To avoid parking disruptions during the Thanksgiving holiday, construction of the Ruatan Street Complete & Green Streets Sidewalk Project from Rhode Island Avenue to 48th Avenue will now start during the week of December 1st. Parking restrictions will be posted on orange barrels ahead of work taking place.

MDOT SHA contractors are finishing up work on the RRFB crosswalk signal installation at the intersection of Rhode Island Avenue and Greenbelt Road. Residents will continue to see temporary lane shifts and bike lane and crosswalk closures to allow the contractors to install signage and configure the equipment.

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Para evitar problemas de estacionamiento durante el fin de semana de Acción de Gracias, la construcción del proyecto de aceras completas de Ruatan Street & Green Streets, desde Rhode Island Avenue hasta la 48th Avenue, comenzará la semana del 1 de diciembre. Se colocarán letreros con restricciones de estacionamiento en conos naranjas antes del inicio de las obras.

Los contratistas de MDOT SHA están finalizando la instalación del semáforo peatonal de RRFB en la intersección de Rhode Island Avenue y Greenbelt Road. Los residentes seguirán experimentando cambios temporales de carril y cierres de carriles bici y pasos de peatones para que los contratistas puedan instalar la señalización y configurar el equipo.

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 November 12, 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 there was a successful closing for the properties purchased at 8807 and 8811 Rhode Island Ave. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Former County Councilmember Danielle Glaros

Former SGA Liaison Dhruvak Mirani

Councilmember-elect Kelly Jordan

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS

1. National Veterans and Military Families Month

2. Municipal Government Works Month

3. Honoring Mr. Lloyd Bondurant 100th Birthday

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Whitney removed item 25-G-114 from this week’s agenda. Motion seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell moved to approve the agenda as amended. Motion seconded by Councilmember Hernandez then approved unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Richard Biffel, non-resident – said he wanted to talk about nominal consideration for land records. He asked why a deed would cite nominal consideration for a home. 

PRESENTATION 

Official Report of the 2025 General Election – Susan Huemmrich, Chief Election Supervisor

Ms. Huemmrich presented the official election results for the 2025 General Elections

Mayor – S.M. Fazlul Kabir – 1480 votes -Uncontested race

District 1 – Jacob Hernandez (536) and Alan Hew (492) – Uncontested race

District 2 – Christopher Gill (170), Kelly Jordan (173), Holly Simmons (235)

District 3 – Daniel Oates (360) and Ray Ranker (372) – Uncontested race

District 4 – Maria Mackie (147) and Denise Mitchell (159) – Uncontested race

Total number of eligible voters – 16,146

Total number of persons voting – 1598

Percentage of voting – 9.9%

The business of the election will be done with submission of the financial records of the candidates and when the election is reported to the county. The board wanted to share their appreciation with the staff, candidates, and new and returning officials. 

Mayor Kabir thanked City Clerk Yvette Allen for all of her work. He asked if there will be a follow-up work session on the election to discuss what occurred and what can be improved. Ms. Hummerich said the board is working on a presentation that will be brought to council.

CONSENT AGENDA

25-G-113 – Authorization to create a $15,000 pilot program that will provide $100 to single family property owners after they have completed a Home Energy Assessment by a Maryland certified contractor under the Maryland Empower Program. The goal is to incentivize 100 owner-occupied property owners and 50 rental property owners to improve the energy efficiency of their properties by June 30, 2026. – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager and Gary Fields, Finance Director

25-R-11 – Approval of Resolution 25-R-11, a Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park Adopting the Recommendation of the Advisory Planning Commission Regarding Variance Application Number CPV-2025-06, located at 5007 Muskogee Street, College Park, to approve a variance from Prince George’s County Zoning Ordinance Section 27-11002 to permit a driveway encroachment in the front yard – Carlos Nunes, Senior Planner and Miriam Bader, Planning Director

25-G-116 – Approval of an amendment to Contract CP-25-25 with Playground Specialist Inc. and authorize additional funding of $75,000.00 from Planning’s Matching Fund budget line 536350 for the Calvert Hills Playground Renovation project, for a total amount of $193,200.00 – Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney, Todd Brown, Contract and Procurement Specialist

25-G-118 – Approval to install a stop sign on Lackawanna Street at the intersection with 48th Place to make the intersection an All-Way Stop – Jacob Vassalotti, GIS Coordinator and Steve Halpern, City Engineer

25-G-119 – Approval of a Business Retention Grant request from the Berwyn Ballet School in the amount of $14,227.01 – Michael Williams, Economic Development Manager

25-G-115 – Approval of Property Use Agreement in support of the transfer of location of a Class A, Beer, Wine and Liquor license from SD Liquors, Inc. t/a Luxe Liquors, 13462 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel Maryland 20707 to Riya Raj, LLC, t/a CP Maryland Liquors, 7324 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, Maryland 20740 – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services and Stephanie P. Anderson, City Attorney

Councilmember Hernandez moved to approve the Consent Agenda, seconded by Councilmember Esters, then unanimously approved.

PUBLIC HEARING AND POSSIBLE ACTION:

25-O-13 – Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of The City of College Park, amending Chapter 125 “Housing Regulations”, Article I “General Provisions” By Adding § 125-18 to establish the timeframe in which owners must communicate an offer for a successive lease or notice on non-renewal to a current tenant – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services 

Mr. Khokhar introduced the agenda item and said the purpose of the ordinance is to protect the rights of tenants so that if they are in a lease they are not asked to renew a lease prior to 180 days after the lease begins. He asked Ms. Anderson, City Attorney, to speak to any concerns expressed by stakeholders. She said she received a number of direct calls as well as two legal memoranda. She said we will continue with the public hearing this evening. 

Dave Dorsh, resident – the rental amendments are unnecessary. He is an owner who wants to keep his property rented all the time. Residents know the terms of the lease. He does not need 180 days or 30 days. Renters know the time they are renting.

Sammy Sied, resident – Landlords pressure tenants to sign their leases just weeks after moving in. He was asked to renew a lease 5 weeks after moving in. He was scrambling to negotiate his living situation and that was stressful. He said he supports the early lease proposal. It prevents landlords from burdening residents.

Gavin Neubauer, resident – he previously lived in the Standard. He was asked to sign a lease two weeks after moving in. When you are asked to sign a lease so early, you do not know the property nor your interest in staying.  He currently lives in the Astor where he has 90 days prior to signing. He said the practice is unfair and the legislation fixes it. 

Tristan James, resident- the legislation will make the housing process way less stressful on students.

Nisha Kumar, student at UMD and resident of the University View – She said finding housing is a struggle. As soon as they moved in, they were bombarded with correspondence about renewing the lease. They have had issues with maintenance and other issues. She said this situation is challenging for students considering study abroad opportunities. She is being pressured to sign a 12-month lease when she is not going to be there for six months. The complex will not help with subleasing. Students have other matters to focus on.

Biraj, University View resident – He said he is an out of state resident from California. When he entered the common space in his dorm he was approached about where he was going to live moving forward. The predatory practices being implemented adds an unnecessary level of stress. 

Avery, resident – received her first correspondence three weeks after moving into off-campus housing. The decision about her lease has been rushed. The View has continued to raise the rent. She feels compelled to resign her lease. She is planning to study aboard. If she signs now, it may prevent her from taking advantage of studying abroad.

Edwin Komoyo, resident – when living on campus, students are given the opportunity to make decisions in February. Living off campus does not afford that opportunity for students to make an informed decision. He asked us to look at the number of students. He urged us to vote for the ordinance. 

Avi, resident – he lives in the Union on Knox. He asked to vote in favor of the ordinance. He was asked to sign a lease one month after moving in, and he felt forced to do so.

Hugo Cantu – representative of the Apartment and Office Building Association (AOBA). He said the City of College Park is the first to propose Good Cause language. The general assembly has considered good cause language for the past ten years, and it has yet to pass. 

Jefferson Vasquez Reyes – USM Student Council President. He requested a favorable vote on the ordinance. He said common practice pressures students to make decisions prior to understanding their living situation. Housing stability is tied closely to academic achievement. Urged the council to vote favorably, 

Ben Wilson, UMD student – urged us to support the early lease ordinance. He said the early timelines directly impact him. The pressures of leasing cause many students to return to campus housing, reducing the amount of housing that is available. The ordinance would offer a simple, but effective solution. It will create predictable housing options. 

Amir Hare, UMD student – asked council to support the early lease ordinance. She lives on campus and sees how it impacts her fellow students. It is stressful; finding housing feels like a race instead of a choice. The ordinance will provide fairness to renters. 

Jonathan Lierman, resident of College Park Towers – he said two months into the school year they began to hear from their landlord indicating that others were interested in their apartments after it was relisted. It caused premature panic. 

Willie Yan, resident of Terrapin Row – He said timing is never perfect. The timeline for resigning leases seems unreasonable. He felt a ton of stress. Financially, he did not know if he would be able to lease his apartment but felt trapped to make a decision. The practice left a bad taste in his mouth. 

Jocelyn, resident – she asked council to favor the ordinance. An early lease offer can impact higher rent and place undue burden on students.  She believes the ordinance would help to safeguard student civil rights. The first apartment she chose to live in was too expensive. She was stressed and focused on housing instead of her studies. 

Adithia, resident – urged the city to favor the ordinance. He has been renting off campus since his sophomore year. Terrapin Row placed pressure on students to renew their lease after living there  a month. He experienced the same at Union on Knox.

Imano P. – Not currently living in the city, he is a commuter. He commutes for two hours because he could not sign an early lease. He has a mother who is terminally ill. It is about his future. Early lease offers are predatory, and they should not be standard practice. 

John Kaleaf – has lived on and off campus since at UMD. He described a situation where he and his friends were looking for housing near North Campus. They could not find housing and were forced to return to on-campus housing.

Scott Tebbin – lived off campus for past two years. He lived in the Varsity and was asked to renew his lease after a month. He then experienced issues with maintenance.

Richie Kia – Terrapin Row. He moved in on August 28 and started receiving notices to resign the lease by September 12. At this point, he does not know what his living situation will be like next year. 

Ovi Pailier, resident – in 2^nd year at UMD it has been an interest in moving off campus. but has looked for an alternative living arrangement. The pressure to renew will make it difficult to make a sound decision. The ordinance will alleviate the pressure placed on students

Mace Seamister, UMD student– she is an out-of-state student who is already paying a high price to attend UMD. She lives 3,000 miles away. She currently lives in the South Campus Commons and has until February to decide. Having affordable housing helps to determine her ability to stay at College Park.

Dhruvak Mirani, resident and President of the UMD Student Government Association (SGA); when he co-founded the College Park Tenants Association, the biggest pressure many students dealt with was the pressure placed on then to re-sign leases. He would caution legal counsel from focusing on those who bring forth their own interests.

Caltin Robber, resident and UMD student – opposes the ordinance because it would make housing more difficult to find. Signing their lease early provided them with the opportunity to focus on other things rather than housing. She knows other students in similar situations. The ordinance will leave students scrambling to find housing. 

Joanne Prosser, resident – Thanked those who have given their comments. She asked the council to clearly explain how the Maryland Bill of Rights affects this proposed legislation. She said the bill of rights includes updated timelines of when leases should be signed. She believes she is hearing concerns about big development landlords rather than homeowners who are offering space in their homes. She does not want to be held at such restriction. 

Sean Woolums- supports a clear ordinance. The proposed ordinance proposes Good Cause legislation. To avoid litigation risk, landlords would be incentivized to renew leases with tenants they do not want to renew. 

Lisa Miller – PGPOA President – agrees with what she has heard but believes much of the concern has to do with high rise developments. Not a single person who spoke in favor mentioned the Good Cause components. It should be stricken because it eliminates the good work that has been done to rent to good neighbors.   Remove the Good Cause component and the lack of communication.  

Lea Dolan, resident – a senior at UMD who rents a single-family home. Understands the concern about those dealing with issues at high rises but opposes this ordinance because it does not allow them to plan ahead. Roommates studied abroad and would have to deal with finding housing. Asked that council amend the legislation.

John Hawvermale – has built and rented homes to students. When he started renting housing, there were not high rises. Now we have a very competitive marketplace with an oversupply of beds. They do not want vacancies. It is not the role of government to tell residents when they can or cannot sign a lease. 

Richard Biffel – the earliness of the lease process is driven by renters and not landlords. No one will benefit from this ordinance modeled after a law in Ann Arbor. 

Rob Davis – our young people need to learn how to adult. He does not want a government entity telling him how to run his business. The bill needs to be tabled in order to get input. Bring a committee together to discuss and find out what we want to say. Our students do not know that the state cannot do what we are doing. Some of the issues in the ordinance stress him out.

Landlord in College Park – not in favor of the bill, one size does not fit all. He likes to work with the students. We need to let the market work and let free enterprise work. The problems are with the high-density housing.

Andy Miller – over two hundred rentals rent two or more rooms. 100% of the students spoke about high-rise and not single-family homes. Those in single family homes spoke in favor of current practice. You cannot regulate Keynesian economics. Get rid of the first right of refusal.

Peyton McDonald – strong support of the ordinance. Two weeks after moving into their apartment, they were told to sign now or lose their apartment that they paid $5000 for. She was overwhelmed with stress. This ordinance would relieve pressure of early decision. It will provide fairness and get rid of stress.

Yonah Gross, resident – expressed his support for the ordinance.  He said he was concerned about manipulative marketing. He said last week was election day. There is more access to councilmembers than just the ballot box. It is all one market. This applies to all of housing – high-rise and single-family homes. If high-rises aren’t full in February and houses are, then people will not have as many choices.

Areliz Perez, resident – She said we need to look at the prospective of the high rise. PGC has a 20-page document that protects the landlord and the renter. There much be 60-day notice before terminating the lease. Asked that a committee be formed to discuss the issues further and look at the high rises. 

Gannon Sprinkle, UMD students – co-founder of the College Park Tenants Association. He has spoken with officials of the city, county, state, and the city of Ann Arbor. On all sides, this is great policy. You are holding landlords accountable for their mistakes. This is policy that will calm artificial demand. When the dorms are off the table, off-campus landlords raise rental costs. 

25-O-14 – Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park amending City Code Chapter 110-2, “Fees and Penalties – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services

Mr. Khokhar introduced this item and said penalties were reviewed and were to be raised to no more than $5,000. Staff worked to align the language using feedback from previous meetings. He said if council is ok with proposed changes, staff can take action. 

Richard Biffel, non-resident– The riskier you make it to rent in College Park, the higher the cost for renters. There is no evidence that higher penalties deter violations. 

Councilmember Rigg moved the amended Ordinance, seconded by Councilmember Whitney

Councilmember Hernandez asked about the maximum being $5000. Councilmember Rigg said the new legislation allows for the maximum. Ms. Anderson said we need to be specific about what is included and passed in the ordinance. Mr. Hernandez asked if Mr. Khokhar believed these changes would assist him and provide the tools needed. Mr. Khokhar said he believed the changes place us in a good position. He said the spirit and intent is not to collect money, but to deter behavior. What we have is on par with surrounding jurisdictions. We should be fair and consistent. Mr. Henandez asked if Mr. Khokar was ok with the amendments. Mr. Khokhar said he was.  

Council voted unanimously to move forward with the amended ordinance.

25-O-15 – An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park Amending Chapter 87 Building Construction § 87-23 “Fences, C. Front Yard Fences., to increase the maximum allowable height of front yard fences from three (3) feet to four (4) feet – Miriam Bader, Director of Planning and Carlos Nunes, Senior Planner

There were no public comments during the public hearing. 

Councilmember Hernandez made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Whitney. The ordinance passed unanimously.

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS:

Review and discussion of Parking Statutes, Policies and Coinciding Fees and Penalties – Jim Miller, Parking Enforcement Manager

Mr. Miller discussed the five items previously discussed, including permit parking; raising existing parking fines; prohibited vehicle parking and other parking-related matters; increased parking enforcement personnel and consideration to return enforcement to 10pm and possible Sundays; and authorizing a comprehensive citywide parking study to identify problems and possible solutions. He said that parking fees are relatively low compared to other jurisdictions, but he would defer that discussion to a future meeting. There needs to be further clarification on prohibited vehicles, and he would recommend bringing that back for a future discussion. The intent of the prohibited vehicle was not to be so restricted. The increase of parking enforcement staff will be a FY27 budget request. The authorization of the parking study- previously had a mixed response from Council. 

Councilmember Rigg said if we do not do something more comprehensive, we will continue to chase our tails. It is not a good use of the staff time. He thinks three permits per home is sufficient.

Councilmember Mackie said it is hard for residents to solicit signatures for permit parking and it causes strife. She said a lot of our roadways are being used as parking lots. We have vehicles stored on our streets that inhibit movement of pedestrians. She said she was in favor of moving forward with these efforts. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said this discussion was timely as we consider our strategic plans. She said she would like the discussion about prohibited parking to come back to council. She said she supported increasing parking enforcement personnel. 

Councilmember Whitney said she was generally in favor of all that was presented. She said she has questions about limiting permits to three for each household as there are multigenerational families sharing housing. She said it would be helpful to understand the parking limitations. She said she is not in favor of raising charging for permits but would be in favor of raising parking violation fees and increasing personnel and a comprehensive parking study. 

Councilmember Esters thanks staff for their work. She said she was in favor of what was put forth. She said that a comprehensive parking study should be truly comprehensive in nature. She said she appreciated consistency in enforcement but acknowledged that parking issues differ in each neighborhood. Given the differences, it will be difficult to enforce unless there is enough staff and dedicated staff. 

Councilmember Hew said we need to determine how many spaces are available to determine enforcement. He agrees with raising fines, agreeing on terms for oversized vehicles, and increasing staff.

Councilmember Hernandez said he was in favor of fair enforcement for our residents. He acknowledged that we have limited parking but said we should not charge for parking passes. For rental properties, we need to identify a way to limit parking passes for single-family homes. He said he insists that we develop a tiered system for increased parking fees. He said he was against restrictions on work vehicles but said there are certain vehicles that should not be in front of homes. Just because there is a decal does not mean that you are in violation. He said he was supportive of more personnel and a comprehensive study.

Councilmember Ranker asked if we know how many homes do not have driveways? Mr. Miller estimated 30%. Councilmember Ranker would like to see a comprehensive study

Councilmember Mackie asked if the study would include residents’ input. Mr. Miller said it will. She said she also does not want individuals charged for registering their vehicles.

Councilmember Hew asked for a rough estimate for the portion of the city that is not permitted – Miller said 60%. 

Councilmember Whitney commented that more driveways mean more variances for encroachment and more pavement. We might want to add to the county’s support for permeable pavement.

Mayor Kabir asked about how much time it would take to complete a study. Mr. Miller said he would need to follow up with Mr. Khokhar. Mr. Khokhar said it should take about 3-4months. He said zoning and development are decreasing parking spaces. 

Mr. Miller said he was a strong proponent on all items. He said any revenue source should be those who violate regulations. 

Prince George’s County Municipal Association (PGCMA) – Kenneth Young, City Manager

Mr. Young introduced this item and explained that the city has not been involved with PGCMA since concerns were raised about the management of membership dues. He introduced Mr. Habas who currently serving as the President of PGCMA. 

Mr. Habas said PGCMA has worked to govern themselves and put more structure in place to avoid such things from happening in the future. PGCMA is trying to fill the gap where MML does not give input. 

Mayor Kabir said the city had been a member of PGCMA for some time. The association gave us a venue to network and pursue legislative advocacy. He asked about the audit requested. Mr. Habas said there is no benchmark for auditing. MML went through a review process. 

Councilmember Esters asked if there has been any consideration given to an external auditor/reviewer. Mr. Habas said there was no standard for such a review. 

Councilmember Whitney asked for a standing external organization who would conduct audits and suggested that perhaps another county’s organization could review their books and vice versa. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked who found the budget irregularities. Mr. Habas said the former treasurer identified the concern and reported it to MML. Mr. Hernandez said following the report there was a big meeting and he asked if there was ever a public statement by PGCMA. The dues that PGCMA collects come from taxpayers for 27 municipalities. Mr. Habas said the members were informed. What are the dues used for? Mr. Habas said they are trying to catch up so they can fund various activities. Councilmember Hernandez asked if there was a treasurer. Mr. Habas said yes, but they are working to elect a new treasurer. Councilmember Hernandez asked if new bylaws have been approved. Mr. Habas said they had not. Councilmember Hernandez asked if and when PGCMA decides to do an audit, will it be shared with the public. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said as of 2013 the PGCMA bylaws stipulated that audits were to be done on a yearly basis. She asked when the audit stopped. Mr. Habas said 2015. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked what $2,578 dollars are paying for if we do not have a lobbyist. Mr. Habas said PGCMA did not have a lobbyist because there were issues with PGCMA’s lobbyist taking on issues MML is taking a stand on. PGCMA’s lobbyist is only supposed to advocate for county-specific lobbying, which MML does not handle.

Councilmember Hernandez asked if there was a public statement that indicated that the treasurer was no longer an elected official. Mr. Habas asked for the treasurer to be able to speak. Gyasi Gomez said that dues support events and Zoom and Google accounts. The legislative holiday event and the June event at MML are covered by dues. The new due structure is based upon a formula focused on municipal population and base fee.

Mayor Casanas, Vice president of PCGMA, said the PGCMA is a regional chapter of the MML. She said it plays an important role in bringing municipalities together. Under new leadership the organization has introduced new financial structure. Our towns are better when we stand together. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said colleagues still have reservations about moving forward. There remains hesitation to pay membership dues. She asked council what we can ask of them to be more comfortable. Councilmember Hernandez said a public statement about financial discrepancies and investigation, and information outlining what funds will be used for. 

Mr. Habas asked for the council decision to be put in writing. 

Councilmember Hew asked how this decision will impact our banner city status with MML?  Mr. Young said it will have no impact on our status. 

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Whitney made a motion to update the charge for the Restorative Justice Commission (RJC), seconded by Councilmember Esters. It was unanimously added to the future agenda.

Councilmember Esters made a motion for the RJC to come back to council to present initial priorities related to the recommendations presented to council on October 7, 2025, seconded by Councilmember Whitney. It was unanimously added to the future agenda. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if we should consider sending another letter about the tax differential to the current County Executive. Mr. Young said they have accounted for all the things we asked for. He does not know if there are any additional areas to ask for, the payback will be low. 

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

Yonah Gross, resident- said there should be a focus on the conduct of owners toward students as it related to their testimony this evening. He said students were cut off when their time to testify was up, but others were not.

COMMENTS FROM MAYOR, COUNCIL, STUDENT LIAISON OR CITY MANAGER

Councilmember Rigg said he hoped the council sees its way clear to rejoin PGCMA. The city is better when we speak as part of a coalition for the county. He said in the scheme of things it is $2000. He thinks it is meaningful. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she was glad that CPCUP Education Committee has met. She said they have been meeting to discuss how we engage families in College Park to get them to stay. The committee is working to engage with all the schools in College Park. 

Councilmember Whitney said perhaps we can turn off microphone when the time limit is not respected. 

Councilmember Esters acknowledged the SGA liaisons for their work in getting students to give voice to the early lease ordinance.  

Councilmember Hew said he will be at National League of Cities (NLC) conference next meeting and will be visiting family in Hawaii on December 2.

Councilmember Hernandez said PGCMA does provide platforms. We need to be mindful of the funds we are contributing. There is a question about transparency. He said PGPCS leadership secured their commitment to create a parent organization at Parkdale HS. He spoke with Senator Washington and Delegate Martinez. 

Councilmember Mackie said next week is the Maryland Tourism Conference in College Park. She encouraged her Council colleagues to come to the cocktail hour. 

 SGA Liaison DiSpirito said he was proud of the students who came out to testify. He is proud of the student engagement on the topic.

SGA Liaison Abujuma said she was proud of the students who testified. She said USM is collecting a comprehensive list of food resources in Maryland. 

MEETING ADJOURNED 

Closed Session

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

Councilmember Mackie made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilmember Esters. 

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on November 18. Tune in, show up, or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated Consent Agenda and Action Items, and Work session 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:

• Authorize the City Manager to execute a Retainer Agreement with O’Malley, Miles, Nylen, & Gilmore, P.A. for lobbying services in 2026 for $30,000
• Resolution to change the charge of the Restorative Justice Commission

Presentations:

• Veo Ride Status Report
• Proposed Student Housing, Pre-application – Article Student Living
• The Mark at College Park, Student Housing, Pre-Application for Preliminary Plan of Subdivision and Detailed Site Plan

Sharing from the Berwyn District Civic Association:

Berwyn Bonfire is Today!

Get ready for a cozy evening under the stars! The weather is perfect and we can’t wait to see you there! When: Today from 4:00–7:00pm  Where: Berwyn Neighborhood Park (8301 49th Ave, College Park, MD)

What to Expect

Crackling fire to keep you toasty Cider to sip and savor Classic s’mores for a sweet treat Neighbors are encouraged to bring a favorite dish for the potluck. Bring your own chairs and blankets to settle in comfortably. Come early, get a good spot by the fire, and don’t mist out on the fun.

FROM THE COLLEGE PARK COMMUNITY FOOD BANK:

Help fill dinner tables this Thanksgiving! Donate frozen turkeys, turkey breasts, or whole chickens for College Park Community Food Bank to provide to families in need at our Nov. 22 food distribution. Our goal is to collect 350 poultry donations.

Please consider smaller turkeys, under 12 pounds, to help us handle more birds within the limits of our storage capacity. Donations should be dropped off on Friday, Nov. 14, or Friday, Nov. 21, between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., at 9704 Rhode Island Ave., College Park, MD 20740. Look for our collection spot under the awning in the parking lot. If those times won’t work for you, contact cpcommunityfoodbank@gmail.com, to make alternative arrangements.

🍎 Help us be ready and track progress to our goal by logging your donation on this sign-up sheet:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A44ADA62DAAF85-59796610-2025?#/

🦃 ¡Ayúdanos a llenar las mesas este Día de Acción de Gracias! Dona pavos congelados, pechugas de pavo o pollos enteros al Banco de Comida Comunitario de College Park para distribuirlos a familias necesitadas en nuestra jornada de reparto de alimentos del 22 de noviembre. Nuestra meta es recolectar 350 aves de corral.

Por favor, considera donar pavos más pequeños, de menos de 5.5 kg (12 libras), para que podamos procesar más aves dentro de nuestra capacidad de almacenamiento. Las donaciones deben entregarse el viernes 14 o el viernes 21 de noviembre, entre las 4:00 p. m. y las 6:00 p. m., en 9704 Rhode Island Ave., College Park, MD 20740. Busca nuestro punto de recolección bajo el toldo en el estacionamiento. Si estos horarios no te convienen, contáctanos a través de cpcommunityfoodbank@gmail.com para coordinar otra opción.

🍎 Ayúdanos a estar preparados y a seguir el progreso hacia nuestra meta registrando tu donación en esta hoja de inscripción:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A44ADA62DAAF85-59796610-2025?#/

Please see this update form the City’s Engineering Department:

MDOT SHA’s contractors are working on upgrading the crosswalks at Greenbelt Road and Rhode Island Avenue in advance of the RRFB crosswalk signal installations. As a result, there will be lane shifts and temporary bike lane and crosswalk closures in the work zone to allow the crews to operate their machinery and pour concrete.

We want to recognize all the candidates on a hard-fought election and welcome new Councilmembers in Districts 2 & 3. Here are the election results posted on the City of College Park’s Elections page:

2025 General Election Results

The 2025 General Election has concluded, and all ballots have been counted. The final official results will be presented to the Mayor and Council on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. The inauguration is scheduled for Tuesday, December 2, 2025. 

Results are below:

• Mayor: Fazlul Kabir
• District 1 Councilmembers: Jacob Hernandez and Alan Hew
• District 2 Councilmembers: Kelly Jordan and Holly Simmons
• District 3 Councilmembers: Daniel Oates and Ray Ranker
• District 4 Councilmembers: Maria Mackie and Denise Mitchell

City of College Park Council Meeting Review – October 28, 2025

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 October 28, 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 early voting will take place on Sunday, November 2^nd, from 11am-4pm at Davis Hall and Election Day will take place on Tuesday, November 4 at City Hall. Parking on Election Day will be free at the downtown garage. Wonder Food Hall will have its long-awaited opening on Thursday, November 6. Mr. Young said the City of College Park will have the first Wonder in Maryland. The City of College Park will host the Maryland Travel and Tourism Conference November 17 -19. 

Councilmember Hernandez thanked Councilmember Mackie for her work in bringing the tourism summit to College Park. He mentioned the interruption of SNAP benefits and asked if there is an opportunity for us to provide a surge of funding to the food distribution agencies. Mr. Young said we have seen an increase of grants for mortgage and food assistance. If there is an interest in doing so, we would need consensus and an amount. He said he bring this item back to Council. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell suggested that Councilmember Hernandez work offline to make a proposal for the 11/12 meeting. She asked whether we could put resources on our website in one area. Mr. Young said resources should be on the website, but he will ask Ms. Quiñones to help make it more prominent on our webpage. 

Mayor Kabir asked if an announcement about grant funds could be included in the Monday Newsletter. Mr. Young said it could. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Bob Catlin, former District 2 councilmember

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS

 National First Responders Day

Mayor Kabir acknowledged first responders in the audience from the Prince George’s Police Department and Branchville Volunteer Fire Company. 

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Hew made a motion to remove item 25-G-111 from Consent Agenda to Action Items. 

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Bob Catlin, resident – Holy Redeemer will hold it Harvest Bazaar from November 7 – 9, and the Berwyn District Civic Association will hold its annual bonfire on November 15. He said he wanted to talk about the Washington Post Printing and Distribution Center, which expanded their printing operations in 1996. They needed a 20-acre site with access to the Beltway and railroad. The building was not open until 2001. By 2009, the Washington Post reduced their printing and distribution operations, and they closed the plant. The University of Maryland bought the space for $12 million. 

PRESENTATIONS

Middle Housing Presentation – Karen Mierow and John Parks, Prince George’s County Planning Department 

Karen Mierow said the Prince George’s County Planning Department began to focus on the importance of providing missing middle housing in 2020, and they believe this program fits well into the housing revitalization conversation, saying it provides housing options. 

She said form, scale and structure of missing middle housing falls in between single-family home and mid-rise. It is also called middle because it is affordable for those with middle incomes. It typically includes space for one off-street parking spot and accessible public transportation. They are meant to be well-designed, comfortable, and usable. They have the same scale and form of single-family homes. 

She said historical policies like the Federal Housing Act and GI Bill fueled market demand for single-family homes. It contributed to the wealth gap that endures today as whites were able to build generational wealth while redlining prevented people of color and certain religions from buying. 

Single Family Zoning in Prince Georges County is 94 percent single-family. She said diverse housing types exist in the county, but existing zoning laws do not allow for missing middle housing to be located in spaces where it should be located.

John Park said the overall issue is that people do not earn enough money to live in the county, saying many make too much to qualify for subsidized housing but too little to buy. He said rents and housing prices have been rising higher than incomes, and young residents are unable to live on their own. A household is considered cost-burdened if individuals are paying more than 30 percent of their income. He said there is an abundance of single-family houses and mid-rise buildings in Prince Georges County, what not much in between. As a result, the county cannot meet the needs of young professionals and seniors. 

Mr. Park said missing middle housing offers opportunity for wealth building; supports mixed income communities; and promotes walkability which assists with retail sales. 

Ms. Mierow said missing middle housing is all about price, size, and location. She said this is a paradigm shift in thinking about housing. This concept of missing middle housing has not previously been explored in Prince George’s County. 

Mayor Kabir asked about the type of engagement the county planned to have with community members on this topic. Ms. Mierow said there will be surveys and discussions. He asked how the city can assist. Ms. Mierow said the city can support the program and any regulatory changes. They would appreciate hearing from residents.  

Councilmember Esters asked when they anticipate the county to begin constructing missing-middle housing. Ms. Mierow said that there first needs to be legislative changes that allow for construction of such housing. 

Councilmember Whitney asked if there was any discussion about missing middle housing during the time rezoning was done, if there were any consideration of incentives, and if scattered site housing been considered. Ms. Mierow mentioned referenced fast-track permitting, scaling fees, offering bonuses, allowing them by right, and pre-approved plans. She said developers could buy scattered sites. Mr. Park said they are studying what other jurisdictions are doing across the country. He said incentives and reducing regulatory barriers produce more housing than making requirements.

As for the rezoning process, Mr. James Hunt said the intent was to do a one-to-one transition with the thought of returning to make improvements. 

Councilmember Hew asked about accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and where the county is on ADUs. Mr. Park said Governor Moore is requiring all jurisdictions to allow for ADUs by October 2026. Detached ADUs are not the only things being considered, basement, in-house and carriage housing are included. He said there are numerous benefits of ADUs to serve seniors, and AARP is a big advocate. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he would be happy to make more affordable housing if M-NCPPC would allow us land use rights. He asked how they identify what the missing middle housing looks like. Ms. Mierow said developers have their formula to get a return on investment on government-supported affordable housing. She said this will be market-rate housing that is affordable and reflects and enhances the look of the community. Councilmember Hernandez asked what they would suggest in identifying space that would allow for that type of housing. 

Councilmember Ranker said he hopes they were hearing from others about the need for zoning authority to move things forward. He said he wanted to bring up several cautions. He said many of the rentals are owned by out-of-town LLCs. We do not want to see owners taking advantage and cramming more students into them. It would be great for these to be owner-occupied homes. He said for-profit developers will be looking to get their cut out of the deals. They will still want to build as high and wide as they can. We need to look for more public housing options. He is a fan of inclusionary zoning, which we do not have. 

Councilmember Rigg mentioned the Council of Governments (COG) regional housing targets. He asked how does the discussion about ADUs and Missing Middle factor into this discussion? How have other regions gotten beyond the status quo? Mr. Park said it is too soon to tell how the discussion fits within the targets given current factors. Councilmember Rigg asked if Prince George’s County has a majority of affordable housing within the state. Mr. Park said the county has its fair share of affordable housing, but it may not be affordable to county residents. There have been some stakeholder interviews about housing in the county, and many cannot afford the area. As they move through the process, they would like to hear from individuals about their interest in new housing types. They strongly believe that it will be important to lift the voices of people who need certain housing at different points of lives to ensure naysayers do not drown them out.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said the city has an Affordable Housing Task Force she would like them to present to. Developers need to know that we are indeed interested in Middle Missing Housing. 

Councilmember Mackie said unfortunately people are starting to create ADUs without the proper regulations. There should be some regulations, and they should keep the character of the neighborhood. She acknowledged this is not an easy subject and said she is concerned about homes selling for $600,000 in her neighborhood and the kinds of incomes people will need to purchase them. 

Councilmember Esters said Council should prioritize missing middle housing as we have prioritized other housing types. She mentioned a project in Lakeland which is a partnership with the CPT, Habitat for Humanity and could be a beacon and example for what missing middle housing could be. 

Council Whitney said inclusionary zoning should be inclusionary within the building, not provided elsewhere in the county as is done in Montgomery County. 

SGA Liaison DiSpirito said he worked in Montgomery County and asked that the process be transparent. 

Presentation of and discussion on the 2025 Permit Fees Analysis conducted by the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS)– Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services 

Mr. Khokhar introduced the report of the IBTS report on permit fee analysis. He said one of his tasks, in consultation with the city manager, was a fee review. The report from IBTS was a comparison of other nearby cities (Bowie, Hyattsville, and Laurel). While IBTS found that the City’s fee structure as it related to rental units did not require any changes, they identified several fee categories that the city may wish to adjust or add to the City’s Code including amusement devices, alcohol licenses, vendor/solicitor, temporary businesses, and missed permit-related inspections and re-inspections. 

Paul Hancher (IBTS) said he was present to discuss the report on behalf of the principal author (Chris Miller). The analysis was to review current fees and to determine the need for any changes. Fees were compared to Rockville, Takoma Park, Bowie, Laurel, and Hyattsville. Click here to see full report. 

Mr. Khokhar said our fees should be transparent and fair. He said we need to balance fees with services. He said that staff can go deeper for the body to bring back amounts. He said the city manager has tasked him with creating a formal structure for parades and special events which are currently done on an ad hoc basis. Soon they will bring back a business process to Council. There are bits and pieces of the study they are already working on. 

ACTION ITEMS

25-G-111 Approval of a letter to the Governor Wes Moore, requesting the property at 9829 Rhode Island Ave, be evaluated as a site for affordable housing – Kenneth Young, City Manager 

Mr. Young said this was an item approved for consideration. He said Councilmember Hernandez requested a letter to be sent to Gov. Moore for an evaluation of a property for senior or affordable housing. Councilmember Hernandez said the property is located at 9829 Rhode Island Ave. 

Councilmember Hew said he would like the letter to include the words “mixed-use” since there have been discussions over time about commercial use for the property. 

Councilmember Esters said if we are asking for an assessment, she did not believe we need to include such details, saying we can explore those ideas moving forward.

Councilmember Hew said he believed it should include a reference to mixed-use. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said we should wait before focusing on mixed-use. 

Councilmember Ranker asked if there was any motion. 

Councilmember Hew made a motion to add the interest of mixed-use to the letter, seconded by Councilmember Hernandez

Councilmember Ranker said he supports the intent of discussing mixed-use, but it does not need to be added to the letter.

Councilmember Mackie asked Councilmember Hew where he wanted to add the language.

Mr. Young said he did not believe such specific language should be added to this preliminary letter. He said the North College Park Community Center will be at the other end of the shopping center. He said he understood what Councilmember Hew was asking for, but it seems premature. One of the disadvantages of adding mixed-use would be that it would require building to go much higher.  If the Council would like to craft language, he is fine, but he does not believe it should be added as a mandate. 

Vote – 7-1 against Councilmember Hew’s motion

Councilmember Hernandez – made a motion to send the original letter, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell. The motion passed unanimously.

Mayor Kabir asked that the spelling of his name be corrected and to include the 21^st Delegation and our County representatives.

25-O-15 Introduction of Ordinance 25-O-15, An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park Amending Chapter 87 Building Construction § 87-23 “Fences, C. Front yard fences., to increase the maximum allowable height of front yard fences from three (3) feet to four (4) feet – Miriam Bader, Director of Planning and Carlos Nunes, Senior Planner

Ms. Bader said she was asking the Mayor and Council to introduce an ordinance to increase front fence height to four from three feet. Three feet is a safety concern for animals and children and is inconsistent with the county regulation. The conflict with the county’s regulations reflects poorly on the city. We are stressing people out unnecessarily and causing strain. This item was brought before the Advisory Planning Commission (APC) and approved.

Councilmember Whitney made the motion, seconded by Esters.

25-G-112 Agenda Items for the Four Cities Meeting in Berwyn Heights on November 6, 2025 – Yvette Allen, City Clerk

Ms. Allen introduced and listed the items currently on the Four Cities meeting agenda for the upcoming meeting. 

Numerous Councilmembers mentioned concern with how many items were already on the agenda. There was a request to reduce the number of items. 

Councilmember Esters said it would be helpful to add a discussion of efforts to assist federal workers and those losing SNAP benefits.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell made a motion. It was seconded and unanimously approved.

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

Councilmember Mackie said CPCUP (College Park City-University Partnership) celebrated the 100^th house sold through the Live + Work program. She thanked the Laurel Crocheting Club and other groups who helped with Good Neighbor Day. 

Mayor Kabir congratulated CPCUP on their 100^th sale. He said he appreciated the opportunity to speak to Secretary Day during a recent meeting in College Park 

Councilmember Whitney said she attended her last CBE meeting as a councilmember. She applauded the committee for its extensive work. 

Councilmember Esters said she wanted to acknowledge city staff who worked the fall clean up. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he appreciated Councilmember Whitney serving as an advocate for the CBE. He said the CPCUP Live Where You Work grant is $20,000. They highlighted that many of the homes have been in District 1. Councilmember Hernandez thanked city staff for their work at both the fall clean up and Good Neighbor Day. He said he had the chance to work at the Pregnancy Aid center during Good Neighbor Day, and it is a great community resource.

SGA Liaison DiSpirito said he was excited for upcoming SGA Candidate Forum. He wished everyone a happy Halloween.

MEETING ADJOURNED

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on November 12 when 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:

Consent: 

• Enhancing Energy Efficiency 
• Approval of the License Agreement for the College Park Shopping Center

Public Hearing: 

• Early Lease Ordinance to establish the timeframe in which property owners must communicate an offer for a successive lease or notice of non-renewal to a current tenant 
• Ordinance to allow for amendments to Chapter 110-2, Penalties, as it is applied to Chapters, 87, 115, 125,138, 141, and 144 of the Code of the City of College Park 

Action: 

• Approval of a liquor license – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services and Stephanie Anderson

Worksession:

• Review and discussion of Parking Statutes, Policies and Coinciding Fees and Penalties

The City of College Park will hold its General Election for the offices of Mayor and eight District Councilmembers (2 from each district): 

Election Day: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Location:  City Hall, Community Room, 7401 Baltimore Avenue 
Polling Hours:  8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Early Voting:  Sunday, November 2, 2025 
Location:  Davis Hall, 9217 51st Avenue 
Polling Hours:  11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Absentee Voting: 
If you are unable to Early Vote or vote on Election Day, you may apply for an Absentee Ballot. Applications may be downloaded here or picked up at any City Building. Your completed signed application must be returned by Friday, October 24, 2025. 

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 October 21, 2025. By going to this link, you can watch the discussion of specific agenda items you are interested in. If you have questions about Council actions and discussions, please email us at lbesters@collegeparkmd.gov and swhitney@collegeparkmd.gov.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Mr. Young said that the final day of the city’s Fall Cleanup will be on Saturday, October 25. He said residents can drop off bulky trash and have documents shredded from 8am – 12pm. Mr. Young gave special thanks for UMD Police, Prince George’s County Police and College Park Staff for their presence and assistance with College Park Day. He acknowledged the city’s receipt of Certificate for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the city budget submitted in May 2024. Mr. Young said that elections for Mayor and Council will take place on Election Day, November 4, from 8am – 8pm, and early voting will be at held at David Hall on Sunday, November 2 from 11am – 4pm. Residents must be 16 years of age by November 4 to be eligible to vote. He said the deadline to register to vote in College Park was October 20. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Former District 2 Councilmember Bob Catlin 

Former District 2 Councilmember Maxine Gross

Former Prince George’s County Councilmember Danielle Glaros

Former District 1 Councilmember Kate Kennedy

 PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS

Maryland Economic Development Week

Honoring Helen Reniere’s 100th Birthday

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Hernandez made a motion to remove item 25-G-106 from the consent agenda and place it on action items. 

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Bob Catlin, resident – talked about three major development projects in the city that happened over a short period of time during the early 2000s, including IKEA, JTCC and the Washington Post Distribution Center. The area where JTCC is now located was the M-NCPPC service center. Initially, it was thought it would be great to have an indoor skating rink there. A former White House staffer, Ken Brody, came to the area and was an avid tennis fan and had money to invest. He went to the county, and they offered the land in 2002, and it has been a good development. The garage at Metro was built in 2001, and then the FDA building. 

Dan Blasberg, resident – thanked Councilmembers Esters and Whitney for their work. He acknowledged their relationship had been a bit tenuous in the beginning but has improved. He promised he would treat those who assumed their positions better. 

Margaret Moskowitz, resident – the last time she came to council she expressed concern about city processes. She gave a shout out to Councilmembers in District 2 and District 1, and District 2 candidates who listened to her concerns. She said Mr. Khokhar exercised a great deal of care while listening to her concerns and providing her with information. She thanked Mr. Young for his assistance and said she was sleeping better. 

 CONSENT AGENDA

25-G-104 Approval of a contract for Curbside Food Scrap Collections – Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works

25-G-107 Approval of a contract for Obvio Inc. Automated Traffic Law Enforcement Agreement -Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services and Stephanie P. Anderson, City Attorney

Councilmember Esters made the motion to accept the Consent Agenda, seconded by Councilmember Hernandez. It passed unanimously.

PRESENTATIONS: 

Quarterly Financial FY2026 – Gary Fields, Director of Finance

Mr. Fields said most things in the quarterly report are as expected. He said we received Real Estate Property Tax revenue in both September and October. He said revenue from the State Amusement and Hotel/Motel tax should be seen at the beginning of the calendar new year. Mr. Fields said the significant expenses reflected the $2.6 million annual total for interfund transfers made in one payment. He said the CPCUP and Non-Dept and Boards and Commission are all paid in July.  He thanked Mr. Olive for preparing the presentation. 

Councilmember Whitney asked if the 17% in income tax receipts reflected what was happening at the federal level. Mr. Fields said he did not think that the Federal shutdown had impacted revenue. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked for what was included in the 33% of expenditures from the Mayor & Council budget and said he wanted folks to understand that 33% of the city’s budget went to CPCUP. Mr. Fields said that was not the case. He clarified that what we were reviewing was what had been spent thus far from the Mayor & Council budget, which also included $80 thousand in annual dues paid for organizations like the Maryland Municipal League and the Washington Council of Governments (COG). 

Community Preservation Trust Presentation on 5021 Lakeland Road – Orlando Velez, Director of Operations and Housing Initiatives, CPCUP

Ms. Kennedy said she was excited to speak to council. She said when the Trust started, they envisioned partnerships with others. She introduced Orlando Velez, who has been in his position as Director of the Trust since June. Ms. Kennedy introduced herself as the Chair of the Community Preservation Trust (CPT).

Mr. Velez introduced himself as the new director of operations and partnership programs and invited team members to introduce themselves. Mr. Velez said the shared goal of the Trust is to provide quality affordable housing and strengthen the partnership with city. 

Mr. Velez said 5021 Lakeland once had a home that was built in the 1900’s. The home was destroyed due to a weather event in 2022. In 2025, the property was purchased by the city with the support of the Restorative Justice Commission (RJC). 

The project is to provide a new owner-occupied home. 

Click here to see the presentation. 

Mr. Velez said the project will include involvement of UMD students who will engage with the community. He said the project design is rooted in community engagement. The home is to be sold to Habitat. The new owner will benefit from 0% interest loan. The Community Preservation Trust will hold the land lease for 99 years. This is the development of a vacant lot into a home for a family who may not otherwise be able do own. 

Councilmember Whitney said she was excited about the project and asked about the possibility of building a duplex, and whether it would require a zoning change. Habitat for Humanity’s Ron Spoor said he understands that state affordable housing legislation allows non-profits to build a duplex on a single family lot

Councilmember Esters said she was excited about the project and asked about the timeline from construction to occupancy. Mr. Velez said they would need to get approvals and permits. He said he would hope to see construction start by the end of 2026. 

Mayor Kabir asked about the work of Habitat for Humanity related to affordable housing. The representative from Habitat for Humanity said they have developments in Silver Spring, Rockville and Montgomery Village.

Councilmember Ranker said he is aware of a similar project in New Orleans, and he loves the model. Sometimes the state law has gone farther than the county has. He asked if there is a groundbreaking at the end of next year when would an owner be identified, and he asked about giving first opportunity to Lakeland Legacy members. Mr. Velez said there is a priority to work with the Lakeland community, but they must follow all Fair Housing laws. 

Councilmember Hew asked if there could be consideration of modular homes for this project. Mr. Velez said it is exciting to see modular homes come together, but one of the models leveraged by Habitat is volunteer building. Mr. Spoor said they always consider modulars, but this project is one where they would like to involve many volunteers and students.

Councilmember Hernandez asked how much the city is going to sell it to the Community Preservation Trust for. Mr. Velez said they will be putting together a package for $200,000. After looking it up, Mr. Young said the home was purchased by the city for $211,000Councilmember Hernandez asked to talk about it offline. 

Councilmember Esters asked Mr. Velez if CPT has bought land in the past. Mr. Velez said no, they purchased homes in the past. He said this is a new venture, and the use of CBE funds allowed for building on the land. There is technically a structure on the property, but it is not livable. 

Councilmember Mackie asked if they would install environmental measures that would make the house affordable to live in, as well as buy, such as solar panels. Mr. Velez said that was part of the conversation. He worked on a previous house that was an airtight, passive house that decreased heating and cooling costs by 80-90%. He said they’d have to get additional donations for that but aren’t ruling it out. He said the students must consider the practicality of both building and living in the home.

Mr. Velez said they are not asking us to vote tonight but sought Council input.

PUBLIC HEARING AND POSSIBLE ACTION:

25-O-11 Ordinance, 25-O-11, An Ordinance of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park Authorizing the acquisition of certain real property located at 8807 Rhode Island Avenue and 8811 Rhode Island Avenue, College Park, MD 20740, for a public purpose –Kenneth A. Young, City Manager and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney

Dan Blasberg, resident – he has been asking about for this land since he has moved in. It has gone through some iterations and he has advocated for a community garden. He thinks the city needs a larger community garden. If there is any consideration of development, he asked that it not be residential. It should be something that is open to the community.

Todd Larsen, resident – lives in Berwyn and is on the Committee for a Better Environment (CBE). The Committee has visited civic associations around the city to get feedback on what people would like to see in a climate action plan. They often hear that people want more green space. This land could help. It could provide more tree canopy. It is adjacent to the existing permaculture garden. If it is turned into a garden, he asked that a water source be provided. He said he appreciates that the city is asking the community what it would like to see done with the property if it is acquired.

Alec Lynde, resident – in full support of the acquisition; he was part of the CBE when the property was available two years ago. Looking forward to working with the city and council to determine its use. 

Bob Catlin- resident – spoke last time when this was introduced. It is a great property. There are only two houses that border the property. The land is approximately 1/8 of an acre. He supports the purchase. Glad to see we have a chance to get it in city hands

Kelly Jordan, resident – in support of the purchase of the property. It seems like a good thing for the city to do. 

Susan Blasberg, resident – in support of the city buying the property and spoke to Fazlul and Alan about purchasing the property. 

After the Public Hearing was declared closed, Councilmember Whitney made the motion, which was seconded by Councilmember Esters. It passed unanimously.

25-G-105 Permit Parking on Delaware Street between 48th Place and 49thAvenue – Jim Miller, Parking Enforcement Manager

Mr. Miller said residents have had issues with construction workers and now residents from The Flats parking in the area. They would like to see the permits be 24 hours, 7 days a week. 

Mr. Hernandez said there are residents who do not want to see 24 hours. 

Councilmember Ranker asked if was permitted parking on Delaware Street. Mr. Miller said there is currently no permit parking on Delaware Street and that the Declaration of Covenants says that residents of The Flats are not to park on the streets. 

Larry Marcu, resident – the problem isn’t just construction workers, students park on the street, as well. There are cars just parked, and they do not know whose they are. Everything south of Delaware is permitted. It could be that the problem moves north. 

Betsy Pugel, resident – at the end of the block there is a school bus stop. Part of having permits is to ensure that children are safe. If 24 hours is not viable, then maybe 2pm- 8am

Michelle Bernard, resident  – issue came to a head during construction. The issue is when individuals come down the street. With cars on both sides and no gaps, it is challenging. 

After the Public Hearing was declared closed, Councilmember Hew made the motion and was seconded by Councilmember Hernandez.

Councilmember Hew, asked for Mr. Miller to comment on the attraction for dumping and other behaviors on Delaware Street. Hew said he was in favor of the restrictions.

Councilmember Whitney said the developer provided more parking space than required for the Flats. She also clarified that the Declaration of Covenants only stated that residents of The Flats would not be eligible for residential parking permits. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked about our enforcement of the Covenants. Mr. Miller said that in this case there is no enforcement if there is no permitted parking. 

Councilmember Riggs expressed frustration with the piecemeal nature of this work. The city needs to think holistically about permit parking. 

Councilmember Ranker applauded the residents on the block for taking this step and would defer to the councilmembers in this area. 

Councilmember Hernandez said the problem is that this street is particularly narrow, there are few stop signs and few speed bumps. 

The motion passed unanimously.

ACTION ITEMS: 

25-G-106 Authorize the Mayor to request that M-NCPPC proceed with engineering and design of a pedestrian bridge crossing of the Northeast Branch at or near Location 2 as indicated during the October 7, 2025- MNCPPC presentation.

Mr. Gardiner – letter is a follow-up to council from our last meeting where M-NCPPC staff presented various options to Council. Based on comments from the meeting, staff drafted a letter to communicate the interests of Mayor and Council. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he did not have an issue with the content of the letter, rather he had an issue with how the council is doing letters. This letter was sent from the Mayor on behalf of council, while another letter sent to the county regarding police was sent from the mayor and not the council. 

Councilmember Ranker asked how someone distinguishes letters they receive from Mayor or Mayor and Council. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said letters that come from Mayor and Council should specifically say they come from Mayor and Council. 

Mr. Gardiner said letters generally include a statement that references approval from Mayor and Council. 

Councilmember Hew said he had a concern we were recommending that they build this bridge in the 100-year flood plain. 

Councilmember Ranker said he did not think it goes against their recommendations and suspects that the government self-insures. 

Councilmember Riggs made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Ranker. It passed unanimously.

25-O-13 Introduction of an Early Lease Ordinance to establish 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

Ms. Anderson, city attorney, said this was an ordinance to amend the city code for the timeline when lease can be renewed, when it is legally acceptable for the landlord to not renew the lease, enforcement and remedies.

Councilmember Rigg said he heard from residents that the fees as described apply to the landlord. There are residents who had concerns with this applying to residents. He wanted to ensure that the fees did not apply to residents for not signing their lease within the 10 days, etc.

Councilmember Ranker said prior to the meeting he learned that residents had been asked to re-up their lease for 2026. 

Councilmember Rigg introduced the ordinance with a second from Councilmember Hernandez.

25-O-14 Introduction of an Ordinance to allow for amendments to Chapter 110-2, Penalties, as it is applied to Chapters, 87, 115, 125,138, 141,and 144 of the Code of the City of College Park for the purpose of increasing the maximum amount of a fine for a municipal infraction that may be imposed by a municipality to enforce ordinances and increase all tiered penalties and add tiers to penalties where are not currently defined – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services

Mr. Khokhar said the sections are frequently used by code staff. Recently the State has increased the maximum fine amount from $1,000 – $5,000. Ms. Anderson said that the fines are meant to be a deterrent. Mr. Khokhar said they seek to be fair.

Councilmember Hernandez asked if we chose $5,000, could we tier it out?

Mr. Khokhar said he was looking for direction from Council.

Mr. Young said the original intent was to choose $5,000 and tier it out.  

Councilmember Mackie – asked for clarity on noise versus nuisance. Mr. Khokhar said

there is no difference. 

Councilmember Rigg said unruly social gathering were meant to be considered a higher

level than the noise violation. Councilmember Ranker agreed with Councilmember Rigg’s

comments. 

Rigg made the motion to introduce the ordinance as redlined in the Red Folder. Mackie seconded.

25-G-108 Approval of Property Use Agreement on Application for transfer of location of a Class C, Fraternal, Beer, Wine, Liquor License, College Park Lodge No. 453, Loyal Order of Moose, Inc. t/a Loyal Order of Moose 453, from 3700 Metzerott Road, College Park, Maryland 20740 to 8907 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, Maryland 20740 – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services and Stephanie P. Anderson, City Attorney

Ms. Anderson said property use agreement for a Class C beer and liquor license transfer for 3700 Metzerott Road to 8907 Baltimore Ave. 

Moose Lodge No. 453 President Debbie Herbert provided some background for the organization. It has been in the community for 77 years. They had to sell their property to a church, then it was sold again. They have been looking for property in College Park because they would like to stay here. The new property at 8907 Baltimore Ave. is available and has a 2,400 square foot building. Moose is a fraternal organization that has contributed to the community. 

Councilmember Esters said she appreciated their time and work in the community and their desire to stay in College Park. However, she did have concerns about this location and had a series of questions. She said it is a prominent corner with issues related to ingress and egress. She asked if their plans to renovate would come back before Council. Ms. Anderson and City Manager Young said they were not sure those plans would come back before Council. Esters said she would like to learn more about their plans for ingress, egress, and parking, acknowledging the residents who live on the block behind the land and across from the existing bowling alley. She also asked about any level of engagement with community members so they would be aware of the proposed use of the property. 

Councilmember Whitney asked Ms. Anderson if the City could require the Moose Lodge to come back before Council with their plans. Ms. Anderson said she could have that discussion with their attorney.

Councilmember Hernandez asked about the number of members in the Moose Lodge. Ms. Herbert said there were 440 members, 15-20% of whom are active. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he was supportive and did not understand the concerns of his District 2 colleagues. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she was in support of District 2 and looked forward to working together to identify next steps forward. 

Ms. Herbert said this was submitted over two months ago. She asked if there was something she should have done to get it on the docket sooner. She said they want to have a beautiful building. 

Ms. Anderson said she did receive the submission two months ago and looked at the date of the hearing to determine when it would be added to the agenda. She said the questions from Council arise once items are placed on the agenda  

Bob Catlin, resident –  said he saw that the liquor license was on the agenda the other day. He said it would not be nearly as controversial as the previous contract proposed under Chick-Fil-a. 

Councilmember Mackie said the Moose Lodge has been very community-minded. She will be supporting their request. 

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Hernandez said there is a District 1 property in the Mom’s Parking lot. It is a state building that has been vacant since 2017. Asking for a letter to be sent to Gov. Wes Moore asking to assess the possibility of using the property to create affordable housing or mixed-use housing that includes senior affordable housing. 

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

Mr. Biffel, non-resident – ordinance is unnecessary for the lease. There is strong incentive to renew. Some students would like to “play coy”. It is the students who stress the need to renew early. There should not be any impediments. In Ann Arbor there have been unintended consequences. Just because the state allows further fines doesn’t mean they should be imposed. If they are not being ignored, there is no need to increase the fines. He hopes the Council will not pass the ordinance. 

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

Councilmember Rigg said he was excited about the opening of new business in District 3, Padel. He described Padel as the love child of tennis and pickleball. 

Councilmember Mackie thanked the UMD Students who came to engage with them at City Hall for a recent panel on civic engagement. 

Mayor Kabir mentioned serving on a panel at the end of the week sponsored by the Greenbelt Coalition.

Councilmember Esters said she wanted to acknowledged staff for work with the resident who previously shared concerns related to processes and followed up to say that she felt heard. 

Councilmember Hew said he toured with the police academy for a new program. He said he was surprised that CPT did not mention the sale of their 100^th home in through their homeownership grant, which was in District 1. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he had good news working with Parkdale High School and their establishment of a PTA. He said that Shoppers would soon be closing, and their last day of operation will be November 8. He said he hoped that economic development will work to identify another supermarket. 

 MEETING ADJOURNED

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on October 28. 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:

Presentations:

Missing Middle Housing Presentation 

Presentation of and Discussion on 2025 Permit Fees Analysis by Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS)

Action Items:

Ordinance to amend Chapter 87 to increase the maximum allowable height for front yard fences from three (3) feet to four (4) feet.

In person, Live stream and virtual

https://zoom.us/j/95954061842

Date: October 23, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM - 8:45 PM
Location: City Hall Council Chambers
Address: 7401 Baltimore Ave, 2nd Floor, College Park, MD 20740