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 find the video of the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on November 14, 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.
City Manager Report
Mr. Young mentioned that city leaf collection resumed this month. Residents should rake their leaves to the curb, but not onto the street. If you choose to collect leaves, please put them in paper bags, yard waste containers or a personal container with a yellow yard waste sticker (offered for free by the Department of Public works. For details regarding the schedule and a list of dos and don’ts, visit
https://www.collegeparkmd.gov/civicalerts.aspx?aid=546
The city will hold a “One Warm Coat Drive” from November 15 thru December 5. Coats, hats, and gloves can be dropped off at City Hall, Davis Hall and Youth and Family service. For more details visit https://www.collegeparkmd.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=555
The city’s Gingerbread House Competition has begun and entries are due by November 30th. The winners will be displayed at the Winter Wonderland Fest on December 2nd.
Park Run, the City of College Park, and Prince George’s Park and Recreation will host the College Park Turkey Trot 2023 on Thanksgiving morning at 9am beginning at Acredale Community Park. For more details and to register visit https://www.parkrun.us/collegepark/news/2023/11/12/college-park-turkey-trot-2023/
PROCLAMATIONS
Proclamation to honor Brenda Alexander
Proclamation for Small Business Saturday
PRESENTATIONS
A. Official Report of the Results of the General Election to the Mayor and Council by the
Board of Election Supervisors
Mr. John Payne, Chief of the Board of Elections, said he was pleased to run a state-of-the-art election because of great collaborators, Election Guard, Hart InterCivic and the Center for Civic Design.He said the slate of candidates was professional and was the most pleasant of his time on the Board of Elections.
The election results are as follows:
Mayoral Race (Uncontested) Mayor Kabir elected. Total vote -133 (District 1 – 649, District 2 – 178, District 3- 367, District 4- 143)
District 1 – Alan Hew and Jacob Hernandez elected. Total votes – 692 representing 12.60% of eligible voters.
District 2 (Uncontested) – Llatetra Esters and Susan Whitney elected. Total votes – 192 representing 6.87% of eligible voters.
District 3 – Stuart Adams and John B. Rigg elected. Total votes – 424 representing 11.52% of eligible voters.
District 4 – (Uncontested)– Maria Mackie and Denise Mitchell elected. Total votes – 160 representing 6.50% of eligible voters.
The election survey is still soliciting responses from voters about their experience. The Mayor and Council were encouraged to share information about the survey with residents. The survey can be found on the City’s election page. The Board of Elections Supervisors will return in the spring to share the survey results. Mayor Kabir asked for the survey link to be added to the weekly email sent to residents.
B. Presentation of the 2023 “Jack Perry Award” to Mary Cook
Mayor Kabir presented Ms. Cook with the Jack Perry Award after sharing details about her involvement in the City. Since moving here in 2001, she has served two terms on City Council and chaired numerous boards and committees, as well as the North College Park Community Association (NCPCA). Ms. Cook shared her appreciation for the city and her opportunities to serve.
AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Approval of the agenda – motion by Councilmember Adams seconded by Councilmember Whitney
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Aubrey Batten, resident – Talked about the agenda item regarding security for Mayor and Council. He said he believed that Mayor and Council should have security but said the item was slid unto the agenda at the end of last week and the cost had not been shared. He said many residents do not feel safe and that he had experienced crimes not investigated by the PGCPD. He said Mayor and Council should think about ways to make everyone safe.
Councilmember Kennedy said that the budget for the program was capped at $5,400 annually, which had been shared online in the agenda. She thanked Mr. Batten for his comments and mentioned safety issues that have occurred to Councilmembers in the City and across the county.
Luai Alamawi, resident – said as a tax-payer he wanted to request from the Mayor and Council to support brothers and sisters in Gaza. He fully disagrees with the United States government support for genocide of Palestinians. He asked for the Palestinian flag to be displayed for the week to signify that no one should be able to commit genocide and said it is not fair for people to be removed from their homes. He said te least we can do is show solidarity by displaying the Palestinian flag.
Karyn Keating, resident- Asked that Mayor and Council increase the grant amount available to resident to replace chain link fence, saying $2500 is not enough. She said rusty fences exist throughout the community.
CONSENT AGENDA
23-G-166 Approval of a contract with Care Solace for the provision of mental health and social services coordination services for $80,000 annually – Kiaisha Barber, Director, Youth, Family and Senior Services
23-G-167 Approval and authorization for the City Manager to pay for the installation of various security measures for the Mayor and City Council – Kenneth A. Young, City Manager
23-G-168 Approval of a parking prohibition at the intersection of Branchville Road and Locust Spring Road – Steve Halpern, City Engineer
23-G-170 Approval of an increase in the grant application and corresponding matching fund amount for the Prince George’s County Historic Preservation Grant for the Old Parish House to add grading and stormwater mitigation to the proposal, in an additional amount of $9,154.25 for the grant application, and $915.42 in the City’s match – Rakhmel Rafi, Grants Coordinator
23-G-171 Approval of minutes from the October 10, 2023, Council meeting.
Motion by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Whitney. Councilmember Mackie did not approve and asked to move item 23-G-167 to Action Items for discussion.
PUBLIC HEARING: Oral Argument in case CEO-2023-03 for 4907 Tecumseh
Attorney Nate Forman provided an overview of the process for the oral argument filed by Councilmember Whitney for the decision made by Advisor Planning Commission (APC). He said there would be an overview by Planning staff and then the Mayor and Council will hear testimony from those who have previously testified. The Council will have the opportunity to accept the APC decision, deny the decision or modify the decision. The City Council’s decision is limited to the information already heard.
The home is located on Tecumseh Street in the Berwyn neighborhood. The request was to construct a 4-ft high chain-link fence along the property’s front yard facing Tecumseh Street. The fence would be an extension of an existing chain-link fence along both side lot lines and rear lot lines. The purpose of the fence is to make a safe enclosure for the family dog. The APC voted separately on the variance for the fence and the materials. The APC approved the variance for the extension but did not approve the use of chain-link.
Mr. Valentine said that staff recommended approval of the variance and the use of chain-link material.
Terry Miller, daughter of the property owner – said within the code there is the ability to obtain a variance. They just want to close in the existing fence.
Dan Blasberg, resident, and neighbor of Ms. Baker said he supported his neighbor’s request. They look directly at the fence each day and do not have an issue with the request.
Karen Keating, resident, said she does not look at the fence everyday but from the perspective of a realtor she sees a number of chain-link fences that aren’t in good condition. She objects because the fence will be there for many more years. She suggested the use of different materials.
Councilmember Whitney – acknowledged the work of the APC doing their due diligence. Asked for reconsideration about the portion of the request regarding materials. The council has not banned chain-link, only barb wire. The decision was based upon a guestimate of chain-link fences in the surrounding area. Even so, 1 out of 4 fences in a neighborhood should not be considered an anomaly. She said the purpose of the variance process is to allow for odd situations like this in which the resident is installing new chain link, but only to complete their existing fence in the same material, saying it will look silly in half one material and half another.
Councilmember Rigg said he believed that the APC made the correct decision.
Councilmember Kennedy asked if we could approve with the condition that chain-link not be allowed for a new fence on the property in the future.
Councilmember Hew said the City wants to move away from chain-link fences but understands the hardship, and Councilmember Mackie feared setting a precedent for putting up more chain-link fences.
Councilmember Esters said we are only taking about enclosing an existing fence, not replacing an entire fence. We cannot make assumptions about what will happen in a few years. There is an immediate need. If we want to ensure clarity of the ordinance, we should revisit the ordinance.
Councilmember Adams said Council’s job was to decide whether hardship had been met. He also suggestsed revisiting the ordinance.
Councilmember Whitney made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Esters to modify the APC’s decision and allow the variances for both the four-foot height and use of chain-link.
Roll-Call vote
Adams, Hew, Kennedy, Esters, Whitney Mackie – Yes
Rigg- No
ACTION ITEMS
23-G-169 Approval of Detailed Site Plan(DSP-17052-01) for Hillel
Mr. Valentine provided a brief overview of the plan and changes in City recommendations. The council discussed this in depth during the November 7 meeting.
Councilmember Adams thanked City staff and the applicant for creating a tree replacement plan.
Councilmember Hew asked if there would be any adjustments to the color of the façade. Mr. Valentine said there were no changes.
Councilmember Rigg made the motion to approve, seconded by Councilmember Adams
Aubrey Bratten said he wanted to make clear to Council that there are currently more parking spaces at the current site versus what is being proposed.
Councilmember Rigg said the LAC asked about the façade color but did not have a strong opinion regarding the color.
The DSP was unanimously approved.
23-G-67 Approval and Authorization for City Manager to pay for the installation of security measures for Mayor Council
Kenny Young, City manager, said during the last council meeting, security matters were brought up. There have been issues with the majority of council members regarding safety – $5400 dollars will allow for the exploration of security measures.
Councilmember Mackie asked whether Councilmembers using the funds would have to declare on their financial reports. Mr. Young said he would check, but he believed it would be in line with council duties. Members of the Mayor and Council can opt out. The City will work individual council members.
Motion by Councilmember Kennedy, seconded by Councilmember Esters. Approved unanimously.
WORKSESSION DISCUSSION
VeoRide Discussion
Erik Valetine said he smet with Veo Ride Policy Manager, Mr. Joe Bott, to discuss VeoRide problems in the city. They discovered there was a misunderstanding, and forced parking was not in place. It has since been activated, and the number of reported violations has dramatically decreased. They also found that complaints were not being routed properly by VeoRide, which has also been addressed.
Councilmembers discussed the need for sufficient parking hubs: fines for parking outside of hubs; the frequency of VeoRide monitoring their vehicles; the challenge riders have in identifying parking; problems with the App,; use of AI or heatmaps to identify location of vehicles; challenges with vehicle parked at higher elevations in garages; mechanisms in place for the city to track that VeoRide is doing what they should be doing; reaching out to residents to see if they would allow the use of their property for VeoRide parking; the access discount pricing program, and working with MNCPPC to identify potential parking areas in the various parks throughout the City.
ADJOURN
Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on December 5, 2023 when it is available. 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 note the December 5 Mayor and Council meeting will include the inauguration of the 2023-2025 Mayor and Council. You should expect remarks from outgoing Councilmember Kate Kennedy, and new Councilmember Jacob Hernandez. A reception will follow the meeting.
Please contact us as soon as possible if you need accommodations to participate in a meeting, including language translation.
The College Park District 2 Digest 