the City did have some regulations regarding parking that the county did not.  These changes will need to come to Council for review. 

Councilmember Adams asked to confirm if zoning we were discussion was only residential. Ms. Schum said that was correct.    

Councilmember Whitney said she thought the change from defining a side yard as a front yard for corner lots was a good, saying it would help homeowners. Ms. Schum agreed.

Discussion and possible action on legislation (There is a possibility that the Council will vote on time sensitive matters) 

Mr. Gardiner, Assistant City Manager, spoke of the work that has been done to support upcoming legislation. He mentioned the upcoming hearing on Thursday, March 2 for HB1130/SB229 related to noise abatement monitoring systems, saying many have signed up to testify. He also mentioned hearings to be held the week of March 6, including  HB1209 on 3/8 and SB813/HB892 on 3/9.

Councilmember Mackie asked Council to consider supporting SB407/HB848 next week. She said the bill would create a potable reuse pilot program for drinking water, saying Maryland is behind other states on water reuse.

Councilmember Whitney motioned for legislation SB590 – Reclaim Renewable Energy Act.  Todd Larsen, outside of his role as Chair of the Committee for a Better Environment, asked Council to support this Maryland Sierra Club-supported bill. Mr. Gardiner said the bill was in line with other environmental stands Council has taken, saying it will eliminate what peoples see as mistakes, like allowing energy created by trash incineration to be counted as renewable.

 Councilmember Whitney also asked Council to consider supporting a series of bills aimed at modernizing Maryland’s mental health care system. Councilmember Rigg asked if the package of bills mentioned by Councilmember Whitney aligned with our strategic plan and mentioned concerns about staff bandwidth. He suggested both delving into the bill to understand exactly what aligns with the City’s mission to determine whether to support and checking with Youth, Family & Senior Services Director Kiaisha Barber to see if certain bills would particularly benefit College Park. Councilmember Whitney agreed with that plan of action. Councilmember Adams said that SB534, Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2023, had unanimous support in committee.  

Councilmember Rigg shared the discussion at the Maryland Municipal League Legislative Committee for HB979 sponsored by Delegate Terrasa. The bill would require political candidates to report financial donations and disbursements. MML opposed it. Rigg opposed the opposition. He explained it is a standard in College Park that other municipalities should follow.  

REQUESTS FOR/STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 

None.  

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

None.

COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR, COUNCIL OR CITY MANAGER 

Councilmember Whitney attended the most recent Prince George’s County Municipal Association (PGCMA) meeting on February 23 and said the meeting went well. She mentioned the upcoming meeting with County Executive Alsobrooks, and that PGCMA is asking each municipality to bring forth one issue.  

Councilmember Mackie said COG’s Chesapeake Bay committee has been bombarded by bills about the environment. She expressed her gratitude to the committee for their work researching information. She mentioned her focus on the City OKR on education and that she’s attended an Education Advisory Committee meeting. She acknowledged their work in providing educational opportunities and said they would be coming before Mayor and Council in the future.  

ADJOURN 

CLOSED SESSION AFTER THE MEETING 

Pursuant to the Maryland Annotated Code, General Provisions Article, § 3-305, the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park are providing notice that they will meet in a Closed Session after this meeting to consider:  

1. To discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals; and 
2. To consult with counsel to obtain legal advice.

Click here to watch the video of the February 28, 2023 meeting. 

Click here to see the agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on March 7, 2023. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following Presentations and Workshop discussions:

• Consideration of the Board of Elections Supervisors recommendations for the Special Election for the office of Mayor
• Discussion and possible approval of the allocation of a $200,000 grant of ARPA lost revenue funds to the Iron Rooster restaurant to aid the hospitality industry in College Park, subject to Iron Rooster Hospitality, LLC entering into a Beneficiary Agreement.  
• Discussion and possible action on legislation