Comments are made 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 26, 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, please email us at lbesters@collegeparkmd.gov and swhitney@collegeparkmd.gov.

PROCLAMATIONS

Surprise proclamation done for outgoing City Attorney Suellen Ferguson acknowledging her many years of service to the City of College Park.  

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

23-G-146  Councilmember Rigg moved to place on the Consent Agenda an item calling for the City  dedicate a bench along the Trolley Trail in honor of outgoing city attorney Suellen Ferguson. Secondedby  Councilmember Kennedy.  

23-G-145  City Council  to send a letter to the Prince George’s County Council Committee for Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and the Environment committee opposing a part of CB-79-23 that would amend the County Better Bag Bill by making 10 cents the maximum charge, rather than the minimum charge, for each bag provided by a retailer.    

23-G-147  City Council to send a letter to the county requesting that CB83 residential building permit allocation program be tabled for consideration so it can be reviewed by the City and City Attorney. The bill was introduced on September 26, and it has been sent to the director of planning.  It is sponsored by Councilmembers Tom Dernoga and Jolene Ivey. Move to Consent Agenda. Motion made by Councilmember Mitchell and seconded by Councilmember Whitney.

CONSENT AGENDA 

23-G-142 Approval of a sponsorship in the amount of $2,000 for Holy Redeemer School Home and School Association’s Monster Dash 5k Race – Gary Fields, Director of Finance

23-G-143 Approval of a contract with Thomas Steel Barriers for the purchase of pin down barriers for Knox Road closures – Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works

Items 23-G-145, 23-G-146 and 23-G-147 described above. Motion to adopt the Consent Agenda by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Whitney.

ACTION ITEMS

23-O-08 Introduction of Ordinance 23-O-08, an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, amending Chapter 175 “Taxation”, by enacting article V, “Property tax credit for elderly individuals”, §175-14 “Establishment of tax credit”, §175-15,“Eligibility”, §175-16, “Amount and duration of credit”, §175-17,“Application for the tax credit, and §175-18, “Effective date of the tax credit,” to authorize the Mayor and Council to approve a tax credit for elderly individuals and to provide the extent, duration, and eligibility requirements for the credit as authorized by §9-258of Taxation-Property Article, Annotated Code of Maryland – Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney

Mr. Fields said 87% of the properties in the City would meet the County requirement that the maximum assessed value of the property be $500 thousand or less, so it is not anticipated that many seniors would be ineligible for the credit based on the assessed value of their home. 

Public hearing to be held on October 10. 

Council members inquired about the possibilities of extending the proposed program beyond five years and increasing the assessed house value for the purposes of eligibility. The fund would be reviewed during each year’s Budget Worksession to determine what the Mayor and Council would want to do with the program.    

There was a request to have an FAQ to share with the community to explain the ordinance.  

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

A. Discussion of regulations of short-term rentals/AirBNBs – Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney

Director of Public Services Bob Ryan introduced the item and said the City regulates short-term residential rentals in the same manner as long-term residential properties. He explained that properties that are not owner-occupied are required to obtain a city rental occupancy permit and be inspected annually. There are no limits on the number of days that the property can be rented.  

The City can differentiate between short-term and long-term rentals and require registration by short-term rental platforms. The City can also adopt the County law by reference.  

Councilmembers discussed the need to address the regulation of short-term rentals before it becomes more of an issue. There was a question about the impact on sublets.  Ms. Ferguson said most sublets in the city are traditional sublets not handled through short-term rental platforms and would not fall under the ordinance.  It was noted that a long-term rental could also be considered a short-term rental if the long-term tenant served as a host for short-term rental guests.  There was a question about whether a hotel/motel tax could be assessed if a short-term rental goes beyond 90 days. Ms. Ferguson said the city does not impose the hotel/motel tax; it is imposed by the county. Finally, a request was made for short-term rentals to be listed online for residents to review.  

 REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Whitney requested a future agenda item to discuss the creation of an incentive program to encourage residents to replace gas-powered leaf blowers with electric leaf blowers.  

Councilmember Mitchell asked if a U/O established for an address can be transferred when the property is sold and was told a new U/O must be obtained. She requested a discussion about homes that are in violation. 

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on October 3, 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-R-12 Resolution of the Advisory Planning Commission of the City of College Park Regarding Variance Number CPV-2023-03, Located at 9722 53rd Avenue, College Park, Maryland.

23-G-146 Approval of a letter to M-NCPPC requesting it fund certain parks, trails, and recreation projects in College Park – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager. 

23-G-147 Approval of a parking prohibition on the 5000 block of Nantucket Road between 51st Avenue and Rhode Island Avenue in Hollywood to improve access to the dumpster area behind College Park Plaza from Nantucket Road – Jacob Vassalotti, GIS Coordinator.

ACTION ITEMS

23-O-09 Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, amending Chapter 144 “Occupancy Permits”, § 144-1 Statement of Policy, §144-2 Definitions, §144-3 Occupancy Permits Required, §144-7 Revocation; Reinstatement; renumbering and amending, §144-8, Violations and Penalties; enacting §144-8 Challenge to Affirmations, §144-9 Short Term Rental Licenses; Host Requirements, §144-10 Incorporation of County Code Requirements, and amending Chapter 110, Fees and Penalties, §110-2, Penalties, to Regulate Short-Term Rentals, to Require Short-Term Rental Host Platforms to require any Short-term Rental Host in the city to submit a copy of the Host’s Rental License to the Platform, prior to the Rental being listed on the Platform, and to set fines for violation. 

The Public Hearing will be held on Tuesday, October 17, at 7:30 p.m.

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

A. Consideration of Detailed Site Plan DSP-22035, Terrapin House, located at the northeast quadrant of Baltimore Avenue and Hartwick Road and a Declaration of Covenants and Agreement Regarding Land Use – Erik Valentine, Community Development Planner

 B. Update on Business Retention and Attraction Fund – Michael Williams, Director of Economic Development