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 January 21, 2025. 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 said the city would be conducting a special election for District 3 on March 11 at City Hall from 8am – 8pm. Those interested in being candidates must be eighteen by March 11, be a United States citizen, live in the City of College Park and be a resident since March 11, 2024, and be a registered voter. Candidates must submit a petition signed by at least 20 registered votes in District 3 by 4pm on February 5 along with other required documents that can be found on the city’s website. Registered voters in District 3 will receive an application for ballots. Voters can vote at the polls at City Hall. Mr. Young mentioned the recent passing of former city Mayor Michael Jacobs. The funeral will be held on Saturday, March 8 at Holy Redeemer at 11am and a visitation will be held prior to the mass at 10am. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she reported street signal issues at 193 and Baltimore Ave. 

Councilmember Mackie mentioned the city’s Lunar New Year celebration to be held on Wednesday, January 29.

Councilmember Whitney thanked staff for following up so quickly about a potentially dangerous situation on Campus Drive east of the Metro. Mr. Young said staff made calls and the signage was improved. Mayor Kabir thanked the Purple Line teams for making the changes. 

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS

One College Park Resolution

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Esters made a motion to add to the Consent Agenda the appointment of Betty Jones as resident commissioner of Attick Towers for the Housing Authority of the City of College Park (HACCP). Councilmember Whitney seconded the motion. 

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Husain Vaheet, non-resident – said he was working with the advance research centers at the University of College Park. He said he appreciated the proclamation read today and asked that it be added to the website. He said it was related to the objectives of the advanced research centers to make economic efficiencies accessible to everyone. 

CONSENT AGENDA

25-G-13 Award of Education Grants, FY 2025, to High Point High School in the amount of $2,750 for their College Park Career Collective Project and Berwyn Heights Elementary School in the amount of $200 for PTO meeting refreshments and/or attendance incentives – Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth Family and Senior Services 

25-G-14 The appointment of Betty Jones to Resident Commissioner at Attick Towers – Housing Authority of College Park. 

PRESENTATIONS: 

Overview of the Governor’s Proposed Budget and 2025 Legislative Priorities – Leonard Lucchi, Attorney & Lobbyist, O’Malley, Miles, Nylen & Gilmore, P.A.

Mr. Lucchi thanked the council for their thoughts regarding the fires in California, as his son lives blocks away from the devastation but is fine. 

He said Governor Moore had a $3 billion deficit due to higher-than-expected Medicare and childcare costs, but there are other factors contributing to the deficit. He said the Governor proposes to cover the gap with $2 billion in budget cuts and $1 billion in revenue increases. 

According to Mr. Lucchi, the municipalities are guarded from direct cuts that will be felt by counties. 

He said there is $1 million in the budget to finish segment one of Route 1 improvements. There is $1.2 million for engineering associated with segments two and three of Route 1 improvements. Mr. Lucchi said the county has asked for $12 million to help cover the cost of stormwater management for the city’s Calvert Hills neighborhood. In addition, a $250 thousand bond for a meditation garden at the city’s Youth & Family Services Building was filed by Senator Rosapepe and Delegate Barnes.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said the city is interested in creating a childcare task force to help address the cost of childcare, but she noticed there was a freeze on the childcare subsidy. Mr. Lucchi said the governor had expanded the childcare subsidy over the years, and it became larger than expected. His budget for this year caps it. Childcare has also been part of the solution for expanding jobs. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if the state looked at block grants or looking at family childcare centers. Mr. Lucchi said the Maryland Family Network is looking at Family Childcare Centers.

Mayor Kabir asked about the acquisition of funds for phase 1 of Route 1 improvements. 

Mr. Gardiner asked about legislation for raising the cap on fines for municipal infractions. Mr. Lucchi confirmed there is proposed legislation to raise the cap from $1000 to $5000.

Mr. Lucchi mentioned legislation for municipal land use authority changed to open it up to any city that has an in-house planner in order to broaden the support. Mr. Lucchi said given the interim county leadership it may be helpful to push this forward. Mayor Kabir asked to be given information regarding public hearings. 

2nd Quarter Financial Report and Homestead Tax Credit – Gary Fields, Director of Finance

Mr. Fields said timing differences related to revenues occur throughout the budget and depend upon when things are received. It is the same for expenditures and depends upon when expenditures are paid. He said the city is in good shape for the half year.  

Admission and Amusement tax has seen a significant increase that was not expected.   

Overall, most revenue sources are in excess, and most expenditures are below 50 percent. As it applies to Interfund Transfer – expenses are paid upfront. 

As it relates to the Homestead tax credit, Mr. Fields said he believes we can leave it at 0% cap, which provides the most benefit for resident homeowners, and the recommendation is to keep it there. If we do nothing, it will remain, but if we decide to change it, we will need to send information to the state by March 5. Mr. Fields and Ms. Quiñones are developing information about tax credits to put on the website, including a video. 

Mayor Kabir asked if it was too early to project revenue that will be collected. Mr. Fields said it was too early. He said we will get information regarding constant yield in mid-February and believes it will be close to what they are projecting. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked about the senior tax credit. The county has put a pause on it and asked if the county pause would cause an issue for the city providing it. Mr. Fields said the county pause would not inhibit the city from providing the credit. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked about the number of homes that qualify for the Homestead tax credit and those that receive it that are rentals. Mr. Fields said it is difficult to obtain the information. 

Councilmember Whitney asked if we have the list of those receiving homestead credit, do we cross-reference it with the list of rentals. Mr. Fields said he will look into obtaining a list. 

Mr. Young said we do have a list of those homes that are registered with the city, but there are homes that are operating as rentals of which we are not aware. 

ACTION ITEMS: 

25-R-04 Approval of a resolution establishing a Child Care Task Force – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager

Mr. Gardiner said the action items is the result of conversations in November and December to outline the charge and membership of the proposed childcare task force. 

The charge of the task force would be:

• Review and monitoring state legislation during the 2025 General Assembly and report the Council bills the city may want to comment on;
• Interview childcare providers in or near College Park to find out what changes they believe would lower costs and expand access;
• Research federal, state, county, and non-profit programs and reports that may assist families access and afford childcare; and 
• Provide updates to the Council during the legislative session and provide a report on their findings before June 20, 2025. 

Councilmember Mackie said she would like to extend the date for the report beyond June 30. Councilmember Esters asked if there was a particular reason for the June 30 deadline. Mr. Gardner said there was no particular reason. 

Councilmember Rigg said he had concerns about the city’s involvement in this topic as we do not have any regulatory control of this. He is hesitant to ask residents to spend their time on an issue that we will have little control over in terms of the legislative advisory. 

Councilmember Esters said we should move forward to collect more information on this issue that many residents have expressed concern about in order to make an informed decision about how we move forward. 

Councilmember Whitney said she put this forward due to input from residents with concerns about the Mayor & Council’s previous recommendations. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she was reluctant to move this task force forward since we have little control over staffing and the cost. She asked the Council to consider obtaining information about regulations and other formats for childcare. 

Councilmember Hew said he is support of the task force. A lot of jobs bring people to the area without extended family. The costs are high, but there may be opportunities to assist. 

Councilmember Mackie asked for clarification from Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell., who said she would like to include childcare centers for before- and after-care, and family childcare centers owned by entrepreneurs. Mr. Gardiner said that before- and after-care would be covered under section B of the committee charge. 

Councilmember Whitney asked to change the deadline for the report to September 30. 

Motion made by Councilmember Whitney, seconded by Councilmember Esters. The task force was created with a vote of 5 to 1. 

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

Discussion of a proposal to have a private consultant conduct a study to evaluate Urban Street Safety – Miriam Bader, Director of Planning/Steve Halpern, City Engineer

Ms. Bader said the city received a grant from Safe Streets and Road for All (SS4A) and would like to know from the Council if we move forward with the grant received by the city to do conduct a street safety study as proposed by Councilmember Mackie. 

Councilmember Mackie expressed appreciation to the resident who brought this to her and with staff for their response. She said the city is not the same as it once was. She referenced staff members who thanked her for bringing this forward and said she appreciated the time that staff put into this. 

Councilmember Whitney asked if staff wanted us to answer the questions posed in the packet or if we move forward. Ms. Bader said there was no need to go through the questions. She said since the grant has already been approved, staff can come back with the RFP. The start date for any work on this grant is to commence on 9/25/25. This is a federal grant from the DOT, a Planning and Demonstration Award. 

Councilmember Hew asked if the money would be in jeopardy given the new administration.  Mr. Rafi said he does not think the funds are in jeopardy. The monies are provided through reimbursement. 

Councilmember Mackie asked if the study would be city-wide or target specific areas. Mr. Rafi said the study would focus on a comprehensive action plan, local street traffic toolbox and main street speed control. He said staff would be working with the BPAC committee to review the plan as required. 

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

Councilmember Mackie said she and Councilmember Whitney recently participated in the Chesapeake Bay COG Committee meeting. WSSC did a presentation on water main breaks due to aging infrastructure. She said she appreciated the work of the committee and the policies throughout the state. She said the meeting also included a discussion about the Potomac River as a major source of water, yet we are still in drought. She attended the recent PGCMA meeting and said it was good to come together with other municipalities in the county. She said she, along with the Mayor and City Manager attended the recent CMAST meeting. She said there are several sports activities coming up and that students return to campus next week. The Hotel at UMD is busy. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she attended the recent COG Board of Directors meeting where there was discussion of various topics including climate change and food equity. She attended the NLC Housing Summit that focused on the issue of affordable housing. She participated in the recent PGCMA meeting. 

Mayor Kabir said he joined Mayors from across the nation for the UCM Conference. He said it was a good conference and provided the opportunity to network with various mayors. 

Councilmember Whitney said she attended the Chesapeake Bay Policy Committee meeting and brought up a question about the many repairs needed to update the structure and how to balance that with the difficulty of raising rates during an inflationary time. She said WSSC spoke of the need for more money to address issues. A colleague from Montgomery County said that their county had allowed a larger rate increase and suggested Prince George’s should do the same. 

Councilmember Hew said he was nominated as VP for COG Air Quality Committee. 

Mr. Young mentioned the work of the Communications Department and how we will proceed with the street fair concept. He said we cannot do a parade this coming year. Any questions related to that should be directed to Mr. Young or Ms. Quiñones.  There are opportunities to move it from North College Park to Lakeland, then Old Town; there could be a rotation. Staff are looking at possibilities for Mayor and Council to meet with consultants regarding the advance. Looked at Saturdays. Suggested Friday Evening followed by Saturday morning – afternoon either February 21-22 or March 14-15. 

Councilmember Rigg said he was not sure we would benefit from the advance so late in term. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell agreed with Rigg. Councilmember Whitney agreed with Councilmember Rigg and Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell and asked if anything could be done in conjunction with the budget session on April 5. Councilmember Esters said we should do something given that the current Council will continue to serve through early December, and we will have a new Councilmember shortly. 

Councilmember Mackie said we should hold a smaller advance. Councilmember Hew said we should have done this a while ago and asked that we refocus this effort on taking place when the dais changes. Mr. Young said it would be helpful to understand the top priorities, including engagement with the University. Councilmember Esters requested the inclusion of teambuilding with the new Councilmember. Mr. Young said the strategic planning process should look at the vision for the future and our work with partners. A lot of relationships have changed both for the good and the bad. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell referenced the public comment/request from Mr. Husain asking for the One College Park proclamation to be posted to the website. She wanted to make sure that will happen. 

MEETING ADJOURNED

Information Report: December 2024 Financial Report 

CLOSED SESSION

Pursuant to the Maryland Annotated Code, General Provisions Article, § 3-305, the Mayor and the Council of the City of College Park are providing notice that they will meet in a Closed Session after this meeting to consider: 

1. To discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom this public body has jurisdiction; any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals.

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on February 4, when 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:

Public Hearing 
24-CR-02: Vote 16 (Introduced December 10th)
25-CR-01 Special Election (Introduced January 7

 Consent Agenda
9533 Rhode Island Ave APC Recommended Resolution

Action Item
Selection of the Child Care Task Force Committee Members 

Worksession 
Affordable Housing Task Force
Review and discussion of code provisions Chapter 125 (Housing Regulations), Chapter 119 (Refuse, Solid Waste, Special Trash), and Chapter 141 (Nuisances)