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 February 11, 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 Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) have already announced their closure on February 12. Trash pick-up in the city on Wednesday will be shifted to Thursday. 

Councilmember Whitney said she wanted to acknowledge the long days and nights for our Public Works staff during inclement weather events. She said they always do an outstanding job. 

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Rigg made a motion to move item Action Item 25-G-21 (Approval of liquor licenses issues and renew with the City of College Park to the Consent Agenda. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell seconded the motion. 

Councilmember Whitney said she needed to recuse herself from the vote on the item for reasons of employment. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell moved to accept the Consent Agenda, Seconded by Councilmember Rigg. 

Councilmember Whitney said she was unable to vote on the item related to liquor licenses but could vote on other Consent Agenda items and asked for guidance. 

Councilmember Rigg suggested to note for the record that Councilmember Whitney’s need to abstain from voting on item 25-G-21 due to employment but does vote for other items on the Consent Agenda. 

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Husain Waheed, non-resident – working with the University of Maryland Advanced Research Center. He co-authored three proposals dynamical systems, biofuels, and continuous learning labs. There is no need for financial support for these projects which should be able to provide economic efficiencies. They are supported by ISO. He is looking for verification to satisfy legislators and the University. He asked if the materials he sent were received. Ms. Allen, City Clerk, confirmed receipt of the information and said she spoke with Mr. Waheed. He asked about potential assistance from the Student Liaisons. 

Mr. Mirani (former SGA Liaison), resident – last spring he co-founded the College Park Tenants Union. This group has spoken to students and non-students. He mentioned a recent Washington Post article that indicates landlords are using RealPage algorithms to drive up costs. He said according to the Washington Post article, there are 5 apartment complexes in College Park that use RealPage, including Aster, Varsity, Domain, Atworth, and Union at Knox.

Francis Riley, resident, and member of the College Park Tenants Union – expressed concern about the use of RealPage. She spoke of a lawsuit by the State Attorney General against RealPage, and she would like the Council to join the lawsuit.

Gannon Sprinkle resident – said he wanted to speak on behalf of the College Park Tenants Union about the use of RealPage. This software uses algorithms that drive up the cost of apartments. The use of RealPage makes it more difficult for families to live in College Park. He asks that the Council write the State Attorney General.

Councilmember Rigg asked the College Park Tenants Union to write a letter to CPMC. He is compelled but needs more information.

CONSENT AGENDA

25-G-19 Approval of the annual full-service ‘Software as a Service’ (SaaS) contract with AIMS Parking Management Solutions for software support, hosting, and maintenance of both software and hardware in the amount of $67,439.50, to be effective February 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026 – Jim Miller, Parking Enforcement Manager

25-G-20 Approval of an amendment to contract CP-24-01 with NZI Construction Corporation, in substantially the form attached and subject to the City Attorney’s approval, in the amount not to exceed $392,731.66 for construction of a sidewalk on 52nd Avenue – Steve Halpern, City Engineer

25-G-21 Approval of a letter to the Board of License Commissioners to recommend that liquor licenses issued within the City of College Park be renewed for the following year and to authorize the City Manager to send a letter to the BOLC to that effect – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services 

Councilmember Rigg made a motion to accept the Consent Agenda, seconded by Councilmember Hernandez. Approved unanimously, aside from Councilmember Whitney abstaining from 25-G-21 due to her employment.

ACTION ITEMS

25-G-22 Appointment of the Child Care Task Force Committee Members, Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager 

Assistant City Manager Gardiner introduced the item, and Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked about the subject matter experts that should be on the committee. Gardiner said Council had agreed to two voting members from each district plus one voting member from Education Advisory Committee (EAC).

Councilmember Esters – thanked for those who applied and reminded Council of previous discussions about subject matter experts being invited to meet with the committee rather than being placed on the committee. 

Councilmember Mackie thanked the residents who applied and said the EAC already had this on their radar. 

Councilmember Whitney said the applications were impressive and said it was a hard decision for District 2, where there were multiple applicants. 

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

Discussion and action of the November 2025 Election – Yvette Allen, City Clerk and Susan Huemmrich, Chief Board Election Supervisor 

Ms. Allen introduced the item and said the Board of Election Supervisors (BOES) met last week and discussed the date they would like to hold the election. They recommend Tuesday, November 4 from 8am – 8pm for Election Day.

Councilmember Hernandez asked why City Hall was chosen. Ms. Huemmrich said the BOES looked at size and accessibility to determine the best location. They considered the Lakeland College Park Community Center, but they are concerned the County may need it for elections around that time.

Councilmember Hernandez asked about circumventing Davis Hall privacy issues. Ms. Huemmrich said there were both safety and privacy issues. Councilmember Hernandez said the majority of voters have used Davis Hall over the years. 

Ms. Huemmrich mentioned one of the City’s objectives is to modernize and improve services. She said we need to think outside the box and would like to centralize voting at City Hall. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he thinks we should use both locations. He asked for early voting location at Davis Hall and City Hall. 

Councilmember Esters said she understood the advocacy but said that Davis Hall is not the best location for the elections. She asked about shuttle transportation throughout the city for older residents to get back and forth to City Hall and about Sunday being a consideration to allow more people the opportunity to vote who may not be able to get to the polls on Tuesday. 

Councilmember Mackie asked if we were going to send cards out to residents with the dates and location for the locations. Ms. Allen said they would. Councilmember Mackie asked if BOES thought about other places in the Hollywood area, like churches. Ms. Huemmrich said they had thought of Hollywood Elementary School, but they do not know how long the county elections will last. Councilmember Mackie said she hopes we do not have two sites on one day. She said Davis Hall is uncomfortable and suggested we consider two shorter days.

Councilmember Whitney said she agreed with Councilmember Esters about changing the voting day to Sunday. She said Davis Hall is not a viable option. She asked about having a drop box in Lakeland and College Park Woods. 

Ms. Allen said during the BOES voiced concerns about having a drop box at Lakeland College Park Community Center because county elections may be happening at the same time, necessitating County and City drop boxes, which could be confusing. She said they could consider another location in Lakeland. 

Councilmember Whitney asked about there being celebratory activity related to Election Day. Ms. Allen said the city cannot do anything to lure people into the voting booths, but candidates can offer encouragement. 

Councilmember Hew said he would like to advocate for Davis Hall and the use of spaces that are not being utilized. If not, he would like to consider one of the churches or other locations. He said he would like to strongly suggest Tuesday as a voting day. He suggests one polling box at Mom’s and using the other for Lakeland or College Park Woods. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she was in favor of Sunday Election Day. She understands the interest in Davis Hall, but the space is small and there are privacy issues. She supports the use of a shuttle for Attick Towers and Spellman House.

Councilmember Rigg said he was in favor of holding election day on Sunday, since it is the most adaptive to the needs of most of the population. He supports an additional drop box at College Park Woods. We have seen an increase in the vote by mail options. For various reasons there is a need to always have polling on election day. He says he would look forward to moving to complete vote by mail. If we do not, we will continue to find ourselves in the same situation having the same conversation each time there is an election. He said we should offer an early voting location north of MD-193, if feasible. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he appreciated the comments and wants to be a good colleague. He said he supports adding a drop box in Lakeland and College Park Woods. He also appreciates Sunday as a voting day, it allows more people to vote. 

Councilmember Esters asked Ms. Huemmrich to discuss the challenges of having two days for voting. They are currently looking for twelve volunteers for the one day. It is difficult to identify volunteers who are willing to take on 15 hours per day. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said the City of Rockville conducted an entirely mail-in election and it cost just over $100,000. She asked about having voting for 4 hours in North College Park on an alternate day.

Councilmember Hew reiterated the need for voting location on North College Park and suggested the American Legion. 

Councilmember Mackie understands the older voters and appreciates Councilmember Rigg’s comments and olive branch. If we do two days, she believes the hours should be shortened. The integrity of the vote is important, and they wanted to use City Hall to allow them to lock materials. She asked Ms. Huemmrich how items would be secured with two places. Ms. Huemmrich said they would need to move the equipment from one location to another. The security of the location will need to be maintained to ensure there is no tampering. At the end of the day, the ballots must be counted to zero. 

Ms. Allen said most of the equipment is locked up in the administrative offices with lock and key. If it needs to be transferred, Public Works staff transports the equipment. 

Mayor Kabir summarized the discussion:

• Drop boxes – adding one in Lakeland and College Park Woods
• Election Day – preference for Sunday
• Election Location – Have shuttle service on election day to City Hall location.
  • Early voting location in North College Park in locations other than Davis Hall (i.e.., American Legion, Church of the Nazarene)

Ms. Allen would like to take suggestions to BOES and then come back to Council next week with the election day date.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchel asked for confirmation the date will be confirmed by next week. Ms. Huemmrich said the City Charter stipulates Council must identify a date by March 31, but we should do so ASAP. 

Councilmember Whitney asked about the rate of attrition of BOES over the years and wonders if that has to do with the demands associated with multiple dates and locations. Ms. Allen said they are retiring. Ms. Huemmrich said two members who were recently sworn in, three members were sworn in last July, a senior member has tendered resignation. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked how we can incentivize BOES members and asked for information about recruiting new members. 

B. Review and discussion of code provisions Chapter 125, Housing Regulations, Chapter 119 Refuse, Solid Waste, and Special Trash, and Chapter 141 Nuisances – Jatinder Khokhar, 002Director of Public Services and Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney

Mr. Khokhar said at the November 19 Council meeting staff were asked to revise the language for §125-10, §141-6A and §110-2. The first issue was dealing with beer pong, second was indoor furniture outside, and third was storage of refuse and recycling containers. 

Ms. Anderson proposed to discuss each chapter separately. 

125-10 Responsibilities of owners and occupants –The language has been left alone to allow code officers to address issues. The new language added is there to address beer pong tables or furniture that can be used for drinking games.

141-6 Refuse Carts and Recycling Carts

Refuse and recycling carts are often not returned after pickup or not stored properly. The updated language reinforces that they are only to be used for refuse and stored at the rear or side of the house. Language related to the removal of carts was removed because there is charter language (119-3) that stipulates what needs to be done with carts. There is a need for consistency. There was no enforcement provisions added. A notice would be issued withing 48 hours which could be issued if not followed. 

110-2 Fees and Penalties 

Each Violation would be $50. There are accommodations for those with disabilities and those with topography issues. 

Councilmember Rigg commended Ms. Anderson and city staff, he felt there had been responsiveness to feedback as it related to language. He said we are not making a new policy; we are referencing other sections of the charter.  This topic has been discussed a lot. It is a narrow amendment to the city code that addresses issues with drinking games. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanked Councilmember Rigg for his comments. She asked Ms. Anderson if the first notice would be given to the occupant or the owner. The way the code is written the notice is given to is the occupant, who could be the owner/tenant. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if the fine remains $50 if there are repeated violations, or if the number of offenses is capped. Ms. Anderson said the goal is to get compliance, but it does provide an option to use discretion. After notice of violation, the occupant is given 48 hours to correct the violation. After that, each additional day incurs another $50 fine.

Councilmember Mackie had questions about the definition of outside furniture. She asked if the language addresses issues such as mattresses in the front yard. Rigg said the existing code should address this.

Councilmember Hernandez cautioned Council to find the proper balance in addressing an issue and avoiding rabbit holes. When there is inclement weather, we should not penalize our residents. 

Councilmember Rigg said he appreciated Councilmember Hernandez’s support and is sensitive to the aspect of civil liberties. 

Councilmember Whitney said she appreciated what has been done. She said it reflects the conversations we’ve had and she is happy to move forward. 

Mr. Khokhar said when redrafting the language there were discussions with the Director of Public Works. They did not want to overreach, and there was a focus on providing reasonable accommodations where needed. 

Mayor Kabir asked if the item was ready for introduction. Ms. Allen said it would be brought back next week or the first meeting in March. 

Discussion on the status of the Social Sports League – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager 

Mr. Gardiner provided an update to the program introduced by Council last year. $30 thousand was budgeted in FY25 to offer league activities. The lack of sufficient staff limits the city’s ability to move forward. There was someone on staff with experience in a prior position who thought if the city took this on, it would require about one half full-time equivalent. 

Mr. Young said we are not staffed to take on these additional services. He said this is an example of where we are stepping out of our wheelhouse. 

Councilmember Esters – said based upon what was shared we should not focus on league activities. She suggested that we focus on partnerships with organizations like UMD to offer residents more activities/services focused on wellness, especially now. 

Councilmember Hernandez questioned our capacity to do this. Mr. Young said we have control over very few fields. He said we can work with UMD, but their primary responsibility is to maintain their fields for the UMD community. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he is eager to use Duvall Field for this in the future. He does not want to overtax our team when the county already provides resources.

Councilmember Whitney said we were advised to partner with UMD Rec Well and the School of Public Health and asked what happened. Mr. Gardiner said there was interest in a course where students would manage a sports league for the city, but it would not have been a permanent arrangement so was not a good fit. 

Councilmember Hew said he would support pursuing this when Duvall Field is completed. Perhaps there would be the opportunity for us to reach out to regular users of the field. 

Councilmember Rigg asked if the city heard from anyone in the area interested in getting involved. Mr. Young said there were only a few who were interested. The issues were the limited number of options we had to control space. Rigg suggested addressing this policy goal by promoting existing opportunities which may not be well known. 

Councilmember Mackie said she appreciated the ideas brought up by colleagues. She said there is an epidemic of obesity but there are already opportunities that exist. We will soon have a state-of-the-art facility at Duvall field where we can host activities. 

Mr. Young said we have what we need to move forward. There will also be conversations about the North College Park Community Center. There will be a conversation with Park and Recreation about getting residents involved. 

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

Mr. Gardiner provided a quick overview of the legislative session and bills that would be interest to Council. 

• To date, ten mayors are involved in conversations in support of the Municipal Land Use bill. 
• The Maryland Municipal League (MML) intends to support increasing the maximum municipal infraction from $1000 to $5000.
• Our lobbyists are tracking the Maryland Bottle Bill. He said that over the years the bill pays for itself, but it creates a new enterprise for returning bottles we do not have now. The State may be less inclined to support things that are not self-sustaining this session. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked for more information about the prescription drug affordability act bill. 

Councilmember Esters made motions for the city to send letters of support for the bottle bill and the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act (HB1006). 

Councilmember Whitney made a motion for the city to send a letter of support for a bill prohibiting vehicles from stopping or standing in Bike Lanes (HB0178/SB173).

Councilmember Hew thanked Councilmember Whitney for bringing up the bike lanes issue. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked for additional information on the Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act (HB554). She also asked for information on bills at the county level we should be aware of. 

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Rigg said he is interested in the issue the tenants union brought up earlier in the meeting. He said he will gather more information and speak to colleagues to ask for it to be added to the agenda list. 

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

Husain, resident– said he was going to put questions in the webinar chat to ask questions, but it did not allow him to do so. Mr. Young said we do not allow for chats during meetings due to security and protocols. Husain asked for information about HB999 (Opioid-Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Program Data). 

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

Mayor Pro Tem said she recently attended the Mayor Alliance on Hunger. 

Mayor Kabir said the upcoming Four Cities meeting at 7pm on February 27 will be hosted by College Park. The next Prince George’s County Municipal Association (PGCMA) meeting will be held on February 20. He said Senator Alsobrooks and Senator Van Hollen will host a town hall on 2/12 to discuss support for federal workers. 

Councilmember Whitney said UMD had already announced their closure on Wednesday, February 12 due to impending inclement weather. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked residents to help with Neighbors helping Neighbors. 

SGA Liaison Otte said UMD would be closed on 2/12 and said to stay safe. 

Mr. Young said while UMD will be closed, College Park will be open, and the city will be out clearing the streets. He said we should all do our part. 

MEETING ADJOURNED

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on February 18, 2025. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated Consent Agenda and Action Items, and Workshop discussions proposed to be on the agenda that may interest District 2 residents. Please contact us as soon as possible if you need accommodations to participate in a meeting, including language translation:

Consent:

Approval to submit Terms and Conditions Form to participate in the EmPower Maryland Rebate Program, in partnership with Pepco.

Approval of a Property Use Agreement (PUA) for a new Class B Beer, Wine alcoholic beverage license for use by Shake Shack.

Presentations:

Proposed Pedestrian Crossing at Greenbelt Road and Rhode Island Ave. 

Creation of a Vacant Property Registry.

Worksession Discussions:

Legislative Review

It is February, the time of year when we have grown accustomed to the cold weather but long for signs of spring. It may take a bit longer to see those signs since Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Groundhog Day and predicts six more weeks of winter, but it’s not too cold for parents to plan for summer camp. College Park’s annual summer camp scholarship applications are open! Learn more at https://www.collegeparkmd.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=711.

Normally, it would be enough to recognize that February brings with it Black History month and Valentine’s Day. And although we want to encourage you to take advantage of programs and activities offered by Prince George’s County and the University of Maryland, we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the many changes we have witnessed at the federal level over the past few weeks.  We recognize that some of these changes are a cause for great concern and have negative impacts for many in our community. Federal workers who have concerns about the impacts of recent executive orders on their jobs are encouraged to contact Congressman Glenn Ivey’s office via phone at 240-906-6262. Immigrant and working-class families in need of support can contact CASA at 1-866-765-2272. We encourage everyone to find balance and take care of themselves and their families. You will find information about resources for mental health support and immigration issues on the city’s website.   

Apparently, this time of year is a great time for elections. Prince George’s County is holding a Special Election for County Executive.  The primary election is Tuesday, March 4, 2025, and the general election is June 3, 2025. The city is also holding a Special Election on March 11, 2025, to fill the council seat vacated by former Councilmember Stuart Adams.  

During February, the following items are anticipated for the Council meeting agenda: the appointment of the Child Care Task Force Committee, discussion and action related to the November 2025 election, and a presentation from the Vacant and Blighted Properties Tax Committee on creating a vacant property registry. 

In closing, we want you to know the City of College Park remains committed to being an inclusive community. Now more than ever, it is important to aspire to be One College Park. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Llatetra Brown Esters Susan Whitney
Councilmember District 2 Councilmember District 2
lbesters@collegeparkmd.gov swhitney@collegeparkmd.gov

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 February 4, 2025. By going to this link, you can watch the discussion of specific agenda items you are interested in. If you have questions about Council actions and discussions, please email us at lbesters@collegeparkmd.gov and swhitney@collegeparkmd.gov

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Mr. Young said the city would be tracking three weather systems coming into the area. He said the anticipated winter precipitation would begin Friday into Saturday and another on Monday through next Wednesday. The city started treating the roadways in anticipation of these weather events. 

 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Former Deputy Mayor Stefan Leggin of Brentwood, Maryland. 

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARD

Black History Month

Women’s Heart Health Month

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Rigg proposed the following amendments to the agenda:

Move item 24-G-15 – Authorization to disburse funds for the PNC Foundation Purple Line Grant and State of Maryland Department of Housing and Community Develop (DHCD) Project Restore 2.0 Grant from action to consent agenda.

Pull action item 25-CR-01 – A Charter Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, to Amend Article II, “Mayor and Council, “§ C3-6 “Vacancies”, Section B (1) but proceed with the public hearing. 

Pull action item 24-CR-02 – A Charter Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of the College Park to Amend Article IV” Voting and Elections, “§C4-2,” Registration of Voters” to allow for Vote 16 but proceed with public hearing. 

Motion to add 25-G-18 – Letter of support for the Coalition to Support Prince George’s County Fire and EMS

Motion to approve the agenda as amended by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell, seconded by Councilmember Rigg. 

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Mr. Dorsch, resident – the city needs to sell the house at 4704 Calvert Rd. The city should not be in the house rental business. Now is a good time to sell it because the federal government is not making any changes to interest rates. It would be smart for the city to put the house on the market. 

Husain, non-resident – working with the advanced technology center. There is a proposal for dynamical systems that was sent to the City Council, and he met with the 21^st delegation. He will follow up with a brief overview next week. Trying to move it forward due to the economic efficiencies that have been proven over many years. 

 CONSENT AGENDA

25-R-02 Resolution of the Mayor and Council adopting the recommendation of the Advisory Planning Commission regarding Variance Number CPV-2025-01, located at 4806 Erskine Road, College Park, Maryland, Recommending Approval of One Variance and Three Validations: A 5.2 foot Variance from the Prince George’s County Zoning Ordinance Section 27-4202 (e) (2) to reduce the required 25-foot front yard setback to 19.8 feet; a variance of 11.2 feet to validate the existing front yard setback for the house; a variance of 15 feet to validate the existing lot width and a variance of 488 square feet to validate the existing minimum lot area. The Appeal Period Ended January 31, 2025.

25-R-03 Resolution of the Mayor and Council adopting the recommendation of the Advisory Planning Commission regarding Variance Number CPV-2025-02, located at 9533 Rhode Island Avenue, College Park, Maryland, Recommending Approval of One Variance: A 1-foot side yard setback Variance for a deck and associated steps from the Prince George’s County Zoning Ordinance Section 27-11003 to allow the existing deck and newly constructed steps to remain. The Appeal Period Ended January 31, 2025.

25-G-15 Authorization to Disburse funds for the PNC Foundation Purple Line Grant and State of Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Project Restore 2.0 Grant. 

Motion to approve Consent Agenda by Councilmember Hernandez, seconded by Councilmember Esters. 

PRESENTATIONS: 

Coalition to Support Prince George’s County Fire and EMS – Stefan Leggin

Former Vice Mayor of Brentwood, Stefan Leggin is a member of the Coalition to Support Prince George’s County Fire and EMS. The coalition in non-partisan group advocating for systematic change to county Fire and EMS. They want to ensure that Fire and EMS is not put on the back burner as other areas are well funded. The reallocation of career firefighters from volunteer fire departments has caused great concern. For example, Brentwood only has one part-time ambulance worker. Prince George’s County is automatically short twenty-five people at the beginning of every shift. When there aren’t enough staff, they call other fire departments with staff, which directly impacts College Park and other surrounding cities and counties by taking their resources.  Many municipalities are speaking out and the coalition wants them to speak out together. 

Mayor Kabir said that Chief Greene answered the questions posed by the coalition. Mr. Leggin acknowledged Chief Greene’s response. 

The Coalition will be sending a letter to the County Executive candidates through their staffers, along with the Coalition’s media contacts.  

Councilmember Whitney asked when they plan to finalize their letter, Mr. Leggin said Monday, February 10. Councilmember Whitney asked if they could wait until Wednesday to allow College Park to weigh in. Mr. Leggin agreed. 

Second Quarter FY25 Strategic Plan Update – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager 

Mr. Gardiner started the second quarter update by talking about a variety of accomplishments, to date. He said all ARPA funds were obligated by the required deadline, city communications are now offered in English and Spanish, preparations are being made for a ribbon-cutting for the College Park Woods Clubhouse, Tyler training has been implemented, and work toward repairs at the home located at 4704 Calvert Rd. He said the city is looking forward to the Duvall field groundbreaking, updated procurement policies, and staff training on equity and inclusion, in addition to the upcoming special election and council advance. 

Councilmember Whitney asked about 72% for the tutoring progress and the 0% progress with Animal Welfare. 

Mr. Gardiner said the number for animal welfare should have been 100%. For the tutoring program, there have been challenges getting the number of enrollees they were hoping for. They are trying to offer incentives to get people to enroll. Students have a lot of web-based tutoring options in public schools, while private school students do not. We may be competing with offerings in the public school spqce.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

24-CR-02: A Charter Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park To 

Amend Article IV “Voting and Elections,” §C4-2, “Registration of Voters” to allow for Vote 16 – Stephanie Anderson, City Attorney and Yvette Allen, City Clerk 

Ms. Anderson introduced this item and said this charter would lower the voting age from 18 to 16 for local elections in the City of College Park. She said State law allows municipalities to lower the voting age. Other local jurisdictions including Hyattsville, Riverdale Park, Mount Rainier, Takoma Park, and Greenbelt have successfully adopted similar changes with varying degrees of voter participation among 16–17-year-olds. 

David Dorsch, resident – he is against this, it is monkey see, monkey do. You want people to vote for who know the issues and can vote on them. 

Mr. Biffil, non -resident – he does not vote in the city although he owns property. There are issues when you let non-taxpayer residents run things. Only resident taxpayers should have a vote.

Michael Lynch, non-resident – had the opportunity to vote at 16 in Riverdale Park. He did the responsible thing. Voting encouraged him to get more involved and learn more. He will not regret the decision to vote. At 17 he served as an election judge. 16- and 17-year-olds are active in the community, they serve in their communities. They show they are mature enough and engaged enough. By allowing them to vote, we encourage them to become the citizens we want them to be.

Nora Eidelman, resident – it is positive thing to allow students the opportunity to vote at an earlier age. Youth are normally the ones to bring change. Low-income people do not pay taxes, imagine not allowing them to vote. This is a great way to tell young people that they count, and to show them respect.

Anya Kleinman, non-resident- high school junior and president of Vote 16. She wants to be a strong advocate for voting rights. In Maryland, you can drive a car, get married and work at 16. According to a study from NIH, at the age of sixteen individuals have the cognitive skills needed to make decisions. Lowering the voting age helps to increase voter engagement year after year. It would allow College Park the opportunity to develop and engage young residents in a meaningful way. 

Vanessa Lee, non-resident – 17-year-old who is part of Vote 16. Too often young people are overlooked, but introducing voting at 16 helps to develop long life habits. We encourage earlier civic involvement. Seven cities have extended the voting age to younger citizens. It ensures that local politics reflect all voices.

Oscar Gregory, non-resident – opposes the idea of allowing those under the legal age of eighteen to vote. One could argue that those who are the legal age may not understand. We must get our constituents to vote. Adding more does not do that. 

Ari Franco, non-resident – Youth engagement organizer. There is a belief that starting civic engagement at 18 is too late. College Park can support its youth by allowing 16-year-olds to vote in local elections. The movement is a global shift toward lowering the voting age. He requested a friendly amendment to the proposed charge asking that the City distribute materials to ensure those impacted are notified of their new rights, either through regular election mailing or sent separately

Alyssa, resident – strongly encouraged support of the resolution. College Park could join other municipalities leading this movement. There can be an increase in turnout. Thankful to see the city consider this idea. 

LaJuan Allen, non-resident – Director of Vote 16. He urged the council to support the charter amendments. When 16-year-olds vote, turn out of those who are eighteen and over increases. The earlier we get people to vote, the more we create civically minded individuals. 16–17-year-olds can drive a car and work, so they do pay taxes. It would be wrong to shut them out of this process. 

SGA liaison Otte – Would like to see data from other municipalities to understand the numbers of 16-year-olds that vote. 

Mayor Kabir stressed that those who would like to forward their thoughts and opinions on the matter still have an opportunity to do so. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked if tonight’s delay would cause concern with the upcoming election. Yvette asked that we vote on this as soon as we have our new councilmember seated. 

25-CR-01: Charter Resolution of the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park, to 

Amend Article III, “Mayor and Council,” § C3-6, “Vacancies”, Section B (1) – Stephanie 

Anderson, City Attorney and Yvette Allen, City Clerk 

Ms. Anderson introduced the item and said the city’s current charter requires that the city automatically have a special election if the vacancy occurs more than 180 days before the next election. The resolution would amend how a Council vacancy can be filled.If the vacancy occurs within 365/366 days of, but no later than 60 days before the next general election, the vacancy can be filled by appointment of the Mayor and Council by a majority vote within 30 days after the vacancy or by a Special Election not later than 65 days after the vacancy occurs.  The decision on how to fill the vacancy must be by majority vote of the Mayor and Council. If any vacancy is not filled as state in §C3-6, the position shall remain vacant until the next general election. 

Councilmember Mackie had questions about the motion and said she did not see the language regarding appointments. She tabled her question until the council votes on the matter. 

David Dorsch, resident – does not see a reason to change it. We need to get someone in the seat as fast as we can. We should have the election as soon as possible.

Brian Roan, resident – spoke out in opposition of the amendment. It does not live up to the spirit of democracy. He said the council often speaks out about residents not voting and he believes people do not feel heard. An appointment in this city where voting turnout is so low is a coronation. 

ACTION ITEMS: 

25-G-18 – Mr. Rigg made a motion to suspend the rules to add to the Action Items writing a letter of support for the Coalition to Support Prince George’s County Fire and EMS, seconded by Councilmember Hernandez. 

David Dorsch, resident – supports this decision. 

Brian Roan, resident – supports this decision. 

Councilmember Rigg mentioned the groundswell of support. 

Councilmember Hernandez – referred to his previous comments on the matter. 

The Motion passed unanimously, and Councilmember Mackie asked that we inform Mr. Leggin about the letter as soon as possible.  

25-G-16 Approval of a grant request for the rehabilitation of the Monarch 

Preschool Playground Equipment, Michael Williams, Economic Development Manager 

Mr. Williams presented the item along with Ms. Taylor, Ms. Herrara, and Ms. Miller of Monarch Preschool. Monarch Preschool submitted a grant request for the rehabilitation of the Monarch Preschool playground equipment. The application asserted that physical activities also play an important role in learning, physical and mental health, and fitness. New playground equipment will enhance students’ learning, social and physical abilities.

Currently, there are 50 families/students enrolled in the Monarch Preschool. Twenty-four of the enrollees live in the City of College Park. Monarch Preschool is requesting $50,000 for the replacement of playground equipment and construction.

Councilmember Esters acknowledged that 24 of the 50 enrollees live in College Park and asked about any incentives for children from College Park. Ms. Taylor said they are working to increase capacity for those within the College Park community. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked about the qualities related to accreditation. Ms. Taylor said the preschool is currently Excel level 4 hoping to be Excel level 5. She said they do not have a high turnover rate among employees. She said they are working with employees to complete their degrees and have a job at Monarch when they are done. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said it takes a lot to have four staff members be part of a cohort. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked about IEPs and how they prepare for accreditation. Ms. Taylor said there is an outside learning requirement for accreditation. 

Councilmember Esters asked that a definition of IEP be provided for the purpose of those listening to the discussion. Ms. Taylor said the IEP is an individualized education plan for students with disabilities. 

Councilmember Hernandez said he had been working with Monarch prior to being elected. He mentioned the formation of the Childcare taskforce and asked for a breakdown of the population. Ms. Taylor said the breakdown is 60% Latino, 30% African American and 10% other. Councilmember Hernandez asked about how long caution tape has been situated around the play area. Ms. Taylor said the tape has been up since 2001. (Councilmember Esters later asked for clarification – the tape has been up since 2021)

Councilmember Rigg asked if the playground will be available to the community when it is not being used by children. Ms. Taylor said it would be available for community use when not being used by Monarch students. Councilmember Rigg asked if Monarch would be willing to memorialize the city’s contribution to the playground. Ms. Taylor said they would be willing to do so. 

Councilmember Hernandez said the Council often speaks about the city’s contributions to businesses as it relates to these grants, but he stressed this grant would serve as a contribution to the community. 

The Motion passed unanimously.

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

Establishing an Affordable Housing Task Force – Miriam Bader, Director of Planning

Ms. Bader introduced this matter and said the discussion around an affordable housing study began in 2021 with a request to review Hyattsville’s Affordable Housing strategy and develop recommendations regarding whether we might do something similar in College Park. During recent discussions regarding the pilot rental subsidy program (April 16,2024), Councilmember Esters made a motion to create an affordable housing task force as part of the housing subsidy, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell. The motion was split from the housing subsidy discussion by Councilmember Whitney and Councilmember Adams and passed unanimously to create a housing task force, to include key stakeholders, that will:  Research and share data regarding the housing needs in the City of College Park; Develop a Definition of Affordable Housing; Outline the parameters of a sustainable program that will be open to all residents who meet specified criteria.  

Ms. Bader asked Council for input about the committee and its composition. 

Councilmember Esters thanked staff for their work to move this forward and mentioned the national and regional housing crisis. She mentioned the issues for residents who are not able to age in place and the need for housing that is affordable, not necessarily subsidized housing. She emphasized the need for missing middle housing and mentioned a recent presentation by a county representative on the matter. 

Councilmember Whitney asked that we add a line to the charge about identifying any conditions that introduce barriers to affordable housing, such as local landlords using RealPage, and Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked that the task force be asked to define “affordable and attainable housing”.

Janeen Miller, liaison to the Age-Friendly Livable Community committee, said the city has a committee that has been working on an age-friendly action plan. As a work group, they are working on a plan and different strategies to enable aging in place, including an intergenerational housing match program. The home seekers could be graduate students. The work group recently met with the University of Maryland Office of Community Engagement. 

Councilmember Mackie wants to see senior housing but also housing for those with disabilities. She mentioned housing for seniors who are University of Maryland alumni. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said we should consider having housing experts on the committee.

Councilmember Esters said we should consider a committee structure like the Child Care Task force, where there is representation from each district and experts are invited to give input. She said affordable housing should be available for everyone, but also mentioned young professionals, many of whom will be graduating from University of Maryland. She also said that affordable housing should be found throughout the city and not concentrated in any one area. 

Councilmember Hew said that we should consider requiring all new developments in the city to have a percentage of affordable housing.   

Councilmember Hernandez mentioned a need to focus on future-proofing homes. Ms. Miller mentioned the funds provided by the city through partnership with Habitat for Humanity for retrofitting to allow seniors to age in place. 

Councilmember Whitney said she heard an older resident in a large house who wondered if there could be a house swap program available in the city. She suggested two members from each district and one student. 

Ms. Bader asked council if there should be representation from the Age-Friendly work group and all agreed. Based upon the discussion, Ms. Bader confirmed ten voting members on the committee, this would include two people from each district, one student and one from the Age-Friendly Livable Community workgroup.

State Legislation Update – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager 

Mr. Gardiner gave a brief overview of the bills we are monitoring in the State legislative session and mentioned the return of the Bottle bill we supported last year, and a Bike/Pedestrian bill that would prohibit stopping or driving in a bike lane. 

Councilmember Esters asked for the council to have more information about the Protecting Locations Act, the Maryland Data Privacy Act, and a bill asking to End 287g Agreements Legislation (this bill seeks to stop local police from acting as ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement) agents. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked about Eric’s Law and about County bills that might impact us. 

City Manager Young said there was one county bill, CB-2-2025, which is a county bill prohibiting boat parking introduced by Councilmember Olson. It conflicts with current provisions that we use a lot in Calvert Hills. He has asked our consultant, Mr. Perez, and his staff to work with Councilmember Olson to make sure the county bill is in alignment so we don’t lose our current process.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said the county also has a bill about vacant property that we should ensure aligns with our purposes.

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked to verify if a discussion about the annexation bill is coming next week. Mr. Young said it probably won’t be on next week’s agenda. He said some things happened in Annapolis this past weekend that helped us, but we’d have to move fairly quickly if it was something Council wanted to consider.

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

Councilmember Rigg said there were many comments about voting tonight. Asked people to give great thought to Vote 16. We have an opportunity to engage young residents in a substantial way. 

Councilmember Mackie said the District 4 listening session was successful and thanked Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell for facilitating. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanked Councilmember Rigg for his comments and will think about it Vote 16 a bit more. She mentioned the start of Black history month and recognized College Park as an inclusive city. 

Councilmember Esters acknowledged comments from Councilmember Rigg and Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell. She recognized the challenging times many may be growing through and encouraged everyone to take care of themselves. She reminded residents of the city’s recent message that provided resources for mental health and immigration issues. 

Councilmember Hew mentioned EV charging stations. He said the Citizens Police Academy is coming up and asked residents and councilmembers to consider signing up. He said the academy provides information about how and why police respond the way they do. 

Councilmember Hernandez told residents to take care of themselves. He said there is certainty in the municipality and that representatives will respond to you. He said he wanted to celebrate the small wins and mentioned the median that will be built on Cherry Hill Road.

Mr. Young – will be participate in the citizens police academy for University of Maryland for the next six weeks. 

MEETING ADJOURNED

CLOSED SESSION

Pursuant to the statutory authority of the Maryland Annotated Code, General Provisions Article § 3- 305(b), the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park are providing notice that they will meet in a Closed Session after the meeting to: Conduct collective bargaining negotiations or consider matters that relate to the negotiations. The Council will not return to public session.

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on February 11. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated Consent Agenda and Action Items, and Workshop discussions proposed to be on the agenda that may interest District 2 residents. Please contact us as soon as possible if you need accommodations to participate in a meeting, including language translation:

Action Items

Approval of letter to recommend liquor licenses issued within the City of College Park be renewed

Appointment of Child Care Task Force Committee Members

Worksession Discussions 

Discussion and action of the November 2025 Election 

Legislative Review

Hello, Neighbors!

2025 started with a reminder of the beauty and challenges of a big snowfall. As usual, our Department of
Public Works did a stellar job clearing our streets, and most residents complied with City Code by
clearing their sidewalks within 24 hours after the snowfall. Visit www.collegeparkmd.gov/snow for
more information on preparing & responding to such events. Neighbors Helping Neighbors of College
Park organizes volunteers to shovel for those who cannot, but they need more helpers. Call 301-222-
3434 or email coordinator@nhn-cp.org to sign up or request assistance.

Public safety meetings will resume a monthly schedule beginning February 3 rd at 7 pm. Learn more at
Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness | City of College Park, Maryland.

District 3 Councilmember Stuart Adams resigned effective January 8 th to focus on his young family and
full-time job. We thank Mr. Adams for his service and his drive to improve College Park. A special
election to elect his replacement will occur March 11th.

Speaking of elections, public hearings will be held on February 4th to discuss two proposed Charter
amendments. 25-CR-01 would allow the Mayor & Council to either hold a special election or appoint a
replacement if a vacancy arises within 365/366 days of the next election. Currently, the city must hold a
special election if a vacancy arises within 180 days of the next election. The change would give Council
the option, if deemed necessary, to relieve the Board of Election Supervisors and staff of the burden of
conducting multiple elections in a single year.

24-CR-02 would allow 16- & 17-year-olds to vote in City elections. Research has shown that voting habits
started early tend to persist. The hope is to increase voter participation over time. We encourage you to
email us and attend the public hearings to voice your opinion.
Finally, on December 10 th , Council voiced support for creating a Childcare Task Force to advise the body
on childcare-related legislation and paths to ease access to childcare in the city. If you’re interested in serving, please click here to submit an application.

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 January 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 the city would be conducting a special election for District 3 on March 11 at City Hall from 8am – 8pm. Those interested in being candidates must be eighteen by March 11, be a United States citizen, live in the City of College Park and be a resident since March 11, 2024, and be a registered voter. Candidates must submit a petition signed by at least 20 registered votes in District 3 by 4pm on February 5 along with other required documents that can be found on the city’s website. Registered voters in District 3 will receive an application for ballots. Voters can vote at the polls at City Hall. Mr. Young mentioned the recent passing of former city Mayor Michael Jacobs. The funeral will be held on Saturday, March 8 at Holy Redeemer at 11am and a visitation will be held prior to the mass at 10am. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she reported street signal issues at 193 and Baltimore Ave. 

Councilmember Mackie mentioned the city’s Lunar New Year celebration to be held on Wednesday, January 29.

Councilmember Whitney thanked staff for following up so quickly about a potentially dangerous situation on Campus Drive east of the Metro. Mr. Young said staff made calls and the signage was improved. Mayor Kabir thanked the Purple Line teams for making the changes. 

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS

One College Park Resolution

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Esters made a motion to add to the Consent Agenda the appointment of Betty Jones as resident commissioner of Attick Towers for the Housing Authority of the City of College Park (HACCP). Councilmember Whitney seconded the motion. 

PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT AGENDA AND NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Husain Vaheet, non-resident – said he was working with the advance research centers at the University of College Park. He said he appreciated the proclamation read today and asked that it be added to the website. He said it was related to the objectives of the advanced research centers to make economic efficiencies accessible to everyone. 

CONSENT AGENDA

25-G-13 Award of Education Grants, FY 2025, to High Point High School in the amount of $2,750 for their College Park Career Collective Project and Berwyn Heights Elementary School in the amount of $200 for PTO meeting refreshments and/or attendance incentives – Kiaisha Barber, Director of Youth Family and Senior Services 

25-G-14 The appointment of Betty Jones to Resident Commissioner at Attick Towers – Housing Authority of College Park. 

PRESENTATIONS: 

Overview of the Governor’s Proposed Budget and 2025 Legislative Priorities – Leonard Lucchi, Attorney & Lobbyist, O’Malley, Miles, Nylen & Gilmore, P.A.

Mr. Lucchi thanked the council for their thoughts regarding the fires in California, as his son lives blocks away from the devastation but is fine. 

He said Governor Moore had a $3 billion deficit due to higher-than-expected Medicare and childcare costs, but there are other factors contributing to the deficit. He said the Governor proposes to cover the gap with $2 billion in budget cuts and $1 billion in revenue increases. 

According to Mr. Lucchi, the municipalities are guarded from direct cuts that will be felt by counties. 

He said there is $1 million in the budget to finish segment one of Route 1 improvements. There is $1.2 million for engineering associated with segments two and three of Route 1 improvements. Mr. Lucchi said the county has asked for $12 million to help cover the cost of stormwater management for the city’s Calvert Hills neighborhood. In addition, a $250 thousand bond for a meditation garden at the city’s Youth & Family Services Building was filed by Senator Rosapepe and Delegate Barnes.

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said the city is interested in creating a childcare task force to help address the cost of childcare, but she noticed there was a freeze on the childcare subsidy. Mr. Lucchi said the governor had expanded the childcare subsidy over the years, and it became larger than expected. His budget for this year caps it. Childcare has also been part of the solution for expanding jobs. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if the state looked at block grants or looking at family childcare centers. Mr. Lucchi said the Maryland Family Network is looking at Family Childcare Centers.

Mayor Kabir asked about the acquisition of funds for phase 1 of Route 1 improvements. 

Mr. Gardiner asked about legislation for raising the cap on fines for municipal infractions. Mr. Lucchi confirmed there is proposed legislation to raise the cap from $1000 to $5000.

Mr. Lucchi mentioned legislation for municipal land use authority changed to open it up to any city that has an in-house planner in order to broaden the support. Mr. Lucchi said given the interim county leadership it may be helpful to push this forward. Mayor Kabir asked to be given information regarding public hearings. 

2nd Quarter Financial Report and Homestead Tax Credit – Gary Fields, Director of Finance

Mr. Fields said timing differences related to revenues occur throughout the budget and depend upon when things are received. It is the same for expenditures and depends upon when expenditures are paid. He said the city is in good shape for the half year.  

Admission and Amusement tax has seen a significant increase that was not expected.   

Overall, most revenue sources are in excess, and most expenditures are below 50 percent. As it applies to Interfund Transfer – expenses are paid upfront. 

As it relates to the Homestead tax credit, Mr. Fields said he believes we can leave it at 0% cap, which provides the most benefit for resident homeowners, and the recommendation is to keep it there. If we do nothing, it will remain, but if we decide to change it, we will need to send information to the state by March 5. Mr. Fields and Ms. Quiñones are developing information about tax credits to put on the website, including a video. 

Mayor Kabir asked if it was too early to project revenue that will be collected. Mr. Fields said it was too early. He said we will get information regarding constant yield in mid-February and believes it will be close to what they are projecting. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked about the senior tax credit. The county has put a pause on it and asked if the county pause would cause an issue for the city providing it. Mr. Fields said the county pause would not inhibit the city from providing the credit. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked about the number of homes that qualify for the Homestead tax credit and those that receive it that are rentals. Mr. Fields said it is difficult to obtain the information. 

Councilmember Whitney asked if we have the list of those receiving homestead credit, do we cross-reference it with the list of rentals. Mr. Fields said he will look into obtaining a list. 

Mr. Young said we do have a list of those homes that are registered with the city, but there are homes that are operating as rentals of which we are not aware. 

ACTION ITEMS: 

25-R-04 Approval of a resolution establishing a Child Care Task Force – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager

Mr. Gardiner said the action items is the result of conversations in November and December to outline the charge and membership of the proposed childcare task force. 

The charge of the task force would be:

• Review and monitoring state legislation during the 2025 General Assembly and report the Council bills the city may want to comment on;
• Interview childcare providers in or near College Park to find out what changes they believe would lower costs and expand access;
• Research federal, state, county, and non-profit programs and reports that may assist families access and afford childcare; and 
• Provide updates to the Council during the legislative session and provide a report on their findings before June 20, 2025. 

Councilmember Mackie said she would like to extend the date for the report beyond June 30. Councilmember Esters asked if there was a particular reason for the June 30 deadline. Mr. Gardner said there was no particular reason. 

Councilmember Rigg said he had concerns about the city’s involvement in this topic as we do not have any regulatory control of this. He is hesitant to ask residents to spend their time on an issue that we will have little control over in terms of the legislative advisory. 

Councilmember Esters said we should move forward to collect more information on this issue that many residents have expressed concern about in order to make an informed decision about how we move forward. 

Councilmember Whitney said she put this forward due to input from residents with concerns about the Mayor & Council’s previous recommendations. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she was reluctant to move this task force forward since we have little control over staffing and the cost. She asked the Council to consider obtaining information about regulations and other formats for childcare. 

Councilmember Hew said he is support of the task force. A lot of jobs bring people to the area without extended family. The costs are high, but there may be opportunities to assist. 

Councilmember Mackie asked for clarification from Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell., who said she would like to include childcare centers for before- and after-care, and family childcare centers owned by entrepreneurs. Mr. Gardiner said that before- and after-care would be covered under section B of the committee charge. 

Councilmember Whitney asked to change the deadline for the report to September 30. 

Motion made by Councilmember Whitney, seconded by Councilmember Esters. The task force was created with a vote of 5 to 1. 

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

Discussion of a proposal to have a private consultant conduct a study to evaluate Urban Street Safety – Miriam Bader, Director of Planning/Steve Halpern, City Engineer

Ms. Bader said the city received a grant from Safe Streets and Road for All (SS4A) and would like to know from the Council if we move forward with the grant received by the city to do conduct a street safety study as proposed by Councilmember Mackie. 

Councilmember Mackie expressed appreciation to the resident who brought this to her and with staff for their response. She said the city is not the same as it once was. She referenced staff members who thanked her for bringing this forward and said she appreciated the time that staff put into this. 

Councilmember Whitney asked if staff wanted us to answer the questions posed in the packet or if we move forward. Ms. Bader said there was no need to go through the questions. She said since the grant has already been approved, staff can come back with the RFP. The start date for any work on this grant is to commence on 9/25/25. This is a federal grant from the DOT, a Planning and Demonstration Award. 

Councilmember Hew asked if the money would be in jeopardy given the new administration.  Mr. Rafi said he does not think the funds are in jeopardy. The monies are provided through reimbursement. 

Councilmember Mackie asked if the study would be city-wide or target specific areas. Mr. Rafi said the study would focus on a comprehensive action plan, local street traffic toolbox and main street speed control. He said staff would be working with the BPAC committee to review the plan as required. 

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

Councilmember Mackie said she and Councilmember Whitney recently participated in the Chesapeake Bay COG Committee meeting. WSSC did a presentation on water main breaks due to aging infrastructure. She said she appreciated the work of the committee and the policies throughout the state. She said the meeting also included a discussion about the Potomac River as a major source of water, yet we are still in drought. She attended the recent PGCMA meeting and said it was good to come together with other municipalities in the county. She said she, along with the Mayor and City Manager attended the recent CMAST meeting. She said there are several sports activities coming up and that students return to campus next week. The Hotel at UMD is busy. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell said she attended the recent COG Board of Directors meeting where there was discussion of various topics including climate change and food equity. She attended the NLC Housing Summit that focused on the issue of affordable housing. She participated in the recent PGCMA meeting. 

Mayor Kabir said he joined Mayors from across the nation for the UCM Conference. He said it was a good conference and provided the opportunity to network with various mayors. 

Councilmember Whitney said she attended the Chesapeake Bay Policy Committee meeting and brought up a question about the many repairs needed to update the structure and how to balance that with the difficulty of raising rates during an inflationary time. She said WSSC spoke of the need for more money to address issues. A colleague from Montgomery County said that their county had allowed a larger rate increase and suggested Prince George’s should do the same. 

Councilmember Hew said he was nominated as VP for COG Air Quality Committee. 

Mr. Young mentioned the work of the Communications Department and how we will proceed with the street fair concept. He said we cannot do a parade this coming year. Any questions related to that should be directed to Mr. Young or Ms. Quiñones.  There are opportunities to move it from North College Park to Lakeland, then Old Town; there could be a rotation. Staff are looking at possibilities for Mayor and Council to meet with consultants regarding the advance. Looked at Saturdays. Suggested Friday Evening followed by Saturday morning – afternoon either February 21-22 or March 14-15. 

Councilmember Rigg said he was not sure we would benefit from the advance so late in term. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell agreed with Rigg. Councilmember Whitney agreed with Councilmember Rigg and Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell and asked if anything could be done in conjunction with the budget session on April 5. Councilmember Esters said we should do something given that the current Council will continue to serve through early December, and we will have a new Councilmember shortly. 

Councilmember Mackie said we should hold a smaller advance. Councilmember Hew said we should have done this a while ago and asked that we refocus this effort on taking place when the dais changes. Mr. Young said it would be helpful to understand the top priorities, including engagement with the University. Councilmember Esters requested the inclusion of teambuilding with the new Councilmember. Mr. Young said the strategic planning process should look at the vision for the future and our work with partners. A lot of relationships have changed both for the good and the bad. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell referenced the public comment/request from Mr. Husain asking for the One College Park proclamation to be posted to the website. She wanted to make sure that will happen. 

MEETING ADJOURNED

Information Report: December 2024 Financial Report 

CLOSED SESSION

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

1. 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.

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on February 4, when it is available. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated Consent Agenda and Action Items, and Workshop discussions proposed to be on the agenda that may interest District 2 residents. Please contact us as soon as possible if you need accommodations to participate in a meeting, including language translation:

Public Hearing 
24-CR-02: Vote 16 (Introduced December 10th)
25-CR-01 Special Election (Introduced January 7

 Consent Agenda
9533 Rhode Island Ave APC Recommended Resolution

Action Item
Selection of the Child Care Task Force Committee Members 

Worksession 
Affordable Housing Task Force
Review and discussion of code provisions Chapter 125 (Housing Regulations), Chapter 119 (Refuse, Solid Waste, Special Trash), and Chapter 141 (Nuisances) 

Childcare Task Force – Established January 21, 2025 by Resolution 25-R-04

The Mayor and Council have discussed issues surrounding the costs and availability of childcare providers in College Park.  The Mayor and Council wish to identify existing programs and proposed legislation that may reduce costs and expand childcare availability.  The Mayor and Council believe that current childcare providers may provide important recommendations for actions the City could take, and therefore wish to receive feedback from providers regarding childcare operations and challenges to lower costs and expand availability. 

1. Charge: The City’s Childcare Task Force is charged with the following duties and responsibilities: 

1. In coordination with the City lobbyist, review and monitor state legislation during the 2025 General Assembly and report to the Council bills the City may wish to comment on.  
2. Interview existing childcare providers in or near College Park to find out what changes they believe would help lower costs and expand access. 
3. Research federal, state, county, and non-profit programs and reports that may assist families access and afford childcare. 
4. Provide updates as needed to the Council during the legislative session and provide a report on the other findings before September 30, 2025.

2. Composition and Term: 

1. The Childcare Task Force shall be comprised of nine voting members appointed by the Mayor and Council.
   1. Each district shall have at least one member and preferably two members who reside in the district.  
   2. One member will be a member of the Education Advisory Committee.
2. The Mayor and Council shall endeavor to appoint members with experience and interest in childcare programs, and who reflect a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds.
3. Each appointee shall commit to a high level of attendance and engagement at meetings.
4. The members of the Task Force shall select a Chair from among the appointed members.
5. Task Force members shall serve until the Task Force is dissolved, which is anticipated to be approximately five months but may be extended. 
6. The City Manager shall assign a staff member to be the Childcare Task Force liaison.  The liaison is not a member of the Task Force.

3. Other: 

It is expected that the Task Force will solicit presentations and other contributions from experts and clients in the industry, such as childcare center staff, particularly to fill gaps in   the collective expertise of task force members.  

Members of this Task Force are not compensated.

The Task Force must comply with the Maryland Open Meetings Act. 

The City Clerk’s office will assign a Contract Secretary to facilitate the recording of meeting meetings.   

Click here to apply.  Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

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 January 14, 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 all city offices will be closed on Friday, January 17 in observance of Inauguration Day and on Monday, January 20 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Trash collections will occur one day later than normally scheduled. The special election for District 3’s open council seat will be on March 11 from 8 am -8 pm. Required submissions for candidates are due on Wednesday, February 5. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Former District 2 City Councilmember Maxine Gross

PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS

 Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell Adams 

AMENDMENTS TO AND APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Councilmember Whitney made a motion to add the discussion of agenda items for the upcoming Four Cities meeting. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell made a motion to approve the agenda as amended, Councilmember Hew seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.

CONSENT AGENDA

25-G-09 Request for approval for the continued purchase and installation of License Plate Recognition (LPR) Technology for a 5th city vehicle, to include a 4-year extended warranty at an estimated cost of $49,172 – Jim Miller, Parking Enforcement Manager 

25-G-10 Approval of the Property Use Agreement (PUA) for a Class B, Beer, Wine, and Liquor alcoholic beverage license for the use of InfinityFlow Ventures LLC t/a Jerk at Nite College Park, 7313-A Baltimore Avenue, College Park, 20740. – Jatinder Khokhar, Director of Public Services

Councilmember Mackie made a motion to approve the consent agenda, Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell seconded the motion. It was unanimously approved.

WORKSESSION DISCUSSIONS

25-G-11 Review advisory board annual reports and workplans – Yvette Allen, City Clerk

Citing inquiry from community members, Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked why the Advisory Planning Commission (APC) does not share a work plan with Council. Ms. Bader said the APC responds to applications rather than having an outlined work plan. They work on an as-needed basis. 

Mark Shroder, Chair of Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)- recognized two BPAC members in attendance, Donald Hayes, and Joe Tanner. Mr. Shroder said BPAC had the longest work plan in comparison to other boards and commissions as they had a number of things they wanted staff to work on. He acknowledged some of the things they would like to see happen may be expensive, but said they do not all have to happen this year. He referenced city residents living in neighborhoods that function like a cul-de-sacs, saying that cyclists and pedestrians having only one access point to roads like Route 1 and University Blvd is dangerous. He concluded by saying the way the city is built is not conducive to safety. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell thanked the committee for the thorough report and bringing up their concerns, including those regarding prioritizing the Complete Streets project.

Councilmember Whitney thanked the committee for the work that has already been done. She said she often wonders why the committee did not previously exist. She asked about the PALs project mentioned on p. 51 of the agenda packet. Mr. Shroder said it was the Near Miss Bike Map project.

Councilmember Hernandez asked for ways to understand more about their work outside of Council presentations and indicated his availability. Rahkmel Rafi, grant coordinator and BPAC staff liaison said their meetings are held every third Thursday. 

Councilmember Whitney mentioned the North College Park Civic Association (NCPCA) interest in extending the Trolley Trail north of Greenbelt Road and asked if there is any coordination between BPAC and the civic associations. She said she did not have an immediate suggestion for including other civic associations. Mr. Rafi did attend the NCPCA meeting where this was discussed, and they are to reach out to the BPAC committee. In addition, a member of BPAC brought the idea to NCPCA.

Councilmember Esters referenced the request by the Bee City USA Committee to revise the district distribution requirements and asked if they could work on identifying volunteers to help with their work rather than increasing the number of voting members, which could have implications for other boards and commissions. Councilmember Hew said individuals are more engaged if they are members rather than volunteers. 

Councilmember Mackie said she would like to encourage the Council to look at having a work session focused on some of the work plans to hear more about concerns, recommendations, and how they will be addressed.

Mr. Young said the reason the Council receives the plan is to see the plans and recommendations in advance of the budget work sessions. 

Councilmember Whitney said there are several budget implications scattered throughout the reports. Mr. Young said staff will review and include recommendations in the budget packet for Council consideration. Councilmember Whitney asked if there are a certain number of hours staff are expected to spend with committees. Mr. Young said some boards and commissions require more time than others. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if staff members check for strategic plan alignment and budget implications when they look at the recommendations. Mr. Young said staff does not look at that right now, but moving forward we will need to work to ensure alignment. He said the strategic plan needs updates. 

25-G-12 Review Open Meeting Software – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager

Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager provided an overview of Open Meeting, a meeting management system. This system would aid in conducting meetings and provide a level of transparency for those viewing Council meetings. 

Everyone would have a tablet, while the city clerk and mayor would have more information on their tablets to help manage the meeting. A large, wall-mounted monitor would list individual names, votes, and the queue. The system would queue and time speakers, and it has an agenda builder that can generate notes. Tablets would just be for voting roll call and queuing. 

Councilmember Whitney asked about how amendments would be handled. Mr. Gardiner said amendments would be handled in real time. 

Councilmember Hernandez asked about the cost of the system. Mr. Gardiner said the initial cost would be ~ $20,000 for software and equipment followed by a yearly cost of $5,000. Councilmember Hernandez said he thinks it would be a good tool but wonders if the advance can help us in managing our meetings better. 

Councilmember Hew asked about the generation of meeting minutes and the possibility of committees using the tool. Mr. Gardiner said the system could be expanded to include one committee with the added cost of $1,000 or all committees with the added cost of $6,000. He said he did not get information about minutes creation but that could be something explored in the future.

Councilmember Esters asked how the system allowed the public to see our votes if we are all virtual.  Mr. Gardiner said that votes would not be seen in the same way if the meeting were completely virtual, saying that they might, for instance, have a camera pointed at the Clerk’s tablet so the public could view results. 

Councilmember Mackie asked if there would be a time limit or voting cutoff when using the system. Mr. Gardiner said the time to vote would be set by the Council or the chair. He said votes are not displayed while voting takes place but will be shown once all votes are entered. The council has gotten into the habit of vote explanation but that would not be likely with this system. Councilmember Mackie acknowledged sometimes we need a super majority and asked if that could be loaded into the system. Mr. Gardiner said there are some things that are programmed into the system. Councilmember Mackie asked about the locking of a vote. Mr. Gardiner said that once all votes are made the system will show the vote. Mr. Young said abstaining from a vote would still require a verbal explanation. 

Mr. Gardiner said the note-taking feature is currently available and the minute-taking feature is to come this year. 

Councilmember Whitney asked what happens if a councilmember has left the dais during conversation and inadvertently misses the vote. How will that be reflected? Mr. Gardiner said the screen would display who voted in favor, against, abstained or was absent.

Councilmember Hew asked if an individual can remove themselves from the queue. 

Councilmember Whitney mentioned concern about using an app on the phone due to the Open Meetings Act, saying it would be good to handle them separately. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked for a quote from another vendor for a comparison before we move forward. In the interim, the Council should work on queuing and limiting speaking time. 

Mayor Kabir asked if staff could obtain other quotes.

FOUR CITIES MEETING 

Priorities for the county fire departments

Review of PGC School Safety Report initiated by County Councilmember Eric Olson. An invitation should be extended to school board representative Jonathan Briggs. 

Juvenile crime issue – what can be done as part of the legislative session? 

PGC approach to snow – Invite the Director of Transportation for Public Schools

REQUESTS FOR / STATUS OF FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Councilmember Whitney said we have not formed and nominated members of the Childcare Task Force. She asked for it to be added to the next agenda. 

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked if we could get our lobbyists to talk with the Council about the session in Annapolis and how the state budget cuts will impact the City.

Mayor Kabir asked when the lobbyists will come to the council. Mr. Young said they normally come to us at the beginning and end of the session. Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell asked for lobbyists to come more frequently to let us know what is happening and allow us to be more proactive. 

COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE

Husain, non-resident -Advanced technology exploration with the University of Maryland Research Center. Three initiatives: economic efficiencies, carbon neutral biofuels, continuous learning, and health. He said he will provide a better update next time and mentioned the formation of a bill, saying he sent it before last week’s meeting. 

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

Mayor Pro Tem Mitchell announced she would be attending the upcoming COG Board of Trustees meeting. She mentioned the PGCMA meeting to be held virtually on Thursday, January 16 and would include a County Executive representative. 

Mayor Kabir mentioned Governor Moore’s recent visit to IonQ to discuss $1 billion investment in Quantum technology and research. He said it would bring 250 jobs to College Park. 

Councilmember Whitney attended the Coalition to Support Prince George’s County Fire and EMS. She said it was great to have Councilmember Rigg and Mt. Rainier Councilmember Danielle Carter, in attendance, as they are both volunteer paramedics. She said the formal questions to be put out to county executive candidates should be formalized soon.

Councilmember Hernandez thanked staff for making sure sidewalks were cleared. Also saw creative reminder notes on doors. 

Mr. Young said more snow could be coming on Sunday. 

Mr. Hernandez asked if it is possible for the city to do a small training on the Homestead tax credit. Mr. Young said that Mr. Fields and Ms. Quinones were asked to put together information about both the homestead and senior tax credits. 

Mayor Kabir said he will be attending the US Conference of Mayors meeting in DC. 

MEETING ADJOURNED

CLOSED SESSION

Pursuant to the statutory authority of the Maryland Annotated Code, General Provisions Article § 3-305(b), the Mayor and Council of the City of College Park are providing notice that they will meet in a Closed Session after the meeting on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, to consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto. They will not return to open session.

INFORMATION REPORT – NO DISCUSSION

1. 2025 Event Schedule

2. College Park Wood Clubhouse Usage Permit Application and Rules and Procedures

Click here to see the full agenda for the City of College Park Mayor & Council Hybrid Meeting on January 21, 2025. Tune in, show up or share your thoughts/concerns about the following anticipated Consent Agenda and Action Items, and Workshop discussions proposed to be on the agenda that may interest District 2 residents. Please contact us as soon as possible if you need accommodations to participate in a meeting, including language translation:

Consent Agenda

Award of Education Grants FY’25

Presentations 

Overview of Governor’s proposed budget and 2025 legislative priorities

2^nd Quarter financial report and Homestead Tax Credit

Action Item

Approval of a resolution establishing a Child Care Task Force

Worksession 

Discussion of proposal to have private consultant conduct study to evaluate Urban Street Safety 

Start the new year off right! Make the switch to curbside food scrap collections and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions!

Join online today, registration is ongoing! To register, visit collegeparkmd.gov/foodscraps.

FREE container when you enroll in January!!

Pick up container(s) at the Department of Public Works
9217 51st Avenue
Monday – Friday 7:30a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The standard Collection Day is Tuesday.