The University of Maryland Police Department is excited to reembark upon its Citizen’s Police Academy starting in September 2023. The Citizen’s Police Academy is geared towards building and formulating lasting relationships between program participants and the University of Maryland Police and its College Park community, with the ultimate goal of reducing crime and achieving the best police service in the College Park community. The program will give people an inside look at the values, philosophies, and operations of the police agency, while at the same time serving as an open forum for questions, discussion, and the exchange of ideas. Both participants and agency personnel will be better able to dispel concerns and misconceptions, improving police and community rapport. This will be a twelve (12) week academy which will begin on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 and close with a graduation ceremony on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Classes will begin at 6:00 pm each Tuesday night and end at 9:00 pm. During these twelve weeks there will be a variety of classroom training and highlights of what our agency does on a daily basis.

The University of Maryland and Prince George’s County Public Schools invite you to Estudios Universitarios a su Alcance (College Access is At Your Reach) to be held on Saturday, September 23 from 9 to 1:30pm at Edward St. John Building.  It is in Spanish and for non-Spanish speakers they will have interpretation services.  

The workshop is designed for parents to understand the process of advancing their kids’ education and for their kids to know what they need to do to make their education goals a reality.  This is another good setting to showcase opportunities on workforce development, apprenticeship programs, and more.  Service providers are also welcome to register for a table.

To register, go to:  go.umd.edu/estudios-2023

To be part of the College Fair and Expo, please register at: Form: https://go.umd.edu/exhibit-estudios.

Gather with the Lakeland Community at Lakeland Neighborhood Park for this family-friendly event from noon to 7 next Saturday, August 26th! BYO food, drinks, coolers, chairs & pop-up tents.

Grocery Shopping Tips To Help Buy What You Need and Avoid Food Waste

According to Statista, Americans averaged 1.6 grocery shopping trips per week in 2022. Additionally, the majority (95%) will cook a meal at home at least once a week. Although we will cook at home, we are prone to cook enough to create leftovers. Unfortunately, these leftovers usually end up in the trash, along with other foods with a limited shelf-life. Avoiding food waste can begin with your grocery shopping trip. Here are a few tips to help you stay on track when grocery shopping:

1. Be sure to eat something before you go grocery shopping. You are more likely to overconsume in the grocery store when you are hungry.
   
2. Keep a running grocery list. Make sure to include the quantity needed. Consider which and how many per item you or your family actually eat on a weekly basis. Which items do you regularly replenish? Which items linger in your fridge? It’s great to want your kids to eat more apples, but if they aren’t tempted, it’s a waste to continue to buy that item. Always check your fridge and pantry when readying your list. At a minimum, your grocery list should be based on the items you are using regularly. If you want to add to your list, ask yourself who is eating the item or how will this item be used? If you can’t put your finger on an answer, it may not be a good addition. Download the EPA’s Smart Shopping guide to get started, https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-02/documents/smart_shopping_ftgtw_2_1_2016_pubnumberadded_508_v2.pdf
   
3. How many people are you cooking for? Try meal planning. Planning a few meals each week will help you to look at who will be home for breakfast, lunch, or dinner in order to purchase a list of ingredients you will actually use.
   
4. Be an educated consumer. Learn more about the food longevity, date labels and what it all means. Most date labels are not based on science. Those labels are created by the manufacturer and are more about taste and quality than about spoilage and risk. To learn more, check out this article from the USDA on what to consider before tossing food, https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2013/06/27/you-toss-food-wait-check-it-out and this article about date labels from the FDA, https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/confused-date-labels-packaged-foods.
   
5. If you still find yourself with a few leftovers or uneaten items, make use of your local food waste programs. You can sign up for the curbside food scrap collection which allows you to place food scraps out in designated containers once a week. For more information, visit https://www.collegeparkmd.gov/foodscraps.

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 Hew mentioned the upcoming backpack give-away sponsored by the Al-Huda School on August 6^th.

Councilmember Esters thanked staff from Maryland National Capital Park and Planning (M-NCPPC) for a recent meeting with residents of the Berwyn community to discuss an issue related to trees in their neighborhood park and working toward a solution.  

Councilmember Whitney thanked city staff and the neighborhoods that sponsored events for National Night Out.  She also encouraged everyone to watch nbc4’s interview with about the storm drain mural program organized by the Committee for a Better Environment (CBE) that aired that morning. She said she would share the link on the College Park District 2 Digest. Mayor Kabir thanked staff for their work on National Night Out.  

Councilmember Mitchell thanked the Lakeland community for making her feel like it is her second home. 

Councilmember Mackie reminded everyone to submit projects for Good Neighbor Day.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Mr. Young introduced Jenn Bryce the new events volunteer coordinator.  He also mentioned there were a number of features that have been added to the city website to improve the experience, including a chat bot. He said there had been a soft launch for College Park Connect, the city’s new reporting system.  According to Mr. Young, the system includes all of the features to enable residents to report concerns, and it should lessen the duplication of effort.  

Councilmember Mitchell mentioned DEI training with Mayor and Council some months ago.  She wanted to ensure that as we do policy work, we do so through a DEI lens.  Mr. Young said there will be work with the DEI officer to begin to review policies through the DEI lens. 

 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Former Councilmember Maxine Gross

PRESENTATIONS

A. Presentation by University of Maryland on UMD Master Plan and other allied items – Carlo Colella, Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer and Dannielle Glaros, Assistant Vice President of Administration 

Vice President Colella introduced the presentation and recognized Mr. Young for his participation on the steering committee. There has been work on this for a while which will be brought to the University System of Maryland.  He said the primary focus of the plan was on campus but the connection between the university and the community was important.  The university’s strategic plan, Fearlessly Forward, include the following pillars: 

• Reimagining learning, 
• Partnering for the public good, 
• Taking on grand challenges, 
• Investing in people and communities.  

There has been emphasis on putting people first. 

Kris Phillips, Facilities Planning Director, said the University has been working on the plan for over 18 months. Over 1000 people were involved throughout the process and over 100 meetings have been held. He said planning has been in phases that included assessment, draft plan development, and final plan approval. There was one major question to answer during the process– how to create a connected core on campus?

The plan seeks to do the following:

• Bridge campus
• Create better balance for open spaces – proposal to build a lawn near the student union, and an Innovation Walk.
• Connect campus communities – redeveloping the north part of the campus and then the south.
• Support building Terrapin Fields of Champions – move inner sports fields to the north on currently pervious surfaces; reconsider the golf course, retaining 18 holes but making them more compact.
• Connecting campus framework – considering a complete structure for accessibility, consider ways to capitalize on the reconstruction on Route 1 and the Purple Line, and creating an outer loop and internal loop.

Near-term plans can happen within 10 years, long-term plans are eventual.  

Rossborough Lane will become a major entrance to campus; Creation of a wellness loop (5k loop)

The University’s goal is to be decarbonized by 2035.

There are other factors that affect campus planning like Route 1 construction and Purple Line completion.  

Councilmember Esters thanked VP Colella and Mr. Phillips for their presentation and appreciated the focus on mobility and accessibility.  She noted she did not see any plans for new student housing construction on campus and did acknowledge plans for renovation of existing housing. She asked if there are plans to increase density through their renovations to help address student housing affordability.  

VP Colella mentioned the renovation for Leonardtown Housing for graduate students and referenced the plan for 796 beds. He said the renovations will modernize outdated facilities. He added that the University is not looking for a significant increase in enrollment moving forward.  

Councilmember Whitney asked if there was a concerted campaign to encourage students not to bring their cars. VP Colella said that UMD already encourages students not to bring cars – existing transportation system, the parking fee for students living on campus is more expensive, hopefully disincentivizing cars.

Councilmember Mitchell asked for the percentage of out-of-state versus in-state students. She also asked about the UMD Golf course. VP Colella said the campus golf course is about 200 acres and is currently used for passive and active usage. They would like to some of the land for outdoor recreational needs in addition to reconfiguring the 18-hole course. Councilmember Mitchell asked for a copy of the presentation. A copy of the presentation will be provided. The plan will be presented to the Board of Regents in September.

Councilmember Adams appreciated the focus on open space and green space and the incorporation of stormwater management. He asked about the Discovery Point District, which he believes all people will want to visit. There is a disconnect between that area and downtown. He said he would like to see more of a connection.  

Vice President Colella said he was proud of the work that has been done to improve Baltimore Ave and agrees with Councilmember Adams.  

Councilmember Mackie said she appreciated the idea of making the campus more walkable and accessible and is focused on the importance of safety. She said she was encouraged to see UMD’s environmental efforts.  She said that in District 4 the golf course is always a hot-button topic. Colella acknowledged the city’s environmental amenities and is working to share that with members of the campus community. Kris Philipps mentioned the $3 million stream restoration funding that will be used to enhance the stream areas.  

Mayor Kabir asked if the university has plans to increase the student population. VP Colella reiterated there is no intentional plan to grow.  

SGA Liaison Mirani said students have been talking about the highly publicized delay for the purple line and asked if there was knowledge about the completion date. VP Colella said the university has been hesitant to put out statements they are not completely certain of. However, he did say he asked Secretary Wiedefeld to prioritize the work that will be done on campus. VP Colella would like to under-promise and over-deliver.  

Mayor Kabir asked when the work at Rossborough Lane and Route One will be completed. VP Colella said work is being done day and night. Before students return, they will go back to only overnight and early morning work. The road will go back to 2 lanes in both directions in early August.   

B. 2023 Quarterly Financial Presentation – Gary Fields, Director of Finance 4^th Quarter of FY 2023 (unaudited) through August 31 that relate to 2023.

According to Mr. Fields, revenues are all over the place, but they average out to 99.997% of what was budgeted.  He explained there are 75line items that make up revenues.  

Property tax is down – primarily related to tax appeals and there may be some delinquencies. He will be checking with the county to verify. Fines and Fees, Licenses and Permits are underperforming, and speed camera revenue is not where expected. Mr. Fields explained that Lost revenue recovery is not a real revenue line- it is an appropriation of the unused portion of ARPA funding. When discussing expenses, he explained that the overage in Public Services is related to a catch-up in billing from FY22 contract police and mileage not billed until FY23.   The accrual of income, amusement, and hotel tax is looking good.  The city manager costs are slightly over budget due to travel; City Attorney is under budget; Finance is at budget and Boards and Commissions is higher due to the recent special election.   

Councilmember Mitchell asked about personal property taxes and mentioned the appeals of property assessments. She asked the timeline and when the city would be notified. Mr. Fields said the city gets the assessment information in February. Councilmember Mitchell asked about the contract police – do we ever get an increase based on the differential? Mr. Young said Contract police do not fall within the consideration for differential. We do get consideration for the Fire Department, but we can go back to inquire.  

Councilmember Adams asked if commercial properties are reassessed every three years like residential properties. Mr. Fields confirmed that commercial properties are assessed every three years.  

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS 

Carol Nezzo, College Park Resident, expressed her gratitude for Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) helping  with tasks.  She said she appreciates the assistance.  No Mow April is great. NHN helped her with forms and helped bring her home from the hospital. She’s happy to hear the city is working with Habitat for Humanity. She thinks a group should work closely with NHN but focus their attention on working one-on-one with individuals. 

CONSENT AGENDA 

23-G-113 Approval of revisions to the Mayor and Council’s Rules and Procedures (6-month follow-up from the January 31st meeting) –Janeen S Miller, City Clerk

23-G-114 Approval of minutes from the June 6, 2023; June 13, 2023; July 11, 2023; and the July 18, 2023, meeting

23-G-117 Approval of an application for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Community Parks and Playgrounds Program grant for a new play structure for 5–12 year olds at the Calvert Hills playground – Rakhmel Rafi, Grants Coordinator

The Consent Agenda passes unanimously.

 PUBLIC HEARING

A. Presentation of background and Public Hearing on 23-O-07, an Ordinance to amend City Code Chapter 184-18 and 184-24 and Chapter 110-1 to update the hourly parking rate to $2 and reflect that bills and coins will no longer be accepted as payment for parking meters; and Chapter 110-1 (referencing 151-4) to eliminate reference to the monthly parking programs in the downtown garage and add a reference to the St. Andrew’s parking lot permits. Following the Public Hearing, Council will discuss the Ordinance but will not take action at this meeting.

Director of Public Worjks Bob Ryan introduced the hearing. He said the changes reflect the current changes from $1 per hours to $2 an hour and the change to a cashless system.  Notice to vendor in November. Two vendors were ready to go live.  One vendor was not ready to go live, contract was not renewed by parent company.  Parent company was taken over as of July 7.  The amendment would reflect the update to sections of the code. 

Councilmember Adams asked clarifying questions about the changes for the parking garage and the shopping center and asked if there were changes to the pay station. He stated that the garage and the street are operated and owned by the City and asked about the private lots and any contracts that exist. 

Mr. Young said the city does have contracts with the private parking lots. The city pays for 7.5 FTE parking enforcement employees. The shopping centers and the vendors do not pay the city anything for parking. Two-thirds of parking revenues goes to support city operations and one-third goes to pay down the cost of the City parking garage, which has a remaining debt. He went on to say the City, the University, and the Hotel all use different parking apps. A major issue is the management of private lots. The developers were having issues managing the lots and the City took it on back in 1986. We have had a number of additional costs associated with management of lots. More cleaning costs and additional signage have been necessary. Vendors in the shopping centers have complained that construction workers had been filling the lots such that patrons had nowhere to park. Increasing the rates has put an end to that. In the Willard Lot you can pay $1 for 30 minutes, it is not $2. He said parking expenses far exceed revenues. There are areas and times where people can park for free, in the evening and during the summer. In the past, there were issues with collecting money from the meters.  

Bob Ryan, Director of Public Services, said parking in the garage for first hour is always free.  We no longer oversee the parking areas near the Little Blue Hen.  

Councilmember Esters asked about options for those who do not want to use a credit card or debit card for parking or who do not have credit cards. Mr. Ryan said there would be an option use pay via smart phone. Councilmember Ester added that individuals without a credit/debit card may not have a smart phone. 

David Dorsch, College Park resident –  when he first came into the community there was free parking for residents. He suggested that the city provide parking permits for individuals and seniors to have a special permit that will allow folks to park in various areas. 

John Payne, College Park resident – urged the Mayor and Council to consider the cost to residents. The City should be able to find a way to reduce the negative impact on residents. There should be a way for short-term parking for city residents. He said most license plates are already in the system, so that could be a way to identify residents.  

Ruth White, College Park resident – Says this can be remedied by reverting back to the previous system.  

Michelle Laquaris, College park resident – there are a number of residents who do not have credit cards, which makes this an equity issue, not just a College Park issue. If we cannot do it equitably, the city should back out of this and allow the developers to manage it.  

James Garvin, College Park resident – seeking relief on the subject matter.  

Non-esident of college park – it is a challenge of equity and inclusion.  Many people are going to pick up food or drink.  Asked for 1^st hour to be free.  

Stephanie Stullich, College Park resident – uproar in community about the rate increase and the hassle of using an app or a credit card.  The cost of the armored cars seems negligible. Parking fees help people determine where to shop. Brick and Mortar retail is struggling. People will shop with their feet and go elsewhere. The City does not need the revenue. Asked the city to lay out the specific cost associated with parking enforcement for meters versus the rest of the city. This change was not transparent.  

Jacob Hernandez, College Park resident – has a lot to do with inclusion with some of our more vulnerable residents. Newly immigrated residents may not have bank accounts since you need a  a social security number. There is a lack of handicapped parking. The CVS has handicapped parking, but it is not accessible. Feels it is a matter of communication.

Anna Lee, vendor – feels that the merchants have been ignored since the change occurred. This is negatively impacting residents and patrons. Patrons are having difficulty with the process. Businesses are being blamed for the issues and are losing customers. There is a need for a plan and resolution.  

Request from Councilmember Kennedy move the work session topic up for discussion.  Approved by Council.    

Councilmember Kennedy asked for clarification on what is the current minimum amount that someone can pay to park.

Jim Miller, Parking Enforcement Manager, said currently, with credit/debit card, single space smart meters, you can pay $1 for ½ hour. The pay stations require a minimum of one hour. They’re requesting a software update to allow for half hour minimum change at pay stations, and the City would pay the 25-cent credit card fee on the back end. He said there is a 35 cent convenience fee assessed by any mobile app provider.  

Councilmember Hew asked about the fees that individuals are paying.  Jim Miller indicated that the city is paying the .25 transaction fee.  

Bob Ryan said anyone who has a handicapped parking permit can park for free for double the parking limit. He also pointed out that only a third of College Park residents have their plates registered in the City’s parking system.  

Councilmember Adams said he’d like to see the Willard and Curtis lots come to the city to talk about a plan to renegotiate. We are hearing the need for a reasonable cost for a quick visit. Can we see if there is a tiered rate? Can we make the first 15 minutes free? 

Jim Miller said there is a hefty labor cost to allow for 15 minutes free, saying it requires constant enforcement.  

Councilmember Kennedy said we should identify dedicated free space for free 15 min parking.  We do have 15-minute free parking space next to Ledo’s. Mr. Young said the City made a an arrangement with Ledo’s to offer 2 spots with 15-minute free parking, and Ledo’s monitors those spots, not the City

Councilmember Mitchell asked if we created a parking district through the Downtown College Park Merchants Association Mr. Young replied that council never created a parking district. He said Economic Development Manager Michael Williams met with business owners in June, and their biggest complaint was insufficient parking for employees.   

Councilmember Mackie said this situation is confusing and she if very concerned. She said she has heard from residents about not having a credit card.  

Councilmember Adams said business and offices are in need of a solution. We need to return to the previous system and determine a solution moving forward. Mr. Young said we can remove the device to return to coins. It was confirmed that this would return the minimum payment to $.50 in coins for 15 minutes.  

Mr. Ryan said we can revert, but it will take a few weeks to do so.  

Councilmember Esters asked when renegotiation can take place.  Mr. Young said is requires a ninety-day timeframe.  It is reasonable to consider this to occur next summer.  

ACTION ITEMS

23-G-111 Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Maryland concerning division of proceeds from VeoRide Bike Share system – Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney and Erik Valentine, Community Development Planner (Pulled off June 13)

Ms. Ferguson said the item before us is the approval for the MOU with UMD and the University Park and any proceeds from that system.  The agreement with VEO requires they pay $50 per vehicle once a year and .50 per ride.   

Ms. Ferguson’s counterpart negotiating the VeoRide contract on behalf of UMD said the number of vehicles is capped at 400. The three parties evenly split the $50/vehicle fee after the cost of the Ride Report software is paid.

Councilmember Mackie asked for the length of time for the MOU.  Ms. Ferguson said the MOU will be in existence as long as the VeoRide contract exists.

Councilmember Whitney asked if there had been any consideration of the weighting the split of the .15 per ride fee even more heavily toward where the ride ends since much of the negative impact of the scooters relates to where the ride ends. The UMD representative said the difference for College Park would be in the tens of dollars since most rides start and end on campus. Also, she said, start and end fees still require facilities, so they attempted to split the proceeds down the middle.  

Council voted unanimously to approve the MOU.

23-G-115 Presentation on closure of Knox Road for Special Events and decision on next steps – Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works, and consultant. 

Mr. Marsili said we would be considering options for Knox Road closures for special events.  Sam Schwartz is the company that has experience working on such issues.  

Mr. Day presented the options with included and overview of short-term, mid-term and long-term closures.   

Anything we are doing beyond what we are doing right now will require a study of the impact. Specifically, the impact on the larger traffic system.   

There must be a consideration of traffic safety and security, then aesthetics, and labor cost.  

Options included water filled barriers, modular vehicle barriers, Thomas Steel Safe Zone, retractable bollards, planters, and fences.  

Mr. Day made recommendations for next steps. He said what the city is doing now meets standards, but is labor intensive. There is need for the traffic circulation study, discussions to property owner, and an understanding of pain points.  

He mentioned funding opportunities available through the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Takoma Park recently received $80,000. 

Councilmember Adams said he appreciated the presentation and would like us to consider a mid-block option. He thinks the mid-term solution would work for now. He’s like for us to explore ways to create a pedestrian space.  

SGA Liaison Sprinkle is concerned that the motive has shifted away from student safety to Friday Night Live. He asked the city to focus on student safety.  

Councilmember Whitney – asked Mr. Sprinkle to clarify the location where he is concerned about safety. He clarified he was talking about the Knox Road west of Baltimore Avenue.  She asked about trying to conserve costs and suggested considering a combination of the concrete barriers and the steel barriers.  

Councilmember Esters asked if the objective is to purchase now since this had not been budgeted for.   Mr. Young said the city would find the money now based upon Council response.  

Councilmember Mackie clarified that the focus of our conversation was on the east side of Knox Road. She likes the idea but is concerned about doing anything permanent.  

SGA Liaison Dhruvak Mirani asked about the impact of not having state approval yet for the Thomas Steel Safe Zone. Mr. Day said it currently has MASH Certification, and they are currently in the process of getting SHA approval. 

Councilmember Esters said the City should work to apply for grants that are available.  

Councilmember Adams asked if we can keep the steel barriers up over the weekend and asked if a traffic study would be needed to do so.  Mr. Day said it is always advised to do a traffic study, but he said there could be a discussion with SHA to see what they would allow.  

Mr. Marsili said there would be a concern about keeping the left-hand turn closed since the City does not control Route One. 

Councilmember Mackie asked a question about vendors who expressed concerns. Ms. Ferguson said Ledo’s has two parking spaces in front and they need access.  

23-G-116 Discussion and Selection of Future Veo Parking Hub Locations -Erik Valentine, Community Development Planner

We received a grant in FY22 to build-out VEO infrastructure. With the grant, it is anticipated we can prioritize 20 locations.  

Councilmember Whitney asked if there can be a future focus on bike racks, citing Lidl as a location where bike racks would be beneficial. Mr. Valentine indicated that he and Miriam Bader, Director of Planning and Community Development, went to Lidl and asked for bike racks to be added.  The bike racks have been added. Councilmember Whitney added that she would like us to continue to look for ways to make it easier for cyclists in the City. She said this country bends over backwards to make things convenient for drivers, we need to do the same for cyclists if we want them to bike instead of drive.

23-G-118 Council consideration of a splash pad for Duvall Field and approval of additional work by consultant KCI due to County requirements – Miriam Bader, Director of Planning and Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works

Ms. Bader informed Council there have been two unexpected costs for the Duvall field project.  The work authorization required by DPIE costing $18,270 and the increased cost of the splash pad.  She also said the county’s strict stormwater management requirements have led to a delayed timeline.  

Councilmember Kennedy would like to consider ways we can offer alternative.   

Councilmember Whitney suggested water inflatables as an alternative and has researched options. Ms. Bader asked her to share her research.  

Councilmember Mitchell suggested a vendor by the name of Kaboom that also offers water features.  

Councilmember Ester said it would be nice to have a water feature, but the estimated costs are way too high and there are too many unknowns. Since the initial discussion, the cost for the splash pad has increased by $500,000.  

Councilmember Mackie said she cannot reconcile the cost and hopes that an alternative can be found.  

Mayor Kabir asked if the options would need to be budgeted. Ms. Bader will look into the matter.  

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

A. Discussion of legislative priorities for the Legislative Dinner – Kenny Young, City Manager (15)

The City Manager’s office will send a memo to councilmembers and bring this back in September for Mayor and Council feedback. 

B. Amendment to the remainder of the Zoning chapter to conform to the County – Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney (15) 

Ms. Ferguson informed Council that the first half of the City’s updates had been approved by the County. Council had no questions regarding updates to the Zoning chapter to conform to County requirements.

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Adams said he and Mayor Kabir had received an email from the Coalition for Smarter Growth requesting City support for smarter streets. He asked if a letter of support could be added to a future agenda. Council approved.

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

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she had represented the city at a National League of Cities and will share a report on the state of the country and economy.

Councilmember Mackie said that she had attend the COG Chesapeake Bay Policy Committee meeting, and minutes of the meeting are on the website.

SGA Student Liaison Mirani noted that the next time council meets, the fall semester will be under way.

MEETING ADJOURNED

Click here for the  August 2nd  meeting agenda. Click here to watch the video of the August 02, 2023, meeting (when it is available). 

Click here to see the agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on September  05, 2023 (When it is available) . Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated Action Items, Presentations and Workshop discussions:

Public Hearing and possible action on the Council request for a traffic calming study in the 7200 block of Rhode Island Avenue – Steve Halpern, City Engineer and Jacob Vassalotti, GIS Engineering Technician

Public Hearing and possible action on the Council request for a traffic calming study in the 4600 block of Clemson Road – Steve Halpern, City Engineer and Jacob Vassalotti, GIS Engineering Technician

Public Hearing and possible action on 23-CR-02, a Charter Resolution to remove the authority for Urban Renewal from the City Charter – Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney

Proposed Consent:  

Approval of a Resolution of The Mayor And Council of The City Of College Park Adopting The Recommendation of The Advisory Planning Commission Regarding Variance Application CPV-2023-02, 8612 35th Avenue, College Park, Maryland Recommending Approval Of Two Variances and Three Validations of The Prince George’s County Zoning Ordinance, To Construct a Second Story Addition to the Existing Rear Portion of the House (appeal period ends September 5).

Approval of an appointment to the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee 

Action Items:

07-25-23:  Approval of a subrecipient agreement with the Housing Authority of College Park for the receipt of ARPA funds – Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney

05-31-23:  Consideration of a letter to M-NCPPC Parks and Recreation copying the County Council regarding the mandatory dedication of park land – Miriam Bader, Director of Planning

Please be advised that Pepco is tracking another strong to severe thunderstorm with winds potentially gusting to 65 mph, periods of heavy rainfall, localized flooding, possible hail, frequent lightning, and the potential for isolated tornadoes are forecasted to impact the Pepco service area this afternoon and evening.

The forecasted weather may down trees and tree limbs and cause damage to the local energy grid and result in power outages for customers. We are committed to providing our customers with safe and reliable energy service and preventing those power outages that can be prevented. We are closely following the weather conditions. Our employees and local contractors remain ready to respond to any issues that may occur.

What do we want customers to know/do?

• Just like we prepare for damage that may occur, we encourage our customers to prepare for any forecasted severe weather as well.

• Customers who need power for critical medical equipment should be prepared to relocate to a facility with electricity in case there is a power outage.

• Have a supply of bottled water and easy-to-prepare, non-perishable foods available.
• Charge cell phones and other mobile devices. Consider backup chargers.
• Have a flashlight with fresh batteries on each floor of your home.
• More tips available at pepco.com/StormPrep

• If storm damage does occur:
  • Always stay away from any storm damaged electrical equipment, especially downed power lines and tree limbs that may come into contact with power lines.
  • Check on elderly neighbors and relatives.
  • Don’t connect your generator directly to your home’s wiring. Never use a generator indoors or in an attached garage. Read and adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation.

We encourage all customers to report outages and downed wires.

·      Safety is our top priority. We urge our customers to stay away from downed wires and other equipment and assume any downed wire or equipment is energized.

·      To report an outage or downed wire, call 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662) or report and track through our mobile app or our website at pepco.com/StormPrep.

·      Customers also can text “Out” to 48710 to report their outage.

o   Customers must first text “ADD OUTAGE” to 48710 to sign up for this service.

·      Customers also can receive outage alerts by signing up online at pepco.com/Alerts. 

·      Customers are encouraged to follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/pepco and on Twitter at twitter.com/pepco to get the latest information from the company.

Reporting Outages or Downed Wires; Requesting Call Backs

·      Customers’ reports are vital to Pepco’s restoration efforts. Pepco also recommends that, when reporting an outage, customers request an automated call when their power is restored.  

·      Call backs allow Pepco to notify customers when work in their area is completed and they also help Pepco locate outages that may be specific to customers’ homes.

Why Dog Poop is not good for the environment!
We all love our dogs and as responsible dog owners it is important to properly dispose of pet
waste whether it lands on the sidewalk, the neighbor’s lawn, in the park, or in your own yard. 
Pet waste is more than a smelly nuisance.  It is a pollutant carried to our waterways by
stormwater runoff.  It is a source of pathogens and nutrients all of which degrade water quality. 
Excess nutrients impair water quality, causing harmful and nuisance algal blooms.  Poor water
quality in streams and rivers means higher water treatment costs and reduced recreational
use.    
The ecosystem doesn’t gracefully embrace dog waste. If left intact, it can take more than a year
to break down and can quickly turn any outdoor area into a site unfit for pets and humans. In
addition to the mess and smell, raw dog waste kills grass and other landscaping. Dropped along
trails, it kills native plants and encourages noxious weed infestation. Residual waste left at
ground zero runs off untreated into storm sewers and waterways.  Dogs are third or fourth on
the list of contributors to bacteria in contaminated waters, increasing the potential for serious
diseases, including cholera and dysentery. The EPA estimates that two days’ worth of dog
waste from about 100 dogs can create enough pollution to close a bay and all the watersheds
within 20 miles. (smea.uw.edu)

In addition to threats to humans, bacteria that feed on dog waste deplete oxygen, killing native
aquatic life. The bacteria also feed algae blooms which block sunlight and suffocate fish. Dog
waste toxins themselves can significantly increase fish mortality.
Dog poop in the yard is also dangerous – especially if you have children. The poo left behind
leaves the eggs of its parasites in the soil for years to come. This means anytime you walk
barefoot on the soil or your kids play in the dirt, it means there is a possibility they will come in
contact with parasites, such as hookworms, ringworms, and tapeworms.
Pet waste is also dangerous for the dogs themselves. If the remaining parasites from poos of
the past remain in your yard, your dog can continue to pick them up and get sick. If your dog
becomes sick with Giardia infections (from poop) and treated by a veterinarian and then returns
to the same poop-filled yard, he/she will get it all over again. Owners must make an effort to
clean up the mess.
As a dog owner, this is what you can do: 
 ALWAYS carry poop bags with you whenever you are out and about with your dog. Take
more than you think you will need…you never know.
 PICK IT UP! Every. Single. Time.
 Tie the bag closed and toss it in the garbage. Dog poop CANNOT go in compost or yard
waste bins.
 Pick up poops in your yard weekly (more often is better and definitely before a big rain).

As mentioned in last night’s Mayor & Council meeting, nbc4 aired a story yesterday morning about the College Park Committee for a Better Environment’s storm drain murals. It’s nice to see attention to their work organizing this project, which both beautifies the city and provides useful information:

‘Only rain in the drain’: College Park storm drain murals share important message https://www.nbcwashington.com/community/in-the-community/only-rain-in-the-drain-college-park-storm-drain-murals-share-important-message/3396279/