Comments are by Councilmember 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 5, 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.

At last Tuesday’s meeting, the Consent Agenda passed unanimously, with the exception of 23-R-11 regarding fencing at 4907 Tecumseh Street, which was removed from Consent by Councilmember Whitney and will come before the Mayor and Council in an Oral Argument, a process that normally takes 2-3 weeks. 

Action Item 23-G-119 regarding approval of a subrecipient agreement with the Housing Authority of College Park for the receipt of ARPA funds for rehabilitation of Attick Towers was moved to the Consent Agenda, as was 23-G-132 approving a contract with Katie Hearn of Redgate for Project Management of the Attick Towers Rehabilitation. 

Also of note, Council held a Public Hearing and was prepared to vote on Charter Amendment 23-CR-02 to remove the authority for Urban Renewal from the City Charter. Restorative Justice Commission (RJC) Chair and former District 2 Councilmember Maxine Gross asked Council to hold off on taking action until the RJC had the opportunity to weigh in. Council voted not to take action until the RJC was able to provide input.

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on September 12, 2023. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following Consent Agenda and Action Items, and Workshop discussions that may be of interest to 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-133 Approval of a letter of support for a grant application to USDOT from MDOT to fund a comprehensive study on University Boulevard/Greenbelt Road from Rhode Island Avenue in College Park to Hanover Parkway in Greenbelt.
• 23-G-134 Approval of legislative priorities for 2024 

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 
• 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”. Passing the amended ordinance would formalize the hourly increase from $1 to $2 for City parking meters, payable in 15-minute increments, maintain the ability to pay meters with coins, and remove language from the ordinance that is no longer relevant.

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS (Action On These Items Is Not Expected At This Meeting.) 

• Care Solace Presentation on Mental Health and Social Services access for College Park residents 
• Discussion of an Elderly Property Tax Credit program for City residents 
• Discussion of the report from our consultant, CTC, on the small cell application from Crown Castle, which includes five co-locations, two of which are in D2 in the 9000 block of Rhode Island Avenue. FCC requirements significantly limit the City’s ability to regulate placement of small wireless facilities in rights-of-way and impose a 60-day “shot clock” for co-location applications to be approved. The City’s deadline for this application is November 2, and the Mayor and Council may consider holding a Public Hearing prior to that date during which the applicant can answer questions from the public. The City hired a consultant, CTC Technology and Energy, to review and report back on such applications. Based on CTC’s report, staff have no specific concerns about this application.

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

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on September 5, 2023. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following Consent Agenda and Action Items, Presentations and Workshop discussions that may be of interest to District 2 residents:

CONSENT AGENDA 

• Approval of 23-R-11, a Resolution of the Mayor And Council of the City Of College Park Adopting The Recommendation of Advisory Planning Commission of the City of College Park Regarding Appeal Number CEO-2023-03, 4907 Tecumseh Street, College Park, Maryland, Recommending Approval of One Variance from City Code §87-23 C., to Permit the Installation of a 4-Foot-High Fence in the Front Yard of the Property, and Recommending Denial of One Variance from City Code §87-23 C., to Not Permit that Fence to be Constructed of Chain-Link Material (appeal period ends September 
• 23-G-121 Approval of the appointment of (District 2 resident) Samuel Slowinsky to the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee 
• 23-G-122 Approval of the appointment of Mayor Fazlul Kabir and reappointment of Steve Brayman as Class B Directors of the College Park City University Partnership for terms to end June 30, 2026. 
• 23-G-123 Approval of a joint letter (UMD, CPCUP, City) to County Executive Alsobrooks asking the County to prioritize funding for US 1 design.
• 23-G-124 Approval of a letter in support of CB-069-2023, a County bill entitled Urban Street Design Policy and Standards 
• 23-G-125 Ratification of grant application to Transit Within Reach (MWCOG) for 10% design plans to include bicycle lanes on both sides of a section of River Road 
• 23-G-126 Ratification of a grant application to the National Trust for Historic Preservation for Historic Black Churches for the Lakeland Embry A.M.E. Church 
• 23-G-128 Award of contract in substantially the form attached not to exceed $50,000 for consulting services from Paypoint HR to help the City design and execute a comprehensive classification and compensation study, subject to review by the City Attorney 
• 23-G-129 Award of contract in substantially the form attached to O’Malley, Miles, Nylen and Gilmore for legal representation for the City 

PUBLIC HEARING AND POSSIBLE ADOPTION OF: 

• Public Hearing and possible action on the Council request for a traffic calming study in the 7200 block of Rhode Island Avenue (Agenda Item 23-G-130) 
• Public Hearing and possible action on 23-CR-02, a Charter Resolution to remove the authority for Urban Renewal from the City Charter 

ACTION ITEMS 

• 23-G-119 Approval of a subrecipient agreement in substantially the form attached with the Housing Authority of College Park for the receipt of ARPA funds, subject to review by the City Attorney 
• 23-G-132 Approval of a Contract in substantially the form attached with Katie Hearn, Redgate, for Project Management of the Attick Towers Rehabilitation 

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS  

• Discussion of amendments to Ordinance 23-O-07 regarding City parking meters and monthly parking permits prior to adoption on September 12 
• Discussion of legislative priorities 

CLOSED SESSION

The meeting will be followed by the Closed Session to “consult with legal counsel to obtain legal advice and to discuss a personnel matter.”