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 December 10, 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 announced the forthcoming US Green Building Council Local Market Leadership Award, and the City of College Park City Hall has been recognized as an iconic award winner. He thanked University of Maryland and the Terrapin Development Company for their partnership. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Bob Catlin – former District 2 Councilmember,

Dave Milligan – former District 1 Councilmember

Danielle Glaros – former Prince George’s County Councilmember

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS

2024 Jack Perry Award to Alan Bradford 

Proclamation in Recognition of Lee Sommer, College Park Airport Manager 

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Esters made a motion to move 24-G-161 from the Consent Agenda to Action Item

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell made a motion to add 24-G-165 to the Consent Agenda, Councilmember Esters seconded.

Councilmember Whitney made a motion to table introduction of Ordinance 24-O-08 regarding the city’s Revitalization Tax Credit. The motion did not pass.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell made a motion to accept the agenda as amended. The motion passed unanimously. 

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Bob Catlan, resident – He said he is one of a few current residents who served on the City Council before 2000. He wanted to focus his comments on pedestrian deaths in the city. Prior to the year 2000 the State Highway Administration did not believe they needed to put in sidewalks. Before 2010, there were no traffic lights between Edgewood Rd and University Blvd, but, due to the Mazza project, they installed one at Hollywood Rd around 2010. Pedestrian deaths in the last 35+ years are in the low 30s, and almost all deaths were north of MD-193, but since the traffic light was installed, there have been almost none. There have been five student deaths and two fatalities of children under the age of 8. He thinks there will be scooter deaths on Route 1 with scooters riding in the wrong direction. 

David Dorsch, resident – The City needs to sell the house at 4704 Calvert Road. They should not be in the rental business. 

Turan Jung, resident, UMD student – bicyclist who has picked up debris in the bike lane. She expressed concern about the danger associated with the debris. She said there are many students who rely on bicycles to commute. She said there is a need for regular cleaning along the bike lanes to remove debris. She said the cost of action is minimal compared to the loss of life. 

Courtney Grey, resident – thanked Mr. Young and Councilmember Mackie for addressing accessibility in Crystal Springs. Would like for the issue of landlords and tenants to be addressed.

CONSENT AGENDA

24-G-160 Approval to install Prohibited Parking Zones at the dead-end turnarounds at 34th Avenue, 35th Avenue, 37th Avenue, and 38^th Avenue in Crystal Springs – Jacob Vassalotti, GIS Coordinator and Steve Halpern, City Engineer

24-G-163 Authorize the City Manager to execute a retainer agreement with O’Malley, Miles, Nylen & Gilmore, P.A. for legal and lobbying services in 2025 at a rate of $2,500 per month for a total of $30,000 – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager 

24-G-164 Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Price Modern at a cost not to exceed $41,691.85 for the purchase and installation of furniture for the Woods Community Clubhouse –Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works

24-G-165 – Approval to issue a proclamation in recognition of US Senator Ben Cardin to be presented on Friday, December 13, 2024

Councilmember Hernandez made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, Councilmember Mackie seconded. It was unanimously approved.

PRESENTATIONS: 

University of Maryland the NextGen Energy Program – Renovation of the Central Energy Plant Facility

Carlo Colella, Special Assistant to the President, made the presentation on University of Maryland NextGen Energy Program, a comprehensive program to modernize energy systems on campus. He said that existing systems are at the end of their life. The new plant is much smaller but will have capacity for sixteen megawatts of energy. The program is part of the President’s sustainable path forward for the campus. At the beginning of his tenure, Dr. Pines made a commitment for UMD to become fossil-fuel free. This program coincides with the State of Maryland’s Decarbonization plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2031 and have net zero emissions by 2045. 

Next Gen Construction Timeline and Next Steps 

There are economic and community benefits, including the provision of incentives that meet the Inflation Reduction Act, carbon neutrality and reduction of CEP GHS emissions by 23%. Construction will create 120 full-time jobs, and the co-generation plant allows the campus to be a good neighbor and take themselves off the grid during a crisis.  

The next step is getting the permit for permanent operations. The application will be submitted in the next few weeks. There will be a public information session which should occur in the new year. The plant is estimated to emit less particulate than what the permit would allow. 

For more information about the program, visit NextGen.umd.edu.

Councilmember Rigg said he appreciated the project moving forward and recognized how far we have come. Asked about the small increase in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Mr. Colella said he will ask the team to provide information. Rigg asked what should be expected near and around the site over the next few years. Mr. Colella said the traffic and noise going forward will be similar and maybe less than what occurred with the temporary plant and there will be the need for a bit more staging area. The section of Rossborough Lane between Diamondback Drive and Baltimore Ave. that is currently closed and should re-open in Spring 2025.

Councilmember Adams echoed Councilmember Rigg’s comments and said this program should be appreciated by everyone in the city. He asked for confirmation that it should also reduce water usage. Mr. Colella said it should reduce waters usage by 50%. Councilmember Adams asked for coordination with the nearby Mosaic development. 

Councilmember Mackie asked if there was thought of selling power to Pepco. Mr. Colella said it was explored, but they did not pursue it. The generation of power is all for internal consumption, and UMD does not generate excess power.

Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) College Park on their expansion plan (may move to Discussion)

Ms. Bader, Director of Planning, introduced the discussion about the JTCC located at 5200 Campus Drive. The center is doing well and needs to expand. Tonight is the opportunity to hear from staff to review and ask questions about the plans. Joe Wilkerson, COO, provided a presentation. 

The JTCC, a non-profit organization, operates a world class tennis center. Their highlights for the 2023-2024 include positive media coverage, and the fact that 70% of customers live in the county, 1268 in College Park. It is identified as the largest adaptive tennis program in the country, and graduates have earned $25 million in scholarships. The center is to expand to the 94^th Aero squadron site that connects to trails. 

Councilmember Adams thanked the JTCC staff for all the work that has been done. He said he appreciated the data that was shared. He expressed his personal excitement and knowledge of many neighbors who attend the center. He asked about proximity to the airport. He said College Park has been working to complete pathways and would like them to be part of advocacy to help build a bridge to connect the west side of Paint Branch Creek to the west side.  

Councilmember Rigg asked if there will be tree loss. Mr. Wilkerson said there should be very little tree loss. Councilmember Rigg said residents have noticed that demand outnumbers parking spaces. He asked if they will be able to accommodate parking for events. Mr. Wilkerson said the expansion will not be for the purpose of hosting events, but it will add eighty additional spaces to help them handle everyday operations. 

Councilmember Hernandez expressed excitement about the JTCC. He asked if there were plans to host any major tournaments. Mr. Wilkerson said they would love to host such events, but they do not have access to that type of real estate. Councilmember Hernandez asked for information on activities to promote to the community. Mr. Wilkerson said they offer Adult Learn to Play programs that residents may be interested in. 

Mayor Kabir said there are opportunities to promote the program to more residents in the city by way of the Communications Department. 

Councilmember Esters asked about their work with schools within the community, especially Paint Branch Elementary and Hollywood Elementary. Mr. Wilkerson said that there is great interest in working with the school system, but it has been challenging. 

Councilmember Mackie asked if MNCPPC is vacating the 94^th Aero Squadron site. Mr. Wilkerson confirmed MNCPPC would be vacating the site. Councilmember Mackie asked if any green initiatives would be undertaken. Mr. Wilkerson said they are working to be net positive on trees. Solar panels would have to be cleared by the FAA. 

Mr. Wilkerson said Francis Tiaffo is the most famous player, while the second most famous player is Carlo Colella. He said they would be willing to speak with folks within the school system to get more students involved from the county. 

ACTION ITEMS: 

24-O-08 Introduction of Ordinance 24-O-08, an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council to amend Chapter 175 “Taxation” “§175-9 “Eligibility Requirements”; and §175-10 “Eligibility Criteria”; Concerning the Grant A Tax Credit Against The City Property Tax Imposed On Real Property within the Revitalization Tax Districts – Michael Williams, Economic Development Manager and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney 

Councilmember Whitney made a motion to table discussion of the revitalization tax credit to send it back to worksession, saying that in individual talks with Councilmembers, it was clear Council was not in agreement. Councilmember Esters seconded. Motion passed – 6-0-1

24-CR-02 Introduction of Charter Resolution 24-CR-02, a Charter Resolution of the Mayor and Council to amend Article IV “Voting and Elections”, §C4-2, “Registration of Voters” for Vote 16 – Yvette Allen, City Clerk and Board of Election Supervisors and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney 

Motion made by Councilmember Rigg, seconded by Councilmember Hernandez. A public hearing will be held on February 4. 

24-G-157 Approval of the 2025 Council meeting schedule – Kenneth Young, City Manager and Yvette Allen, City Clerk

Councilmember Mackie asked about the Council being able to add meetings where necessary. Ms. Anderson said it can be done if they are announced and publicized in advance. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked that we add one day to our schedule dedicated to professionalizing our work. Mr. Young said we have done an Advance in the past and can do one moving forward. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell suggested that we move forward with the current schedule.

Councilmember Esters suggested that we maintain the current schedule which allows staff time to do the work we ask of them. 

Councilmember Adams suggested we consider thirty-four meetings. He said it is easier to remove a meeting rather than add a meeting. 

Councilmember Rigg said if we hold an advance, we can do training and discuss rules which will help to constrain ourselves during our meetings. 

Councilmember Mackie expressed concern about adding more meetings for staff during an election year. Suggested that we not hold an August meeting. Staff responded that our Charter requires one meeting per month.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell made the motion to approve the 30-meeting schedule, seconded by Councilmember Esters

Mr. Young confirmed that the council wanted to add an advance to the schedule. 

24-G-161 Approval of Board and Committee appointments – Yvette Allen, City Clerk 

Councilmember Esters indicated that she needs to recuse herself from the vote for committee appointments because her husband was being considered for appointment. She said her abstention did not indicate lack of consent. 

Councilmember Adams made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Hernandez. The vote was 6-0-1 in favor.

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

Creation of a Child Care Task Force – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager

Councilmember Adams said he supported what is outlined in the cover sheet. He said he believed the charge of the committee was well considered.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked that someone from the Childcare Resource Center be part of the taskforce. 

Councilmember Whitney agreed with the bullet points and the suggestions for others to join the taskforce. She suggested ten members. 

Mr. Young said we do not have childcare experts on city staff. The Assistant City Manager will be the staff liaison. 

Councilmember Mackie asked that Council consider keeping a place for a member of the EAC to be part of the committee. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he would like to see two (2) members from each district on the Task Force but believes we should not restrict it. 

SGA Liaison Otte said she previously worked at a daycare and in the public school system and suggested a public school representative would be helpful on the taskforce.

Councilmember Hernandez said Hollywood Elementary is using HeadStart. 

Councilmember Whitney reiterated the desire for two (2) members from each district to allow for diversity of input. 

Councilmember Rigg asked if Pre-k is being considered as part of this discussion about daycare. He said we need to provide scope. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said we should consider 6 weeks – 4 years. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell mentioned other daycare experts that should join the Task Force. 

Councilmember Esters asked that we make the distinction between members of the taskforce and those who will serve as resources to share expertise. 

Councilmember Adams suggested one (1) person per district, four (4) at large and one (1) member from the EAC, with experts serving as resources to the task force rather than voting members.

Discussion of Revolving Loan Fund Program for Small/Minority Owned Business –Michael Williams, Director of Economic Development 

Mr. Williams said he spoke to Hagerstown about their program. Their program started with $250,000 then they obtained additional funding during COVID when the state focused on Baltimore and rural areas of the state. The terms of the loans are normally 5-7 years. Anything over $10,000-20,0000 requires property and collateral. Mt. Rainier has a program that is serviced by FSC First. The service provider takes the burden off staff. Those interested in loans are referred to existing programs. It is a tool that could be used in College Park. 

Councilmember Adams thanked Mr. Williams and said such a program would be another tool. He acknowledged the different models for Hagerstown and Mount Rainier. He said we need to understand the most prominent gap we would like to fill in the market. We are not looking to overburden city staff. Are we most targeted to the individual who is looking for a spot at the Farmer’s Market or the individual searching for a storefront? Simplicity is a benefit. Setting good minimums is important. 

Councilmember Whitney agreed with Councilmember Adams. She said it may be helpful for us to consider the needs of businesses. She said there is much more to learn, and it is a good conversation to have now, saying threatened reductions in the federal workforce could lead to people starting small businesses. 

Councilmember Esters said she appreciated the work, and it looks like a great tool, but she did not believe the city should take on the burden of coordinating such a program. Thinks the Mt. Rainier model may work if we move forward but would want to learn more. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he would like the program to include veterans. He said we need to proceed cautiously, but we need to be clear on our goals. He mentioned the need for risk mitigation. Mr. Williams spoke to risk and working to believe in the project. He said we are not in the money-making business. In Mt. Rainier, there are seven active loans right now and they are not yet up to their $1million limit. 

Mr. Young said it was a good discussion and mentioned that risk is a big issue. He said there is often an inability for many individuals to pay back these loans. 

Councilmember Mackie said she liked the idea. She said she thinks it is important that we set our goals. We need to determine what are we trying to do, limitations, and realizations that businesses might fail. 

Councilmember Rigg said he wants to decrease the staff burden. He would not mind putting aside funding as seed money, we need to do something for small business. There is an opportunity to be successful. 

Councilmember Esters said we need to be ready for the risk if we move forward. We do not often think in such terms and are risk averse. 

Councilmember Hernandez said we need to be careful with taxpayer dollars. 

Councilmember Adams said we have been very generous with funds in the past and that if those had been loans at 0% interest rates, it would be a source of funding going forward. 

Mr. Young said he and Mr. Williams will put together a package prior to budget discussions. 

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Hernandez said he would like to put for an agenda time for a discussion among Council and City staff regarding a strategic communications plan. 

Mayor Kabir asked that a request form be completed. 

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

Councilmember Adams wished everyone happy holidays and happy new year.

Councilmember Whitney thanked the Berwyn District Civic Association (BDCA) for holding their rescheduled Bonfire on Thursday, December 5. 

Councilmember Esters thanked the Lakeland Civic Association (LCA) for their annual Lakeland Tree Lighting event held on December 8. 

Councilmember Hernandez congratulated Dar-es-Salaam for a wonderful gala on Saturday where he and the Mayor delivered the proclamation. He mentioned his participation in a Statewide Maryland Latino group and said it was good to hear how other communities are working to build civic engagement. 

SGA Liaison Otte – wished everyone happy holidays. 

Deputy SGA Liaison McDonald encouraged everyone to be safe and kind to themselves. 

MEETING ADJOURNED

Information Report – No Discussion 

1. Monthly Financial Reports for October 2024

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on January 7, 2025, when it is available. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the anticipated Consent Agenda and Action Items, and Workshop discussions proposed to be on the future agendas 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.

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 December 3, 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

The city will host the Winter Wonderland event at City Hall Plaza on Saturday, December 7 from 2pm -8pm. College Park is also hosting a house decorating competition called “Deck the City.” Nominations can be made online, and online voting will take place December 17-19. Student-occupied residences are encouraged to participate. The first heavy snow of this season is expected on the morning of Thursday, December 5. Businesses and homeowners are responsible for taking care of removing snow and ice on sidewalks in front of their property within 24 hours. 

Councilmember Hernandez inquired about the recent rise in criminal activity in and around the city and asked for an ad hoc Public Safety meeting to be held soon. Mr. Young said that he and Mr. Khokhar, Public Services Director, met with Major Keleti to talk about current activity and understand there are ongoing investigations. He said residents should be aware of their surroundings, pay attention, avoid being distracted by their phones, and be careful warming up cars, even when they have key fobs. Prince George’s County Police Department (PGCPD) has increased patrols throughout the city. Mr. Young said this recent increase in crime is a regional issue. He said it is difficult when you have juveniles involved, which should be discussed with the legislature because of new legislation enacted last year. Mr. Hernandez asked for options to offer residents. 

Councilmember Whitney asked for the Public Safety webpage to be more prominent.

Councilmember Mackie said University of Maryland Police (UMPD) have been collecting toys for kids during recent Basketball games. For those who miss the games, new toys can also be dropped off at the Pocomoke Building by December 12. 

Mr. Young said the city does offer a service for vacation premises checks.  Contract officers will come by to check on properties while residents are away. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Ms. Maxine Gross, former District 2 Councilmember

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS

Celebrating 30 Years of Dar-us-Salaam’s Impact and Growth 

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

24-G-154 moved from consent to action. 

24G-156 moved from consent to action. 

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Tony Akaras, resident, and business owner – permits for renovation at Zips have been approved and work has started and should be completed by the end of January 2025. Still working to obtain permits for a Café he seeks to open next summer or early fall. He continues to work with the County to obtain permits for the dog-friendly food truck area near Laundry World. 

CONSENT AGENDA

24-G-155 Award a contract in the amount of $148,260.00 to Columbia University for Research Consultant services for the Restorative Justice Commission and authorize the City Attorney and City Manager to execute the contract in substantially the form attached – Kenny Young, City Manager

Motion to approve – Esters, seconded by Councilmember Whitney

PRESENTATIONS: 

College Park City-University Partnership Community Preservation Trust Presentation –Daniel Cunningham, Community Preservation Trust Executive Director

Kate Kennedy, former District 1 Councilmember, thanked Council for the opportunity speak about the Community Preservation Trust.  The council invested $3 million into the Trust, and that funding is being recycled through investments. To date, the Trust has bought nine homes, seven sold and two sales are pending. Applications to the Trust are increasing. She thanked the Council for getting on board, Daniel Cunningham for building the program, and Tawfiq Abdul-Karim for his assistance. 

Mr. Abdul-Karim said the Trust is part of College Park City University Partnership (CPCUP) that is overseen by a board that includes residents, the University and the City.  The Trust is one of fifteen in the state of Maryland. To date, funds have been raised from the city, state and federal government. The Trust purchases homes, identifies people who quality for the program, asks for mortgage pre-qualification, and works to match the buyer to a reasonable cost burden. The houses are sold with a 99-year ground lease and are made affordable through shared equity. The program separates the land from the house and then sells only the improvements. There are two main reasons for the Trust to maintain a level of ownership – to offer for sale at an affordable cost and to maintain a right of first refusal (ROFR). 

Mr. Cunningham outlined how ARPA funds from the City were used. The last transaction they closed with ARPA money occurred on September 30. The funds used will be recycled through their process. The first property they purchased was in July 2023. On average they spent $434,000 per home. Sales averaged $307,000. Applicant self-reported credit scores – 640 is the bar, and most applicants are qualified. Most applicants are under 60% AMI (Average Median Income). 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked about the decision-making for purchasing homes. Daniel said when they look to buy a house, they try to consider who will live there. Sometimes the list price is too high. There are a variety of reasons why they may not buy a home. The most they have paid for a home is just over $600,000. They do not want to set anyone up to fail. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell acknowledged that most of the homes were in District 1 but asked if neighborhood stabilization is still a goal. Mr. Cunningham said the housing market is tight in College Park, but neighborhood stabilization is still a goal. 

Councilmember Esters asked how the Trust works with those who fall below the credit scores. Mr. Cunningham said they do not provide counseling, but they will direct them to lenders. He said that credit scores have not been an issue, but income has been. Councilmember Esters asked how the Trust works to avoid investors taking advantage of this program while they live elsewhere. Mr. Cunningham said there are many requirements, including residency. Income eligibility is also a requirement, but it is a one-time test. 

Councilmember Adams asked about the average amount of money used to bring the house from purchase to sale. Mr. Cunningham said they have stayed away from homes that require a lot of work. They are making necessary repairs but not elective changes. They are looking for good solid properties. Councilmember Adams said he would like to invite someone from the Trust to come to the Calvert Hills Community Meeting on December 11 to discuss options for the city property at 4704 Calvert Road. 

Councilmember Mackie asked if the Trust purchased homes from estates. Mr. Cunningham said they have not, but they could. Councilmember Mackie asked if there was a process to identify homes before they go on the market. Mr. Cunningham said interested sellers have reached out after hearing about the Trust. To date, the Trust has been a cash buyer that offers speed, trust, and commitment. Councilmember Mackie mentioned investors as an ongoing issue in the city, especially in District 4. 

Daniel provided contact for the Trust – info@communitypreservationtrust.org and CPCUP. He acknowledged that the Trust would not have homeowners without the Mayor and Council taking a risk. He mentioned a suggestion from Ms. Gross that they work with attorneys to write up documentation for individuals to leave their home to the Trust.

Councilmember Whitney asked what happens if someone does an add-on to a Trust home they may have outgrown. Mr. Cunningham said people can make changes to a home with the approval of the Trust, and they have a formula that allows the owner to capture the equity put into the home. One of the things they have heard often about homes in College Park is that they often have only one bathroom. Councilmember Whitney asked if they anticipate taking on renovations of vacant properties. Mr. Cunningham said they do. They have received a technical assistance grant from Grounded Solutions Network. They have been focused on getting good at purchasing but hope to expand their scope in the future. She asked about the affordability range. Mr. Cunnigham said when they initially discussed the breakdown was to be 75/25, but the lowest they have been able to be achieved it was 30%. The issue has been rising interest rates. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked about what happens when someone sells, do they get the entire amount of the house versus the land? Mr. Cunningham said there is a formula for each house that determines the breakdown. It is not dollar per dollar, it is a bit of a mix. To determine the breakdown, they consider the cost of a home and the interest rate. Councilmember Hernandez asked about their plan moving forward now that ARPA is no longer available. Mr. Cunningham said they plan to recycle the funds they received. They have another $10 million they have not touched. They have state and federal funds and continue to seek grant opportunities. 

Kate Kennedy said there is the opportunity to then take on buildings (for graduate student housing) that will allow them to be landlords in the future. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked about the use of local residents who are realtors and mentioned that some of the Trust homes have not been maintained. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked for a contact number, asked about the number of lenders the program is working with, if city realtors get preference, and about Trust information sessions. Mr. Cunningham said they work with three lenders, and they do not prefer certain realtors – buyers choose their own realtors. There are virtual trainings and recordings about the Trust. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked for a quarterly report on their progress. Kate Kennedy said a quarterly report may not be feasible and suggested that there be a review of the initial reporting structure to make sure that occurs. 

Elementary School Bus Stop Safety in the City of College Park – Donald Hays, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Brendan Wray, Committee for a Better Environment 

Mr. Hays introduced his colleague and the agenda item. He said with direction from the council, they identified all bus stops throughout the city. There were seventy-five stops, and they developed a questionnaire to analyze safety levels. They identified four stops across the city that were the least safe. Districts 1 and 4 had the most unsafe bus stops. 

• Duke Street and St. Andrews – a sidewalk was part of the complete street project but was deprioritized. 
• Edgewood Road and 49^th Ave – The location is close to many businesses.
• 47^th Ave & Cherry Hill Road- County maintained – requested the city ask the school system to move the stop two blocks south. 
• Metzerott Road and 35^th, 37^th Ave – high levels of traffic stress along the roadway, no sidewalks or bike lanes

Most city bus stops are safe and have a pretty high score. The most consistent risk is the lack of sidewalks to and from stops. Scores of D and F are not commensurate with the value the city puts on children’s lives. 

The proposed next steps include following up with city staff to assess feasibility recommendations, considering grant-funding opportunities for changes, and building additional awareness and programming for safe routes for students. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanked the members of BPAC for their work and indicated she would invite them to come to District 4. She said she has already reached out to our School Board representative, Mr. Briggs, as well as Mr. Ruff of the Security and Transportation Department to share the report, including recommendations. 

Councilmember Adams offered thanks for the report that was well done and addressed the city as a whole.

Councilmember Mackie said she brought the request forward after hearing complaints and after the tragic incident in Riverdale. She expressed her appreciation for the report and said that there were many ideas. She said this continues to be about the safety of children.

Councilmember Whitney said she appreciated the report and thanked Councilmember Mackie for bringing it forward. She noted that the stops that consistently received the highest safety ratings were in Lakeland, which has sidewalks throughout. She is thankful for that and wishes the same for neighborhoods throughout College Park. She said pedestrian safety, especially for our most vulnerable residents, must take precedence over aesthetics and convenience for cars.

Councilmember Hernandez mentioned the international walk day in Hollywood and said he would like to see if we can address the safety issues before the scheduled repaving scheduled for 2027. 

Councilmember Riggs thanked the BPAC members for the report and mentioned the importance of sidewalks. He said he is an advocate for increasing the city’s budget for sidewalks.

Councilmember Esters thanked the BPAC members for the report, acknowledged that it was well done, and thanked them for bringing attention to these safety matters. 

Action Items 

24-G-154 Approval of agreements to obligate the expenditure of ARPA funds with Care Solace, Attick Towers, Meals on Wheels, Central Kenilworth Ave Revitalization CDC, College Park Food Bank, United Methodist Church Food Bank, and Helpers to Good – Gary Fields, Director of Finance.

Councilmember Esters said she had to recuse herself from the vote on this item because she serves on the Finance Committee for the College Park Food Bank. 

Councilmember Adams made the motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell. The motion passed.

24-G-156 Approval of a contract in the amount of $322,846.40 to Apple Ford, under Baltimore County contract #00004504, to purchase two 2025 Ford Transit T-250 mid-roof Animal Transport Vans and two 2025 Ford F-350 regular cab 4X4 snow equipped pickup trucks – Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works

Mr. Marsili, Director of Public Works, briefly discussed the need to replace vehicles with those requested for purchase. 

Councilmember Adams asked why we did not consider an electric vehicle (EV) for the animal control vehicle? Mr. Marsili said those vans need to have air conditioning in the rear cabin, and with the HVAC system the EV was not recommended by the manufacturer. 

Councilmember Adams said he was uncomfortable moving forward with voting for two new animal control vehicles.

Councilmember Hernandez made a motion to approve, Riggs seconded. Councilmember Hernandez said he trusted the judgement of Public Works and believes they have done their due diligence. 

Councilmember Adams – proposed an amendment to reduce the number of vehicles from 2 to 1. The motion did not receive a second. 

Councilmember Mackie asked if EV may be available in the next year or two. Mr. Marsili said his initial request to the manufacturer was for an EV, but they did not recommend it given the need for air conditioning. He does not know if an EV would be available in 1 or 2 years.  

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

24-G-157 Discussion and approval of the 2025 Council meeting schedule –Kenneth Young, City Manager and Yvette Allen, City Clerk 

Councilmember Whitney said she is inclined to stick to the current schedule of 30 meetings, as she remembers many late nights when the Mayor and Council met more frequently. 

Councilmember Esters said she would vote for 30 meetings which will allow us more time in the community, but also acknowledged that fewer meetings will allow staff to do the work we are asking them to do.  

Councilmember Riggs said we need to constrain ourselves. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he was a proponent for fewer meetings.

Councilmember Adams said anything after 10:30pm becomes a strain. He suggested a split between the proposed schedules to thirty-four meetings.

Councilmember Mackie said she is the only retired member of the council and does not have to go to work the next day but feels for those who do. She added that residents like to be engaged, but our meetings run too late. 

Councilmember Adams said we have had longer meetings in the last year. 

Councilmember Whitney asked that we be provided with data about meeting duration and that Councilmember Adam’s suggestion for thirty-four meeting be included as an option. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell – we need to control ourselves; this also allows staff to do their work. 

Councilmember Esters said having more meetings does not necessarily mean that meetings will be short. 

Mr. Young said the council will be presented with three options to consider and vote on next week. 

24-G-158 Discussion and approval of the 2025 Council of Government assignments – Yvette Allen, City Clerk 

The decision was made to switch Councilmember Adams to alternate on the Climate Energy and Environment Policy Committee, while Rigg will sub in for Hernandez as alternate on the Human Services Policy Committee.

Councilmember Mackie made a motion to approve, seconded by Councilmember Esters. It passed unanimously.

Discussion of amending Chapter C of the City Charter, Article III. Mayor and Council §C3-6. Vacancies – Yvette Allen, City Clerk 

City Clerk Yvette Clark introduced this item which focused on consideration of amending Chapter C of the City Charter as related to vacancies. 

Councilmember Adams said this was meant to follow up on the recommendations made by the elections committee due to committee fatigue and cost. 

Councilmember Mackie said making an appointment makes her uncomfortable. 

Councilmember Hernandez said voting needs to stay with the electorate, the people. 

Councilmember Esters said she was elected by a special election and is thankful for it. However, there is fatigue, unexpected cost, and impact on staff. She said a change would allow the council the flexibility to determine how to move forward in these situations. 

Councilmember Riggs agreed and said fatigue was a reality. 

Councilmember Whitney said she leaned toward giving Council the flexibility the change would provide. 

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

Councilmember Mackie attended the recent Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) celebration held on December 1. She said she appreciated what the organization does in the community. Councilmember Mackie said she listened in on the robust discussion during a recent Education Advisory Committee (EAC) meeting. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell met with Park and Planning along with Mayor Kabir and City Manager, Mr. Young. She is hopeful that it will result in once a year or quarterly.

Mayor Kabir attended a recent Calvert Hills Community meeting, and thanked staff for their work related to the Legislative Dinner. 

Councilmember Whitney attended the recent NHN event and was impressed by the volunteers, some of whom do not live in College Park. 

Councilmember Hernandez also made it to the NHN event. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said the Chair and Vice Chair of the County Council Chair was selected and asked that the city consider sending a letter. The City Manager said he would double check to ensure those selections were finalized. The city manager will double check. 

MEETING ADJOURNED

CLOSED SESSION

Pursuant to the statutory authority of the Maryland Annotated Code, General Provisions Article, §3-305, 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 discuss the appointment of individuals over whom this public body has jurisdiction. Specifically, the Mayor and Council will review applications for advisory board appointments. They will not return to the open session after the closed session ends.

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on December 10, 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:

Consent:

Approval of Board and Committee appointments

Presentations:

Presentation of the 2024 Jack Perry Award to Alan Bradford

Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) College Park on their expansion plan

Action:

Introduction of an Ordinance of the revisions to the City’s Revitalization Tax Credit Program

Introduction of an Ordinance for Vote 16

Worksession Discussions:

Request for a Charter Review regarding Mayor and Council Special Elections Requirements

Creation of a Child Care Task Force