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 watch the video of the City of College Park Mayor & Council Meeting on April 16,2024. 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’S REPORT
Mr. Young said the City is hosting community parade on May 4 and encouraged residents to wear their best Star Wars-themed costume. He thanked everyone who came out to the groundbreaking in College Park Woods for the community clubhouse. On April 20, the city will host the “Can Ducky Derby” at the Old Parish House. It is a free event, but participants must bring a canned food item for donation to the College Park Food Bank. The City’s next cleanup day will be held on Saturday, April 20, and the shredding event will be held on May 18. The City launched a new website on Monday, April 15.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Former District 1 Councilmember Mary Cook
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Mary Cook, resident – Ms. Cook said there were several people present from the American Legion. She shared a brief history about the creation of the memorial beginning with the idea of creating the memorial, which according to Ms. Cook, began with the Berwyn Women’s Club and Berwyn District Civic Association. The land where the memorial sits was obtained in 1993. Thereafter the Veterans Memorial Committee was established, and the committee was given the mandate to recommend policy and plan events. They have upheld that mandate and would like to maintain it.
Dan Blasberg, resident, – As an Army veteran, expressed his desire to maintain the Veterans Memorial Committee. He asked if the committee were dissolved would that mean the city will do away with the events planned by the committee. He was told the programs would be maintained.
Martin Klapack, resident – On Saturday, April 6, he and members of his household had to stop working and leave due to constant banging and screaming through a microphone coming from the University of Maryland all day long. He said he is a one of two disabled veterans in his family and supports maintaining the VMC.
CONSENT AGENDA
24-G-62 – Approval of an all-way Stop on Hollywood at 48th Place – Steve Halpern , City Engineer
24-G-63 – Approval of an all-way Stop on 51st Avenue at Mineola Road – Steve Halpern, City Engineer
24-G-64 – Approval of traffic study at three intersections on Edmonston Road- Steve Halpern, City Engineer
24-G-65 – Approval of traffic study on Knox Road and Hartwick Road between Guilford Drive and Baltimore Avenue – Steve Halpern, City Engineer
24-G-68 – Approval of Minutes from the April 9,2024 Council Meeting.
Moved by Councilmember Esters and seconded by Councilmember Hernandez. Passed unanimously.
ACTION ITEMS
Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell motioned to suspend the rules to move Item 2-G-66 to be the first action item. Councilmember Esters seconded. The vote was 7 yes with Councilmember Rigg voting no. The motion passed.
24-G-66 – Presentation by CPJ of 60% design plans for 52nd Ave sidewalk and possible action by Council- Steve Halpern, City Engineer
Mr. Halpern introduced Beth Forbes and Brandon Freeman of Charles P. Johnson and Associations (CPJ), local engineering firm, to discuss the progress of their sidewalk design work. The firm is working to design a sidewalk on the 9500 block of 52nd Ave. The sidewalk will have a minimum 5-foot width; they need to provide a stormwater facility run off, and there will be a swale across the street to guide water to the facility. While meeting with the North College Park Civic Association (NCPCA) there was input indicating that residents did not want a sidewalk on their property, so the design is outside of the property line. They have received approval from the county.
Councilmember Hernandez thanked the consultants for their work. He said he has had conversations with residents who are adamantly against it and asked if another sidewalk can be prioritized.
Councilmember Hew asked if the project can be done in phases. He said he supported the completion of the design followed by a meeting with the community to explain the Complete & Green Streets project.
Councilmember Hernandez made a motion to complete the design of the sidewalk and then hold the construction until they can speak to the community. Seconded by Councilmember Hew.
Elean Rose Argueta (Ms. College Park), resident – Lifetime resident of College Park. Great grandparents lived in the community for 40 years on 52nd Ave. She acknowledged that safety is very important but said the money would be more beneficial elsewhere, saying there was no use in putting a sidewalk on a dead-end street. She added that parking would be impacted by the sidewalk.
Ron Mitka, resident – He has seen a lot of good things in 35 years, but this is not one. The sidewalks we have are so uneven, it often feels it is safer to be on the road. Neighbors already have an issue with parking on a narrow road. One side is narrower than the other. He said if the City wants to install a sidewalk, it should go on the east side on Huron, which would lead right to Metro. He asked for reconsideration.
Donald Hayes, resident – Is in favor of the sidewalk. Part of what he has heard from complaints is that the sidewalk will be inconvenient. The size is necessary in order to be accessible. He described an incident in which he and a group of children needed to move out of the way of a vehicle while walking in the street.
Dimi, resident – lives on 52nd Ave. Has been speaking out against the project for the past year. It changes the look and feel of the neighborhood. He’s tried to park on Kennesaw where there are sidewalks and the streets are narrow. There are multiple cars on the street that park on sidewalks to avoid being sideswiped. He wonders if the sidewalk would actually be used and said the vast majority of people who live there do not want it.
Jenn Valle – lives on 52nd Ave and does want the sidewalk. There is a real need for a sidewalk. The rest of the street has a sidewalk. It would make the community more walkable. It will benefit the street and the rest of the community.
Chad, resident – walks the street twice a day. It is a main thoroughfare for commuters walking to the metro. There are cars driving down the street at high rates of speed.
Councilmember Rigg asked for clarity regarding the location, and who owns the land on the east side of Narragansett (Board of Education). He also asked about the reallocation of funds, if need be.
Councilmember Adams asked District 1 if they can consider when to come back to make a decision.
Councilmember Hernandez said the aim would be to come back as soon as possible after speaking with the community and looking at other projects that may be prioritized.
Councilmember Hew said the current condition of the sidewalks makes them hard to maneuver and asked if this will be addressed. Mr. Halpern said the City will work with a contractor to address the issue. Mr. Hew said the Complete Streets projects was discussed 7 years ago, and he thinks that residents would benefit from learning why the City made the decision to build the sidewalk. He said we should wait before moving forward with the construction.
COUNCIL ACTION on the NEEDS-BASED STUDENT HOUSING SUBSIDY PILOT PROGRAM
Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell gave an overview of the final report last week and the discharge of the committee. She said there was no need for further discussion, Council just needs to determine how to move forward. She asked if the city attorney agreed with the legal sufficiency of the program. Ms. Anderson said she reviewed the proposed program for legal sufficiency thus far and would continue to do so depending upon the Council’s decision this evening.
Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked the City Manager what will happen if the program is approved or not approved. Mr. Young said we will either encumber the amount and roll it into FY24 or roll it into FY25. He added that there are other projects that we could apply the funds to in FY24.
Councilmember Adams motioned to allocate $225,000 from the 3-cent property tax increase on commercial, industrial, and apartment properties in FY24 to the Needs Based Student Housing Subsidy Pilot Program. The Pilot Program will fund 1) up to 75 grants of $1,500 to Pell Grant eligible students with qualifying off-campus apartment leases and 2) up to 75 grants of $1,500 to full-time Graduate Students with qualifying off-campus apartment leases and household incomes of 60% AMI or less. Applicants will be chosen by lottery and awards will be issued by City staff once required documentation is confirmed. Seconded by Rigg.
There were numerous comments made by City residents regarding their support or lack of support for the motion.
Councilmember Esters made two motion amendments:
Motion to table any action on the Needs-Based Student Housing Subsidy Pilot Program. Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell. Vote failed with 3 yes, 4 no and 1 abstention.
Motion to create an affordable housing taskforce, to include key stakeholders, that will:
- Research and share data regarding the housing needs in the City of College Park
- Develop a definition of Affordable Housing
- Outline the parameters of a sustainable program that will be open to all residents who meet specified criteria
- Utilize $150,000 from the 3-cent for FY24 to conduct an Affordable Housing Study for the City of College Park
Motion seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell
There was discussion among the council that Councilmember Adams’ motion was still under consideration and had not been tabled.
Vote failed (5-3-0)
Councilmember Whitney moved to amend Councilmember Adams’ motion to read as follows:
I move to allocate $150,000 from the 3-cent property tax increase on commercial industrial and apartment properties in FY24 to the Needs-Based Student Subsidy Pilot Program. The Pilot Program will fund 1) up to 60 grants of $1,250 to Pell Grant eligible students with qualifying off-campus rental leases and 2) up to 60 grants of $1,250 to full-time Graduate Students with qualifying off-campus rental leases and household incomes of 60% AMI or less. Applicants will be chosen by lottery and awards will be issued by City staff once required documentation is confirmed, and create an Affordable Housing Taskforce, to include key stakeholders, that will: 1) Research and share data regarding he housing needs in the City of College Park, 2) Develop a definition of Affordable Housing, and 3) Outline the parameters of a sustainable program that will be open to all residents who meet specified criteria.
Councilmember Adams moved to divide the suggested amendment into two motions.
Whitney made the motion for the amendment to the subsidy as stated above and was seconded by Councilmember Mackie.
There were numerous comments made by City residents regarding their support or lack of support for the motion.
Councilmember Hernandez moved to amend the amendment such that 40 subsidies of $1,250 each would go to Pell grant-eligible undergrads, graduate students at 60% AMI or less, and other city residents at 60% AMI or less. Council rejected the motion with a vote of 7 no and 1 yes, while a resident commented that an amendment to an amendment is out of order.
Council then voted for Councilmember Whitney’s amendment with a vote of 5 – 3, and passed the underlying motion as amended with a vote of 5 to 3.
Council then voted unanimously in support of forming an affordable housing task force with the charge listed above.
WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS
Consider amendments to the City Code that would prohibit certain yard furniture and provide for finds for non-compliance – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services
Councilmember Rigg explained the impetus for the changes being beer pong tables being left in the front yard and played in the front yard, but mentioned residents had complained about other games begin stored in the front yard, as well as indoor furniture being stored on the porch, which staff stated was a public health concern.
Council discussed the proposed changes and expressed openness to limiting storage of drinking games in the front yard but sought clarity on how one might identify a table used for drinking games as opposed to other uses. Some councilmember expressed concerns about overreach regarding other games left out, indoor furniture on the front porch and the right to drink in you front yard.
Staff said they would work with the City Attorney on proposed language and come back to Council with options.
Discussion of Council Advisory boards prior to opening recruitment – Janeen. S. Miller, City Clerk
Council expressed the desire to maintain the Veterans Memorial Committee, pause the Animal Welfare Committee for another year and to fold the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee under the City Events Advisory Board (CEAB).
Legislative Review – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager – Given time constraints, this idea will be held until April 23 when the agenda includes legislative session wrap up with City Lobbyist, Len Lucchi.
MEETING ADJOURNED
Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on April 23, 2024. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following Consent Agenda and Action Items, and Workshop discussions proposed to be on the agenda 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:
ACTION ITEMS:
24-G-70 – Presentation by consultant PaypointHR on the Compensation and Classification study, and Council consideration of the recommended changes to the pay plan and salary adjustments for the affected employees – Teresa Way Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources.
24-G-71 – Approval of additional Fy2024 Public School Education Grants- Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth , Family and Senior Services.
24-O-02 Introduction of the FY 2025 Budget Ordinance – Gary Fields, Director of Finance The budget public hearing will be held on May 7, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS
- Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session wrap up
- Discussion of a Youth Advisory Committee
- Update on Care Solace Program
The College Park District 2 Digest 