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

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ANNOUNCEMENTS/COMMENTS – MAYOR, COUNCIL, STUDENT LIAISON

Councilmember Kabir mentioned the return of the Farmer’s Market to Hollywood Shopping Center on May 6.  Due to the City parade, the market will begin at 1pm.  

Councilmember Esters thanked residents for voting and indicated the next day to vote would be Saturday, May 6 at City Hall.  

Councilmember Mackie said May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and May 2 is National Teachers Day.  She thanked teachers for their work to educate our children.   

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Mr. Young mentioned the City’s upcoming clean-up day, the last of the season, on May 13 from 7:30am – 12pm, which will include bulk trash drop-off.

Mr. Young said that the week of May 2 was National Small Business Week.  He encouraged those who were interested in more information and virtual summits to log on to SBA.gov.

He mentioned the upcoming grand opening of Ruth’s National Kitchen, which will be located in the Astor near Trader Joe’s. Mr. Young mentioned the City’s Parade on May 6 and the elections, on the same date, to be held at City Hall’s1^st floor community room from 10am – 6pm.  

Councilmember Mackie asked about the rescheduled Arbor Day event and Mr. Young confirmed it would be held on Thursday, May 18.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if there were results from the SGA elections. Ms. Graham said that the results would be determined once SGA worked through some current issues.    

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS:

Presentation of Ceremonial Checks to Public Schools Education Grant Recipients: University Park, Berwyn Heights Elementary Schools; Buck Lodge Middle School and College Park Academy.

Ms. Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth and Family Services (YFS) introduced the item and introduced     Dr. Bernache, Chair of the Education Advisory Committee (EAC), who expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to provide funds to the schools.  

Buck Lodge Middle School Principal Kenneth Nance thanked the city for the grant which supports their positive behavior intervention and support program. He said the school’s attendance numbers are very good, given impacts from the pandemic and that academics have also improved as a result of the funding.

Berwyn Height Elementary School Reading Specialist Kathleen Schuster expressed gratitude for the grant, which was used to purchase document cameras that help students improve writing skills, such as how to hold a pencil and spacing between letters.

College Park Academy Student Advocate Bernitta Johnson of thanked Council for the grant which helped to subsidize student participation in the CPA Plus enrichment program, which provides tutors and study time. Due to the grant, 27% of participants have received a subsidy. 

University Park Elementary School Resource Teacher Debra Greene shared her appreciation for the grant which helped to fund multimodal tools such as the Fuzz Ball that has introduced meaningful play for their students.  She also shared the story of a student who had difficulty engaging with his classmates until using the Fuzz Ball.  

Lakeland S.T.A.R.s 2022-2023 Review: Akhila Vishnubhotla, Coordinator for Student Engagement, College Park Scholars, University of Maryland, and students from UMD

Ms. Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth and Family Services (YFS) introduced the presentation from  Ms. Akila Vishnubhotla.  Lakeland S.T.A.R.S. is a tutoring program for students from Paint Branch Elementary who are paired with a University of Maryland student. The main purpose is to aid student learning and expose them to higher education. The program coordinators help to train and schedule the tutors, and YFS helps to coordinate travel and communication with teachers. Free time includes UMD clubs and other activities. During COVID, the program was virtual, which was challenging. As of fall 2022, the program is back in-person.  

Councilmember Esters asked if, given the name of the program, students have learned about the Lakeland Community. Ms. Vishnubhotla said much of the activity has focused on the University of Maryland but thought lessons about the Lakeland community could be incorporated.  

Councilmember Whitney said she would like to see more male tutors. Ms. Vishnubhotla said there were male tutors, although none were part of the presentation.  

Councilmember Riggs thanked the coordinators and tutors for their important work.  

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Kabir made a motion to approve a letter to Mayor Bowser asking that all concerts in DC held on festival grounds maintain their volumes to the festival grounds.  

Motion to move CPCUP to jointly pursue MDOT grant to fund Campus Drive Bike Path and Riverwalk to consent agenda.

The agenda was approved as amended.

CONSENT AGENDA 

23-R-05 Resolution establishing the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) – Erik Valentine, Community Development Planner

23-R-06 Resolution establishing the City Events Advisory Board – Ryna Quinones, Communications and Events Manager

23-G-68 Authorize the purchase and installation of six workstations from Price Modern for City Hall at a cost not to exceed $50,000 to be funded from the CIP Facilities Capital Reserve– Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager

23-G-69 Consideration of a request by the College Park City-University Partnership for the City to jointly pursue MDOT grants to fund the Campus Drive Bike Path and Riverwalk Trail and to approve letters of support for the grant applications. – Erik Valentine, Community

Development Planner, and CPCUP Representative

The Consent Agenda was unanimously approved.

ACTION ITEMS

23-O-05 Introduction of an Ordinance Of The Mayor And Council Of The City Of College Park Amending  City Code Chapter 15 “Boards, Commissions And Committees”, By Deleting Article II, “College Park Recreation Board”, §§ 15-3 Through 15-18, In Its Entirety To Remove The College Park Recreation Board From The City Code And Re-establish By Resolution A City Events Advisory Board For The Purpose As Set Forth In Resolution 23-R-06. The Public Hearing will be held on May 9, 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of College Park City Hall

Councilmember Mackie made the motion to introduce the ordinance. It was seconded by Councilmember Kennedy.

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

None

COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR, COUNCIL, STUDENT LIAISON OR CITY MANAGER

Councilmember Whitney announced recent recognitions by the Committee for the Better Environment, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. for their help with the permaculture garden and the City’s tree giveaway and the Yakovenkos, who have made their home energy autonomous and actively share information about their improvements with others.  

Councilmember Adams mentioned the recent meeting for the Bike Association. He said County Councilmember Eric Olson and Maryland State Senator Roseapepe are looking to have more people involved with the committee.  

Mayor Pro Tm Mitchell mentioned the recent Four Cities Meeting in Greenbelt on Thursday, April 27 attended by councilmembers Adams. Esters, Mackie, and Whitney.  County Council member Eric Olson was present as attendees talked about common initiatives.

Councilmember Rigg mentioned that he, Councilmember Kennedy, and the Mayor Pro Tem met to discuss the SGA Liaison and Deputy Liaison positions. Valerie Graham, current SGA Liaison, informed council that SGA will decide soon.  Rigg also mentioned that basketball will come back to the Calvert Hills School site.  

MEETING ADJOURNED

Click here for the May 2 meeting agenda. Click here to watch the video of the May 2, 2023, meeting. 

Click here to see the agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on May 9, 2023. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated Presentations and Workshop discussions:

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

• The Constant Yield Tax Rate
• 23-O-03 An Ordinance Of The Mayor And Council Of The City Of College Park To Adopt The Fiscal Year 2024 General Fund, ARPA Allocation Fund, Capital Projects Fund And Debt Service Fund Budgets Of The City Of College Park 

ACTION ITEMS 

• 23-G-71 Consideration of a 4-hour parking limit in a specified area of Branchville Road and consideration of traffic calming measures near the VFW located at 5051 Branchville Road 
• 23-G-73 Discussion and possible action on a financial incentive from ARPA grant funds for small businesses