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 May 20, 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 thanked the residents of Districts 1 and 2 who helped the City put on the Spring Festival event in their area.  He said the City has provided clarity about the Rhode Island Ave safety improvements that can be found online.  The improvements will run from Paduca Ave to Baltimore Ave.  University of Maryland’s commencement exercises have been rescheduled for the evening of Thursday, May 22.  There will be pyrotechnics during the ceremony. 

Councilmember Whitney asked if there was any information about the summer camp scholarship program and when it will be announced. Ms. Barber said the application has been re-opened and is currently live on the city’s website. She said as applications are received a notification of receipt will be sent.  If individuals have questions they can reach out to her directly. 

Mr. Young said the City’s Memorial Day event will be held on Monday, May 26 starting at 11am on the corner of Baltimore Ave and Greenbelt Road. 

 AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Rigg made a motion to remove the action item 25-G-54. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell moved to pass the agenda as amended and was seconded by Councilmember Mackie. It was unanimously approved.

CONSENT AGENDA

25-G-53 Adoption of the Lakeland Neighborhood Plan – Carlos Nunes, Senior Planner 

25-G-49 Approval of two Legislative Action Request to the Maryland Municipal League – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager

Councilmember Esters made a motion to accept the Consent Agenda, seconded by Councilmember Whitney. The Consent Agenda passed unanimously.

PRESENTATIONS:

1. Recognition of Outstanding Essayists in the MML “If I Were Mayor, I Would” essay contest 

Ms. Barber recognized this as the 25^th year of the Maryland Municipal League contest.  She introduced Spogmai Wali, the state semi-finalist from Al Huda School, who read her essay.  

2. Age Friendly College Park- Kiaisha Barber, Director Youth, Family and Senior Services and Janeen S. Miller, Age Friendly College Park Lead 

Ms. Miller said the focus of her presentation was to provide an update on the work of the Age-friendly College Park Work Group.  She said the work group’s report was part of the council packet.  

In 2020, the City’s Senior Advisory Committee (SAC) recommended that the City participate in the AARP Livability Communities Program. In September of that year, the City Council adopted Resolution 20-R-21 in support of the City’s participation in the Program. In December of 2020, the Mayor sent a letter to AARP expressing the City’s commitment to the Age Friendly Livable Communities Program. The City officially joined the AARP Age Friendly Network in June of 2021.  An Age Friendly College Park Workgroup was created under the umbrella of the Senior Advisory Committee to plan how to meet the AARP requirements. Through a grant from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, an Age Friendly Action Plan was developed, and shortly thereafter, the Workgroup created an Addendum to the Action Plan

Ms. Miller said the work group is in year 4, which is the implementation stage. The city’s AARP Livability index is 56, and it is used to score communities for the services and amenities that affect people’s lives the most. Greenbelt and Hyattsville are scored 57 and 58 respectively. The highest index score for the mid-sized city is 68 for Cliffside, NJ. The five domains the Age-Friendly Workgroup is focused on include housing, transportation, communication, social participation, and health services and community support.  

The last report from the Age-Friendly Work Group was July 2024.  Since that time, we have learned that University of Maryland is applying to become an Age-friendly University.  We will hear about this when it occurs.  The city has also hired Ms. Miller as Program Lead to work closely with the workgroup.   

As it relates to communication, the work group has published information in the Municipal Scene on a regular basis, and with the approval of the budget this evening there will be an insert in the College Park Here and Now. The group has a series of scheduled activities that will be held at the College Park Woods Clubhouse and is exploring the possibility of creating a housing match program and is evaluating a proposal from a private company called Nesterly that administers similar programs in communities across the country. There is ongoing discussion about additional dwelling units (ADUs) and missing middle housing, but the county has to follow through with creating legislation by October 2026.  Ms. Miller said that AARP housing assistance has helped 7 residents in the city make improvements to their homes. There are ongoing collaborations between the Seniors Program, the Arts Exchange and the University of Maryland.

Moving forward, Ms. Miller said the group will work to finish what has been started. They will continue to expand collaboration and work on their progress report due in June 2026. The report will include not only the work of the group but also the work of the city. Ms. Miller concluded by saying that the work is ongoing and will benefit residents of all ages.  

Councilmember Whitney thanked the Age-friendly work group for their work and acknowledged we are seeing results and seeing them quickly.  She asked a question about the longevity dividend and asked if the brochures available at city hall will be in both English and Spanish. Ms. Miller said they have not seen the draft yet, but she did confirm they would be in both English and Spanish.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanked everyone for their work. She Asked about ADU/Missing Middle and referenced the presentation to the council from M-NCPPC.  She asked if this was an opportunity to provide M-NCCPC with recommendations. She said they are looking for folks to provide them with ideas, and we may be in a position to do so.  

Ms. Miller said that Dr. Hull mentioned wanting to see the state legislation.  She thinks the city should be in touch with county representatives, the City’s planning department and the Affordable Housing task force on the issue.  

Councilmember Esters thanked everyone for their work and asked about the most challenging area for the workgroup and why.  Ms. Miller said communications remains the most challenging area given the reliance on digital communications. She said they can now share information in the College Park Here and Now.  

Councilmember Mackie mentioned residents’ interest in physical activities, cooking, singing and crafts. She mentioned that VEO Ride is interested in expanding and she thinks seniors could benefit from tutorials. She said a resident suggested a senior Gymkana program and senior-only events during the day at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.  Another idea is to have health fairs in all districts, not just Attick Towers. Ms. Miller mentioned upcoming activities including a Karaoke Singalong on September 23 and Forever Fit on June 18 and that she appreciated the feedback. She also said they are talking about a Veo ride training date but are waiting until Veo introduces the three-wheeler.

Councilmember Rigg said he hoped that once the Purple Line is complete, we can improve the age-friendly score. Ms. Bader will be working with the workgroup to look at standards related to the livability score to determine where we can improve our score.

Councilmember Hernandez said there has been mention of challenges related to communication. He recommended a virtual kiosk or messaging board. He asked if there are other creative ways beyond the College Park Here and Now that are being used to reach seniors. Ms. Miller said she did not know about electronic bulletin boards, but she did know that individuals are physically posting information on bulletin boards in the various neighborhoods. Mr. Young said there are two electronic bulletin boards included in our budget as well as other mobile communication tools. Mr. Hernandez suggested we consider placing digital signs at various entry points throughout the community. Ms. Whitney suggested posting flyers at local businesses with bulletin boards.

Councilmember Ranker asked what age we consider senior. Ms. Barber said 62, which is approximately 9-10 percent of the city’s residents. Ms. Miller said we do not know who our audience is, and we have no way of reaching them. Using Direct Mail companies for targeting 62+ was cost prohibitive. 

Councilmember Hew said Council we be campaigning soon. Council will have voter registration lists and can share information. Ms. Miller thanked the councilmember for his suggestion but said we cannot use voter registrations lists in that way. They must be used only for campaigning. He then asked if Council could hand out information.  Ms. Bader said brochures will be made available for council to distribute. 

Ms. Ryna Quinones, Director of Communications and Events said funding for digital bulletin boards are in the proposed budget.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if there will be discussions in the future with Uber and other ride shares entities related to seniors. Ms. Miller said that would be more in the wheelhouse for the City Manager, but the work group can look into it.  

Ms. Barber said email for inquiries can be sent to agefriendlycommunity@collegeparkmd.gov.

Councilmember Hernandez asked if it is possible for us to make a list of seniors to share? There are residents who aren’t plugged into the city because of transportation. He asked if we need to create a list. Ms. Barber said the city does transport residents door-to-door as needed for appointments.  After hours, other resources are shared. Transportation options are available on the city’s website.  

ACTION ITEMS: 

25-O-04 Adoption of an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, Maryland to adopt the Fiscal Year 2026 General Fund, ARPA Allocation Fund, Debt Service Fund, and Capital Projects Fund budgets for the City of College Park – Gary Fields, Finance Director

Motion made by Councilmember Hernandez, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell.

Councilmember Hernandez- thanked colleagues and everyone involved in the process as we considered important areas and planning for contingencies in the future. 

Mr. Fields reminded Council that the proposed budget document was not shown as amended or revised.  He said the dollar amount was correct and the tables were just informational.  He said there are statistical tables in the back, but none of this impacts the dollars.  He said based upon approval the finalized approved budget will be updated.  He then said the departmental performance measures will be revised and the pay table will be revised to properly reflect the new Union contract. 

Councilmember Whitney made a motion to decrease the additional funding for the business attraction and retention grant by $10 thousand (for a total increase over the proposed FY26 budget of $40 thousand) and increase funding for business façade and improvement grants by $40,000.  

Mayor Kabir asked for any comments regarding the amendments.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she was pleased with how council colleagues came together as we look holistically to assist where possible during these times. 

Councilmember Rigg shared the Mayor Pro Tem sentiments on getting through with good discussion and less drama this year.  He said the Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) recommended a substitution for one sidewalk project for another. He said he has been championing for over a decade the sidewalk project they suggested a substitution for.  He supports this budget as it increases complete and green streets funding to allow adding a sidewalk project instead of bumping an existing priority

Councilmember Hernandez pointed out that 5 comments about the budget were submitted in Spanish and asked if that had occurred previously.  Mr. Young said it had not.  

Mayor Kabir acknowledged the work of Mr. Fields and Mr. Young and the fact that this budget will be the last for Mr. Fields. He said we have a healthy reserve, we are not raising taxes, and we are adding more staff.  

Councilmember Whitney made the motion to approve, seconded by Councilmember Esters. It was unanimously approved.

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

A. 25-O-06: An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park Amending Chapter 184, “Vehicles and Traffic”, Article II, “Parking Regulations” by amending §184-11 “Prohibited Parking”, by enacting §184-11 D to Prohibit Parking or Standing in a Bike Lane – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney

Mr. Khokhar introduced the item and provided background. Councilmember Whitney sought information on the authority of the City to enhance bike lane safety. The issue was reviewed by the City Attorney, Public Services staff and the City Engineer. This issue was referred to BPAC to determine the scope of a bike lane safety ordinance. The city attorney reviewed BPAC’s findings and recommended that the City enact an ordinance to specifically address bike lanes.  

Ms. Anderson said the ordinance was an attempt to give the City specific authority to control bike lanes to protect bikes and e-scooters.  She said that in enforcing this requirement, we wanted to make markings clear and add signage. The progressive fees are proposed as $100, then $200, and then $210.  She said that the city has both state roads and city thoroughfares. She said this ordinance only addresses city thoroughfares.

Councilmember Rigg asked about enforcement. He said we have been told that contract police cannot enforce city infractions unless they are supported by the county and state.  Ms. Anderson said she is not aware of that limitation. Mr. Young said he is aware of what Mr. Rigg shared but believes the County would need to put forth a similar ordinance. If the county puts forth an ordinance it would include county roads.  

Mr. Young said there was legislation this past session that included language that provided 30-minute parking in bike lane, which was counter to our interest.  

Councilmember Hew asked who would enforce the violation. Mr. Young said typically code/parking officers do not impose parking infraction. Parking may be able to enforce, but more than likely it would be contract police.

Councilmember Mackie said she would like three wheelers to be included as micromobility vehicles. Ms. Anderson said she will look to make sure the language is broad enough. Councilmember Mackie applauded Councilmember Whitney for her leadership on this topic.  

Councilmember Ranker said the bike lane on Baltimore Avenue is a state road and asked if the curbs are still considered state roads. Mr. Young said bike lanes are still part of the state road. Mr. Ranker asked If the bike lane were raised to the same height as the sidewalk, would it still be considered state highway?  Mr. Young said that was a good question and something that will need to be considered. Councilmember Ranker said he is a big fan of raising bike lanes. He asked if there are businesses we would need to notify. Mr. Young said right now there would not be a need because Rhode Island Avenue is the main road we would have authority over.  

Councilmember Whitney said it is frustrating that we cannot address the biggest issue, which is Baltimore Ave.  She has seen many cars pull over into the bike lanes on Rhode Island Avenue and hopes that this will help to change the culture surrounding bike lanes in the city.  

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Ranker mentioned the issue of ADUs that came up this evening. 

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

Robert Thurston, resident – wanted to celebrate tonight’s decisions that impact his work in the community. The approval of the Lakeland Plan gives courage to move forward. He said there has been a lot of work and more work must be done.  He said “longevity dividend” is a fancy way of saying that if you are a young person and are involved with the senior community, you will have more appreciation for their longevity. One of the areas we are not talking about is the opportunity index which references the opportunity to be employed and to gain an education. As it relates to equality, economics, and education, we hoover in the 40s.  He said he believes that with joint effort we can improve. He thanked Council for the budget which includes funding for age-friendly efforts, restorative justice, and Neighbors Helping Neighbors.  

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

Councilmember Riggs asked if the record would remain open for residents to make additional comments regarding item 25-G-54 removed from the agenda this evening. Mr. Young said they can continue to make comments to the Clerk’s office. 

Councilmember Mackie encouraged colleagues to think about Good Neighbor Day projects. She said she looks forward to seeing councilmembers and residents at the Memorial Day event on Monday, May 26.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she attended a recent COG transportation meeting where they discussed regional activity centers, Purple Line, and Metro Center. She said the approval of upcoming resolutions will help us with development near metro centers.  

Mayor Kabir said he attended the recent CMAST meeting. He said things have been quiet in College Park. June 14 is Trolley Trail Day, which will span from Hollywood to Hyattsville.

Councilmember Hew said he attended a recent Asian American Economic Power and Community Summit where he learned a lot about helping this community. He also attended the Boy Scouts etiquette dinner.  

Councilmember Hernandez recognized Asian Pacific Islander (API) and Military Month.  He said he looks forward to seeing his council colleagues at the Memorial Day event. He mentioned District 1 resident William Ramirez who was chosen to be a commencement speaker at Prince George’s Community College. He said it was great to hear him share his voice and express his pride. 

Incoming Student Liaison, Nick DiSpirito said deputy student liaison interviews will be done this week.  He attended the recent CMAST meeting with Mayor Kabir.  He said CMAST meetings have been delegated to him to attend by the SGA President, Dhruvak Mironi.  He said he followed up with the Age Friendly Work Group regarding their housing match discussion. He expressed an interest in extending the housing match program to surrounding communities. 

Mr. Young said the City has worked to provide internships opportunities in various departments during summer and fall.  He thanked Council for their time and effort during budget session.  He said it was nice to see it pass and is confident about us moving forward.  

 MEETING ADJOURNED

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on June 3, 2025, once it is available. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated Consent Agenda and Action Items, and Workshop discussions proposed to be on the agenda that may interest District 2 residents. Please contact us as soon as possible if you need accommodations to participate in a meeting, including language translation:

Consent:

Approval of VEO Contract

Worksession:

Review and discussion of a code provision to increase municipal infractions from $1,000 to $5,000 

Closed Session:

Review of applications for advisory board vacancies and annual appointments

M-NCPPC presents: Newest Commander Takes Flight at the Oldest Operating Airport –
Meet Washington Commander Jonathan Jones

Join us in welcoming the newest Washington Commanders player—and licensed pilot—Jonathan Jones as he makes a dramatic entrance flying into the historic College Park Airport! Hear his inspiring journey from the football field to the skies.

🗓️ Tuesday, May 27
🕓 4:30 – 8:00 PM
📍 College Park Aviation Museum (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive)

👥 All ages welcome
💵 Free admission – No registration required
☔ Rain or shine
🚫 No alcohol permitted

Schedule of Events:
4:30 PM – Tailgate, food vendors, and games begin
5:45 PM – Museum doors open
6:15–6:20 PM – Jonathan Jones fly-in
6:30 PM – Program and Q&A with Jonathan Jones

#####

M-NCPPC presenta: El nuevo jugador de futobol americano de los Washington Commanders vuela el aeropuerto más antiguo en operaciones – Conocza a Jonathan Jones, el nuevo jugador de los Washington Commanders

¡Acompáñanos a dar la bienvenida al nuevo jugador de los Washington Commanders y piloto con licencia, Jonathan Jones, en su espectacular entrada al histórico Aeropuerto de College Park! Escucha su inspiradora experiencia desde el campo de fútbol hasta los cielos.

🗓️ Martes, 27 de mayo
🕓 4:30 – 8:00 pm
📍 Museo de Aviación de College Park (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Drive)

👥 Todas las edades son bienvenidas
💵 Entrada gratuita – No se requiere registro
☔ Llueva o truene
🚫 No se permite alcohol

Programa de eventos:
16:30 – Comienzan el tailgate, los puestos de comida y los juegos
17:45 – Apertura de puertas del museo
18:15–18:20 – Vuelo de Jonathan Jones
18:30 –Preguntas y respuestas con Jonathan Jones

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 May 13, 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 will hold its first ever Spring Street Fair on Sunday, May 18 from 1-4pm at Davis Hall on 51^st Ave. He said there will be road closures starting at 10am.  The event will include live entertainment, cooking demonstrations, and arts and crafts.

Councilmember Mackie asked whether the last cleanup of Spring will be held on May 17, 2025. Mr. Young confirmed the cleanup on May 17. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Mark Shroder, former District 1 councilmember 

Maxine Gross, former District 2 councilmember 

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS

A. Kids to Parks Day

B. Bike to Workday

C. National Public Works Week

D. Building Safety Month

E. Teacher Appreciation Week

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Ranker made a motion to move agenda item 25-G-51 (Proposal to add ParkMobile as “Pay by Cell” service) from the Consent Agenda to the Action Agenda.

Council Whitney made a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Councilmember Hernandez seconded. 

CONSENT AGENDA

25-G-50 Reappointment of Arelis Pérez to the Housing Authority for a five-year term to expire on May 1, 2030.

25-G-52 Approval of a letter of support to the University of Maryland’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering for their Safe Streets and Roads for All planning grant application to the Department of Transportation – Rakhmel Rafi, Grants Coordinator

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, seconded by Councilmember Mackie. The Consent Agenda was unanimously approved.

PRESENTATIONS:

A. Employee of the Year Award – Jorge Arturo Lopez – Garcia

B. Farewell to Erica Otte, Student Liaison and Anna-Kaye McDonald, Deputy Student Liaison 

PUBLIC HEARING AND POSSIBLE ACTION:

25-O-02 Ordinance 25-O-02 an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, Amending Chapter 184, “Vehicles and Traffic”, by Enacting Article IX ‘Stop Sign Monitoring, Systems §184-46 Systems on Highways Located in a School Zone Maintained by a Local Jurisdiction and Systems on State Highways Located in a School Zone as authorized by §21-707.1- of the Transportation Article, Annotated Code of Maryland and schedule the Public Hearing for Tuesday, May 13, 2025 – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney

Mr. Khokhar said legislation for a stop sign monitoring system was discussed by Council on March 18 during a worksession and came back to the Council for public hearing today. He said the city is authorized by legislation to use stop sign monitoring systems on local streets in school zones. Several municipalities in Prince Georges County have passed legislation related to the use of stop sign monitoring. Mr. Khokhar referred to the language added to amend Chapter 184 of city code for consideration. 

Mark Shroder- resident and Chair of Bike Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) – The committee received the presentation from the vendor and were favorably impressed. They felt that stop sign monitoring would be a good safety mechanism. However, they are concerned about privacy issues since pedestrians, not just drivers, could be identified. He asked that we find a way to obscure the photos of individuals before adopting the system. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if we have information from the vendor indicating that individuals’ images can be obscured. Ms. Anderson said she will follow up to find out what can be done. She said normally, cameras can be adjusted to view vehicles only. 

Mackie asked if footage captured by the cameras would be publicly available, and Kenny said it would not. 

Councilmember Rigg made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Esters. and it passed unanimously.

Councilmember Rigg said we have talked about it for a while and there is general acceptance. Tonight was the first time we have received a negative comment. We want to encourage pedestrian safety. He thinks it is proper and fitting for us to move forward tonight. 

 ACTION ITEMS: 

25-G-51 Proposal to Add ParkMobile as a “Pay by Cell” service provider to the City’s Parking portfolio – Jim Miller, Parking Enforcement Manager 

Mr. Miller – discussion of Park Mobile as a pay by cell system. Here to answer questions. 

Councilmember Ranker said we do not know how many people will use this service versus other options. He asked if all the revenue went through ParkMobile how that would impact the city. Mr. Miller said if all 2024 payments had gone through ParkMobile, it would have added $16,000.24 to the City’s costs. If all mobile app transactions for 2024 had been made via ParkMobile, rather than AIMS, it would have cost the City an additional $5,203.

Councilmember Ranker said he is opposed to something that costs the city more money and brings in less revenue.

Councilmember Hew asked if we already had Park Mobile. Mr. Miller said no, we used to have Mobile Now.  He said when COVID hit, Mobile Now shut down within hours. AIMs parking, our current vendor, offered their mobile app during COVID for the same charge as Mobile Now. The university uses ParkMobile, and they are highly engaged in the area. We have people who attempt to use their ParkMobile numbers in AIMS zone. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said this is not intended to bring in more revenue, it is to help make things more convenient.

Councilmember Whitney said as long as we maintain the other options for payment, we are just increasing the choice and options for residents. 

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

Gabe Newbow, UMD student – Uses both apps. He said there are issues with Aims, including the fact you can only use the app once per day. He said ParkMobile will be easier and will provide better alerts.  

Vote – 7:1 (Ranker opposed) 

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

B. Lakeland Neighborhood Plan – Carlos Nunes, Senior Planner 

Mr. Nunes introduced the discussion and said the Lakeland Plan was an initiative designed to restore history and identity while helping to move the community forward. The plan was developed over the course of 18 months with College Park, activists, and community members. He mentioned the connection between the Lakeland Plan and 15-minute neighborhood report heard last week. Mr. Nunes mentioned tangible aspects of the plan, including Pierce Park. 

Ms. Bader said there will be reengagement with the Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS) program regarding the Pierce Park. She mentioned recent engagement with a landscape architect who does trauma-informed design. The class starts in the fall and the idea is to design a meditation garden and a garden that would serve the community. Public Works will also set up picnic tables on the property. Dr. Naomi Sach’s class will focus on therapeutic landscaping. Ten graduate students will take the course, and each student will design their own solution for creating a therapeutic garden. The concepts would then be brought to the Restorative Justice Commission (RJC). In addition, there could be a Unity Farm, a garden grown in the community and offered back to the community. The Community Center could offer gardening classes, and all ages would be involved.

Mr. Nunes said the key recommendations in the plan include affordable mixed-use housing, flood mitigation, green space reuse, and multi-modal transportation uses. Recommendations related to zoning and land use focus on creating better transition, upzoning to allow for commercial zoning, down zoning to decrease density as development approaches single family homes. Another recommendation is the creation of a cultural heritage district that will have new zoning to honor Black cultural heritage and encourage memorialization and adaptive use. 

Mr. Nunes said the next steps for the plan would be City Council adoption. 

Councilmember Esters thanked Mr. Nunes and Ms. Bader for their work with the community and said the plan has been a long time coming. She mentioned the concerns of the community as they see more and more development. She said once adopted the plan will provide insight into how the community seeks to move forward. 

Councilmember Whitney thanked Mr. Nunes for his work and said we have attended many meetings where the community have talked about their needs. She said there have been difficult discussions and planning for what the community can be moving forward. This plan represents their goals.  She asked where the flood prone area is in Lakeland that is not currently open space. Ms. Bader said she would get back to us.

Councilmember Hew said he appreciated the plans but asked about a goldfish pond given their history in the community. Ms. Bader said goldfish have been considered. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell talked about feeling emotional. She said Council has talked about this for so long it warms her heart to see the actual plan. She said she was thinking about those who have lived there for so long and said timing is everything. She said we are moving forward with something that was inclusive of everyone. 

Councilmember Rigg said when he read the report he was surprised to see the recommendation for downzoning. It was a good though to give more structure. He asked about the economics of downzoning given the assumption the owners of the land would be opposed. Ms. Bader said the plan is visionary and provides guidance to the process as we do not have zoning authority. 

Ms. Bader mentioned Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in College Park homes. She said the Age-Friendly College Park Workgroup will share ideas for homeowners to rent to students which could provide affordable housing for students and income and support for the homeowners. She said there is legislation at the state level that require us to come up with a plan for ADUs. 

Councilmember Rigg said he would like to see Old Town and Lakeland considered for any plans related to the ADUs. He thanked staff and the community for their work on this. He said he is excited by the work, which is fundamentally hopeful. He said we did not know what to do, but this is something that has formed a vision imagining Lakeland as it will be in the future. 

Councilmember Hernandez mentioned property recently acquired in Lakeland and hoping to see plans for that property. Ms. Bader informed him that it is Pierce Ave, which is where the park discussed early is being considered. 

Councilmember Esters asked for the rules to be suspended to allow community members who were present an opportunity to talk about the plan. 

Ms. Maxine Gross thanked the Council and the community for going through this tedious process. She said once this is accepted it will help set the course for the community moving forward. She thanked the individuals at the University of Maryland for the PALs program. She said the students were able to imagine things that we did not consider. She said the question did arise about how this plan connects with the Restorative Justice Commission (RJC). The project involves making plans, generating ideas, and dreaming. 

Mr. Robert Thurston said he wanted to reiterate what had been said. He thanked Council and staff for their work and the hours given up for the Lakeland plan. He said Mr. Valentine was instrumental in this process and Mr. Nunes brought it to fruition. Hopefully, this can be a benchmark for the rest of the city. They are happy there is now a front-facing document that can be used as developers come along. 

Nick Aspiro, student – asked about the age-friendly task force for more affordable housing. 

Mr. Young said the Lakeland Plan will be added to the consent agenda for adoption next week. 

A. 25-O-04 – Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, Maryland to adopt the Fiscal Year 2026 General Fund, ARPA Allocation Fund, Debt Service Fund, and Capital Projects Fund budgets for the City of College Park – Gary Fields, Finance Director

Mr. Fields said staff were looking for Council to come to consensus about what to put forward for adoption next week. 

Mr. Young said Council should concentrate on the preferences of what to include in the budget and allow staff to balance the numbers. 

Mr. Fields said residents have asked about the 25% reserve amount. He said it is the minimum amount that is required for a good bond rating. Having something above the bond rating requirement is preferable. 

Councilmember Rigg suggested we think about each proposal as a package to understand rationale. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked us to consider those items for which there is no consensus instead of going line by line. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he tried to thread the needle between those who do not want to spend the fund balance and meeting the needs of our residents. He asked for funding to support initiatives to engage Spanish-speaking residents. Hollywood asked for funding to fill a funding gap for their tutoring program. He also pitched the use for resourcing money allotted to Meals on Wheels that would not be used. He sought to increase funding for sidewalks and fund two different economic development programs that would be underfunded. In terms of public safety, he said residents feel that public safety is in question. 

Councilmember Ranker – Overall, he thought there were great suggestions made by Councilmember Hernandez, but he wanted to have more emergency funding available. He would also like to eliminate the proposed Deputy City Manager to reduce costs. 

Councilmember Whitney said she is under the impression that there are those who are conversative in their spending and tried to strike a balance. She said perhaps we can understand what the fiscal situation is after the special session. She said she is not in favor of starting new programs as part of the budget session, saying doing so in the past has been confusing for residents. She said we can help everyone with increasing the emergency assistance funds. 

Councilmember Esters thanked her colleagues for their proposals but said she would like to move forward with the proposed budget put forth by the City Manager. She said we have heard over several months that things would be tight for this budget and she does not think it is in our best interest to spend more than the proposed budget given uncertainties at the federal and state level. She mentioned we will not know our situation until after the state’s special budget session. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said if it comes down to making a decision, she must be very conservative. At the county level it is not a pretty sight. She is still listening but must be conservative.

Councilmember Hew said he was more on the conservative side as mentioned by Councilmembers Esters and Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell. He said there is much uncertainty. 

Councilmember Mackie said she tends to be fiscally conservative and thinks that our spending should be put on hold. For her, cutting and then spending is not the best way. She thinks we should cut and wait. 

Ms. Anderson reminded Council action was not to be taken, Council just needed to gain consensus.

Councilmember Rigg asked whether the $400,000 from MOW could be used in FY26?  Mr. Fields said when funds are not used it goes back to fund balance. Mr. Young said they can be used and said the use of the money would be replacing the revenue with an expense. Mr. Fields said Council planned to spend it in FY25. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked how much the fund balance was in FY25?  What percentage were we at last year? Mr. Fields said we were at 39.7% in FY25. If we use only the $731,000.00, we will be at 36% at the end of this fiscal year. He said what is being proposed by the City Manager is no use of fund balance. 

Councilmember Hernandez said there are two programs regarding economic development and asked if there is a preferred program. Mr. Young said the business façade serves a lot more businesses while business retention may only serve a few. 

Councilmember Whitney said there is anticipation of restaurants going out of business due to what is happening at the federal level. We may lose some of those in this climate. 

Mr. Young said our situation in College Park is a bit different than other areas because they rely on 8 months of revenue.

Further discussion among Council led to a consensus to Course of Action (COA) 6 as proposed by Councilmember Whitney. 

Mr. Fields confirmed that Council would be looking at COA6 as is but may consider amendments at the next meeting, where Council must pass a budget. 

Mr. Young said we do have a contingency fund if we do decide to fund any of the programs. Mr. Fields confirmed we do have contingency dollars.

25-G-49: Discussion of Legislative Action Request to the Maryland Municipal League –Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager

Mr. Gardiner led the discussion on Legislative Action Requests. Each year, MML asks members to propose legislation that it may approve as MML priority. 

During the discussion, Mr. Gardiner mentioned the following for consideration: 

• HB178 (as introduced in 2025) would have prohibited blocking bike lanes. The Washington Area Bicyclist Association intends to advocate for it in 2026.
• Gaithersburg is considering a request that the state provide exemption for local governments that provide equal or greater benefits to those benefits required by FMLA. Without exemption, municipalities and employees could end up paying into two systems and employees could access both benefits at different times. 
• Gaithersburg is also considering a request to allow municipalities to appeal an assessment by SDAT if property sales or income reports show an increase in values of more than 20% above the current assessed value. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she was interested in the LAR regarding an appeal of assessments by SDAT. She asked if that would also include notification to municipalities about assessment changes. She said we should expound upon that. She said she believes notification should be part of the mandate. 

Councilmember Whitney asked if this would just be for commercial property or both commercial and residential apartments. She said she was all for not blocking bike lanes and said we needed to specify that delivery vehicles should not be excluded because they are a big part of the problem.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if right of first refusal for vacant and blighted has been discussed. 

Councilmember Mackie asked to confirm that there had been outreach to the 21st Delegation about priorities. Mr. Gardiner said there has been outreach but the city has yet to hear about firm priorities. 

Councilmember Hew suggested modified mufflers be additional legislation. 

Councilmember Whitney asked if staff knew the three locations in the county that received the noise cameras.

Mr. Gardiner said for LARs to be sent to MML we can recommend the bike lanes and the request for property tax appeals if a sale demonstrates a property is undervalued.

Councilmember Ranker asked if there is something that Municipalities advocate for related to higher standards for bike lanes. Mr. Young said Route 1 is a right-of-way, but land acquisition is huge. We do not have the width without impacting business. The primary issue was less about state standards and more to do with related expenses. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell – MML is only going to deal with LARs that will benefit all state municipalities. Which is why we have lobbyists to deal with our own issues. A letter will be on Consent agenda next week. 

 REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Whitney said originally there was the introduction of an ordinance prohibiting stopping or standing in a bike lane at tonight’s meeting. She would like to make sure it will be on the agenda for next week. Ms. Allen said it will be on the agenda for next week. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she will put forth request for an audit process for organizations that receive money from the City.

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

Councilmember Mackie said she attended the kickoff for senior activities at the College Park Woods Clubhouse. She gave a shoutout to the members of the Seniors Committee for their work. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanked the city and Councilmember Mackie for bringing Care Solace to the Council. She had the opportunity to talk to Care Solace about their benefits. She reminded residents that this is resource that is free and about keeping them whole. She said they should reach out and make the call if they need assistance. 

Councilmember Hew said he attended the Berwyn Ballet. He said it was inspiring to see children learn about performing arts and culture. He said it was a great asset to our city and hopes for more opportunities to participate. 

Councilmember Hernandez thanked staff for their work on making Friday Night Live a success. He also congratulated Taqueria Habanero on the re-opening of their restaurant. 

Mayor Pro Tem made the motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilmember Hew. 

MEETING ADJOURNED

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on May 20, 2025. 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 

• Adoption of the Lakeland Neighborhood Plan 

Presentations

• Recognition of Outstanding Essayists in the “If I Were Mayor, I Would” essay contest.
• Age-Friendly College Park 

Action 

• Adoption of Budget for Fiscal Year 2026

Worksession

• Ordinance to Amend Chapter 184 to prohibit parking or standing in a bike lane.

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 May 6, 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 introduced the new assistant city clerk, Melissa Flores. He said the first event for this season’s Friday Night Live series event to be held on Friday, May 9 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm featuring an ACDC cover band.  Mr. Young announced the re-opening of Taco Habanero on Friday, May 9.  He said Bike to Work Day will be held early morning on May 15, so far 150 residents have registered, and we are looking for more. Everyone registered will receive a shirt. The last Spring Cleanup Day for this season will be held on May 17.  The Spring Festival will be held on Sunday, May 18 and will include a variety of activities. Residents will be informed of street closures for the event.   

Councilmember Hernandez asked if there would be communication regarding Teacher and Public Servant appreciation. Mr. Young said there will be a proclamation next week for Teacher Appreciation. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Mark Shroder, former District 1 Councilmember

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS

A. National Foster Child Care Month 

B. Jewish American Heritage Month

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Whitney moved to remove the closed session from the agenda, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell. Mitchell moved to pass the agenda as amended and was seconded by Councilmember Rigg. It was unanimously approved.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Carol Nezzo, resident – Her cell phone does not connect with any of the city services, she has met with Gio in the city’s IT department and her phone service provider to no avail.  She said whenever she calls, she is unable to get through.  She said she can get through to the cell phone number of a staff member named Paula Green.  She said she wonders if her phone could be hooked up to the satellite and asked for help to address the issue.  

Mayor Kabir said he hopes that Gio will be able to assist with the issue.

 CONSENT AGENDA

25-G-44 Authorization to allow free parking on weeknights after 5:00 p.m., and free all-day Saturday parking in the City’s downtown parking garage from May 24 to August 23, 2025 – Jim Miller, Parking Enforcement Manager 

25-G-46 Approval of the purchase and installation of 167 orange and white waterfilled safety barriers along ethe frontage of Duvall Field Renovation Project on Rhode Island Avenue from Power Pack in the amount of $53,598.00 funded from CIP #991013 – Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works

25-G-47 Ratify the submission of a grant application to the FY26 “PetFocused” Grant Program administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture – Rakhmel Rafi, Grants Coordinator 25-G-48 Authorization of the appointment of a new Parking Violation Review Officer as part of the City’s process for resolution review –Parking Enforcement Manager 

Councilmember Hernandez made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, seconded by Councilmember Esters. Unanimously approved.

 PRESENTATIONS:

Lakeland Stars – Kiaisha Barber, Youth, Family and Senior Services Director 

Dr. Ashley Ogwo, Coordinator for Lakeland Stars introduced the presentation, and it is a tutoring program for Paint Branch Elementary students grades 1-5.  She said the program has been in existence for over 20 years.  The students meet with a mentor to talk about schoolwork and other things. Current mentors discussed their participation in the program, their specific roles, and their takeaways.  

Dr. Ogwo mentioned a few highlights of the program including name tags for tutors (made by the students), and a “no-excuse” binder to ensure students are working on developing skills even if they have no homework assignments.  She said the current number of students currently participating in the program is the most they have had in Stars history; thirty-one students participate on Mondays and thirty-two participate on Tuesdays.

Councilmember Esters acknowledged the importance of the work that was being done and asked how many students have gone through the program. Ms. Barber estimated there have been at least three hundred students who have gone through the program.  

Councilmember Hernandez acknowledged the work and asked mentors to share what they have learned from the students. Mentors said the program reminded them that they were kids and to have fun and all students have different learning styles.

Avery, Hope, and Taylor are all current mentors who are graduating this year.  

PALS Class 15 Minute City Presentation – UMD Students 

Dr. ElZoghbi, thanked the Planning department and the civic associations for their assistance with the project.

Students defined the 15-minute neighborhood project and described their work. A 15-minute neighborhood is one where people can access needs and amenities within 15 minutes. The vision of the 15-minute neighborhood is to create a walkable neighborhood. The class created an interactive mapping tool. Members of the class outlined opportunities for Hollywood, Lakeland, Old Town, and Calvert Hills to achieve 15-minute neighborhoods.  

Councilmember Esters asked for clarity regarding the mention of a research repository to limit burden on Lakeland residents. The student explained that Lakeland is a heavily research community.  So, they suggest a repository that would include all research that could be made accessible to the community members and others.  

Councilmember Whitney asked if there was any one vision that came up for all four neighborhoods. Healthcare and Aging-in-place were mentioned. 

Councilmember Hernandez acknowledged the presentation and said he agreed with the economic development vision for the northern portion of college park and Hollywood Shopping Center. He asked about the Maryland Department of Labor building and the suggestion for maker space. A student mentioned interest in using the whole building to provide services to the community and a portion of it being a maker space for hobbyists and small businesses.  She said if you have a maker space, you should have a café, and it will become an instant meeting space. She also suggested the inclusion of small micro-offices and said they were inspired by Proteus Bikes.  

Councilmember Hew said he appreciated the recommendation of the use of the Maryland state building and agrees with all that was presented.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she is in western part of the city and would like to see something similar in that area. She told the class they had given the city the opportunity to think out of the box. She said she was excited by the Public Health majors in the course because she was also a Public Health major. 

Mayor Kabir recognized the Planning Department, Ms. Bader, and Mr. Nunes.  Mayor Kabir asked if the study would provide some goals for the strategic plan. Ms. Bader said the final report will be done in June and she will make it available to Council.  

C. Maryland General Assembly Legislative Session wrap-up – Leonard Lucchi, Esquire, O’Malley, Miles, Nylen & Gilmore, P.A.

Mr. Gardiner introduced Mr. Lucchi, who has been our lobbyist since 2015. Mr. Lucchi said the state is experiencing a $3 billion shortfall which is to be addressed with $2 billion in cuts and $1 billion in increased revenue. He said cities fared better than counties. Maryland Municipal League (MML) implemented a team approach during session this year. Although the legislation did not pass, College Park led the way for municipal land use. This year 10 mayors showed up to advocate; it made progress, but there was some uncertainty about county leadership.  There could be more progress moving forward once county leadership is confirmed.  

Mr. Lucchi discussed key legislation that passed:

• Municipalities allowed to lease election equipment from the state.
• Increase of infractions from $1,000 – $5000.  It was not a priority for MML, but they played a role in making this happen. This was an initiative of College Park.
• Certified technicians allowed to certify speed violation based upon recorded images.
• Requirement for the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to establish a process for setting upper payment limits for purchases and payor reimbursements for prescription drug products. 

Mr. Lucchi discussed state funding received by College Park (he mentioned that no other city in the state has both the chair and vice chair of the appropriations committees as residents): 

• College Park Airport – received funds to benefit MNCPPC property surrounding the airport and the Discovery District. 
• Funding for Attick Towers
• Funding for University of Maryland
• Funding for Route 1 improvements (North of MD-193) – starts in 2027.  Legislation gave additional funding for design and planning. 

Despite the challenging budget year, the city did well.  

Councilmember Hernandez asked if we need to talk about legislative priorities. Mr. Young said there will be discussion among Council and with Delegation. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell – MML is asking for priorities early given the new county leadership. She asked about the nuances of HB389 Child Care home tax credit.  Mr. Lucchi said it would be up to the city.  Mayor Pro Tem said she has heard rumblings about a special budget session and asked if the session could impact municipalities. Mr. Lucchi confirmed the state will have a special session. He said once Congress completes its budget, there will be a better sense of what is happening with the state budget, but Medicaid will shift from Congress to the states which will leave a hole in the budget. He said everything is up for consideration. Mayor Pro Tem asked for any information that will allow us to be proactive. 

Councilmember Ranker asked for clarity about childcare bill and asked for the definition of large family childcare homes.  Mr.  Lucchi said he would send clarifying information to the Council.  

Mayor Kabir asked about the land use legislation and what we could do to plan to move forward. Mr. Lucchi suggested there be a meeting with the incoming County Executive and other mayors to discuss the issue.   

PUBLIC HEARING AND POSSIBLE ACTION:

25-O-05 Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park to amend City Code, Chapter, 179-5 Tree and Landscape Board –Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works 

Mr. Marsili introduced this ordinance to amend city code Chapter 179-5A – Membership and Operation of the Tree and Landscape Board (TLB) to reflect the proposed increase to nine members and remove the requirement for the Committee for a Better Environment (CBE) Chair or designee to attend all TLB meetings.  

Councilmember Whitney made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Esters. It passed unanimously.

25-O-04 Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, Maryland to adopt the Fiscal Year 2026 General Fund, ARPA Allocation Fund, Debt Service Fund, and Capital Projects Fund budgets for the City of College Park – Gary Fields, Finance Director

Mr. Fields said the FY 26 proposed budget is $26 million and would be roughly the same amount as the FY 25 budget.  He said the bulk of revenue funding would come from taxes (75%), and there would not be an increase in property taxes.  He said that 86% of expenditures were departmental and that the fund balance for the proposed budget would be 36%. According to Mr. Fields, fund balance is a subjective number that can vary between governments. The funds can provide for contingencies in times of disaster, and they can provide for capital projects. When we have had significant percentage (2018 and 2022) we have made transfers to contingencies and CIP. 

Mark Shroder, resident and Chairman of the Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). On March 14, the BPAC sent a message about the CIP budget. They would like to thank the city for its Complete Street projects. The council asked them to share feedback on priorities. He said the BPAC put forth the following priorities:

• Postpone the Bowdoin Avenue project to prioritize Duke Street. He said there is not a lot of traffic on Bowdoin Avenue. They believe the priorities would be Duke Street and St. Andrews.  
• City should create a bike lane on Edgewood Road 
• Prioritize and implement sidewalk installation around Branchville Avenue, Locust Spring Road and the corresponding block of Rhode Island 
•  For the Rhode Island Avenue corridor, additional bike lane barriers and intersection improvements to enhance safety and accessibility along the corridor

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked for the record to be left open for comment until Friday, May 9.  

ACTION ITEMS: 

25-G-45 Approval of comments on the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Budget – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager 

Mr. Gardiner introduced the Council’s annual review and comments on MNCPPC Budget.  He highlighted the following as it pertains to the budget:

• North College Park Community Center – $1.5 million is the city’s contribution to the center. MNCPPC has already approved $26 million for the facility which they believe will be completed in FY29.
• City Park Airport – $500,000 for tree trimming that is done every five years as required by aviation regulations.  
• No money for the pedestrian bridge over the Northeast Branch of the Anacostia near the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC), but the feasibility study will be completed near the end of 2025
• Ice Rink – $2 million dollars toward $30 million renovation.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she had no issue with the letter but asked that the at-large County councilmembers should be added as recipients. 

Councilmember Hew reference issue regarding previous tree trimming effort and said he thinks that the Tree & Landscape Board and the Airport Board should have more coordinated efforts as it relates to tree trimming.  

Councilmember Rigg said the Calvert Community Park has equipment that is 20 years old and a basketball court that needs to be resurfaced.  

Councilmember Hew mentioned the needs of Cherry Hill Park. He said there are storm mitigation issues, and the park has been overlooked.  

Councilmember Esters said she recognized the concerns expressed but asked for clarity on the objective of this letter.  She asked given everything going on right now, if it is our objective to provide a comprehensive list of all requests or a list of priorities.  

Councilmember Hernandez said that there are many MNCPPC parks within the city, but they may not know the priorities.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said we do need to be mindful of competing municipal requests.  

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

Councilmember Mackie said she attended a recent Maryland Hotel Association meeting where the city shined.  She thanked the resident who spoke about the importance of mental health during the meeting and thanked colleagues for making videos helping to promote Care Solace.  She asked colleagues to put Good Neighbor Day on their calendars for October 25, 2025. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she attended a recent WMATA meeting on Better Bus Design.  

Mayor Kabir said he participated in the Bike with a Cop event and recently attended a disability expo at the Riggs Alumni Center and the Lakeland Rededication Ceremony.

Councilmember Whitney said she attended the Lakeland Rededication Ceremony and was excited to speak at the event. She said it was great to leadership from other cities attend, in addition to current Lakelanders and those from the diaspora. She said it was good to see the word had gotten out and that people know about Lakeland.

Councilmember Hew attended Berwyn Heights Day and recently attended a screening at the Greenbelt Theatre. He said the Co-op has taken over the Greenbelt Theatre. He said he will be attending the Sherriff’s Academy over the next 10 weeks. He said that Good Neighbor Day has been successful because of projects initiated by the community.  

Councilmember Hernandez said he presented to students at Hollywood Elementary for Career Day.  

Mayor Kabir said the cities of New Carrolton and Cheverly have elected new mayors and councilmembers. He thanks all for their public service.

Mr. Young said there will be a video of the Lakeland Rededication that will become part of the Lakeland historical record. He also said next week will be the last week for our current SGA Student Liaisons.  

MEETING ADJOURNED

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on May 13, 2025. 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:

• Reappointment of Arelis Pérez to the Housing Authority for a five-year term to expire on May 1, 2030.
• Approval of letter of support to the University of Maryland’s Safe Streets and Roads for All planning grant application to the Department of Transportation 

Presentation:

• Farewell to Erica Otte, Student Liaison and Anna-Kaye McDonald, Deputy Student Liaison

Public Hearing:

• Ordinance to amend code chapter 184, “Vehicles and Traffic”, by Enacting Article IX ‘Stop Sign Monitoring, Systems §184-46 Systems on Highways Located in a School Zone 

Worksessions

• Ordinance to adopt the Fiscal Year 2026 General Fund, ARPA Allocation Fund, Debt Service Fund, and Capital Projects Fund budgets for the City of College Park 
• Lakeland Neighborhood Plan