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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Click here to watch the video of the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on September 12, 2023. By going to this link, you are able to watch the discussion of specific agenda items you are interested in. If you have questions about Council actions and discussions, feel free to email us at lbesters@collegeparkmd.gov and swhitney@collegeparkmd.gov.

CONSENT AGENDA

The consent agenda for Tuesday, September 12, 2023, passed unanimously. The motion to accept was made by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Whitney.   

ACTION ITEMS

23-G-136 – City Council letter of support for the UMD application to host the “Americans and the Holocaust” exhibit, and the City’s participation in exhibit activities following a successful application. 

Leaders of the project, Maxine Grossman and Yelena Luckert talked briefly about the project, which examines the response from the United States about the Holocaust and makes comparison to things happening today. Council voted to send a letter in support of UMD’s application to bring the project to University of Maryland.  Motion by Councilmember Mackie, seconded by Councilmember Esters

23-O-07-  Adoption of Amended Ordinance 23-O-07 an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City Of College Park amending Chapter 110, “Fees and Penalties”, By Repealing and Reenacting §110-1, “Fees and Interests” and Chapter 184, “Vehicles and Traffic” by repealing and reenacting Article III, “Parking Meters”, §184-18, “Operation”, and by deleting Article IV, “Administrative Regulations”, § 184-24, “Moneys Deposited in Parking Meters”, to change the amount of fees to be charged for parking to $2.00 per hour, reflect the current fees for monthly parking permits, recognize that bills and coins will no longer be accepted in parking meters, and to delete a section that is no longer necessary as a result. Motion to amend the ordinance made by Councilmember Whitney, seconded by Councilmember Riggs. Motion to adopt amended ordinance made by Councilmember Adams and seconded by Councilmember Mackie.   

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

A. Care Solace Presentation on Mental Health and Social Services access for College Park residents

According to Care Solace’s presentation, over half of people who need mental health care give up because the process of finding the care they need at an affordable price is so difficult. Care Solace aims to ease the process. It acts as a hub that catalogs and tracks public and private mental health services and resources to connect people to what they need. Members of council expressed interest in offering this resource to residents and appreciation that it would improve access to mental health services for all College Park residents, not just youth, families and seniors.  

B. Discussion of an Elderly Property Tax Credit program for City residents – Gary Fields, Director of Finance

Mr. Fields expressed gratitude for county assistance as he worked to gather information. What was proposed to Council for consideration was based upon the program established by the county. The county can provide the applications from our residents in order to conduct the calculations. Council expressed interest in offering a flat discount using the criteria set by the county. The City Manager said the City will reach out to the City of Laurel to understand the administrative burden of the tax credit they have offered for several years, and will come back with a draft ordinance.  

C. Discussion of the report from our consultant, CTC, on the small cell application from Crown Castle 

Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney, said this was the first time an application has been brought to the City Council and asked if Mayor and Council wanted to see these applications moving forward. She said Council does not have the authority to deny the applications.  It was suggested that these applications be handled like other “lay it on the table” matters that appear on the agenda but can move forward after a period of time without Council feedback.  

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on September 19, 2023. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following Consent Agenda and Action Items, and Workshop discussions that may interest District 2 residents. Please contact us as soon as possible if you need accommodations to participate in a meeting, including language translation:

CONSENT AGENDA

23-G-137 – Approval of minutes of the September 12, 2023, Council Meeting 

23-G-139 – Approval of street name recommendations from the Restorative Justice Commission, “Ancestor Lane,” for a new City street, and to change the east entrance address of the College Park Metro station from 4931 Calvert Road to 4101 River Road, as requested by M-NCPPC. 

PUBLIC HEARING 

Public Hearing and possible action (Agenda item 23-G-138) on the petition request to remove permit parking in the 9100 block of Rhode Island Avenue 

ACTION ITEMS 

23-G-140 Approval of a Property Use Agreement in support of an application for a Class B, Beer, Wine and Liquor License by Teri Constantinou, Member/Authorized Person, for the use of Terrapin Station MD, LLC, t/a Terrapin Station, 4738 Cherry Hill Road, College Park, 20740, transfer from Capital City Chili, Inc., t/a Hard Times Cafe, 4738 Cherry Hill Road, College Park, 20740. 

23-G-141 Approval of a Property Use Agreement in support of an application for a Class B, BLX Beer, Wine and Liquor License by Kyle Algaze and Christopher Michael Blanton, Members/Authorized Persons, for the use Iron Rooster College Park, LLC, t/a Iron Rooster College Park Terrapin Station, 7777 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, 20740

WORKSESSION DISCUSSION (Action on this item is not expected at this meeting.)

Discussion of a different tax rate on vacant and blighted properties (follow-up from April 25 meeting)