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 Meetings. 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 a document shredding and clean-up event sponsored by Prince George’s County called “Clear the Cutter” to be held on Saturday, June 14 from 8am -1 pm. He said a contractor will begin concrete work along Cherry Hill Road on Friday, June 13. Residents are advised to follow instructions on orange barriers. Friday Night Live Pride edition will be held on Friday, June 13 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm at City Hall Plaza. The event will celebrate Pride and feature music from Honest Lee Soul. The Stonewall Riot exhibition will be in City Hall. Backyard Barbeque will be a food vendor.
Upcoming events include a Classic Rock Car Show on Saturday, June 21 and the first taste of College Park July 21-July 27. Mr. Young encouraged residents to join the University of Maryland (UMD) Aquatic Center where they will receive a 30% discount once they join the alumni association as a community member. He thanked UMD for their partnership.
Mr. Young thanked city representatives from State College who visited and toured projects in College Park with Ms. Bader, Director of Planning & Community Development, and Mr. Williams, Director of Economic Development. He said State College will be introducing ADUs to their City Council in the next week. They have been working on updating their zoning ordinance for 12 years. He said we may be able to piggyback on their process and hopefully adopt some of what they are doing. Mr. Young thanked Councilmember Hew for stopping by during the dinner.
Councilmember Rigg thanked staff for working with the University of Maryland and mentioned being part of a volleyball team through UMD RecWell.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Former District 2 Councilmembers Bob Catlin and Maxine Gross
PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS
AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell moved to approve the meeting agenda, seconded by Councilmember Rigg. It passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Bob Catlin, resident and co-chair of the Berwyn District Civic Association (BDCA) – the BDCA will take the months of June, July, August off. They are scheduled to have a meeting with Senator Rosapepe and the 21st delegation. He said College Park was dominated by Urban Renewal in the 70s and 80s. In the 1980s the Campus Village Shopping Center was developed, and the Berwyn Industrial District was built. No student apartments were built in the city over a 20-year period. The Wynfield apartments were built in 1998.
Maxine Gross, resident – confirmed Mr. Catlin’s comments about Campus Village Shopping Center, which was part of the urban renewal development. She said she wanted to speak to Council about the Governor’s veto of reparations that was passed by recent legislation. She asked the Mayor and Council to take a stance on that legislation. She asked that we consider the Just Communities legislation to see if it would be a complete tool that can be used to rebuild Lakeland and asked that we work toward legislation needed to rebuild Lakeland.
Arelis Perez, resident – she read an email she sent to Mayor and Council this morning regarding concerns about the Affordable Housing Taskforce not having voting representation from the Housing Authority of the City of College Park.
CONSENT AGENDA
25-G-59 Approval of a letter of opposition of the transfer of a Class A, Beer, Wine and Liquor license from 8141 Baltimore Avenue Corporation, t/a College Park Liquors to Riya Raj, LLC, t/a College Park Liquors, 7207 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD 20740 – Jatinder Khokhar, Public Services Director and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney
Councilmember Hernandez made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, seconded by Councilmember Mackie. It passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING AND POSSIBLE ACTION:
25-G-55 Petition request for Traffic Calming in the 9000 Block of Autoville Drive – Jacob Vassalotti, GIS Coordinator and Steve Halpern, City Engineer
Presentation regarding technical data to address the petition for traffic calming on Autoville Drive between Blackfoot Road and Cherokee and Autoville between Cherokee and Erie Streets.
Councilmember Whitney asked Mr. Vassalotti to confirm that between April 18 – April 28 the data indicates that 15.8% were recorded at a speed higher than 25 mph and 62 vehicles (3.6%) were recorded than 30 mph, so , even though the speed warrant was not met on the busiest days, a high number of vehicles were speeding generally. Mr. Vassalotti confirmed that to be the case.
Councilmember Hew asked if the data revealed where the speeding was more common. Jacob Vassalotti said the higher percentage was found in the 9100 and 9200 blocks on Autoville Drive. He said the monitors for the traffic study were moved over the course of two days. There could be multiple reasons why there may be changes in traffic levels and speeding.
Councilmember Hernandez said although there’s a sidewalk on Autoville Drive, it is only three houses long. So, if people would like to walk through the neighborhood, they need to walk in the street.
Councilmember Ranker asked what a choker would be like, and would it take away parking? Mr. Vassalotti said yes it would take away parking but narrows the roadway to slow vehicles down.
Councilmember Hew asked if the width of Autoville would cause the road to become one way. Mr. Vassalotti said that would be a community process to ensure that residents have input.
Councilmember Hernandez asked how many lights are on Route 1 near the area, and where the entrances to the Flats are located. Mr. Vassalotti said the entrance was on Cherokee Street.
Julie Cooney, resident – said she has been very concerned about the traffic in the neighborhood. She said that normally cars use Autoville as a cut-through thinking they can get out. They then zoom through the community causing concerns for the safety of children and animals. She said 202 cars a day on a block with 12 houses is a lot. The study had the testers at the fourth house in, and that is not far from the stop sign at Cherokee. If it were further south it may show more speeding. She said the street runs up a hill where the tester was but pick up speed as they head south down the hill. Fifteen vehicles traveling between 30-40 miles per hour is too many cars traveling too fast.
Brian Cooney, resident– said the 9000 block of Autoville Drive is 600 ft and there are 12 houses, 7 of which are rental with numerous cars. The cars are traveling too fast, and it is concerning for those walking down the street. People do not stop at the stop sign. He asked for the stop sign camera in the future. He asked for traffic calming to help slow the traffic. The road is 26ft with no outlet. A couple of residents’ cats have been killed.
Sarah Fudge, resident – lives on 9100 block of Autoville. She said there are no sidewalks, there are children in the community, and they are the family whose cat was killed. The concerns are enough for them to consider moving. If speed bumps are not the answer something needs to be done. She said the traffic study does not mean anything to residents because it is not their lived reality.
Letitia Richardson, resident– has lived on Autoville Drive for 25 years now. She said increased development has caused the street to become a cut-through. A dog was killed because someone was speeding and did not stop. There are no sidewalks. People are always walking in the street, walking their dogs, and pushing strollers. She dreads that one day someone will be killed on Autoville Drive. She sees speeding on the road every day. She said residents were told if a majority of people signed the petition they could obtain a speed bump. She hopes council will do something to avoid something from happening.
A resident named Julie said Monument Village is a dog-friendly building, so even more people beyond those living in homes are impacted by the speeding.
Mayor Kabir recognized comments from Jane Handelman that were sent to Mayor and Council in favor of a traffic calming device.
Councilmember Hew thanked residents who testified. The study does not account for pedestrian traffic on the street. It is not a cut-through and it does not go anywhere. He said many people come to the area between the Berwyn Ballet School and the new hair salon. More and more vehicles are going up and down the road. He mentioned the cat and dog that were killed due to speeding cars. There are new children in the community and a school bus stop. It has become increasingly dangerous.
Councilmember Hernandez said he would defer to the city engineer to suggest the type of traffic calming measure to be utilized. He said he wanted to talk about the nature of the neighborhood. Many changes are coming, including the building of the Flats that has the potential to add to monument village. It is one long street. The study has not accounted for continued growth. The lack of a sidewalk should encourage us to take measures to address the concerns. He said he is excited about the addition of a crosswalk at Cherokee and Route 1.
Councilmember Ranker said going down a street where there is not sidewalk at 25 mph is much too fast. He would be in favor of decreasing the speed and asking Monument Village to contribute to a sidewalk.
Councilmember Rigg said he is not a proponent of traffic calming devices because they hinder the movement of first responders and do little to reduce speeding.
Councilmember Esters referenced comments by Councilmember Rigg about traffic calming devices, saying traffic calming devices placed on Branchville Road have not stopped speeding entirely but may have decreased it a bit. She suggested that the traffic calming device along with a decrease in the speed limit may help the situation. She said she would not want to see something happen when the city could have done something.
Councilmember Hernandez asked how many streets throughout city have met the requirements for traffic calming devices. Mr. Vassalotti said Branchville Rd is the only one he recalled during his 4 years with the city.
Councilmember Hew made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Hernandez.
Vote: 7 in favor. One against.
ACTION ITEMS:
25-G-58 Approval of the reappointments of Maxine Gross and Senator Jim Rosapepe as Class B Directors and Kate Kennedy, Gloria Aparicio Blackwell, and Kenny Young as Class C Directors of the College Park City University Partnership for terms to end as stated on the attached request – Yvette Allen, City Clerk
Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Esters
Councilmember Hernandez asked about the differences between Class A, B, and C. Ms. Allen said that Class A appointments are made by the University of Maryland, Class B appointments are made by the City of College Park, and Class C appointments are made jointly by the University and the City.
25-G-60 Annual appointments to City advisory boards for terms that begin on July 1 –
Councilmember Hew mentioned that District 1 had a vacancy on the Advisory Planning Commission (APC). He said that Donald Hays submitted an application during the meeting. Mr. Hays’ addition to the APC will be done at the next Council meeting to be held on July 1.
Councilmember Whitney made the motion to approve the appointments, seconded by Councilmember Esters.
25-O-07 Introduction of an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park Authorizing the acquisition of certain real property located at 5021 Lakeland Road, College Park, MD 20740, for a public purpose –Kenneth A. Young, City Manager and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney
The Public Hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Councilmember Whitney pointed out the property’s central location in the neighborhood, and that it is next to a Community Preservation Trust home and across the street from Embry AME and just down from First Baptist Church.
Councilmember Esters made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Whitney. The motion passed unanimously.
WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS
A. Discussion of Proposed FY26 Annual Strategic Plan Objectives – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager
Mr. Gardiner said an annual goal has been drafted for Council consideration and he would like to get feedback and bring it back for a future session.
Councilmember Mackie asked if he would prefer for Council to share ideas and input via email or share this evening. Mr. Gardiner said Council could provide input via email. He said the intent would be to put this forth for action during the next Council meeting.
COMMENTS FROM THE MAYOR, COUNCIL, STUDENT LIAISON OR CITY MANAGER
Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said that Sunday, June 15 is Father’s Day. She wished all fathers a Happy Father’s Day for all that they do.
Mayor Kabir said he will be attending the United States Conference of Mayors which directly conflicts with Maryland Municipal League Conference.
Councilmember Whitney attended the Lakeland Workshop on June 9 sponsored by the African American Redress Network (AARN). She said it was an opportunity to focus on what repair would look like for the community. It was good to see that work is happening and see folks reaching consensus. She said a lot of people keep coming back and offering their time and that the work is not easy.
Councilmember Hew mentioned the retirement of Mayor Alan Thompson, who had been on Riverdale’s council or Mayor for 26 years. He also wished everyone a Happy Pollinator Week. He said community events will be taking place through the end of the week of June 13.
Councilmember Hernandez mentioned the recent North College Park Civic Association (NCPCA) barbecue. He said Senator Rosapepe, Mayor Kabir and Councilmember Hew were present. He mentioned the army celebration to be held on Saturday, June 14. He mentioned his excitement in seeing tanks rolling by during Council meeting. He said he was not sure why it has become so politicized.
SGA Liaison Nick Dispiritu said they will continue to work on the advisory council applications.
MEETING ADJOURNED
Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on July 1, 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:
- Agreement with Maryland- National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) on the approval of the North College Park Community Center
- Policy on Overcrowding
- Introduction of Ordinance 25-O-06 – Prohibit Parking or Standing in a Bike Lane
- Worksession Prior to an Introduction of an Ordinance of the revisions to the City’s Revitalization Tax Credit Program
The College Park District 2 Digest 