Month: October 2024

Berwyn Bonfire this Saturday, November 2 @ 4 pm

/ District 2 Councilmembers - College Park, MD

From the Berwyn District Civic Association:

Get ready for a cozy evening under the stars! Join us this Saturday, November 2nd, at 4:00 PM for our annual bonfire, hosted by the BDCA. We’ll be gathering at Berwyn Neighborhood Park (8301 49th Avenue) for a night of warmth, community, and fall treats.

What’s on the agenda?
🔥 Crackling fire to keep you toasty
🍎 Cider to sip and savor
🍫 Classic s’mores for a sweet treat

Bring your own chairs and blankets to settle in comfortably. Come early, get a good spot by the fire, and don’t miss out on the fun – we can’t wait to see you there!

Sustainability Solutions Forum this Saturday, November 2

/ District 2 Councilmembers - College Park, MD

The Committee for a Better Environment (CBE) is hosting a hybrid Sustainability Solutions forum this Saturday, November 2 from 10:30 am to noon. It will be held at Davis Hall at 9217 51st Ave, College Park, MD 20740 and via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/98380365574.

The CBE will present the results of recently conducted survey about what sustainability issues matter most to College Park residents, what residents are doing to make the city greener, and what more residents want to see the city do.

Sustainability DiscussionDownload

City of College Park Council Meeting Review – October 22, 2024

/ District 2 Councilmembers - College Park, MD

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 held on October 22, 2024. By going to this link, you can watch the discussion of specific agenda items you are interested in. For questions about Council actions and discussions, please email us at lbesters@collegeparkmd.gov and swhitney@collegeparkmd.gov.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Former District 2 Councilmember Bob Catlin

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS
2024 Business of the Year Proclamation: Northwest Chinese 
Economic Development Week

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Motion to accept by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell, seconded by Councilmember Whitney

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Bob Catlin, resident – talked about various topics regarding the City Council, including  salaries that councilmember received in the 1990s, three current residents of CP who served on council, long serving member of the Prince George’s County Municipal Association (PGCMA) Mike Jacobs, who has served for 20 years, three women elected to City Council in 1997 for the first time, and an all-white-male City Council in 2001.  Mr. Catlin plans to talk about the creation of the Student Liaison position when he provides comments soon. 

John Smith, resident/student – posed questions about economic development week and its impact on the younger residents. Mayor Kabir encouraged him to reach out to staff with questions. He followed up with a question about the timeline for the Purple Line. He was reminded that this portion of the agenda was for public comment.

Lori Wilson, resident – had technical issues and was unable to talk.

Ms. Klobash, asset manager of the Hollywood shopping center– gave a shoutout to the City of College Park and Michael Williams, Director of Economic Development. She said it is amazing what everyone is doing. She works closely with Mr. Williams who introduced them to Project Restore. There is great interest in the shopping center, especially mom and pop shops. Project Restore is a great opportunity and option. 

Nick, resident/student- gave a shout out to Northwest Chinese. He asked for an update on the Purple Line. Mayor Kabir said he understands it is to be completed by 2027. 

David Varnado CPCUP- shared his appreciation for the City of College Park. He said he is not a current resident but grew up in Lakeland. He mentioned CPCUP’s Live + Work Program, they have been able to generate over $32 million in home sales and welcome 100 residents to College Park. 

William Sullivan, resident – has a background in urban planning. Said the construction of Leonardtown is disrupting the construction of the Purple Line. He said If students are concerned, they should reach out to the University. 

PRESENTATIONS:
Quarterly Financial Presentation, Gary Fields, Director of Finance 
Mr. Fields said although a monthly report was included in the packet, he would be providing a quarterly report. 

Questions about when the city receives the revenues from the Admissions & Amusements and Hotel taxes were asked by Councilmember Mackie and Councilmember Whitney prior to the Council meeting. Mr. Fields said the revenues from these taxes normally come in October and November. He also said there are expenses that are encumbrances or advanced expenses.

Mr. Fields said the most recent budget amendments did not get into the monthly budget that was presented but are reflected in the Quarterly report. During his presentation, Mr. Fields reviewed our current budgetary status as it relates to revenues and expenses. He estimated that the city uses 25% of the budget every 3 months. He said interfund transfers have not been entered yet and said the City Clerk’s budget is high due to the pay out of the former City Clerk upon her retirement. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell referenced the Hotel and Motel tax and asked about the various entities who asked for a reassessment of their taxes during COVID-19 and asked about current impacts. Mr. Fields said he has not seen any new requests. 

Economic Development Presentation, Michael Williams, Director of Economic Development
Mr. Williams congratulated RJ Bentleys for 44 years of business. He said the owner, John Brown, has deep economic development roots and was a central part of the University obtaining the Xfinity Center. 

He said in doing the report, there was research on similar cities and a number of recommendations including Aging in Place, Legacy Merchant Program, and an Acquisition Fund. He said several towns and cities had developed acquisition funds to acquire properties. 

He listed the accomplishments of Economic Development, including ARPA funding to businesses and service organizations in the amount of $2.5 million, business retention grants, and a successful grant response to address vacancies, specifically, three in the Hollywood shopping center, two in the downtown area and one in City Hall. Mr. Williams mentioned new businesses coming to the city, including Concentra, Ross Stores, Rally House, Green Turtle, and Food4Maryland. 

Mr. Williams talked about his work moving forward, including the revamping the Revitalization Tax Credit program, which will include language for student, senior, and affordable housing. The process will allow the council to help shape the program to benefit the community moving forward. He also talked about work related to permitting and regulatory autonomy, specifically, approaching the county and other entities about sharing the permitting process to help serve residents faster. He mentioned the RISE Zone (College Park, University Park, and Riverdale) through which the city offers rental assistance. There has been no activity yet. 

Mr. Williams mentioned visitor trends to the city. After University of Mayland (UMD) graduation and when students are not here, there is a dip in business activity, and it takes a while for businesses to recover. Other challenges the city faces include business disruptions like Purple Line construction and Route One work by the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA). 

Councilmember Mackie mentioned interest in the city having a bakery. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanked Mr. Williams for his work. She said there has been a lot of excitement among those who have visited the city recently. 

Councilmember Whitney asked when Primetime Restaurant will open. Mr. Williams said he hopes by Christmas. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked about Project Restore 3.0 and how it is helping businesses in North College Park. Mr. Williams mentioned the Baltimore Ave study which includes various questions about the type of businesses residents in the North College Park area would like to see. Councilmember Hernandez asked that public art be considered in North College Park. Mr. Williams said he would follow up with him via email to address questions. 

Councilmember Adams asked about the monitoring of principal taxpayers. He said IonQ is doing well in College Park and was recently featured on CNBC.

SGA liaison Otte asked how much murals in the city cost and how many murals we have in the city. Mr. Williams said murals projects are an agreement with owner and artists.  The artwork is normally done digitally, and you cannot determine cost until you know the size. Costs will vary. Mr. Young said there are public art grants of $15,000. 

ACTION ITEMS

24-G-140 Approval of the request to increase the Animal Control Officer created in FY24 and approved for FY25, from part time to full time effective prior to the end of FY25 – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services 
Mr. Miller, Parking Enforcement Management, said Animal Control was turned over to him as of the week of October 13. He said the Animal Control budget saw an increase of 60% in FY23 and the FY24 budget saw a 20.45% increase. 

There has been an increase in service calls in the area and region, but the hours have remained the same at part-time. As such, the city is looking to increase the existing part-time position to full-time. This change will provide back-up to the current Animal Control Officer (ACO) when she is out on calls. He said we are seeing many calls coming in from neighboring towns to surrender animals. 

Mr. Miller apologized to Councilmember Esters for not answering her question completely as it related to the cost of transition from part-time to full-time position and the new van. He said that Mr. Fields and Mr. Young addressed the question saying that the additional costs for .50 FTE to transition the current part-time position to full time would be funded through the general funds and the cost for the additional vehicle would be available through the Vehicle Replacement CIP (Capital Improvement Projects) account. 

Rebecca Bailey, ACO, said that the city received a grant for low cost/no-cost spay and neuter program. She said the additional van will help to facilitate their work to spay and neuter. 

Councilmember Mackie mentioned a recent issue in District 4 when dogs were out on their own without leashes and the ACO was called. She asked if people receive citations when these issues occur. Ms. Bailey said if the ACO responds and sees the violation, they can issue a citation, but if is it not seen by the ACO a warning is given. If the neighbor sees a violation, they can provide an affidavit and go before the court. Animal control always responds to calls. Their services are offered Monday – Saturday. Councilmember Mackie asked if we have support from Prince George’s County Animal Services (PGCAS). Ms. Bailey said PGCAS supports us during all off hours. Councilmember Mackie asked if Animal Control worked with USDA on dealing with wildlife issues. Ms. Bailey said Animal Control works with the Department of Natural Resources. 

Councilmember Hew said he has heard the set-up of the current van presents challenges during chip and rabies vaccine clinics. He asked if the new van will have a better set-up. Ms. Bailey said the new van with be helpful given the size and outfitting, but the clinics are currently held in an emergency trailer and are going fine. She has not had any problems with the set-up. The time is limited, as the vet is volunteering their time. 

Councilmember Hew said he gets a lot of complaints about people not picking up after their dogs. Ms. Bailey said to cite an individual for dog waste, they would have to witness someone not pick up after their dog.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanked the ACO for her work. She said we are getting many residents who call on Sunday, and PGCAS says it is not their responsibility to respond. She acknowledged there is a new director and a new staff and inquired about how we codify responsibility. Ms. Bailey said there is a meeting with ACOs and the new director of PGCAS. She will bring up the issue discussed this evening. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked how many calls we receive from neighboring cities. Ms. Bailey said it is hard to document the number. She said before part-time staff, the calls were going directly to her cell phone. About 80% of the calls were from outside the city. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked for advocacy for North College Park Animal Shelter. 

Councilmember Whitney said she would have liked to see the purchase of the van mentioned under “action requested” in the agenda. She wanted to acknowledge that the department has been responsive and caring. She asked if the uptick of surrenders has to do with access to housing. Ms. Bailey said yes, but there are a variety of reasons. 

Councilmember Rigg congratulated Mr. Miller. He asked if it is a priority of the city to closely monitor feral cat colonies. Ms. Bailey said the city does fund trap, vaccination, and release. Having additional staff would be helpful to do this work. She said that staff do not monitor, but volunteers have been identified to monitor and report back. This work would benefit from additional staff. She added that ear-tipped cats are not allowed to be captured. Councilmember Rigg asked if there is there any way to know more information about the increase of these cats in the city, saying research indicates they negatively impact wildlife. Ms. Bailey said she sympathized with wildlife, but the industry has realized they will not end the feral cat situation, but they can help to control it. 

Councilmember Adams asked to verify that CIP funding for the existing vehicle would be used for the new vehicle. Mr. Miller clarified that there is existing CIP funding for the current vehicle and there is funding available for the new van. Councilmembers Adams asked for staff to speak about what has occurred in the past few months since the hiring of the part-time staff member. Mr. Young clarified that the funding for the part-time position was approved in FY24. There was an initial hiring, and the person is no longer with the city. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he would welcome efforts regarding dog waste public service campaign to educate residents. He expressed concern about dogs being unleashed and recent incidents. What is the impact if we do not move forward? Mr. Miller said if we do not see an increase in staff, we will remain at status quo. We do not have enough staff to address the ongoing issues. Mr. Young said the coverage issue for staff has not been fully discussed. Having another staff will help with the need for coverage. 

SGA Liaison Otte said two weeks ago an unleashed dog bit a student at Terrapin Row. She asked about the legalities regarding the situation. Ms. Bailey said, like other violations, it would fall under the code. The incident at Terrapin Row is under investigation but they have been unable to identify the dog owner. 

Motion made by Councilmember Mackie, seconded by Councilmember Esters

Resident William Sullivan said council should consider the increase of the population in the city, saying there are a lot more millennials and with their family of pets. 

The motion passed with a vote of 7-1.

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Whitney made a motion to consider a taskforce on Affordable Child Care, seconded by Councilmember Esters.
Councilmember Adams said there is another item that is on the agenda related to Child Care and that a taskforce could be considered as part of that item. Councilmember Rigg said the task force would advise on a topic that’s not necessarily the city’s business. Councilmember Whitney said we write letters all the time about topics that impact our residents whether we have direct ability to make changes, such as gun control. 

Councilmember Mackie asked if the task force would work to get comments from residents and how the two items will work together. 

Councilmember Whitney said her item would be a precursor. It would be less complicated and can be acted upon faster. She has been informed there will be many proposals for legislation affecting childcare. 

Councilmember Mitchell said we need to be cognizant of what lane we are going down on this issue. 

Councilmember Adams said there is a future agenda item that this can work in concert with. He feels a committee that is formed could look at the same issues. He added that families with children may not be available for two to three meetings around the holidays. 

Mr. Young said that Mr. Adams’ item is tentatively scheduled to come before council on November 19.  In light of that, Councilmember Whitney moved to table her agenda request, asking that a task force to consider legislation by considered as a first priority under Councilmember Adams’ item. Adams seconded. 

Councilmember Esters made a motion to request traffic study on Ruatan Street to determine the feasibility of a one-way street from east to west, seconded by Councilmember Whitney.

Councilmember Mitchell said she will put forth and item on annexation of properties.

COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR, COUNCIL, STUDENT LIAISON OR CITY MANAGER
Councilmember Mackie attended the College Park Academy mural ribbon cutting. It was a great celebration. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said former Councilmember Robert Day is now the President of the Board of College Park Academy. She mentioned that Metro is considering expanding the service hours on the weekend. The State of Maryland takes on the cost of subsidizing the Metro. The City of College Park was not selected to be part of the subcommittee, but there are numerous individuals from northern VA. She said she will attend the NLC conference in Florida to learn about best practices from municipalities around the country and is running for Second Vice President. 

Mayor Kabir said the next Mayor & Council meeting will be on November 12.  The Maryland Municipal League Fall conference will take place November 6 – 7.

Councilmember Whitney congratulated the Terps on a great Homecoming win in the game’s last few seconds. 

Councilmember Hernandez gave a shout out to his sister for winning homecoming princess at her HS. He announced there will be a District 1 discussion on 10/28 from 7pm-9pm to keep residents informed.

MEETING ADJOURNED

INFORMATION REPORT – NO DISCUSSION

1st Quarter FY25 Strategic Plan Update – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager

September 2024 Monthly Financial Report – Leo Thomas, Assistant Finance Director

CLOSED SESSION

Pursuant to the statutory authority of Maryland Annotated Code, General Provisions Article§ 3-305 (b)(7) and (13), the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park are providing notice that they will meet in a Closed Session after this meeting to consult with legal counsel to obtain legal advice. They will not return to open session.

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on November 12, 2024 once it is available. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated 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:

Consent
Letter to Park and Planning with recommendations to amend the Mandatory Dedication of Parkland Section of the Subdivision Ordinance 

Action
Approval of a Property Use Agreement with Arepa Zone The Aster LLC t/a Arepa Zone 4341 Calvert Road, College Park, MD 20740 – Class B, Beer, and Wine alcoholic beverage license

Worksession
Follow up discussion on draft language to amend the City Code (Chapters 125, 141 and 110) to prohibit the storage of certain types of furniture in the front yard

Neighbors Helping Neighbors – College Park Recruitment Efforts for Volunteers & Board Members

/ District 2 Councilmembers - College Park, MD

Please consider the message from Neighbors Helping Neighbors – College Park . Neighbors Helping Neighbors provides much needed assistance to College Park residents:

Join Us in Making a Difference! Volunteer with Neighbors Helping Neighbors – College Park 

Are you passionate about supporting seniors in your community? Do you want to make a meaningful impact while gaining valuable experience? Join Neighbors Helping Neighbors – College Park, a dedicated non-profit organization focused on helping seniors age in place comfortably and safely in their own homes.

Who We Are: At Neighbors Helping Neighbors – College Park, we believe that every senior deserves the opportunity to live independently with dignity. We provide essential services, resources, and companionship to enhance their quality of life.

Volunteer Opportunities: We’re seeking compassionate volunteers who can help with:

  • Friendly Visits: Spend time with seniors, providing companionship and reducing isolation.
  • Transportation Assistance: Help seniors get to appointments, grocery stores, or social events.
  • Home Maintenance Support: Assist with light chores and home safety assessments.
  • Administrative Tasks: Support our team with marketing, outreach, and event planning.

Board Member Roles: We’re also looking for passionate individuals to join our Board of Directors. As a board member, you’ll play a crucial role in shaping our organization’s vision and strategies, fundraising efforts, and community outreach. Ideal candidates should have experience in non-profit governance, finance, marketing, or community service.

Why Volunteer with Us?

  • Make a real difference in the lives of seniors.
  • Gain experience in a supportive environment.
  • Meet like-minded individuals who share your passion for community service.
  • Flexible opportunities that fit your schedule.

Get Involved Today! If you’re ready to share your time and talents, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us at 301-222-3434 or coordinator@nhn-cp.org or president@nhn-cp.org to learn more about volunteering or joining our board!

Together, we can help seniors thrive in their homes and communities!

Neighbors Helping Neighbors – College Park 
www.nhn-cp.org 

Family Flights and Frights: Trick-or-Treat at the Museum

/ District 2 Councilmembers - College Park, MD
Set your Halloween spirits soaring! Join us for an evening filled with trick-or-treating in the gallery and spook-tacular games and crafts. Come dressed in your favorite costumes and get ready for a high-flying Halloween adventure. Activities while supplies last. Registration required. For more information: 301.864.6029 or kimberly.schwartz@pgparks.com

Date:  Saturday, October 26, 2024
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive, College Park, MD
Ticket Price: $2/person
BUY TICKETS
Ages: All
Event Category: Holidays & Celebrations Youth
Event Programs & Series: College Park Aviation Museum
Phone: (301) 864-6029
Email: collegeparkaviation@pgparks.com



Senior Citizen Hot Meal Distribution

/ District 2 Councilmembers - College Park, MD
Helpers to Good is excited to announce a hot meal giveaway for senior citizens in College Park on Sunday, October 27th. If you or someone you know would like to participate, please register using the link below. We would also greatly appreciate it if you could spread the word by sharing the flyer and registration link.

Register for the “Helpers to Good” Senior Citizen 60+ (College Park Residents) Hot Meal Giveaway (FREE)

📅

 Pick-up Date: Sunday, October 27th, 2024

🕑

 Time: 2:00 PM

📍

 Location: Dar-us-Salaam, 5301 Edgewood Rd, College Park, MD 20740

🔗

 Register here: https://duscommunity.wufoo.com/forms/k1wfg0ka0p03w46/

Join us for Good Neighbor Day this Saturday, 10/26, 8:30am-Noon

/ District 2 Councilmembers - College Park, MD

Join us Sat, Oct 26, 2024 8:30am – 12:00pm at Branchville Volunteer Fire Company’s Hero’s Hall for “Bridging Generations: Share, Learn, Connect,” an intergenerational exchange where attendees can choose from a variety of skills to learn, such as crocheting, cooking, technology support, and music, taught by community members. There will also be an open sharing session, where you are welcome to bring materials and share your own skills with the group. It is a day of connection and learning for all ages, with volunteers sharing and participating in the activities. Click here to register. If registration is no longer available, there will be forms to complete on site.

Branchville Volunteer Fire Company & Rescue Squad is located at 4905 Branchville Rd, College Park, MD 20740

City of College Park Council Meeting Review –  October 15, 2024

/ District 2 Councilmembers - College Park, MD

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 held on October  15,  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 reminded residents about the Clean Up Day scheduled for Saturday, October 19 at Davis Hall 7:30am – 12noon. 

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Rigg made a motion to move agenda item 24-G-140 to the Consent Agenda, seconded by Councilmember Hernandez. 

Councilmember Whitney made a motion to move approval of minutes to Action, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell accepted the amended agenda, Councilmember Mackie seconded.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Lorraine Wilson, resident – raised hand but was unable to speak due to technical difficulties. 

PRESENTATION

Discussion with the United States Postal Service

Mr. Keith Hooks from the National Association of Letter Carriers came to speak to Council about concerns at the North College Park Post Office. Mr. Hooks said Postmaster Tonya White has retired. There is not a new Postmaster yet, but an Officer In Charge (OIC) will be identified soon. He said issues related to calls not being returned, and mis-deliveries should be addressed.  He explained that the delay in mail delivery is due to the release of mail from the warehouse. 

Mr. Hooks said that the Union understands public service. He said mail carriers   are often the first ones to see or hear things in the neighborhood. He said his main goal is to keep carriers focused. He said he believes consistent communication with the community is important and asked for help in watching over mail carriers because there has been an uptick of assault, robberies, etc. He went on to share that bill HR29 – Letter Carriers Act is before Congress now.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanked Mr. Hooks for taking her call. She said residents have called and asked for a person of contact. He said he would serve as a point of contact until the OIC is identified. He will then share their contact information.  

Councilmember Mackie asked if there was an FAQ about what to expect from the letter carrier. There are a lot of seniors in the city, and they cannot deliver mis-delivered mail to the correct address.  Mr. Hooks said customers should not be delivering mail; it should always be given back to the carrier. Councilmember Mackie said recently mail was found in the storm drain and wondered what should be done. Mr. Hooks said there is an employee who is responsible for every zip code associated with 207, and that people should be contacted when such incidents occur. 

Councilmember Esters recalled a recent incident in the North College Park Post office when employees complained about those who utilize the post office always having issues while she was in the Post Office. She acknowledged that people can be frustrated, but there is a time and place to discuss such concerns. Councilmember Esters asked about Mr. Hooks’ role as a union representative about his role in helping to address resident issues. He said prior to the OIC being put in place, and eventually a postmaster being hired, he will serve as a surrogate to fill in the gap. 

Councilmember Hernandez said some residents use USPS Informed Delivery Service, a resource that helps people forecast forthcoming mail. Residents say they’ve had mail that has been held for week and is delivered in bundles.

Mayor Kabir asked who the point of contact for the city would be. Mr. Hooks said he will provide the information, but did not have it that evening. Mayor Kabir said the issue with the post office is longstanding. He said there had been outreach to the congressional representative some time ago and it helped for a while, but the concerns have returned. 

Councilmember Rigg asked about the rented post office located at Calvert Road near the Metro. He said grounds are unkept. He asked that it be passed along to staff to ensure things in the area can be resolved. 

Annual police agency presentation – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services

Mr. Khokar introduced the presentation, which was previously done on an annual basis and includes crime statistics from each agency and crime prevention methods. There are five agencies represented, including Metro Transit Police, State Police, Park & Planning Police, University of Maryland Police, and Prince George’s Police Department. 

Metro Transit – Overall system-wide crime is down 30%. They believe the shift is due to point of entry policing (fare enforcement). 97% of violent criminals committed fare evasion. The new gates have helped deter fare evasion. Metro Police have helped to take handguns off the street. In College Park Metro Station, theft from auto and scooter thefts are seen the most. They have implemented a bait bike program and have surveillance and bike lock giveaways. They work with partner agencies who encounter some of the same criminals. 

Last spring Metro ramped up truancy enforcement.  Anytime there is contact with a juvenile they contact parents and schools and take them back. Metro has a Crisis Intervention Team that functions as a gateway to mental health assistance. The Youth Services Team serves as liaison between Metro and the schools. Overall things are working. The Kia Hyundai Challenge of last year has died down. They have seen a 156% increase in arrests of people stealing bikes and breaking into cars.

Maryland State Police (Lieutenant Wiseman)- They deal with anything north and east of the beltway. Stopped 26,000 cars in the past year and have seen fatal collisions go down by 40%. Trooper has dealt with 70 accidents in college park. There are specialized troopers who assist University of Maryland (UMD) with games and special events. 

Maryland National Park Police (Chief Brown) – 8 parks in and around the City of College Park. In the past year there have been 22 calls from service, most calls are theft from auto. There have been a few serious incidents and a few assaults. Things will turn around given the change of season. 

UMD Police Dept (Chief Mitchell) – Everything done at UMD involves partnership with the other agencies. Off-campus contacts with the community comprise 33% of calls. They have seen a rise in theft, specifically of scooters, cell phones and laptops. Violent crime is very low on campus. There have been cases of homeless individuals stealing scooters and selling them for drugs. 

The City Multi-agency Service Team (CMAST) – meets on a monthly basis during the academic year. Over time, there has been a dramatic decrease in repeat residential calls for disorderly activity. Chief Mitchell thanked the city for funding cameras. There have been many requests for camera review and the identification of individuals responsible for incidents in College Park. The cameras have been instrumental in identifying perpetrators who pulled a gun and an attempted sexual assault, including a 12-year-old who was known in Montgomery County and College Park and surrounding areas. 

Mental Health efforts include the Crisis Intervention Team, Mental Health Emergency Assessment and Response Team (MHeart) Counselor and Van, and Teddy, the UMPD Comfort Dog. 

Micromobility Enforcement requires a great deal of education. At UMD, scooters must be registered. He thanked the city for creating a dedicated bike lane but finds that some students are surprised they need to stop at stop signs. UMD has issued several citations. Some of the current UMD Police programs include Coffee with a Cop, Citizens Police Academy, and Lights On ($200 discount on car lights repair). UMD would like to expand their coverage in Berwyn. 

A speed camera near frat row is desperately needed; they would help to curb reckless driving of motorcycles and cars. Montgomery County just implemented noise cameras. Acknowledgement of the city for the stop sign cameras pilot.  There is an interest in moving PERT phones in the city to dedicated PEPCO vs. Solar Power and in expanding Shot Spotter. 

PGCPD (Major Keleti)-  All agencies work together to reduce crime. We are down 15% in theft from auto, up 6% in violent crime and down 11% in total. Many of the arrests are made by investigators. 

Contract officers have issued 168 citations for loud exhausts over the past year. Two issues police have ramped up their efforts – scooters and truck inspections. 

Councilmember Hernandez – thanked everyone for their services. He asked for crime statistics for the Greenbelt Metro Station. He asked about the increased number of crimes at the Holiday Inn and whether AI is incorporated into their work. He said that Hollywood Elementary School was thankful for the crossing guards. 

Councilmember Hew suggested that Council colleagues attend the Citizens Police Academy. He said many of his concerns were answered through the program. Councilmember Hew asked about procedures being put in place for the upcoming purple line. Major Keleti said the departments share information on an ongoing basis. There will be testing of the system soon. 

Chief Mitchell said they have a great relationship with the Purple Line, which will have six stops through campus and Riverdale Park. The work has been expedited due to former UMD Vice President Carlo Colella and President Pines. 

Councilmember Hew said there are times we need a good point of contact for the Park Police. He said he would like to build a relationship there. Chief Brown said there is contact number posted on signs in the parks and said calls to 911 will be directed to the proper police agency. 

Councilmember Hew said some residents are reluctant to call 911 because they do not want to overwhelm the system. There is also a line for non-emergency numbers. Asked whether there is a new app for reporting issues. On the website, a non-violent crime can be reported online.  

Councilmember Esters thanked agencies for their service. She referenced staff issues that have been an issue over the years for law enforcement and asked what staffing looked like for each agency and how those issues may impact the City of College Park. 

PGPD is down by 380 officers. Staffing decrease has caused a move to 12 hours shifts.  In the next two years, we will see the loss of numerous officers. UMD has 5 new officers. They have not had to adjust their schedules. The University has been very supportive. MNCPPC needs 136 officers to be at full capacity for the county and currently has approximately 120. Metro is currently 90 officers short. 480 officers are full capacity. They have created their own academy. The State Police are currently 90 officers short. Although way down, they continue to do the best they can with their resources. 

Councilmember Whitney said motorized vehicles using bike lanes and the Trolley Trail is an ongoing issue. She used to see police officers on bicycles but hasn’t in a while. Chief Mitchell said UMPD officers will continue their mobile patrols, but it is a challenge. The speed limit has been lowered to 15 miles per hour. There was a tidal wave of issues since last year with many location checks in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s attacks on Gaza have caused security concerns that have taken them out of the cars and from other enforcement. Chief Brown said Park Police will conduct a bike school to get more officers trained, including the younger officers.

Councilmember Whitney asked if catalytic converter thefts were down since we have not heard a lot about them recently. Chief Mitchell said they are not down. They can be stolen in less than 60 seconds. Camera systems have helped to make arrests, but it is a huge challenge. They have not seen as many on campus as they have in the metro area. Major Keleti said they have seen a reduction in those thefts, but they have seen more rims and tires stolen of late. Councilmember Whitney asked if demographic statistics on car stops are tracked. Major Keleti said that PGPD keeps track of all the stops.  Chief Mitchell said that Etix is used by UMD and shows if people have been stopped before. The issue of drunk driving in College Park continues to be an issue, especially on Route 1 and 193. 

Mayor Kabir asked about the overall increase in crime and asked what that is attributed to. Major Keleti said that crime goes up and down and acknowledged slight increases. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell – Thanked the panel for their work and asked about motorcycles at the IKEA parking lot and Route 1. Commander Wasserman was not aware. Major Keleti said PGPD is aware of the issue, and it is a challenge. Contract Officers have written numerous citations for activity at IKEA. Mitchell informed Chief Brown they had not seen anyone patrolling in College Park Woods. Chief Brown said patrols are done 24/7. They have received one call in College Park Woods over the past year. She will make folks aware and will ask for more patrols. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if we move forward with stop sign cameras, would it allow UMD to redirect their work. Chief Mitchell said anytime we can use automation to assist it is helpful. He said there are jurisdictions that are using drones. There are emerging opportunities to monitor issues. 

Major Keleti said it is something that will help with having officers sitting at intersections but said Prince George’s County is a no-fly zone, so PGPD must get permission from the FCC. When asked about off-campus apartments and if there are currently issues where there are students from other universities, Major Keleti said there are currently very few issues. Where there are issues from other students, they do not hesitate to contact conduct offices. 

Councilmember Mackie – thanked the agencies. She expressed concern about motorized bikes on paths. Asked if there are strategies that we should put in place to help residents. Major Keleti said PGPD gets intel about illegal car meet ups and updates each week. He said law enforcement is now charging the event promoters. The bikes are an issue, but they cannot chase them and often they will not stop. They can use aviation devices. Chief Brown said bikes are not allowed on the trails. Motorized and Biked officers are on the trails to help deter behavior. 

Councilmember Adams discussed the attraction and retention of staff and mentioned the existing College Park homeownership programs that may help to attract and retain staff. He appreciated Chief Mitchell’s direct requests to council including cameras and stop sign cameras. He posed a question about recreational marijuana and whether there have been issues with individuals under the influence of other substances? Chief Mitchell said there has been reckless driving and people have been found to be under the influence while testing negative for alcohol. A drug recognition expert is called to confirm conditions. We have seen an uptick. We do not want to see anyone with behaviors that are detrimental to others. Adams mentioned areas where cars park in bike lanes in front of key locations. Chief Mitchell said this has been a long-standing issue in College Park. Some are attributed to delivery while others are pick up or drop offs. Officers are asked to help them move on. Every day there are tractor trailers parked behind Frat Row, but Baltimore Ave is a particular issue. 

Major Keleti said if you are impeding traffic, you will be asked to move one. In some instances, companies have been contacted to ensure their behavior does not impede rush hour. Councilmember Adams mentioned the bike lanes that are impeded when cars park in the area. He also mentioned that calls related to noise and nuisance in District 3 have decreased, although there has been some vandalism. Adams mentioned that needles have been found in Calvert Park and have been reported. He said he feels like fare evasion has gotten better. He asked Wasserman if signs on I-495 could clearly indicate there are three northbound lanes to Baltimore. 

Councilmember Rigg said he is extremely satisfied with police enforcement in the city among all agencies. However, he understands that in the back of Calvert Community Park, Riverdale Park and near CSX there is sometimes drug activity and people traverse jurisdictions. He asked who would have jurisdiction to deal with these concerns. Chief Brown said if the activity is adjacent to the park, Park Police has jurisdiction. Metro will also address issues and then agencies will work it out. 

Rigg asked about hot rodding up and down Kenilworth Ave and described the moving violations are extremely loud. He said residents of District 3 often do not know who to contact with their concerns. Major Keleti said to call the county police. He will let the officers know to increase patrols. 

SGA liaison Otte asked to address the issue of drunk driving on scooters. Many students do not realize if they are drunk on a scooter, they are drunk driving. Chief Mitchell said UMD has ticketed scooters for drunk driving and will continue to do so while they work to educate students. Major Keleti said on average there have been 612 crashes on scooters and 10 fatalities. PGPD stops a lot of scooters. 

CONSENT AGENDA

24-G-137 Approval of Parameters/Guidelines for the City’s Business Retention and Attraction Fund – Michael Williams, Director of Economic Development

24-G-138 Approval of Contract for AARP Age Friendly Action Plan Lead Consultant – Kiaisha Barber, Director Youth, Family and Senior Services

24-G-139 Approval of a Property Use Agreement with Samosas and Spirits, LLC t/a Samosas and Sprits, 10250-C Baltimore Avenue, -Alcoholic Beverage License

ACTION ITEMS

24-G-134 Approval of the September 10, 2024, and September 24, 2024 Minutes

Councilmember Whitney motioned to make two minor revisions to the minutes from September 24 and to adjust the language regarding the business attraction grant to Rally House in the September 10 minutes, seconded by Councilmember Esters. Passed unanimously.

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

A. Discussion of the CIP Funding for the Meter Replacement Program, Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services and Jim Miller, Parking Enforcement Manager

Mr. Miller said he sought direction from Council about how to deal with antiquated parking meter equipment. The request for funding goes back to 2009. It has been requested in the current year’s funding but pushed to FY 26-Fy29. The existing funding was earmarked for license plate readers (LPRs)e. Of the five options offered, the two major options were to replace all the pay stations and authorize staff to move forward with the RFP process or approve a lesser number of pay stations and authorize staff to move forward with the RFP process. Mr. Miller said if we remain with the current company, we can purchase in phases. He said the real strength is in providing as many options as possible to accommodate all users/residents.

Councilmember Adams thanked Mr. Khokhar and Mr. Miller for the overview and the various options. He asked for clarification that meters located in front of Popeyes, Blaze and Stripe are not included. Mr. Miller said they are not. 

Councilmember Adams asked if the meters behind the College Park Shopping Center would need to be replaced. They do not right now, but there may be further discussion. 

Mr. Miller said replacement parts are unavailable for 7 of the 16 pay stations. The pay station in the Garage is included among the sixteen. Four pay stations are in the garage, 5 are in the College Park shopping Center, 5 are by Terrapin Row, and 2 are near College Ave. 

Councilmember Rigg said he tends to be conservative about parking, saying it is an economic development mechanism. He said for the time being, we should continue to offer credit card and pay stations in all parking areas. He would like to reconsider ways to recoup some of the cost of managing parking for privately owned property. Parking is not a moneymaker in the city, it is intended to encourage people to come into the city and utilize businesses. 

Mr. Miller said the Downtown core is concentrated, so there aren’t a lot of options. There has always been a fine line between enforcement and compliance. You want to be able to offer options to allow people to pay for parking. 

Councilmember Rigg asked if there are additional areas where parking can be extended in the city. Miller said most are on Baltimore Ave. and extending toward the Capital Beltway. There is not a lot of space elsewhere. There are concerns that we will see more requests for permit-restricted parking. According to the Financial Manager, based upon the volume of cash pick up, the armored car pick up can be scaled back. 

Councilmember Mackie asked to clarify that the bill readers are more expensive than coin operators. Mr. Miller said the issue of a bill reader has been fixed, but jams do occur. 

With the all the construction in the city, we will continue to see issues with construction workers who have runners to pay meters for all-day parking at shopping centers. 

Councilmember Whitney said she would support the replacement of the pay stations with no bill reader and asked why the City uses AIMS but not ParkMobile, which is common. Mr. Miller said when the need for an app arose, the software that runs the parking meters, AIMS, had just developed one. He added that AIMS costs the city and the customer less per transaction than ParkMobile but said they could look at ParkMobile as an additional option. 

Councilmember Esters said she would support the replacement of the pay stations with no bill reader. She asked for an estimate of when the machinery would need to be replaced after this replacement. Mr. Miller said the RFP will map out the best way to move forward. Looking for options to take us through the next 7-10 years when technology changes. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he was confused about why we offer parking to commercial properties and there could be other ways to use our limited funds. He added that he found the AIMs app difficult to use. Mr. Miller said all the apps have issues at times.

Councilmember Adams said he was in favor of replacing stations in the garage and the College Park Shopping Center but moving those on Hartwick and on the streets to App parking. Approves of replacing 9 pay stations. 

SGA Liaison Otte said she agreed with Councilmember Riggs. There are many visitors to the University and people will risk getting a ticket when paying for parking is difficult. 

Mr. Miller said it would be helpful to have an actual number of pay stations to replace for the RFP process. He suggested further Council discussion on the matter in closed session. 

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

Lorraine Wilson, resident – asked to speak but continued to have technical difficulties. 

COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR, COUNCIL, STUDENT LIAISON or CITY MANGER 

Councilmember Adams said he was working with staff on setting up listening session for the Calvert Road vacant lot. 

Mayor Kabir said he had an opportunity to attend a symposium planned by UMD Libraries.

Councilmember Hew reminded residents to attend the Park and Planning Charette on the new Zoning to be held on October 23 at the Chinese Bible Church. 

Councilmember Hernandez said for those who do not know, a charette is an engineering process that helps envision proposed changes.

MEETING ADJOURNED 

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on October 22, 2024. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated 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 ITEM:

  • Approval of the request to increase the Animal Control Officer created in FY24 and approved for FY25, from part time to full time effective prior to the end of FY25 

PRESENTATION:

  • Quarterly Financial Presentation
  • Economic Development Presentation

Fall Clean Up Saturday, 10/19, 7:30am-noon at Public Works

/ District 2 Councilmembers - College Park, MD

Cleanup Saturday, October 19, 2024 ,  7:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Public Works, 9217 51st Avenue, College Park

The City of College Park Public Works facility will be open for City residents to drop off bulky trash, white goods, electronics recycling, brush, and yard trim. Bulk trash brought on cleanup days does not count toward bulk trash limits, nor are any fees applied for appliances, televisions, or monitors. There is a $4 fee for all tires. 

You must be a resident of the City of College Park and bring proof of City residency to participate, although anyone can buy compost or wood mulch during this event. 

NOT ACCEPTED: Bricks, concrete, rocks, hazardous materials such as shingles, propane tanks, car batteries, paint, smoke detectors, etc.

DURING CLEANUP EVENTS, THE FOLLOWING WILL BE COLLECTED:

Fluorescent light bulbs and tubes (small quantities) – must be intact. 
 Includes LED lamps, U-shaped or circular fluorescent lamps, High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps, Ultraviolet (UV) lamps, Incandescent Bulbs, Halogen or Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs).

Household batteries for recycling (small quantities). 
 This includes rechargeable batteries such as Li-Ion, Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, Ni-Zn; Single-use alkalines such as AA, AAA, 9V, C, D button cell, and lithium primary. 
No damaged batteries; no power equipment or automotive batteries.

 Block Styrofoam for recycling (coolers and large blocks of packing material). 

City of College Park Council Meeting Review –  October 8, 2024

/ District 2 Councilmembers - College Park, MD

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 held on October  08,  2024. By going to this link, you can 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 informed residents that construction on the Hollywood Road sidewalk in North College Park, between Rhode Island Ave. and Baltimore Ave. is tentatively scheduled to begin the week of October 14.  He said eligible recipients of the student housing subsidy grant have been identified and staff will use a random lottery to identify graduate and undergraduate recipients. Recipients will be notified in the next few weeks. He announced the Friday Night Lights event to be held on Friday, October 11 from 4pm -7pm to celebrate the football game between University of Maryland and Northwestern. The event will feature live music, food, and sports-themed activities. He said there will be a soft opening of Ross Stores on Cherry Hill Road in the space previously occupied by Best Buy on Friday, October 11 and a grand opening on Sunday, October 13. Mr. Young said Rally House is slated to have their soft opening the week of October 14. He reminded residents of the city’s fall clean ups scheduled for Saturday, October 12 and Saturday, October 19.  Shredding services only to be provided on October 12.  

Councilmember Mackie asked about the opening of the Green Turtle.  Mayor Pro Tem said it should open on October 19. 

Mayor Kabir asked about the number of attendees for this year’s College Park Day event.  Mr. Young said staff are still working to confirm the numbers, but the airport museum saw approximately 2500 visitors.  

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Former District 2 Councilmember Bob Catlin and Monroe Dennis were recognized.  

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Grants for Safe Schools Day

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Whitney motioned to move 24-G-131 from the Consent Agenda to the Action Item Agenda, seconded by Councilmember Esters

Councilmember Adams motioned to move 24-G-133 from the Consent Agenda to the Action Item Agenda, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchelle motioned to approve the agenda, seconded by Councilmember Mackie 

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Bob Catlin, District 2 residents – has noticed there is not a lot of public comment, as compared to when he served on Council, and he would like to provide comment.  He talked about development over the years, including many projects that were not actually built.  He mentioned three current residents who previously served on Council including Maxine Gross, Eric Olson, and himself.  He also mentioned the number of murders and pedestrian fatalities in the city.  

PRESENTATION:

Accessory Dwelling Units and Missing Middle Housing Strategies Presentation, Lakisha Hull, Planning Director of Prince George’s County Planning Department and – Miriam Bader, Director of Planning

Ms. Hull said the county’s planning team has been working on the project for years now and she mentioned the importance of having a diversity of housing types, including the missing middle.  

The middle housing category includes duplexes and Live and work. If missing middle is done correctly, they are well designed and placed in areas accessible to transportation. Currently 83% of the housing in PG are detached single-family homes. Plan 2035 guides work in this area. According to Ms. Hull, neither the county nor the surrounding areas are ready to deal with housing related to young professionals and those aging in place. We see more multigenerational housing options, but how do we ensure equity and economic resilience? 

Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are small self-contained housing units that exist within or adjacent to a larger primary residence. The benefits of ADUs fall into the following categories: Community, Homeowner, Tenant, Environmental, and Aging in Place. 

The State of Maryland established an ADU task force to provide recommendations. Ms. Hull’s department is trying to launch an ADU/Missing Middle strategy plan. She noted that an ADU can be as small as 485 square feet. She mentioned the launch of a missing middle strategy book in 2025, community engagement thereafter, followed by a report in 2026. According to Ms. Hull, Montgomery County has already done a study.  

Councilmember Adams said Montgomery County has ADUs and the primary homes need to be owner-occupied.  He shared feedback from neighbors who are concerned about the difficulty of regulating 5 unrelated people in a home, and the addition of ADUs providing more capacity has residents concerned.  He said we have a lot of single-family homes near public transportation.

Mayor Pro Tem said the presentation allows for more robust discussion and raised concerns about parking. She asked how work on the part of the state would impact work at the county level.

Councilmember Whitney asked for a copy of the presentation. She said the article in the packet highlighted legal challenges faced by Arlington in implementing its missing middle strategy. She said the policy was challenged based on claims that infrastructure, such as sewage systems, were not proven sufficient to handle the pressure of increased density. She said we commonly here anti-development comments from residents who say our roads and systems can’t handle increased density. She said it would be crucial for the county to cross t’s and dot I’s for a policy to be successful.  

Councilmember Esters recognized Ms. Hull’s mention of affordable housing as housing that is affordable and not subsidized housing, which people often confuse. She asked about the states that are currently doing this work well.  Ms. Hull said some states are forcing this work, which does not always work.  She said areas that do better with due process look at the state to determine what is allowed and get input from residents. She mentioned a “trendy city in a large state” where they did much of this work, but now things are being pulled back.  

Councilmember Hew said we must consider we are in an area with a high rate of rentals, and we do not necessarily need that.  

Councilmember Hernandez said aging in place will be an ongoing issue. He asked if Ms. Hull could share best practices and partners in helping to build out homes with retrofits. Ms. Hull referenced AARP and mentioned her participation in APA each year, saying that would be a consideration as they work on the strategy plan and report.  

Councilmember Mackie said she found Ms. Hull’s reference to environmental beauty refreshing and mentioned how the infrastructure must support the addition of ADUs. 

Councilmember Whitney acknowledged that we have a lot of pressure for rentals in the city but clarified that missing middle housing does not only mean rental housing.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked that as the county moves forward that it work with senior committees in municipalities, like the one in College Park, to get input. 

Mayor Kabir asked about community engagement. Ms. Hull said the RFP has yet to go out for the project, but assured Council that the consultant will include details about community engagement. Ms. Hull will work with the city’s planner, Ms. Bader, to ensure that the city is engaged.  

CONSENT AGENDA

24-G-132 Approval of two Grants for Berwyn District Civic Association (a Community Service Grant and a Spanish Translation Grant) –Gary Fields, Director of Finance

24-G-135 Approval of a Contract Amendment with Rainbow Construction Corporation of Waldorf amount not to exceed $50,470 for increases in construction costs associated with paving the parking lot and entire driveway at the Woods Community Clubhouse –Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works

Councilmember Mackie motioned for approval of the Consent Agenda, seconded by Councilmember Esters. The Consent Agenda was unanimously approved.

PUBLIC HEARING AND POSSIBLE ACTION

24-O-07 An Ordinance of the City of College Park to amend City Code Chapter 179 to remove the City Forester position from the City Code/Tree and Landscape Board – Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney

Mr. Marsili mentioned the need to change the city code to address the recommendation to replace the retired City Forester with the City Arborist to fulfill the requirement of the Tree and Landscape Board (TLB).  He said the suggestion was brought to the TLB in February and there was no objection.  

Councilmember Hernandez asked if there was any negative impact of changing the code, and Mr. Marsili said there was not.

Mayor Protem Mitchell made the motion, seconded by Mackie. The ordinance was unanimously approved.

ACTION ITEMS: 

24-G-131 Approval for staff to send a letter of support to the State Highway Administration for protected bike lanes on reconstructed portions of Baltimore Avenue – Steve Halpern, City Engineer

Councilmember Whitney asked that the initial letter be changed to direct it to Maryland Secretary of Transportation Wiedefeld and copy the 21st Delegation, County Councilmembers Olson and Dernoga, SHA Administrator Pines and SHA District Engineer Gunn. In addition, to redirecting the letter, she requested that the letter come from the Mayor & Council instead of the City Manager and to add an ask that the bike lanes already added Baltimore Avenue be retroactively made into protected bike lanes.   

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said our At-large County Councilmembers should also be copied, and Councilmember Whitney concurred.

Councilmember Adams thanked Councilmember Whitney for her initiative and acknowledged campus groups and community members in the community who expressed concerns. 

Councilmember Hernandez thanked Councilmember Whitney for her initiative on the matter and acknowledged the need and the importance of protected bike lanes.

Councilmember Whitney made the motion, which was seconded by Councilmember Esters and unanimously approved.

24-G-133 Authorize the City Manager to execute a contact with Modern Construction Services in the amount of $147,485 to perform exterior repairs and painting to a City owned property located at 4704 Calvert Road- Miriam Bader, Director of Planning

Moira Abernathy provided an overview of the matter.  She said the city bought property in March of 2022. The city planned to paint the property but realized the home needed more work.  The property is in the historic district of Calvert Hills and is divided into 4 apartment units.  

A historic preservation architect was hired to assess the needs of the house, and a contractor who could do historic preservation was needed.  

Ms. Abernathy showed pictures of the house detailing some of the work needing to be done. Among the repairs, there is a need to replace the framing round window, facia boards, shingles, shutters, and storm windows.

Councilmember Adams said action is specific to exterior renovations and exterior improvements, but the information provided as part of the agenda has caused some concerns with him and other residents.  There has been no opportunity for resident input. He said existing tenants received a notice to vacate and there are rumors that the garage will be removed. He said he agrees with what is being proposed, but community members are asking for the plans for the property.  He reiterated his interest in the exterior improvements being done, but said there are other components where community input is needed.  He said he was seeking clarity on some of the concerns mentioned.

Mr. Young said as staff we have no control over how others interpret what is provided in the packets.  For transparency, the city outlined what has been done regarding the property and to provide tenants with enough notice. One of the main issues related to the purchase of the property was the development of the land surrounding the property, and the city plans to engage community planning.  There are other projects that the city is currently working on with limited staff. The city is not in a rush to develop the property currently. This is a high-profile property that is also an image project.  

As it relates to the tenants, the discussion about them being able to move back in will depend upon when they are able to move out.  

Councilmember Hew asked if there is an option to move tenants to other parts of the home until the work is done. Mr. Young said that was offered but residents declined.  

Councilmember Adams agrees with the exterior improvements and painting and trusts city staff that discussions will be had moving forward.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if there has been outreach to the Historic preservation department and asked if a historic area work permit (HAWP) must be acquired.  Ms. Bader said outreach has occurred and approval for the HAWP can be done administratively.  

Mr. Young said his initial preference was for the residents to move out by December, but Ms. Anderson and Ms. Bader asked that residents be given until June 1.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if tenants would be given information about opportunities to move within the city and other places. Mr. Young said tenants would receive information, and he committed to ensuring community meetings are held soon. The property surrounding the house is the only open space in the area.  

Councilmember Hew said he was aware that we are talking about the exterior of the house, but wanted to mention that the EPA has moved away from galvanized pipes and would like to make sure that is considered as further improvements are made to the home.  

Councilmember Adams said he felt uncomfortable with the amended motion as written because it called for bypassing the formal bid process. Ms. Bader said they will need to work with a contractor who can do this work. The contractor has been contacted and can start by November 1. 

Stephanie Anderson, city attorney, said the language to bypass the formal bid process is in line with language previously used and goes according to our code.  

Councilmember Adams emphasized the focus of the vote, to allow for the exterior repairs of the property, and made the motion, which was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell and passed unanimously

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

Presentation and discussion of the stop sign camera monitoring system – Jatinder

Khokhar, Director of Public Services and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney

Mr. Khokhar gave a brief overview of the stop sign pilot implemented by the city in September. In August 2024, Public Services, Engineering, and UMD Public Safety observed a demonstration of a product intended to help improve traffic and pedestrian safety via stop sign cameras reducing vehicular stop sign running. On September 2, a pilot program was deployed with Obvio, an AI-based program, throughout the city.  

A representative of Obvio spoke to the Council about their product and answered questions. The company, based out of Silicon Valley, has spent time building tools for traffic control and safety.  Residents here and across the county complain about traffic safety. The cost-neutral program is designed to help make the city safer over time. The ticket enforcement solutions included in the program manage the entire ticketing process.  

Councilmember Hew mentioned concerns associated with the driving culture and the need to change it.  

The Obvio representative said there are different thresholds that can be utilized to determine where the violations occur and are cited. 

Mayor Kabir said that seeing a 90-percentage rate of violations was concerning. He asked if warnings could be given out over a period of time. The Obvio representative said one-month of warning was the initial plan, but municipalities can customize that.

Councilmember Esters mentioned the issue of privacy and asked about the possibilities of this technology to monitor areas near flashing beacons. The cameras only capture violations, and any additional footage can be deleted or forwarded to the city.  The technology can monitor pedestrian walkways.  There is currently a pilot for that in Montgomery County.  

Councilmember Hernandez asked if the locations are set locations, about the possibility of collecting information from other locations, and about mobile versus permanent options. Locations will be determined after discussion with staff, county, and Council.

Councilmember Whitney asked if we must pay to install the system. Mr. Young said we will need to go through a formal procurement process to choose the vendor. She asked if the contract would require a minimum dollar amount of tickets to be generated. The Obvio representation said there was no minimum and 5-10 violations per day would cover the cost of the cameras. She asked if the company has promotional information that can inform residents of what constitutes a violation and was told that could be shared.

Councilmember Mackie asked if residents could see the videos we saw.  Yes, the video was linked in the agenda packet. She emphasized that the city intends this as a deterrent, not a money grab. She said branding would be important. She asked for an informational meeting for constituents. In District 4, a resident was hit by a car that fled the scene.  If we had the cameras, we may have been able to identify the culprit.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said the education of residents will be important. If we move forward, we will need to educate and get resident input.  

Councilmember Hew asked about the amount of time we need to commit to the program. Mr. Young said that is a contractual question that would been to be addressed after going through the RFP process and identifying a vendor.  

Councilmember Adams asked for confirmation that a public safety official would review the data to determine if tickets were issued (confirmed). He asked for statistics related to the impacts of such programs in the area.  

The Obvio representative said the legislation is new, so there is not a lot of research. He looked at areas where they modeled camera zones and found a 70% decrease in infractions over time, but without enforcement people eventually continued to speed. Councilmember Adams said if residents see that 80% of individuals will receive tickets that will have a negative impact, but if they see 5% will receive tickets the program could be more acceptable.  

Councilmember Hew asked if the technology was customizable to identify other concerns like noise.  The representative said the technology was customizable.  

Mayor Kabir thanked the vendor for an informative discussion and asked about next steps. Mr. Young said he saw the interest of Mayor and Council but would like to know the parameters of a program.  He would like to bring this back to Council for further discussion. He said asking the Bike and Pedestrian Safety Committee for input, as mentioned by Councilmember Adams, is a good idea.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell would be reluctant to make any decisions, as they promised residents they would talk to them first. She believes other council members would like to do the same. 

Councilmember Adams asked Ms. Anderson if we need to have an enabling ordinance to move forward.  Ms. Anderson said she would need to do additional research to answer. 

Councilmember Whitney said we need to make sure there is resident input and a process for transparency.  

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Whitney asked for the status of the future agenda request she sent on August 15th asking for a Residential Overcrowding Worksession. She emphasized this was related to difficulties enforcing the County’s prohibition on 5 or more unrelated people living together and did not relate to the evening’s Missing Middle presentation.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked that Chief Green of Prince George’s County Fire Department come to College Park to talk about fire department capacity.  Mayor Kabir deferred to nearby cities, while Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said the Chief should come to the City of College Park.  Mr. Young said he could reach out to Chief Green to see if she is open to appearing before Council. He recognized that past discussions have yielded different conversation in College Park versus Greenbelt and Berwyn Heights.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is slated to come to Council next week. It is not on the future agenda as the city is waiting for confirmation. 

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

Ms. Wilson was asked if she wanted to speak, but she did not. It appears there may have been technical difficulty.  

COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR, COUNCIL, STUDENT LIAISON OR CITY MANAGER

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell attended Park and Planning’s open house with Councilmember Hew. Park and Planning aim to have more community conversations about plans for the next 10 years. She will be attending COG Board of Directors meeting on October 9, 2024.

Mayor Kabir attended a University of Maryland event sponsored by the Asian-American Student Union 

Councilmember Hew was accepted into the county planning class occurring over the next 9 weeks.  

Mr. Young reminded those planning to attend the National League of Cities (NLC) conference in Florida to keep an eye on the weather.  

MEETING ADJOURNED

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on October 15, 2024. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated 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:

Presentation

  • Discussion with the United States Postal Service  
  • Annual police agency presentation

Consent 

  • Approval of Parameters/Guidelines for the City’s Business Retention and Attraction fund
  • Approval of Contract for AARP Age Friendly Action Plan Lead Consultant

Action

  • Approval of a Property Use Agreement with Samosas and Spirits, LLC t/a Samosas and Sprits, 10250-C Baltimore Avenue, Alcoholic Beverage License

Worksession

  • Discussion of the CIP Funding for the Meter Replacement Program