The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration has announced the upcoming schedule for the Purple Line Community Advisory Team (CAT) meetings. The Purple Line project is now more than 80% complete and these meetings are designed to share construction updates from the summer construction period as well as upcoming construction activities. All meetings will be held virtually between September 29 and October 16 from 6 p.m.– 7:30 p.m. Local residents, businesses and community organizations are encouraged to attend.

The Microsoft Teams links are posted on the public meetings and events.  The schedule is as follows: 

• Monday, September 29: Riverdale Park, New Carrollton, Glenridge

• Tuesday, September 30: College Park 

• Tuesday, October 7: Long Branch

• Wednesday, October 8: Bethesda, Chevy Chase

• Thursday, October 9: University Boulevard

• Tuesday, October 14: Lyttonsville/Woodside

• Thursday, October 16: Silver Spring

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 September 16, 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 asked residents to join the city for Bailamos, a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at the College Park Woods Clubhouse on Friday, September 19 from 5:00pm – 7:30pm. He said parking will be in the neighborhood and be like parking for the Spring Fair done in North College Park months ago. He said Fall Clean Up days will be October 4 and October 25. Bulk Trash or debris can be dropped off at College Park Public Works, and document shredding will be done on October 25 from 8am -12pm. Mr. Young announced that general elections for Mayor and Council will be held November 4 at City Hall, early voting will take place on November 2 at Davis Hall. The deadline to register for anyone interested in voting in this election is October 20, and youth must turn sixteen by November 4 in order to vote.

Councilmember Hernandez asked about the police study that he doesn’t see on the future agenda. Mr. Young said he will get to it this year if he can, but it is not currently scheduled.

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS

Mayor’s Monarch Pledge

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell approved agenda, seconded by Councilmember Whitney. The motion was unanimously approved.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

David Dorsch, resident – The city should sell the house located at 4704 Calvert Road, and the money needs to go back to the taxpayers. He said Monday he noticed when trash and recyclables were picked up workers took a bag out of the receptacle because it was in a plastic bag, but there were recyclables in the bag. We need to determine how best to relay information to the community, beyond what is online, so they know what to do.  

Mayor Kabir informed Mr. Dorsch that the city publishes a Resident Guide each year that is sent to all residents. 

Oscar Gregory, non-resident – thanked Mr. Bill Gardiner for the letter he wrote to the USDA to save BARC. 

Margaret Markowitz, residents – asked Council to look at the administrative process for the abuse. She said she had an experience with neighbors who have lied about her. The complaint against her has been taken as true. She said she has experience working with mediators for years and understands the importance of investigations and equity. 

She has been issued warnings, but investigations have not occurred. She said that only through the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) request did she learn how the complaints were handled, and it was biased. She has never had such an experience. She cannot believe what she has read. 

CONSENT AGENDA

25-G-95 Approval of an on-call contract for engineering services to Charles P. Johnson and Associates, Inc. (CPJ) – Steve Halpern, P.E., City Engineer

25-G-96 Approval of an on-call contract for engineering services to Rummel, Klepper, & Kahl, LLP (RK&K)- Steve Halpern, P.E., City Engineer 

25-G-90 Approval of a task order under the on-call engineering services contract with Charles P Johnson and Associates (CPJ) in the amount of $44,690.00 for the design of the 48th Place Sidewalk Project

25-G-91 Approval of a task order under the on-call engineering services contract with Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP (RK&K) in the amount of $123,911.62 for the design of the Wellesley Drive Sidewalk Project 

25-G-92 Approval of FY23 Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Grant (MHAA) Rescoped Project with ATT#1, FNL MHAA FY23 Lakeland Heritage Arts Project – Rakhmel Rafi, Grants Coordinator – Rakhmel Rafi, Grants Coordinator

25-G-93 Ratification of the FY27 Community Parks and Playgrounds application with ATT#1 FY27 CP&P Application – Rakhmel Rafi, Grants Coordinator

25-G-94 Approval of a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requesting not to relocate the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) – Bill Gardiner – Assistant City Manager 

25-G-97 Approval of the sponsorship of two Lakeland College Park basketball teams to the 2026 Inter-Center Basketball League in the amount of $1,200. 

Councilmember Esters made the motion to accept the consent agenda, seconded by Councilmember Whitney.  It was unanimously approved.

PRESENTATIONS: 

Miss College Park 2025

Miss College Park 2025, Maddie Bronk – She is a recent graduate of UMD and UMBC. Last year was her third attempt to gain the title, and she was excited to be named Ms. College Park. She said she had an incredible year. She has met the mayor, councilmembers, and Senator Roseapepe, and has had the opportunity to speak about her platform of Autism awareness. Ms. Bronk said she was honored to be part of many memorable moments, including College Park Day, Friday Night Live, the College Park Memorial Day ceremony, Berwyn Heights Parade and National Night Out. She was the first Ms. College Park to be accepted as a member of the American Legion Battalion which bring her closer to her Pop Pop who passed away this year. Throughout her title she has been able to inspire children and celebrate the great diversity of the College Park community. 

Honoring Dawn Powers of the Education Advisory Commission

PUBLIC HEARING AND POSSIBLE ACTION:

25-O-09 Ordinance 25-O-09 an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, Maryland, Amending Chapter 175 “Taxation” “§ 175-9 “Eligibility Requirements”; and § 175-10 “Eligibility Criteria”; concerning the Grant a Tax Credit Against the City Property Tax Imposed on Real Property within the Revitalization Tax Districts – Michael Williams, Director of Economic Development 

Ms. Anderson, City Attorney, said we had an ordinance amending the revitalization of the city’s tax credit including eligibility requirements and eligibility criteria. We also amended section 175-10 to address environmental issues associated with it. 

Mr. Williams expressed his thanks for bringing this to council and working with Mr. Young to bring forth the criteria.

David Dorsch, resident – asked where the revitalization tax credits are within the city. Mr. Williams shared his map with Mr. Dorsch. 

Oscar Gregory, non -resident – said he stands in opposition of tax credits for developers against city taxes. The tax credits take away tax revenues from the residents. He said giving away developer tax funds is not what you were hired to do. This has made free money part of the business plans for developers. We can see the impact that these tax credits have had on students. He asked why council does not push back on University of Maryland for them to house impoverished students. 

Yona Gross, resident – said he is not against or for the tax credits. He said we often hear dialogue about long-term residents versus students, and the university versus the city. He said Council is here to represent all residents. College Park is a great city because of students and not in spite of them. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he finds this a useful tool in attracting businesses to the city.  

Councilmember Hew said people may misunderstand our objective in offering tax credits to developers. At one time there was a lack of student housing and tax credits were used to attract student housing projects. He is for affordable housing and senior housing; these are needed in the city. 

Councilmember Esters said amending the tax credit provides the city with leverage to help shape us moving forward. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said this has been asked of us by residents. We must have tools in our toolbox that will allow us to move forward. 

Councilmember Whitney said she wanted to state her support. She said this is our opportunity to encourage the kind of businesses we don’t just want in the city, we need in the city. There are seniors who have had to move out of the city because they want to downsize but can’t find the kind of housing they need. She pointed out that any tax credit that was granted would still leave a lot of new revenue on the table.

Councilmember Mackie wanted it stated on the record that all potential credits would have to be come before Mayor and Council. She said in the past the city has deliberated over offering tax credits. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said there have been tax credits we have not given, this tax credits are not automatic. 

Mr. Young said this amendment does not automatically offer tax credits to developers; this puts in place the evaluation criteria. 

Councilmember Hew said buildings on Route 1 are built to a sustainable level. To get the tax credit, the buildings should be built in a sustainable manner.

Mayor Kabir said tax credit is a tool, and it is not only offered in College Park. During his time on Council, some of the development was not built with particular standards. Just because it is available does not mean it will be given automatically. 

ACTION ITEMS:

25-O-10 Introduction of Ordinance 25-O-10 an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, Maryland, Amending Chapter § 62-17, Mayor and Council Compensation, to change the amount of compensation payable to the Mayor and Council –Teresa Way-Pezzuti, Director of Human Resources 

Ms. Way-Pezzuti introduced the item for consideration. 

Councilmember Esters asked Ms. Way-Pezzuti about how the research done by the Compensation Committee, specifically how “apples were compared to apples.” Ms. Way-Pezzuti said twenty-six cities were reviewed to determine their suggestions. 

Councilmember Hew said many residents do not understand all that is done by councilmembers. There are many things that are not mentioned as it relates to the work of Mayor and Council. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Whitney.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if in addition to the job responsibilities, there could be information about additional work done by Mayor and Council. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked when this item should be voted on. Mr. Young said it would have to be voted on by the current Council for the next Council. 

Ms. Allen said the public hearing can be held on October 7, if not it will be placed on the early December meeting agenda. 

Mr. Young said the item can also be brought in November.

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

Discussion to identify required amendments to Chapters 110, 125, and 144 to ensure proper permitting and enforcement related to Short Term Rental units in the City of College Park and related platforms on which these units are advertised – Director of Public Services and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney 

Mr. Khokhar said the purpose of the discussion is to deal with related fees and penalties to better align with code enforcement permitting. 

On October 3, 2023, Mayor and Council adopted ordinance 23-O-09 to address short term rentals. Staff have since identified the need for amendments to the Code to establish an occupancy permit fee category in line with Chapter 144-6; fees, adjustments to the application and inspection process as well as the need for an SOP to ensure uniformity and availability of information via a registry managed by staff or an outside data analytics group to be identified. The City has the following classification for residential rental dwelling units: 

1. Single Family (include owner-occupied rentals, townhouses, SFDs grandfathered in or with special exemptions such as permitted second kitchens, etc.)

2. Condominium Units 

3. Rooming Houses

 4. Multiple unit dwellings – buildings with 2-5 units 

5. Multiple unit dwellings – buildings with 6 or more units 

6. Hotels/Motels 

7. Fraternities/Sororities 

The city has identified the following practices by other municipalities that we may include in the City’s policies: 

1. A host must register its municipality in order to conduct business as a short-term rental. 2. The host must be present while guests are on the premises. 

3. They may host two travelers/visitors at most. 118 09092025 short term rental ordinances classifications and penalties 2 combined edits-kay edits

 4. Many municipalities allow for only one vehicle with an approved visitor pass. Parking Enforcement regulations would have to be visited here in the City as well.

 5. Short-term rentals are only allowed for a maximum of 30-days within a calendar year or subject to ordinance levied fines and penalties

 6. Associated regulations include noise, parking, waste management, unruly gathering, and tenant conduct/behavior. 

7. Stringent inspection requirements and severe penalties are set in many cases. 

8. Advertisement such as lawn signs, window signs/lobby signs are not allowed at premises. 9. Some municipalities use consultants to monitor advertising platforms to cite for non-registration and levy hefty fines. 

10. The distance from other properties, limit on the maximum number of occupants is mandated to manage impact on the quality of life for the neighboring community. 

11. Many communities note that their present penalties are not sufficient to deter owners/or landlords from weekend rentals due to income generated despite negative impacts on quality-of-life issues in general. 

City staff recommend penalties of $3,000 for the first offense and $5,000 for any subsequent offenses. They also recommend that we begin with a comprehensive analysis not limited to legal sufficiency review, business change review, workload impact to implement the change, any permitting software updates required, in addition to education and outreach efforts needed to implement the regulation and enforcement of short-term rental (STR) occupancies within the City of College Park.

Mr. Khokhar said in his research, the phenomenon of the short-term rental has been prevalent for 20 years. Right now, we do not have language that addresses short-term rentals and property compliance. 

Councilmember Whitney said she is in favor of software that can scrub sites for city listings. We have heard from folks about houses that were short-term rentals that the city was not aware of. It seems that renting by the hour is prohibited and if swimming pools are rented by the hour, it is a violation. We need to keep an eye on that. She said a flat fee of $350 is an increase for most buildings but would be a decrease for fraternities and sororities. She said there is a section referencing Urban Renewal in Lakeland that needs to be stricken from the ordinance.

Councilmember Esters asked if an initial inspection could be done prior to issuing a permit to allow for an added level of control rather than relying upon an owner to provide information about their compliance.  Mr. Khokhar said this could be done.

Councilmember Hernandez said as it relates to the inspection, he would like unauthorized construction to be considered because it ends up being a problem. He shared an anecdote – a resident has had continuous problems with a neighbor that became an Airbnb, but they were able to build out dwelling units. Airbnb advertises $7000 for an 8-bedroom house per night. He said he would like to reinforce the need for penalties and asked that some consideration to be given for taxes. He does not think that hosts need to be present while guests are on the premises. 

Councilmember Hew addressed the need for hosts to be present. He said there may be issues that arise, and they need to address while the unit is being rented. He asked if the city has already reached out to Airbnb. 

Mr. Khokhar said that new construction is not under our purview, it is the county. The city has been working with the county to address such issues.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanked Mr. Khokhar for the report. She said if the person who owns the property is not available, they should identify a designated contact to address issues. This is a good opportunity for us to sit down with DPIE to address permits for new construction. It could be a good time to work in a collaborative manner to help us have more control over construction. 

Councilmember Mackie said this is a good start to work that needs to be done. She said she wanted to address the accountability issue, as she has stayed at Airbnbs in various places and they have rules. She said we will need to look at parking. She asked if we could limit the number of short-term rentals allowed in the city.  Mr. Khokhar said if a landowner just says if they are going to do a rental, they will need to specify what kind of rental with Public Services. There are three tiers in their system – rental, short-term, vacant. Right now, they have rental residential and non-residential rentals. Councilmember Mackie asked if Mr. Khokhar thought of the increased workload of code enforcement and whether we will need to hire more staff. Mr. Khokhar said we will need to deal with legislation, fees, and penalties, and then consider any staffing needs. 

Councilmember Ranker said he was fine with owners not being present for a month if they live here for the remainder of the year. 

Mr. Khokhar said we will promise that our process is open, fair, and transparent. 

Councilmember Hew said he wanted to clarify for Mr. Ranker that 30 days is the limit to rent at one time, while there is a limit of 180 days per year. Mr. Khokhar said the intent behind language of ordinance matters. To him, 30 days represented 14 or 15 weekends. There could be many different interpretations of that requirement.

Hew said we need to be careful about the number of rentals permits we put out there. His observations in other college towns are that they limit the number of rentals on a particular street. 

Mr. Young said we must treat residential property the same whether it is a rental or single family.

Councilmember Whitney asked if charging a hotel/motel tax is prohibited. Mr. Young said no, but it would be something that Ms. Anderson would need to research. Whitney said having several short-term rentals in your community is not only a quality-of-life issue, but also an affordability issue if STRs are seen as more profitable than longer-term rentals. 

Councilmember Mackie said she would like to make sure that all regulations would apply to short-term rentals as they apply to other homes.

Mayor Kabir asked if we need to create a separate ordinance for any increase in fees. Mr. Young said yes, if Council wants to make it cost prohibitive, we will need to discuss fee structure and put forth changes. Mr. Khokhar said the State law allowing higher fees will go into effect October 1. 

Mr. Khokhar asked the student liaisons if they had input. SGA Liaison DiSpirito said it is tricky approaching short-term rentals, and he agrees with Council’s desire to strike a balance. 

Mr. Young said the city had been working with DPIE for a year now to identify areas where we can take on some inspections, which will require some cost. He said we sit in a good spot, and DPIE is working with us. 

Mr. Hernandez said it is good to know that hotel/motel tax can be applied. 

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked about the police study. Mr. Young said we have $25,000, which does not give us enough money to do a comprehensive study. He will need to come to Council to understand what is wanted. It is not currently a priority, as the majority of Council does not want to create a police department. We need to have further discussion about what we want. 

Mayor Kabir said we have heard that over the years. We do not know the tax dollars our residents pay for beat officers, but we are not getting enough officers. 

Councilmember Ranker said a few weeks ago we approved sending a letter to the 21^st Delegation about the use of data to set rental costs – Real Page. Mr. Gardiner said Berkely, California created an ordinance to prohibit this behavior. Action will require state or federal action. There will be legislation. Councilmember Ranker asked about the early lease ordinance. Mr. Young said they will need to discuss the entire future agenda and items to be added. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked for clarification, for Councilmember Ranker and others, on how items come to the agenda after agenda submission. 

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

Yonas, resident – Council priority should be community engagement. The city had a 10% turnout for elections in 2023. It is the duty of elected officials to reach out to community. 

Oscar Gregory, resident – Council just voted to give away hundreds of thousands of dollars to developers. They do not care; they will work around it. Their business model is to make a profit. He has been an accountant for 35-40 years. He understands that voters have 30 days to put items on the referendum. He thinks the matter of compensation should be put to a referendum and residents will vote to do so. 

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

Councilmember Mackie gave a shout out to the Seniors Committee. She encouraged residents to come out Wednesday to the College Park Woods Clubhouse for Bingo. She said it is a great way to engage with the seniors. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she and Councilmember Hew attended a meeting today with the National League of Cities (NLC) to discuss the upcoming census. The last time we dealt with the census was during COVID. She said they will bring information back to the body. 

Mayor Kabir said he, Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell, and Mr. Young attended Council of Governments (COG) meeting on artificial intelligence (AI). She mentioned the bilingual job fair to be held at City Hall on Thursday, September 18. 

Councilmember Esters mentioned the proclamation for Breast Cancers Awareness Month and encouraged women to do their self-examinations and get their mammograms. 

Councilmember Hew said that NLC will do a directory of members in their conferences to allow for interaction. He mentioned the need for a listing of best practices. He said that NLC is working on energy and environmental issues to bring to the current Federal administration. 

Councilmember Hernandez congratulated those with Mexican roots on Mexican Independence Day. 

Student Liaison Nick DiSpirto mentioned low-voter turnout. He and Amira Abujuma are working to increase student voting. He encourages those running to speak to a student to help give them a reason to vote. Hopefully, their candidate forum will be an avenue to do that. 

Deputy Student Liaison Amira Abujuma said some students do not know about the election or that they can vote. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said candidates are not allowed on campus to campaign. There have been conversations with several university presidents about that over the years. She said if the student liaisons were game to take that on, Council would love it.  

Councilmember Esters said low voter turnout has been an issue for some time and mentioned that some councilmembers have worked with former SGA liaisons to identify strategies to address. The best time to address is outside of an election year. 

MEETING ADJOURNED

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on October 7, 2025, once it is available. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated Consent Agenda and Action Items, and Worksession 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:

Child Care Task Force

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 September 9, 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 that Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) has completed the boardwalk repair on the Paint Branch Trail, saying the trail is open for traffic between Mazza GrandMarc and Hollywood Rd.  

The City of College Park will hold general elections for Mayor and Council. Election day will be Tuesday November 4 from 8am -8pm at City Hall, early voting will be held on Saturday November 2 from 11am – 4pm at Davis Hall.  Friday September 12 is the deadline for those submitting petitions to run for office.  

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Former District 2 Councilmember Robert Catlin 

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS

Hispanic Heritage Month 

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

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

PUBLIC COMMENT

Bob Catlin, resident, Co-president of the Berwyn District Civic Association (BDCA) – he is interested in two items, including the appointment of the Resident Commissioner at Attick Towers and the Ruatan sidewalk project.  

He went on to talk about the history of city development. He said the Ikea project used about 50 acres of land north of the Beltway, which used to be a campsite that moved to Cherry Hill Lane. Mr. Catlin said the developers told the city not to get hopes up because they wanted to build in Montgomery County. Ikea bought the property for $7 million but only used half. They sold the half they didn’t use for $12 million. He noted that the property needed to be annexed into the city.   

CONSENT AGENDA

25-G-85 Approval of the appointment of Leroy Kelly to the College Park Housing Authority for a five-year term as the Resident Commissioner 

25-G-86 Award of an amendment to contract CP-24-01 with NZI Construction Corporation in the amount of $306,643.27 for construction of sidewalk on Ruatan Street Steven Halpern, City Engineer 

25-G-87 Approval of the installation of stop signs at Hollywood Road and 50th Avenue making this intersection an all-way stop – Jacob Vassalotti, GIS Coordinator 

25-G-88 Approval of the installation of stop signs at Lackawanna Street and Narragansett Parkway making this intersection an all-way stop – Jacob Vassalotti, GIS Coordinator

25-G-89 Approval to install a Prohibited Parking Zone on the west side of 47th Place between Edgewood Road and Nantucket Road – Jacob Vassalotti, GIS Coordinator 

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

PRESENTATIONS: 

Financial statements/information required from City grant recipients/applicants – Gary Fields, Finance Director 

Mr. Fields said the City received a request from Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell to require an audit of those receiving city grants.  He said to be eligible for a grant, an organization must submit financial statements signed by two organization officers. The updated form makes it clear that two board members must sign off on the application. Mr. Fields said the cost of an audit would be more than the actual grants.. He said certain grants dictate when we request financial statements.  

Councilmember Whtiney asked about the statement that organizations could only receive one grant per fiscal year. She asked if that applied to civic associations getting both their community events grant and the Spanish translation grant. She asked if moving forward they would only be eligible for one or the other. Mr. Fields said they had typically considered those two separate grants, but Mr. Young said the practice had been to award both. He said the language should be clarified.

Councilmember Esters asked it would be helpful to ask for additional information from any entity that may have received $15,000 or $20,000 from the city over time. Mr. Fields said it would not make sense to audit these organizations given the cost of an audit. Councilmember Esters clarified she was not asking for an audit but wondered if we might want additional information from those who have received a significant amount of money from the city over time.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanked Mr. Fields for his work. She said she wanted to make sure there were some safeguards in place.  

Councilmember Rigg asked if the civic associations can fulfill these requirements set forth. He said we would not want to place too much of a burden on grassroots organizations. Mr. Fields said he would be willing to work with any organization to create financial statements. Councilmember Rigg asked if it is necessary to have a particular tax status to file an 990.  Mr. Fields said for small 501c3s the 990 would not be necessary.  Non-501c3 organizations would not require an 990, and we would accept simple financial statements.

Mayor Kabir asked about the exemptions of a 990.  Mr. Fields confirmed that Churches and some other non-profits are exempt from filing the 990.

Councilmember Mackie thanked Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell.  She said from her experience there is accountability from the city and information is available for people to see. Mr. Fields said it is public record. 

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

Recommendations of the compensation of the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and Councilmembers – Teresa Way-Pezzuti, Human Resources Director and Compensation Review Committee 

Ms. Way – Pezzuti said the Compensation Committee agreed that Mayor and Council should receive an additional $10,000 per year based upon the responsibilities and comparisons with other municipalities.  As it related to the role of Mayor Pro Tem, she said there were other cities that had Vice Mayors who stepped in when the Mayor is not available.  

Mayor Kabir said that in 2023, the Council took a raise after research done by staff.  At the time, the recommendation was to increase the salary.  He acknowledged that the current recommended raise was significant and asked why.  Ms., Pezzuti said the committee reviewed more municipalities and felt the raise was warranted.  

Ms. Arelis Pérez, member of the Compensation Committee, said the committee looked at twelve cities in Prince George’s County, and others in surrounding counties including Montgomery, Anne Arundel and Frederick, for a total of 16.  

Councilmember Rigg thanked the committee for bringing their recommendations to Council.  He said there was a notable difference between most Prince George’s County municipalities and Montgomery County municipalities.  It strikes him that most Montgomery counties have zoning authority. He asked if it is possible that their responsibilities may be more involved.  He asked if the committee considered factors such as that, including the time individuals spent doing their jobs.  Are there any other factors that may cause the difference?   

Councilmember Esters said it is nice to be valued but we should be thoughtful as this decision is made about council compensation.

Councilmember Mackie asked if there will be more responsibilities for Mayor and Council. Ms. Way – Pezzuti said there would not be more responsibilities.  

Councilmember Esters asked for clarity related to that outlined responsibility for the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem to attend committee meetings in all districts.  She asked if it was meant to read civic association meetings rather than committee meetings.  Ms. Pérez confirmed that it should have read “civic association meetings”. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked for confirmation that executive coaching was to improve councilmembers’ service on the dais, rather than attending conferences like MML. Ms. Way-Pezzuti said both were intended.

Councilmember Hernandez said the Council works hard for their residents. He said no one has a confirmed position for the next term. He said he wanted to focus on “the why.” He said we all have a huge civic duty to the community and said the responsibility can be taxing. He said it is challenging to motivate quality candidates, and the increase would help cover the costs. He said we have a unique responsibility in College Park in that we have interpersonal relationships with partners and the University.  We have benefits such as cell phones and computers.  He said compensation is important when you want quality candidates, and our salaries need to reflect that.  

Councilmember Ranker asked about the fiscal impact of the increase being $90,000 per year.  Ms. Way Pezzuti said it is to include health benefits and retirement, which are not reflected in the $90,000.  

Councilmember Whitney said she would like to understand from the city manager’s point of view if he thinks there is a problem with moving forward with such an increase.  She said health insurance is often a wild card. Mr. Young said we can afford it, but you have to talk about it prior to the budget planning meeting. The cost for adding additional folks to the insurance plan would not be that high. It would be more beneficial to the city for there to be more people on the plan.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said many years ago we looked into the council having health insurance benefits, but it was too expensive. Former Mayor Fellows looked into the state retirement plan, allowing for council to buy into it. She said sustainability is her concern. She said we do it for the love and passion for the community. It has only been twice since she has been on the Council that we have discussed compensation increases.  

Councilmember Whtiney said an increase could help us attract people who are younger in their careers.  

Councilmember Rigg asked about the structure of the insurance. If the city is going to cover 80%, he estimated the cost to be about $10,000.00. He said if we were to adopt this committee recommendation there may be much more incumbency. You might see more people who self-fund campaigns. One way we could consider doing this could be a baseline and then add an inflationary measure.  

Councilmember Hernandez said it is uncomfortable to have a conversation about one’s own salary. He agreed it could make a difference in younger people getting involved. He asked about tying any increase to the COLA.  

Councilmember Hew thanked the committee for their work. For him, it is not just a Tuesday night meeting. There are many meetings that he attends, and he has participated in community academies, and there are costs associated with that.It would make it easier to attend.  

Mayor Pro Tem said two changes might need to be made, with one being Charter changes to change the name of Mayor Pro Tem. She said it was suggested that the name be changed to Vice Mayor for simplicity. Mr. Young disagreed with the suggestion, as Mayor Pro Tem is common.  

Councilmember Whitney said she concurs with what has been said by Councilmember Rigg.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said people are confused by the difference between Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor. Councilmember Esters said the confusion may be addressed through communication and awareness.  

Councilmember Whitney said she leaned toward a baseline increase without insurance with future increases based on CPI, as suggested by Rigg.

Mayor Kabir said he was concerned about inflation. Mr. Young said that a percentage increase can be capped.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if it is possible to move forward with the salary increase and then asked how long it would take to understand how much healthcare would add to councilmembers’ salary.  Ms. Way-Pezzuti said it would depend upon how many councilmembers are added. Mr. Young said the city belongs to a trust (LGIT) that shares cost and risk.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said if everyone is comfortable with the salary, we can then come back to discuss insurance.  

Councilmember Rigg asked if we would be required to make a budget amendment.

Councilmember Esters asked about the cost structure of professional coaching.  Mr. Young said the cost is approximately $169 per hour.  She said if the focus of professional coaching is on making us better on the council, staff can ensure we get the training we need.  

Councilmember Hernandez said he would like to see executive training as an option. 

Enhancing Energy Efficiency – Pilot program that will assist single family homeowners applying to secure an energy audit by a Maryland certified electrician/contractor to determine energy efficiency levels in line with Maryland Empower Program – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager and Gary Fields, Finance Director

Mr. Gardiner said this proposal came from Councilmember Hernandez to get more people to participate in Empower Maryland.  This program places a fee on our bills and pools the fee to support benefits. One benefit is to offer an energy audit to assess energy cost. Councilmember Hernandez suggested a rebate program to encourage residents to take advantage.  

Councilmember Hernandez said the energy delivery rate has surged in recent years, resulting in higher bills.  Governor Moore authorized a relief fund to assist residents. Hernandez said he recently sought more energy efficient systems for his own home.  Vendors suggested an energy audit, which is currently supported by federal government.  Having done the audit, he received a total savings of approximately $13,000. He said we all are paying whether we use the program or not. He said this could also help in creating less stress on the grid.

Councilmember Hew asked when the city did its last energy audit. He said doing so would give a sense of the impact of such a program. Mr. Young said we are currently going through an energy audit.  

Councilmember Hew said we had past workshops about clean energy and efficiency, saying he thinks this falls into the wheelhouse of the Committee for a Better Environment.  

Councilmember Esters said when she first read about the proposal she did not understand why we would support an existing program.  She said she understands the importance of the energy audit and the barrier initial costs might present for some.  She said she believes the program should focus on low-income, owner-occupied homes.  She also believes that awareness is a issue and further promotion would be helpful.  

Councilmember Whitney said she is in favor of the pilot program.  She has taken advantage of this audit and benefited from it.  She agrees in owner-occupied homes and believes it should be extended regardless of income, saying it would help overcome possible skepticism. She said we can start with owner-occupied homes, then extend it to rentals.

Councilmember Mackie said she supports this initiative and thinks if we support it, it can indeed help residents avoid scams.  

Councilmember Rigg said he supports this as pilot but disagrees that it should be restricted to owner-occupied homes.  

Councilmember Hew said he was hesitant going to renters given the fact they may not be here long. He said unless there is work done to make the building energy efficient, it will change continuously.  

Councilmember Whitney said she never carried around appliances as a renter.  She said much of what is offered will stay with the home and accrue across occupants.  

Councilmember Ranker said he loves the idea and said we should encourage and incentivize it. He said he is willing to do it for rental properties. He asked if we do this, how do we make sure the most vulnerable residents receive the information.  

Councilmember Hernandez said there is an expectation that there will be further increase in energy costs. He said he did not give thoughts to owner-occupied or rental but would suggest that a percentage be geared toward owners and renters. 

Discussion and review of Chapter 129 License and Chapter 144 Occupancy Permits of the City Code – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney 

Mr. Khokar said his department has done a few code blitzes and has learned from these events, which are unannounced visits where there are checks for compliance. Some businesses were not in compliance. He said he was looking for guidance from the council.  He said he would like to implement core requirements: registry for occupancy, mandatory training, requirements for refuge, tenant conduct, and management placard. 

Councilmember Riggs said he thought the approach was very direct, thoughtful, and improving tenancy in the city.  He asked if requirement number four, which focuses on the expectation of tenant conduct, will require a change to leases or allow for owners to enforce.  Mr. Khokhar said the language can be added to the ordinance. Ms. Anderson said we need to know who we are reaching out to.  She said owners should make sure the provisions are in their leases. We still need to hold the owners responsible.  

Councilmember Ranker asked about requirement number two, which focuses on required education and training for owners and investors, and if it is normal in other Big 10 cities.  Mr. Khokhar said it is not common in in Big 10 cities, but it is common in code.  He said figuring out what the requirements are for being a landlord in our city will be referred to Council, including penalties for non-compliance.  

Councilmember Mackie agreed with the core requirements proposed by Mr. Khokhar.  We have good landlords and those who are not.  So, we need some level of uniformity. She said this is the biggest issue that she deals with.  It is not always the renters; it is often the landlords who are not doing what they should. All rentals should have requirements.  

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanked Mr. Khokhar.  She said we have been talking about this for 10 years.  She has received comments from residents that she will send to Mr. Khokhar.  She said it is a new day in College Park, and it is the right thing to do.  

Councilmember Whitney thanked Mr. Khokhar for bringing this back to Council and for listening to what Council has shared. She said she appreciated the educational component.

Councilmember Esters said she concurred with her colleagues and appreciated the educational component.  We need to make sure people are aware of their responsibilities.  

Councilmember Hew thanked Mr. Khokhar for his work. He said we have a responsibility to maintain a quality of life, and it should not come without education. He is fully in support.

Council Hernandez said he knows there are many areas around the city that are owned by a few owners. He asked who would be taking the training. Mr. Khokhar said the owner or the designated property manager would take the training. Councilmember Hernandez said he would like to make sure the right people are held accountable. Mr. Khokhar said staff has agreed to offer the training twice a year.  The relationship is usually with the property owner.  

Mayor Kabir asked how long it will take to implement the changes once the ordinance is complete. Mr. Khokhar said about 48 hours. 

Discussion of Potential Annexation Options – Kenny Young, City Manager, Steve Halpern, City Engineer, Jacob Vassalotti, GIS Coordinator

Mr. Young said many cities, including College Park, grow through annexation, which is the process of legally including within the corporate limits of a city or town an incorporated area that is outside the municipality. Annexation of surrounding areas plays a significant role in influencing economic growth, environmental protection, quality of life and municipal well-being.  

The City of College Park is close to being fully built out, with many of the available properties within its boundaries being controlled by Prince George County School Board or the University of Maryland. Other areas just outside city limits that could have potential for affordable housing or sustainability initiative are controlled by USDA, UMD, Maryland Park and Planning and the State of Maryland.  

College Park is currently 5.68 square miles/3,635.2 acres and the size of the total area under consideration for the annexation discussion is 7.86 square miles/5,030.65 acres.  The total appraised value of the areas under consideration is $580,294,600, and $355,788,300 is currently classified by SDAT as “exempt.”

Why Annex? Mr. Young said we have many sustainability initiatives. The only other land that is available is in the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) property.  We also have a mulching and food scraps area, which is currently being operated on land we do not own.  He said the options that were once available are limited.  These are things we need to consider.  There are other areas that have a College Park address but that are not in the city. The post office has done us a disservice (those living in Atworth have a Riverdale Park address). In this area, there are few opportunities where you can find undeveloped land near the beltway.  

The federal annexation process is not clear; it is possible to go various ways. It’s different from MNCPPC.  In most states, the process would be similar. He is not sure that you can rule out the process of spot zoning.  

Councilmember Hernandez said he was supportive of all the ideas of annexation. He once asked about Sunnyside Park being annexed, but city staff have gone way beyond. The why of being supportive is because the more land we have, the more we have control over. External stakeholders still have a say about the property. He asked what increasing the city limits would mean for staff and services

Councilmember Hew asked about zoning. He said the USDA comes with certain conditions.  He said he thinks this is great idea.

Mayor Kabir suggested a cost benefit analysis as we consider this process.  

Councilmember Esters asked about the need for disclosure by the current owners. She said there could be unknown risks with some of the properties. For instance, she lived in one area listed as an option and is aware of ongoing infrastructure issues.  

Councilmember Whitney asked questions about costs of annexation. She asked if we were to annex UMD property would we take over costs of say policing and plowing those areas. Mr. Young said no, since we would not be purchasing the land. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanked Mr. Young for the indulgence. She looks at this as having a seat at the table as we continue the conversation. She said that as the city starts to look at the protocol for the cost/benefit analysis it would benefit us to limit the options. She asked about the timing of the process. Mr. Young said this is going to be a long process and includes all the things outlined in the packet.  

Councilmember Mackie said she supports annexation. There are a lot of pros.  In most places things will remain, we would not be developing the land.  Annexation gives the city a seat at the table.  The list should be reduced and there should be an assessment of each option. 

Councilmember Ranker said this is interesting and exciting.  He quipped that he is for anything that will connect to the Sardi’s in Beltsville, then asked about the cost of annexation.  Mr. Young does not feel it will be a lot of staff time, but there will be some expensive legal fees. Ranker asked if annexation would increase or decrease our chances of getting land use authority.  Mr. Young said we still have to work with the county.  

Councilmember Rigg said based upon his understanding, residential single family is a loser, multifamily is a mixed bag and commercial is a winner.  He said he is in favor of areas that fill in the gaps along the corridor, but there are areas that do not make much sense to him.  

Councilmember Esters asked if we would negotiate with the other surrounding cities like Beltsville and Greenbelt. Mr. Young said that Beltsville is unincorporated.  

Councilmember Whitney asked about planting trees on MCNPPC land for any land that we annex.  Mr. Young said MNCPPC has already been asked to move in that direction.    

Mr. Young concluded the discussion by saying he will reach out to each district to discuss further. 

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Mayor Kabir submitted a request to approve the sponsorship of two Lakeland College Park basketball teams to the 2026 Inter-Center Basketball League for $1200.

Councilmember Whitney said items listed on the printed version of the September 9 agenda as future agenda items for the October 21 meeting were only placeholders, as they had not been vetted by the Restorative Justice Commission.

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

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she would be attending the upcoming Council of Governments (COG) Board of Directors meeting that will focus on AI.

Councilmember Hew said he witnessed UMD Government Policy students on the quad doing a trash pickup. He said he appreciated their efforts for the city.  

MEETING ADJOURNED

CLOSED SESSION 

Pursuant to the statutory authority of Maryland Annotated Code, General Provisions Article,§ 3-305, the Mayor and Council will meet in a closed session to consult with counsel to 

consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related 

thereto. The Mayor and Council will not return to open session after the closed session end.

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on September 16, 2025. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated Consent Agenda and Action Items, and Worksession 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 Items:  

• Approval of a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture requesting not to relocate the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC)
• Approval of the FY23 Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) Grants – Lakeland Heritage Arts Project
• Approval of sponsorship of two Lakeland College Park basketball teams to the Inter-Center Basketball League in the amount of $1200
• Ratification of the FY27 Community Parks and Playground application – Little Roanoke Park

Public Hearing:

• Ordinance – amending eligibility requirements and criteria for tax credit on real property within Revitalization Tax Districts

Action Items:

• Introduction – Ordinance amending Mayor and Council compensation

Work session Discussion:

• Discussion to identify required amendments to ensure proper permitting and enforcement related to Short-Term Rental units in the City of College Park

Comments are by Councilmember 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 September 2, 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 city had its first unruly social gathering of the year on College Ave. He thanked our contract police and said the issue has been referred to the university’s Office of Student Conduct. 
• Construction is to begin in the fall on the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon at Rhode Island Avenue and Greenbelt Rd.
• roadwork on Edgewood Rd, Cherry Hill Rd and the 5000 block of Apache St.
• College Park Day will be Saturday, 10/18 from noon to 6 pm at the College Park Aviation Museum and Airport. 
• Election Day is Tuesday, 11/4, with Sunday 11/2 for early voting. Candidates must file their paperwork no later than Wednesday, 9/12 at 4 pm.

Mayor Kabir asked how many red-light cameras were soon to be installed in the city and asked that residents be notified. Mr. Young said 4 new cameras are coming.

Councilmember Whitney asked for an update on coming stop sign cameras. Mr. Young said we are still awaiting county action on that and hope it will happen by the end of the year.

Councilmember Hew asked for an update on noise cameras, and Mr. Young said the– county decided not to announce locations, but to rotate the cameras. 

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS 

A. Suicide Prevention Month 

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA 

Councilmember Hernandez made a motion to move Action Item 25-G-70 to just before the Public Hearing. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell moved to approve the agenda as amended, and 

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS 

Former councilmember and Co-president of the Berwyn District civic Association (BDCA) Bob Catlin said monthly BDCA meetings will resume on 9/18. He said Berwyn Day would be from noon to 4 pm on Saturday, 9/13.

He then provided a brief history of development from 1995-2004 which was focused in North College Park, aside from the Applebee’s downtown and the Juniors Tennis Champions Center. North of Greenbelt Rd saw a new 7-11 gas station, the College Park Marketplace, Ikea, and the Washington Post building.

CONSENT AGENDA 

25-G-75 Change the date of the October 14th Mayor and Council meeting to October 28th – Mayor and Council

25-G-76 Award of Current Miscellaneous Concrete Maintenance and Asphalt Resurfacing Contract CP-21-01 Option year 2 to NZI Construction Corporation for an amount not to exceed $600.000.00 – Steve Halpern, City Engineer 

25-G-77 Approval to install a stop sign on 49th Place at Blackfoot Road – Jacob Vassalotti, GSI Coordinator 

25-G-78 Approval to install stop signs on Rhode Island Avenue at Seminole Street (East Intersection) – Jacob Vassalotti, GSI Coordinator 

25-G-79 Approval of the installation of stop signs on Lackawanna Street at 47th Place making this intersection a all-way stop – Jacob Vassalotti, GSI Coordinator 

25-G-80 Approval to install a stop sign on 48th Avenue at Lackawanna Street – Jacob Vassalotti, GSI Coordinator 

25-G-81 Approval of a Driveway Apron Variance for a doublewide concrete curb-cut and driveway apron at 4904 Nantucket Road and approval of an associated Declaration of Covenants – Jacob Vassalotti, GSI Coordinator 

25-G-83 Approval of a Driveway Apron Variance for a doublewide concrete curb-cut and driveway apron at 9800 51st Avenue and approval of an associated Declaration of Covenants – Jacob Vassalotti, GSI Coordinator 

25-G-84 Approval of a letter to the 21st District Delegation requesting support for State legislation that will prohibit the sharing of data and use of algorithmic software to determine rents in Maryland. 

25-R-10 Approval of Resolution 

25-R-10, a Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park Adopting the recommendation of the Advisory Planning Commission Regarding Variance 002 Application Number CPV-2025-05, located at 4 Austin Court, College Park, Maryland, to approve a variance from Prince George’s County Zoning Ordinance Section 27-11002 and validation of a previous, legal non-conforming encroachment to permit a driveway in the front yard – Miriam Bader, Planning Director 

Councilmember Hernandez motioned to pass the Consent Agenda with a second by Councilmember Esters. It was approved unanimously.

ACTION ITEM MOVED UP IN AGENDA 

25-G-70 Support of Samosas and Spirits LLC, t/a Samosas and Spirits application for a Delivery Permit for Class B+, Beer, Wine and Liquor, Beer, Wine and Liquor Tasting alcoholic beverage license for 10250 C Baltimore Avenue, College Park, Maryland 20740 – Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney 

City Attorney Anderson reviewed the history of the liquor license for Samosas and Spirits, LLC and stated that the Mayor & Council had discussed their application for a delivery permit at its July 8 meeting. At that time, the applicant was asked to bring the matter before the community. She said she understood that such discussions had happened in August. She said the delivery permit is governed by both local and state laws. The Board of License Commissioners rules include prohibition of delivery to campus entities such as sororities, fraternities and dorms. These and other limitations are covered under Rule 73 and Rule 76. This would be the second amendment to the city’s Property Use Agreement. The first was approved in July and added off-site Sunday sales permit. 

Councilmember Esters asked to hear more about the community feedback. Samosas & Spirits owner Nidhi Khaneja said the community was receptive to her woman-owned business and appreciated the vote for Sunday sales.

Councilmember Hew explained that the business came to the District 1 discussion to meet with residents. He said they explained their intent with delivery and answered questions. He said the residents were supportive, and Councilmember Hernandez described their presentation to the community and said he welcomed continued engagement. He also asked how the focus evolved from more of a restaurant than a liquor store. 

Ms. Khaneja said their website has been updated to emphasize fusion food and Indian street food and said they have added new menu items. When Councilmember Hernandez asked why the food was in the back of the business, her attorney Linda Carter explained that the liquor board was concerned about food being consumed in an area in which bottles were being sold. It was too late into the buildout to configure the space any other way. 

Councilmember Rigg noted that the samosas and spirits were very high quality.

Councilmember Hernandez made the motion to approve with a second by Hew. 

The vote was 7-0-1 to approve, with Councilmember Esters voting no.

PUBLIC HEARING AND POSSIBLE ACTION: 

25-O-08 An Ordinance enacting City Code Chapter 180 Vacant Property and amending Chapter 110, Fees and Penalties, to create a Vacant Property Registry Ordinance, establish conditions for registering vacant properties, specify exemptions to registration, set fees for registration, and impose fines for failing to register vacant properties.

Planning & Community Development Director Miriam Bader introduced the item, saying that the ordinance had been discussed and introduced on 8/6/25, and had been reviewed and amended by City Attorney Nate Foreman based on the Mayor and Council’s comments. 

Two residents spoke at the Public Hearing. David Dorsch said Council needed to carefully consider any actions impacting private property. He said it was a path to taxation and said it shouldn’t matter whether properties are occupied or not if they are properly maintained. 

Mayor Kabir clarified that the ordinance is about creating a registry, not taxing. 

Non-resident landlord Richard Biffel said he was concerned about people innocently falling into the fine and said the only reason for the registry was as a path to taxation. He said he understood why the city would want properties to have their highest use but said that people sometimes hold onto properties so they can sell it for a larger development in the future. He said the city has bought vacant lots to preserve lower density neighborhoods. 

Director Bader said if the property has never been graded or cleared, the owner is not required to register it. 

Council made several suggested changes and asked questions:

• Councilmember Whitney suggested under Section 180-4, subsections H & J, the percentage of occupancy that allowed multifamily dwellings or non-residential properties of four or more units not to register their property as vacant be increased from 25% to 50%. 
• Councilmember Ranker asked that we reference “Act of Nature” instead of “Act of God.” He said he thinks this is an important measure for the city, saying there are increasing problems with squatters. He said the registry will help our public safety officers know which building are vacant.
• It was clarified that there would be no charge for owners of properties registered as vacant to modify their registration to ensure it is accurate.
• Councilmember Hernandez asked that the fines for not registering be well publicized throughout the city.
• Councilmember Rigg said that while vacancies might make sense for property owners, that does not mean it’s in the best interest of the city or its residents. In his opinion, it’s best for houses to be occupied. He said commercial spaces are being left vacant to have a lower property tax base, which deprives residents of commercial activities and undermines property tax revenue.
• Many councilmembers thanked the Vacant and Blighted Property committee and staff for their work on the ordinance.

Councilmember Whitney made the motion to amend the ordinance based on Council’s discussion and was seconded by Councilmember Esters. Audience members had no comment, and the motion was unanimously approved.

Councilmember Hernandez made the motion to pass the ordinance as amended and was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell. The ordinance passed unanimously.

25-G-82 Petition request for a traffic calming device on Lackawanna Street between 47th Place and 48th Place – Jacob Vassalotti, GIS Coordinator and Steve Halpern, City Engineer 

After an introduction by Mr. Vassalotti, Councilmember Mackie asked how often we meet the criteria when putting in traffic calming. Mr. Vassalotti said the requirements (for existing speed & traffic volume) have only been met once during his time with the city.

As the Public Hearing commenced, Mr. Dubman, who lives on the block being considered, said the road sees a lot of cut-through traffic and is smoother than it used to be, which encourages speeding. He sees many pedestrians walking dogs and taking young children to Hollywood Elementary. He said it’s essential to protect residents. 

Mayor Kabir noted that a Mr. Donaldson sent a letter in favor.

The Public Hearing was closed and Councilmembers commented and asked questions:

• Councilmember Hew was told there are speed bumps on other sections of Lackawanna. 
• Councilmember Ranker asked if the new stop signs Council had just approved might be adequate
• Councilmember Hernandez said the sloping road allows cars to speed up quickly following a stop and that we shouldn’t wait for another accident to happen. The sight distance is inadequate, and it’s dark at night
• Councilmember Rigg said the issue is lack of sidewalks and drunk driving and said we shouldn’t waste staff resources on traffic studies if we’re going to install traffic calming irrespective of staff recommendation.
• Councilmember Mackie supports traffic calming, saying speeding on the road is always visible. Road is narrow. She agreed we should also consider sidewalks. 

Councilmember Hernandez made the motion with a second by Hew. 

The ordinance passed with a vote of 7-1-0 with Rigg being in opposition.

ACTION ITEMS: 

25-O-09 Introduction of Ordinance 

25-O-09 an Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, Maryland, Amending Chapter 175 “Taxation” “§ 175-9 “Eligibility Requirements”; and § 175-10 “Eligibility Criteria”; concerning the Grant a Tax Credit Against the City Property Tax Imposed on Real Property within the Revitalization Tax Districts – Michael Williams, Economic Development Manager and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney

City Attorney Stephanie Anderson reviewed Mayor & Council’s extensive discussion of 25-O-09 over several work sessions. She pointed out a new provision to address some of the environmental concerns related to the projects, adding language about tree plantings and sustainable infrastructure.

There was much discussion about the inclusion of affordable student housing.

• Mayor Kabir asked why not affordable housing, in general
• Councilmember Rigg said non-student affordable housing is already supported at the federal & state level
• Councilmember Whitney stated that full-time students are not allowed to access most affordable housing developments.
• Mr. Young stated that “workforce housing” is affordable housing
• Councilmember Esters and Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said affordable housing for students continues to be an issue.
• Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said the body had sometimes elected tax credits of only 2 or 3 years, rather than the maximum 5.
• Councilmember Mackie got confirmation that any project considered for a credit would have to come before Mayor & Council
• Mr. Young said that the city has changed a lot of the application requirements, requiring additional information.
• Councilmember Hernandez said the 2025 development report indicated overdevelopment of student housing in College Park. He said we should work with UMD to build affordable student housing on campus. He predicts existing luxury apartments will come to council to ask for subsidies to make their units affordable. 
• Councilmember Ranker shared his support for inclusion of affordable student housing, saying fulltime students can’t access federal housing choice vouchers. He said he’s very in favor of all types of affordable housing.

Mr. Williams closed the discussion by pointing out that the potential credits also apply to industrial districts. He said the city could attract good businesses that employ people. 

Councilmember Rigg made the motion with a second by Dr. Esters. 

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS 

1. Discussion on preparing an Early Lease Ordinance to establish an effective date of the Ordinance and establishing the timeframe in which property owners must communicate an offer for a successive lease, or notice of non-renewal to a current tenant – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services 

SGA Student Liaison Nick DiSpirito opened the discussion by saying that they often hear from other students about how early they must sign their leases. He lives in College Park Towers and was asked in December to renew, with almost daily reminders that followed. He said renters face this situation citywide. He said plans can change over time, especially for students, and asking them to re-up early deprives them of the opportunity to choose what’s best for them. He said Ann Arbor’s Early Lease Ordinance offers a good model for protecting renters. He said it:

1. 180 days prior notice to ask for renewal
2. Gives the tenant at least 30 days to repond
3. Gives the landlord 30 days to accept offer

SGA Deputy Student Liaison Amira Abujuma provided examples of why having more time before renewing your lease is important. She said students might not know if they are approved to study abroad. She said many students lost their scholarships and internships under the new administration. She said deciding whether they can afford a lease a year from now is difficult. She said the 180-day limitation would also align private buildings with the schedule for university apartments, which gives students more freedom of choice. 

Councilmember Rigg thinks the change will benefit landlords and tenants alike. 

Councilmember Esters said students are here to learn and need to be given time to decide what works best for them. She said we should move forward with the ordinance and provide parameters. 

Councilmember Ranker agrees this is an important issue. He wants to know if rent prices have increased in Ann Arbor because apartments are not offering discounts to students to get them to renew early. Have prices risen as a result of not being able to entice students to renew early? He wants to make sure we’re doing this right.

Councilmember Mackie expressed her support, saying it’s important that all renters have this peace of mind. She agrees that a person should be allowed to sign early if they want to, but they should not be forced to. 

Mr. Young said we were looking at Ann Arbor revised ordinance. The original was passed in 2022, and we’re learning from their mistakes. He said staff would investigate an ordinance they would not preclude people from renewing early if they wish to do so.

2. Discussion and review of Chapter 125, Section 10-J that limits lawn heights to no more than 12 inches – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services 

Director Khokar said code enforcement and public works have met three times to discuss the issue, and his team has engaged the Bee City USA and the Committee for a Better Environment. 

Jonathan “Dutch” Nagelvoort, Assistant Director Landscape & Greenspace, said Apex, NC has a recognition program for those planting native species. The city is training code enforcement to recognize native plantings, but if we have a list, we can go out and know the addresses of those who are participating.

Director Khokar said the city has guidelines, but many terms need to be updated and there’s need for training all involved.

Mayor and Council discussed the proposal:

• Councilmember Esters appreciates both the desire to keep things neat and the importance of pollinators and native plantings. She asked if the application process would be preferred by staff. She’s concerned about staff having to decide what is native.
• Mr. Nagelvoort said he looked at Apex, NC’s application and customized it for College Park. He thinks we should have properties register for this and No Mow April. 
• Mr. Khokar said they want a process that’s objective and inclusive.
• Councilmember Whitney suggested a more succinct application that’s easy to complete. She said the city should require participants to put a small, free metal sign in their yard that announces participation and has a QR code linking to information about the program. It would make enforcement easy for staff while promoting the program.
• Councilmember Rigg said a lot of landlords are saying they have native plantings, but it’s mostly weeds. As someone who supported code changes that allowed native plantings, he has been somewhat regretful. He said we need a thoughtful approach with structure and standards. 
• Councilmember Mackie said a resident was concerned about ticks, mosquitoes and rats. Mr. Nagelvoort said mosquitoes like standing water not grass; wildlife brings ticks; and rats like trash but rabbits like grass. Mackie asked if staff would follow up on participants to ensure they are doing what they said. Mr. Khokar will get back to Council on that.
• Councilmember Whitney asked about the requirement to provide water for pollinators, and Councilmember Hew replied that a bubbler or fountain would prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
• Councilmember Ranker had a free audit by the Audubon Society and learned his yard was mostly non-native or invasive. He said it was hard to find the plants they suggested and asked how we could make it easier for people to participate. 
• Mayor Kabir said Bee City USA has been growing natives to give residents for free.
• Councilmember Hew said we need education and that requiring registration is good. He asked that consideration be given for the frequency of registration, saying renters may participate, then move, which could turn into a weed garden. He mentioned Bee City’s plant growing efforts and said he hoped more plant nurseries would see the demand.
• Councilmember Hernandez sees this as an effort to protect pollinators and property values at same time. He said native gardens support pollinators and have lower maintenance, and millennials shop for environmental features in homes. He said we need to ensure good maintenance occurs and likes the idea of requiring a sign. He disagrees with having to register for No Mow April. 

Mr. Young said staff have what they need to return with an ordinance.

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 

Ranker asked to bring Ranked Choice Voting back and was seconded by Hernandez. The vote was 7-0-1 in favor with Hew in opposition.

Councilmember Hernandez asked that the 9/9 proclamation for Hispanic Heritage Month be presented in Spanish, as well. 

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

• Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanked Public Services and the county for their help with a house in College Park Wood that had 3 kitchens.
• Mayor Kabir read a statement in response to recent comments made during a meeting of Mayor and Council.
• Councilmember Whitney said this is the 1^st election in which 16-year-olds can vote.
• Councilmember Esters said students should take care of themselves as new year begins
• Councilmember Hew announced that Berwyn Ballet School registration has opened. 
• Councilmember Hernandez thanked everyone who helped with the District 1 discussion in August. He reminded parents having issues with buses to contact their school board members who need to hear from you.
• SGA Student Liaison Dispirito thanked the body, city staff and SGA President Dhruvak Mirani for moving forward with the lease ordinance. He noted a potential candidate forum hosted by SGA. 
• SGA Deputy Student Liaison Abujuma asked that community members, especially students, contact them with any issues they should bring forward.
• City Manager Young noted the city has made a lot of new hires to replace staff that has retired. 

Councilmember Hernandez made the motion to adjourn, seconded by Rigg. It passed unanimously.

MEETING ADJOURNED

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on Septmber 9, 2025. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated Consent Agenda and Action Items, and Worksession 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:

• Approval of the appointment of Leroy Kelly to the College Park Housing Authority for a five-year term as the Resident Commissioner
• Award of an amendment to contract CP-24-01 with NZI Construction Corporation in the amount of $306,643.27 for construction of sidewalk on Ruatan Street
• A presentation on Financial statements/information required from City grant recipients/applicants
• Worksessions:
  • Recommendations of the compensation of the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and Councilmembers
  • Enhancing Energy Efficiency – Pilot program that will assist single family homeowners applying to secure an energy audit by a Maryland certified electrician/contractor to determine energy efficiency levels in line with Maryland Empower 
  • Discussion and review of Chapter 129 License and Chapter 144 Occupancy Permits of the City Code 
  • Discussion of Potential Annexation Options