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 March 18, 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 announced the Calvert Hills neighborhood had been impacted by a change in traffic patterns. He also said that WSSC would be repairing a break on Rhode Island Avenue on the west side, just north of Guilford Road, and Pepco is preparing to work on utility poles along the Trolley Trail between Guildford Road and Amherst starting tomorrow and traffic along the trail may be diverted onto Rhode Island Avenue, with the work continuing through April.  He said there would be a movie event at the College Park Wood Clubhouse on Friday, March 21 at 4pm. Mr. Young said the city’s spring clean up days would be held on April 5, 12, and May 17, with shredding on April 5. The city will hold No Mow April, and if residents want signs they can reach out to the city, Mr. Young mentioned the Information Report in this week’s council packet, which outlines feedback from the student housing subsidy survey. He also mentioned the Consent Agenda which included a city grass mowing contract that will move the city toward the use of battery-operated mowers, coinciding with city goals related to sustainability. Mayor Pro Tem asked if there is any way for seniors to have shredding picked up. The City Manager said yes and asked her to reach out to the city staff. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Former District 2 Councilmember Bob Catlin

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Rigg made a motion to remove the Pepco presentation from the agenda as they are not available to attend, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell, who then motioned to approve the agenda as amended with a second from   Councilmember Hernandez. The agenda passed unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Bob Catlin, city resident and co-chair of the Berwyn District Civic Association (BDCA) – said he would talk about five events that led to development in the city during the 20^th century. He mentioned the purchase of the Trolley Trail in 1996, which was privately owned since it was developed. According to Mr. Catlin the Trolley Trail became functional in 2002. In 1996, the city requested the county to allow for housing on Route 1. In 2002, the Washington Post spoke to the city about creating a printing plant, and we eventually had the Washington Post training plant and distribution center adjacent to the Berwyn neighborhood. The first couple of years of tax revenue from the Post allowed us to purchase things we needed. In 2004, the city got notice of 30% increase in property tax values, and the rezoning of Route One increased the tax base. The increased revenue allowed us to lower the homestead tax rate from 10% to 1%, hire contract police, enact rent stabilization and buy property to start work on the downtown parking garage. He will talk about two additional events during the next Council meeting. 

CONSENT AGENDA

25-G-31 Award of a 3-year contract with 2-year additional option years for Municipal Grass Mowing contract IFB NO.CP-25-02 with Lorenz, Inc. for right-of-way grass mowing with battery powered landscape equipment – Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works 

25-G-32 Award of renewal contracts for employees’ health and dental insurance coverages, worker’s compensation, and the City’s general liability insurances for FY 2026 for a total budgeted cost of $2,209,917 – Teresa Way-Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources

25-R-05 Resolution to establish a Council Compensation Review Committee prior to the 2025 General Election – Teresa Way-Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources

25-G-33 Approval of KCI Extra Work Authorization #10 for the Design and Project Management of Supporting Infrastructure for Wi-Fi Services and CCTV at Duvall Field Park – Rakhmel Rafi, Grants Coordinator

25-G-34 Ratification of the FY25 Program Open Space Annual Program application submitted to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, requesting $1,500,000 in funding assistance for the Duvall Field Renovation Phase II project – Rakhmel Rafi, Grants Coordinator

Motion to approve Consent Agenda by Councilmember Esters, seconded by Councilmember Whitney. It passed unanimously.

 PRESENTATIONS:

 Certified Results of the District 3 Special Election 

Ms. Huemmrich, Chief of the Board of Elections Supervisors (BOES) certified the results of the recent special election in District 3. She said there were a total of 512 votes which constituted a voting rate of 12.16% of the 4209 voters in District 3. Michael Meadow received ninety-nine votes, Raymond Ranker received 344, and Gannon Sprinkle received 69. Ms. Huemmrich extended congratulations to Mr. Ranker. 

Update on President Trump’s Administration Executive Orders – Luis Murillo, Congressman Glenn Ivey’s Office 

Mr. Ethan Sweep, Community Liaison and Grants Manager, came to speak on behalf of Congressman Ivey’s office as Mr. Murillo was unable to attend. Mr. Sweep said these were unprecedented times and that Congressman Ivey was concerned about recent actions of President Trump and Elon Musk. He said Congressman Ivey supports measures to make the government efficient in addition to keeping people safe and lowering prices, but he said Trump and Musk are focused on the needs of billionaires and lining their pockets.  He said we should lean upon the next two forms of checks and balances, Congress and the courts. He said many of the actions taken by Trump are illegal and unconstitutional. Mr. Sweep said we have a fighter in Congressman Ivey, and he will stand up to Trump and Musk. He said anyone who has been affected should go to his website and look for resources under services. He reminded the Council of the Congressional Scholarship nominations for the military academies. Mr. Sweep said nominations do not guarantee acceptance, but they are required. He also mentioned the House of Representatives Artistic Discovery competition. Selected art will be featured in the House and on the Congressional website. A release and application are required. The deadline for submissions is April 11. Summer internships with the Congressman’s officer are available from June – August. They are looking for enthusiastic, energetic students who have an interest in public services. Interns will work at Congressman Ivey’s office in Landover, MD. Mr. Sweep said members of Congress can submit projects to the Appropriations Committee through the Community Project Funding Program. He said Congressman Ivey’s office has started to accept applications. The process is likely to be similar to last year. Details and applications can be found on the House Appropriations website. He said the deadline to apply is March 31 at 5pm. He suggested that those who were selected last year apply again. 

Councilmember Whitney asked if applications submitted last year could be resubmitted. Mr. Sweep said they can, but they will need updated letters of support. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked about the existence of any health services academies, Councilmember Rigg responded and said there are no health services academies. 

Mayor Kabir asked if recent executive orders have impacted the grant funding. Mr. Sweep said they had all but stopped.

Annual Economic Development Report – Michael Williams

Michael Williams, Director of Economic Developments began his report by saying there was good news but some concerns. He said there have been strong residential sales, with an average price of $450,000, and commercial transactions, with an average of $870,000, did well. He said the Hotel has become recognized as home to a highly ranked hospitality company and lends itself to hosting events and corporations. The Hotel is ranked seventh among hotels in the state. He acknowledged many new restaurants that have come to the city, including Shake Shack and Honey Pig. 

Mr. Williams said that affordable housing is still an issue. He mentioned the newest affordable housing project, the Flats, which is located on Baltimore Ave. in District 1. He said the federal layoffs are also impacting residents living in the city. He said there are 1116 city residents who have full-time jobs in the federal government. 

According to Mr. Williams, the number of visitors to our city continues to increase and includes more than just visitors to the University of Maryland. He said retail sales in 2024 topped $360 million. 

Mr. Williams announced the City of College Park will host the State of Maryland Tourism Conference at the Hotel and the Cambria from November 17-19, 2025. He also announced the city will hold its first Bi-Annual Taste of College Park in July 2025. 

While talking about partnerships, Mr. Williams said the city has partnerships with the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, PNC Foundation, Maryland Department of Transportation, and the Washington Area Investment Fund/Latino Economic Development Center. Mr. Williams said the Latino Development Center not only teaches individuals how to run business, but also other everyday skills. 

Mr. Williams mentioned the number of grants the city provided to businesses over the past year including to Rally House, Pho Thom, and Taqueria Habanero. He said there is now a need to help folks identify other opportunities as we are out of ARPA funds and federal funds are not readily available. He said there has been a focus on the Hollywood area with the Business Assistance and Façade Improvement program. 

In a discussion about new business coming to the city, Mr. Williams said it is the nature of casual dining establishments to come and go. He said we are always looking to add more diverse offerings to the city. 

Mr. Williams mentioned a few notable purchases in the city including two parcels of the Stone Industrial Campus, Yugo College Park University Club, and the Berwyn Industrial Center. He recalled discussions in 2022 about a possible partnership with Stone Straw, but that partnership did not transpire. The last parcel of the Stone Straw property, which is the wooded area, is still for sale. 

The Flats housing development project is almost complete, and they are currently accepting applications. Their rents housing rates are income based. The Economic Development Office continues to have discussions about affordable senior housing. Mr. Williams said the city currently has approximately 12,000 student beds, which looks like we have adequate student housing. 

Councilmember Hew asked if Pho Thom had been let out of their lease. Mr. Williams said they timed out of their lease.

Councilmember Hernandez thanked Mr. Williams for his work. He said there have been few complaints about the Flats development, but said they have responded quickly to address them. He said we should avoid concentrating affordable housing in one area of the city. He said he would like to see rock climbing in the city and would like to see the city purchase the Department of Labor building located in the Hollywood shopping area. He would also like to see strategic annexation from Baltimore Ave to Sunnyside. 

Councilmember Esters thanked Mr. Williams for his work and echoed Councilmember Hernandez’s comments about the distribution of affordable housing throughout the city. She also recognized there is limited land throughout the city. She mentioned the purchase of the Stone Straw Property and said we should connect with the new owners to understand their intentions for use. She is concerned about the residential neighborhood that abuts the property. She mentioned the remaining parcel of the Stone Straw property and suggested the possibility of senior housing in that area. 

Councilmember Whitney said that the owner of the Berwyn Industrial center approached a homeowner to purchase their property, and we would like to know why they did that and what their intentions are. She said there are concerns in Lakeland about the industrial area encroaching on the neighborhood, which has a goal of more homeownership. She also asked about the sale of the Yugo College Park. She asked why the County would forego the right of first refusal when it is some of the most affordable student housing in the city. Williams said the money didn’t add up for the county to exercise first refusal, but he said he had reached out to the county to request a meeting to discuss step by step how ROFR works. . Councilmember Whitney asked to be made aware of actions prior to its occurrence. Mr. Williams said they will not be able to notify us until they know what is happening with a property. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked about the Moose Lodge and the parcel of land next to it. She expressed interest in the city having a dog café and an amenity for women with children. 

Councilmember Mackie mentioned the need for diverse businesses. She said it is important for us to have places to come together that are not bars. She mentioned the need for adult living and adult day care. She said she was excited about tourism and mentioned the need to let people know where they can park when visiting our businesses. 

Councilmember Rigg said the Moose Lodge came to Council years ago expressing interest in staying College Park. He said perhaps the Moose Lodge is still interested in doing so. Mr. William said many decisions about movement are made at a national level. Mr. Rigg said he thinks the highest percentage of commercial vacancies are now in the downtown area and the dynamics of the market lend itself to this situation. Councilmember Rigg replied to the earlier comments about avoiding a concentration of affordable housing in one area of the city. He said he believed there was affordable housing located throughout the city and mentioned Spellman House and the Atworth, which are located south of MD-193. 

Councilmember Hew asked if the mattress store on Baltimore Ave is under lease and suggested there could be some interest. He expressed concern about more car dealerships and industrial use. He mentioned an investor interested in putting a car wash on the property across from Mazza Grand Marc. He asked if we can work with them to find an acceptable use of the property. 

Councilmember Hernandez suggested to repurpose some of the luxury developments and offered to be of help where he can. 

Councilmember Whitney pointed out the differences between affordable housing at 80% AMI (The Atworth) and 50% AMI/Section 8 housing offered at Spellman House and the 60% AMI at The Flats. She reiterated the desire to have truly affordable housing throughout the city.

Swearing In of District 3 Councilmember 

Mr. Raymond Ranker was sworn in by Mayor Kabir. Councilmember Ranker thanked his family and the city staff for making the election happen and thanked the residents of District 3 trusting him. He looks forward to serving in this capacity. 

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS: 

Legislation on Stop Sign Cameras – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney 

Mr. Khokhar introduced the item related to legislation on the stop sign cameras. There was pilot work done in the city with a vendor to do preliminary testing. 

Section 27-701.1 of the Transportation Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, a local jurisdiction is authorized to use stop sign monitoring systems on local and State highways in a school zone in Prince George’s County to record violations of State laws requiring obedience to stop signs. Unless the driver of the motor vehicle received a citation from a police officer, the owner or driver of a motor vehicle is subject to a civil penalty of up to $40. Several municipalities in Prince George’s County have passed legislation to allow for stop sign monitoring systems. 

Staff provided amendments to Chapter 184 of the City Code and prepared a draft Ordinance (25-O-02) for Council review. 

City Attorney Stephanie Anderson said the authorization for this comes from 27-207-1 transportation article. What is before us has the required terms as set by state law. 

Councilmember Whitney asked how the article defines highways. Ms. Anderson said she did a quick review and did not see a definition. She said the term must be used because the authorizing legislation uses the term.

Councilmember Hew said he would like to know the difference between a speeding ticket and a stop sign ticker. Mr. Khokhar said both instances are based upon the violation of the law. Mr. Hew asked how a rental vehicle is handled. Ms. Anderson said as the law is written, it captures a photo of the license plate and issues a fine to the owner of the vehicle. The statute has a procedure to get to the owner who would then get to the driver. 

Councilmember Hernandez said the only location for District 1 is the Al-Huda school. He said he hopes there could be discussions with the administration at Al-Huda before it is done. Mr. Young said there is technology that allows us to work with them and make necessary adjustments. He said this is still a pilot program. Councilmember Hernandez said he hopes there is room in the legislation to allow us to work with the schools. Ms. Anderson said the law allows us to have the cameras. Mr. Young said we can work with the school, but regardless there needs to be a correction with the school.

Councilmember Mackie asked if this would be an ordinance change and that residents would be able to give input at the hearing. Ms. Anderson said the change requires notice and allows for warnings. She clarified that we were only talking about the ordinance, not a company. Mr. Khokhar said we want to have 30 – 60-day notice regarding this change. 

Councilmember Ranker asked if we could know about how this has improved public safety around stop signs and increased revenue for other municipalities that have implemented similar ordinances. Mr. Khokhar said we have learned from neighboring municipalities, and from data collected in the city. 

Councilmember Rigg said he knows of residents who have been closely tracking the speed camera ordinance. He said there was no time limit on monitoring; it would be 24 hours per day. He said the school zones are a perfect place to start. He commended staff on their work and looks forward to the next steps. 

Councilmember Hew asked if the equipment used for monitoring would be similar to the equipment used for the pilot. Mr. Young said it would depend upon the vendor, but the cameras could be placed in various areas. 

Mr. Young clarified we cannot use camera revenue however we want because it mus be used to improve public safety. 

Legislative Review (there is a possibility that action will be taken on time-sensitive bills) Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager

Mr. Gardiner said that Monday, March 17, was crossover in Annapolis; the day bills must pass, or they will die. 

Legislation for the increase of fines for municipalities passed on the Senate side, and the House needs to vote.

The land use bill is not moving forward this year. We need to regroup for next year, seeking continued support from other municipalities. 

Councilmember Rigg mentioned a bill that proposes to increase the fine substantially for those caught on a speed camera going 15-20 mph over the speed limit. 

The childcare-related bills we discussed are still in play, including the one related to property taxes for childcare centers and the one we sent support for that aims to facilitate insurance for childcare workers. 

The short-term rental bill did not cross over, but the bill prohibiting stopping or standing in bike lanes did. The bill we supported regarding protecting safe locations for immigrants has also crossed over. The tax on sugary drinks did not.

The State budget needs to pass by the end of the month, and the last day of the legislative session is April 7.

Councilmember Whitney asked about the County’s supplementary budgetary reduction for law enforcement and if we know how the reductions will manifest. Mr. Young said a lot of that has to do with their overtime. He said this may help us with contract police. He will check with Assistant Deputy Chief Keleti. She also asked about proposed rent stabilization for seniors and if that would protect seniors in buildings like Attick Towers and Spellman House should something happen to funding for their housing. Mr. Gardiner said he will look into this further. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked about health-related bills. Gardiner will look into it. 

Councilmember Mackie asked about revisions to the Elderly Tax credit. She asked that when this passes, we work to get the word out to our senior residents. Mr. Gardiner said there would be an opportunity to speak with County Councilmembers Dernoga and Olson at the Town hall to be held at City Hall on Saturday, March 22 at 10:30am. 

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Hernandez submitted a request for a pilot program to subsidize security cameras for residents. Assistant Deputy Chief Keleti spoke about the importance of security camera videos in investigating criminal activity. Mr. Hernandez said he wanted to share this with Council before the budget session. 

Councilmember Hew said the county had done a program similar. He said it would be great to use some of the data from the county and work with the police about placement and video footage. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said we should look at the proposal and bring it back. The issue was brought up two years ago. Motion by Councilmember Hernandez, seconded by Councilmember Esters.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked for status on her request for an Emergency Operating Center (EOC). Mr. Young will see when it can be scheduled.

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

Husain, non-resident – he is working with advanced technology explorations. There are many legislative leaders who are interested and one of those is in College Park. He has provided information about dynamical systems. The Center for Lifecycle Engineering is at UMD and is ranked number 1. He will reach out to the Department of Labor and Industry and provide us with updates. 

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

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said that she, Councilmember Hew and Mayor Kabir attended the National League of Cities (NLC) in DC. Among the many discussions, they talked about researching how the EO are impacting municipalities. She also attended the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Board of Directors meeting where a tribute was given to first responders who were present for the recent plane crash in DC.

She said many federal workers are unable to get unemployment because their firings were with cause. Federal funding issues will also impact WMATA/Metro. All that is going on with Federal funding has a trickledown effect. 

Mayor Kabir said he attended the Maryland Mayors Association (MMA) in Annapolis. He also attended Li Chun grand opening with Councilmembers Mackie, Whitney, and Hew 

Councilmember Whitney said she attended the Li Chun grand opening, the College Park Woods ribbon cutting and the Duvall Field groundbreaking. 

Councilmember Esters said she attended the Duvall field groundbreaking and a recent training the trainer session on immigrant rights hosted by the City of Greenbelt. She acknowledged the attendance of SGA Liaisons, Ms. Otte and Ms. McDonald at the training. 

Councilmember Hew attended the Sunset celebration with UMD’s Office of Community Engagement that brought together members of the Muslim community and the Know Your Neighbor event at the Methodist Church. He mentioned his attendance at the NLC conference where he made connections that provided some inspiration. He said the State of Maryland has an official insect, the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly. He would like to explore partnerships to see if we can restore their habitat.

Councilmember Hernandez said he attended the Know Your Neighbor event at the Methodist Church. He said it was great to break bread with the members of the community. He said during the recent North College Park Civic Association (NCPCA) meeting the body approved a new plaque to go on their holiday tree. 

SGA Liaison Otte mentioned the Know Your Rights training in Greenbelt and said she was proud they would be hosting their own. 

Mr. Young said the Council Advance will be held next Tuesday with dinner beginning at 6pm. A portion of the meeting will be open following the administrative work session that will be closed. 

MEETING ADJOURNED

INFORMATION REPORT 

Applicant Survey of the Needs-Based Student Housing Subsidy – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager

CLOSED SESSION

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

1. To consult with counsel to obtain legal advice. 

The Council will not return to public session.

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on April 1, 2025, 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:

Presentation: State of the City 

College Park Academy Presentation – Sandy Abu-Arja, Executive Director and Nicole Nelson, Director of External Relations 

Annexation Policy – Kenny Young, City Manage, Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager, Jacob Vassalotti, GIS Coordinator 

Residential over-occupancy – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services 

Public Hearing: 25-O-01 An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, amending City Code Chapter 125-10, “Housing Regulations”; “Chapter 141-6 “Refuse Toter and Recycling Containers; and Chapter 110 Fees and Penalties – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney

Hello, neighbors! Flowers are popping up and giving welcome hints of spring, which is a wonderful time to celebrate the coming of new ways to enjoy the outdoors. Please join us for the Duvall Field Groundbreaking Ceremony at 8:30 am on Friday, March 14^th at Duvall Field. Renovations will include an amphitheater, new multi-purpose soccer and baseball fields, basketball and pickleball courts, walking and fitness trail, new playground, and more. Funding is provided by the City’s Capital Improvement Program, with support from State Bond Bills and Program Open Space.

Unfortunately, life is not all fun and games, and we know many are reeling from uncertainty, intimidation and job losses at the federal level. Our undocumented neighbors are fearful that they or their loved ones might be apprehended and uprooted from their community. Congressman Glenn Ivey’s office has collected resources at this link: Resources for Marylanders Affected by Trump Administration Policies | Congressman Glenn Ivey. Please share this information with those who need it and look out for your neighbors however you can.

In local news, the Mayor and Council held public hearings on February 4th to hear feedback on two proposed Charter amendments — 25-CR-01, which would allow the Mayor & Council to either hold a special election or appoint a replacement if a vacancy arises within 365/366 days of the next election, and 24-CR-02, which would allow 16- & 17-year-olds to vote in City elections. The body decided not to vote on the proposed amendments until the second District 3 representative is seated after the March 11^th special election. 

We invite you to join us for a virtual District 2 Community Meeting on Saturday, March 15 at 11 am where we will provide updates, listen to your thoughts, and answer your questions. Click here to join (passcode: 15Mar25). See you then!

On April 8th, the Mayor and Council are expected to vote on creating an Affordable Housing Task Force. The proposed composition includes two members from each district, as well as a voting liaison from the Age-Friendly College Park Workgroup. Please reach out if you’d like to learn more.

Finally, the all-day budget session is on April 5. The proposed budget will be released to the public and Council about two weeks prior. The City does not anticipate significant financial impact from changes at the federal level. While Councilmembers have been asked not to bring District projects forward, we do not anticipate challenges in maintaining current services or the need to increase property taxes. 

Please note that comments are by Councilmembers Esters and Whitney and are not approved or sanctioned by the City of College Park.

Join Congressman Ivey’s office for a town hall discussing the latest updates on Maryland’s Fourth Congressional District on March 18th at 6:30 p.m. at Suitland High School Auditorium (5200 Silver Hill Road, Forestville, MD 20747). RSVP is encouraged. Please use tinyurl.com/repiveytownhall. 

Event Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 – 06:30 PM to 7:30 PM

College Park recently launched the College Park Texts alert notification system.  

For major City news and event notices:
TEXT COLLEGEPARK to 38276
– Major news and announcements, event notices, and more.

For immediate emergency alerts:
TEXT CPALERTS to 38276
– Neighborhood and City-wide emergency alerts

At this Saturday’s virtual District 2 Community Meeting, we will be joined by City Manager Kenny Young and Director of Finance Gary Fields who will be on hand to answer questions about the FY26 Budget. We hope to see you there!

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 March 4, 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 College Park Woods Clubhouse ribbon cutting will be held on Thursday, March 6 from 4:30pm – 5:30pm. He said the Duvall Field Phase 2 ribbon cutting will occur Friday, March 14 at 8:30am. He announced College Park Day will be on Saturday, October 18 from 12 – 6pm. A Women’s History Month event will be held on Saturday, March 15 at 1pm – “Meet” Eleanore Roosevelt through a living history performance. For more information, visit https://www.collegeparkmd.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=8596.

Mayor Kabir announced a Town Hall with College Park County Council representatives Eric Olson and Tom Dernoga on March 22 at 10:30am in City Hall. 

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Whitney made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Stuart Katzenberg, non-resident union represent for city of College Park employees – Thanked the Council, City Manager Kenny Young and Teresa Way-Pezzutti, Director of Human Resources, for the union agreement that recognizes Indigenous Peoples Day, and health and safety. 

Craig Johnson, resident, student at UMD – commented on the construction noise in Lot 7 which starts at 7am each morning. He said there is also noise on Saturdays. He said the noise is disruptive and maddening and he recently called to lodge a complaint. He said there is an apartment complex and houses close by. He said he moved to College Park to be a student and asked if this situation is fair to residents. Mr. Young said the property is on university property and there is a different way it needs to be handled. Mr. Young said he would reach out to university administration. 

Dave Dorsch, resident – the city should sell the house at 4704 Calvert Road. He is asking the Council to seriously consider selling the house. He asked if we know how many people have lived in the community for 50 years or more and how many are eighty and over. He said these individuals should be recognized and celebrated. Mayor Kabir said the Senior Committee has looked into that data and can provide it. 

Husain, non-resident – working with advanced technology center. The majority whip David Moon has agreed to send information about the project. He mentioned talking to a reporter from Maryland Matters about results from a survey. He has sent a message to all council members and staff and would like to know how this can benefit College Park. He said he would like to know what economic efficiencies are needed. 

CONSENT AGENDA

25-G-28 Ratification of a new three-year Agreement between the City of College Park, Maryland and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1209C, AFL-CIO, and authorization for the City Manager to sign the new Agreement – Teresa Way-Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources 

25-G-31 Approval of a letter in support of Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation’s (DPW&T) application to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Transit Land-Use Connections (TLC) Grant Program for the Northern Prince George’s East-West Bikeway Planning Study – Miriam Bader, Director of Planning 

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

PRESENTATIONS:

Signing of the Agreement between the City of College Park, Maryland and the American 

Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1209C, AFL-CIO. 

The mayor invited the director of Human resources and members of the union to sign their contract agreement. 

AFSCME Local 3 represents the Department of Public Works field employees. The current three-year contract expires on June 30, 2025. The City Manager, Director of Human Resources, and the Director of Public works have been negotiating with the Union since December of 2024. The City Manager and Director of Human Resources met with Council in a closed session to discuss the terms of the contract. 

The Agreement stipulates a 4.5% COLA on July 1, 2025 (estimated cost of $183,507 for the bargaining unit employees): a 3.0% COLA on July 1, 2026 (estimated cost of $154,069 for the bargaining unit employees), and a 3.0% COLA on July 1, 2027 (estimated cost of $162,658 for the bargaining unit employees). However, it has been the City’s practice to extend the COLA to all employees. The City Manager will include a recommendation for other employees in his FY2026 Proposed Budget for Council consideration.

The Union representative, union staff members, City Manager, Director of Human Resources and Director of Public works joined the council meeting to sign the new three-year agreement. 

Mayor Kabir to present the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Proclamation to Ellen Tappin. 

Councilmember Hew recognized Ms. Ellen Tappin, District 1 resident, for suggesting a proclamation to recognize Colorectal Cancer. He said it is preventable. He said it is estimated there will be 2,620 people who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Maryland this year, and 950 will perish. The screening age has changed from 55 to 45. Councilmember Hew said people in a high-risk category should get tested every five years.

ACTION ITEMS 

25-G-29 Approval of a Signage and Parking Enforcement Agreement with the University of Maryland to enforce parking along the portion of Lehigh Road located west of Baltimore Avenue – Steve Halpern, City Engineer and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney

Mr. Halpern, City Engineer, introduced the action item and said many years ago parking enforcement used to oversee parking at what was once Sterling Place, but as owners have changed hands that site is now Union at Knox and the city was relieved of those duties. Lehigh Road is the location of the entrance and exit for the Union at Knox garage. Cars park in front of the businesses in this location, blocking cars exiting the garage. The University has asked the city to enforce parking in this area. 

Councilmember Rigg said there is an interest among the business owners in parallel parking on Lehigh Road, and they have been using parking for their patrons. Mr. Halpern confirmed there is not enough parking on the roadway. Riggs said he was open to accepting the motion but would like to make sure there are solutions for the businesses and their patrons. 

Councilmember Esters said there were many examples of garages in proximity that provide parking for retail patrons, including Riverdale Park and Mix It Food Hall in Mount Rainier. Mr. Young said that the difference in the garages mentioned by Councilmember Esters is that the spaces were created to accommodate patrons on their property; the businesses near Union at Knox are not part of their property. Mr. Jim Miller, Parking Enforcement Manager, said the Union at Knox does have parking available for retail patrons for a fee.

Councilmember Whitney asked if the city would retain any money from ticketing. Mr. Halpern confirmed that would be the case. 

Councilmember Hew asked why the university is coming to the city to patrol the area. Mr. Young said they approached UMD about the problem because the complaints were coming to the city. We do not want to take away from the University’s responsibility but would like to make sure there are solutions. 

Councilmember Rigg made the motion to approve signage and parking enforcement, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell. 

25-G-30 Approval of the November 2025 General Election Date – Yvette Allen, City Clerk and Susan Huemmrich, Chief Board of Election Supervisors 

Ms. Huemmrich introduced the item by saying that the Board of Elections Supervisors (BOES) considered what would serve as greater incentive for their work and although money is not insulting, it is not the main driver. They want to help increase voter engagement. She discussed three recommendations BOES brought to Council including Vote 16, rank choice voting and moving to an entirely mail-in vote. She said the city has considered Vote 16 and rank choice voting but has had difficulty with mail-in voting. She said that voting by mail increased the number of voters significantly in 2021. The BOES would like to keep this recommendation alive for many reasons. For the upcoming elections, they would like to mail ballots to all who registered for mail-in voting and those who make the request.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanks Ms. Huemmrich and the BOES for consideration of another voting day, and for the voting drop box in College Park Woods. She said residents have asked about provisional ballots and how they are counted. There is concern that provisional ballots are not counted at all. Ms. Huemmrich said the canvas of the votes are televised so residents can watch to see that all votes are counted. Ms. Allen said the city needs to verify that provisional voters are registered, and they may not be counted if someone moved from one district to another. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked about a rumor of votes not being counted and being trashed. Ms. Huemmrich reiterated that it does not happen and spoke of the integrity of BOES volunteers. 

Councilmember Esters thanked the BOES for their work, including the Sunday early voting day. She asked if any consideration was given to other locations discussed. Ms. Huemmrich said churches would not work on Sunday and there was reluctance to use the VFW since they serve alcohol. 

Councilmember Hew asked if the polling hours at Davis Hall could be changed from 10am – 5pm. Ms. Allend said it was a council decision but asked for council to consider that volunteers will be there 2 hours before and 2 hours after. 

Councilmember Hernandez said previously it was not possible to use Davis Hall. Ms. Allen said it was not that it was impossible, but BOES wanted to move toward one day of voting. Ms. Huemmrich said what drove Davis Hall was an urge to compromise. 

Councilmember Whitney thanked Ms. Huemmrich for spirit of compromise and listening to the request from residents. She said the city is 5-square miles and that residents are asked to make the effort once every 2 years. She said it is not hard to vote in College Park and she would not support extending the hours.

Ms. Allen said we need to move forward in setting the time now. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell made the motion to approve Tuesday, November 4, 2025, as General Election Day at City Hall and Sunday, November 1 from 11 am to 4 pm as Early Voting Day at Davis Hall, seconded Councilmember Mackie. The motion passed with a vote of 6-0-0. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said it is incumbent upon us to set the tone. 

Councilmember Rigg said the special election is going on now and the city is getting this process down to a science. He said he wants us to come to terms with moving toward a completely mail-in election. 

Councilmember Mackie mentioned the great work of the BOES and the judges and spoke of the integrity of the vote. College Park is a leader in the county as it relates to the vote. College Park has been a pioneer in this area. Residents are encouraged to vote and to trust our BOES. Ms. Huemmrich recognized the 200 hours Ms. Allen put into the special election. 

25-O-01 Introduction of an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park amending City Code Chapters 125-10, “Housing Regulations”; “Chapter 141-6 “Refuse Toter and Recycling Containers; and Chapter 110 Fees and Penalties – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney 

Mr. Khokhar said there was a discussion of language for the ordinance at the February 11 Mayor and Council meeting that would be brought back to Council. 

Council Mackie asked about language on page 61 there is language regarding carts and if it would cover people who are on a hill who may have difficulty moving items. Ms. Anderson, City Attorney, said yes, there was discussion with the city staff who said there is a process to address this situation. 

Councilmember Hew asked about the $50 fine and asked if there was an escalation in the fee. Ms. Anderson there is no escalation but each day it is violated, it is $50. Ms. Anderson said that judges also read a reasonable standard for fees and may reduce it. 

Councilmember Rigg made the motion to approve, seconded by Councilmember Hernandez. The motion was approved unanimously.

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

ZMA-2024-002, The Mark rezoning from RTO-L-E to RTO-PD for the re-development of a student housing facilities (involving the razing of College Park Towers and the construction of new student housing) located at 4330 Harwick Road and 4313 Knox Road. Planning Board Hearing tentatively scheduled for March 27, 2025- Miriam Bader, Director of Planning and Community Development and Carlos Nunes, Senior Planner. 

Carlos Nunes, Senior Planner, introduced the items and said the applicant (The Mark) is requesting to rezone their property from RTO-L-E (Regional Transit-Oriented, Low-Intensity-Edge) to RTO-PD (Regional Transit-Oriented, Planned Development) to accommodate their plan for future development. The 4.62-acre property is located at 4330 Hartwick Road and 4313 Knox Road, west of Baltimore Avenue, and is developed with two multi-family condominium buildings known as College Park Towers. The condominiums are owned by several individuals and leased primarily to students who attend the University of Maryland. The Developer plans to tear down the current structures and replace them with two new high density student apartment buildings. This meeting is to discuss the rezoning request. This item is scheduled to come back as an action item on March 18th. The location is approximately one block from campus. The Pre-Application Neighborhood meeting was held on September 19, 2024, in the College Park Council Chambers. 

Mr. Nunes said there were three parts to the rezoning process:

1. The Rezoning Review 
2. Preliminary Plan
3. Detailed site plan

Councilmember Whitney appreciated the feedback from the BPAC but said she would prefer to also see information shared with councilmembers from the district where the development is occurring. Ms. Bader said that was the intent, and that we are early enough in the process for councilmembers to provide feedback 

Councilmember Hew asked for a green statement, an ordinance passed at the county level about EV parking and asked for a percentage of affordable housing. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked for the difference between the existing zoning to the new zoning. He also asked if developers would be allowed to charge by the room. Ms. Bader said they would be allowed to charge by room. The condominiums are primarily occupied by students. Councilmember Hernandez asked how many condominiums we have in College Park versus student housing developments. Ms. Bader said we have three condominiums and fifteen student housing developments. Councilmember Hernandez said he is encouraged to see investment in our community but is discouraged by this project. 

Councilmember Mackie asked about the planting of trees and asked about what is being done to protect Guilford Run. She also asked about the needs of the Orthodox Jewish community who live in the current development. Ms. Bader said she did talk to members of the Jewish faith and was informed by the developer there would be a manual key to access the building on the Sabbath. 

Councilmember Esters reiterated the focus on affordable housing and said the developer had a chance to do something different with this project. She also asked about the point at which a traffic study will be done given the development density and proximity to Route 1. Ms. Bader said it will be done during the next phase, the preliminary plan.

SGA Liaison Otte said as a student representative there to too many luxury apartments in College Park. Tearing down affordable housing overrides the plan to focus on affordable housing. She emphasized the needs of the Jewish students and does not want the city to sacrifice affordability. 

Attorney Chris Hatcher, representative for Landmark Properties, said that Landmark developed the Standard at College Park, which is completed and fully leased. He said many of the questions raised by the Council and from residents are associated with preliminary site plans. He said the developer is seeking relief from the loading areas since the space is fully furnished. He mentioned the benefits of the proposed North and South Plazas. He said they learned about the importance of Ancestors Lane to the city and wanted to respond, although this came up late in the process. 

Bob Keen – WDG Architecture (Union on Knox, Atworth, Terrapin Row) gave an overview of the Pedestrian Promenade/Greenway which will be ADA accessible and bike-friendly; the space will be a linear park. There is a staircase and series of ramps. He said the space will accommodate bikes in an artful way. He anticipates there will be about fifty trees in the area and there will be pocket park. They are looking to do a project that activates the street and works withing the scope and the materials. 

Mr. Hatcher said EV parking will be provided at this building as they have provided parking at other buildings. He said that the new county ordinance green building standards will be met. 

Mayor Kabir mentioned the questions from Councilmember Hernandez about the saturation of student housing. Hatcher indicated that the city has always said they wanted student housing in a specific area, which is where this housing will go. 

Mr. Hamilton Reynolds said he worked on the development of The Standard and has been tracking the project. He said they would not build if the demand were not there. 

Councilmember Rigg asked for the current density of the College Park Towers. Currently there are 202 units, and the new development is slated for 600-690 units. The current development has close to one hundred owners in the building and there are not many owner-occupied units. Councilmember Rigg asked if rezoning is not achieved what would be done. They do not know yet. He asked if there would be enough light to accommodate the proposed trees. Mr. Keen said there would be, since the exposure is north to south and not east to west. Councilmember Rigg asked for a definition of vehicle stacking. Ms. Bader explained vehicle stacking as how many cars can line up in an area before it backs up into the roadway. 

Councilmember Rigg said he was pushing back on Mr. Hatcher’s comments about the city not wanting more student housing. Councilmember Rigg said he brought up his concerns given the question about saturation. Councilmember Rigg asked about stormwater management. Mr. Hatcher said there is currently no stormwater management on the site, and the new development would provide such management. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked the developer to work with the city to meet its strategic goals. 

SGA Liaison Otte said parking is an issue at these buildings, amenities that are provided often garner higher prices and asked about the difference in these apartments from the others. 

Mr. Hatcher said the developer would decouple parking from the units to help discourage more cars from coming into the city.   

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said we pivoted from the focus of 20 years ago for affordable housing. The price point for housing is high for students. 

SGA Liaison McDonald asked if the developer would commit to some form of affordability. Mr. Hatcher said they do not have prices yet. Mr. Reynolds said their rents normally include internet and utilities. Rigg suggested price points comparable to the cost of on-campus housing. Mr. Hamilton said they would be open to talking about it. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said there is a tentative preliminary planning date for March 27. She asked if the developer would you be willing to consider the comments from the council. Mr. Hatcher said he was not clear about the request for affordable student housing.

Councilmember Hernandez asked if the developer had affordable student housing in their portfolio and Mr. Reynolds said yes, they do. Hernandez said you must have knowledge about what we are asking for. Mr. Reynolds said inclusionary zoning is typically known from the start. They have been working on the project for 18 months. 

Councilmember Hew acknowledged working with Mr. Hatcher when he we previously on the council and said he hoped Mr. Hatcher heard the council loud and clear.  

Legislative Review (there is a possibility that action will be taken on time-sensitive bills) -Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager

Mr. Gardiner provided an overview of the legislative session and the progress bills that are of interest to the city.

 There has been a request to MML to make legislation to allow all municipalities to increase infractions a priority (HB1506). A hearing on this legislation was held on Tuesday, March 4. Senator Rosapepe is on the committee. 

We will see where the bill we pushed to get land use authority goes. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell had questions about a Childcare bill, HB859/SB611. According to Mr. Gardiner, Mr. Lucchi said that the legislation has a chance of passing to help childcare entities qualify their staff for health insurance. Mitchell asked the council to send a letter of support.

Councilmember Mackie said the AARP livability workgroup is interested in HB20 regarding affordable housing near transit zones. Mr. Gardiner said he would look into it.

Councilmember Whitney said building on Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell’s mention of a childcare bill for insurance, is it possible to hear from the Childcare taskforce on the other childcare bills? Mr. Gardiner said there is still time for them to review and make comments. He said he believes the lobbyist will be helpful and mentioned the committee will meet on Thursday. Whitney also asked about the bill regarding short-term rentals and if the council needs to send information about our position. Mr. Gardiner said we do not need to send anything. 

Councilmember Hernandez expressed concerns about HB718 (the establishment of Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission), HB1045 (updating references to federal law related to family planning services), and HB936 (requiring notice for health Insurance cancellation and nonrenewal of coverage) and the range of services it would impact. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked for clarification on HB859 (access to health insurance for childcare professionals). She asked if we had to wait before sending a letter or if we should move forward. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell made a motion to send a letter of support, seconded by Councilmember Whitney, and Council voted to send a letter of support.

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

Husain, non-resident –asked if the developers for the student housing development took renewable energy into consideration. He said there was no need to answer now, but something to discuss later as new applicants come before the council. 

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

Councilmember Mackie said she and Councilmember Hernandez attended a recent meeting at High Point High School to hear about their three-prong plan to raze it. They met the principal and students and were impressed. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell attended the recent Mayors Alliance on Hunger. She said there is a true threat to cutting SNAP. There is a letter of support for maintaining the SNAP program. 

Mayor Kabir said he attended Hollywood and Paint Branch Elementary Schools to see the “If I Were Mayor” presentations. He said he also attended the recent Four Cities meeting hosted by College Park, and said he will be attending the Mayors Municipal Association (MMA) Conference and will meet the governor. He said he looked forward to attending the upcoming ribbon cutting ceremony at College Park Woods Clubhouse.

Councilmember Hew attended JTCC facility and represented the city. He said he is proud to have it in our city and acknowledged their work with people with disabilities which allows them to play tennis in a recognized tournament. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he was impressed and pleasantly surprised by the administration at High Point High School. He mentioned his upcoming community meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 5. He is also excited about Duvall Field and thanked staff for their work. 

Mr. Young mentioned the Special Election for District 3 to be held on Tuesday, March 11 from 8am – 8pm. 

MEETING ADJOURNED

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on March 18, 2025, 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:

Presentation: 

Pepco – High Utility Bills, Ronnie McTier, Senior External Affairs Specialist Annual Economic Development Report 

Consent: 

Award of a Contract for Municipal Mowing – Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works 

Renewal of Insurance Contracts – Teresa Way-Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources 

Action Item: 

ZMA-2024-002, The Mark rezoning from RTO-L-E to RTO-PD for the re-development of a student housing facilities (involving the razing of College Park Towers and the construction of new student housing) located at 4330 Harwick Road and 4313 Knox Road. Planning Board Hearing tentatively scheduled for March 27, 2025-Miriam Bader, Director of Planning and Community Development and Carlos Nunes, Senior Planner. 

Legislative Review (there is a possibility that action will be taken on time-sensitive bills) – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager

Annual Summer Camp Scholarships are Back!

The City of College Park’s summer camp scholarship applications are now open! Youth (rising K-12) who reside in the City of College Park are eligible to apply. Scholarships are granted up to a maximum of $400 per student. Students are eligible to receive a scholarship for one camp session only. Priority is given to youth who did not receive a City of College Park scholarship in previous years.

The scholarship can be used for camps hosted by:

• The University of Maryland (Go to search, type in “2025 Summer Camps”)
• Prince George’s County Department of Parks & Recreation
• Prince George’s Community College

To apply: collegeparkmd.gov/summercamp2025

For updated information and details on camps offered by each organization, please visit their individual websites. Please note that updated summer camp information may not be available yet. Some camps are still finalizing their plans for the summer. Please check the websites frequently for updates!

A message form the City of College Park Department of Public Works :

This week, Concrete General Inc. will be working on repairs on the south side of Greenbelt Road just east of 49^th Avenue. The bike lane and thru lane may be closed during daytime hours but the left turn lane remains open for all eastbound traffic.